…And in the dungeon or cistern pit there was no water, but only mire, and Jeremiah sank in the mire. – Jeremiah 38:6, Amplified Bible, AMP We have a bad habit of thinking that if we are obedient to The Lord, life will be easy. Such thinking isn’t rooted in reality, however. Bad things happen to obedient… Continue reading God will lift you up out of the miry clay.
Category: Encouragement
God knows how to take care of His own.
…And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion? – Esther 4:14, Amplified Bible (AMP) A missionary family in the country of Panama recently received a questionnaire from the Panamanian immigration office. After filling out and returning the questionnaire, the family received… Continue reading God knows how to take care of His own.
God will fully satisfy the weary soul.
For I will [fully] satisfy the weary soul, and I will replenish every languishing and sorrowful person. – Jeremiah 31:25, Amplified Bible (AMP) There are times in life when we have opportunity to become well acquainted with misery. I’m not talking about the “misery” that comes from the superficial troubles of life. Such troubles are merely troubles… Continue reading God will fully satisfy the weary soul.
Here’s a great lesson from the ‘Fifth Book of Ruth.’
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…; – Romans 8:17, KJV We often forget just what we inherit when God adopts us into His family. My friend Jack, who just finished an 8-week study of the Book of Ruth for our Sunday School class, illustrated this point beautifully with his… Continue reading Here’s a great lesson from the ‘Fifth Book of Ruth.’
The wilderness has its benefits.
Then Jesus was led (guided) by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil. – Matthew 4:1, Amplified Bible (AMP) The idea of “wandering in the wilderness” doesn’t gin up happy thoughts. Instead, it usually produces thoughts of pain, anguish, and despair. It was in the wilderness… Continue reading The wilderness has its benefits.
Hey, take a minute to pick up your brother’s or sister’s backpack.
Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. – Galatians 6:2, Amplified Bible (AMP) In my younger years I was extremely judgmental. I had an arrogant, pious attitude towards… Continue reading Hey, take a minute to pick up your brother’s or sister’s backpack.
It helps our relationship if you are a little soft.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. – Psalm 37:4, Amplified Bible (AMP) The word “delight” in Psalm 37:4 is the Hebrew word “anag.” It is used ten times in the Old Testament, and it is translated seven times as “delight,” one time… Continue reading It helps our relationship if you are a little soft.
Stop being a wiggle-worm. Sit still every once in awhile.
Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out… – Ruth 3:18, Amplified Bible (AMP) A long time ago there was a young widow who traveled far from her homeland in search of a better life. She settled in a land of strangers who normally despised her kind, but… Continue reading Stop being a wiggle-worm. Sit still every once in awhile.
Sometimes, people die early for a very good reason.
The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; and merciful and devout men are taken away, with no one considering that the uncompromisingly upright and godly person is taken away from the calamity and evil to come [even through wickedness]. He [in death] enters into peace… – Isaiah 57:1-2, Amplified Bible I’ve lived enough life to have seen… Continue reading Sometimes, people die early for a very good reason.
The key to courage and bravery is based on what you expect.
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. – Psalm 27:14, Amplified Bible (AMP) King David faced more horrors than most of the people whose stories are recorded in the Bible. Regularly hunted down like wild game by enemies both foreign and… Continue reading The key to courage and bravery is based on what you expect.