ALL HOPE WAS GONE

A man’s courage can sustain his broken body, but when courage dies, what hope is left?Proverbs 18:14

When a man loses all hope, that must be the deadliest feeling of all. Too many times those feelings cause the person to end their lives. I don't believe they just woke up one morning and decided to do that, I believe those feelings built each day until finally their hope was all gone, they were in the bottom of the pit and the darkness overwhelmed them. There are many examples––Robin Williams for one. I'm not talking about the people who overdosed accidentally, I'm talking about the ones that deliberately took their own lives.

Over the weekend, a friend's nephew ended his life. He had finally come to that point, that evidently, all of his hope was gone, there was none left. So he ended it. His depression grew into the darkest and deepest hole and he couldn't see that things could get better.

In his final moments, when the light of all hope was gone, did he believe death was going to make things better. We'll never know.

When I think of his family standing at his grave my heart aches for them. There questions may never be answered and they will have to come to terms with a devastating tragedy.

God's words in Proverbs 18:14 bring forth great wisdom for us.  "...when courage dies, what hope is left?" 

If anyone suffers with depression for more than two weeks, then seek counseling with a Christian counselor. Don't try to handle this on your on.

"God, help us not to let hope die in us. Help us to put our hope in you. Be with this family and help them through the days ahead, comfort their grief. Help all of those who are suffering with depression to seek out help. Amen"

SEEDS IN ME?

Seeds! Most of us go to the grocery stores to buy our food already grown. But years ago, seeds were bought, seeds for fruit trees and vegetables planted in rows of gardens, tended and harvested for people to have food on their tables. There were no grocery stores like we have.

For a list of herb seeds click:
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herblist.html

God said in Genesis 1:29, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. For a list of fruit trees click: http://www.orangepippintrees.eu/search.aspx

We are like that. God is working in us, planting his love in our hearts; pruning us so we will bear good fruit and touch the lives of others. Watering us so we will grow. Are you growing?

BECOME HIS LITTLE CHILD?

God says, "Unless you become as a little child you shall not enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 18:3

Sometimes, it is hard when you are an adult, to understand that verse. What does God mean, become as a little child.

Something happens when we become adults. The ability to trust and believe seems to disappear. We have been exposed to the world and in that world there are people with hidden agendas, who are not trust worthy. Let's face it, we have encountered by the time we are twenty years of age, people who tell us one thing and do another. People who promise to be there, but leave. It's no wonder it's hard to be as a little child in our hearts.

When we are children our world consist of our parents. We are surrounded by people who love us and take care of us; people we can trust and depend on. When our toy is broken we go to daddy and hand it to him and ask him to fix it, we know he will. It is a safe haven.

When we need or want something we tell our parents and they provide it.

That's what it is with God. A safe haven. Becoming as a little child means we trust and believe in and on him knowing he will provide for us, protect us and help us in our daily lives.

My prayer for today is:

Lord, help me become as a little child in believing your word, trusting in you so that I may receive your blessings and be able to enter your kingdom. Amen

Know Refuge Behind His Shield?

www.medievalchronicles.com

We all have times in our lives when we need a shield put in front of us.

God is our help and our shield.

I have a secure feeling knowing that my God is my refuge and he also is my shield. He shields me from things to protect me when I need protection. It gives me a peace knowing this.

In Psalm 18:30 it says, " As for God his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him."

I don't doubt that God's word is flawless. His words are true. Yet there are times I have to remind myself that my trust should be put in Him and that I should walk by His words.

In our world today, with all the violence we would do well to remember that He is our refuge. He shield is in front of us, His children.

Perhaps in the morning we could pray this prayer.

Oh Lord my God, I know your way is perfect, that you are leading me today and that your words you say are flawless. You are my shield today and I will take refuge in you. Amen

WINGS LIKE EAGLES

Eagles are beautiful birds, majestic in their appearance. They are large and powerfully built. Longer with broad wings and faster in flight than most birds.The bald eagle is noted for having flown with the heaviest load verified to be carried by any flying bird.

Knowing this about the eagle it somehow gave a deeper meaning to the section in the verse of Isaiah 40:31 where it says..."they shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles..."

By waiting upon God for direction and His instruction it gives us the time to renew ourselves physically––reading and meditating on His word renews our spiritual strength. Then we can mount up with wings AS eagles.

Like eagles, we will then be able to soar.

God Bless.

THE JOURNEY WE ARE ON

By now, most of us comprehend that the life we are living is a journey. The journey starts at birth and continues until we get to our destination. There will be many stops along the way. Some will last for a few minutes, days, weeks, and some will last for a few years.

The stops remind me of doors opening. Some look enticing and some don't, depending upon my state of mind, yes, but mostly dependent on the center of my heart.

This traveling from one place to another can drain us of energies we need for our trip. This means we need to make sure we replenish ourselves.

I think Isaiah 40:13 says it best..."they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." For some of us it is hard to wait. Waiting is not conducive to our fast-paced world. For the most part, it's an alien concept. Many people think waiting is simply being inactive. But is it? What do you do with the time you are waiting?

For me waiting upon the Lord simply means don't run ahead of Him. Wait for Him to show me what to do. What direction to go. This gives me the time I need to renew my strength. I am depending on Him not me.

He Knows the best path for me. Therefore, it stands to reason I need to seek Him and ask His direction.

What about you? Do you wait? If so, what do you do while waiting? Does the waiting give you time to renew your strength? Or are you running ahead of Him?