Tag: Faithful God

Advent Day 20, Unfailing Love and Faithfulness-Where else can you find This?

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Today’s passage is from Psalm 89. This psalm begins with a declaration by the psalmist that he knows and trusts in God’s love. I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
    Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
2 Your unfailing love will last forever.
    Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Can you make this same declaration? Do you know that God’s love is unfailing and eternal? David had a life filled with challenges that serve as an example to us today that no matter what happens in our lives- God is always there with His eternal love.

Verses 19-26 Long ago you spoke in a vision to your faithful people. God made a covenant with His people and is faithful
You said, “I have raised up a warrior.
    I have selected him from the common people to be king. God choose David as king.
20 I have found my servant David.
    I have anointed him with my holy oil.
21 I will steady him with my hand;
    with my powerful arm I will make him strong. God promises to stand by David and support him.
22 His enemies will not defeat him,
    nor will the wicked overpower him.
23 I will beat down his adversaries before him
    and destroy those who hate him. His enemies will not overcome him.
24 My faithfulness and unfailing love will be with him,
    and by my authority he will grow in power. God promises faithful love and growth in our lives.
25 I will extend his rule over the sea,
    his dominion over the rivers.
26 And he will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,
    my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ David acknowledged God and he was called by God a man after His own heart.

Do you seen God’s hand in you life as David did? The promises made to David are ours to claim in Jesus. He came that we could be part of his forever family. He came that we would know Him and have Him to depend upon in our lives. He promises that temptations and enemies will not overcome us and that we will be victorious in Jesus. Can you claim that God is your rock and your salvation? Can you call him Father? In Jesus all this is possible. It is said that “Wisemen” still seek Him, will you be wise and seek Jesus this season? He is ready and willing if you will just call upon Him. Learn to know Him like David did and your life will be mightily blessed.

Linda

Advent Day 19, Being mindful-day by day

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Today’s Advent passage comes from 1 Thessalonians 5. The Apostle Paul had been doing some final teaching as this letter to the Thessalonian Christians concludes. Verses 12-22 gives us advice about what God expects of our lives now that we know Jesus. Can you relate to these admonitions today?

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. How do you view your church leadership? Do you praise their efforts? How about a special gift to them this season? Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.  Are you quick to judge the efforts of others? Do you carry your weight at work and at home? How are you at encouraging others? How’s your patience? 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Do you like to get back at people, waiting for the right time? Do you look for ways to help others regularly?

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  This one is hard- always be joyful, praying a lot and being thankful whatever happens! 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. Paul ends with this one two punch. We are not to try to subdue, thwart, put down the work of the Holy Spirit. Love all of God’s Word and cling to what is good. Do you claim God’s promises and hold onto them? Do you watch your actions to be sure you are not participating in anything evil?

Having given the Thessalonian Christians his parting advice, Paul leaves them with these words. Verses 23-25. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Paul is confident that God would see them and us through the trials of life. We just need to stay focused on Jesus and seek to live for Him daily. God is faithful and will not leave us or forsake us! Philippians 1:6 is a promise we can cling to with assurance. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

I pray that Paul’s words will encourage you and cause you to reflect this Advent season. Jesus is the reason! Keep that in mind always.

Linda

Advent Day 17, Restoration Assured in Jesus

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Our Advent calendar takes us to Psalm 126 today. This psalm is one of a group known as the Psalms of Ascent which were sung as worship songs. This song is one of praise and pleading to God for mercy.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
    and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
    we are glad.

In this first stanza the psalmist praises God for the great things He has done in their midst. He brought them back from captivity in Babylon after 70 years. He has restored their joy and their place among the nations. Praise is due to God in great abundance for his great mercy towards them.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
    like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
    shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    bringing his sheaves with him.

The second stanza asks for further restoration. They have seen what God has done and exclaim to Him what joys his grace and mercy have brought. God’s restoration has an electrifying effect on the people as it turns sorrowful tears and hard work to shouts of joy with great productivity.

As you reflect this Advent season, what has God done in your life this year that you are most grateful for? Did He turn circumstances around in your life? Did He bring blessings to you in a special way? Did He help you to mend a relationship or have the strength to end an addiction? Did you narrowly escape an accident or calamity? Did timing fall just right when you were waiting for results? God does many things in our lives and we need to take time to reflect and praise Him. Look for the hand or God, His providential care in your life- it is there! God is the great restorer. 1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Our hope is placed in Him who can redeem and restore us.

What do you desire God to restore this Advent season? Take a lesson from this psalm- praise Him for what He has done and lay before Him where you need mercy and grace. Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” God is faithful beyond measure and is merciful.

Linda

“I’m going to hold your hand”- God

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I love this next portion of Isaiah 41. God shows his love and compassion for His people Israel. He is their heavenly Father and treats them as His precious and special children. God knows they will be in captivity for 70 years and wants to encourage them during that time. Look at the “I”‘s in this passage. Whatever God says He will do, HE WILL DO! God keeps His promises.

Isaiah 41:13-14 “For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.
14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

These promises by God were to encourage the Israelites but they are meant for all God’s children. He loves and cares for each of us as His own. Romans 8:14 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Galatians 3:26 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,” Through our faith in Jesus, we are children of God. We are precious to Him. Psalm 147:11 “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Be encourage by the love your heavenly Father has for you and how much He cherishes you. When He says, “I Will”, He means it as a promise to each of us.

There are important truths about God and lessons we can apply to our lives from just these 2 verses.

*God promises to personally lead, guide, comfort and help those who believe and trust in Him.

*By holding our hand, God shows He cares for each of us.

*God promises to help us. He knows our circumstances and how to resolve all our problems.

*Since God will attend to us personally, we can know that we mean something to Him and have value in His eyes. We,

each one of us, are loved by the God of the universe!

*God reminds us that He is Holy, His character is pure and blameless, and He is our redeemer.

Be encouraged today by God’s special love for you.

Linda