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.

Faith Then Patience

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                                           (2 Peter 1:2-8 KJV)

I cannot begin to imagine how much patience it took to plow fields around the Ring of Kerry.

I have to admit that there are definitely days that my self-control and patience are a bit lacking. They are both more present in me today than they were twenty or thirty years ago. But, I do still fall short. I fall short because there are times when I get so wrapped up in getting things done that I forget that God is with me and I end up doing things the way others or I would prefer that they be done. Not doing God's will; but, instead doing what pleases a few people or myself usually ends up in a disaster. And... disasters can mightily challenge our self-control and patience.

So I pray that God would grant us all faith and that in faith; virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity will follow.

God Peace - Pr. J

God's Will And Ways; Not Ours

To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.

All a person’s ways seem pure to them,

    but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
        and he will establish your plans.
The Lord works out everything to its proper end—

    even the wicked for a day of disaster.

                                        Proverbs 16:1-4 NIV

It seems like a good thing; even a wise thing, not to let our emotions control us. So often, I can feel my emotions rise to the surface. It takes a bit of self-discipline to slow them down, ignore my emotions and listen to what the LORD would have me do. Sometimes, my first instinct is to react rather than listen to God. That first instinct of listening to my heart and reacting has sometimes gotten me into a bit of trouble.

Most of us, at one time or another, have though that we needed to fix something for someone that we love as we see them hurting. Sometimes, we need to let well enough alone and let God fix them in His own way and His own time. Sometimes, we need to be quiet. Sometimes, we ought not do a thing except to pray that God's will be done and be there to listen to them and to God. And, when He tells us to do something, do it.

When responding or reacting to any given situation, it is wise to slow down and ask ourselves if our response is coming from the pride within our hearts or is it from our knowledge and/or wisdom of the LORD's will for us and others.

God's Peace - Pr. J

What Are You Seeking?

"And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the Lord; but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go.” (Jer 45:5 NIV)

Most often, the prophets warn us about seeking false gods, of worshipping ourselves; but, at the same time we are reminded that if we follow in His way, we will be blessed. We will be given our lives! We will live and live abundantly for all eternity, in His presence, in His Kingdom! Thanks be to God!

I cannot even count the times I have warned others that they were falling off the path and heading for disaster. A majority of the time, I am not listened to. Once more my plea is that you would give your life to the LORD that it might go well with you in the land that He has given you, in the Kingdom, where His Son, our LORD and Savior, reigns.

Seek the Kingdom of God so that you might truly live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Lord Is God; There Is No Other

I am the Lord, and there is no other;    apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
    though you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the rising of the sun
    to the place of its setting
people may know there is none besides me.
    I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness,
    I bring prosperity and create disaster;
    I, the Lord, do all these things.

Isaiah 45:5-7

Enough said? When will God's people understand? He is God. There is no other. He not only creates light and darkness; but, He gives life and He can take it away. Live the life that He has given you. Truly live it and do not fritter it away on the false gods that cannot bring you peace or joy or eternal life or any of the other precious gifts that the one true God wishes for you to receive.

There is only One God. May God help us to worship and honor Him in all that we say and think and do.

God's Peace - Pr. J

There Is Only One God!

I am the Lord, and there is no other;    apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
    though you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the rising of the sun
    to the place of its setting
people may know there is none besides me.
    I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness,
    I bring prosperity and create disaster;
    I, the Lord, do all these things.

Isaiah 45:5-7 NIV

There is only one God. I am not God. You are not God. Stop the idol worship and worship the Lord your God, the only one who is in charge of all things. Worship and honor Him alone above all things.

God's Peace - Pr. J