Comfort in Times of Distress

"I cried out to God with my voice--

To God with my voice;

And He gave ear to me.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;

My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;

My soul refused to be comforted" (Psalm 77:1-2 NKJV).

How many times do we get discouraged and just give up? Is that what the Lord wants for us to do? Never!! He wants us to be in prayer continually focused on Him and His way and His will. He hears our prayers and moreover; He knows our hearts.

He is with us always, yet sometimes we must walk through some fires so we can be refined.

If times were always good and carefree, would you still serve the Lord?

Would you know that you could trust Him, in good times and bad? I remember hearing Kathy Troccoli's song How Would I Know for the first time. It was like a light bulb went off in my head and that song touched my heart in a very profound way. The line if there had never been a battle how would I know the victory, has continued to bless me and speak to me.

Life is a series of battles. Some big and some small. Some trials take one person to the end of themselves, others take whole groups of people. Whatever the battle, know the Lord is there. You can lean on Him, calling upon Him day and night, knowing without a doubt - He hears you and He cares more than anyone. When those times come: pray, believing He will answer. Wait for His promise to be fulfilled. However long it takes.

It will be worth it!!

Who Is In Control?

I must apologize for my lack of posting in the last little bit. Still, God is busy at work and He is answering prayers and moving things forward-always. Have you ever really stopped to think about what God is doing in heaven? I have. I have read through the Scriptures looking for glimpses into heaven and there are some awesome ones! Sometimes we think of God sitting on His throne basking in praise and laying back. However, the Bible tells us He is at work also. Job 1:6-12 we see God is having a meeting. It says, "the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them" (verse 6 NKJV). If you read through this portion of Scripture, it should become apparent to you that Satan is not allowed to do anything without God's say so. The Lord is in control. That is a promise you can count on. He has your best interests at heart. Sometimes in all of the day to day things: heartache, a bad diagnosis, children gone awry and anything else that you are struggling with, it is hard to see God. What if you put God in front of it all and looked at the circumstances through Him? What if you clung to the promise from Hebrews 13:5 that says, "I (meaning God) will never leave you nor forsake you" (NKJV)? When we view life through the Lord instead of the Lord through our circumstances we are left with a peace that cannot be explained. Realize that God holds the whole world in His hands, that means He holds YOU too. I pray that He will be with you and that you will accept His gift of peace, joy and love. If you do not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, scroll down to my blog post "The Greatest Promise" and accept His gift of salvation.

Blessings For The Day

Lately, each day I get up, I realize spring is just around the corner (getting closer by the day). Each morning the day gets a little longer and a bit brighter. Today the sun is shining and there is so much heat in the sun. What beauty and majesty and hope! God is so good. All we have to do is look around to see His hand everywhere. The painted sky at night: seriously, who could think to put that many colours in the sunset but the Almighty Himself? The beauty of a child sleeping soundly. The laughter of a friend you haven't seen for a long span of time. So many wonderous things God has blessed us with and we so often don't take the time to appreciate it because we are so busy. I encourage you to take the time to notice and praise the Lord for the little things in your life that you take for granted. Even the things that don't seem so great right now. Thank the Lord for the good and the bad. Thank Him for the triumphs and the trials. He has created them all. He wants to do something wonderful in your life. Give it all to Him, praise Him always. Change your outlook and He can change your heart. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV emphasis mine).

This Is The Day

This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 NKJV Happy Valentine's Day It is Valentine's Day, a time to let those special people in your life know they are special and loved. How do we do it? Well, that seems to be different for everyone. For some it's a simple, I love you, for others it is candy and flowers. Still others wish to make a spectacular event of the day. Cards, gifts, dinner and special time with their special someone. Today is the day that the Lord has made. He has ordained it special not because it is a holiday but because it is another day He has given you. The love of God is so much bigger than Valentine's and much bigger than we could ever begin to comprehend. How big is it? For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life - John 3:16 NKJV (emphasis mine). If you are struggling today because you think no one loves you or that you are all alone, cling to the promises of the Lord. He loves you with an unending and enduring love that knows no limits. Call out to Him in faith and He will hear and answer you. This is the day!

Peace in the Valley

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This morning as I was praying, I realized something of great importance and felt I should share it. There are times when we go through many hardships and trying times. Our lives seem to be falling apart all around us and we don't know what to do. Those thoughts and feelings should drive us to our knees seeking God's wisdom and Word. He is the giver of life and there is nothing that comes to us that He has not sifted through His loving hands (1 Cor. 10:13). He knows how much we can take and will always give us a way out. What became clear to me today is the ability to grow in our faith only happens when we are in our valley experiences. Isn't that amazing?? Stop and think about mountains and valleys for a moment. We all enjoy the mountaintop experiences where everything is great and the view is awesome, but when you are standing up there and really look around, what do you see? Shades of gray and brown. Rock, maybe some snow. But look down into the valley. The river sparkling and dancing in the center of a lush, green garden of beauty. The rolling land covered in vegetation. Flowers and shrubery bursting forth in growth and the promise of new fruit. The valley is where we grow too. Psalm 23 describes the valley experience. We can lean on the Lord during all of our times. Good and bad. Call out on Him today. Do not wait until you feel there is nowhere to turn. The Lord is waiting to hear and answer your prayer.

Leaning on Him

"He gives strength to the weary and increses the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29 NIV). Do you ever have times that you are just plain tired? I go through that scenario every so often and looking to the Word of God helps me fill up again. Today, I would like to share some Scripture verses with you praying that you will be refreshed and renewed in His presence. "Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand" (Psalm 37:24 NIV). "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble" (Psalm 9:9 NIV). "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14 NIV). "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV). "This is love:not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10 NIV). May God bless you and be near you. I pray that He will speak to you and that you may hear His call. Lean on the Lord and He will uphold you. In Him, Natalie

Giving it All to God

Have you ever dreamed of living a life without stress that zaps you? Do you want to be free from fear and anxiety? Is it possible in this world we live in? When your burdens become heavy and your stress too much, where do you turn? Is there anywhere, does anyone care? Have any of these questions plagued you? Are you seeking deeper meaning and wanting more peace, joy and rest in your life? If you are, look to the Lord. Admit to Jesus Christ that you are a sinner , believe that He gave His life for you, and commit your life to Him. (For more details, see my post "The Greatest Promise".)He will satisfy all your needs, over and above anything you can imagine. Just look at the Scriptures that promises you these things. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved," John 3:16-17 (NKJV). (Jesus is speaking)"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly," John 10:10 (NKJV). "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourself; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast," Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV). "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV). This is just a small taste of what promises are contained within the pages of the Bible. We do not need to carry burdens, worries, fear or frustration. Take some time even now and pray that Jesus Christ will free you from the bondage of these negative emotions, give it all to Him and live life in freedom. With blessings, Natalie