TRUST IN GOD AT ALL TIMES! Encouragement for Today!

"Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

John 11:40 (NIV)

Devotion:

Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus were in Jesus' inner circle of friends. As part of the "in" crowd, Mary and Martha felt certain Jesus would come to them when Lazarus got ill. They had seen Jesus heal and minister to complete strangers. Surely, He'd come to those whom He loved. However, we see in John 11:4-6 that was not the case.

Jesus indeed loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Yet, when He heard that Lazarus was sick He stayed where He was two more days.

Let's pause here for a moment. I find it very confusing that while Jesus loved His friends, He waited two days before He went to their side. These verses appear to validate our fear of rejection. We think, "If Jesus ignored His friend Lazarus, then He can ignore me too."

After my husband died, I felt unloved and forgotten by God. I had trusted Him and believed as His child nothing bad would happen to me. When something bad did happen, I bought Satan's lie. "I knew it, God. I knew You really didn't love me!" I believed Satan's propaganda which caused me to doubt God. He had promised never to leave or desert me, but there I was, alone. How could God betray me? I wondered.

Do you know that hollow, helpless feeling that accompanies the pain of rejection, loss, and loneliness? It may be the loss of your home, the loss of a pregnancy, or perhaps a loved one rejected you in some way. The pain of that rejection warns that trusting again is too risky.

The truth is, when you and I experience either emotional or physical trauma, and God doesn't respond like we think He should, we will do one of two things. Either we turn to God, trusting Him with the result; or we run from God and feed on bitterness. But it doesn't have to be this way. We can learn to trust again.

Perspective is often limited by circumstances. God knows exactly what He's doing in your life and it's always based on love. When I'm overcome with fear I'm not really looking for answers. I'm looking for the assurance that God is near, that He's in control, and He cares about me and my circumstances.

While others may reject us, you and I need not fear rejection from God. As I began to understand that God had not left me, but was in the pit with me, I started to see a deeper truth. Bad things are going to happen to me while on earth. Usually they are the result of living in this fallen world.

Sickness, abuse and death are part of life in a fallen world that God will someday restore. Until then, God may allow me to go through these things. It's not to cause me any undue pain, but rather He allow them and then use them to accomplish spiritual growth. Charles Stanley explains, "Some things are so important to God that they are worth interrupting the happiness and health of His children in order to accomplish them."

This was true with Mary and Martha. Jesus told Martha that she would see the glory of God if she believed. Did you catch that? Believing is seeing. If you and I choose faith over fear, we will see the glory of God turn our pain into life and blessings.

As Mary and Martha believed, they witnessed the glory of God when He raised their brother from the dead. Their fears vanished and their faith was restored. If you and I want to exchange our fear for faith, we must believe that what Christ has in store for us is worth our present pain.

Dear Lord, even when I don't understand Your actions, help me trust that You have my best at heart. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

GET YOUR REST THIS HOLIDAY SEASON from the girlfriends of god

Matthew 11:28-29 (NCV) "Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives."

It seems that during the holiday season, we frantically race from activity to activity, desperately keeping track of the items on our "to do" lists, but losing sight of who and what and important. I am a Master List Maker! I have even been known to write down things on my list that I have done - just so I could mark them off. I know. But I tend to equate the success of my day with the length of those lists. I constantly battle this behavior...especially during the holidays.

Rest is usually way down on my list of things to do. I am such a slow learner in this area of life. Why, I don't need to rest because ...well, I am Superwoman, right? So very wrong! God is so good to "give" me rest and is so creative in His ways of doing so. Illness, cancelled appointments, missed flights, or unexpected company will force me to stop and rest, focusing on the important things in life like time with God, family, friends, and health. We can cheat this thing called "rest" short-term but the inevitable truth that we need and must rest will play out in our life.

During the holiday season, carve out time each day to rest. Get a good nights' sleep. Take a 10 minute walk. Learn the art of the 15 minute nap. Turn off your phone, don't answer the door and spend 30 minutes in total silence. Play a game with your children or visit a shut-in neighbor. Rest can come in many ways. Discover what replenishes you, what rests your soul, and make it a daily habit.

Let's Pray
Father, forgive me when I abuse my physical body by not getting enough rest. I want to be obedient in this area, but Lord, it seems to be so hard for me. I need Your power to help me make the right choices about how I spend my time. I need Your strength and love to remind and encourage me to be obedient when it comes to rest. I want to praise You and worship You this holiday season by choosing to rest.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

Think of one person who is replenishing in your life. Make a plan to spend time with that person this week.

Identify one activity that reduces stress in your life. Make a plan to incorporate that activity into your schedule this week.

Read Psalm 23 every day during the month of December and regularly measure your stress levels.

Make the commitment today to walk in obedience as you learn and choose to rest.

Ask a friend to hold you accountable in learning to rest

THE PORTAL'S OF HEAVEN By Mary Ann Trott

THE PORTALS OF HEAVEN

Oh to see the Portals of Heaven,
and my sweet Saviour standing there.
My heart longs to be with Him
In the land so bright and fare.

I hear Your voice inside my heart,
Calling out to me.
Come my child,
to the land so rich and free!

We walk along those golden streets,
Just my Lord and I,
His presence leaves me breathless,
As I watch Him passing by.

He smiles at me as we stroll along,
The Chrystle Sea so green,
I follow close beside Him,
Such beauty I have never seen!

But no one compares to My precious Lord,
whose nail scarred hands I see,
I fall upon my knees at last,
Giving praise for what He's done for me!

�
Mary Ann Trott
May 24, 2009

Dare to Be Different!

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WAY'S TO ENJOY HAPPINESS EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE - CORALIE

Daily life can be made happier. It is a matter of choice. It is our attitude that makes us feel happy or unhappy. It is true, we meet all kinds of situations during the day, and some of them may not be conductive to happiness. We can choose to keep thinking about the unhappy events, and we can choose to refuse to think about them, and instead, relish the happy moments. All of us constantly go through various situations and circumstances, but we do not have to let them influence our reactions and feelings.

If we let outer events influence our moods, we become their slaves. We lose our freedom. We let our happiness be determined by outer forces. On the other hand, we can free ourselves from outer influences. We can choose to be happy, and we can do a lot to add happiness to our lives.

What is happiness? It is a feeling of inner peace and satisfaction. It is usually experienced when there are no worries, fears or obsessing thoughts, and this usually happens, when we do something we love to do or when we get, win, gain or achieve something that we value. It seems to be the outcome of positive events, but it actually comes from the inside, triggered by outer events.

For most people happiness seems fleeting, because they let changing outer circumstances affect it. One of the best ways to keep it, is by gaining inner peace through daily meditation. As the mind becomes more peaceful, it becomes easier to choose the happiness habit.

Here are a few tips for increasing happiness in daily life:

1) Endeavor to change the way you look at things. Always look at the bright side. The mind may drag you to think about negativity and difficulties. Don't let it. Look at the good and positive side of every situation.

2) Think of solutions, not problems.

3) Listen to relaxing, uplifting music.

4) Watch funny comedies that make you laugh.

5) Each day, devote some time to reading a few pages of an inspiring book or article.

6) Watch your thoughts. Whenever you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, start thinking of pleasant things.

7) Always look at what you have done and not at what you haven't.

Sometimes you may begin the day with the desire to accomplish several objectives. At the end of the day you might feel frustrated and unhappy, because you haven't been able to do all of those things.

Look at what you have done, not at what you have not been able to do. You may have accomplished a lot during the day, and yet you let yourself become frustrated, because of some small things that you did not accomplish. You have spent all day successfully carrying out many plans, and instead of feeling happy and satisfied, you look at what was not accomplished and feel unhappy. It is unfair toward yourself.

8) Each day do something good for yourself. It can be something small, such buying a book, eating something you love, watching you favorite program on TV, going to a movie, or just having a stroll on the beach.

9) Each day do at least one act to make others happy. This can be a kind word, helping your colleagues, stopping your car at the crossroad to let people cross, giving your seat in a bus to someone else, or giving a small present to someone you love. The possibilities are infinite. When you make someone happy, you become happy, and then people try to make you happy.

10) Always expect happiness.

11) Do not envy people who are happy. On the contrary, be happy for their happiness.

12) Associate with happy people, and try to learn from them to be happy. Remember, happiness is contagious.

13) Do your best to stay detached, when things do not proceed as intended and desired. Detachment will help you stay calm and control your moods and reactions. Detachment is not indifference. It is the acceptance of the good and the bad and staying balanced. Detachment has much to do with inner peace, and inner peace is conductive to happiness.

14) Smile more often

The Coming Week - Dreamcatchers

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