THE LORD'S STRENGTH


Good morning on this great and beautiful Sabbath Day!

I found this story from a woman named Sue Tornai. I wanted to share it with you. It really made me think about when times are tough, do I think only about my circumstances and forget God and others, or do I remember God and others first? 

Finding Joy

by Upper Room Administrator on Friday, August 23, 2013

The words of Nehemiah 8:10, “Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength,” have led me through tough times in my life. Rather than grieve through my darkest hours—the loss of a loved one, ill health or unemployment, I have relied on my joy in the Lord to brighten the way.
The Sunday following my mom’s funeral, I showed up to teach my third grade Sunday school class. The coordinator said, “Oh Sue, you don’t have to do this.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks. “This is where I want to be,” I said, “with my friends—discussing God’s faithfulness.” I taught the class and experienced love instead of pain and sorrow.
The day I stood with my husband, John, in a crowded pharmacy after we learned how expensive his treatments would be, he said, “I’m not worth it.”
Tears flooded my soul. I remembered when I didn’t feel worthy, even of God’s love. In that moment, I was able to encourage John. “We will trust God.”
The loss of my job left me devastated. Many days I questioned why I had to get out of bed. Yet, when I rose to spend my mornings reading the Bible and praying, I found God faithful and loving. I joined women’s Bible study groups and visited homebound friends or those in the hospital—things time didn’t permit when I worked.
Like Nehemiah, joy came to me when I focused on God instead of my circumstances. If you are stressed or hurting, find your joy of the Lord in the midst of the things that trouble you. When you do, you will find it is your strength.

I am going to try harder to dwell on the Lord and depend on Him when times are tough, and I know my strength will come from the Lord. Will you do that also?

Have a wonderful day! 

Les (lesbear)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Choosing Jesus Every Day: Don't Be Lazy

...to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:2b-3 Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Greetings And to us all! I have not written here in 5 months. Forgive me! Life is so busy these days. My husband, Bert, and I thought retirement would be less busy and more, well retired. But that is okay! I believe we are following the path that God wants us on at this time of our lives and that He knows best. So, praise be to our God and Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, for His great guidance! My devotion this morning was very interesting. Bert and I have had this conversation many times when he was still working full time and pastoring. We discussed the fact that our house needs attention. A house will fall if it is not taken care of. And, of course, he was work...
Read more

VICTORY

Image
Saturday Good morning to you! The beach is waiting. I can't wait to get away. To rest. To regenerate. To be revived. And sometimes we just need to get away from our daily routine in order to do that. Get away from the phone and stuff like that. Unfortunately, with cell phones, these days we don't get away from the calls. It never fails that we go on vacation and always someone calls about my husband's work, either a person that works for him or someone wanting to get work done. But in all reality that is good. It means that the business is not dead. Praise the Lord for that! The beach does so much for me. I have the best time and the most relaxing time at the beach. I guess it is in my blood. I was born at the beach (a town at the beach). I lived near the beach for about 15 of my growing up years. My grandparents built a house in Malibu, CA overlooking the ocean when I was a kid. (When I find the picture I will post it.) So, I feel like I belong there and I...
Read more

DROUGHT

Image
  Good morning to you! Has it been raining where you are? It rained pretty good last night here. We need it. Actually we will take it all just so we aren't in the drought category. I saw on the weather yesterday that a lot of the country is in a severe drought.  Are you in a severe drought spiritually? I hope not but if you are, here are some scriptures that might help. Look to the LORD and his  strength; seek his face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11 The LORD is my strength and  my song; he has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise him,  my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2 So do not fear, for I am with you;  do not be dismayed, for I am your  God. I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.   Isaiah 41:10 Do you not know? Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the  Creator of the ends of the e...
Read more