Trusting God

It seems like I read somewhere that if we can trust God with our spiritual lives, why can’t we trust him with our physical lives?  As I was reading in Romans today, I was struck by the faith of Abraham.  God had given him many promises and yet it was several years later before Abraham started to see the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s promises, through the birth of his son Isaac.

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”   Abraham did not work to make the promise of God come true, instead it was a gift from God.  God promised to make Abraham a father of many nations, even though Sarah, Abraham’s wife was barren.  Sarah was elderly and beyond childbearing age before she became pregnant.  This was a gift and a work of God, Sarah had no ability to conceive by her own power.

God took two senior citizens and began a fulfillment of his promises not only to them, but to generations of believers that would come after Abraham and Sarah.

As I think about the challenges I face in this season of life; my spirit hears, “Trust me, as I was faithful to Abraham and Sarah, I will faithfully see you through this life.”

As a believer I have put my trust in God’s saving grace through Christ Jesus my Lord. The question to myself is; If I can trust God, to save me and bring me safely to His heavenly home, as He promised; can’t I trust him to walk with me through my everyday struggles?

Nothing is too hard for God.  He knows our financial, spiritual, physical, mental and emotional struggles.  He is able to help us overcome any obstacle that we face.  We only need to trust and rely on Him and take a step of faith to receive more of His grace every day.

Lord, help us to not only trust you for our eternal life, but to also take care of us and help us through the challenges we face each day.  Amen

Encouragement in God’s word:

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.  Amen.” Phil. 4:19-20

  “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

The Warrior's Cry

Son of God, Son of Man, lead us through this desolate land.  Lead us with your light so bright.  Give us strength for the fight.  When darkness presses in, may your Spirit give us truth within.  Son of God, Son of man, may your brightness flood this land.  As the hordes of evil try to press in, Jesus you are our Light that is our defense.  Push the darkness back, open up the blind eyes to see, set the captives Free.  Give a battle cry Oh Lord and may we follow you as you go forth, our conquering Lord and King.

“Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.”

No weapon formed against us can prosper.  If God is for us, who can be against us? The Lord is our light and salvation, whom shall we fear?  The mountains tremble at his name and the earth shakes in the presence of the King of glory. Who is this King of Glory?  Christ Jesus is his name, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son of God we proclaim.

Finding Christ in Christmas

Why do we get tangled up in the tinsel and wrapping paper?  Christmas is about Christ.  It seems like every year I start out with this goal to focus on Christ for Christmas and then I get caught up in the hustle and the bustle of the season.  I love to give gifts and I enjoy getting them.  I start focusing on what gifts to get and who to get them for.  I start thinking, “Did I get the right gift?  Will they like this gift? What can I get that person?  They have everything.”

If I allow my thoughts to continue in this pattern; I can find myself tangled up in the trapping of buying, giving and getting gifts instead of focusing on God’s indescribable gift, JESUS, born in Bethlehem long ago.

Who is this babe that we celebrate on Christmas day?  A child born in a stable, who the angels declared and the shepherds ran to see.  He is the long awaited Messiah, Savior of the world.  He is the perfect Son of God; the promised King that will rule with justice and righteousness forever.  He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to the, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you  in born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manager." Luke 2:8-12

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon  his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”  Isaiah 9:6-7

The Christmas presents will all be unwrapped on Christmas Day and wrapping paper will be strewn all over the floor.  Soon the Christmas tree, ornaments and lights will be put away and not pulled out for another year.  Many of the gifts that we are so excited about giving, or getting will be used up, worn out, or maybe even forgotten by next Christmas. But there is one gift that will never wear out; God’s amazing gift to this world, Christ Jesus our Lord.  May you and I find Him in this Christmas and share him with others.  He is the gift that keeps on giving

Have a Joyous Christmas filled with the Love of Christ.

Love, Triss

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Hope ( A Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder)

As I listened to the news and see so many things that break my heart, I felt that I needed to focus on hope.  Christmas time is a time that I grew up feeling was a joyous time full of anticipation and hope.

Those lingering feelings are still with me and when I look at the problems in the world, I start to feel them fade because I forget that my hope is not based on the government that I see here on earth, but instead it is based on a heavenly government that is on the shoulders of the Son of God, Jesus.

Today I want to remind myself and you that we have a hope in a Wonderful Counselor that can give us wisdom during trying times.  He is also a mighty God that is able to do much more than we could ever ask or imagine.  He is a Father to the fatherless and we can sit in his lap and receive love and comfort.  Finally He is the Prince of Peace.  During these tumultuous times, we have Jesus our Lord to run to so we may experience a peace that is beyond understanding.

Dear friends, whatever you are facing, remember that our time here is a momentary light affliction and that we have a just and righteous God, who is on the throne and He will faithfully bring us through this time into His kingdom that never ends.

May the Lord so fill us with hope in our spirit's  through His Spirit that others may receive the gift of  Jesus this Christmas.  Amen

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

“There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:7