I know its been awhile but to be honest I just haven’t found the desire to blog. I’ve been too busy living life with my husband and our active children….thank GOD! It seems like spring came and went, and before I knew it school was out and summer started! WOW! Where has the time gone??
I want to blog again….I really do. I’m just gonna have to make the time and effort to do it! Hopefully it will be a little easier with summertime here! Maybe I can find the time to do what I do best…..share our family, our lives, and our faith.
Every morning I try to privately indulge in my devotions…..just me and God. TRY being the operative word…ha! It seems once the kids are up there is just no such thing as private time….anyone else know what I’m talking about? Well I try and share something, from my time with God, with my friends on facebook and today I want to share it with you too.
The author is a local woman whom God graced with ability to share His word in a beautiful way. I really liked this devotion today. Locally, our community has been going through major crisis’s and beautiful miracles. Personally, it has brought up some issues that re-occur from time to time. Well my God gave me this devotion because only He knows the internal wars that I struggle with and well He loves me….despite the ugliness of these struggles! Anyhoo….I pray that this may help someone else out the way it has helped me. Hope you enjoy!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was NEEDFUL for me to write unto, and EXHORT you that ye should earnestly CONTEND for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
When you hear the words “contend for the faith,” what do you think you are fighting against? Often we feel like we are supposed to fight against outside forces that try to tell us, pass laws against, or convinces us that Christianity is a myth and we are a group of nuts that will be stopped. At times we should fight and other times we should leave it to the Lord and let Him handle it.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,7,8 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ...a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
The deeper meaning of Jude1:3 is that the Lord KNEW that there would be an intense battle within each of us from time to time. Let's be brutally honest today: for real Christians, it isn't always EASY to keep up our level of faith (confidence) in the promises of God. There are times we pray (and even fast) for someone we love who is sick, yet they die. We pray for a job and the unemployment money runs out. We pray to have loyal friends, yet we walk alone. We pray for our own health and things get worse. This is where the FIGHT is! Common sense says, “just give up” but for some reason you can't! Paul understood exactly what this feels like:
Romans 7:23 “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
Why would God allow this kind of war to happen within US? In order for us to progress forward, we must go through a growing process. Our faith must be proven by being put under pressure. There is GREAT blessing coming, if you don't give up.
What are we supposed to do when we are so hurt, fighting anger and can't express it to anyone? You praise Him while your spirit is broken, praise Him while you are still sick, you praise Him while depressed, frustrated, confused. Cry yourself to sleep and then get up and go to church and worship the Lord. “Why?! I don't feel like it and , frankly, I don't WANT to!” Where else are you going to turn? Nothing else you do will help. Keep moving toward God by praising when the feeling (desire/want) is dead and gone! Cry out to God, praise Him anyway... and KNOW that you are not alone! All other Christians pass through these agonizing trials and Someone else is helping you too:
Romans 8:6,7 “Likewise the SPIRIT also helpeth our infirmities (weaknesses and failures): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And HE that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the Will of God.”
Hebrews 13:15 “By Him therefore let us offer the SACRIFICE of praise to God CONTINUALLY, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name.”
Today, you may be at the bottom, agonizing to keep your faith going. Don't give up, don't stop. You are passing THROUGH a trial from Hell itself. But you are still here, therefore, we know that God has a plan for you. Contend - fight HARD -by continuing to praise the Lord.
Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”
Make this your Thursday to dwell on and praise God because - no matter what is happening, how it feels, how long it takes to get through - God (the Creator of all things) loves you and He has a great plan, designed exclusively for YOU! =)
Teresa Gaskins ~
Jesus really does
love YOU!!
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