Friday, July 8, 2011

Sabbath Peace

Wow, am I thankful for Shabbat!  We have had a very long, full, BUSY few weeks and I'm tired.  We have had some things come our way which we were not foreseen and appear to be hampering some plans that we were/are hoping for.  At first it seemed like a punch in the stomach and another road block in a very, very long road but if you have read the last couple of posts here you may be seeing what YHWH has been dealing with me on.  I am being reminded that His plans and timing are perfect.  I may not see it.  I may not understand it (and right now I don't see it or understand it).  I may not particularly like it but if He does it, there must be purpose in it.

Shabbat is a welcomed friend every week but this week especially.  No place we have to be.  Nothing to plan.  Just rest, a much needed mental and physical rest.  I think we need time to consider the events of the last couple of weeks.  Time to pray and seek YHWH.  I feel like I need to understand why, why are these things happening?  But even as I write the word "understand" I think to myself that there are so many things I will never understand AND I know that I don't have to understand, I just have to believe that YHWH knows the way and that's what I must choose to give thanks in.  So, I welcome the promise of rest that is coming this Shabbat and I will give thanks for YHWH's many mercies toward me.  I will give thanks for the blessing of my family.  I will give thanks for all the good things He has given me to enjoy in this life He has given me.

Psa 26:7-12  To raise a voice of thanksgiving, And to declare all Your wonders. 
  יהוה, I have loved the abode of Your house, And the place where Your esteem dwells. 
  Do not gather my being together with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 
  In whose hands is a plot, And their right hand is filled with bribes. 
  But as for me, I walk in my integrity; Redeem me and show me favour. 
  My foot shall stand on a level place; In the assemblies I bless יהוה. 

Hear our Sabbath prayer and redeem us YHWH.
Sabbath Peace.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

I will praise YHWH

The Story of Paul and Silas as they were thrown into prison.  They chose to worship YHWH in the midst of their circumstances and praise Him and this is what happened for them because they chose to trust Him...

Act 16:19 .... they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
Act 16:20  And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
Act 16:21  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
Act 16:22  And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Act 16:23  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Act 16:24  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Act 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Act 16:26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Act 16:27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Act 16:28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Act 16:29  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
Act 16:30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Act 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Act 16:32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Act 16:33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
Act 16:34  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Act 16:35  And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
Act 16:36  And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
Act 16:37  But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
Act 16:38  And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
Act 16:39  And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
Act 16:40  And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.



No matter what your prison is, He is still YHWH and His ways are perfect.  He has purpose in all things concerning you and His timing is NEVER late.  He asks us to call on Him and to wait on His perfect timing.

This is where we are today.  We will choose to believe  and not fear.  We will chose to watch and see the Salvation of YHWH.  He is at work.  He has a plan and a time for all things.  We will approach Him and make our requests known to Him and ask that all things done will be according to His plan.  May He show mercy on us as He leads us by the way...He has chosen for us today.  Amein.

Monday, July 4, 2011

When Uncertainty Comes Your Way; dealing with fear of the unknown


Sometimes it appears that the storms of life will overtake you.  Don't look at the water.

This is an excerpt from Hanna's Cupboard and a reminder to myself.  
Note: this devotion was edited by me.

In the investment world, "futures" are speculative commodities such as wheat or soybean harvests. You never know for sure how those things are ultimately going to come in. Selling futures is a risky business because you are guessing now on a future event.

If I said to you, "don't sell futures",  it means don't get ahead of the results and waste time investing emotionally in what may never come to pass. It means don't act NOW like the worst case scenario has already happened. Have you ever done that? I have!

It's easy to do when something negative happens. Suddenly worries are piled on worries and instead of waiting to see how things will really turn out, you open the door to self pity and despair. It's really a big waste of time but we often do it anyhow.

The Bible has its own way of saying the same thing. Matthew 6:34 says; "Each day has enough trouble of its own." Boy is that true! We can stay sufficiently busy handling today's troubles without stockpiling worries for tomorrow. So the next time you start to speculate about what awful things might be in the works, remember: DON'T SELL FUTURES!

**It's me again...This is the message of the day, week and probably the message of the year for me.  Abba is speaking to me to remember NOT to rely on what I see because He is able to do all things.  His timing is perfect and He is never late or lacking.  If I can remember this and walk in it this truth, I won't be overcome by fear and doubt.  If I can remember that He is at work on His plan I won't have to fall to pieces because I can't see the light at the end of this tunnel.  I can trust that He knows my need and hears me and will bring every season to pass in His time.  I love that.  I am choosing to thank Him for His plan and to refuse to walk in fear for what is obviously out of my control...however, on the same note, I will throw in a reminder that Jacob wrestled with the Angel of YHWH and received his request.  We must not ever give up on going to Abba prayerfully and making our petitions known to Him as long as we truly are seeking Him for His will and not our own...THAT IS THE IMPORTANT PART.  It's easy to ask for what I want, not knowing if it's what Abba wants for me.  I have to desire His way more than my own.  

I am thankful for His heart on this matter to me because we have had some situations arise that seem like mountains, no way around and no way over unless YHWH makes the way and if He does, it will be apparently  that it was Him and not us.  I am thankful that He desires for me to understand this but in the midst of these circumstances I will pray and ask for His mercy and His help because we cannot do what only He alone can.  I pray for His perfect will along with peace and I will pray some more when I am done praying and I will give thanks.
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