"What Faith Can Do"
Kutlass
For friends who have lost loved ones this week, those who have lost their life's work by fire yet received love and outreach from the community, those of us who have faced challenges this past week, those who look forward to new challenges, and those who have brought encouragement this past week to another. Whatever our current situation in life, our Lord can bring encouragement if we let him.
I myself have faced discouragement at work and exhaustion at home this past week. I thank those who encouraged me and I thank the Lord He carried me through. Whereas I know this is not the last time it will happen, as we all have our ups and downs in life, I am thankful to have friends in the faith to whom I can turn and a Savior who is ready to listen. Some of our problems are creations of our own. Other problems are the trials of this world. How we react to them is the true test of our faith. And, I confess, I had a lot of repenting to do this week to the Lord, just as Job in Job Chapter 42:
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
I have a CD, which I compiled of songs which have had meaning to myself and my family when we face trials. The first song that is on the CD is "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless, which is the song Nikki was given when we lost our first child. The one lyric declares, "Don't you give up now, the sun will soon be shining. You gotta face the clouds to find the silver lining."
The next song on the CD is "Praise You in the Storm" by Casting Crowns. This was Dennis Albertson's song (Nikki's dad), when his home was destroyed by fire for a second time in 2007 as he searched for God's reasoning.
The rest of the CD is filled with songs with similar "Songs of Assurance" as I have named it. From Steven Curtis Chapman's "Glorious Unfolding", "Long Way Home", and "Together", to Chris Tomlin's "I Lift My Hands" and "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)", the title of the one song by Third Day, "I Need a Miracle" sums it all up. We all need God's miracles in our life to survive. His salvation through Jesus is a miracle, our strength in our own weakness through faith in Him is a miracle, His grace and mercy and forgiveness are miracles.
As we begin a new week tomorrow, let us arise from our valleys just as our Savior rose from the dead.
Today's scripture readings:
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Matthew 24:35 (NIV)
Matthew 24:35 (NIV)
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
"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 4:18 (NIV)
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
Psalm 34:15-19
and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
Psalm 34:15-19
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
Romans 5:8
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
I John 1:9
I John 1:9
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Joel 2:32a, Romans 10:13
Joel 2:32a, Romans 10:13
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