Well here it is almost November and I'm just now getting to October. What a month it has been!!!! In many differant ways! Alot of what has happened this month has led me back to the Bible to search out passages for encouragement and strength and finding hope in Christ when things look...stinky. I know it's not a very "deep" topic but it's one that's close to my heart right now and that's what this whole blog is about, right?
     Life hits hard sometimes. Or should I say Satan hits hard sometimes? And it's when he is hitting us hard that we run to God. For reassurance, for comfort, for strength to do what I'm supposed to do, and even for a little slap to go with it. Well life/Satan recently hit pretty hard again (he seems to be doing that alot lately) and I was driven to my knees and to the Word. Of course, in times of difficulty one of the first places I went was Lamentations 3. What a chapter!!! Yes life stinks, yes it looks like nothing is going right, but! We aren't overcome/consumed by it because the Lord is merciful and compassionate and faithful! He is good and therefore we can hope in Him.
     Then there was Psalms 73. Anyone read that one? I don't know how many times I've related to it...and not in a good way. I too was having myself a pity party. "Lord, why does this have to happen again?!?!? Just when I think I'm 'getting on top' they've got to throw another one my way! And why is it everything seems to always go their way?! Everyone seems to be on their side! When I'm only trying to do what You've told me to!" Yeah....that's me. But! I was foolish. The way of the sinner will be judged. Their end won't be good though it might look like it. God will deal with them. And in the mean time, He's with me, holding me by my hand, guiding me, counseling me, and being my strength (that is, as soon as I get my act straight). 
     The following are the rest of the verses I wrote down that day. Each speaking to me of trials and how God is with me through them if I will hope in Him.
     "Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side."  Psalm 71:20-21
     "Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:1-3
     "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalms 61:2
     "O LORD, be gracious unto us(me); we(I) have waited for thee: be thou their(my) arm every morning, our(my) salvation also in the time of trouble." Isaiah 33:2 (parentheses added)
     "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalms 42:5-6,11 
     "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Romans 4:20-21
     Then there is the one that is my current favorite verse. I use it for everything right now. When I read it I couldn't believe such a phrase was in the Bible. It was like it was meant for me right at that time. "Who against hope believed in hope..." Romans 4:18a That's what I'm trying to do. Hope against hope because nothing is impossible with God. Including hanging on when you've just had it and you think you can't hang on any more.
     So I guess that's it. Yeah life stinks from time to time. Sometimes more often than not. But He is there with me guiding me and offering the strength of His awesome hand if I'll just hope in Him. Even when it seems I'm hoping against hope. 

With Prayers,
  Sarah

 
 

     I recently read through the book of Hosea, a book that while showing God's great judgment also shows His amazing mercy and love. Truly one of the "love story" books of the Bible. As I finished up the book I came across a verse that really struck me. I claimed it as my own and the more I thought about it the more ways I saw that it could be applied.
          "They that dwell under his shadow..." Hosea 14:7 
     Doesn't seem like much at first glance does it, and there is more to it(though this is the section that really spoke to me), but lets think about it for a minute. I would like to share with you a few of the differant ways I have seen it.

     First it was a verse of great comfort to me. At this time in my life I am going through numerous difficult situations. Short and sweet, life is hard right now. In this verse I was comforted in that I was reminded that I am dwelling under His shadow! Oh the protection and comfort that that thought evokes! What great comfort to imagine yourself under the shelter of your Heavenly Fathers arms! I was reminded that, even when it seems that all around me are evils and hurts, if I so choose, I can be sheltered by His shadow.

     Secondly it made me think about how I dwell under His shadow. The word "dwell" is an action word that implies that I have to do something to dwell there, to put myself under His shadow. So, what is the difference between when I am under it and when I am not? What do I do to put me under that shadow? We are told in many differant passages throughout the Bible that when we obey the Lord we are under His protection. (Exodus 23:22, Joshua 22:2-4, Jeremiah 7:23, Jeremiah 38:20, Hebrews 5:9 to name a few). So, if I want to be under the protection and comfort of His shadow, I need to be sure that (no matter what sin anyone else around me is doing) I am doing what the Lord wants me to do.

     I don't know how well I have conveyed my thoughts here but I hope that you have gotten at least a little bit of what I've said and that you find this verse as rich as I have found it.

     I challenge you to dwell under His shadow!

With Prayers,
   Sarah