Tag: news

Comfort Food for Healing and Strength

When the news of the day brings weariness, I ask God to give me an open heart and an understanding mind to receive His Word. Anyone else need a bite of comfort food?

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God . . . The voice of one crying the wilderness says, “Prepare the way of the LORD; . . . Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth;

The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5.

I must allow breakthrough of the water of the Word to run through the desert of my weariness. I will. Join me?

Yes, we will allow the Lord to move the mountains of trouble in our personal worlds today.

The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?”
“All flesh is grass. And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers and the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever” Isaiah 40: 6-8.

When circumstances are hard, we can see our God is greater.

We search His Word to increase our faith.

We take up the shield and God protects from all the fiery darts of the enemy, of doubt, and fear, and helplessness. The Word is living and alive. Our God is an awesome God:

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span . . . Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has taught Him?

With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice?

Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way . . .
Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales . . . to whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?  Isaiah 40: 12-18.
I choose to fear the LORD and take  hold of His Word that I might discern the lies from what’s true:

The voice of the Lord speaks, do we respond, “I will receive His love this day.”

“Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, . . . 

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10.

Father, Son, the Holy Spirit, three in One . . . He is the I Am speaking to us. He speaks personally.

He takes hold of me, personally, individually, and you.  My great and mighty God, Creator of the universe and all that’s in it, and yours. We can say, “He is mine.”

We will weep and cry aloud. And we will receive His love and healing. He is with us, now . . .

O how He loves you and me, O how He loves you and me,
He gave His life, what more could He give?
O how He loves you, O how He loves me,
O how He loves you and me.
Jesus to Calv’ry did go, His love for mankind to show;
What He did there bro’t hope from despair:
O how He loves you, O how He loves me,
O how He loves you and me.

(4) Oh how He loves you and me

What news are we investing time in?

We see and hear the news. Have we honestly been deceived in believing the daily news is of more value than the inspired Word of the God, who Loves and created us all?
With intelligence in technology, and language, and medicine, and law – have we really come to believe we can “live life without God?”
In Literature, we understand the best story has great conflict. Did we forget there’s an enemy that’s out to destroy? Did we forget he hates everyone? Satan deceives the world that God is the “kill joy.” When he, himself is the killer of all joy.
Satan hates. Satan lies. And he’s deceived the world that God doesn’t care.
Our hearts and minds are naturally dark from the fall.
By page 3, in the Book, the Bible, by name – we can clearly see, that God didn’t bring the ruin we often give Him blame.  Where is the curiosity to “check it out for ourselves?” Do we really believe the modern “opinion” of what the Book’s all about.
Did we forget that all the words that flow through our brains is not truth. All the words we read are not fact. Satan hates. And He is in full attack!
The name of “Jesus” is an offense. “Whatever you do, don’t speak of His name.”
Can’t you see the smirk on Satan’s face, when in the name of “Jesus” Satan has to flee.
Run to the Word. Seek refuge in God. Yell at Him if you must. Tell Him your heart. God is big enough to take your pain and your anger.
He sent His Son. Your debt has been paid. Talk to Him about Jesus. Ask Him what it’s all about.
His word will bring healing to your heart.
When we turn in our disaster to His good and precious Word. When we seek Him in brokenness, He won’t turn away,
He hears . . .
He hears . . .
Are you seeking His face? He will pour down on you, His grace.
Satan hates for any to believe. If you get on your knees, he has to flee.
A Book in the Bible, Nehemiah by name, tells a story, that today many can relate. Nehemiah received news about the state of his homeland.
“Those who survived the exile . . . are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:3.
Turn and open the pages in the Book. Watch Nehemiah’s response, after receiving news of the day:
 “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”   Then I said:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,  let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.” (Nehemiah 1:4-6).
Have we forgotten God is the creator of heaven, and is the great and awesome God?
Have we believed all the words of deception, of  “Big Bang” evolution – even though every day we see that through time all material things break down.
The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics – a universal law of decay. Yet book after book fill the libraries today that great systems evolved through eons of time.
Satan laughs through it all. He’s deceived God’s creation.
Back to Nehemiah, and his prayer. Could it be, that God will restore life and hope in the hearts of us all, if we simply open old, and sacred pages:
“I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.  We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,  but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’” (Nehemiah 1:6-9).
Can we humble ourselves and admit “sin” anymore?
“O God, turn us around. Restore. Restore!”
What medicine ever “tastes” good and is “easy to take?” The remedy of “turning to God and admitting my wrong,” isn’t pleasant,
but that’s when the healing comes. Do hard things.
Can you and I admit that we’ve been unfaithful? That our hearts feel “scattered” and torn. Can you and I receive today, the promise in the return:
“but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.” (Nehemiah 1:9).
I pray for a return of the children of God. Let’s pray “Revival.” And believe in our hearts that with God’s “great strength and mighty hand,” He will “gather” His children back and restore.
That the News of God’s Holy Word would be the priority above all things.
“Today, Our Father in heaven, in Whom we pray, and in the name of Jesus, Whom You gave to save, I humble and pray and seek Your face. Will You wipe away all my sin and disgrace? I believe healing, salvation and an outpouring of Your amazing grace. A new creation today, I’ll be. Thank you for gathering me, and setting me free. in Jesus name, Amen.”
 
 
 
 

Emotional Health 101

“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things,” Philippians 4:8
Eyes and ears, where are they? What are we repeating? The news, the daily troubles?  Does this break our heart and bring us down. Our emotional health needs a lift.
The Holy Book is our instruction manual, we are instructed to “Speak to one another in psalms and hymns.” Emotional health often comes when we go outside, but what if we are not able at this time. This hymn, I believe is the best remedy I can find:
This is my Father’s world,
And to my list’ning ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—
His hand the wonders wrought. (This is My Father’s World, Maltbie Babcock).
God is in control. We all know that we’re not. But we so often try to be, in control of everything.  The burdens are great, the cares are heavy, but today’s hymn lifts our eyes and ears out of doors, to help us let go, and let God lift us.
This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
“He makes us to lie down on pastures of green,”(Psalm 23). Oh, how we need to be made to lie down at times, that we take in the beauty and rest in the beauty and power of His creation.
Jesus warned us, In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
If God says to speak in hymns, then perhaps there’s healing when our ears hear aloud these  thoughts:
This is my Father’s world:
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world,
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.
How hopeful are the words, reminding with melody that faithful is the Lord.
We must rest in God’s nature and faithfulness, and as Paul the Apostle exhorted for us to “rejoice in the Lord!
“It is a safeguard for you,” Paul writes in Phil. 3:1.
Help for frazzled nerves, to read or sing aloud, and also to meditate on Psalm 23. Stop and read the familiar sounds, this is where God’s glory abounds:

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Psalm 23. The Holy Bible
Maltbie Davenport, This is My Father’s World