Handling Change

 

Handling Change

In this day there are so many changes taking place. How do we handle these changes? The following post is copied from the “In Touch” magazine by Dr. Charles Stanley:

None of us like having our plans changed by others, especially if the alteration is not what we want. But how should we react when the Lord directs our lives down a path we didn’t anticipate? Knowing God’s character and purposes helps us trust His wisdom- even when we don’t understand or like what He is doing. Our response is extremely important. While we can’t thwart His work by refusing to cooperate, any stubborn resistance or negative attitude will hinder our fruitfulness, usefulness, and spiritual growth.

Who is the Lord? God is sovereign, and He does whatever He pleases in heaven and on earth. Psalm 135:5-6 He knows the future and will accomplish His good pleasure. Isaiah 46:9-10. The Lord is gracious, compassionate, and patient. Exodus 34:6 God is for us, not against us. ?  Romans 8:31 What are His purposes The Lord’s plans were formed long ago in perfect faithfulness. Isaiah 25:1 He may nullify human strategies, but His own purposes will be accomplished. Psalm 39:10-11 God’s plans give hope and are for our welfare – not calamity. Jeremiah 29:11 He alone knows when trials are necessary to produce faith in us. I Peter 1:6-7 When He allows suffering, His goal for us is “an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 How should we handle change? Hold your plans loosely and leave room for God to adjust them. James 4:13-16 Commit to the Lord everything you do.  Proverbs 16:1-3 When God closes a door of opportunity, remain watchful for another to open somewhere else. Acts 16:6-11 Always keep an eternal perspective. 2 Corinthians 4:18

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

 

If I Gained the Whole World

 

If I Gained the Whole World

Matthew 16:24, 26 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

Each of us has an established birthdate and an established death date. In between those dates represent the dash (-) of our life. It is but a vapor, but it is how we use that dash that is important. We have a choice to eat, drink and be merry as Solomon put it, to do whatever our hearts desire, knowing that when we are done, all that we have done will end up in someone else’s lap. Or we can rejoice in the fact that God gave us today. A gift in which we can serve Him or not serve Him. The choice is entirely ours but if we chose not to serve Him and do all that our hearts desire there will be an emptiness in our life that will cause us to search for fulfillment. The only way that fulfillment will come about is if we choose to serve God.

Matthew 16, 24, 26 tells us that we belong to God, He makes the decisions for us. Above all, He tells us to choose Him. He is life over death. He is happiness over sorrow. He is quality of life over quantity of life. When God tells us to chose life, He is telling us to live in servitude to Him, knowing full well our life is for eternity. Let us not forget to deny our self and follow God. Help us Lord to lean on you to make the hard choices in our life.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

 

King Solomon in Ecclesiastes

 

King Solomon in Ecclesiastes

King Solomon, the wisest man on earth has found life meaningless and wanting. King Solomon had it all, he had great wealth and great wisdom, yet he spoke as though whatever he did in life, it would all end up in someone else’s hands, whether it be a foolish man, or a wise man, once he is gone, he would not know. He says everything in life keeps going around, “like a river that runs into the sea but is never full.” Ecclesiastes 1:7.

As man we cannot see enough or hear enough, all our pleasures are short-lived. Whatever happens to one can happen to someone else. No one is an island by themselves. Having great wisdom did not guarantee that Solomon would live wisely. Solomon took pleasure in wine and women and still found his life to be empty and meaningless. We often look to earthly pleasures to fulfill the emptiness in our life. We do it to cover the pain or to feel good about ourselves, but we don’t totally accomplish what we set out to do. Solomon in all his wisdom concluded that if we want a meaningful life we must have a relationship with the God who created us. Wisdom and knowledge by themselves do not give meaning to life. We may still find out there is something missing. That something is God, because without Him all that we know and say or do is meaningless without Him.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Lean Not on Your Own Understanding

 

Lean Not on Your Own Understanding

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” Proverbs 12:15

“There is a way that seems right to a man but it’s end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12, 16:25

“The preparation of the heart belongs to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” Proverbs 16:1

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his step.” Proverbs 16:9

“There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel- that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

“A man’s step are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?” Proverbs 20:24

“Every way of a man is right in his own heart, but the Lord weighs the hearts.” Proverbs 21:2

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5,6

In this world there are so many things that we just don’t understand. So many questions, but no answer. I believe that God desires us not to ask but instead trust in Him that in whatever happens is to our best benefit. Mostly, when we or someone else are suffering, it is not about that person. It is about the people around them that are affected by those persons suffering. Our suffering comes to build character or strengthen us and the people around us. But most of it is to bring glorification to our Lord God. When we go about our daily lives, we must consider that God’s way is the only way that will bring us peace. When we have decisions to make, we must first seek God and pray. When we teach others, we must first ask God to give us the words to speak and the listener words to hear. Amazing things happen in our life when if we seek counsel with God and pray.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Making Promises

 

Making Promises

Proverbs 6:1-5 “My son, if

you become surety for your friend, if you have shaken hands in a pledge, you are ensnared by your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend. Go and humble yourself, plead with your friend.”

When we make promises to others, we also make promises to God. Our words become a statement and cause us to become a liar when we don’t carry them out. I know that there are circumstances that can happen that could keep us from carrying out our promises. When that happens, we must always be honest with the person we made the promise to.

When we gave our self over to God, we made the promise to obey Him and His commandments. God tells us that as long as we keep His commandments and statutes, He will bless us continuously. He also tells us that if we don’t then curse will come upon us. We then must decide, whether we want blessings or cursing’s. We must keep our promises to God, thereby keeping our words intact, where we don’t make promises that we cannot keep. Keeping our promises to others gives us a sense of accomplishment, a good feeling from the one we fulfilled the promise. When we don’t fulfill our promise, there is a sense of remorse and a need to explain our actions.

We can’t take back our promise to God. We sealed it with our baptism, but we can be careful of what we promise to others. When we make promises to God, He waits for us to carry them out. When we don’t, He holds back the blessings that He set aside for us. Let us strive to take our promises to God and to others more seriously.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

 

Do Not Forsake Wisdom

 

Do Not Forsake Wisdom

Proverbs 4:6-9 (paraphrased) “Do not forsake wisdom, and wisdom will preserve you; Love wisdom and wisdom will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt wisdom, and wisdom will promote you; wisdom will bring you honor, when you embrace wisdom. Wisdom will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory wisdom will deliver to you.”

As you can see, I replaced the words she and her with the word wisdom. I like how the Bible refers wisdom to the female gender. It’s kind of an uplifting anecdote, don’t you think? When God asked Solomon what the one thing he would want from God, his answer was wisdom and understanding. God tells us that if we ask for wisdom, He will give it in abundance. Wisdom and understanding are two things I sometimes feel lacking in but on the whole we all have these qualities. They guide us in the knowledge between right and wrong. They guide us in making the right choices. When we have wisdom and knowledge, it helps us guide others to what is most important, our Lord Jesus Christ. When we have wisdom and things go wrong in our life, it guides us to God’s word to help us solve problems. All of us have a degree of wisdom and understanding. It is how we put it to use that matters the most. Are we wasting our wisdom and understanding on laziness, falsehood, wrongful activities or are we learning all we can from God’s word and sharing it with others? Can we counsel another if we have not used the wisdom that God has granted to us? Think on these things and ask God to give you the wisdom and understanding in the areas that you need it most. It is there; God will supply.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Blessings

 

Blessings

To all of you who read my post. I want you to know that you are a blessing to me. Having you as a part of my life encourages me to be better, do better. Whether I know you or not, I feel especially blessed by you. To my dearest friends that are struggling with cancer and my friends that are sitting by their loved ones that are soon to leave this world and to those who are facing surgeries, dialysis, treatments, take heart, God is with you. He is beside you with His arms around you. Put your hand in Jesus’ hands and He will comfort you. Lean into Him. He knows and understands what you are going through. He will never leave your side. My heart goes out to all of you who are suffering for one reason or another. Please know that you are in my prayers. All of God’s children are special to Him and I am with Him in agreement that you are special.

To those who do not know the Lord. I pray for you also that you will search for Him. Read what He says in His Holy Bible and know that God loves you. I pray that He will grant you wisdom and understanding. Most of all, know that God will bless you in your life, if only you put your faith and trust in Him.

Love to all my family, my children, my grandchildren, to all my friends I know and do not know personally. I Love you and glorify God in knowing He put you in my life. Thank you.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.