Posts Tagged ‘ Difficulties ’
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11, ESV
God’s promise is not to keep us from harm or painful experiences, rather His promise is to make us ever more like the Son and prepare us for eternity with Him.
Most people agree: 2019 was rough.
So, if you are reading this, be thankful you made it through the year!
Even if 2019 was the hardest year of your life, or you hate the politicians, or circumstances could have been better …
… give thanks to God. And start the year in thanksgiving.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15, NIVInstead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:18b-20, NIV
We can do it with the words of Mikeschair:
All I Can Do (Thank You)
I could write a love song
Tell you what I think you want to hear
But it wouldn’t be good enough, no
Yeah, I could try so hard
To give it everything I’ve got
But I’m not ever gonna measure up(Chorus)
All I can do is thank you for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank you for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me, you love me, your mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank you
All I can do is say thank youIt would have been easy
But I’m glad you never walked away
Cause your love runs deep for me
And I see this beautiful world and it brings tears to my eyes
And I think it’s beautiful to be free(Chorus)
All I can do is thank you for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank you for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me, you love me, your mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank you
All I can do is say thank youFor love, for hope, for all the ways
Yeah, for everything you do
What else can I say but thank you
Thank youI could write a love song
Tell you what I think you wanna hear
But it wouldn’t be good enough(Chorus)
All I can do is thank you for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank you for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me, you love me, your mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank you
All I can do is say thank youAll I can do, all I can do, all I can do is say thank you
(repeat)
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:11, ESV
Sometimes this life can get us down or even feel pointless and beyond hope.
But God is God. If we turn to Him and praise Him alone, we will find our joy and peace.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.
Proverbs 17:17, CSB
Christ again is our example: be a friend to all people, loving through all areas of life; be a brother to all, especially other Christians, sacrificing of yourself in times of need.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18, ESV
Life can be hard, disheartening, oppressive, scary, depressing, and all-around cruddy.
God is closest during these times. Take hold of His hand.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NASB
God does allow us to go through pain and problems so that we are able to share the comfort He has given us with others.
I finally got back into making some videos! Hopefully, this is for a while.
This time around, this is a “Hey! How’s it going? It’s been a while!” type of video, with a reminder that through the good times and the bad, God is good.
Snow can be a reminder that God has said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)
It is a reminder that His grace has covered all our sins and troubles. Our troubles will not be removed until Christ’s return, but until then we have the promise that He is watching over us.
Therefore, as I have done many times before, I offer the comfort of the priestly blessing from Numbers 6:24-26:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
a simple man of God 