We are Not Alone

I know there are many who are going through difficult times.  Thank goodness we are not alone.  God is with us - our refuge, our help in times of trouble.  How faithful He is.

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."  Deuteronomy 33:27

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."  Psalm 143:8

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Psalm 46:1

"The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms."  Deuteronomy 33:27

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe."  Proverbs 18:10

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."  Psalm 18:2

On hard days, it helps me to speak out the promises from the Word of how God is there to help me.  There are so many.  I quote them, sing them, pray them.  They become alive in my heart as I do that.  He is with me, always there to help me.  And He even "carries" me when my strength lags.  I'm so grateful.

His Unfailing Promises

I hope you had a lovely Christmas Day.  This year was more tender for me than last year.  I'm not sure why.  So many memories went floating through my mind, and all of them reminded me of Floyd.  I'm grateful for all the Christmases we had together.

My personal theme this year was Emmanuel - God with us.  I am so, so thankful for the truth of that.  While I missed Floyd, I knew God was right by my side continually.  His sweet presence carried me through.  Thank you, Lord!  In tender moments, I rest in the sweet promises from the Word.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' " Psalm 91:1,2

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38,39

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."  Isaiah 43:1-3 

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you."  Deuteronomy 31:6 

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

When I'm concerned about my health; when I miss Floyd; when I wish I could be with family; when I feel weak; whenever I face any difficulty - I stand on the wonderful, strong promises of God.  They are unfailing!!!  They bring comfort and strength.  God knew what we would need and provided the words of comfort that strengthen us.  How awesome and faithful He is!

It's hard to believe that a brand new year is upon us.  2022 has flown by!  There have been joys and sorrows, good days and hard days, answers to prayers and prayers still being lifted up, provision and need, peace and anxious moments - it's definitely been a year of mixtures. 

And now we're starting all over again with a blank slate.  I wonder what this new year will hold.  There's never a dull moment in walking with the Lord!  I'm praying for miracles, for suddenlys, and for God to move in wonderful ways.

I've been watching the new episodes of The Chosen season 3.  There's a scene in the 2nd episode that has touched me deeply.  Jesus has just told the disciples that He is sending them out 2x2 to minister in His name, healing the sick, and casting out demons.

Little James comes to Jesus to clarify this - wondering how he can heal people when he himself has not been healed of his lameness.  Jesus asks if he wants to be healed, and he says yes, of course.  Jesus tells him it's possible to heal him, but He hasn't because He trusts him.  He wants him to praise God in spite of his lameness.  Jesus explains that Little James has true strength because of his weakness.

As you might imagine, Little James struggles with the concept of being patient with his lameness, his suffering.  Jesus tells him that he will spend all of eternity with no suffering.  He quotes from Job - "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord."

I've watched this scene a number of times because I relate to Little James.  I know it's "possible" for Jesus to heal - both me and many others.  But I'm still living with cancer.  I want to fulfill His purposes in my life in spite of the cancer!  I know His strength is made powerful in my weakness.  I trust God to help me live that out.

In the new year ahead, I'm asking God to give me fresh grace for my journey.  I know His mercies are new every morning.  I know the joy of the Lord is my strength for whatever I face.  I look to Him and trust Him to help me day by day.

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  Psalm 73:26

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord."  Psalm 31:24

"The joy of the Lord is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10 

"God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect."  2 Samuel 22:33

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness."  Romans 8:26

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Psalm 46:1

The Word is full of promises of God helping us in our weakness, sickness, and time of need.  I stand upon those promises in the new year ahead.  

Tante Corrie ten Boom said - "You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have."  I'm so grateful we have Christ in the year ahead!

Our Emmanuel

This week we had "Giving Tuesday."  I'm not sure how it got that designation, or who thought up the idea.  But I like it!  Maybe after Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping someone thought it would be nice to do some giving.  :)

I've always loved to give.  My mother told me I've always been like that.  I would go through my cupboards and give away toys, hair accessories, simple jewelry and clothes.  I so enjoyed giving to my nieces and my neighborhood friends.  I admire my mother's ability to let me do that......but she herself was such an example of giving.  She gave through her food, and in spite of her limited budget, she always had something to put in the offering plate at church.  She was an incredible giver!

When Floyd and I got married, we had to talk a lot about this because, of course, I wanted to keep giving.  We didn't have much money to give, but I still wanted to give from my "things" that I had.  I so admire Floyd.....instead of fighting me on my desire to give, he decided to join me.  That began a lifetime of giving for us.  We didn't have much, but we always gave.

Two memories come to mind.  When we were newly married, we were at a staff gathering and an offering was taken to send one of our workers to Pakistan.  The Lord spoke clearly to both of us to empty our pockets and wallets and give "everything" we had.  That everything wasn't much - I'd be surprised if it was even $25.....but we did it.  It was a wonderful journey of faith to see how God, in turn, met our needs in the days ahead.

Another time we were traveling and speaking in churches.  We had spoken at a church in Ohio.  During the service, an offering was taken for a missionary.  Again we felt prompted to give our all, little though it was.  After church we went and sat in our car - a YWAM vehicle that we were using for our travels.  The petrol tank was almost empty.  We had no where to stay that night, and we hadn't eaten dinner.  So - we sat in the car and prayed.  We decided with some creative maneuvering we could sleep in the car.  

As we were starting to get things arranged, a car drove up to the driver's window.  A man introduced himself.  He had been at the service that night, and was touched by the sermon Floyd gave.  He was at home, readying himself for bed, when the Lord spoke to him to go back to the church and find us and give us a gift.  He was sure we would be gone, but he obeyed - and gave us $100.  That was a fortune to us!!  We got something to eat, put petrol in the car, and found an inexpensive motel to stay for the night.  And there was some left over to help us as we went to the next place we were speaking.

I have so many of these testimonies tucked away in my heart - some special ones from even before I married Floyd.  These testimonies have created a foundation of trust in my heart.  They showed me that I can give as the Lord leads, and He will always take care of me/us.  He took care of us and the houseful of hippies in Afghanistan when we often didn't have money for the next meal to feed everyone.  God has been a wonderful provider.....and He loves to give too!!

I can't think about the Lord without thinking of His love and generosity.  Through these last years when things were so hard, the Lord gave to me continually.  He gave love, comfort, strength, grace, courage, protection, healing, wisdom, and so much more.  He provided for our needs over and over again.  I can hear in my mind my mother saying so many times - "you can't out-give the Lord."  There is not a truer statement.

As I thought about giving Tuesday this week I feel so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to be a giver - regardless of what I had.  Usually it wasn't much, but I loved giving.  It's truly one of my favorite things in life. 

"Freely you have received; freely give."  Matthew 10:8 

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."  Proverbs 11:25

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give - for God loves a cheerful giver."  2 Corinthians 9:7

"Give, and it will be given to  you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  Luke 6:38

I can hardly believe that the year is almost over.  It seemed to fly by - quicker than normal.  It was a year of contrasts.  Joy and sorrow.  Trials and triumphs.  Healing and sickness.  Smiles and tears.  Peace and nervousness.  Abundance and need.  It reminded me of the book of Ecclesiastes - a time for everything.

The month ahead is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus.  I love this month!  I'm so grateful He came, and I rejoice in the fact that He is our Emmanuel - God with us.  I wouldn't survive a minute without Him being with me.

When I am going through a rough time, my favorite thing to do is to take a few minutes and speak out what Jesus is to me.  He is my Refuge.  My Rock.  My Fortress.  My strong Tower that I run to.  My Strength.  My Healer.  My Provider.  My Comfort.  My Encourager.  My Companion.  My sufficient Grace.  My Joy.  My Protector.  My Hope. My Counselor.  My Courage.  I could go on and on.  He is my Everything!

When I take time to speak out all that Emmanuel is to me, it puts things in perspective.  It balances things out.  When I don't do that, I can easily get overwhelmed with the problems and forget that Emmanuel is with me.

I'm so grateful for His help and presence - day and night, 24/7, in whatever weather we're having, during times of load shedding.  I can call on Him with whatever need I have.  It is such a comfort to know He's with me.  I'm not alone.

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar."  Psalm 139:1,2

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."  Psalm 103:13,14

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning."  Psalm 130:5,6

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song."  Psalm 28:7

"When I am afraid,  I will trust in you."  Psalm 56:3

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8

God never promised to keep us from all of life's storms and problems.  BUT He has promised to go with us through them.  So grateful that He is WITH us and helps us when we call on Him!

He is a wonderful, giving God!