Category Archives: Challenges & Difficulty

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March 18, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, Fear & Doubt, God's Promises

Shine, Jesus, Shine

Later, Jesus talked to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.” [John 8:12 (NCV)]

Oh Lord, sometimes our lives turn bleak and gloomy; the dark shadows of distress and futility hinder our view of you. Shine your light on us. Open our eyes. Help us to see you in the darkness of fear, sadness and discouragement. Free us from our prisons of despair!

You will help the blind to see. You will free those who are in prison, and you will lead those who live in darkness out of their prison. [Isaiah 42:7 (NCV)]

“Shine, Jesus, Shine” by Graham Kendrickpainted lady (american lady) -CLIL58-1WEB

 Lord, the light of your love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness, shining.
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us.
Set us free by the truth you now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.

Lord, I come to your awesome presence,
From the shadows into your radiance.
By the blood I may enter your brightness.
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine;
Fill this land with the Father’s glory.
Blaze, Spirit, blaze;
Set out hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow;
Flood the nations with grace and mercy.
Send forth your Word, Lord,
And let there be light.

 

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March 15, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, God's Word: The Bible, Holy Spirit, Wisdom & Guidance

Let’s Not Get Lost

Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil. [Psalm 119:133 (NLT)]

Thank you, Lord, for providing us with all we need to navigate the challenges of life. With the Bible as our guidebook and the Lord Jesus leading the way, we can stay on the right road.

Remember, if you’re headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns! [Allison Gappa Bottke]

The Christian is not one who has gone all the way with Christ. None of us has. The Christian is one who has found the right road. [Charles L. Allen]

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March 12, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, God's Grace & Love

He’s Not Complaining

But Jesus answered, “Stop complaining to each other.” [John 6:43 (NCV)]

When life doesn’t go the way we think it should, we often complain, “It’s not fair!” Yet, we never seem to complain about unfairness when we are the ones with the good fortune and others, perhaps more deserving, have been slighted. Our complaints place the focus on us instead of on God, where it should be.

Let’s face it; if anyone has reason for complaint, it is our heavenly Father. Mankind rebelled against Him at the first opportunity and continues to do so today. When God blessed the Israelites with freedom, they wanted to return to slavery at the first sign of trouble. When He blessed them with manna, they wanted meat. When Jesus fed the 5,000 with a few loaves of bread and fish, there were probably some people who complained that He’d forgotten the dessert! We’re a stubborn, bad-tempered and argumentative people. Moreover, God’s only son, a man totally free of sin, was sacrificed to pay for our sins. If anything was undeserved, it was that dark day when Christ died for us. Yet, I don’t hear God complaining. Do you?

He has not punished us as our sins should be punished; he has not repaid us for the evil we have done. [Psalm 103:10 (NCV)]

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February 9, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Thanks & Praise

Gratitude is Possible

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. [1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)]

I just viewed a commercial that showed an amazing family. They lost their son in the shootings at Columbine and, since that tragedy, the mother has suffered a heart attack and the father has been on dialysis. The mother spoke about taking what has been given, learning from it and becoming a better person because of it. She ended by saying, “That’s why I feel we’re blessed.” Talk about gratitude! I have no idea what was being advertised, but that ad certainly put my petty complaints into perspective. If that family can still experience gratitude, we, too, can be “thankful in all circumstances”!

Father, it’s so easy to see you in the beauty and joys of life: rainbows and flowers, healing and birth, love and laughter. Open our eyes to your presence in all aspects of life, even the ugly and sad: storms and destruction, illness and heartbreak, tears and even death. Give us the ability to see the good that can come from heartbreak and tragedy; help us count our blessings and not our pain.

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. [Colossians 2:7 (NLT)]

 

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January 14, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, God's Promises

There Will Be Trouble

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. [John 16:33 (NLT)]

He doesn’t say we “might” have troubles; we will, indeed have difficulties. But take heart, we are never alone.

God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way.
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
[Annie Johnson Flint]

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December 17, 2013

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Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, Prayer

Lord, Help!

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor! [Psalm 107: 28-30 (NLT)]

Why do we so readily call upon God to help us find our lost keys or to ease traffic so we can get to an appointment on time, and not immediately turn in prayer to Him when there is an illness, a troubled relationship, or a family crises? Are we afraid he can’t handle the really big stuff? This is the God who parted the Red Sea and fed 5000 with a few morsels of food. All we need to do is cry, “Lord, help!”

He is close to all who call on him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who reverence and trust him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. [1 Chronicles 29:18-19 (TLB)]

I do not know much about God and prayer, but I have come to believe, over the past twenty-five years, that there’s something to be said about keeping prayer simple. Help. Thanks. Wow.   [Anne Lamott, from “Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers”]