Category Archives: God’s Hand Upon You

Jan22

Your Irresistible Future with God

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Beware of looking back

Go in confidence and grace—no rushing, no frantic escape.
    There’s no need to be anxious—the Eternal One goes before and behind you.
The God of Israel paves the way with assurance and strength.
    He watches your back.

Isaiah 52:12 (VOICE)

“Our yesterdays present irreparable things to us; it is true that we have lost opportunities which will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ. Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him.” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (1956). Section “December 31”).

God is the God of your yesterdays, your todays, and your tomorrows. Often memories of the past keep you from fully experiencing God’s grace and joy for today. It’s possible that you are longing for days gone by because they were happier times (the good ‘ole days), or it could be that you are wallowing in the junkyard of past memories, allowing the blunders of the past to overshadow God’s blessing for today. In either case, you are stuck in the quicksand of yesterday, and you can’t move into the future that God has in store.

Just remember, that God’s got your back! He’s your rear guard, and His hand can reach back into your past and settle any claims against your conscience. He can use yesterday’s mistakes and turn them into today’s ministry of growth for your future. He has a grand plan for your life, so let the past rest in God’s sweet embrace. He’s paving the way ahead with assurance and strength, so step confidently into your irresistible future with Him! “And He will be leading you. He’ll be with you, and He’ll never fail you or abandon you. So don’t be afraid!” Deuteronomy 31:8 (VOICE)

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

 

               

Jan27

A Little Boy’s Lunch

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Cannon Summer 2010 035

“There is a boy here who has

five loaves of barley bread and two fish.

But they will certainly not be enough for all these people.

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,

and distributed to those who were seated

as much as they wanted.

He did the same with the fish.”

John 6:9,11

“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.  Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”  Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”  Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.  When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.”  John 6:5 – 13

As a little girl I remember learning this story in Bible School. It captured my attention because of the fact that Jesus performed this miracle using a little child’s lunch.  As word of Jesus’s miracles and healings spread, his popularity among the people grew, and on this particular day, over 5000 people had gathered to see him. As the story goes, Jesus first asked Philip for a human solution to this problem.  How could we possibly feed more than 5000 hungry people?  Jesus already knew what he was going to do, but he wanted to strengthen Philip’s faith (and anyone else who hears this story!) in the process.  Philip immediately began assessing the probable cost of feeding this massive crowd.  By going through this process, Jesus highlighted the fact that financial resources are not the most important ones.  By Philip’s account, it would be humanly impossible to feed this huge crowd.  But with God, all things are possible!  Jesus can take the little that we have to offer and turn it into something great.

 Something else that we see in this story is that the boy gave what little he had while others gave nothing.  I’m sure there were others in the crowd, including the disciples, who probably had more resources than the boy, but they felt they didn’t have enough to make a difference, so they gave nothing. If we offer nothing to God, He will have nothing to use.  The boy gave the tiny amount that he had, and Jesus used it to perform one of the most spectacular miracles recorded.  With the boy’s small lunch, Jesus fed the enormous crowd and even had enough left over to feed all twelve disciples!

God can take whatever we offer Him in our time, talent, and resources and multiply its effectiveness beyond our wildest imaginations.  No matter what your age, physical abilities, bank account balance, skill level, intelligence, or family background, if you take the first step in making yourself available to God, He can take what you offer and use it in mighty ways to advance His kingdom.

So what’s in your “lunch box” today?

Jan23

Abundant Blessings

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Icy Perch
And God is able to
Bless you abundantly,
So that in all things
At all times,
Having all that you need,
You will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8
 

God is more than able to pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything He calls you to do in life.  Never think that He will not equip you to accomplish a task He desires for you to do.  In fact, with God’s blessings you will be more than ready to do what needs to be done.  Not only does this most generous God give seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals, but also He provides all that you need to abound in all your work for His kingdom.

Don’t ever let a “lack of resources” hold you back from stepping forward in faith to accomplish a great calling from God.  His rich storehouse is brimming with blessings that He desires to pour out upon His children in order to fulfill His divine purposes.  Trust in God to be your blessing provider!

 

Jan12

Listen for His Song

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sunset at fountain_edited-1

The Lord your God is in your midst,
A Mighty One who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you by His love;
He will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Take a moment to let the words of this scripture penetrate your mind and permeate your heart.  The same Mighty God who created the universe is in your midst.  As His child you are never alone.  Your Heavenly Father is beside you every step of the way.  He is always present in your life.  When the going gets tough, He’s not going to bail out.

God loves you unconditionally.  He celebrates and sings because of YOU.  As a mom of three sons, I know how it feels to “rejoice” over my children.  Be assured that my voice will be the loudest one cheering in the stands whenever there’s a home run, touch down or game winning basket.  I also celebrate other accomplishments with them such as good grades on a report card, learning a new skill, or making the team.  Truthfully, I rejoice over my boys each morning when I wake them up and each time they walk in the door from school.  So if an earthly parent can have such joy over her children, I can’t imagine how much more our Heavenly Father, who created each and every one of us, rejoices over all His children.

When you are fearful, hurting or sad, He quiets you and comforts you with His love.  Our All-knowing, All-seeing, ever present Lord knows your every need and thought.  He senses the pain you may be feeling.  He knows your circumstances and understands your fears with complete clarity.  Just imagine His divine arms wrapped tightly around you, holding you, consoling you, reassuring you, soothing you and calming all your fears.

God’s word is true.  So we can believe without a doubt that the Mighty One who will save is in your midst.  He is rejoicing over you.  He is quieting you by His love.  And your Heavenly Father is singing loudly over you with joy.  Acknowledge His presence in your life.  Sense His joy and gladness over you.  Feel His comfort, and listen for His loud singing throughout your day.

Dec31

New Year’s Eve

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I remember the days of long ago;
   I meditate on all your works
   and consider what your hands have done.

Psalm 143:5 (NIV)

On New Year’s Eve, most of us are focused on the new beginning that we will face tomorrow with the birth of a New Year. But for every “new beginning” there has to be an “ending.” Today is a good time to reflect back upon the events of the past year and recall God’s presence in your life through each month, week, day and moment.

For some, the past year brought abundant blessings. It’s easy to thank God for good fortune that might have come your way, yet it is also easy to forget that all our blessings come from God’s hand. For others, the past year was filled with painful memories or difficult trials. During our darkest moments, we can lose sight of the fact that God is always by our side, helping us through any situation we face

Often we do not notice and appreciate all of the ways that God provides, protects, loves and cares for us along our journey in life. The fact that our daily needs are met is usually taken for granted. We have food to eat, clothes to wear, a warm bed to give us rest, and a roof to shelter us. How often do we stop and give thanks…genuine thanks…to God for these basic needs which are being met by His hand? Worse yet, we mistakenly take the credit ourselves for being good providers instead of recognizing God’s hand in the process.

As the past year comes to an end, I pray that God would engulf me with His spirit so that I may see my world through His holy eyes to envision His hand of blessing upon my life…even during the painful trials and darkest days of the past year. I pray that He would give me a spiritual mind so that I might understand His plan for each of my days ahead as His purpose for my life unfolds. I pray that He would give me spiritual ears to hear His voice as He speaks to me and that He would give me a spiritual heart so that I may love those around me the way He would want me to love them…unconditionally. I pray that I remain constantly mindful of the miracles He has performed in my own life and that I never take for granted that His favor and His hand of blessing is upon me and my family and that His presence never leaves my side…even in the deepest valleys. Amen.

 


I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
   Yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Psalm 77:11


 

Jun26

Your Family History

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I will utter hidden things, things from of old—

What we have heard and known,

What our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children,

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,

His power, the wonders he has done…

Which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children…

So the next generations would know them,

Even the children yet to be born,

And they in turn would tell their children.

Then they would put their trust in God

And would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Psalm 78: 2b-7 (NIV)

 

Every family has a story. The threads of your family’s story are woven together like a richly adorned tapestry, from one generation to the next. It is important to pass down your family history so that your children, grandchildren…and even the children yet to be…will know the roots from which they are born and the foundation upon which their lives are built.

More importantly, children need to hear their parents and grandparents discuss the evidence of God’s hand upon their lives. They need to hear the stories of the wondrous ways in which God has intervened for their family and the miracles that He has performed in their behalf. Hearing your discussion about God’s provision, protection, healing, guidance and love is a verbal affirmation of His significance in your life. Your testimony is vital to helping your children place their trust in God.

How will your children ever know this information

about their heritage if you don’t share it with them personally?

In the Old Testament there are many accounts concerning the “family history” of the Children of Israel, the descendants of Abraham and Sarah, and their story is recorded for us to read.  God knew the importance of this type of storytelling, and He gave the Children of Israel specific instructions concerning this, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.”  (Deuteronomy 11: 18 – 21)

As children of God, we are also part of this family, and we too can learn from these accounts. Not only do the stories include examples where God blessed those who followed His commands, but likewise there are many narratives explaining the consequences His people suffered when they failed to obey God’s commands. We learn from both examples. God gave clear instructions about how His people should live, and He told them,  “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse — the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

Not only will your children benefit from hearing about the times God has blessed you for your obedience, but they can also learn from your mistakes.  There may be examples in your life where you chose a path which led you away from God.  Perhaps you suffered consequences as a result of those choices.  Sharing these types of stories with your children will help prevent them from making the same types of mistakes in their own lives.  It will also help them remember the importance of following God’s plan for their lives, so that they can avoid the pitfalls which come from following a different path.  It’s possible that your story might even provide a roadmap back to God if your child has veered from His path.

The example you set for your children will be the one they follow in passing this legacy down to their children…and all the children of your family yet to be born.  Remember the grand purpose of these types of discussions:  to help your children place their trust in God, to understand His vital role in their lives, and to remember the wondrous ways He has intervened in their lives.  The results will go down in eternal history!

Mar10

Something Special

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“…God not only loves you very much

But also has put His hand on you

For something special.”

1 Thessalonians 1:4 (MSG)

 

God loves you unconditionally. No matter where you go or what you have done in your life, you can never escape God’s love. He knew you as you were formed in your mother’s womb, and He’s been watching you grow and develop since your birth. He knows you by name, and His eyes are continually upon you. As a unique workmanship of the Master Craftsman, you are His treasured possession.

Like an open book, the stages of your life are spread out before God. He designed you especially for a certain mission. You are gifted with a specific set of skills and abilities, and you are part of God’s ongoing work in the world. Before the beginning of time, He knew His special plans for you, and He placed you exactly where you are for a reason. He wants to use your gifts and talents in an extraordinary way.

Not only does God love you very much, but He also has His hand upon you for something special…

Ask Him to reveal your one-of-a-kind assignment.