Trusting When You Cannot See by Cheryl Laurenza

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

"When I Am Afraid I Will trust In you." Psalm 56:3 HCSB

As I write this, praying for all who will read it, our world, and my loved ones,  I am keenly aware of so much fear and uncertainty. I'm writing on the eve of 9/11, the backdrop of ISIS and the brutal beheadings, abductions, viciousness and chaos that has erupted. It truly is a difficult time in history.

I want to encourage you friends, look up, He is still on the throne and aware of all that is taking place in the world and your lives. It's so normal and easy to look at the wind and the waves, yet we have a Savior. I love what the Psalmist says, it's so simple, yet powerful: "When I Am Afraid I Will Trust In You." Think about it, we are going to be afraid, it's not a sin, or weakness, it is human and expected. Don't deny it, yet don't allow it to master you. I love what Joyce Meyer says "Do It Afraid." We can take comfort and refuge in Jesus, but keep going. Just the mention of his name brings peace over us in the midst of turmoil. We can be secure regardless, yet we WILL experience normal human emotions.

Take a walk through scripture, or through heroes of the faith in our country's history that have faced great adversity, they were certainly afraid, but accomplished much because they knew God was with them in a very personal way.

Focus on Him dear ones, watch what you allow in, a steady diet of fearful events and news negatively affect us. We need to be informed, but not obsessed with current events. Stay connected to the Head and the body in these times. Look up, our future is secure, our today may be troubled but we are held in His hands.

In His Care,

Cheryl Laurenza, LPC, LCMHC
For more information on aloneness in marriage or otherwise, check out Center For Relational Care out of Austin, TX or contact me via email.
calaurenza@comcast.net
www.refugecounselingcenter.org

The Whole Passage by @EmilyLaney

^“4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” – Phil 4:4-8

Did any of you do AWANA, Bible Drill, or other Bible memorization activities at church? I was AWANA’s all the way in Elementary school, I looked forward to our meetings every Wednesday. I’m so grateful for the foundation of scripture memorization that those activities encouraged in me and my friends. I have dozens of verses of scripture memorized and am able to remember the promises of God when I need encouragement.

The passage above from Philippians is one in which I’ve memorized each verse separately throughout my life. However, the other day in Bible Study I paused to reflect on these verses as a whole. What a powerful passage!

It’s one thing to say “Rejoice in the Lord always” and to “Be gentle” and to “not be anxious for anything”. Those verses are used by themselves a whole lot, usually to remind ourselves or a friend of things that God wants us to do. But have you ever been quoted verse four and felt that in your current circumstances that rejoicing was a lot easier said than done? I know I have.

These verses together, along with the rest of chapter four, paint a beautiful picture of grace and God’s supernatural ability to sustain us. Paul talks of contentment and the ability for us to do all things through Christ. I read through chapter four and just felt encouraged. The power of God’s word is so incredible and these verses together reminded me that focusing my mind on Christ, on things that are good, can help with contentment, can reduce anxiety, and can empower me to confidently do all things that Christ puts before me. It was what I needed to hear for the season, and it reminded me that when those favorite scripture verses pop in my head that maybe I should open God’s word and read the verses before and after it too. 

What favorite passage of scripture do you think of often? 

When was the last time that you read that chapter in its entirety? 

Emily Laney is a social worker, educator, and justice seeker.  She has worked with vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad and loves to help startup nonprofits reach their goals.  She is a Passion City Church door holder and leads a team of abolitionists at Not for Sale Georgia.   She loves her husband Brent and their rescue pup Biscuit. Sunsets and Sushi make her happy.

You can connect with Emily on twitter @emilylaney or on her blog www.emilylaney.com

Counterfeit or Genuine? Know the Difference ~ by @ShelleyHendrix

Photo by Shelley Hendrix

                                                                                                                                                               “I will worship toward Your holy temple,

And praise Your name For Your loving-kindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” 

Psalm 138:2 NKJV

  

God speaks to us is through His Word. Scripture says that God has elevated His word even above

His Name.

But, if our reading and study of Scripture is merely to check off our daily list of good deeds, its power in our lives will be minimal. But, if we can get past that motivation and become motivated out of our deep romance with the One who wrote the love letter to us, it changes the whole thing. Just like any other meaningful, significant relationship, it doesn’t happen by itself, and it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and commitment from both involved. God has done and continues

to do His part; I get to respond to Him. He has initiated the whole thing; I simply accept His gift of relationship through Christ’s atonement on the Cross.

There was a time when I was a teenager that my church was beginning to experience a lot of growth, both in numbers and depth of relationship with God. During those early days of growth, under the leadership of our very dynamic leader, many people became quite interested in learning more about the occult in order to be better equipped to handle those

false teachings. Well, I wanted to be knowledgeable too, so I started reading about witchcraft, black magic, and the rest. Rather than be informed and prepared, I was becoming

fearful and intimidated. Then one day Pastor Johnny talked about how the Bible needs to have the preeminence in our lives above any other books we might be reading. Christian

literature definitely has its place and I am an avid reader, but the Bible must come first. He gave the illustration that you may be familiar with, but it makes a very good point. He said

that when bankers are being trained, those who are training them do not bring them every counterfeit they can find in order for the bankers to know all of the counterfeits that may

or may not come their way. Think about it; they would have to be trained daily because counterfeits are constantly being manufactured. Rather, they are trained to memorize the real deal—that way, whenever a fake comes across their desk, they can spot it immediately! Realizing the wisdom of that, I began to really delve into the Bible, and I can honestly say

that putting Scripture to memory has guarded me from false teachings on many, many occasions. I don’t have to rely on someone else’s relationship with God, I have my own!

What about you?

* How has God's Word made a difference in your life?

* In what ways would you like to see God's Word become an even greater influence in your life?

*Why do you think people, including Christians, struggle to find/make time to spend in God's Word?

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Today's post is an excerpt from On Purpose For a Purpose-A Study of the Book of Esther, and can be purchased online at www.Church4Chicks.com as well as wherever books are sold online. 

Go, Satan, go! ~ A Post By @Lori_Kennedy

Go, Satan, go!

ByLori Kennedy 

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:4 (NIV) 

Please pull out your bible and read Matthew 4:1-11.  It is about when Satan tempted Jesus at the end of His forty-day fast.  There are some interesting facts that I would like to share with you about this event and how it applies to our lives today. 

• A person has not shown true obedience if they haven’t had an opportunity to disobey.  If you have never been tempted, then you have overcome nothing.
• Remember that we are all tempted (even Jesus) and that temptation itself is not sin.  We sin when we give in to the temptation.
• We will be tempted where we are vulnerable.  Jesus was tempted with:
• Physical needs – Food when hungry
• Emotional needs – Security when feeling abandoned
• Psychological needs – Significance, power, achievement, as we all struggle with pride
• Temptation may be perfectly normal desires, twisted for personal gain instead of God’s glory.  Eating is good and right and normal, but not when you are fasting per God’s request.
• Memorizing scripture is a great way to stay strong.  It is the tool that Jesus used to abolish Satan from His presence.
• Notice that Satan also used scripture (verse 6).  Knowing scripture is a very different thing than obeying, believing, living, and realizing scripture.
• Talking TO Satan is very different than talking WITH Satan.  Eve talked with Satan in the Garden of Eden, but Jesus, who is a model for our lives, talked to Satan to give him a command to leave His presence and based his command on scripture.
• Satan, however, twisted scripture in his attempt to make Jesus fall prey to sin.  There are many out there that will try to take a verse out of context for their personal gain.  Taking scripture out of context is dangerous.  We, as believers, must read and study the WHOLE WORD of GOD so that we can recognize those that don’t give a complete and true message.  We cannot allow ourselves to be swayed by the world.
• Finally, remember that God calls us to be IN the world but not OF the world.  Make sure that you don’t misunderstand what God is calling you to do versus what the world or Satan is requesting of you.  God’s “greater” plan for you and your life will always focus on eternal significance and may or may not fit into the model of success as understood by the world.  Always be prepared to re-align your viewpoint to include the backdrop of the cross.

Jesus spoke directly to Satan to get him to leave His presence, so that He was able to carry out the task the Father had given to Him.  He did much of this with scripture.  As we try to model our lives after Jesus, please make the time and effort to memorize scripture and be willing to be bold enough to tell Satan to directly “leave your presence” so you may live your life in the glory and grace of the Father.  This model of a victorious life is one where you are continuing to be molded by the Potter on a daily and ongoing basis.

Photo by Lori Kennedy

Lori Kennedy

ALPHA OMEGA MINISTRIES

www.lorikennedy.com

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Zephaniah 3:17, "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."