Yet Again...

Hello one and all,

I am going away a few days, but will return Monday, hopefully able to post.  Be blessed and have a great weekend.  May God's face shine on you with every step you take.

Too Many Hurting...

I don't know about you, but every time I listen to a friend or even a stranger, I hear stories of pain, sickness and death.  It makes me think about what a struggle life is and how much better it is when we put our trust in the Lord God Almighty.  With that in mind I am reposting this for all of us in the midst of the struggle called life:

History Records...

        Go back far enough in history and you can find some very strong and powerful nations.  Nations that attempted to take over the known world: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome are just some of them.  They all became strong for a season, some of them longer than others, but ultimately, each one failed.  Trusting in a man- no matter how ‘powerful’, a man-made nation or power with all their strategies and plans only sets us up for failure.  This is the reason we are not supposed to put our trust in man, because ultimately, flawed men will always fail.

It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in men.  It is better to take refuge in him than in the mightiest king! Though all the nations of the world attack me, I will march out behind his banner and destroy them.  …They swarm around me like bees; they blaze against me like a roaring flame…  (Ps118:8-12a) TLB

       Sometimes in life we feel like we’re being beat up, crushed down, torn apart or burned up.  This life is difficult, full of sorrow and pain, and living is rarely easy.  With all the enemies surrounding him, David knew the pressures of life; he also knew that finding help with man was not the answer.  Man could not be trusted as they are always looking out for themselves first and foremost.  If you fit in to their plans, they may help you for a while, but ultimately, when you are no longer of help to them or are causing difficulties, they will drop you cold.  David found God to be fully reliable and One who would not fail him (Dt. 31:6; Heb. 13:5).

Jehovah is my strength and song, and He is my salvation. … I shall not die, but live and declare the works of Jehovah. Ps. 118:14,17

When I am afraid I will trust in You. In God I will praise His Word; in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do to me.  Ps. 56:3,4

so that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me."  Heb. 13:6 

I called on Jehovah in distress; Jehovah answered me, and set me in a large place. Jehovah is for me, I will not fear; what can man do to me?  Ps. 118:5,6

       Not only did David put his trust in God, but he found in the midst of battle, the Lord would be his strength (Ps. 28:7; 46:1; 81:1) and better yet song (Ps. 118:14; Ex. 15:2; Is. 12:2).  To be able to sing in the midst of a battle is showing peace and joy in the ‘heat’ of the pressure.  What a glorious thing it is to have our Lord be our strength and song when the weights of life bear down hard on us.  The Lord is on our side, and will help us.  Do I need to be afraid?  I shall not die for my life is eternally His.  My big, strong Dad is in charge and is standing right beside me! 

Do not fear; for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will make you strong; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.  

Is. 41:10

Tuesday Evening- The Storm

       There was no rain coming down yet but the sky looked like it was going to storm soon.  I stood in the upstairs front bedroom gazing at the piles of clothes my son left for me to give away without telling me (eyes rolling).  The wind gusted fiercely and I wondered just how bad the storm would be and why the traffic was slowing down on our four lane road.  Suddenly, a loud crack made me jump and I looked over to the right to see a large branch on our side yard.

       Laughing, I ran downstairs to tell my husband, but as I ran through the kitchen I saw it wasn’t just a branch down, but a whole 45+ foot maple tree that came crashing down with the roots and ground sticking up.  Now that’s a strong wind!  I yelled for Albert shocked at what I was seeing.  By then I observed the traffic stopping to go around something so I went outside hoping I could help.  It was still windy but without rain, so I ran for the road and noticed a neighbour’s tree lost a couple big branches which were blocking part of the road.  I waited ‘til it was safe and ran to pull the first branch off the road, then went back for the second.  There was nothing I could do about the smaller stuff.

Therefore to him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin.  Jm. 4:17

       Still no rain, but I had time to look at the big tree lying on the ground.  Of course I had to run in the house for my camera to take pictures and a few minutes later raindrops began to fall.  That meant I had to run for warm, dry protection for myself and my camera.  A few more pictures, then the flood waters of heaven opened up and a downpour began.  I could do nothing but shake my head.  What a blessing God had given us.

       See, almost our whole yard is under a cover of trees.  We have wanted the three large trees on the south side yard down for two years but couldn’t afford the cost, and they are too big for us to do.  Now the one is safe to cut up.  Also, the tree did not damage our house or the neighbour’s house and pool.  It didn’t land in the driveway, in fact, it missed it but for a tiny bit.  It also didn’t take out the eastern tree which would have fallen on the sidewalk and road which could have caused injury or damage.  Altogether, it was a great blessing that nothing bad came of the fall.

       Now, every time I see that tree I shake my head and think ‘how great is our God and how awesome He is in our lives’ and I am so very, very grateful for His assistance.  Some might say it is all coincidence, but I know better.  My ‘luck’ tends to be non-existent, so the fact nothing bad happened is deemed a miracle by me. 

Great is our LORD, and of great power; There is no limit to His understanding. Ps. 147:5

For Jehovah Most High is awesome, a great king over all the earth. Ps. 47:2

O give thanks to Jehovah, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. 1Chr. 16:34

For reference: That earth pulled up is 5 1/2 feet high.

Thank You, thank You, thank You Lord, You are so good to me!!!