Bible Commentary:  "'Jehovah is constantly thinking about us' says the psalm writer. What a fantastic truth! There are many times when we felt isolated, alone, and abandoned, even by God. In reality, He sees, understands, and is thinking about us. When depressed by problems or struggling with self-worth, be encouraged that God keeps you in His thoughts. If He thinks about you, surely His help is near."

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"God views your work worthy of its own engraved commandments. 'You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest' (Exodus 34:21 NASB).

"Whether you work at home or in the marketplace, your work matters to God. And your work matters to society. Cities need plumbers. Bones break. We need people to repair the first and set the last. Someone has to raise kids, raise cane, and manage the kids who raise cane.

"So , whether you log on or lace up for the day, you imitate God. Jesus said, 'My Father never stops working, and so I keep on working, too ' (John 5:17 NCV). Your career consumes half of your lifetime. Shouldn't it broadcast God? Don't those forty to sixty hours a week belong to Him as well?"

 

This is one I read this morning but dated for August 6:

This is today's inspirational thought sent out by Anne Graham Lotz.

Most of us have something going on in our lives we don't care much about at any given time. But what happens when those things double up and we have multiple things happening that we don't like?

Here are Anne's thoughts:

~ Ephesians 1:18 - 19 NIV

"What problem are you facing that is bigger than you are?  Praise God for omnipotence of Jesus Christ! He is the Almighty - mightier than all. Greater, more powerful, than any problem or situation you or I will ever face. In fact, one reason God allows us to have problems and be in situations that seem bigger than we are is so we can discover His 'incomparable great power for us who believe.'

"If our lives are easy, and if all we ever attempt for God is what we know can handle, how will we ever experience His omnipotence in our lives?

"It is when we are in over our heads.....

when we are cornered with no way out........

when we are facing the Red Sea in front of us, the desert on either side of us, and the Egyptian army in back of us....

"that's when we discover His power!"

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"Dear Jesus,

It's a good thing you were born at night. The world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.

"The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear of threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?

"Your world seems a bit darker these days. But you were born at night, right? You came at night. The shepherds were night-shift workers. The wise men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.

"Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.

"Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed and pain. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.

"We ask you, hear us, help us, be born anew in us.

"Hopefully,

"Your Children."

~ Psalm 108:1 - 4 LAB

Max Lucado in his book "Anxious for Nothing", tells of how we are 'wired' for things that may happen to us quickly and it is good. Our rapid response to a child headed for traffic. for example. But that same mechanism can conjure up things that are not happening nor may never happen to us. We become fearful. Anxious.

Here is where faith in God comes in. We need to ask Him. Trust Him. Believe Him.

Here is what Lucado penned (page 137):

"Maybe this image will help. When a father leads his four-year-old son down a crowded street, he takes him by the hand and says, 'Hold on to me.' He doesn't say, 'Memorize the map' or 'Take your chances dodging the traffic' or 'Let's see if you can find your way home.' The good father gives the child one responsibility: 'Hold on to my hand.'

"God does the same with us. Don't load yourself down with lists. Don't enhance your anxiety with the fear of not fulfilling them. Your goal is not to know every detail of the future. Your goal is to hold the hand of the One who does and never, ever let go."

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Bible Commentary:  "In the sports world, there is a phrase, 'A good offense is the best defense.' In the spiritual battle around us, God is our strength and shield. He is our defense against all that would harm us. If we trust in Him, He will certainly defend us from the vicious attacks of our enemies."

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Today? We can handle and enjoy each day. With God's help.

From Lucado:

"May I laugh, listen, learn, and love. And tomorrow, if it comes, may I do it again.

"A new day awaits you, my friend. A new season in which you will worry less and trust more. A season with reduced fear and enhanced faith. Can you imagine a life in which you are anxious for nothing! God can. And, with His help, you will experience it."

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Today's 'korner' is something my sister Jan mailed to me. It is some thoughts from Jason Robinson of Wisconsin. She had ripped the page out of an inspirational thought booklet so I don't the publication. 

As we begin a new school year, it is a good one:

"When I was in school my father attended all of my activities -- football games, basketball games, wrestling tournaments. For a long time I thought it was only because of our close relationship. However, his support of student athletes continued until he was well into his sixties. Only at my father's funeral did I learn from my brother the true reason our father spent so much time at these events. My father had told him:  'When I was in school, my parents never came to anything because they were always drunk or at the bar. I go to all these activities for the kids whose parents don't show up. They can count on me to be in the stands. I am always there so they have support from someone.'

"Though my father wasn't religious, his example reminds me of the way our Lord shows us love and hope by never leaving us alone. Much as my father was always in the stands for the kids, when Jesus ascended into heaven, He left the Holy Spirit to comfort us. We can place total faith and hope in that truth."

*

Bible Commentary:  "God doesn't judge people on the basis of race, sex, or national origin. He judges them on the basis of their faith in him and their response to his revealed will. Those who diligently try to obey God's will are like healthy, fruit-bearing trees with strong roots and God promises to watch over them. God's wisdom guides their lives. In contrast, those who don't obey God have meaningless lives which blow away like dust. There are only two paths of life from which to choose -- God's way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction. By choosing your pathway, you choose your eternity."

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It is something written by Pastor Rick Warren of "The Purpose Drive Life" fame:

It has six or eight bright colors with the largest print of "Jesus Christ", horizontal in red and rusty colors. The other names around the ages, also horizontal or vertical or wrapped around a couple of directions, are all names for Jesus:

And I'd bet there are others. Lots of them!

Bible Commentary:  "Sometimes life offers little hope, and when hope is gone,only despair remains. When facing problems, trials, suffering, and death, we may feel like giving up. David ran from his beloved son who threatened to kill him, knowing there was no hope except in God. When we feel like there is not hope, when life has disappointed us to point of despair, we also have only one hope. But God is all the hope we need because he promises to be a shield to protect us. When we focus our thoughts on God, our hope is restored."

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Like everything else:  Ask God to help us!

~ John 11:40 NIV

"Having commanded the stone to be rolled away from the place where Lazarus was buried, Jesus challenged Martha not only to obedience but to expectant faith:  'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?' (John 11:40). In essence, He was saying, 'It's time to place all of your small, mustard seed-sized faith in Me and My promise to you.'

"Martha had said she had faith. She intellectually believed what Jesus had said. But Martha needed to make the transition from faith to trust. Because while belief is the consent of the mind and faith is a choice of the will, trust is a commitment of the heart.

"The time had come for Martha to put her faith into action by surrendering all of her hopeful expectations and heartfelt longings and practical common sense and simply trust Him.

"And the time has come for you and me to simply trust Him. Trust HIM!

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