Tonight as I tried to settle in for my nightly devotional time, my mind was filled with feelings and thoughts of the day. I ask God to provide some direction for my study time, I’m here to tell you God provided not merely direction but a beacon! Below are the scripture verses that are from three different apps I use daily on my iPhone. I do not believe it was coincidental the passages had a familiar tone to them. I had been thinking about my life and trying to understand how different I think I am from everyone else, someone close to me suggested that it’s not how different I see myself from others but rather look within myself and be proud of who I am and stop trying to put myself into someone else’s idea of who I think I should be. Along with all this thinking, I have a friend who is experiencing difficulties and my heart is heavy because I want to help, physically help and be supportive and I feel inadequate for several reason but the best help I can do is pray for her and her children. Pray for peace and clarity for her. God is our shelter in troubled times, He is our strength when we are weary, He is our salvation! Life is messy sometimes and difficult, very difficult but we are never alone, the world and the people around us can do many terrible things to us but no one can take our spirit, we alone hold the key, we can give it away but it can never be taken. None of us are perfect, if we were Jesus would not have had to suffer and die for our sins. I know I have made some really bad decisions in my life and these verses remind me that truth is always right, especially when it hurts so deeply. This is a lesson I struggle with at times because I do not like to see someone else hurting but some lessons can only be learned by experiencing it first hand. It’s like laughing and crying, at some point in your life you have had to experienced these two emotions separately, how else would you truly appreciate laughter if you had never experienced the depths of what is its direct opposite, pain and crying. As my friend is living through troubled times I pray that she feels the loving arms of Jesus wrapped around her, that she knows that God loves her and her kids. God knows every truth, every wrongdoing and I am reminded of the scripture passage in John 8:32 “…and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Free to be a child of God, free to love your children. My friend, I am here for support and friendship. Trust God and cling to His promises. Deuteronomy 31:6 (NRSV)
“Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.”
“Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.” ~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe – Writer, playwright (1749-1832)
“The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” ~Proverbs 12:19
“Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.” ~Proverbs 14:7
“Do not dare not to dare.” (The Horse and His Boy) ~C.S.Lewis
~ Blessing and Peace~
HOPE SEEKER 