BUT GOD

Thursday, March 31, 2011

One of my favorite passages in all of God's Word is Genesis 50:20

"But as for you, you thought evil against me;

But God meant it unto good..."

BUT GOD!

Yes, God makes the difference.

What was happening to Joseph was evil. But God meant it unto good.

Another of my favorite Scriptures is Romans 8:28

"And we know that God causes everything

to work together for the good of those

who love God and are called according 

to his purpose for them."

I draw strength from these verses everyday.

GOD IS GOOD!

BOOK REVIEW

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

GOD'S HEALING WORDS

Health, Healing, And Recovery

By Debbie Marrie, General Editor

OVERVIEW: God's Healing Words demonstrates God's desire to restore your entire being to health. This insightful book full of scriptures, quotations and prayers on healing lets you meditate and then pray for yourself and your loved ones to receive the precious promises that God has given us. You will discover: HEALING words for your BODY, HEALING words for your SPIRIT, HEALING words for GRIEF and DEPRESSION, HEALING for your MARRIAGE and other RELATIONSHIPS, HEALING  through FORGIVENESS.

MY REVIEW: This splendid little book is a pocket guide of scriptures and prayers. For me, the greatest value of this book is the pulling together into one place these many scriptures, prayers and quotes on healing. It is encouraging to read scriptures like Psalm 103:2-5 "Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's!" Of course ever scripture has to be read in context and interpreted with common sense. You may find an example of healing or a story that you do not fully agree with. This is common with any book. But generally speaking, this is a powerful book that  will lift you up and draw you closer to a God that cares, filled with mercy and grace. Again, in my opinion the greatest value of this book is that it is so easy to just pick it up and immediately find scriptures to lift your spirit and give you hope. This is the kind of book that you would like to share with someone going through suffering. They need to meditate on these "wonderful words of life."

AM I CRAZY, OR WHAT?

Monday, March 28, 2011

Are you going through one of those times when you just want to scream?

Do you feel like if you ever had a mind you have lost it?

Some people feel like this all the time.

The Psalmist felt a little screwed up: "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? Psalm 42:5

As Eugene Peterson translates it in the Message, this is the guy that "...was always at the head of the worshiping crowd, right out in front, Leading them all, eager to arrive and worship, Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving..."

But then that's when he asks himself, "Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues?" And then answers, "When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer."

Feeling a little crazy are you? There are no simple answers. But read Psalm 42 in the Message. It will help.

PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD!

AMEN PAUL, AMEN

Saturday, March 26, 2011

The Apostle Paul wrote these words:

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not

crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.

We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed...So

we don't look at the troubles we can see right now,

rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.

For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the

things we cannot see will last forever.

                                                                                         2 Corinthians 4:8-9,18

No one is exempt from trouble. But God doesn't want you to live in depression. Depression comes sometimes but you can find healing as you call on God, remembering these wonderful words from Paul.

TOO SOON CERTAIN

Thursday, March 24, 2011

There are times when I long for the days when I was so certain about everything.

Ask me a question--about anything and I would give you an answer.

I'm not so certain anymore.

Oh, I still believe in absolutes. Absolutely!

But my views--mainly religious ones, have changed a lot over the years.

Take hell for example. I still believe in hell. I'm just not so certain about every aspect of it like I used to be.

I no longer believe you lay like something that can't be destroyed by fire and burn for eternity.

Oh my Clif. Isn't that what the Bible teaches? No. I'm not certain it does. And yes, I still respect all my teachers, friends and relatives that believe that. And yes, I am still studying the subject and will do so as long as I can.

One thing I am sure of is that I do not want to be separated from God. To me that would be HELL!

PRESCRIPTION FOR A BROKEN HEART

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. -Psalm27:14

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.- Psalm34:5

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.- Romans 12:12

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4