by Carol Roberts | Mar 13, 2016 | Encouragement
Ask any carpenter and he will tell you how useless a bent nail becomes while nailing two pieces of wood together. To make matters worse he has to use a special leverage technique to remove the bent nail that is now embedded in the wood. Once the bent nail is removed it is discarded or sent to recycle. But, what would happen if that same discarded nail was taken and beaten back out straight? It would not be perfectly straight and it would have creases and dings but it could very well work. It may not look all that great but the very creases and dings created during the straightening process are the enforcements that secure the two pieces of wood even more.
What if we come to God with our brokenness where something didn’t work out? We have no accomplishments to bring to God’s throne room, only a failed effort. God reaches out His loving hands and asks for those broken dreams, heart aches, disappointments and failures to be placed in His outstretched hands. At first it’s the most painful emotion ever imagined because He takes all the pain and beats out the things that do not fit His plan. After much letting go, tears and sorrow becomes the greatest peace ever experienced. There are many scars to show for the love God placed into each situation yet it’s those scars that are the strongest asset in holding others together in the love of Jesus. What others meant to destroy, Jesus mends and makes useful. There is no situation wasted when Jesus is the center of the healing and the object of usefulness.
Romans 5:1-2 New Living Translation
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
by Carol Roberts | Mar 12, 2016 | Hope
There was a man no different than any other man. He had a job, wife, kids and good health. He was a church going man and loved the Lord with all his heart. Similar to the servant, Job, one day his health failed. There were cancer treatments and even recurring cancer. His wife left him for another man, one for whom was not even interested in the Lord. After that his job was no longer available.
This man continued to seek God first with an attitude of service. It wasn’t long before a better job was offered to him and cancer treatments worked. He is now in full remission.
Why this man was allowed to go through this, only God knows. However, a sincere prayer from this man on behalf of another is one of the most powerful prayers that can ever be said. His prayers come from a fully exposed heart and a welcoming attitude of wanting to please God.
Then there is Christ. He is Lord who became flesh and endured all hardships possible, even death. He overcame them all. To pray to Jesus, Who has all answers, is the key to all things in life. He grooms powerful men and women through trials to create genuine care for others. Jesus demonstrates His love for us while we sin He still gives His life for us.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
by Carol Roberts | Mar 11, 2016 | Encouragement
If His word abides in our hearts and we abide in Him, we can ask whatever we want and He will hear and answer our prayers.
While we express to God our deepest thoughts and desires and the need for a specific answer, we can expect far more than our greatest imagination. We know God is working but what about those long periods of silence. Has God forgotten? No. There is nothing wrong with asking God for a sign that He is still involved. It is not an indication of weakness to touch base with God on the specific matter we put in His care. He is very willing to give us signs of encouragement along the way by demonstrating His love to us. The sign may not even be related to the thing we have trusted in Him for so long.
Sometimes after a genuine prayer concerning something very special to us comes an unexpected answer from the right person at the right time concerning another complicated situation. This is a sign from God that He works out all situations, even the ones we do not ask. These are the type of signs that are an encouragement that God has not forgotten any request. When we ask and are expecting to hear, it is exciting because it will be greater than our expectations. When we trust God and let Him bring the sign of His choice there is a glorious surprise along with the excitement.
Isaiah 7:10-14
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”
Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
by Carol Roberts | Mar 9, 2016 | Love
The Bible contains facts about our Lord Jesus Christ. His word tells how and where He was born and why He came to earth. It tells of many great miracles, approximate dates He was here and He now sits at the right hand of God. He created man in His image and everything on earth just by speaking. These are just a handful of amazing facts about God.
Another thing His word tells us is that we can have a personal relationship with Him. There is no better way to get to know Him than to spend time alone. He lets us know Him as we search the Bible for answers. There will be people along the way God will allow to say the right thing at just the right time. There will be times when we are still and thoughts will just happen where we know God sent them. The Bible mentions many times to be still, speak little and listen a lot. God loves us all and He longs for personal time from us. This is the highest honor when God, Who is divine, wants attention from us. He is our everything as we let Him.
Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
by Carol Roberts | Mar 8, 2016 | Hope
Here I am and I want to stay. Thank you that You never turn me away. All I bring with me is a suitcase full of things I no longer need. I am unpacking my jealousy because You want me to be my best and not my neighbor’s rival of their best. I am unpacking my mind’s lack of belief. Lord, I believe with all my heart but my mind sees and tells me the opposite of what You do. I really don’t need this in my suitcase anymore. I am also unpacking my demands to have my own way because I mess it up every single time. You do things far better than my best efforts. Lord, I’m turning my suitcase upside down and dumping everything out. The things in my suitcase are only baggage. I empty it out to You. I await You to take my suitcase and store it away. Now you can fill my room in Your will with all the things that will be of value to You.
Thank you for not turning me away, no matter what was in my suitcase. I ask You to remind me if I am ever tempted to pack that suitcase again with something that doesn’t belong.
John 6:37
All those the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away.
