Category Archives: Trials

Still I Will Trust HIM??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #372

06 Wednesday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, God's got you and me!, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's Mercies Are New every morning..., God's provision, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's Time, God's ways are not our ways, Godliness will be opposed, Pop Quizzes Happen, Prayer or Panic?, Press ON!, Reflecting HIS glory, Responding Rightly, Resting Or Wrestling?, Treasure here or in heaven?, Trendy Or Truth, Trials, Tried by FIRE!, Troubles, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word

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Still I Will Trust HIM???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #372

Job is one of my favorite books, and that’s a little unusual, for it is a difficult book to read, especially the first time through; but after several times through you begin to gain insight and hope from this precious account of God’s unseen hand at work as He patiently works in His saints.  I want to look at one main passage today and hopefully give some encouragement to those who are hurting and perhaps questioning God’s work in their personal situation.

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation:

for an hypocrite

shall not come before him.”  Job 13:15-16

Where is your confidence?  Is it in the sovereign Lord God Almighty or your own resources?  Are you in a time of trial, sorrow or testing?  Paul understood this and he also encourages us to “hangeth thou in there”, remembering that our God is ever at work conforming His own into the image of His Son, Jesus.  Let’s take a look at scripture, don’t take my word for it (though I can stand with Job and say, “yet will I trust HIM”!)

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth

take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you

but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful, who will not suffer you

to be tempted

above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation

also make a way to escape,

that ye may be able to bear it.”  1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Oh, please don’t miss the message dear friend, God didn’t say He would remove it, but that He would lead you and me into ways that will help us to be able to bear it, for as long as God is at work—which is always!  Paul also shows us this work of God in his letter to the believers at Rome—don’t miss verse 29!

“And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know

that all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover

whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?”  Romans 8:28-31

If you’re on God’s side (by being born again, by the Spirit of God), then remember, my friend, God IS on your side—always.  Don’t let the lies of the enemy distract you, or misdirect you away from The One who saves, keeps and delivers us on the other side of the trial.  Paul again confirms this for us.

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

And in closing another word of encouragement from Job; his experience is a great encouragement to me, and I pray that you’ll dig into the book of Job—it won’t be an easy read, but it will be one full of reality, truth and hope, as well as the beauty of God’s faithful provision!

“Behold, I go forward,

but he is not there;

and backward,

but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand,

where he doth work,

but I cannot behold him:

he hideth himself on the right hand,

that I cannot see him:

10 But he knoweth the way that I take:

when he hath tried me,

I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps,

his way have I kept,

and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back

from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth

 more than my necessary food.”  Job 23:8-12

What are we esteeming: God’s words or man’s; God’s words or the lies?  Look up to The One who loves you and died to save and complete His own!  Remember, brothers and sisters We Win!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

Trusting With Confidence??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #314

14 Tuesday Jan 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Armor of God, Believe God?, Believe IN Jesus, Believing God's Words, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Stand Fast!, Still Will I Trust HIM, Storms, Study to Show Yourself Approved Unto God, Trials, Troubles, Trust, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True

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Trusting With Confidence???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #314

I’m a bit late posting this week, but as I’ll be out of pocket for the rest of this week, I wanted to share some thoughts with you; not new thoughts, but things that I need reminding of every day, and thought maybe you would be blessed by the same reminders. This year has already been challenging, with the release of my book, and juggling orders, mailing, taxes, and keeping things straight and done in a timely manner, but God in His heaven hasn’t left the throne and I know that my confidence is in HIM not myself, and maybe you feel the same way.  But remember, as I am often known to remind those around me, “We Win!”

“And I heard as it were

the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice

of many waters,

and as the voice

of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”   Revelation 19:6

God is still God, God is still good, and I still trust Him!  How about you?  Have you let the strife, conflicts, confusion, and just plain old weariness beat you down? Just take a breath, look up and rest in the assurance that “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”; put on some uplifting praise music (for me that’s the good old Southern Gospel that I was raised on) whatever lifts your heart, soul and mind upwards, then just breathe in the air that God is still supplying.  Put on that armor of God as Paul instructs us in Ephesians 6:10-19 (be sure and commit this to memory and then you can put it on every morning before you face the world—it truly helps!) and go out with confidence in your Lord!  And if Jesus isn’t your Lord yet, He can be if you will but come to Him in faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for your sin, repenting of your sin and receiving His forgiveness and saving grace!  His amazing grace!!!  (See Ephesians 2:8-10)

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall

direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.”  Proverbs 3:5-8

And in Jesus’ own words, remember, He cares for His own.

“Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling,

and not the shepherd,

whose own the sheep are not,

seeth the wolf coming,

and leaveth the sheep,

and fleeth:

and the wolf catcheth them,

and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth,

because he is an hireling,

and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd,

and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me,

even so know I the Father:

and I lay down my life for the sheep.”   John 10:7-15

Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation, and He is able to save, keep and deliver us into His Kingdom!  You can trust to His care, no matter the trials that face you; no matter the confusion that Satan may through at you; no matter the discouragement that may assail you, remember Jesus is the Risen Savior.  We can be victorious in all things through Him.

And Paul’s great reminder to the believers in the church at Corinth is still true for us today. We can withstand “in the evil day”!

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”                                1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Amen and Amen!!!

Grace For The Journey??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #256

05 Thursday Sep 2024

Posted by in Gospel, Grace, Lift up mine eyes, Lifting up Jesus, My Help Cometh from THE LORD, Not hearers only, Now is the time...., Salvation, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, Sayers or Doers, Trials, Trust, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Victory IN Jesus!

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Grace For The Journey???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #256

We were traveling a bit this week; we made it home, and while the view was amazing and we had a lovely time (except for a bit of illness), saw people we love, and met some new friends, the trip was a bit tiring, and we got home unloaded, cleaned up a bit and I crashed!  After a good night’s rest, I sit here thinking about the goodness of my Lord and His grace, and thought I’d simply share some thoughts and scripture to encourage your heart on this Thursday (as everyone looks forward to Friday!)

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”   Ephesians 2:8-10

We are saved by God’s grace, and I am personally so grateful for His grace and mercy, and praise Jesus for it; I also pray that you have been saved by that very grace as well.  If you haven’t you can be by repenting of your sin and trusting/believing in the blood that Jesus shed as our substitutionary, atoning sacrifice!  Yet there is so much more to God’s grace than just our salvation; His grace is sufficient for every day’s joys, sorrows, trials and difficult decisions, so here are a few scripture passages that I pray will encourage your heart and help you walk in victory, joy and the fulness of grace that God pours out on us today.

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

 that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

The Apostle Paul had great trials and speaks of a particular issue that he had taken to God multiple times, and God’s answer to Paul is just as apropos for us today as it was when God spoke it to Paul. Our God is faithful and trustworthy!

“And lest I should be exalted above measure

through the abundance of the revelations,

 there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,

the messenger of Satan to buffet me,

lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,

that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me,

My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect

in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory

in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure

in infirmities,

in reproaches,

in necessities,

 in persecutions,

in distresses for Christ’s sake:

for when I am weak,

then am I strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:7-10

How amazing that God can and will take our weakness and display His strength, sufficient grace, love and power to a world in need!  And in closing I would like to share one of my favorite Psalms which doesn’t mention the word grace, but it does display the character of grace, power, love and provision that reflects the amazing God that we serve.  May you find hope, grace and encouragement in these words today!  (I would encourage you to print off this Psalm and keep it near as a reminder of God’s presence and provision for us!). Also a note to remind us that our hope isn’t in the “hills” or the valleys, the beaches or cities, the powers that be or the rulers of this world, but our hope is  “My help cometh from the LORD”—remember, our hope is in God’s grace, in the Creator NOT the creation!

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help. (?)

2 My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot

to be moved:

he that keepeth thee

will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel

shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper:

 the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day,

nor the moon by night.

 7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:

he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out

and thy coming in

from this time forth, and even for evermore.”   Psalm 121:1-8

Amen and Amen!!!

Still Will I Trust Him??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #233

28 Friday Jun 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Job, Look UP, Look up and Praise The Lord, Looking Unto Jesus, Looking up Or around?, The Word, Trials, Tried by FIRE!, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Truth, Tuned In To Jesus

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Still Will I Trust Him??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #233

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation:

for an hypocrite shall not come before him.”  Job 13:15-16

Job, the well-known sufferer, is one of my favorite characters, even though the first time you try to read through Job it is seemingly boring, but as you read it over again, the flow will begin to lift your heart as you see this man stand fast in The Lord. It is a great encouragement to believers as we go through trials and difficulties—especially the seemingly unexplainable kind!  I want to simply share some words from Job to encourage you today.

“Neither have I gone back

from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth

more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind,

and who can turn him?

and what his soul desireth,

even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth the thing

that is appointed for me:

and many such things

are with him.”  Job 23:12-14

May we draw nearer to our Lord so that even in the crises we will know that our faith rests securely in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, The Lord!

“Surely God will not hear vanity,

neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him,

yet judgment is before him;

therefore trust thou in him.”  Job 35:13-14

And in closing some profound encouragements and challenges from the Psalmists.

“The steps of a good man

are ordered by the LORD:

and he delighteth

in his way.

24 Though he fall,

he shall not be utterly cast down:

for the LORD upholdeth him

with his hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me

from the oppression of man:

so will I keep thy precepts.

135 Make thy face to shine

upon thy servant;

and teach me

thy statutes.”  Psalm 119:133-135

 So, get into The Word—stay in The Word—and listen to the leading, prompting and direction of The Holy Spirit within you!

Amen and Amen!!!

A Friday Smile??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #216

03 Friday May 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Comfort, Commitment Or Convenience, Encouragement, Joy, Joy Is Contagious!, Joy of The Lord!, Joy To The World?, Longsuffering, Look up and Praise The Lord, Looking Unto Jesus, Looking up Or around?, Time Is Grace!, Trials, Tried by FIRE!, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?

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A Friday Smile??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #216

Just a few scriptures to hopefully brighten your day and perhaps lift your load for a bit.  Here in Oklahoma we’ve been inundated with rain and abundant and often deadly and destructive storms and tornados; please pray for those around us who have lost so much, some everything (and if you’re not aware look up Sulpher, OK on the internet and see the devastation—a whole town wiped out overnight, and they’re one of several towns in such dire straits.). So, I thought it might be a good time to just rehearse the goodness and faithful blessings of our Lord!  And on more fronts that one, we know that our God has and will take care of His own, including the land of Israel, even if the world disagrees!

“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion,

we were like them that dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

and our tongue with singing:

then said they among the heathen,

The LORD hath done great things for them.

3 The LORD hath done great things for us;

whereof we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD,

as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth,

bearing precious seed,

shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:1-6

A lost and dying world is watching to see if Christians really live what they talk about!  We will either shine for Jesus or lose the opportunity to bring glory to our God!

“A merry heart doeth good

like a medicine:

but a broken spirit

drieth the bones.”   Proverbs 17:22

Let’s spread some smiles around—not fakey pretend that you’re glad for difficult circumstances, but the joy of the Lord that brings joy from the inside out!  Let’s share both our resources and our godly spirit of joy as we go about each day—rain or shine.  Even as Nehemiah encouraged the people of Israel as they rebuilt during trying circumstances, let’s keep our eyes on the prize not the price!  After all Jesus gave the ultimate price for our salvation, His life’s blood!

“Then he said unto them,

Go your way,

eat the fat,

and drink the sweet,

and send portions unto them

for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our Lord:

neither be ye sorry;

 for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

Satan can rain on my parade, or cast rocks at my windows, he can even rob me of earthly possessions—but he can never steal my “joy of the LORD” when I keep my eyes on the prize—Jesus!

“But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.”  1 John 1:7

Let us walk in the light of our Lord Jesus, The Light of the world!  When we stay focused on Jesus no one or no thing can rob us of our joy and peace—that which comes from God for He has placed it in our heart (See Romans 5:1-11). So let’s determine to keep that smile which comes out of that very “joy of the LORD”!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured

such contradiction of sinners against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1-3

And in closing one of my favorite reminders!

“I press toward the mark

for the prize of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14

Smile and press on my friends, for in Jesus we win!!!  Remember:

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he that is in you,

than he that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4

Amen and Amen!!!