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Gratitude: Embracing God’s Goodness in Daily Life
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Thanksgiving is being grateful to God for what He has done. In the Old Testament, King David engaged Levites to celebrate Yahweh and offer up constant thanksgiving, praise and worship. Gratitude can be a way of life. We can be grateful to God in small and in large things. I love this verse about thankfulness:
Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (TPT)Remembering what the Lord has done for us is a great way to anchor ourselves during the storms of life. I’ve heard Pastors Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton and Dylan Van der Merwe all preach on this subject.
When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight”.
So, Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.
Joshua 4:1-7 (NIV)So why did God command this?
These stones were to be reminders of God’s goodness and served as a sign of His provision and to teach generations of Israelites about the event when God gave passage across the Jordan. There are more reminders in the bible. The Passover serves to recall the miracles God performed and the exodus from Egypt. Additionally, the Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Jesus’ death and resurrection and reassurance of his return.
There are many reminders in the bible of the goodness of God. We need only read them to bring them to mind. They can lift our spirits and bless us. They will change the atmosphere to one of hope, joy and praise.
Keeping a record of what God has done for us personally as individuals is a wonderful way to recall His blessings. When I think of all the ways I have been blessed by the Lord, it nearly brings me to tears.
My loving father has been with me always. From before I was born, He was with me and loved me. He blessed me with good parents who loved and cared for me. They made sure I was fed, clothed and received a good education. They took me to church and instilled a strong work ethic in me, as well as a sense of fun.
I have been gifted with my beloved husband who has never faltered in his love for me in 32 years. I have been rewarded with 3 lovely children, their partners and 6 grandchildren, not to mention another on the way.
I am healthy and well and I am employed in good purposeful work that I enjoy. I belong to a close and loving extended family and have great friends and neighbours. I am also a member of a powerful church family and a couple of fellowship groups.
God has provided well for us, with a nice house in a friendly neighbourhood and two reliable cars. We have food on the table and can pay our bills.
Years ago, when I turned my face from God and walked away, He never gave up on me. He wooed me back into His light and love and redeemed me.
Last year he provided a miracle, and our granddaughter was born healthy and well, despite the dire predictions of the medical profession. Two and a half years ago, when my grandson was diagnosed with meningitis, he returned home within a week with no signs of any issue. Although he requires speech therapy now, that is a minor inconvenience compared with the outcome they were expecting. Four years ago, when my other grandson was on life support in the Queensland Children’s Hospital, God kept him alive, and he is a happy and healthy boy today.
If we journal all the wonderful things God has done in our lives we can meditate on each of them. When we read and re-read all the ways he has blessed us on a regular basis, it builds our faith and hope. Praise rises up in us and we experience enormous gratitude and joy. It reminds us that God is good, He cares and is with us always. We are not abandoned.
I hope this blog has blessed you. If you would like to comment, or subscribe, please fill in the section below. Alternatively you can message me directly at Jesus4Generations.com@gmail.com. God Bless You!
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Finding True Comfort: Beyond Temporary Relief
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***the podcast details will be uploaded on 06/03/2025***
During the course of our lives we often need comfort. When we require solace, where do we seek it?
We may find ourselves drinking an extra glass or two of wine at dinner to take the edge off. Perhaps we’re taking more prescribed medications than recommended to help us sleep. Or using other drugs. Or maybe we are gorging ourselves on unhealthy foods. These actions are aimed at sedating ourselves. All of them can lead to dependence, poor health and relationship issues. Unfortunately, we might end up in a far worse situation than when we started.
Are we restricting our food intake, or aiming for perfectionism from ourselves? Or are we spending too much money? These behaviours are focused on control and lead to health issues and financial difficulties.
Perhaps we are sleeping all the time trying to escape our reality. Or are we keeping ourselves crazy busy? Have we buried ourselves in our work? It could be that we lose ourselves in a fantasy world of books, and binging on TV and movies. These are all distractions and avoidance techniques, however, they are temporary, and do nothing to soothe our troubled souls.
Or do we frantically seek approval, love or sex from others expecting that will satisfy? Are we codependent? Seeking a sense of self and validation from other people is fraught with problems. Human beings are fallible and will let us down from time to time. Believing sex is love is a dangerous mistake. The comfort we feel from these things is fleeting, but the consequences can be quite devastating.
Maybe we are hyperfocused on our finances, possessions, or gambling. Believing if we only have enough money, or things, they will have the power to save us from our difficulties. But when is enough, enough?
Whatever we are doing, consciously or unconsciously, if we stop and assess the situation we will discover whether our method/s are successful or not.
The truth is, all of these techniques will stop us from focusing on whatever is disrupting our sense of calm, momentarily. However, they all have the ability to cause issues – dependence, debt, idolatry, an inability to meet our obligations, guilt, shame and relationship issues. Generally, our physical and mental health will suffer and we will become hyper-sensitive to stress and more depressed and anxious.
These coping strategies all put pressure on our ability to fulfil our roles at work, home and socially. Our relationships may experience hardship or break down. Our spiritual life will be impacted also.
The New Testament shows us that there is no way we can earn our way to peace and fulfilment. It is God’s gracious gift to give.
Unfortunately, at different times in my life I have used most of these things to try and soothe my soul. Yet, none succeeded to fill that God shaped hole that I was born with.
Where does our comfort come from?
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (AMP)God is faithful to His promises:
O may Your lovingkindness and graciousness comfort me,
Psalm 119:76 (ESV)
According to Your word (promise) to Your servant.It’s all very well reading these verses. But we must remember the goodness God has shown towards us in the past. Speak it out. Let these be our memorial stones that we meditate on.
Retreat to our quiet place and take time to be with God. To reconnect and know He loves us. He has not abandoned us. He will comfort us. He will be with us today and always. He will walk with us through whatever we are facing.
Be still and know that I am God ….
Psalm 46:10 (NIV)It is at these very times we can give a sacrifice of worship to God. When we don’t feel like giving worship is exactly when we must. Bill Johnson says this is worship that costs us, and it is worship that is valuable and meaningful.
Then, we have to give something up. Another sacrifice. We hand our burdens to God and accept His comfort and peace in return.
I hope this blog blesses you. If you would like to sign up or comment, please fill out the section below. Alternatively, you can email me directly at Jesus4generations.com@gmail.com. God bless you and your family.
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Finding Hope in Faith: A Journey with God
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If you’d prefer to listen to this blog, rather than read it, you can click on the link below and listen for free on Podbean. Alternatively, you can listen to The Jesus 4 Generations Podcast on your favourite streaming platform, e.g. Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
https://ozsazzles.podbean.com/e/finding-hope-in-faith-a-journey-with-god/
Hope is not wishful thinking. It is faith and trust in our Lord and Saviour and waiting in anticipation for Him.
When we are expecting God to act, we need to realise that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are far above ours. He goes before us and has the big picture. He may not act when or how we expect Him to. At times, we may find ourselves becoming frustrated or disappointed by His response if we don’t get what we want.
This is where faith comes in. Remembering that our God is always good and has a plan for us:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)Many years ago I wanted my daughter to be healed of high functioning autism and ADHD. I was exhausted and struggling under the burden of caring and advocating for her. Witnessing the prejudice she was experiencing from teachers, parents and other children was disheartening. However, God did not miraculously heal my daughter. He taught me great patience and endurance.
He put people across our path to help us in our journey. He guided me to professionals who could help. We were blessed by Lifeline paying the $2000 to undertake a 3 day assessment and report at Autism Queensland. We also had the opportunity for the entire family to attend Royal Bush Childrens 2 week Autism course and 1 week anger management course onsite for free.
The family unit learned ways to support her and each other. I became a much more compassionate and flexible person. Much less rigid. My daughter learned ways to understand her triggers, manage her emotions and communicate extremely well. In fact, I doubt anyone would know she ever suffered from these conditions today. The Lord has healed her gradually over time. Looking back, I can see He has done a mighty work in both her and I. She has grown into a confident, compassionate woman with a great sense of humour. She works and has a lovely family of her own. She is a great mum, loyal friend and loving daughter.
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)So, I encourage you to wait on the Lord with hope. He is working all around the scene at all times. We have no idea what He is up to, or capable of. He never ceases to amaze me. And He will astound you with His solutions.
These verses from 1 Corinthians lead me to believe hope is inextricably tied to faith and love.
[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:7 & 13 (NIV)If we don’t have faith in God, and a love for God and others, we are unlikely to have hope.
So how do we find hope? We can’t just force it by our will and determination. It comes from experiencing God’s goodness and builds over time. A good way to start building your hope in God, is reading the bible and learning about our Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. See for yourself all the wonderful things He has done. I love the gospels as they show the goodness of God. This is a great scripture:
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NKJV)Another habit to create is spending time in His presence. I like to find a place where I won’t be disturbed and just quiet myself and be with Him. It’s always good to pray. We could meditate on the verse above or another scripture. We can read or listen to testimonies from people who have experienced miracles or changed their lives with Jesus. We can ask for Him to bless us with faith, hope and love. We can ask him questions about anything. He doesn’t often answer with words. He may use symbols, images, and other people to deliver the answer. Sometimes He sends peace during the storms of life. He never disappoints. He is always communicating. Jesus’ name is the Word. We just need to learn to listen.
One of my favourite ways to build hope, faith and love is to praise and worship Him by putting on a great song and singing along. It never fails to bring me closer to Him and lift my spirits.
A really important step is to join a church community and become involved. Having a Christian community and friends is invaluable when it comes to building abiding hope.
I hope this blog blesses you. If you would like to comment or subscribe, please fill out the section below.
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Overcoming Fear: Trusting God Through Life’s Challenges
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https://ozsazzles.podbean.com/e/overcoming-fear-trusting-god-through-lifes-challenges/
Have you ever experienced panic or dread? Life is full of the unexpected and we will occasionally encounter situations that stretch our emotional, mental and physical capacity. Fear and trepidation needn’t be part of our existence. During our lifetime, we may be affected by problems in a relationship, concerns about our children and grandchildren, job security, and finances. We may even be unfortunate enough to experience direct threats to our lives from criminal activities, domestic violence, accidents, ill health, etc.
What do we do when these things happen? Do we become so overwhelmed by the situation and the “what ifs”, that we overreact and end up too agitated to function in the present? Do we get angry and blame God? Do we argue with God and try to find out why this has happened?
It is at these times that we must stop and remember what Jesus, our beloved Lord and saviour said:
“Therefore, I tell you do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lillies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these …”
Matthew 6:25-35 (ESV)Jesus tells us not to worry. In fact, there are many instances in the bible where we are commanded not to be afraid. In spite of this, we can rationalise worry and give ourselves excuses to hold onto fear. This can add up to many hours, days, weeks and months of wasted time and energy.
Ruminating on what distresses us invites a spirit of fear to take up residence in our minds. It clouds our vision, distorts our perception and paralyses us. Do we go so far into the frozen wastelands of fear that we can’t find our way back to the warm loving embrace of Father God?
Fear is the opposite of faith. It can lead us to lose our trust in God. Is this what we want for our lives? To be without hope? What a cold and colourless existence that would be. We may not be rescued from the situation, but God will be with us through it all and help us to endure it:
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you
Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)What we focus on reveals our hearts treasure. We have a choice to either dwell on the things that continue to feed our fears or to trust and hope in our all powerful loving God.
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2Sometimes, we may feel our faith is very small and insignificant. This is when we can repeat this prayer straight from the bible:
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:24Put on some worship music. Open and read your bible. Call a good supportive friend. Reach out to God for help. He is interested in every area of your life. These things will change the atmosphere. The fear will disappear and the peace that surpasses all understanding will remain in its place.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog. God bless you and your family. If you would like to comment or subscribe, please fill out the section below
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Rest
Photo by Doug Kelley on Unsplash
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https://ozsazzles.podbean.com/e/rest/
I don’t know about everyone else but sometimes I feel like a human doing rather than a human being. I am doing the cleaning, cooking, working, supporting my church, caring for my family and trying to catch up with friends, writing this blog and preparing for the week to come. My calendar seems to be so full of events and promises I’ve made, it’s almost as though I don’t have time to rest.
When I am talking about rest, I don’t mean just sleep, although sleep is very important for our physical, mental and spiritual health. In the bible it says the Holy Spirit ministers to us in our sleep. What I mean is down time. No hustle and bustle. Time to go for a walk or sit and talk with family and friends. Time to play. Time to pray. Time spent with God.
What does God promise us about rest?
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (AMP)Our God is always true to His word. So what is happening in our lives that belies this promise? Perhaps we are over-extending ourselves and have poor boundaries? Maybe we have believed the lie that we must be everything to everybody at all times? If so, when would anyone ever experience a need for God in their lives if they have us?
Have we believed the lie that we are what we produce and that busyness is productive? Our society pushes the idea that we should be everywhere and doing all things. However, often when we are busy we are like a bird fluffing our feathers, stressing ourselves out and not achieving anything of value.
Or are we distracted by social media, television, fantasy, computer games and information? If we spend more time in these pursuits than in God’s presence and real relationships with people we are our own worst enemy.
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
Psalm 119:37 (ESV)When we examine our to do list, we will likely discover that we need to step back from some of the responsibilities we have taken on. We may need to learn how to have the conversations to move away from these burdens. This might feel uncomfortable, especially if we like to help, but it is achievable. By asking God what to say and how to say it we will receive the words we need when we require them. Next, we might practice what we will say in a mirror or record ourselves and listen to replays. This way we can check our facial expressions, intonation and content, ensuring we are communicating in an honouring and respectful way. Then we pray and ask God’s help to address the situation.
In practice how might this look? Firstly, we must ask ourselves is this our responsibility and something we are called to do? Or is it robbing someone else of the opportunity to step up, grow and learn? We might take time to consider and discern whether it is doable and can fit into our schedule, before agreeing to do it by asking advice from a wise friend, mentor or family member. We can consult the scriptures and God himself for inspiration and advice.
Alternatively, there may be no need to make any changes to our list of tasks. We may find that we have been trying to achieve these things in our own strength and with our limited resources. We must turn to God and pray for each situation, asking for His strength and guidance in everything.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)Then we will rest in Him. We will be able to succeed where before we had struggled. We will feel strong and energized and hopeful throughout the day.
Perhaps we might consider having a technology free day or evening per week. It creates mental and spiritual space. It is surprising how relaxing that can be. We improve our connections with those around us when we don’t have the distractions of TV and mobile phones. Additionally, this will release time to play, pray and read the bible.
When we take time to rest and be in God’s presence, we are refreshed, renewed and energised. When we spend time with Him He gives us peace, innovative ideas, blessings and strength. He is the source of all hope and love. Time spent with Him is invaluable, a treasure worth seeking.
I hope you have found this blog enjoyable. Please feel free to share it. I’d love to hear what you do to find rest. If you would like to comment or subscribe, please fill out the section below. God bless you and your family.
References:
What Does the Bible Say About Burden? (openbible.info)
Matthew 11:28-30 AMP – “Come to Me, all who are weary and – Bible Gateway
What Does the Bible Say About Keeping Your Eyes On The Lord? (openbible.info)
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Finding Hope in Grief: Embracing God’s Love
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Many of us have encountered sorrow in our lives. Grief and loss are as much a part of life as birth and marriage. We may be affected by the passing of a loved one, loss of a relationship, our home or possessions. Or loss of a job, our health, or a future we had planned for.
When we experience loss, how do we react? Do we rage against the injustice of it all and blame God, the government, or others? Do we isolate ourselves? Do we keep ourselves excessively busy to avoid thinking? Do we use alcohol and other substances in an effort to escape a reality we find intolerable? Do we fall so deep into a dark well of misery and despair that we can no longer see the light?
We may find ourselves continually questioning why? Why God? Why me? With hindsight, do we ruminate on what we should have or could have done differently? Maybe we could have spent more time with them? Are we trying to discover what we did wrong for this to occur? Where we somehow deviated from the perfect or righteous path. If so, we are deceived and misguided.
Jesus modelled who God is while he was here on earth:
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
John 5:19-20 (ESV)Father God sent his son to earth to bring us the good news and die on a cross for the forgiveness of sins and to give all who believe eternal life. But that wasn’t enough. Then, He sent the Holy Spirit, the comforter, to be with us always. In the bible both the Holy Spirit and Jesus are described as advocating on our behalf. It’s obvious that God is good. He truly cares for us and has gone to and continues to go to extraordinary lengths to have a relationship with us. We must remember God is love.
Whoever who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1John 4:8 (NIV)So, how could we possibly believe our loving Father, from whom all love and goodness flow, would punish us? It’s absurd. We are living in an imperfect world and unfortunately, we experience difficulties and great tragedies. Jesus said:
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
John 16:33 (Amp)Our thoughts are powerful. What we think about affects our emotions and behaviour. They can lead to the oil of joy for mourning or devastate our lives. We have a choice to dwell on things that continue to cause us pain and heartache or to trust and hope in our all powerful, loving God.
The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Ps 34:18 (ESV)Hope is the opposite of despair and joy the opposite of mourning. Is hope wishful thinking? No. Christian hope is trusting God and waiting expectantly for God. Additionally, joy is not happiness from something achieved or experienced – that is fleeting happiness. Christian joy is a lasting emotion that is based on choosing to trust God and believing that He does and always has fulfilled his promises.
Whatever happens, we must not turn away from God and the hope of the world. Our God is a good God. If we lay all our burdens at His feet and admit I can’t do this, He blesses us with the endurance to continue regardless of our circumstances and also, the peace that surpasses all understanding.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)If we are struggling with believing that God cares. If we think it’s all too good to be true. Put on some worship music. Read the bible. Spend some time with God. If we lean into Him, He meets us more than half way. He will catch us in His loving embrace and bless us in ways we cannot even imagine. His blessings are renewed every morning.
I hope this blog blesses you. If you would like to leave a comment or subscribe please fill out the section below. God bless you and your family.
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Who’s your Daddy?
https://unsplash.com/photos/V106bb1a9BY When there is conflict and we feel we have been misrepresented. When we have tried to resolve the conflict to no avail. When we feel like we have been silenced and our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. What do we do?
Often we feel self-righteous. We may not clearly see our part in any dispute. Do we repay like with like and assassinate the other person’s character? Do we complain to all and sundry, trying to incite others to dislike them also? Do we act the victim in an effort to garner pity? Do we become bitter? This is what the bible says about defaming others:
He who conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.
Proverbs 10:18 NIVWe may judge the other person harshly and expect others to do the same. However, have you ever noticed that whenever we are in the wrong, we seek mercy and forgiveness not judgement? Jesus said:
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:1-2At these times, it is crucial to invite the Holy Spirit into the situation. However, we may be experiencing such anguish that when we try to speak, what comes out of our mouths is incomprehensible. But that’s ok, as scripture says:
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 NIVWhen we are being cursed like this, we need to remember our true identity. Recently, when I was going through a particularly upsetting situation, I called out in desperation to the Lord for help and He dropped these words into my spirit:
Who’s your Daddy?
Immediately, I felt His loving presence, my spirit lifted and I let out a chuckle. Never forget we are sons and daughters of the most high God. He is our loving father and He is always with us:
… for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you
Hebrews 13:5 ESVHe will always help us. He is a faithful God. If God is for us who can be against us?
He will minister to us to quell the torrent of emotions. He will give us the gifts of peace, love and self-control. When we are calm, we can remind ourselves that this is not a battle against a human being, it is a spiritual battle.
As God tends to us, He may point out how we might have avoided the issue. Or, how our pride overtook compassion. He will help us to put our pride aside, guide us to forgive and also ask for forgiveness. He will help us to work towards mending the relationship as he did for me.
I hope this is encourages you. If you would like to subscribe or leave a comment, please fill out the section below. God bless you and your family.
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Under Pressure
https://unsplash.com/photos/ZxRHtPacwUY Sometimes it feels like the pressures of life are crushing us. The walls are closing in and there doesn’t seem to be any relief on the horizon.
These stressors may come in the form of issues with our health, relationships, finances, home or work life. They may be circumstances directly affecting us, or they may be affecting our loved ones.
These struggles may lead us to entertain thoughts of hopelessness and despair. At these times we must question who are we welcoming into our lives? As children of God we have authority. We must carefully discern what realm we are in agreement with? We won’t give any ground to the enemy.
And give no opportunity for the devil,
Eph 4:27 ESVIt is in these times of suffering that God can produce new wine in us. That is not to say that the suffering and circumstances are caused by our loving God. But, he can use what is meant for evil and turn it to good.
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 NKJVThere were times in my life that I felt completely overwhelmed and crushed. In hindsight, I can see God used these circumstances to build patience, endurance, hope and deep faith in me.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Cor 3:18 ESVDeclaring scriptures aloud, (even if you can only whisper them in a trembling voice); listening and if possible, singing along to worship music (even if you’re out of tune or crying while you sing); and praying and spending time quietly with God (even if you are sobbing or angry with Him), are all ways to change the atmosphere and the course of events.
Don’t lose hope – we have a loving God, who can provide creative solutions to life’s problems. He is all powerful and signs, wonders and miracles are his method of operation, all of which are available to us, His children, today.
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Finding Peace Amid Life’s Struggles
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https://ozsazzles.podbean.com/e/finding-peace-amid-lifes-struggles/
At different times in our lives, we may find ourselves facing illness, relationship difficulties, financial pressure, or the stress of juggling work, running a business, and home life. Sometimes the struggle isn’t our own, but the pain of watching someone we love make poor or harmful decisions.
There are seasons when several of these challenges collide at once. In those moments, it’s easy to feel helpless and powerless, leaving us overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted.
When pressure builds, it has a way of escaping, often in ways we never intend. Like steam under too much force, it can burn us or spill over onto those around us. None of us wants that, and yet it can happen to the best of us.
When it does, what can we do?
We can choose humility. We can apologise quickly and sincerely to anyone, man, woman, or child, whom we may have hurt or dishonored.
“So then, if you are presenting a gift before the altar and suddenly you remember a quarrel you have with a fellow believer, leave your gift there in front of the altar and go at once to apologise to the one who is offended.”
Matthew 5:23–24 (TPT)So often, we feel we must make things turn out the way we think they should. We strive in our own strength to fix situations, believing that if we just try harder, everything will fall into place. But even with the best intentions, we don’t always have the answers, and sometimes our efforts only make it worse.
In those moments, it’s worth pausing and asking ourselves:
Have we lost our anchor in the storm?
Have we taken our eyes off Jesus?
Have we forgotten that our all-powerful, living God is able to work all things for good?It’s precisely in these seasons that we are invited to look to God for wisdom that goes beyond our own understanding.
God has creative solutions for every earthly problem. Nothing is too big or too small for Him. So how do we begin?
Cast your burden on the Lord,
Psalm 55:22 (ESV)
and He will sustain you;
He will never permit the righteous to be moved.The word cast here means to throw. We are not meant to delicately place our worries before God — we are invited to actively and intentionally throw them off. It takes effort, but it’s a freeing act of trust.
So we come into God’s presence and throw off our worries, anxieties, and burdens like an ill-fitting cloak, laying them at His feet. And then … we wait.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
Psalm 130:5–6 (NIV)
and in His word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.Waiting is not passive. It is a posture of trust. We place our confidence in God to care for us and to work in His way and in His perfect timing. His answer may look different from what we expected, but His timing is always right.
Fear not, for I am with you;
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.He is a good God, he loves us and never leaves us orphaned.
Prayer
Loving Father,
You see the weight I’m carrying and the worries that trouble my heart. I choose to place them into Your hands today. Calm my spirit, strengthen me where I feel weak, and help me to trust You in the waiting. Thank You that I am never alone and that Your peace is always within reach.Amen.
Activation
Take a quiet moment today and name one burden that has been weighing heavily on you.
In your own words, say:
“Lord, I give this to You.”Picture yourself placing that concern into God’s hands. When anxious thoughts return, gently remind yourself:
“I’ve already given this to God.”Let this small act become a daily practice of trust and peace.
I hope you found this blog encouraging. Please share it with anyone you think it would bless. I’d love to hear how you find peace in difficult situations. If you would like to comment or subscribe, please fill in the section below. God Bless You!
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The Power of Graceful Communication
https://unsplash.com/@prophet2018 If you would prefer to listen to this blog, please click on the link below and listen for free on Podbean. Alternatively, you can listen to The Jesus 4 Generations Podcast on your favourite streaming program e.g. Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
https://ozsazzles.podbean.com/e/finding-strength-in-pain-a-spiritual-perspective/
When we have formed a strong opinion and enshrined it in our lives, it is so easy to fall into the trap of believing the way we live and think, and our values are the right and only sensible way. When we encounter others, whose religious viewpoints vary from our own it may unsettle us.
What do we do when this happens? Do we try to prove our point? Do we listen to them while looking for ways to destroy their arguments? Are we loading our minds with the words we are going to fire when they take a breath? If they don’t change their mind, do we become annoyed and frustrated?
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion
Proverbs 18:2 ESVDo we rationalize our stance by being self-righteous? Do we pull people down and speak disparagingly about them? Do we think we are smarter than the person with a differing opinion? Are we prideful? Proverbs provides wisdom in this area:
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:12 ESVDo we consider whether our opinion is necessary in the circumstances? Does the other person or situation need our opinion? Would it be better if we listened to, respected and honoured others?
But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ….. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
Rom 14:10 & 13 NKJVWe must choose carefully how we respond in these situations.
Firstly, our God is love. Jesus said his greatest two commandments were about love. Doing everything in love is what we are called to do as sons and daughters of God and as His representatives on earth. So, we ask ourselves will what I am going to say convey the love of Jesus to this person?
With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience. Be faithful to guard the sweet harmony of the Holy Spirit among you in the bonds of peace, being one body and one spirit, as you were all called into the same glorious hope of devine destiny
Eph 4:2-4 TPTNext, remember our God is merciful and full of grace. Therefore, question what we’re about to say, will it demonstrate God’s graciousness and mercy? Finally, Jesus is humble. Ponder, will how we respond display humility?
If we filter what we plan to speak through the lens of love, mercy, grace, and humility we are unlikely to be causing others to stumble. It will be edifying, encouraging, peaceful and loving for our neighbour and the body of Christ.
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Jesus 4 Generations
Revealing our loving God to generations
Jesus 4 Generations 