by Carol Roberts | Nov 16, 2018 | Love
Most of us have walked along the sand shore of a beach. The waters come only so far and no further. Each wave rises up only to be calmed before it reaches the limitations God has placed. Sometimes high tide allow the waters to come further but even then, the waves are stilled at the limit God placed.
In our lives come wave after wave of situations. Most go unnoticed because certain situations are a day to day occurrence to us. Other situations shake our focus onto the things taking place around us yet even those waves are calmed as they reach the limit God has placed.
No matter what we walk through in life we lift up to Him the truth and honesty of our feelings, disappointments and despair and He will return righteousness from His heaven upon us. His protection clasps around us like cupped hands. His lovingkindness endures forever.
Psalm 89:8-9 New American Standard Bible
O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 13, 2018 | Hope
In the state of Maine USA there is a tree which has long been dead. It still stands today dried up with no chance of any new buds or limbs. However a beautiful growth has appeared from this very tree that only God can create. When we look at this tree it gives renewed hope for our own situations that God can do all things, even impossible things.
In times when our lives are in turmoil with nowhere to turn God is still God. He provides answers from the impossible. God is not limited to certain obstacles nor is He limited to a certain number and no more. Whether our disappointments are many or our disappointment is one big disaster He is Lord of all things. He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
He takes our remnants of failed efforts and crumbs of unkept promises and recreates something more splendid than anything we can imagine.
Isaiah 55:8-9 New American Standard Bible
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 12, 2018 | Love
With a voice of singing let it be known that Jesus is Lord. Many sing and many accompany but which ever we do, let it be lifted up to our Lord. Many will say they don’t know how to sing but singing is any voice raised up to glorify God. Some will say they have no words to sing. Words are in the Psalms. Pick any one of the 150 and lift it up as a tune to God. It doesn’t have to be in tune and it doesn’t have to coo like a dove.
A sincere song from an honest heart honors God and He will inhabit the praises of His people. Music is universal both on earth and in heaven. When we praise God we praise along with the ones already in heaven allowing us to join at the very throne of Christ.
Jesus is worthy to be praised.
Colossians 3:16 New American Standard Bible
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 9, 2018 | Encouragement
There are times things work out exactly like we want. We are excited and happy for a while but then it’s back to business as usual. Other times things work out totally opposite the way we want and our neighbor is excited and happy for a while. Once the excitement and happiness wears off, it’s back to business for him as well.
The important thing is for each of us to remain loyal to what we are called to do. We are never held responsible for the way another person handles his/her job. As we reach up for His hand that reaches down to us, we will be pulled up every time. If we lose focus on His hand and where He is leading us it won’t be long before our focus is on everyone else.
Dr. Charles Stanley puts things in a nutshell when he states to obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. God will handle our consequences as we remain true to Him, otherwise the consequences will be ours.
Whether we get our way or another person gets his way our loyalty is to God. Nothing changes for us if we remain focused on what God wants us to do. If we tend to His business He will surely tend to ours. He will make our business beautiful in every way. Only trust Him.
Romans 12:10-13 New American Standard Bible
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 5, 2018 | Encouragement
Sometimes we walk through seasons in life where nothing fits. Everything falls apart. We make our plans and something comes up to distract us or destroy everything we work toward.
Our friends who are always pleasant toward us act harshly. We have not said nor done anything to anger them but somehow each one is abrupt for no reason at all. They have not consulted one another because each person and incident is unrelated.
We arrive on our job and learn changes have been made. The promotion promised is awarded to our enemy and we are expected to work under their leadership. A carpool of people break up leaving us to drive ourself and we have no car.
We pray honestly to God and our prayers bounce off the ceiling back onto us leaving us feeling worse than before.
What’s happening? We are loyal to God and our family and friends. We follow through on our promises yet everything around us comes unglued. We continue to smile and act the same but on the inside we are an emotional wreck.
Many times God allows His wrecking ball to hit us and smash us to bits. Only the strongest faith survives. It’s like the alabaster’s box of beautiful fragrances and anointing oils. The box is useless unless it’s broken to release what’s inside. While we are but a remnant of a person shattered into many pieces God receives the beauty that radiates from each sliver. From this beauty God recreates into something far more beautiful and rewarding. He grooms us to be useful to Him.
It doesn’t make sense to us but it all makes perfect sense to God. Our lives are His to do with what He pleases but no hurt goes without a special blessing and a replacement far greater than anything we can imagine. God keeps all promises and when the focus is on Him the potential is limitless even in the midst of a shattered spirit.
Deuteronomy 7:9 (NASB)
Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;