Author Archives: famtree2014

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 24, 2013

Posted under

Faith & Hope, God's Plan, Trusting God

He controls our destiny

So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny. [Job 23:14 (NLT)]

When life goes wrong, when disaster strikes, when there is illness, sorrow, or even death, we want to know why. That question is rarely, if ever, answered to our satisfaction, and yet God asks us to trust him and his infinite love and wisdom. Faith is accepting that much of life is inexplicable. Faith is being willing to leave our questions unanswered and to accept an unknown future. Faith is being willing to see God’s presence not just in happy times but also in sad. Faith is saying (and accepting), “He will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.”

Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. [D. Elton Trueblood]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 23, 2013

Posted under

Money & Wealth, Trusting God

In God We Trust

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. [1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NLT)]

As if Biblical exhortations were not enough, the recent economic downturn, complete with bank failures and an unstable stock market, should have convinced us that placing our confidence in anything as uncertain as riches is not wise. If we take a good look at our currency, we’ll see the words, “In God We Trust.” That really says it all; trust God, not money!

I will say to the Lord, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” [Psalm 91:2 (GW)]

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 22, 2013

Posted under

God's Grace & Love, Salvation: A New You

An Amazing Offer

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16 (NIV)]

The words of John 3:16, if believed, can bring us great comfort and peace. If we don’t believe them, however, we might be confused by this extravagant and unbelievable exchange: God traded his only child for a bunch of thankless sinners! That kind of sacrifice seems totally inconceivable. This exchange may appear irrational to some, but let’s consider how much crazier it would be to turn down His extraordinary offer of eternal life.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His love endures forever. [Psalm 136:1 (NIV)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 21, 2013

Posted under

Forgiveness, God's Grace & Love

God’s Grace

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. [Psalm 139:1-4 (NLT)]

In spite of knowing everything about us, God loves us. He knows our weakness and failures, our flaws and sins. He even knows our deepest darkest secrets. And yet, God loves us simply because He made us and we are His. This knowledge of God’s grace truly is too great for me to comprehend! Thank you, God, for loving your children no matter how unlovable we may happen to be.

How unutterably sweet is the knowledge that our Heavenly Father knows us completely. No talebearer can inform on us; or enemy can make an accusation stick; no forgotten skeleton can come tumbling out of some hidden closet to abash us and expose our past; no unsuspected weakness in our characters can come to light to turn God away from us, since He knew us utterly before we knew Him and called us to Himself in the full knowledge of everything that was against us. [A. W. Tozer, from “The Knowledge of the Holy”]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 20, 2013

Posted under

God's Plan, Holy Spirit, Prayer

He Knows What We Need

At the same time, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we don’t know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words. The one who searches our hearts knows what the Spirit has in mind. The Spirit intercedes for God’s people the way God wants him to. [Romans 8:26-27 (GW)]

Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayers. Help me remember to pray the problem and not my version of the solution. Keep me mindful that not all difficulties will be resolved. May your Holy Spirit bring my prayers into harmony with your holy will, trusting that you alone know what is best.

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 19, 2013

Posted under

Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

For the Children

We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through every kind of spiritual wisdom and insight. We ask this so that you will live the kind of lives that prove you belong to the Lord. Then you will want to please him in every way as you grow in producing every kind of good work by this knowledge about God. We ask him to strengthen you by his glorious might with all the power you need to patiently endure everything with joy. [Colossians 1:9-11 (GW)]

Let this be our prayer for the young people in our lives.