Monday, November 29, 2010

The Hard Times That Hurt You (Part 9)


Beautiful Scars

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 , the apostle Paul says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." These verses are about something that is common to all of us - the pain of life.

Your pain might be medical or emotional, memories on replay, or something in living color right now, but these verses talk about what the master Plastic Surgeon can make out of the pain of your life. It says here that He turns our trouble into comfort for others. He is the God of all compassion and the God of all comfort. If you uncover your scars, hurts, and pain, He will give you something to give other people who are hurting. Because of God's skillful hands, the ugly can become something beautiful.

Maybe the pain of your life is never far away. Maybe you see scenes on the video replay unit in your mind or maybe it's happening right now. You don't have a choice about having the pain, but you do have two choices about what to do with the hurt.

First, you can turn it inward by replaying it and thinking about it. That is what most people do, and it turns into self-pity. This produces bitterness and negative attitudes, and only becomes uglier making the scars deeper.
The other option is to turn it outward in the form of sensitivity and compassion. You can say, "Lord, I want you to help me make something beautiful out of this pain. I had to go through it. It was ugly stuff, but I want it to become a ministry to other hurting people. I know how they feel. I am able to enter into their suffering. God of all compassion, instead of this turning into self-pity and hardness, turn it into compassion." The quickest way out of your pit is to help somebody else out of theirs.

Christ alone can redeem life's big hurts. Why not let Him use it to shape you into a make-a-difference person for other people? Haven't you replayed those ugly scenes enough times? Do you really need to go over it again? Why don't you let Him turn self-focus into others-focus?


Look around you and find a need you can meet. Instead of looking in the mirror at your scars, why don't you surrender yourself to the emotional rebuilding of the Master Surgeon? Let Him start changing you from someone who feels like a victim to someone who is beginning to be a victor. Doctor Jesus makes scars into something beautiful.

The Hard Times That Hurt You (Part 8)

Music When You Least Expect It

In Acts 16:22-25 of the Bible, Paul and Silas are not having a good day. They have been preaching the Gospel in Philippi and the crowd is attacking them. It says, "The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."




God sends a violent and dramatic earthquake that lets Paul and the other prisoners loose, and it ultimately leads to the jailer and his family turning to Christ. It might seem odd that Paul and Silas were singing at midnight. You say, "Wait, something's wrong with this picture. They have been stripped, flogged, imprisoned, put in stocks, and now they're singing. What's going on here?" You might expect this verse to read, "Paul and Silas were complaining at midnight," or griping or feeling sorry for themselves.



Something is not wrong with this picture. Something is right. This music couldn't have come from anything around them - it had to come from inside them. Their singing got people's attention. The verse says the other prisoners were listening. You bet they were! Here are people facing the same hardships, except they're doing it with joy rather than a negative attitude.


Maybe you're going through one of life's long nights right now, and you've taken a beating. Maybe you've been stripped of things you care about, or you're in one of those prisons that doesn't have walls. How are you handling it? Are you like all the other prisoners, or is Christ inside of you giving you the grace to sing when you would otherwise sink? A positive attitude and joy are not feelings, they are choices.


Focus on your Lord, as Paul and Silas did with these hymns. Fill up on Christian music. Quote the verses and the promises. Focus on your opportunity. Paul and Silas probably looked around and said, "Hey, we have a captive audience; there are people watching us now who will see how we respond to this." People watch you when you're in the midnight darkness more than any other time. The greatest impact of your life comes at the time of greatest pain. If you let God take this moment, He will give you unexplainable grace and joy that will lift you and everyone around you.


No one can ignore your life if it produces music when they least expect it.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

The Hard Times That Hurt You (Part 7)

The Mission Impossible Prayer


The TV show Mission Impossible always had the same formula. The head of the Mission Impossible force would receive a tape with the mission orders on it.


The assignment was always something totally impossible. He would pick his crew, and then they would go for it. You always knew how it would ultimately end because they never failed. The Mission Impossible Force would always get the job done. There is a way to find out how you can do the "mission impossible."

Nehemiah 1:3-4 of the Bible has the answer. While working for the king of Persia, Nehemiah receives word that Jerusalem has been torn down. The walls and gates are in ruins. Nehemiah says, "They said to me, 'Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.' When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."


Nehemiah faced a mission impossible. He had no idea how that city could ever be rebuilt or that he could even make a difference. Maybe you have a mission impossible right now like a medical or financial crisis; a relationship with a friend, spouse, or one of your children; it could be emotional or stress-related; or maybe it's a mountain that simply will not move.


Nehemiah prayed a mission impossible prayer. His prayer in Nehemiah 1 changed the course of history, because that Jerusalem wall was rebuilt in fifty-two days under Nehemiah's leadership. We can get a happy ending to our mission impossible by praying like Nehemiah. Five ingredients make up Nehemiah's powerful prayer: intensity, availability, purity, authority, and responsibility.


In verse 5 Nehemiah says, "O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands." There is a big difference between a "Dear God" and an "O Lord" prayer. "Dear God" is the kind we usually pray - the casual "Lord, bless me, help my life, forgive my sins, and bless the missionaries." "O Lord" praying is desperate, urgent, on your face, "Lord, I am powerless in this situation." It is time we did some "O Lord" praying with intensity.


Nehemiah says in verse 6, "Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night." By praying day and night Nehemiah is saying, "Lord, I'm available. I'm your servant. I'm a blank piece of paper. I will do anything you ask." We need to come to the Lord with willingness and total availability.


In verses 6 and 7, Nehemiah confesses "the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands." He faced the sin that might have been keeping God from blessing them. The problem here was not the walls or the city being down, but the Israelites' own sin. We also have to look at that first.


Nehemiah quotes a promise from the Lord in verses 8-9 that if God's people would call on Him and turn back to His commands, He would bring His exiled people back. He prays on the authority of the promises of God. We need to quote God's promises to Him and say, "Lord, I come to you on the strength of your promise." There is authority in that kind of praying.


Nehemiah says in verse 11, "Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." Then he goes to the king to talk to him about the problem. That is responsibility. We must take a step of faith in God's direction, even though we're unsure of the final outcome.


Do you have a mission impossible? God gives answers for your mission in Nehemiah's prayer. Go to God's throne room and pray a mission impossible prayer.




The Hard Times That Hurt You (Part 6)

Luke 4:1-4 tells the familiar story of the temptation of Jesus. It says, "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.' Jesus answered, 'It is written, Man does not live on bread alone.'" There are two more temptations that come right at Jesus, and He answers each time with the Word of God. When the devil finally gives up and leaves, it says in Luke 4:14-15 , "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him." That was the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus Christ.


A cycle in this incident from Jesus' life repeats many times in the life of any man or woman God wants to use. First is the Spirit's touch. For Jesus, this came at His baptism at the Jordan River. For you, it happens when the Lord comes in an evident and almost tangible way. It might be an experience or a season of your life where the Lord is dramatic in the way He reveals Himself and speaks to you, leaving no doubt He was there and no doubt that you had heard from heaven. The Spirit's touch is the first step in the cycle.

At the end of the cycle comes the Spirit's triumph. Jesus' life exploded into ministry. The cycle ultimately ends in your life becoming powerful by affecting many other lives. The Spirit's test comes between His touch and His triumph. That is our time to be tested. It's hot, bumpy, lonely, and you take a beating. You can't skip that part. Jesus didn't and neither can you. There is no dove there and no voice from heaven. The devil feels more real than God does in these times, and there's doubt, temptation, and deprivation. Our feelings are not inspired anymore; they're just numb.

You're still on the road to power, but you have to go through the desert. It's not the spiritual high that makes the work of God real in your life. It's the time when there is no feeling and no outward evidence of God at work. The wilderness isn't the devil's idea. It's his opportunity, but it's the Spirit's idea. It's all part of God's loving plan to make you into a strong player for Him. The wilderness proves the reality of what God said to you in the time when He was very evident. Your Lord leads you into this wilderness to wean you from depending on evidence of Him to depending on Him only. He wants you to test the power of God's Word by facing down the Prince of Darkness with only God's Word in your hand.

You feel more powerful after the Spirit's touch, but really you are more powerful after the Spirit's test. Remember, the reason God is driving you over difficult roads is to make you a powerful vehicle for Him.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The Hard Times That Hurt You (Part 5)

The Hands Tell it All


You probably have a picture of yourself that you do not like, either on your driver's license, an ID card, or a passport. There is probably a picture of you that you do like. That picture is the one that shows your good side, your hair is just right, there is good lighting, and you're smiling. There was a lady who really appreciated the ministry of a certain speaker. She asked, "Would you mind if I give you a picture of myself?" He said that would be fine. She signed it and put it in a note, and he didn't look at it until he got to lunch. It was an unusual personal photo; it was a picture of her hands.



Isaiah 49:15-16 from God's Word says, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." That lady gave away a picture of worn, wrinkled hands. You could see that those hands had obviously worked hard for a long time. That is how she wanted to portray her life.


God seems to be saying here, "If you want to know how I feel about you, look at this picture of me. Look at my hands." Do you know what the message is in His hands? "I will never forget you." In a stable, in a little town called Bethlehem, all the power of the Creator was packed into a little Jewish baby. His hands could not even grab His mother's nose. These are hands that created the world but became helpless when He became a human being.
See those hands touching people with healing at their point of need. Then see those hands nailed viciously to a cross. A few days later, those hands are extended to Thomas to prove that He is alive. Jesus is alive and glorified, but the nail scars are still there. Our engraving is on the palms of His hands.

Maybe you're in a time when other hands have left you or let you down. Maybe the hand you once held isn't there anymore. The hands that paid you or met your material needs may be closed to you now. The hands that once applauded you may be silent. Even the hands that would like to help you now cannot reach far enough to touch where you're really hurting.

Today, the Almighty God has His hands open, and He cannot forget you. Nail prints are there because of how much He loves you. No matter how alone you feel right now, He is offering all the grace, all the love, all the understanding, and all the power you need. God has you deep in His heart, and He is touching you even now. He wants you to know that. You are always on His mind, and you are safely in His nail-pierced hands. These are the words of a beautiful hymn classic: "I shall know Him when redeemed by His side I shall stand. I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side by the print of the nail in His hands."

Dick Bowler -- Kneeling in the Heart of God




Kneeling in the heart of God- kneeling in the heart of God-
worshipping Him for His works and His worthiness…

Kneeling in the heart of God- kneeling in the heart of God-
The world surrounding me seems gone, without trace.
I’m caught by His mercy; I’m amazed by His grace.
There’s no other one. There’s no other place
when I’m kneeling in the heart of God.

Kneeling in the heart of God- kneeling in the heart of God-
I cast my cares on Him, just like it says in His word.

Kneeling in the heart of God- kneeling in the heart of God-
Sometimes I think that’s what trials are for:
so we’ll come to Him sooner and stay with Him more.
I’m free to believe and I’m free to adore
when I’m kneeling in the heart of God.

Life like a whirlwind can turn me around,
blowin’ me up, throwin’ me down.
But it can’t touch me in this place I’ve found.
He’s too strong.

Kneeling in the heart of God- kneeling in the heart of God-

Sometimes I’m sure that’s what my trials are for:
so I’ll come to Him faster and I’ll leave Him no more.
I’m free to believe and I’m free to adore
when I’m kneeling in the heart of God.

The world surrounding me seems gone, without trace.
I’m caught by His mercy; I’m amazed by His grace.
There’s no other one. There’s no other place
when I’m kneeling in the heart of God.

That’s where I’ll be: kneeling in the heart of God.

The Pilgrim and The Apostate Christian




My friend, this story which I tell,
Is not new to your ear.
For it began so long ago,
And continues year by year.
It’s the story of a pilgrim
Who, clad in armor tight,
Met a worldly Christian
Who was not armed to fight.
Now perhaps it should be noted here
(Lest details should be lost)
That these two men had met before
While kneeling at the cross.
And both had donned the armor
Which the Captain did provide–
The breastplate and the Gospel shoes,
And the sword kept at their side,
The shield of faith, the Word of Truth
(A most abundant ration),
And best of all, upon their heads,
The helmet of salvation.
And both men picked their crosses up
And started on their way,
But had not gotten very far
Till one was heard to say,
“My cross is very heavy;
It doth hinder where I go.
I’ll drop it here along the way.
The Captain will not know.
And I will leave this narrow road
And walk the road that’s broad.
Then I’ll not need these heavy shoes
With which my feet are shod.
And won’t you travel with me, friend,
Along this easy way?
Think of all the fun we’ll have!
Oh, let’s begin today!”
But the pilgrim slowly answered,
“Friend, this I can not do.
I can not lay my cross aside
And travel hence with you.
For my will and my desires
Are in the Captain’s Hand.
And the cross which I now carry,
I do at His Command.
As for the road that’s broad, my friend
That’s not the way to go.
It leads to sure destruction,
For the Captain told us so.”
“Nonsense,” laughed the worldly one,
“They both end up the same.
But your road leads through battlegrounds,
And mine through fun and games.
For up ahead they stomp and shout
‘Hooray!’ and clap their hand.
‘The Lord has won another soul,
From the enemy of man.’
And, oh, it looks like so much fun
To clap and shout His praise,
And never fight the battle,
And never run the race.”
And so their pathways parted.
Each went their separate road.
One chose the way that looked like fun,
And one the crown of gold.
Now many times the narrow path
Does cross destruction’s way.
And so sometimes they chanced to meet
Like they did thus one day.
“Greetings, sir,” the pilgrim called.
And then he looked again
Lest his eyes deceive him.
Was this his Christian friend?
“But what’s happened to your loincloth?”
He asked in sure surprise.
“The everlasting Truth of Christ
That was gird about your thighs?”
“Oh that,” the other answered,
“I traded it away.
It’s more comfortable to wear,
The words that people say.
But you, my friend, look weary.
Is the battle raging hard?
Why not watch the Captain,
And cheer Him from my yard?”
“No, the Captain’s always with me,”
The pilgrim to him said.
“I can’t forsake Him now, you see.”
And so he plunged ahead.
And again the two were parted
As each continued on their way.
But oft the pilgrim thought of him,
And often he did pray.
The next time they came together
When the two ways met again,
The pilgrim sadly shook his head
When he saw his wayward friend.
“Where,” he asked so sadly,
“Is the plate of righteousness
That one time hung so brightly
From your laden chest?”
“It was so very awkward
That I left it by the way.
And instead I donned the works of men
That you see me in today.
For you see they suit me better,
And I think them rather pert.”
(And the pilgrim groaned in spirit
For they were but rags of dirt.)
“And your sword and shield?”
The pilgrim asked,
“Those also have you lost?
The ones the Captain gave you
When you knelt there at the cross?”
“I seem to have mislaid them,
But I really need them not.
Remember, my friend, I stand and cheer
When the battle wages hot.
All I really need, you see,
Is this helmet on my head
To keep me in His army,”
The deceived one smugly said.
“But surely you’re mistaken, sir.
Oh, don’t you see the Light?
You can not be His soldier if
You are not armed to fight.”
When the conversation ended,
Their paths again did part.
The pilgrim clad in armor full,
With a burden on his heart,
Turned again to battle
The enemy of man,
Trusting in his Captain
And heeding His Command.
And the riches and the treasures,
Which he acquired in his race,
Shone like jewels in his eyes,
And joy was on his face.
And when they met the next time,
Many years had passed.
They met again on Jordan’s shore,
And this time for the last.
“Well done, thou faithful pilgrim,”
Said the Captain of the fight.
“Removest thou thine armor,
And don this robe of white.
For thy battle now is over.
Thy victory has been won.
Come now into the wedding feast,
Thou good and faithful son.”
“Good Captain,” said the worldly one,
“I have no armor on
Save this helmet on my head.”
(But it, my friends, was gone!)
“O foolish, slothful servant!”
The Captain said that day.
“Without thine armor thou hast made
Thyself an easy prey.
For the enemy has crept upon thee
And taken thy salvation.
He led thee down the easy road
That leads to condemnation.
For thou wast never with me
When the battle waged so hot.
O ye that work iniquity,
Depart, I know thee not!”
And so the worldly Christian,
Who cast his armor off,
Joined his other playmates,
Eternally now lost.
But as you travel through your life,
You’ll meet many with his name.
And no doubt they’ll try and tell you
That the Christian’s life’s a game.
But it’s not a game, dear pilgrim,
For the Bible tells us so.
It’s a battle to the end,
And the winner gets your soul.

The Hard Times That Hurt You (Part 4)

Pieces and Masterpieces

They don't make garbage like they used to. Do you remember the good old days when you could throw away everything when you were done with it? Actually, those were not the good old days, because we were also trashing our environment. We now have the privilege of sorting through what used to be just garbage. Bottles, newspapers, cans, and glass are now called recyclables. It is amazing how garbage can be taken and then recycled into something useful again.


Genesis 50:20 from God's Word says, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Joseph is speaking to his brothers who left him in a pit and sold him into slavery. Now he is second-in-command of Egypt, saving their lives with the food program he has developed. Up close, this looked like tragedy but when you look at the big picture, it was the tapestry of God.


Joseph had a lot of garbage in his life—broken family relationships, false accusations, imprisonment, and abandonment. Eventually, the great plan of God led him, a Jew, to have authority over Egypt. Then he was able to save thousands of lives, including the lives of his own family, who were the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel.


God is the ultimate recycler. He can take the trash of your life and recycle it into treasure. You have to bring to Jesus what is broken, and He can turn those pieces into masterpieces. How does He do that? He will do it with His power, if you will do your part in the recycling process.
  • First, ask the right question. "Why is this happening?" will probably not get an answer. Work on asking, "How could God use this?"
  • Second, tell it all to Jesus. Bring Him all the pieces and all of the darkest feelings you have about what is broken right now.
  • Third, cancel all pity parties. If you don't, self-pity will become a prison for you, and the devil will win a victory.
  • Fourth, look for other people who are hurting. Through the hurts of your life, God gives you a brand-new sensitivity. He uses the broken pieces of your life to touch the lives of other people going through the same situation.
Consider the garbage in your life right now. What is broken in your life? Is it a family, a heart, a budget, a marriage, a dream, or a body? Bring Jesus the pieces. Remember, He makes those pieces into masterpieces!

The Hard Times That Hurt You (Part 3)

Slow Down For Construction


When we are in a hurry, we don't want to see certain signs on the highway such as "Reduce Speed" and "Construction Ahead." Slowing down for big construction areas can be a pain. It's an inconvenience, but things will be so much better when they're finished.



Psalm 23:1-3 of God's Word has comforted, challenged, and encouraged many people for many years. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul."

These words present a beautiful scene, but there are some potentially troubling words here: "He makes me lie down..." We tend to slow down rather unwillingly, but God has a lot of ways of putting on the brakes. God can use one visit to the doctor, a child who is in crisis, an emergency in the life of someone we love, or bad financial news as brakes to slow us down. It could be a dramatic change that we never could have anticipated. The brakes are different, but the result is the same - we get slowed down.

Maybe that is exactly where you are right now. It's possible that you have been traveling at a very high rate of speed. Maybe you have been trying to manage growth, manage a crisis, or build something new. Maybe you have been packing more and more into your life, trying to balance demands from every direction or trying to make things happen. Suddenly, God has hit the brakes of your life.

You can sit there and mutter and bang on the steering wheel, or you can realize why God is doing what He is doing. He knows you need quiet waters and green pastures right now. Your soul needs some restoring and you are tired, both inside and out. Don't fight it. This is His love in action. He knows you could not keep running at the pace you have been going.

Maybe you were running over people or past them or neglecting the people closest to you. Maybe you have begun to think that your work is your worth, and God has been crowded to the edge of your life. It's probably time for whatever kind of construction He wants to do.

If God has slowed you down or shut you down, relax in the knowledge that this is His plan. This is His love. This is His assignment right now, and His way to give you what you need most. Sure, the traffic has braked to a halt, but you are in a divine construction zone. God has slowed your speed so He can work on you. It will be worth the inconvenience. You will be so much better when the construction is finished, so be still and know that He is God.







The Hard Times That Hurt You (Part 2)

Father to the Finish



Many of the world's greatest dramas are not on a stage or a screen, but they are played out in that quadrennial spectacle we call the Olympics. One year Britain's representative in the 400-meter race, Derek Redmond, went down in the back stretch with a torn right hamstring. As the medical attendants approached, Redmond fought to his feet and set out hopping, desperately trying to finish the race. He knew he wouldn't win, he was just trying to finish.

When he reached the final stretch, a man came out of the stands, pushed past a security guard, and ran to Redmond and hugged him. That man was Jim Redmond, Derek's father, and he said to him, "Son, you don't have to do this." Gritting his teeth and with tears in his eyes, his son said, "Yes, I do." His father's reply, "Well, then, we're going to finish this together." Derek's head was sometimes buried in his father's shoulder, but they stayed in his lane to the end. When they crossed the finish line, the crowd stood to its feet, cheered, and wept as those two men finished the race.

Moses says to Israel in Deuteronomy 1:29-31 , "Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.'"

Maybe today you are tired, banged up, or stressed out, and like that 400-meter runner in the Olympics, you are staggering right now. You're having a hard time finishing your race. You started well, and you have been running hard, but you're about to go down. Maybe you have been hit by discouragement, illness, family trouble, a lack of support, or a lack of help. Maybe you've run into obstacles or pain and you are hurting, and there is still more of the race ahead of you. God wants to give you the good news that someone has left the stands to help you. He is coming to the track to help you finish the rest of the way. It's your Heavenly Father.

God left the stands to come to the cross, and there He rescued us from the sin wounds that would have kept us from reaching heaven. He knows we can't make it alone. He is an all-powerful Father who offers to carry us, but we have to let Him. If we are too proud to collapse in His arms and surrender to His control, then our power is limited, and we're not going to make it. If we will totally release control to Him and, in the words of Scripture, humble ourselves, we will have all His power. Even little children know where the power is when they sing, "...they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me."

Each of us experience days when we just don't have any more to give. Maybe you're there now. It's those moments in the race that can take you deeper into the love and power of Jesus than you have ever been before. Your Father is not a spectator in the stands today. His arm is around you right now, where you are. Listen to His voice saying, "We're going to finish this together!"

To Do Lost From God


I ran my life in search of worldly things;
My time and will were firmly in control.
I thought I had no need for what God brings;
I gave no heed to murmurs from my soul.

“You’re planning, doing all the time,” it said,
“But something else is missing deep inside.
Your mind is whirling, but your heart is dead,
So turn to God and let go of your pride.”

I did, and God said, “Here’s My plan for you:
Give your life to Me, and just let go.
Have faith and pray, and read the Bible through,
And you’ll have blessings more than you can know.”

So simple, yet it brings me perfect peace,
Living life for God the way I should.
Direction, purpose, fullness and release—
Life with God is very, very good.

You're Always There For Me

When the world comes crashing in
And chaos rules my mind,
I turn my heart to you, Lord,
And pure, sweet peace I find.

You lift me out of trouble
You comfort me in pain;
You nourish, heal and cleanse me,
Like cool, refreshing rain.

In times of joy and bliss,
When things are going right,
You lift me even higher,
And fill me with delight.

You listen to my prayers;
You hear my every plea;
I’m safe because I know
You’re always there for me.

The Hard Times That Hurt You (Part 1)

What To Do With Life's Dirty Words



Have you ever tried a soap sandwich? If so, it was probably when you were little after you said some words you weren't supposed to say. It seems logical that your parents would want to clean out your mouth after saying words like that. Right? Well, that is a punishment that does motivate you to not want to say that particular thing again, but there are some words far dirtier than the words that had us eating soap. They are dirty because they deeply hurt many people. Prepare yourself for some dirty words.

Romans 8:35-37 says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." This is an amazing passage. Paul gives a laundry list of the worst things life can throw at us, but he says we'll come out winners.

Here are some dirty words: cancer, divorce, fired, bankrupt, alone, death. Maybe you'd want to add other dirty words. They are dirty because of the way they hurt us or someone we love. They comprise our greatest fears. They are icebergs that can sink even the most Titanic people, but Paul says Jesus makes the difference. He says through Christ we can be more than a conqueror.

The test of the worth of what you are living for is this: Does it hold you together when everything collapses? How can you handle these dirty words of life? You say, "I'm not sure I could." Well, you can because God increases His grace as the demands increase. He gives cancer-grace for cancer, divorce-grace for dealing with a broken family, and bankruptcy-grace for financial problems. You've probably seen it for yourself when a widow stands by her husband's casket comforting you, saying, "Jesus is enough," a couple faces their five-year-old daughter's death from leukemia, or a man loses his business almost overnight.

Paul says in Romans 8:32 , "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" He met your greatest need at the cross. What need can He not meet? This is an inseparable relationship. When you face one of life's dirty words, you can answer back, "You can't touch Jesus. You can't touch my relationship with Him."

Motivational Articles

If you've ever had a goldfish, you know just what happens to them. You put them in a little goldfish bowl and they just keep swimming and swimming—trying to get out of the bowl. Then about three days later you have to put them in the other bowl. They live such short lives.

The crazy thing is that when a goldfish is put in that little bowl, it starts to produce an enzyme that keeps it from growing. When you take it out of the bowl and put it in a big pond, it starts to grow and grow into everything it could possibly become. If only it could get out of that goldfish bowl.

Are you in a spiritual goldfish bowl? If you get out now, God has so much more for you than you’ve ever experienced before. He wants to introduce you to the big pond you were made for.

God’s people are restless to move out of the confinement of a spiritual goldfish bowl. Though you may believe all the right beliefs, go to all the right meetings, and do the right things, maybe you feel that there's something more. There is still a big pond out there God has prepared for you. He wants to do something amazing through you. He is asking you to be a rescuer of others who are in need of a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.

In the upcoming posts I'll be writing some articles which I hope will act as a motivator to you to follow the Path that  Christ led... Know that your Saviour came into this sinful world... Lived as a human being.... Went through all the temptations that you are and went through... Still He defeated them all... Set Him as an example to lead your lives....

Monday, November 22, 2010

Where Trust is Born

Life Issues - Abuse
Border Collie Hiding in GrassMaybe you've been betrayed, abused, abandoned, or deeply hurt by people you should have been able to trust and it's hard for you to trust anyone. You've been hurt too often. That's Gal's story, too.

Most dogs are pretty aggressive in meeting strangers by coming right up to you, maybe even on you, but not Gal. She retreats when she sees people. She cowers and she trembles because she had been severely abused by several previous owners before she came to a safe home. She has a hard time even trusting people who want to treat her right, but she's missing a lot of loving that way. Wounded, afraid to trust, and missing a lot of love - that's not just the life story of abused dogs, it's the life story of millions of people.


It might be hard for you to trust someone who wants to treat you right, maybe even the Person who wants to give you the deepest love a human being can ever experience — God. You're not even sure how you feel about Him. There have been tragedies you don't understand and questions unanswered.

Even though the children sing, "Jesus loves me, this I know," you can't join their song because you haven't really trusted Him with everything you have. You've never really experienced this one "never leave you" love. That is, in fact, the promise Jesus makes to those who belong to Him. "Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5 ).
If you struggle to trust even the God who has the love and healing you need, consider Romans 8:31-32 , "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"

God says if you want to know that you can trust Him, go to His Son's cross. The only way for you to belong to God is to have the death penalty for your sin paid, and God gave up His Son to pay it. God doesn't want to lose you, because He really does love you. Just look at His Son, hanging on that bloody cross, pouring out His life in exchange for yours. Stand at the foot of that cross. You have finally found the one person you can totally trust. This Savior who loves you enough to die for you will never betray your trust. He will never do you wrong!

Trust is born at the cross of Jesus when you let the walls around your wounded heart finally come down and you say, "Jesus, I need a Savior. I need to be forgiven. I need Your love. Jesus, I'm Yours." If you've never done that, let today be the day the healing begins.
There's more love waiting for you than you ever imagined you could have. The arms of Jesus are wide open, extending to you hands with nail scars in them—proof of how much He loves you. Now, it's your move.

Hurt and Hiding



Life Issues - Abuse


Do you feel alone and have been too hurt to trust anyone? Somewhere along the way you've been hurt, abandoned, betrayed, or mistreated.

You're afraid to let anyone get close. In fact, you may have built up some pretty elaborate defenses to make sure no one does. You're really just afraid that they'll hurt you like someone else did.

Do you feel like no one else knows or understands what you're going through? There is someone today who does understand. He is waiting for you with His arms wide open, and He's the healing that your heart has always wanted. His name is Jesus.

Jesus is seeking you and wants to win your trust. He only wants to love and help you. His love will break through all of your fear and hurt. You've probably been looking and longing for this real love for a long time. It can be yours.

Jesus is waiting for you. He wants to comfort you and be your healer. Read these words from the Word of God that describe Him in Isaiah 61:1-2 , "The Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners." You see, Jesus is the healer of broken hearts and broken lives, the liberator from the darkness.



You might wonder if He can be trusted. The answer is found in Romans 8:32 , "He who did not spare His own son but gave him up for us all - how will He not also graciously give us all things." Later in that chapter it says, "Nothing can ever separate us from His love."

So, can Jesus be trusted? If you walk up that hill and stand in the pouring rain at the foot of His cross, you will see the agony Jesus suffered there. The nails in His hands and feet, the thorns pressed on His brow, the spear wound in His side, but most of all the total separation from God. You will then realize that He died to pay the death penalty for your sin.

Yes, you can trust this one who loved you enough to die for you. He's been waiting for you to turn your life over to Him so He can start the healing process that only He can bring. First you have to tell Him that you're putting your total trust in Him to be your Savior. That word "trust" is a hard one after what you've been through, but you can't just go on hurting, hiding, and feeling alone.

This one who loves you so much that He gave everything He had for you; He's the one person you can finally trust!

The Last Monster in the Dark

Life Issues - Death

Are you scared to die? Does thinking about your death make you nervous about eternity? You don't have to be afraid of that monster in the dark anymore.

The Word of God in 1 Corinthians 15:54 says, "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where oh death is your victory? Where Oh death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." There's the last monster - the one that lurks in the dark no matter how old we are - death.

A doctor, who is a follower of Jesus Christ, was at his 45th class reunion talking with another doctor friend, who was an atheist. All of a sudden the atheist said, "Can you tell me a little bit about what you believe in?" The other doctor responded, "Well I'd be glad to, but why are you asking?" The man who had been an atheist all his life said, "Well frankly, I'm nervous about eternity."

You should be nervous if you're not ready to meet God. God says that because of Jesus' death, death has been swallowed up in victory. This is because the only thing to fear about death ultimately is God. That's because of the Bible's verdict on all of us - that all have sinned and missed God's glorious perfection. The sentence that follows this verdict in the Bible says, "The soul that sins, it shall die."(Ezekiel 18:1 )

When an eternal death penalty hangs over us, we know it deep down inside. It rightfully makes us nervous about eternity. The incredible thing you need to know is that Jesus came as our substitute to die the death penalty that we deserve. If you put all your trust in Him, you will have your sin erased. John 5:24 says that the moment you come to Christ you cross over from death to a new life.

It is wonderful to look forward to eternity and to know the Savior who is waiting for you on the other side of your last breath. If you're not sure you do, you could take care of that right now. Death, that last monster in the dark, pursues us throughout our life, and it will ultimately catch us. If you have made a life-changing commitment to Jesus Christ, you don't ever need to fear that moment again. He has beaten that monster once and for all.


(This extract I dedicate to my friends - my brothers - Edwin & Austin, who recently had to undergo the pain of losing their father.)