Jesus Can Calm Your Storms

I know it has been since Oct. 10 since my last blog. A lot has been going on between now and then with my health and helping my parents. I will probably have to cut my devotions down to once to twice a month, but will still give inspirational posts on my Facebook site.

I know you all have heard of Joel Osteen. Some might have their opinion of him, but he does have some good material out there. I found a book several years ago that is a Daily Devotional by his mother, Dodie Osteen. It is entitled, "Choosing Life, One Day at a Time". She was healed of metastatic liver cancer in 1981.

In her introduction, her last paragraph says,"Whether you need healing in your body, family members to be saved, a marriage restored, to grow in your Christian walk, or to be made whole from a fragmented life, this book will help you. I encourage you to be assured that it is always God's will to save, heal, deliver, and prosper you as you continue to choose life...one day at a time."

I am going to share one of her devotions with you that is one of my favorites. It is entitled "Jesus Can Stop Your Storm".

"It is taken from Luke 8:24. This is where Jesus calms the storm. It actually begins in verse 22 where Jesus told His disciples to go to the other side of the lake with Him. Jesus fell asleep as they were traveling across. A storm of wind came down and filled the boat with water and they were in great danger. Then in verse 24 it says,"The disciples went and woke Him, saying, "Master,Master, we are going to drown".
Don't we do the same thing when we are faced with a crisis? We cry, "Where are you God? Why aren't You doing something?" Then Jesus asked the disciples, "Where is your faith?" (v.25) And that is the same question He asks us today. Where is our faith when we get bent out of shape over issues we could easily transfer to Him if only we were willing?"

She encourages us today that this same Jesus who calmed the stormy sea is still in charge of the rough waters you are facing. All you have to do is call upon Him, for He is a God of mercy, and He won't let you down. Remember, He will never leave you or forsake you. If He brings you to it, He'll bring you through it.

Blessings,
Beth

The Love of God

Dear Friends,

How I long for you to know without a doubt that nothing can separate us from the love of God and to rest in that truth.  All the trials, tribulations, and persecutions that come into our lives are not meant to destroy us. We go through them to send us into His everlasting arms of love.

God's love for us is more than we could ever comprehend.  God does not put these trials on us, but does allow things to happen because we are sinners by nature and gives us free choices. Going through trials make us stronger and learn lessons from them.

It reminds me of a great old hymn by George Young titled; "God Leads His Dear Children Along"

"In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet,
Gos leads His dear children along.

Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long."

That is part of the song. Next time you are going through a crisis, remember it's down in the valley where He'll give you strength and there is nothing you have lost that He can't replace.

Get a glimpse of Jesus for He is always right there with you and He always knows what you need just when you need it.

Remember this when the next time you are in a trial. My preacher always said,"If you are not in a trial, you will go through a trial at some point, be in the middle of a trial, or coming out of a trial."

God will always be there to carry you for as long as you need. His arms are always open wide.

Blessings,
Beth

Do you Remember to Thank God?

For those of you on facebook, you have probably been seeing this on your friends post in a big box. It says,"What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?".  WOW!! Would you have woke up this morning? I'm glad I did. Some mornings I wouldn't if God decided to make good on this statement.

When we pray, we do need to pray with a thankful heart. I Thessalonians  5:18 tells us,"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you". (KJV). I try to remember and start my prayers off with Thanksgiving first. God knows our hearts and what we are going to pray before we even ask. He wants us to be obedient and come to Him with a heart of Thanksving and our burdens we have and leave them with him.

We have a lot to be thankful for and in this world we live in today we must not leave God out and His many blessings He wants His children to have. When we get caught up in this world, we miss so many blessings when we take our eyes off Jesus. I struggle with this as I know many of you probably do too.

Let's remember to thank God for each day for all He has done for us which the greatest is, the sacrifice He made when He gave His one and only Son to die on a cruel cross on Calvery for our sins. But it doesn't stop there. He rose three days later so we can spend eternity with Him. That in itself, is cause
enough to give Him thanks for sacrificing His Son.

Next time you pray, remember to thank Him for all your blessings. You think you don't have blessings, if you are reading this, you are blessed.

God bless you today and always,
Beth