God Is Our Help In Trouble

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

                               (Psalm 46:1-3 KJV)

Fear is a very human reaction to danger; especially when it comes upon you in an instant. However, we do not have to live in fear. When we remember "... that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28) the fear will subside. 

No matter what happens, whether it be a natural or man-made disaster, God is our refuge and strength. We have no need to fear. In these times of turmoil; trust Him and live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Knock And The Door Will Be Opened

And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 

                                                                                  (Luke 11:5-9 KJV)

Who would not answer their door to a friend in need? Sadly, there are many who would not. They may have many reasons. Maybe, they are in bed and don't feel like getting up. Maybe they are in the middle of a game or a television show and don't feel like interrupting it. Maybe they just don't feel like helping their friend because they don't view their relationship as close as the person who is on the otherside of the door knocking. 

My parents taught me to always be there to help anyone in need and it didn't have to be a friend. I recall their door being opened to many strangers. It is what they did. It is what we do for those who may be suffering or in any kind of need.

I had to actually look up the word "importunity" from the scripture this morning in order to be sure that I knew what it meant. Importunity is when someone has to beg for help and gets that help not out of friendship or kindness or love or anything as sweet as that; but, because the person being asked finally gets annoyed enough of the begging that they give in and help the person in need.

The world today is full of fear. There are definitely dangers around us and at times might even knock at our door. Prudence and caution is a good thing when opening the doors to strangers. But; know this, even if Jesus is a stranger to you, you can knock on his door and it will be opened. He will let you into the Kingdom. You do not have to beg or be afraid to ask for his help. He already gave it to you when he suffered and died on the cross to open the door to the Kingdom for you.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Luke 11:9) 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

In Whom Do You Place Your Confidence?

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. (Prov 25:19 KJV)

I recently had to have emergency dental care and am acutely aware that a bad tooth can put you down quite quickly. Proverbs tells us that trusting a person who is only faithful to their own desires is like a bad tooth. He or she will only put you down. They will do anything to lift themselves up; to look good in the eyes of others, to prosper themselves. They have no problem throwing you to the wolves if it means that it will benefit them no matter how small that benefit might be. 

Rather than trust in one who is faithful only to themselves; trust in the one who put your welfare even before his life. Trust in the Lord Jesus who lived and died and lives again for you! Rejoice! Jesus lives! Have confidence in him!

God's Peace - Pr. J