by George | Sep 27, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Praise the Lord Anyhow!
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18
“I don’t feel like it!”
How many times have you heard these words from your children, grandchildren, or… yourself.
If I went by my feelings, some days I wouldn’t get out of bed, go to work, or even pray.
We are all human. Life gets us down sometimes.
Habakkuk prophesied around the time that Israel was being conquered by her enemies, and being taken captive. The outlook was bleak. It was a terrible time.
Fast forward to today. If you watch the news, you see all the bad stuff that’s going on around us. It can be depressing.
So, since all this is happening, should I stop praying and praising God?
Habakkuk would tell you no! He would encourage you to keep praying.
What we need is a faith centered on God, not our feelings.
The website “Trusting Jesus” says:
“When you don’t have a job, praise God anyhow. He knows your needs, and he is just on time, never late.
When it seems the earth is breaking up beneath your feet, and you don’t have anywhere to stand, stand on the rock of Jesus, He said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
When something seems impossible, and you can’t humanly find an answer, remember, nothing is too hard for God, He specializes in things that seem to be impossible.
When all fails, continue to praise the Lord…”
Let’s determine to have the attitude of Habakkuk. Though things are happening that I don’t like and prayers are not yet answered…
“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Praise the Lord anyhow!
by George | Sep 24, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
One Voice
“Ebed-Melech went out of the king’s house and spoke to the king, saying: “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is. For there is no more bread in the city.”
Jeremiah 38:8-9
He was a foreigner… He was from a different culture. Ebed-Melech was a servant of the king. He was not from the “upper class.”
One day, he heard a commotion. The princes were throwing the prophet Jeremiah into a dungeon, and he was sinking into the mire. No water. No food. It was clear that they wanted Jeremiah to die.
Ebed-Melech saw all this. He had a choice. Remain silent, or do something.
You couldn’t blame him if he didn’t do anything. He could have said, “What do I care? This doesn’t affect me.”
Ebed-Melech had heard the words of Jeremiah, that God was judging the country for their wicked ways. Babylon was going to burn the city of Jerusalem, kill many people and take many people captive.
Perhaps Ebed-Melech feared God and believed the words of Jeremiah.
Either way, he saw the injustice and did something about it.
It took great courage to go to the king. But he did it.
The king told Ebed-Melech to gather 30 men, and pull Jeremiah out of the dungeon.
He collected old rags and made a rope.
“Then Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Please put these old clothes and rags under your armpits, under the ropes.” And Jeremiah did so.”
Jeremiah 38:12
This was hard work. Dirty work, but Ebed-Melech finished the job and rescued Jeremiah from certain death.
God remembered what he did and gave this word to Jeremiah.
“But I will deliver you in that day,” says the LORD, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the LORD.’ ”
Jeremiah 39:17-18
Let’s trust the Lord like Ebed-Melech and make a difference in someone’s life. All it takes is one person.
You can be the one.
by George | Sep 21, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
The Missing Ingredient
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15
The website “Add a Pinch” gives a recipe for “The Best Chocolate Cake Ever.” Ingredients for this delicious cake include:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1 cup milk buttermilk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
What would happen if I left the chocolate out? Or the sugar? Forget to put the icing on top?
It wouldn’t taste right. If I let someone taste the incomplete cake, they would make a face much like someone who had just sucked on a lemon. You have to put in all the ingredients!
This morning, I read this verse before praying with my co workers.
I prayed that God would give us His peace. Quoting Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”
I acknowledged that we are one body, and mentioned that part of the body is hurting right now. (Nursing homes and assisted living facilities struggling with a dramatic increase in cases of Covid 19.)
I prayed for healing, and for an end to this pandemic.
But, I forgot to thank Him.
God reminds us:
“IN EVERYTHING give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
I Thessalonians 5:18
So, no matter what is happening, or how I feel, I resolve to thank God. We have so much to be thankful for!
