God of All Comfort

Life is hard. Really hard sometimes. But we can rest in the assurance that God never leaves us. His hope is a beacon of comfort.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3, it describes God as "the father of compassion and the God of all comfort."

He is the God of all comfort. In times of trouble, we need someone to stand beside us to give us strength, helping us and giving us encouragement. God fulfills this role. Whether we're facing sickness and disease or a national tragedy, like the Oklahoma tornado destruction, God comes to comfort us. He sends the Holy Spirit to help us in times of trouble.

The apostle Paul had a life filled with troubles. He describes some of his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28: stripes . . . prisons . . . beaten . . . stoned . . . shipwrecked . . . perils of waters . . . robbers . . . in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Yet, Paul learned that no suffering, however severe, could separate him from the comfort and compassion of the heavenly father. God was not distant from Paul in his trials. He was right there, identifying with the apostle, and comforting Paul.

God will comfort us, too. He may allow troubles in our lives for a season, but we shouldn't think that God has forsaken us or stopped loving us. We should remember that the same kind of troubles happened to God's faithful servants, like Paul.

God allows trials in our lives so that Jesus might come near and, as we look to Him in faith, give us the grace to overcome and bring us to victory.

The Truth About Lying

We’ve all heard the familiar saying, “Honesty is the best policy.” But did you know that is scriptural as well? The Bible actually has a lot to say about honesty.

It has almost become acceptable these days "to bend the truth" a little. I'm sure we've all told "little white lies," thinking what harm will it do? The truth is, God hates lying. Even little white lies to protect someone's feelings can compromise our faith.

God called us to be honest. He made honesty one of the commandments. Exodus 20:16 says, "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."

God wants us to be honest in our actions as well as our words. Proverbs 11:1 says, "The Lord hates cheating and delights in honesty." The Bible tells us in Proverbs 12:13-14, "Lies will get any man into trouble, but honesty is its own defense. Telling the truth gives a man great satisfaction, and hard work returns many blessings to him."

It is easy to lie. That's why we should pray for God to put wisdom and truth in our heart. Honesty shows character. It reveals our true identity and nature. Being honest is pleasing to God because He is truth. Honesty is a direct reflection of our heart or inner soul.

Truthfulness is to be a lifestyle. Remember, there's no such thing as “half-truth.” It’s a whole lie. Proverbs 10:10 says, “Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble.”

Revelation 21:8 lists liars with the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts and idolaters and says, "their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur." That should be a stern warning to all liars.

Honesty is not always easy, but God will bless you if you are honest. Ask Him to put truth in your heart and He will! Honesty is more than a best policy. It's God's policy.  And that ain't no lie!

Reflections

Cherish the simple things. A meal with your family. A leisurely afternoon drive. A moment spent in prayer. These are the things that make life worth living.

 

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The tragic tornadoes in Oklahoma make me realize how quickly everything can change. As a child of God, I'm thankful that He protects me and keeps me from harm. Still, I live in this world where tragedy is a reality and where bad things happen to good people.

In a moment of time, life can change forever. That was demonstrated yesterday when the tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, destroying the lives of hundreds and even thousands of good people.

I think about those 24 young children who are believed to be buried in the rubble of the school, and it breaks my heart for their families. I wonder why this happened to innocent children, and I don't understand it. On this side of heaven, I will never understand. I don't think any of us can understand it.

We have personal tragedies in life, too, and I struggle to understand them also. As I get older and mobility becomes more of a challenge for me, I don't pretend to understand it. But I choose not to focus on the hard times. I've come to see that I am totally dependant on God. We all are. We were designed to depend on Him moment by moment, and apart from Him, we can do nothing. If we will accept that, we can make it through anything. I am still learning to surrender to Him, realizing that I need Him more every day.

A friend posted something on Facebook, and it has blessed me through the tough times. She said:

"Concentrate on doing your everyday tasks in awareness of My Presence with you. The Joy of My Presence will shine on you, as you do everything for Me. Thus you invite Me into every aspect of your life. Through collaborating with Me in all things, you allow My Life to merge with yours. This is the secret not only of joyful living but also of victorious living.

Be thankful for quiet days, when nothing special seems to be happening. Instead of being bored by the lack of action, use times of routine to seek My Face. Although this is an invisible transaction, it speaks volumes in spiritual realms. Moreover, you are richly blessed when you walk trustingly with Me through the routines of your day."

 

 

That is good advice for us today. Instead of letting the tragedies of life overwhelm us and drag us down, focus on God and His goodness. He will see you through.

Are You Tempted To Read This?

Mae West once said, "I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it," and Oscar Wilde joked, "I can resist anything except temptation." How true that is for most of us, too. Temptation is something we all face, no matter how long we have been following Christ. We can't avoid it, but we can have victory over it.

Temptation is Satan's way of trying to sabotage our relationship with God. Satan is the ultimate tempter. We see it when Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden, and we see it when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness at the end of his 40-day fast. We all face attacks from Satan.

We know temptation comes from Satan, not from God. James 1:13 says God does not tempt man.

In Ephesians 6:12, it says our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers not of this world.

The Bible says the best way to resist temptation is to flee from it. Yet, we all fail from time to time.... because we fail to FLEE. It is not the end of the world when we fail, but it is dangerous to persist in our sin. James 1:15 says that sin "when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." So when we fail, we should be quick to repent, and then we must "go and sin no more."

Paul tells us in Galatians 5:16 that only by "walking in the spirit can we keep from fulfilling the lust of the flesh."

Prayer is also important during times of temptation. Jesus faced his greatest hour of temptation just before his death in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke tells us that as Jesus prayed in agony his sweat was like drops of blood. During his greatest hour of temptation, Jesus prayed in earnest.

The New Living Translation of 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it."

Temptation is a given, so don't be surprised by it. Be prepared for it. When you face temptation, look for the way out that God has promised and then run as fast as you can.

Bible Top 10 List

John 3:16 is one of the best known verses in the Bible. I remember learning it in Sunday school when I was young, and most of us can probably quote it: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

That's definitely a popular verse. It got me to thinking: What are the other most popular verses in the Bible? I found a survey on the most-read Bible verses and thought it would be interesting to share the results. BibleGateway.com, an Internet Bible resource site, crunched some numbers from a sample of 25 million Bible passage searches and compiled the top 10 most-read Bible verses:

1. John 3:16

2. Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

3. Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

4. Philippians 4:13: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

5. Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

6. Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

7. Proverbs 3:6: "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

8. Romans 12:2: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will."

9. Philippians 4:6: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

10. Matthew 28:19: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

If you’re curious to know what the least popular Bible passage is, it’s 1 Chronicles 23-27, according to BibleGateway.com. This passage details the organization of the priests and officials under King David. I encourage you to spend time reading the Bible each day and discover your favorite verses. Meditate on the scriptures, and it will make a difference in your life.