Pain and grief build like the thick muggy atmosphere before a storm. You tell yourself you are okay but after awhile your heart and mind fill until the storm clouds break and you are left in a downpour of tears and a thunderstorm of racking shakes until through the midst of the rain you see Jesus. Scarred hand reaching out and taking you into His arms. As you cry into His heart you slowly feel better, His reassuring voice trickles in through the sobs and you hear Him tell you He loves you and that you will be okay. Suddenly your pain stops and feel like air after a big storm…refreshed…renewed…clear…. better. Thank you Jesus.
Author: carriedinthecross
I am a young woman who grew up in British Columbia. In BC was all I ever wanted; I had my poodle (Max) and all my friends, Saturdays at the Vancouver Aquarium and Sunday afternoons at one of my favorite beaches it was paradise. But God had a different plan for my life and my dad's job landed us in Alberta and now where I remain, in small town Souris Manitoba. The transitions from paradise to prairie were difficult and I will admit that now 10 years later I still refer to home as Abbotsford BC. Through this crazy pathway trek across Canada I have had one true constant, God; and though none of it was easy, everything that has happened in my life has formed in me a true lasting friendship with the one I call Immanuel. Because no matter how far from home we are God is with us, and thanks to God I have found an almost completely over looked beauty in Manitoba. If you open your eyes you will see that God has planted wondrous things everywhere you go.
In a world where the news is almost fully negative it is easy to forget the things that are the most important.
A. God still has the whole world in His hands
B. God is still in control
C. Jesus still died so we could be close to God, the curtain tore, we have a relationship with God.
D. God loves us. He always has.
E. Our family belongs to God.
F. Our hope is in God.
G. We are never abandoned by God.
H. God is still God!
I. The Bible is still true.
If we can remember these essentials we have enough hope and strength to get is through each day.
Thank you Lord! That we have You!
Amen.
Help God! I don’t know where to go!
Proverbs 16:3
Isn’t it amazing how when you look at the scriptures, even if you simply skim through, you can find verses of scripture, God breathed scripture, that directly applies to your situation right now. If you’re sick, if you’re depressed, if you’re scared, if you’re alone, if you suffered, if you’re happy, if you’re searching, no matter what there is always a scripture verse that applies. I don’t know about you, but for me that just makes me think, no remember, that even before my situation happened God knew it was going to happen He provided me an answer. If you’re going through a tough time right now where you need an answer and you just can’t find one, sit down, pray, and ask God to guide you to a scripture that will help you through this situation.
Thank you my Lord God that no matter what I go through, no matter who is causing it, no matter what it is, you have given me the answer. You have seen it already, you have been there once before and you were pulling me through, I thank you in your name my Jesus, amen.
When you’re gone
Rapture will not stay lest mortals become divine and laws change too much- CS Lewis.
It’s something we don’t really think about rapture will not stay. When the rapture comes it will be seconds in time, possibly even less. If we are not ready, then it will pass us by, there is no second chance, no third times the charm, it will be gone. If you are smart that thought will terrify you. Many people I have talked to say, ‘ya, I’m a good person I know I’m going to heaven,’ but that is not enough. You have to follow God’s laws to the best of your ability and fall on God’s grace for those you seem to keep failing at. Don’t think that God is going to look at you and see that you gave money to a homeless man and say ok fine your in. God wants all of you, all to him, good deeds alone wont squeak you by. Remember Rapture will not stay.
As the trumpet calls
Do we sometimes forget that Jesus is coming back?
As we go through our days it can feel like this world is forever spinning and never ending. It’s easy to forget that there is a greater purpose than this. It’s easy to get so caught up in the day to day that our minds completely lose focus on the fact that tomorrow, the next day, tonight, right now Jesus could be coming back. Jesus himself said that He did not know the hour that He would return. As the world and it’s forever spinning seems to be forever spinning off its axle I see people starting to fill with fear, that or they were full of fear already, because the world is a mess. I’m sorry but it is. Yes, it’s partly our fault, but we don’t need to look at this world with the fear that we will be here forever till it ends. When the world is finally burned up there will not be a single Christian on it. No matter if you are pre tribulation, mid tribulation, or post tribulation in the end when the world dies we will not be here. Let me repeat that we will not be here. Jesus is coming back. If you knew nothing else in your entire life except that one fact you would know the most important thing you need to know to survive. If there is no Jesus, there is no point. But we know there is a Jesus, our Jesus, and He is coming for His people.
Tone deaf
Tone
When you are a musician you can usually hear tone pretty well. Tone, not to be confused with tune, can change a song drastically. If the tone is wrong then everything sounds wrong. It’s like that when we are talking with people. If our tone is unpleasant then it may seem like we are saying something other than what we mean. If your tone sounds irritated then people will automatically think you are annoyed. If your tone sounds happy then people think you are happy.
It’s like speaking with an animal. If I say in a high tone, “let’s go to the groomer’s today buddy!” My dog gets very excited, even though he hates being groomed, he loves the car ride though.
It’s easy to forget your tone when speaking. I do a lot of physical activity so pain is not an uncommon thing, unfortunately. When in pain I have been criticized for having an angry or irritated tone. It’s just the way I sound when I am pushing through a day of pain. Making myself sound happy takes too much effort and wears me out when I am injured. I realize that my tone bothers people though. Tone can change a whole conversation. So when speaking, try to tune your ear to your tone.
+++-=?
Have you ever noticed that a person can shower you with compliments all day long and then say one nasty thing to you, maybe not even intending to be unkind, and the nasty thing is the only thing you remember?
Isn’t that awful.
The devil really likes to mess with us doesn’t he?
I know maybe 2 people who only ever remember the good things. I wish I was one of those people. To only ever remember the good things you do. Forgetting all of the bad things and moving on without a second thought would be so amazing. Unfortunately, that isn’t the way the real world seems to work. It seems like no matter how hard you try there will always be negative memories. That’s not our fault. The devil brings up negative memories, negative thoughts, and the negative emotions that cause these things. I wish I had some big answer that could help people move on and have fully Sunshine lives, but I don’t. The only answer I can think of is not something you can do, it’s simply somebody you can love. Loving Jesus has been proven to cause people to actively try harder to be better people. Being more like Jesus means there will be less things for you to regret, for us to regret. Jesus lived a guilt-free, Flawless life. In the end Jesus would have had no cause for negative memories or thoughts because He was perfect, that doesn’t mean that every day was perfect, but anything negative that happened wouldn’t have been his fault so the devil couldn’t use those things against Him like, he uses our faults against us. When negatives come your way, remember, you are not alone in your suffering, we have all been there. You are also not powerless to stop it. Pray Jesus’ name over these things and watch your victory come in.
Happy International Woman’s Day
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
Proverbs 31:25 NIV
https://proverbs.bible/proverbs-31-25
Don’t worry, God gets it, and He can help
I have noticed something about people.
A. Everyone has been hurt
B. Most people expect to be hurt again
Philippians 4:5
When dealing with animals you learn how to read the situation via body language and facial expression; So, people like me who have become adapt to this because of several years of animal training have an automatic sensor that goes off when the body language of another person is negative. You see them acting a little wary and they shift around, or stand a little too firm. Either way, a bell goes off and your mind says, “Careful! She might bite.” Fear and the feeling of being cornered are what cause most animal bites. Slowing your heart rate and reaching out a very gentle, somewhat indirect hand can help calm the nervous animal. Let them come to you, be gentle.
Now you really, really should not place a calming hand on the person’s forehead, or offer the person a treat to settle them down; (trust me. It won’t go well.) But a gentle compliment and a smile can help soothe the standoff-ish animal. I mean person. People expect you want something from them, or you are up to something, because being suspicious keeps you safe; it also keeps you lonely.
Lots of people are like this. It is not a criticism, I am sure I act this way myself.
Jesus talks a lot about community. To have community you have to be willing to not be afraid and to instead be bold. Be bold enough to share a smile, bold enough to compliment a hair cut, maybe bold enough to hold a conversation. Ask Jesus to help you to not be afraid and to not allow your scars to hold you back.
Don’t worry. Some people will hurt you, that’s a given, and that is on them, not you; but some will be kind and you may make a new friend.
Try to smile more and shy away less. If not for your own sake, do it for the sake of the other people who feel exactly the same way as you do.
Even when we grow old
Isiah 46:4
Even when you grow old.
We often think of being cared for as something that happens only for the Young. However if you look close at the scripture you will see that God cares for us even when we grow old. Not just when we are senior citizens but even when we are in our thirties or forties or sixties. Jesus looks after us in all aspects of life, in every age group and no matter how young or how old we are he takes care of us. So when you look around and you feel overwhelmed, you can look up and see that Jesus is reaching out, taking care of you; when you have a cold Jesus is touching your body and healing it from the inside. When you are up all night with the flu or anxiety Jesus is up all night with you. No matter what it is, no matter what your age, Jesus is taking care of you.
-Love: Lauren
Carried in the cross 