Autumn is in full swing, beautiful colors everywhere, along with nippier temps, and LOTS of rain! Fall has become one of my favourite seasons, though why I am not sure, except that it IS gorgeous, and the sweltering heat is gone! At one time, I only liked the heat, and having lived in very hot climates for quite a few years, I thought that was what I would like always, but lo, and behold, after being here for a long time, I am adapting, and appreciating the changing seasons...
A few weeks ago, one of the Women in our Family circle, had a double mastectomy, and in a month, the second one will have hers done (they are Mother, and Daughter), plus, the first one will be entering chemo, then both will have radiation. Also, in this household, we will be dealing with colon surgery; to what extent we are not yet sure, but it is a major surgery, and about 6 weeks of recovery time. Then, we have had all sorts of other troubles in recent months, some of which are now, working out, but I tell ya, when it rains, it pours! Still, GLORY BE TO THE LORD *GOD*, and our FAITH, we are doing pretty well in making it through all the troubles we face! We DON'T fall into the pits of despair, and HOLD ON to what is good, right, and worthy, as we PRAY, and REJOICE in what we have...
There is a couple in our Familial line whom is suffering greatly, but then, they have allowed themselves to fall into the darkness which arose of their woes, and are wallowing in it, and no matter how much we try to keep them above the edge, they just don't seem to be able to find the strength, despite their declarations of FAITH, and RELIANCE ON THE LORD! This happens, and it is a tough situation to be in, though in times of struggle we OUGHT to increase our FAITH, and grasp onto the promises therein! SPEAKING of FAITH is NOT enough; when the going gets tough, FAITH HAS to be strengthened in the midst, even though it seems difficult! When FAITH wanes, and doubts set in, OR we try to fix things by ourselves, we are weakened, and endangered! I feel so bad for them, and I KNOW how hard it is, but when the storm is the roughest, FAITH HAS TO BE AS a fortress as we cling to CHRIST JESUS!!!
In this chaotic world, there are two choices; we can be drawn in, and under by the chaos, or we can hold fast TO THE LORD *GOD*, and experience the PEACE which IS derived OF HIM! We ARE SO vulnerable in the turmoil that we MIGHT be swept away IF NOT FOR *GOD*! And yah, it is pretty much, that cut and dry!!!
It isn't that the discord will disappear, it IS that IN *GOD* we are greater empowered, enabled, endowed, enriched, encouraged, and over all, equipped to withstand, and overcome such, AND to be further strengthened, and knowledgeable in lieu of!!!
You know we are TAUGHT to keep our minds on that ABOVE, and to hold onto what is worthy; these instructions AID us in enduring and persevering, and gathering from experiences that which will later assist us! EVERYTHING has purpose and reason, and IN the bad, there IS good to be found, and so, it makes no sense to give into what confronts, and challenges us!!!
LOVE, MERCY, GRACE, FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS EACH contain vast storehouses of that which WILL lead us through the anguish of time! We only need to understand just HOW much POWER LIES IN all the benefits THE LORD HAS bestowed IN HIS lessons FOR us! CHRIST JESUS as our exemplar, SHOWED us THE POWER in ALL HE said, or did!!
Emotions HAVE to be controlled, for they take over almost any instance, in which case, they will overpower the mind, the heart, and the entire being! Yah, we WILL FEEL, but we ARE able to control the extents to which we do, and TO curtail those that are rash, and thoughtless; in other words, when we feel TOO much, we are prone to acting without thinking, OR forgetting *GOD*, and our FAITH!!!
*GOD* CAN make all things right; and those who TRUST HIM void of doubt, SHALL be made whole again; this I KNOW, this I BELIEVE; this I HAVE been through!!!
Building on our FAITH takes time, and deliberation; discipline, and diligence! It IS a life-long mastery, and through each test, and trial, we WILL learn more, ESPECIALLY IF we REMAIN IN HIM, and FAITHFULNESS! Problems are NOT going to go away, they are common to this realm, but KNOW that there IS PEACE, HOPE, and HELP along THE WAY, AS LONG AS we RELY ON HIM, and WAIT ON HIM!!!
2 CORINTHIANS 13: 5...
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you— unless you actually fail the test?
Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our faith is dead, and we are yet disapproved by our Judge.
EPHESIANS 3: 16-17...
16+++I pray that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
17+++so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith, to serve God, and to do our duty. If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Where his Spirit dwells, there he dwells. We should desire that good affections may be fixed in us. And how desirable to have a fixed sense of the love of God in Christ to our souls! How powerfully the apostle speaks of the love of Christ! The breadth shows its extent to all nations and ranks; the length, that it continues from everlasting to everlasting; the depth, its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery; the height, its raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory. Those who receive grace for grace from Christ's fullness, may be said to be filled with the fullness of God. Should not this satisfy man? Must he needs fill himself with a thousand trifles, fancying thereby to complete his happiness?
May we, this *GOD* GIVEN week, exact our FAITH, and go forward in FAITHFULNESS, FOR HIS GLORY, and the greater good of all!!!
LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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