"The Lord has turned His face toward you..."
Numbers 6:25-27 (New International Version)
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '
We use to sing a song, "Look full in His wonderful face..." when we would sing it, I truly felt that God was looking me straight in my face, knowing all that is in me and all that I have done and failed to do and still looked at in me total unconditional love. He looked past all the mistakes and mess ups, all the things I failed to do or did that I shouldn't of and just loved me for who I was. There is no other way to get and feel peace in our lives until we realize that God really is looking at us straight in the face, knowing all and still loves us and gives us true peace. Peace does not mean we will not have concerns and doubts some times. But peace does mean that in the middle of it all, He is there with us, willing and able to guide and bless us if we will accept and hear His voice. Whatever it is you are in the middle of, let the face of God shine upon you and give peace.
Don Collette
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Print"And the day came...."
"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." — Anais Nin
"Don't Stumble on Yourself.."
Proverbs 29:18 (The Message)
they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.
"The First Thing I Want You to do..."
1 Timothy 2:3 (The Message)
"Give me clear directions..."
Psalm 119:17-24 (The Message)
17-24 Be generous with me and I'll live a full life;
not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road.
Open my eyes so I can see
what you show me of your miracle-wonders.
I'm a stranger in these parts;
give me clear directions.
My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!—
insatiable for your nourishing commands.
And those who think they know so much,
ignoring everything you tell them—let them have it!
Don't let them mock and humiliate me;
I've been careful to do just what you said.
While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me,
I'm absorbed in pondering your wise counsel.
Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight;
I listen to them as to good neighbors!
Whatever today and in your past that is causing you pain and hurt, God has the greatest desire to help. When we are in pain it is hard to concentrate on anything else. If for a moment as you read the words above you can make them a simple prayer, talking to God from your heart.....I promise he will hear and respond. He will give you clear directions. God Bless, Don and Karen
"You know my way..."
Psalm 142:3 (New International Version)
it is you who know my way.
In the path where I walk
men have hidden a snare for me.
"The God of comfort...."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (New International Version)
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
If in the middle of our pain and troubles we can see our way to comfort and bless those God places in our path...God will continue to comfort and bless us. We learn to comfort and bless others as we have been comforted and blessed. God Bless. Don and Karen
"New Hope for You....."
This is a wonderful web-site from New Hope Ministries. There is live online spiritual counselors available, as well as a large group of self tests to help with a large number of topics. We pray it is a blessing to all who visit. God Bless. Don and Karen
"When the Heart is Breaking..."
When the Heart Is BreakingPublished by ACTS International
�The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.�1
E. Kittredge wrote, "�I am trying to trust,� said one who had heard the earth falling on the casket which held the cold form of the dearest human friend, �I am trying to trust,� and so I have seen a bird with a broken wing trying to fly. When the heart is broken, all our trying will only increase our pain and unrest. But if, instead of trying to trust, we will press closer to the Comforter, and lean our weak heads upon his sufficient grace, the trust will come without our trying, and the promised �perfect peace� will calm every troubled wave of sorrow.�
Unfortunately, resolving grief is not quite this simple. Learning to resolve grief and trust God is not an event�it is a process, a process that takes time. To feel deserted by one whom we love leaves us destitute. We can be angry at God for taking our loved one and even angry at the one who left us. Whether we should or shouldn�t feel this way is beside the point. We feel what we feel. That�s the reality and these feelings need to be expressed in healthy ways to understanding friends who lovingly accept us and our feelings. Then there is the unrelenting grief that tears the heart apart. Tears�gut level tears�need to be sobbed out over and over until all the pain is dissipated. Again, this takes time. Tears are God�s gift to drain the pain of unrelenting grief. Until we resolve all these painful emotions, it can be very difficult for many, if not impossible, to feel God�s loving presence.
Also, at times of loss the support of loving friends is also critical. Certainly, one may need to withdraw for a brief season but not for too long. Loving support from friends is critical at this time�often for a long time.
Yes we need God but we also need people. One of the first things Jesus did at the commencement of his public ministry was to choose �twelve that they might be with him.�2 And one of Jesus� hurts prior to his crucifixion was being abandoned by his disciples. If Jesus needed loving relationships, how much more do we?
Suggested prayer: �Dear God, please help me to be a loving and supporting friend with whom grieving people feel safe to unburden the pain of their broken heart. And deliver me from the curse to give advice when all that is needed is a loving heart and a listening and understanding ear. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus� name, amen.�
1. Psalm 34:18 (NIV).
2. Mark 3:14.
<:))))><
This and other devotionals by Dick Innes can be read online.
Copyright © 2007 ACTS International
"Between a rock and a hard place.."
Isaiah 43:1-4 (The Message)
the One who got you started, Israel:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
"I'm sure you've heard the story..."
Galatians 1:13-16 (The Message) 13-16 I'm sure that you've heard the story of my earlier life when I lived in the Jewish way. In those days I went all out in persecuting God's church. I was systematically destroying it. I was so enthusiastic about the traditions of my ancestors that I advanced head and shoulders above my peers in my career. Even then God had designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother's womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity! Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell non-Jews about him.
God has designs for you too, as he has since you were in your mothers womb. God has chosen you and called you to have peace, joy and love in your life. God has already intervened in your life the moment you accepted him as your savior. As you begin to tell others about what Jesus has done in your life...joy will come. God Bless. Don and Karen
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"The God of Peace..."
Philippians 4:9 (New International Version)
"He will restore your life again..."
Psalm 71:20 (New International Version)
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
"The Lord Delivers us from them all..."
Psalm 34:19 (New International Version)
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all.
It is not a surprise that we have troubles, that we experience pain from broken promises, relationships and on and on. But every time, God delivers us. If we look back we will see that is just what He did. Maybe not the way we "wanted" but He did it in a way that we learned and grew and needed it to happen. Don't be surprised when trouble and pain come your way, be excited about seeing how God is going to deliver you as you are obedient to His voice and His word. God Bless, Don and Karen
"He didn't go off and leave you..."
Psalm 124: 6-9 (The Message)
6 Oh, blessed be God!
He didn't go off and leave us.
He didn't abandon us defenseless,
helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs.
7 We've flown free from their fangs,
free of their traps, free as a bird.
Their grip is broken;
we're free as a bird in flight.
8 God's strong name is our help,
the same God who made heaven and earth.
Yes the fact really is God doesn't go off and leave us.... we may sure wander off the trail a long ways, but never our Father. When we look back at how many times God has protected us, freed us from traps and snares and restored hope and mercy to us, it is amazing we think sometimes that He is not concerned about the pain we have in our lives. We want an answer to the reason for the pain, the reason why it happened, the reason it doesn't go away. God wants to give us the answer, it will be exactly what we need, when we are ready for it. We may find it in His word, in a time of prayer, in a time of just fellowship with God, while driving to work. God will find a way to speak to our heart..... lets listen just a little closer, let the pain go and receive what our Father has for us. God Bless, Don and Karen
"They never got there....Because they didn't listen..."
Hebrews 3:12-19 (The Message)
12-14 So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul.
These words keep ringing in our ears:
Today, please listen;
don't turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising.
15-19For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed.
The promises for God in your life are as real as the promised land God promised the Children of Israel. But learn from their mistake....listen to God and He will lead you to yours. God Bless as you move toward God's promise for you. Don and Karen
"Applaud"
11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. (Matthew 5:11-12 The Message)
God's children give off a sense of truth..........when co-workers at work are not doing or acting as they should in some manner, they often feel uncomfortable around us....they think/feel like we know something. "Applaud" because then you know God's Spirit is alive in you and shining in the world, be humble and try to encourage your co-workers as the Holy Spirit tells you. Smile and know that God loves you lots! Don and Karen
"Why are you down in the dumps?"
Psalm 43:5 The Message
5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I'll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He's my God.
It really is a good question.......why? Probably because like me.....sometimes I get my eyes off of God and what He wants for me and on myself or something or someone else and then we are no longer "fixed" on God. To make matters worse, when we begin to "cry the blues" whatever it is seems to take on a life of it's own, others join in our pity, and get us even more focused on the problem instead of our source. If we can truly get a "fix" on God, He will always put a smile on our face. May God love you and put a smile on your face today! Don
"Bluebird babies..."
25-26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. (Matthew 6:25-26 The Message)
A little over a month ago, my wife and I read an article in the paper about how Bluebirds were in danger of losing there habitat and that people should set up bluebird houses for them. We had tried this when we lived in Virginia and no bluebirds took us up on our offer of boarding. But, we decided to try again, off to to get a pole, a house and some "chow" for the bluebirds. We got home, in 15 minutes had it set up and off we were to bluebird land. But would they come? About an hour later after supper I got up and looked out the door, there was daddy and momma bluebird, looking over there new digs. I could just about hear mama bluebird say "Oh Arnold, I love it, lets take it before it's gone!".....and Arnold says "Yes dear". So in less than an hour we had bluebirds. Today I was mowing the grass and decided to check on our new guests.........I opened the door slowly, just a little........three little bluebird heads with there mouths wide open waiting for supper.
I tell you all of this to say this............God cares about those bluebirds.......He led us to help them and He will do what we can't do for them. You count far more to Him! And He will do what you cannot for you. The other lesson is.........let God use you, no matter how small you may think the task, it can be a miracle in someone's life. Have a great day and God Bless. Don and Karen (and our new bluebird family!)
"As we wait..."
4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. (Romans 15:4 New Living Translation)
I know from my own experiences that sometimes in the midst of the worst times in our lives and the greatest disappointments we seem unable to remember to look to God's Word for hope and encouragement. But I can also tell you today that beyond a doubt, when I finally remembered that God did have the answer for me in His Word it was exactly what I needed...maybe not what I wanted, but what I needed. If we are willing to be taught and willing to take guidance from God and His word........then we have every right to believe that God will make/show us a way out of our pain/hurt/disappointment. May God's Word speak to you today in your present need.
God Bless, Don and Karen
