Day 218 Joy Unspeakable

I Peter 1:8-9  NIV

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The other day I was talking to a new friend. She was telling me about some circumstances that were causing her distress.  I said to her, “I know what you mean..." and went on to briefly tell her about some things that can cause me concern. She looked at me in surprise and said, “I thought you had the perfect life.” Immediately I replied.  “Oh no, but I am perfectly sure that God is taking care of these things because I have given them to Him.”  That just came flying out of my mouth and it was then that I knew that it was true!!  

Only in trusting God can we be “filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,”  I heard a minister say the other day, “Someone large is in charge.” That would be God and He’s in charge because we put Him in charge of the things that want to cause us distress.  

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

• II Timothy 1:12
• Psalms 138:8  
• Romans 15:13

Prayer Focus:
Take a 3 x 5 card and list the things in your life that you are putting God in charge of. Keep it in your Bible and remind yourself that God is in charge of those things.

Day 217  God Keeps You Stable and Secure

Isaiah 33:6  (NIV1984)
He will be the sure foundation for your times-- a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

THE MESSAGE BIBLE uses the words, “….your days stable and secure.”

That is a wonderful promise in these uncertain times.  You may say, “I don’t feel very secure,” but God’s promise still remains.  Safety and security is available for us.

The above verse says, “for your times” so that says to me that He knows exactly what “times” we are in.  He knows what we are experiencing and what is happening all around us.  He wants us to invite Him into the middle of our lives, our emotions and our fears.  When we do, we will have His peace.

In that peace, we will be able to receive the words God is speaking to our hearts through His word.  Here are a few of those words:

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

• Hebrews 13: 5-6  “I can say with confidence…”
• Psalms 121:4
• James 4:8

Prayer Focus:
Ask the Lord to remind you of His presence.  Thank Him for His promise to be with you in “your times.”

Day 216  God Cares For You Watchfully

Deuteronomy 11:12 (NIV1984)

It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.

God cares for what concerns you.  His eyes are continually on what concerns you.  Isn’t that good news??

You are not in this alone.  You don’t have to figure it out alone.  He has all your answers and He cares for you. 

     I Peter 5:7 Amplified Bible

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

Not only does He care for you watchfully, He cares for you affectionately.  Now that’s personal!!

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         James 1:5

·         Hebrews 13:5

·         Psalms 138:8

Prayer Focus:

Thank your wonderful Father that He is watching over those things that are a concern to you.

 

           

Day 215  Your Future Is Bright

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV1984)

 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”

One day when my heart was hurting beyond measure, I remembered this scripture.  Why now?  It was God bringing comfort to my heart.  No matter what happens, I can always go back to these words from God and know that I have a bright future.

Here  is another truth from God’s word:

Romans 8:28  The Message (MSG)

That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

God is good and when I stop to think about that word “good,” I realize there are not words to describe God’s goodness.  His “good” is so far over and above all that I can even think about.

People many times say that God “allows” bad things to happen.  I even used to think that!  Then I got to thinking about well- meaning earthly fathers.  Do they “allow” their children to run in the street in front of a car?  Do they allow their children to be bullied at school and made fun of?  Do they allow their children to be hungry?  Of course not.  So God being totally “good,” would not allow that either!

Today we can be so thankful that in everything we can give thanks because, as we come to Him, He will turn our circumstances and use them for our good!!  What a wonderful God we have!!

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         James 1:17

·         Psalms 27:13

·         Luke 12:32

Prayer Focus:

Father, help me to know You as a loving Father who always wants the best for Your children.  When bad things happen, help me to turn to You, the One Who is the very author of "good."

Where have I been all these months???  Packing.....loading......moving......unpacking.......organizing... decorating......getting used to our new environment...... 

How are those for excuses??  They were okay for awhile but they aren't working right now.....so I AM BACK!!  I am ready to encourge you with God's promises once again.  

Day 214   God Hears Your Prayer

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV1984)

For He says,“In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.

 

”I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation."

 

When I first began to read this, I began to think in terms of "a long way off." Then I went on to read that "now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." That's some very good news!! He hears us now and now is the day that help comes!!

Here's the next thing....we must be still and listen for that help....that advice....that direction.....that answer. In this day of "information overload" with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, texting, email subscriptions and even junk mail in our mailbox, we must silence ourselves.

I sat down to read the Omaha World Herald last night so I could start the week without newspapers all over the dining room table and an hour and a half later, I had only gotten through the ads and the Christmas events around Omaha. I didn't even get to the news!! Talk about "information overload!!"

 

God is answering now. We must be still so we can hear.....that answer.

 

GPS  (Direction From God’s Word)

Psalms 46:10

I John 5: 14-15

Hebrews 3:7

 

Prayer Focus:

Begin to thank Him for all the times that you can remember that He has guided you, instructed you, given you peace, saved you from problems, etc.

 

God bless you with moments of silence at this busy time of year!! He wants to speak to you today!  He wants to answer you today!  And remember.......

 

you can get there from here!!

 

 

Snippets From Karol's Journal


I am studying the seven meaning of the word SALVATION.  The Greek word is SOZO and it has seven meanings.  Over the course of the next few days, I want will share with you what I am learning.


The first meaning for SOZO is salvation.....of course.


I like to substiture the word RESCUE.  God reaches down into my confusion, my pain, my sorrow, my darkness and "rescues" me out of it.  Just like a well-meaning dad who loves his child would go to any lengths to rescue them, so does our Heavenly Father.


After all He gave His only Son to suffer and die for each of us.  Now I would say that is the ultimate definition for the word "well-meaning."

If you would like to understand the very heart of God, go to www.biblegateway.com and put in the word "rescue."  Then enter THE MESSAGE Bible.  You will see that it was the heart of God to rescue His people all through the Old Testament.  Then in the New Testament, Jesus Christ came on the scene with the ultimate rescue for all of us.

The free gift of salvation awaits each one of us.  God has given us the freedom to chose or reject it.  It's there---ready and waiting!!

Romans 1:16-17
It's news I'm most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God's way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: "The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives."

God bless your day!

Karol

We just experienced "July 4th, 2012."  This is the day to celebrate our country's freedom and remember those that paid the price for our freedom.

Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  He paid with his life after unthinkable suffering and He did it out of love for us.  He paid for my sin and your sin so we might be free.  But are we living in the freedom that He died for?

John 8:36  Amplified Bible

So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.

Evaluate the  areas of your life.....your spirituality, your relationships, your finances, etc.  If you feel limitations in those areas, ask God how to be "really and unquestionably free."

God bless you!

Karol

Day 213    Don’t Beat Yourself Up

Romans 8:1-2 (MSG)

^…….Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

Our forgiving God clears the air for us and puts us on our feet with a strong, fresh energy and desire to please Him.  I thank God that He did not leave us “helpless” but gave us the Holy Spirit to help us be successful over sin.

God doesn’t beat us up.  He is a forgiving God.  Think about it—God sent Jesus to the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  He did not send Jesus to the cross so we could be beaten up with guilt and condemnation.

I know that this is contrary to the way of things in our society, but it is the way of God’s kingdom.  Our culture says,  “Bad person!  Bad!!!  You deserve what you are getting!!!  Just deserts,” etc.  God, in His mercy says,  “Come here!  Let me love you.  Your sin is forgiven.”

GPS  (Direction From God’s Word)

·         John 14:18 Amplified Bible

·         Romans 8: 1

·         Luke 15:11-24

Prayer Focus:

Thank Him for sending His Son to the cross so that you might be free of guilt and condemnation.  Ask Him to help you walk in the truth of Romans 8:1.

Day 212  A Fresh Wind In My Sails

Psalms 51: 12    The Message

God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!

Psalms 51 is noted as the chapter of repentance.  David had just been confronted by Nathan, the prophet, for having an affair with Bathsheba.  David was a man of God; yet he sinned.  In Psalms 51 he is pouring his heart out to God in sorrow for his sin. 

Psalm 51:1 says, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love, according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

David knew God.  He knew of God’s unfailing love and great compassion.  And because He knew God and had a relationship with God, he went on to pray, “God, make a fresh start in me….put a fresh wind in my sails.”

We all sin but our Father is right there ready to forgive and forget so that we can have a “fresh start.”  God is all about fresh starts and I am so glad!  Aren’t you??  And I like that part about having a “fresh wind in my sails!”  That sounds like a new beginning to me!!

GPS  (Directions from God’s Word)

·         I Peter 2:24

·         I John 1:9

·         I John 2:1

Prayer Focus:

Aren’t you just so glad that we have a Father who understands our humanness and that His arms are wide open when we come to Him in sorrow for our sin.  Tell Him so today!

Day 211  The Year of the Redeemed

Isaiah 63:4 (NIV1984)

 For the day of vengeance was in my heart,
and the year of my redemption has come.

Redemption….so what does that mean??  Take a look at this—from Webster’s Dictionary.

·         deliverance; rescue.

·         atonement for guilt.

·         paying off, as a note.

·         recovery by payment

God in His mercy and love for us sent His own Son to the cross to pay for our sins.  Our minds can hardly wrap itself around that kind of love.  God knew we would need to be delivered from the corruption that is around us.  Without God  everything is in a state of decay but with God (or in God) all is well.

Jesus came to redeem us—to pay for our guilt.  He paid off our note.  We owe nothing!  Everything is paid in full!  Now that’s the kind of God I want to serve!

Our grandson said to me one day, “Grandma, aren’t you kind of fanatic about God.”  I replied, “I absolutely am because He is fanatic about me!  In fact He was so fanatic that He sent Jesus to the cross for me!”    He seemed to get that!!

GPS  (Directions from God’s Word)

·         Isaiah 43:1

·         Romans 3: 23-24

·         Romans 5:11

Prayer Focus:

Thank God for His mercy towards you.  Thank Him for forgiving your sins and wiping your slate clean.  Thank Him you now have an opportunity for a fresh start.

Day 210  God Rejoices In Doing Us Good

Jeremiah 32:41 (AMP)

Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly and in truth with My whole heart and with My whole being.

We already know how good God is from the previous two days.  Today we are going to focus on the rest of the scripture.  “I will plant them in this land assuredly….”

There are times in our lives when we reach a season of transition.  We know that our time is up where we presently are.  For example, we sense a change is coming—maybe in our job, our family or in our ministry.  God says that He will “assuredly” plant us in this land.  He knows exactly where we should be at this point in time—and He is going to do the planting!!  And not just that, but let’s read the rest of the verse.  He will plant us in truth with His whole heart and with His whole being!!  Do you think just maybe He cares deeply for where you should be??  I think YES!!

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         Acts 17: 26b

·         Psalms 16: 5-7

·         Psalms 107:7

Prayer Focus:

Thank God out loud for His direction and for giving you a place to live, a job or a ministry, a family.  Thank Him for His faithfulness to you.

Day 209  And The Lord Shall Guide You

Isaiah 58:11   Amplified Bible

And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.

God loves nothing more than to take us by the hand and lead us in the way that will bring us peace and joy.  Of course, if we choose to do our own thing, He will let us do that too.  The result is confusion, dissatisfaction, chaos, delay, etc.  Even in that, when we come to Him, He is willing to lift us out of our circumstances and bring us unto Himself where we can walk hand-in-hand with Him again.

And He said He will “guide you continually.”  That mean sometimes.  It means all the time.  When you are going through a “dry” place,  He wants to satisfy you and make your body strong.

God wants to make you like a watered garden—continually.  Can you even imagine how good our God is??

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         John 16:13

·         Isaiah 42:16

·         Isaiah 30: 21

Prayer Focus:

Begin to thank God out loud for the guidance He promises you in the scriptures above.  Your heart will feel secure and you will know that you can talk to God all through your day.

Day 208  Announcing Messages Of Joy

Isaiah 61: 2-3  (MSG)

God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,

Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.

The Bible is filled with “messages of joy.”  For example, let’s take a look what He says in Psalms 103.

He forgives all my sins.  (Vs. 3)

He heals all my diseases.  (Vs. 3)

He redeems my life from the pit.  (Vs. 4)

He crowns me with love and compassion.  (Vs. 4)

He satisfies my desires with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the Eagle’s.

(Now that IS good news!!)

He works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.  (Vs. 6)

He is compassionate and gracious.  (Vs. 8)

He is slow to anger.  (Vs 8)

He is abounding in love.  (Vs. 8)

He does not treat us like our sins deserve.    (Vs. 10)

He does not repay us according to our iniquities.  (Vs 10)

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.  (Vs. 13)

He remembers that we are not perfect.  (Vs. 14)

His love for us is from everlasting to everlasting to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey Him.  (Vs. 17)

How about that for a “message of joy??”

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         Acts 13:38

·         Jeremiah 30:7

·         Psalms 108:4

Prayer Focus:

Thank Him for what you have just read.  Speak your prayer out loud.  It will not only bless Him; it will bless you!!

Day 207    Grant Us Success

Psalm 118:25,29   (NIV1984)

 O Lord, save us;  O Lord, grant us success.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

Let’s switch these two phrases around so that it says:

God Is good.  His love endures forever and He grants us success.

That’s what every loving parent wants for their child—success in everything they do.  God is no different.  He wants even better for us than we can  imagine.  He takes great joy in watching us be successful and even more joy when we give Him the credit for our success.   “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”

So many times we hear people say that God brings sickness, accidents, etc. to teach us something.  We even use the term “Acts of God” when we talk of hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, etc.  God being “good” could not do any of those horrible things.  God is all about taking these things and turning them into something good because He is good!  That is our God!!

GPS  (Directions  From God’s Word)

·         Luke 11: 11-12

·         Ephesians 3:20

·         III John 4

Prayer Focus:

Thank God for being so good to you.  Specifically thank Him for what He has done in your life.

Day 206  Let Us Hold Firmly To The Faith

Hebrews 4:14  (NIV1984)

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,  let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

What is the faith we profess?  God’s Word is His promises to us as a result of the cross.  In the Old Testament they were looking for a Savior.  The New Testament is the account of His coming into the earth.  When we receive Him as Savior, all that He died on the cross for is ready and waiting for us. Here’s what His Word says regarding that:

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV1984)

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

 ⁴ Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

God in His graciousness towards us has provided everything we need in this life—way over and above all we can ask or think!!  If He wrote it, we can profess it!

GPS  (Direction From God’s Word)

·         I Peter 1:13

·         Hebrews 3:6

·         Ephesians 3:20

Prayer Focus:

Pray out loud the wonderful promises God has personally given you.

Day 205    Do You Need A Fresh Start?

Zechariah 10:6   The Message

"I'll put muscle in the people of Judah; I'll save the people of Joseph.  I know their pain and will make them good as new. They'll get a fresh start, as if nothing had ever happened.”

Could you use one of those----a “fresh start,” that is??  We all can at some time or another!  Maybe you need one today.  You got up and right away you discovered that your day was going “south” quickly.  We’ll here’s the good news--you can press the “restart” button on your day and start over with a clean slate.

Or maybe you have been repeating some destructive behavior for years and you are ready for a “fresh start.”  It’s as simple as pressing that “restart” button.  In both of these cases it’s good to go to God and say, “I have messed up and I am desperate for Your help.”

God is all about “fresh starts.”  In His “mag-normous” love for us, He sent His Son to the cross so that you and I can press the “restart” button on our lives and start over.  When we mess up, we can do it all again!!  He knew we would make mistakes and His arms are still open wide!!  Is it time to press your “restart” button?

GPS  (Direction From God’s Word)

·         John 1:29-31

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:29&version=MSG

·         I Corinthians 1:26

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%201:26&version=MSG

·         Psalms 18:20

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2018:%2020&version=MSG

Prayer Focus:

Thank Your wonderful God that He always has a “fresh start” waiting for you!