MORNING HAS BROKEN

But the Lord said to Samuel,
Look not on his countenance,
or on the height of his stature.
I have refused him:
for the Lord sees not as man sees;
for man looks on the outward appearance;
the Lord looks on the heart.

 

 

 

Be careful, then
before you pass judgement.
Do you want other people
judging you?
Do you know enough
about someone else
to cast stones?
Is it your business anyway?
God knows what’s up
with each of us.
He is fully aware
of the verbal bully,
the shrinking violet,
the bombastic know-it-all.
God knows where
we’ve chosen to hunker down
in the greater scheme of life.
Let your guide be God.
He knows the way.
There are rules to follow:
love God with all your heart
and all your mind,
and the second
is important, too,
love your neighbor.
A third woven throughout
God’s word and his Son’s message
is simply this, be kind.

Based on 1 Samuel 16:7

Trust

.

Trust in the Lord

And lean not on your understanding

Be strong, banish fear and doubt. Remember the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

The road ahead is unknown for all of us. Some take the path of least resistance; others beat out a new path. The choices are ours to make. Choose to be courageous and extraordinary, after all that is the way God made you. Different from everyone else and particularly gifted to fulfill a role in life only you can fill.

Being courageous does not mean being foolish. Trying to climb a mountain without proper training is likely to be a disaster. Climbing with the right equipment and instruction can lead to an exciting adventure.

“I am weak,” does not mean, “I am helpless.” God gives us the ability to do whatever is set before us. He is with us through the trials and setbacks. God is in our corner whether we succeed or fail. Each is a lesson learned as we head on down the road, ready for new experiences, fearless and trusting. 

Five trust affirmations from the Book of Psalms:

• Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 NIV
• But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5 NIV
• The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7 NIV
• The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7 NIV
• ...in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 NIV

Oswald Chambers, a teacher and speaker in the early 20th century, and author of "My Utmost for His Highest," wrote, "I have to learn that the aim in life is God's, not mine. God is using me from His great personal standpoint, and all He asks of me is that I trust Him, and never say – Lord, this gives me such heart-ache.... He simply asks me to have implicit faith in Himself and in His goodness."

When I have that heartache, the question of why, I am reminded that trust can be my only response. The road ahead is sometimes rocky, sometimes difficult, often challenging, that doesn't mean I shouldn't walk down it trusting full out that I have the Lord of all in my corner.
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If you would like to receive notification of updates to Joy in the Morning, please enter your e-mail under the "follow by e-mail" box in the upper right column. This blog is written by a mature (in age only) and imperfect Christian who loves the Lord. Please like and share if you find this message inspiring. Bible verses are from BibleGateway.com

 

Trust

The Big Picture

The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever. Psalm 37:18:

See yourself through God’s eyes, a beloved child. Trust Him. When we love ourselves as God loves us our lives are fuller. We are able to handle whatever comes our way. God’s plan isn’t just in the here and now. Heaven is our home. Our lives on this earth are limited to a span of years that is miniscule in the span of all time. What we do while we are here is more significant than how we look or what we have. Be productive, live a vibrant life and serve others. You will be overjoyed to see what God does with your efforts.

Faith

Why, Lord?

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (NIV)

There is so much emotional upheaval in my life I scarcely know how to fix it, or more specifically fix those who are causing the turmoil. Perhaps therein lies the problem. Me thinking I can fix anything. It’s way past time to lay it at Jesus feet and let him take it up. My “fixes” have only made those I’m trying to help dependent on me, not on God. What will happen when I trust the Lord and stop fretting about things I cannot change? Am I willing to place my trust in him and let it go at that? How do I know what God expects of me or am I being too analytical? Today seems no better than yesterday as I struggle with conscience verses good sense, and above all – Faith, believing God is at work and his outcome for those I love is in his hands. A loved one’s illness, another’s selfish disregard for anyone else, these people who I love and whose lives are in such turmoil – I cannot fix them or their lives; I must trust in the Lord. And then it hits me. I’ve made this all about me. Maybe the fix needs to start in my heart, beginning with faith, forgiveness and letting go. God is at work. That's all I need to know.

Faith

Learn from the Lord and Lean on Him   

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:27-29

It’s easy to carry around a load of discontent. Life doesn’t go you’re way so you blame God, or your husband, or your irritating neighbor, or your kids, or the most recent thing that didn’t go your way. You strap the anger and frustration on your back and head out into the day. They weigh you down taking the joy out of the good things that do happen and making the bad things even worse. You feel justified in your self-righteous choice to carry the load and add to it. You’ve been mistreated by gum and you have every right to be prickly and uncooperative, snappish and sad. Really? And you’re the only one who’s had a bad day, a bad week, a bad year? We carry our load. We make that choice. We can make a different choice, one that rids us of our burden and takes the weight of discontent off our backs. That choice is Jesus. Find rest in him.

Prayer

God's unknowable plan 

Luke 22:42 – “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Do you pray believing? The strength of prayer is less about the words we choose and much more about the depth of our belief. Impossible outcomes do happen, because they are only impossible in our sight, not God’s. Having written those lines I will  insert the common questions about how, when and why, or in some cases “if” God will indeed answer your prayer, or mine for that matter. Horrific and devastating events do happen, and often after we have prayed our hearts out for a particular outcome. The words I come back to as reassurance and instruction are found in Luke 22:42 – “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus, knowing what was ahead, gave himself into God’s hands – “not my will, your will.” Pray believing, trusting in God’s unknowable plan, His will, not yours, not mine, His.

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Trust

Be strong, banish fear and doubt. Remember the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 

Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. Really. Please. Don’t. So much is bandied about in the ether, a never-never land few of us understand, that it is imperative to be suspicious of what comes your way, especially in those massive forwarded messages. I appreciate the sentiment when someone forwards interesting links. They want to share something they believe is important, funny, informative or cute. Too frequently when I follow up and try to find the original source, it is often attributed incorrectly in the version I received, or not a real experience, but a tearjerker story a talented creative writer conjured up. Nor am I keen on the “Jesus Loves You” e-mails and links that imply that if I don’t forward this message on, I’m just not with the program, I’m not a real Christian, I’m sadly flawed because I don’t spread the word or keep the candle burning or plant another seed (or 20, which seems to be the magic number to assure my membership in the club of three percent who will pass it on). What I believe, and can find firm corroboration for in Biblical texts, is that Jesus loves me whether I pass on an e-mail link or not; this truth is the glue that binds together disparate people from all over the globe. I don’t need to forward an e-mail to assure me of my place in God’s love. I have God’s word, and that’s enough for me.

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Trust

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Stronger than you think

 In Genesis 37 we read the story of family treachery. The coat of many colors was tainted with blood. Jacob was convinced it was the blood of his beloved son, Joseph. Though much loved by his father Joseph was resented by his brothers. Relationships sink or swim on as little as this. None of the family could predict what God could and would do with this act of betrayal. The story is a reminder of how important it is to be absolutely certain God’s plan is greater and more intricately connected to end results than anything we can do. Trust in the Lord. Be strong under fire. Make the most of who you are. God has promised to be with you, even when those around you sell you out, life hands you bitter gall instead of ambrosia, health fails, and trouble bubbles. You are stronger than you think, not because of who you are, but because of who God is.

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This message of inspiration will also appear in the One-February issue of Happenstance, a digital magazine available by subscription. For a look at past issues go to http://issuu.com/vandermeerbooks. Your comments will be appreciated.

Trust

Rooted in God's Promise 

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23

FROM CLIPART.COM

Make no mistake. There is one way and only way to stay ahead of the curves life throws you. God. His blessings, mercy, compassion, strength, and love are the roots that keep us firmly planted in faith and trust. Life is not perfect for anyone. Our need for God is constant. In times of joy he is in the fabric of our lives enriching our happiness. When tough times come it is those roots that keep us from being knocked down and run over. God with us is an absolute; everything else is transient.

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Trust: Our Unchangeable God

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

When everything is falling apart

there is One and only One you can trust.

The world may tell you to trust in your job,

or your friends, or your own devices,

but no one but God can get you through a crisis,

or through joy. And yes, He does get you through joy

otherwise in the ecstasy of accomplishment

you may believe you did it on your own.

We are nothing and have nothing

that does not come from our heavenly Father.

Our faith is not based on empty promises

or worldly establishments built on human desire,

Our faith is in the unchangeable God

who loves us all the time, in joy and in sorrow.

today, yesterday and tomorrow.

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With God There Are No Losing Battles

Lord, I trust you. I have said, "You are my God." My life is in your hands. Psalm 31:14-15

The most effective way to lose the battles we face in life is to fall prey to the negative voice that keeps reminding us of our failures. So you messed up. So what? Now is the time to remember who has your back. The Holy Spirit is your guide, not the whispering voices of doom and discontent. Christ is your constant companion who can only be displaced by doubt. God knows you clear to the core and can take you forward. Dissatisfaction and doubt takes you backward. You have the three-in-one, the Holy Trinity all around you to pick you up, dust you off and walk beside you. Giving into temptation once doesn’t doom you forever, unless you allow it to. No matter what you are doing, you have an all-powerful team on your side. Instead of looking down in despair, look up into the light of heaven.

Trust

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

The winds howl and fear creeps in

Like dust particles seeping in everywhere

On the sill of consciousness

In the crevices of doubt.

In the darkness worry sweeps

Into the false safety of waking

Uncertainty brought to life by the sigh

Of tree branches caught in nature’s dance.

In the moan of sound I hear a cry

Deeply felt but surely not spoken.

No! I made no sound. Or did I utter a prayer

A cry for relief from churning worry?

A calming voice softer than a sigh,

Louder than the wind, stronger than my heavy heart

“Have no fear; I am the light of your salvation

Of whom should you be afraid? None, for I am here."

God always has a way

Genesis 22:1-13

Submitting to God is not easy, not because it isn’t easy but because we make it hard. We look at Abraham stoically going up the mountain, his beloved son by his side. He has been told by God to sacrifice his boy. What must that trip have been like? We can’t imagine because God has never asked anyone else to do that. Or did He? He asked that of himself. Christ was not saved from suffering on the cross, but he was delivered from death. His life was lived out as man while he was yet God. He brought to the world the grace of redemption. What does God ask of us? The sacrifices we make are not to our glory but to his. The choices we live out can either lift us up or break us down.

I read in a devotional for dieters that when we subvert our need for food for nourishment into a desire for food to fill a void other than hunger, we have put our faith in something other than God. The instant gratification of a Ben & Jerry’s takes precedent over the long-range return of better health through self-discipline. When we submit to God's love and mercy, he opens doors and leads us through.

Abraham believed whatever the outcome, he must trust God and carry out God’s instruction no matter where it led. Self-discipline and trust are a hard to beat combination. No matter what challenges you face, God always has a way for you to get over, under, around or through them. It may require a few sacrifices on your part along the way.

Lord help me to always trust you no matter how high the mountain. Amen