Author Archives: cb.cooksey

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About cb.cooksey

This blog was created from a desire to reach the internet community with a ministry of encouragement. I post as God directs and pray that the right people will land here and read His encouraging message of love and hope. If you are reading this, I have prayed specifically for you, and I hope that God's words take root in your heart. Blessings to you!
Sep11

Peace that Never Ends

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American Flag at Sunset 2

The mountains may disappear,
and the hills may become dust,
but my faithful love will never leave you.
I will make peace with you,
and it will never end.”
The Lord who loves you said this.

Isaiah 54:10 (ERV)

No matter what…

   God’s faithful love will never leave you, and HIS peace will never end.  The shock of any catastrophic event in life does not shake God’s rock solid promises nor does it dilute His never-ending love for His children. Friends may disappoint us, health may fail us, enemies may come against us, relationships may break our hearts…mountains may disappear, and the hills [or even buildings] may become dust…but God will never leave us alone.  He is our Shelter, our Comforter, our Friend, our Protector, our Provider, and our Prince of Peace.

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you… ”  Deuteronomy 33:27

(This post in remembrance of 9/11, U.S.A.)

Sep2

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

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Butterfly in Hands

In His hands are the depths of the earth

and the mountain peaks belong to Him.

The sea is His for He made it,

and His hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95:4 – 5

God is magnificent; there are no boundaries to His greatness.  No one can fathom the magnitude of His understanding, and He alone is worthy of our praise and worship.  He holds the deepest caverns and darkest valleys in His hands, as well as the highest mountain peaks.  He scooped out the great depths of the ocean floor and sculpted all the impressive land formations.

So if it seems like you are facing a mountain of insurmountable problems or trudging through a deep valley of difficulties, remember that you are being held in the capable hands of your Heavenly Father.  No difficulty you face is too big for Him, and no valley you walk is too low for Him to reach.  Hand everything over to the One who is big enough to handle anything.

“This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord…” 2 Kings 3:18a

“Ah, Sovereign Lord,you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. 

Nothing is too hard for you.”  Jeremiah 32:17

Aug30

God’s Divine Nature

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Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,

Your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,

Your justice like the ocean depths…

Psalm 36:5-6b (NIV)

Take a moment and meditate on the glorious attributes of our Heavenly Father.  Let the truth of God’s character sink into the crevasses of your mind and penetrate the depths of your heart.  Press the “pause button” on the busyness of your day, and simply reflect on His divine nature.

  • God’s unfailing love for you is everlasting; it is as vast as the heavens.  He has loved you before the beginning of time, and will love you into eternity.  He is the God of all Comfort who is kind and compassionate.
  • The Lord’s perfect faithfulness is forever; He is trustworthy, and His Word is reliable and true.  He always keeps His promises.
  • God’s righteousness is as majestic as the highest mountain peaks.  He is holy and pure.
  • The expanse of the Lord’s justice and fairness is comparable to the deepest depths of the ocean.

Even though we could never come close in comparison to the divine nature of our Heavenly Father, God has bridged the gap between our imperfection and His holy perfection.   Because of His grace, mercy and eternal love for us, He gave us His Son as an unblemished sacrifice for our wrongdoings, so that we may live with Him forever in Heaven.  Jesus is the Righteousness of God.  If we simply believe in Jesus, we are covered in His righteousness and adopted into His kingdom as children of God.  The Lord longs for you to spend eternity with Him, and He offers you the free gift of everlasting life through His son Jesus Christ. That’s a promise that you can hold onto for all of eternity.

 …“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.  Jeremiah 31:3a

 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

“And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, The Lord, compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness and rebellion and sin.'”  Exodus 34: 6 – 7

 

Aug29

Refreshment For Your Soul

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Peaceful Waters

“…He leads me beside quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul.”

Psalm 23:2b-3a(NIV)

The 23rd Psalm beautifully illustrates our relationship with the Lord, describing Him as our gentle Shepherd who lovingly and tenderly provides for the all the needs of His sheep.  When we follow the lead of our Good Shepherd, He will guide us in the direction that is best for our lives. 

If you are weary from life ~ perhaps worn down from hard work, or weak from illness, or drained from mourning a loss, or exhausted from battling a difficult relationship, or tired from too many sleepless nights,or anxious from financial concerns, or fearful of dangerous living conditions ~ follow the lead of your loving Shepherd.  He is gently guiding you by peaceful streams so that you can take a long, cool drink of refreshment for your soul. He knows your every need, and He cares for you.  Follow Him to the path that directs you right into His loving arms.  Our loving Shepherd would never guide you to the stagnant waters of filth or corruption, nor dangerous, rolling rapids, nor a roaring, tumultuous sea.  His quiet waters are peaceful and calm.  He longs for you to take a soul-refreshing sip of His Living Water. Taste of His goodness and know the quiet contentment of His divine nourishment.

 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 42:2a(NIV)

 O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You;

my soul thirsts for you.

Psalm 63:1(NIV)

 Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Psalm 34:8a(NIV)

Aug28

Focus on the Finish Line

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RUNNING RACE

For our light and momentary troubles

are achieving for us an eternal glory

that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,

but on what is unseen,

since what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17 – 18 (NIV)

Hard times in life may make you feel that you are at the end of your rope, but you are never at the end of your HOPE.  When you face troubling circumstances, it’s easy to focus on the pain you are experiencing, but this verse encourages us to refocus our thoughts from what is happening around us to the One who lives within us.

Our problems should not dilute our faith or cause us to believe the delusion that God has abandoned us.  When your trouble seems overwhelming, it’s easy to lose heart and want to quit.  In the same way that athletes focus on the finish line and ignore the discomfort they endure, we should fix our eyes on the eternal reward for our faith.

“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”   2 Corinthians 4:16 – 17 (MSG)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,the pioneer and perfecter of faith…, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  (Hebrews 12:1-2 ,3b NIV)

Aug27

Unseen Footprints

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Your path led through the sea,

Your way through the mighty waters

though Your footprints were not seen.

Psalm 77:19 (NIV)

Maybe you don’t have an army chasing you like the Israelites did after Moses led them out of Egypt, but you may find yourself ensnared by a situation in which you feel hopelessly trapped.  Perhaps you feel that your back is against the wall, and it is impossible to escape from your circumstances.

When the Israelites were cornered against the Red Sea, they were terrified and felt doomed.  Moses calmed their fears with these words, “Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today…The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.”  (Exodus 14:13a, 14)

If you feel doomed by your circumstances and see no possible means of escape, pray and ask God to intervene on your behalf.  The same powerful Hand that parted the sea for the Israelites can provide a pathway out of your trouble.  Don’t be afraid; don’t panic.  God can open up a way out for you.  Simply stand firm in your faith and watch the deliverance God will bring you.  Follow His unseen footprints…

“But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.”  Exodus 14:29

Aug26

The Light of Life

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Sunrise Amelia April 2006 021

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said,

“I amthe Light of the world.

Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the Light of Life.”

John 8:12

 In a darkened room, the flickering flame of one small candle can illuminate the entire space.  On a grander scale, God used a pillar of fire at night to guide the people of Israel through the wilderness.  As they roamed through the desert on their journey to the Promised Land, they never had to take a step in darkness.  When the pillar of fire moved, they followed.  It was an ever-present symbol of God’s presence, protection and guidance in their lives.

 Jesus came to illuminate the darkness of the entire world.  He brought God’s presence, protection and guidance to each one of us.  Do you follow the Light of Life?  Is He the light of your world?

 

Aug25

Choose the Road to Somewhere

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crossroads

”Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
grace me with your clear revelation.
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;
God, don’t let me down!
I’ll run the course you lay out for me
if you’ll just show me how.”

Psalm 119: 29 – 32 (MSG)

Navigating your way along the roadway of life can seem like a confusing maze.  Around every twist and turn there are unexpected surprises, giant potholes, and sometimes dead ends. 

Most of us wouldn’t think of striking out on a long journey without first consulting a map or plugging the destination into our GPS.  God’s Word is our roadmap for life.  Seek His guidance along every step of your journey, and He promises to direct you on the “true road to Somewhere.”  Post His road signs at every curve and corner, and cling to whatever He tells you.  Trust Him to barricade any road that leads Nowhere and show you how to run the course He has laid out especially for your life.

As He graces you with His clear revelation and direction, take time to enjoy the majestic scenery on the road to your eternal destination!

“Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Ps 119:105 (NIV)

Aug24

The Promise of His Presence

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IMG_9453“…for God [Himself] has said,

I will not in any way fail you,

Nor give you up

Nor leave you without support.

I will not,

I will not,

I will not

In any degree

Leave you helpless

Nor forsake you

Nor let you down.”

Hebrews 13:5b (AMP) 

Read the words above with this truth in mind:  God keeps His word.  He doesn’t break His promises.  If you are a child of God you can rest in the assurance that God will not leave you…ever!

In the book of Genesis we learn about the life of Joseph.  During one season of his life, Joseph’s jealous brothers stole his possessions and then threw him in a pit, then eventually sold him into slavery.  As a slave, he was falsely accused of a crime and imprisoned for over two years in a dark dungeon with vile conditions along side the worst of criminals.  Yet those who met Joseph along the way knew that no matter what God was with him.  Even in the midst of these terrible circumstances, God never left Joseph.  In fact, the Bible tells us that when Joseph was a slave, “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered…The Lord was with him and gave him success in everything he did.”  (Genesis 39: 2a, 3b)  And while Joseph spent time in the grim conditions of the prison, we are told that “the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” (Genesis 40: 21)  Even though he was in the most terrible situation of his life as a prisoner, “the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” (Genesis 40:23b)

Perhaps you can identify with one or more of the hardships that Joseph faced:  betrayal, financial loss, abuse, abandonment, false accusations, or even dire living conditions.   If so, remind yourself of God’s promise to His children:

I will never leave you…

Forsake you…

Abandon you…

Fail you…

Leave you alone…

Desert you…

Run away from you…

Forget you…

Leave you without support…

Give you up…

Let you down.

I will not relax My hold on you…assuredly not!

Joseph’s responses to each circumstance in his life give us a good example to follow.  His positive attitude transformed each of his setbacks into a step forward.  His lowest point was like a launchpad for his successful future.  After two years, Joseph was released him from prison and Pharaoh put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.  He quickly went from a dingy, dark prison to Pharaoh’s palatial palace.  During his lowest points, he didn’t dwell on asking, “Why are these things happening to me?”  In each situation he trusted in God and held on to the personal knowledge that God was with him.  Instead of asking why, he chose to ask, “What can I do now…”  His life was a testimony to others of God’s presence, provision, protection and blessing in spite of hardships.  He thrived in situations where others would have simply given up.

If you are find yourself in a “pit” in life, remind yourself that God will not leave you…ever!  Perhaps He is molding you and preparing you for greater things through these difficulties.  Allow God to transform your setbacks into giant leaps forward.  Although you face difficulties, it doesn’t mean that God has abandoned you.  He is true to His word, and He will never, ever leave you alone or helpless.

 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,

for He who promised if faithful.”

   Hebrews 10:23

 

               

Aug23

Marvelously Made

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knit together

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.”

Psalm 139: 13 – 16 MSG

You are a special creation ~ marvelously made in body and soul by God!  No one else on Earth is quite like you.  God shaped you from nothing into something, and knit you together, bit by bit, into the extraordinary individual that you are. Like an open book, He watched you grow from conception to birth; He knows the rhythm of your heart, every bone in your body, and every hair on your head.

God created you with a unique purpose in mind, and each one of your days on Earth have been ordained by your Creator.   In fact, the days of your life were all prepared for you before you even lived one day.  God knows you intimately, inside and out.

He was there from your beginning, and He is with you right now.  No matter what you may be going through in life, God loves you and is watching over you every single moment.

You are His Masterpiece!