God will provide!

'...do not worry...' Matthew 6:31 NIV

King David writes, 'I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread' (Psalm 37:25 NIV). Nobody can say that King David lived a 'sheltered life'! He lived on the front line, and so when as an old man he shares his reflections about the way the world works we need to pay attention. His advice to the next generation is to learn how to lean on God: 'Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this;' (Psalm 37:3-5 NLT). The sad thing is, even though David, Israel's greatest King, took the time to write down this advice, and even though it was taught year in year out in the schools and the synagogues of the land, the people just didn't follow it. When Jesus began to minister He had to deal with the same issue saying: 'Do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?"...your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well' (Matthew 6:31-33 NIV). So today, relax, no really, chill, trust, God will provide!

SoulFood: Deut 18-21, Luke 12:1-12, Ps 119:17-24, Pr 17:7-10

Friday, 07 August 2009

http://www.word4u2day.com.au/200908061819/God-will-provide.html?bsb_midx=0

Every problem is an opportunity to trust God

We all experience difficulties, problems, and trials throughout life. Usually, we also look for ways to solve those problems. All of the various solutions basically ask one of these two questions: "What can I do to solve this?" Or, "What can God do to solve this?"

In other words, we either try to solve the problem on our own, or we let God solve it. Obviously, it is much wiser to give your problems to God.

Therefore, in the midst of your problem, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Trust God to solve your problems. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal (Isaiah 26:4).

During your trials you should frequently quote Psalm 91:2: I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Furthermore, when you're truly trusting in God, there is nothing to worry about. Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me" (John 14:1).

Make this your cry: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7).

Trust the Lord God Almighty in every area of your life, even during problems, because every problem gives you an opportunity to trust God.

Weekly Wisdoms for the week of July 20, 2009

http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2009-07-20

In His Time ♫

In His time, in His time.
He makes all things beautiful, in His time.
Lord, please show me every day,
As You're teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say,
In Your time.

In Your time, in Your time,
You make all things beautiful, in Your time.
Lord, my life to You I bring,
May each song I have to sing.
Be to You a lovely thing,
In Your time

Role Models

During a summer of international sports scandals involving gambling and substance abuse, two athletes were applauded for their character as much as their professional accomplishments. A record crowd of 75,000 cheered Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn during their 2007 induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. “Whether we like it or not,” Ripken said, “as big leaguers, we are role models. The only question is, will it be positive or will it be negative?”

Gwynn echoed the sentiment: “There’s more than just playing the game of baseball. . . . You’re responsible, you’ve got to make good decisions and show people how things are supposed to be done.”

Every day, people are watching us. As followers of Christ, we are guided by Paul’s challenge to “become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).

Compromise causes others to become disillusioned, while character fosters hope. As the life of our Savior flows out from us, we can encourage others and point them to Him.

What kind of role model will we be for someone watching today? — David C. McCasland

Guard well your life, to the Savior be true;
Many are watching each deed that you do;
Hence if you stumble and fall in deep sin,
It will prove harder lost souls here to win. —Bosch

The best role models model Christ.

July 26, 2009
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2009/07/26/devotion.aspx

God knows best

'With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment.' Proverbs 3:5 CEV

‘I told you so! I knew it! I'm right!' We all enjoy saying words like that don't we? We all want to be right and hate being wrong. But we need to get used to being wrong if we want to live the Christian life. 1 Corinthians 1:25 says: ‘For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom...' That means that even the cleverest thing we could ever say sounds so not clever to God.

A guy in the Bible called Job, had to go through some really rotten stuff in his life and one day he was moaning on to God about it and asked God if He really knew what He was doing? Job thought he was being clever! But God put him in his place saying things like, ‘Right Job, did you put the stars in place? No, you didn't! So until you can do stuff like that, don't even think about questioning me, because I obviously know well more than you. Just trust me!' (for the full version of this chat, read the last few chapters of the book of Job). It silenced Job good and proper. How can you possibly answer that? Well that's just the thing...you can't...no-one can. We were never meant to figure everything out by ourselves, we were meant to ask God and learn from Him. So go on ask...and keep asking. He'll tell you everything you need to know.

Friday, 05 June 2009

http://www.word4u2day.com.au/200906021751/God-knows-best.html

You need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither

People who live in affluence for all of life (such as many people in North America and Western Europe) can easily become so accustomed to wealth, blessings, and prosperity that they can easily forget what blessings they actually have. However, if those possessions are taken away, those people will certainly look at life with a new perspective, realizing how much they really had.

You don't realize how much you have until you don't have it anymore.

God knows the importance of balance; that is, the importance of having both blessings and difficulties. There are several scriptures that speak about this balance. For example in 1 Peter 4:13, we are told: Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. Notice how we participate both in suffering and in joy.

Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 1:7, Paul wrote this to the church in Corinth: And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. They experienced both suffering and comfort.

Don't become too comfortable with what you have, because when you forget that the things you have are a blessing from God and when you start to assume that they are guaranteed possessions, it is quite possible that God will take them away from you in order to teach you that you need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.

Weekly Wisdoms for the week of June 8, 2009

http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2009-06-08

Don't doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light

No matter how hard you try, in a room that's completely dark, you'll never be able to see anything. Even if you know for sure that something is in the room, it's impossible to see it if the room is totally dark. You know it's there, but you just can't see it.

That's what faith is like. You may be absolutely confident that God loves you; however, during the difficult and dark times in life, you may not be able to see that love.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Even when you don't see God's love for you, you can still have faith that he loves you -- that is, you can be certain that he loves you, even though you don't see it.

During those "dark times" in your spiritual life, you may not be able to see God's love, his faithfulness, his grace, or his promises to you; however, don't lose your faith. Be certain of what [you] do not see.

One day, your faith will be sight.

Weekly Wisdoms for the week of June 1, 2009
http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2009-06-01