Sunday, July 26, 2009

A Little Encouragement found in my Yard Sale Finds!











Hi gals. This morning I didn't get to church but I wanted to do a devotional. I was looking through some books I got while yard saling and this message hit me like a ton of bricks. I wanted to share this with you and see what your thoughts on this might be.

Have you ever felt that no matter how hard you work or how good you try to be in living your christian life or how caring you are to others, it seems like those who mistreat their fellow man are the ones who get ahead in life? I feel that way many times. There is the co-worker, who back stabs everyone or claims another's work as her own, who becomes the bosses' pet and gets the promotion and the big pay check. The brother who mooches off of his elderly parents then takes fancy trips, drives a new car and has a more luxurious life than the rest of the family. They seem to always get ahead and life seems to bestow blessing upon blessing on them. Meanwhile, you struggle to do the right thing, paying your own bills, taking care of the folks, working overtime without compensation to put out fires at work when something urgent needs to be done. And you never get ahead; you never catch a break. Someone you care about gets sick. Your hubby gets laid off. You lay awake at night wondering how you are going to get everything done and how the bills are getting paid.

"Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?" Psalm 94:3.
"Why do the evil people in this world get away with so much? Why? Because it is their world! God gave the world over to Satan long ago and it has been downhill ever since. Our realm is that of heaven. We are Kingdom people now, and so we have to put up with all kinds of bad and terrible things while we wait. Luckily, we don't have to fight alone. The Lord is with us, giving us His strength and encouragement. Take heart, the Lord is on our side." (From Daily Praise from the Bible: Inspiration from the Psalms).

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19.

I am looking forward to when His kingdom comes! God bless you all!




5 comments:

  1. Wow! That's a very deep and thought provoking post. I'm not sure I have a response that makes sense...but I do know people who hurt others and take advantage of everyone they meet...and I also know that their "happiness" is just a facade...a face they put on for the rest of the world. Trips & jewels & fancy cars are not what it's all about, and deep down maybe they know that, but not enough to make them want to change. The people you have in your life are the ones who are important...they're the ones who love you for who you are, and are there for you, even when the good times desert you. Hopefully you surround yourself with those folks and their love, and the circle has to be strong , very strong, to keep out the "bad guys". I usually leave the preachin' to the minister on Sunday...I'm just filling in for this evening! Have a wonderful week ahead. *elaine*

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  2. Hello Betty, thanks so much for posting this encouragment. I was at church yesterday but sometimes I find it really hard to follow a sermon in French! The theme was Assurance and the preacher had chosen a lot of really difficult texts where Paul talks about people who are Christians turning from their faith and being condemned for it. The problem is that I couldn't work out the preacher's final conclusions, so I'm left with the rather unsettling readings and not the final words on Assurance!

    So, thanks for your devotional. I think I must be really blessed because I have met very few evil or wicked people in my life. Many may not be saved but they are kind and reasonable people to work with. But I can see evil in the wilder world - in the selfishness of governments and big businesses, for example, so I agree that they seem to flourish while caring nothing for God or people. Thus it's a real encouragement to be reminded that the ultimate victory is for those who turn away from selfishness and greed.

    Have a great week!

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  3. Hey Betty!
    You found some great books at the yard sales.... Thanks for sharing this devotional....God Bless you. You found some great finds on your treasure hunting adventure...the little cross stitch is so pretty and I love the scripture quote!
    I hope you have a great week!
    Big Hugs,
    Queenie

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  4. Betty, I've been right there many times. Thinking and feeling just like you. Why do the bad folks get rewarded and the good ones struggle? I think the more struggles you have the more appreciation you have for the good times. If we didn't have evil we wouldn't know good. If we didn't have sadness we wouldn't know happiness. If we didn't have hate, we wouldn't know love.
    We will be rewarded for our efforts and god is with us each step of the way.

    Blessings
    Kris

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  5. Hey Betty,
    I had to smile, when I read your post... I used to ask myself these questions, every once in a while...And I have come to the conclusion, the closer you get to God, the tougher the road becomes... God doesn't want us to be like greenhouse plants, which are sheltered from rough weather, but like storm beaten oaks....It is better to weather the storm with Christ, than to sail smooth waters without Him...
    I was sharing some of gut twisting drama, that seemed to be dropping me to my knees, with a lovely woman, who pops in my store... She looked at me, as tears were welling up in my eyes, and said, " oh, how blessed you are...God is working with you...He has put these trials before you, because you are worthy..." I know this to be true...Remember, it's the weights on the old Grandfather Clock, that make it run...Without them, it can't do the work it was intended for... How the knife must agonize, against the sharpening stone, before it is razor sharp...This is not the end of our journey, just the begining, if we ask to be closer to God, we will endure, and He will carry us through....He will make us sharp, and never skip a beat...
    Keep a good attitude, and pray for the 'real' unfortunate ones, they need all the help they can get...and when the 'evil one', tries to take hold, hand it all over to God, He's waiting... all you have to do is ask...
    Love,
    Barb C.

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