Faith - Choose to Believe God

Faith

I have realized that no matter how I “FEEL” God is still in control.  God still loves me and God is still as close as my very breath.

But I feel at times, I walk alone. I feel at times unloved. I feel at times so far from God and I can’t hear His voice. I feel so unprotected. I feel so vulnerable. 

The bottom line is Faith.  Have you ever heard the saying:  Right is right and wrong is wrong , no matter how you feel?  Now I’m not trying to say anybody is wrong for feeling this way or that. But what I am focussed on saying is God’s word is truth. 

You may feel alone however Hebrews 13:5 tells us God said:

 Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” By the way definition of forsake is to abandon someone or something to renounce or give up.  

We have to stand on God’s word and our “feelings” will catch up to the truth.

Did you know this applies to you? yes, you, personally. YOU! 

Take it in personally as truth. God is telling you never will I leave you; never will I forsake (abandon) you. Hold tight to that, your gonna need it!

Can feelings be wrong? yes! Of course acknowledge how you feel and take it to God but have you ever done the right thing and FEEL horrible?

 I sure have! 

Have you ever done the wrong thing and FEEL good? Guilty again. 

Right is right and wrong is wrong , no matter how you FEEL.  God’s word is truth. God’s promises are true.

I don’t care much for what the world says about feelings.   Oh, well If he/she makes you FEEL this way or that way leave them......oh hush up already! Are we abiding by the world? We better not be! We abide by what God says.

God’s word. 

And here is some scripture I would like to share with you. 

Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7: 9

How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge and put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 36: 7

14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
   I will be with him in trouble,
   I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him
   and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91:14

We have to give God the benefit of any doubt. I know how it hurts to doubt, I guess I’ll cut myself some slack for being human.  We all have times when doubts arise.

Oh boy, then the “enemy” chimes in on top of that. OUCH! But I CHOOSE to believe God. I CHOOSE to believe God through my tears.  I CHOOSE to believe God when I’m still hurting, still waiting. 

Still waiting. I wonder if thats why God said : Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

And lets not forget the ULTIMATE sacrifice of LOVE!!

John 3:16

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.

When the fiery darts of the evil one wants to throw thoughts your way such as:

If God loved you so much, why are you going through this? ~ Theres a reason ...apply scripture, such as: 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

(Jesus showed me that scripture when I came racing home after a doctors appointment and was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.)

After applying Scripture to your current circumstance, simply choose to believe God. 

Take God at His word. 

Give GOD THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT! To be honest I don’t understand a lot of things that happen to me(at the time) but as long as you lean on God He will always bring you out stronger than before and with so much knowledge you can help so many others as well.  I don’t know how God works, but I do KNOW ...GOD WORKS! I dont know how He does what He does.  I just know He does. And I know God will make a way, for you, for me. Everything is going to be alright.

The bottom line is FAITH. We must take God at His word and stand!

Remember this too shall soon pass. You will hear the voice of God, you will feel Him once again know that your loved and CHOOSE TO BELIEVE!

Carolyn Elkin

"Come to Me" Says The Lord, Jesus

“Come to Me” says Jesus - 

If he must silence every voice to get your attention he will. 

 Friends turn away, your spouse doesn’t understand and no one is around to answer your call to talk! (examples inspired by Max Lucado)

Hebrews 12 :5 - tells us that we are not to forget the encouragement that He addresses us as sons(and daughters) and goes on to say He disciplines those HE LOVES. 

(Reference Hebrews 12:5-6) 

If he must silence EVERY voice He will.........

He will silence every voice until you are “in tune” with Him and Him alone.

His voice...the Voice of God.  So we can hear His voice of TRUTH, voice of LOVE, guidance and direction.  Spend time just soaking(sitting,laying) in HIS presence.....learning....growing  and being renewed and well rested. 

Jesus IS the WAY the TRUTH and LIFE - (reference John 14:6) -

 We must remain IN HIM to have truth and life......

This is whats right.....Come to me and abide in my love.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (John 15:9)

Put aside the things that are not of me. The time has come...Come to me says Jesus - 

Just as we need food to fuel our bodies; we need God’s word to fuel our spirit! Just as God’s word is ALIVE His word brings us LIFE! Hallelujah!

Matthew 4:4 (NIV) - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Remember this! 

If God seems far away......

Guess who moved........? 

I’d like to finish with a prayer that was put in my heart and after the prayer I also have some encouraging words that we should live by.  

Dear Heavenly Father,

Forgive us for putting other things and people before you.

Please help us to abide in your love, theres no other place we would rather be!  Please forgive us for anything we may have thought, said or did that was not pleasing to you.

Thank you for your discipline out of immense LOVE for us! 

Thank You for loving us and keeping us “in check” on the straight and narrow path towards You - towards HOME.

In Jesus Name we pray and Thank You, we love You, Amen.

A Little bit of encouragement - 

This is what I wrote down and read when I feel like a big ole stinker! When I feel like I just can’t do anything right and so on......

Jesus loves ME and I belong to him! He sends his angels to guide and protect me.  I AM His masterpiece!

God IS Love.

I have a perfect Father in heaven who loves me and isn’t anything like my earthly dad.  (I, myself needed this clarification,maybe someone else could relate as well?)

My Heavenly Father Loves me, guides me, protects me, assures me and reassures me, encourages me, has ONLY been good to me. Brings PEACE upon me and my home. Blesses me! 

Father God wanted me and STILL wants me! (PTL) It was HIM who brought me here...(He thought of me first)  Made BY GOD and FOR GOD! He will complete the work He started in me. He will NOT EVER forget me..My name is inscribed on the palms of His hands!

Jesus has plans to prosper you and NOT to harm you no matter WHAT you are going through no MATTER WHAT! 

I do NOT care what ever the problem is Jesus has plans to prosper you and to give you hope and the devil is still a LIAR!   I will trust in God.  Praise the Lord!

When you are confused, hurt, bitter, sad, miserable, lonely and all around hurting, emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually ....remember this...When your down to nothing...God’s up to something and He is with you always through ALL OF IT! God will not give you anymore than you AND Him TOGETHER can’t handle! 

And last but not least : ) 

The essence of saving faith is trust, stretching out relaxed on what God has said. 

The insomniac cannot sleep, because he tries to hold up the bed. He cannot let go and let the bed hold him up. Your faith may not be perfect, but God’s promises are. You can never trust yourself but you can always trust Christ. –Vance Havner

Thats it....

Watch Out For Busyness

So here I am, going through life.  I’m a homemaker with a heart for the Lord. Im simple and easy going. Doing everything that I am suppose to do - cooking for the family, helping with homework, cleaning the house and reading God’s word.

So why was I so unsettled? Agitated? Aggravated?

I couldn’t figure it out. I knew SOMETHING wasn’t right. 

You know that feeling that gnaws at you and you just can’t put your finger on it and you can’t figure out whats eating at you? Yeah, I spent the last couple weeks that way.

 I thought I am doing everything I know to do! So what is my problem??

 And then I read something I would like to share with you from Roy Lessin.

Prayer of Peace

Lord Jesus, I thank You that You are the Prince of Peace and that You have promised to give me Your peace. I receive Your peace, the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that assures me of Your presence, the peace that confirms Your love, the peace that guards my every thought and each emotion.

Thank You that You have come, not to trouble me, but to give me Your rest; not to confuse me, but to give me clarity; not to bind me, but to free me; not to stress me, but to quiet me. Thank You for a peace that endures the trial, overcomes the battle, conquerors the foe, and keeps me steady through the storm.
 
Thank You, Lord, for complete peace, for perfect peace, for a peace that keeps my heart from being troubled. Come now and fill me with Your peace. Thank You for the perfect peace that comes when I put my trust in You. Let it wash over me and flood my innermost being. Show me the ways of peace, keep in the paths of peace, guide me in the decisions that lead to peace. Jesus, be my peace today.

Scriptures: Isaiah 9:6, John 14:27, Luke 1:79, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 29:11, Psalm 55:18, Psalm 85:8, Isaiah 26:3, 32:17, 54:10, 57:19, Romans 14:17, 15:33, Colossians 3:15

well, as soon as I read:

the peace that assures me of Your presence, the peace that confirms Your love, the peace that guards my every thought and each emotion. 

Move over Thomas Edison my light bulbs bigger!!!

AHA!!!! THATS IT!!!  I was so b.u.s.y (being under satans yoke) I didnt even realize i wasn’t at PEACE!!! so you can add blindsided to my list as well! Oh I was still reading God’s word...........at about 50MPH!!(being honest here)

Well Thank God for God! The Lord showed me. 

 You better believe God will catch you as He caught me. And Praise the Lord, the truth sets us free! 

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14: 27

I purposely chose this from the Amplified Version for a reason........

[Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

wooaaahhhhh Nellie!!! My Plea? GUILTY! (Thank You again Jesus for You and Your mercy and forgiveness)

I started out saying I didnt know what my problem was and why I wasn’t feeling right. As a matter of fact I didnt even recognize that I didnt HAVE peace. 

We have a choice. 

I allowed myself to become agitated and disturbed(personally for me it didnt help that I was busy and speed reading!) NOT a good Combo! 

I permitted myself(by the way definition of permit is:  TO GIVE AUTHORIZATION OR CONSENT TO (someone)to DO SOMETHING) to be unsettled.

I permitted myself to be unsettled. 

well, I’ll tell you what - Im done with being busy,  (as Bishop Charlie would say I needed a check up from the neck up,lol only I was too busy to see I even needed one!) just maybe if I didnt rush through everything I would have heard the Lord sooner. (just being honest here)

I needed to slow down....slow down my thoughts..so busy... but i gotta do this and I have to go help so and so....keep going, keep going, thats a perfect combination that leads to BURN OUT! 

Well, Thank The Lord He shows, guides and teaches us - for me, this time, it was slow down - Don’t rush your time with the Lord.  

A moment spent with God is a moment well lived!

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16

In Closing I want to Thank You, Lord Jesus, for your PEACE! And thank you for guiding me straight to it!(love how he does that!)

 I pray God’s Peace for everyone! In Jesus Name, Amen.