Verse for today

[Brother Mark]

Josh 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
NASB

God has promised us that he will be with us wherever we go. For this reason, we can be strong and courageous. There will be many battles that will be beyond our ability. There will be many puzzles beyond our wit. There will be many storms beyond our strength. Yet, in all of these, God is with us. We can be strong and courageous because of his abundant promises.

When Peter faced a storm and was scared, God gave him this word...

Matt 14:27-30
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." 28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
NASB

It was the same word he gave to Joshua. Take courage! For the Lord your God is with you!!!! When Peter saw Jesus, he walked on the water and overcame the storm in his life. But sadly, when he saw the wind, he sank.

Matt 14:30-33
30 But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!"
NASB

Now, how does one see the wind? Think on that. We see the storms and think what might be. We worry about how hard life is now. We grow disturbed over high waves and harsh rain. We "see" the wind and think of what might happen and how miserable life is. Yet, when we see Jesus, we walk above the circumstances of life and we can take courage.

Think on these things... Jesus loves you and I. We are to be strong and courageous. He is with us.

Blessings,

Mark

[moonglow]

Oh this was so nice...something I really needed to hear today...especially that very first verse!

I have a question..I know we can be attacked in many different ways because we are believers, but what about when it doesn't have to do with our faith...can satan use other people just to cause trouble for us even if they don't even know your faith? Hope that makes sense...

I ask because it seems very difficult people are always coming into my life causing all sorts of problems...people I can't avoid. And while they aren't trashing my faith...they sure can make me miserable for awhile! Very, very miserable...:cry:

thanks.


God bless

[Brother Mark]

I have a question..I know we can be attacked in many different ways because we are believers, but what about when it doesn't have to do with our faith...can satan use other people just to cause trouble for us even if they don't even know your faith? Hope that makes sense...

I ask because it seems very difficult people are always coming into my life causing all sorts of problems...people I can't avoid. And while they aren't trashing my faith...they sure can make me miserable for awhile! Very, very miserable...:cry:

thanks.


God bless

God used people to crucify Christ and he uses people to work the cross in us. However, it is wise to get counseling when dealing with difficult people. Learning to draw proper boundaries, as Jesus did, can make life more tolerable.

[moonglow]

God used people to crucify Christ and he uses people to work the cross in us. However, it is wise to get counseling when dealing with difficult people. Learning to draw proper boundaries, as Jesus did, can make life more tolerable.

You lost me...we should all get what kind of counseling when dealing with difficult people? You mean on here or just asking about finding the right scriptures to deal with them or what? :confused Or do you mean just talking to another Christian about it? I am not sure what you mean.

I guess what I was thinking when reading your post is all of our storms usually involve people (though sometimes there are literal storms such as this current hurricane going on). People get sick...we have to deal with going through that storm because of their illness and we care about them of course...people pass away and we deal with that...people do hurtful things and we have to deal with that, the list could go on and on as I am sure you know. I don't know if we can go through too many storms that don't involve people in some way or another!

I just notice that all the storms in my life were usually do to what other people were doing that affected my life (or what I was doing...in the past that was the case most of the time!), once in awhile a literal storm though of course.

God bless

[Brother Mark]

You lost me...we should all get what kind of counseling when dealing with difficult people? You mean on here or just asking about finding the right scriptures to deal with them or what? :confused Or do you mean just talking to another Christian about it? I am not sure what you mean.

Talk to a christian counselor or pastor. When I am dealing with difficult people, I almost always try to get advice unless the Lord has already taught me about it. There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. Since we are in a war, here's a good verse.

Prov 24:6
6 For by wise guidance you will wage war,
And in abundance of counselors there is victory.
NASB

I guess what I was thinking when reading your post is all of our storms usually involve people (though sometimes there are literal storms such as this current hurricane going on). People get sick...we have to deal with going through that storm because of their illness and we care about them of course...people pass away and we deal with that...people do hurtful things and we have to deal with that, the list could go on and on as I am sure you know. I don't know if we can go through too many storms that don't involve people in some way or another!

I just notice that all the storms in my life were usually do to what other people were doing that affected my life (or what I was doing...in the past that was the case most of the time!), once in awhile a literal storm though of course.

God bless

I agree and those were the storms I was referring to... the storms of life. Those things that really get us down, like friends that take advantage of us, or betray us. Or lost folks that steal from us, etc. One thing is for sure, God will continue to use people to teach us to die to things we value. That's what I meant by working the cross in us. I think about how Jesus said "Those that seek to save their life will lose it. Those that lose their life for my sake will save it." And "Store up treasures where neither moth nor rust can steal it." I often find that others frustrate me because they are stealing something from me I value. Also, I find frustration when they do not meet my expectations. So when I die to my expectations and die to my treasures, the storm is weathered and I am walking above the sea. It is only when I see the wind that I begin to sink.

As for counseling, sometimes people hurt us emotionally because we allow it or don't know how to draw proper boundaries. In learning our own weaknesses we can better keep ourselves safe if need be.

[Soulangel]

:DThanks Brother Mark for a very poignant post, I'm going to keep rereading this to keep reminding me to focus on Jesus. :)

[moonglow]

Talk to a christian counselor or pastor. When I am dealing with difficult people, I almost always try to get advice unless the Lord has already taught me about it. There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. Since we are in a war, here's a good verse.

Prov 24:6
6 For by wise guidance you will wage war,
And in abundance of counselors there is victory.
NASB



I agree and those were the storms I was referring to... the storms of life. Those things that really get us down, like friends that take advantage of us, or betray us. Or lost folks that steal from us, etc. One thing is for sure, God will continue to use people to teach us to die to things we value. That's what I meant by working the cross in us. I think about how Jesus said "Those that seek to save their life will lose it. Those that lose their life for my sake will save it." And "Store up treasures where neither moth nor rust can steal it." I often find that others frustrate me because they are stealing something from me I value. Also, I find frustration when they do not meet my expectations. So when I die to my expectations and die to my treasures, the storm is weathered and I am walking above the sea. It is only when I see the wind that I begin to sink.

As for counseling, sometimes people hurt us emotionally because we allow it or don't know how to draw proper boundaries. In learning our own weaknesses we can better keep ourselves safe if need be.

Ok I see...the way my life has gone I would have to talk to someone alot because I have to deal with people I cannot avoid...like that old man across the street that would stand in his window (or outside) and stare at me the whole time I did anything in the yard...(no laws against this so there was nothing I could do to stop him from doing this) him flipping my son and I off, dancing jigs in his window just to try to rattle us...nothing could be done.

Dealing with my son's teachers that frankly I find aren't kind and caring at all....dealing with some family members that are mentally ill and cause huge upheavals with the family at times. (can't force them to take their medication and contact is cut off when needed). I have posted on all of these on here actually and gotten good advise...I suppose I will continue too. I have to say in the past when I have gone to a pastor for advise...about all I got was lets pray for you...which is nice..but it wasn't enough.

And of course storms such as illnesses, physical problems...those come too with family members...that's hard to watch someone you love suffer and not be able to do much of anything but pray!

God bless

[ConqueredbyLove]

This is a great post, Mark. Especially timely for many, also.

As a side note....you are a good writer and, I perceive, you have the gift of teaching?

You probably already know that but just wanted to encourage you :hug: