Jesus is the Light That Knows no Power Failure

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The excerpt today lets us know that we always have a friend no matter what the circumstances may be.

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Chapter 46

 

Jesus Is the Light that Knows No Power Failure

 

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and

by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17

 

Have you heard people say, “I have no one to turn to”? They feel all is lost. What a depressing feeling!

They need to know there is always someone to turn to! God sent us a person who will always listen to us. God loves close encounters with His children. God will listen, and Jesus will listen. Prayer is the way you can talk to them, and God answers prayer. It may not be on the timeline you want, but it is answered.

Your prayer also may be answered in a way that you didn’t expect. God knows what is best for you. He knows every hair on your head. He knows what is bothering you, and He knows what you need. And He will help you make it through whatever crises you may have.

 

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

Psalm 46:1–2

 

Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust.

Psalm 40:4

 

We always have someone to turn to. We have someone who will always look after us. Jesus is a light that knows no power failure. You know that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and what a wonderful invention it is. But light bulbs burn out and they have to be replaced.

Jesus does not burn out. He has eternal life. We need to take time each day to thank Him for His protective presence. He is with us wherever we are. In a dark alley. On top of a mountain. Scuba diving in the ocean. In a boat during a storm. When that storm comes in, and everything looks lost, we can find great comfort in knowing that the Lord is always with us.

The disciples thought they were doomed when a huge storm came up while they were out in a boat. (Most of these guys were fishermen and used to storms. So this must have been the “mother of all storms” for them to be so scared.) But Jesus wasn’t worrying much. He was asleep! They woke Him up and begged Him to save their lives. He simply told the sea to calm down, and it obeyed immediately!

Wouldn’t it make sense that if He can calm a sea with only His voice, He can certainly protect us from any harm, including the “storm” we find ourselves in right now. We simply need to turn our worries, fears and anxieties over to Him to enjoy the peace of mind He offers.

 

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22

 

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:25–26

 

Further Adventures

Have you been walking in the darkness, running into walls, and not finding your way around? Jesus is the light to show you the way. And when you are a Christian, His light is inside you. He wants you to let His light shine through you. Sort of like the song many of us learned in Sunday school: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna’ let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” Your light could help many people come out of the darkness.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how we always search for a flashlight in the darkness but the light of Jesus’ love is all we need?

 

Is What You’re Living for Worth Dying For?

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 We have a book in our bookstore that is been featured each day on this site. It is my first book called, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”

This books has special pricing right now. It is not too early to start thinking about Easter, and this book is a great gift that fits the season.

The book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” reaches out to those who may be suffering from anxiety fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.

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Chapter 45

 

Is What You’re Living for Worth Dying For?

 

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things

[food and clothing] will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

 

There once was a famous painter whose paintings were much in demand. He was doing really well selling them.

One day his son became ill and the father took care of him as best he could. The painter eventually carried him to the doctor, but on the way the son died. The painter later died, and his paintings became very valuable.

Everyone showed up to bid on the painter’s work at the auction to sell off his paintings. Some of them were now worth many thousands of dollars. The first painting—a portrait of the painter’s son—was put up for auction. “What do I hear for this fine painting?” asked the auctioneer. No one said a thing.

Again the auctioneer said,” We need a bid on this wonderful painting.” Still no one spoke.

A person in the back said, “Why would we want a painting of the painter’s son? Let us bid on his real paintings!”

The auctioneer gave the bidding one more try: “Do I hear $10 for this painting?”

An old man near the front raised his hand and said, “I bid $10, but that is all I have. I knew the boy and I would like to have a picture of him.”

“Do I hear higher?” Silence. “Going once … going twice … sold!” The auctioneer banged his gavel.

“Good, now we can bid on the real paintings!” the crowd shouted.

“I’m sorry—the bidding is closed,” the auctioneer announced.

A man shouted, “How could that be! There are several more paintings that are worth thousands of dollars.”

“The painter said that whoever bids the highest on his son’s painting would get all of the paintings!” the auctioneer responded.

There are people who live their lives like that! They are greedy and want the real prize—the riches. Look at this story as if it were God who had lost His Son. He has planned for us to have all kinds of riches in Him but first we must accept His Son.

Too many wait to get in a bid on the “good stuff” and overlook the invitation to accept the Son. Which one should we bid on? Are we going to be greedy and end up with nothing in the end?

We all would like to have many things for our families. It would be nice to have all the toys—for the big boys (and girls), as well as for the little boys (and girls). But what good are they in eternity? We can’t take them with us! 

We can’t begin to imagine the beauty of heaven and all that is there for us. The streets of gold. The music of a thousand angels. No pain. No suffering. New bodies. Loved ones to see.

That is what we should be working for—not the pleasures of this earth. There is not one thing on this earth that can compare to what is in heaven. There is a prize above all prizes waiting for all that believe in God.

 

He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

Proverbs 21:21

 

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians3:14(emphasis mine)

 

Further Adventures

What are your priorities in life? Sit down and list them. Is it security? Is it happiness? After you have written your list, notice how many of those you can have by knowing God and depending on Him.

Everything in life was created by God. No matter what you see and what you do, God had His hand in it. Your job? Your happiness? God helped you get your job, and He orchestrated the things that bring you happiness.

I have learned that with God in charge of my life, nothing that has happened to me or will happen to me is or will be “by accident.” God is in charge of everything I do.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny that atheism is a “non-prophet” organization?

 

If You Are Going the Wrong Way, God Allows U-Turns

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_________________________________________________________

We have a bookstore for you to check out. There is the book I feature as excerpts in my post for sale there. The book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” is on a special sale right now with some good savings.

This book reaches out to those who may be suffering with anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.  

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Today’s excerpt lets us know that no matter what path we may take, God allows U-turns to get us on the right path.

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 Chapter 44

 

If You’re Going the Wrong Way,

God Allows U-Turns

 

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,

that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Acts3:19

 

Time is always ticking away! In my home we have a battery-operated clock that makes a loud ticking noise for every second of the day. The clock had been right at my computer desk and I could hear it as I worked. It made me think that my life was slowly going by. What have I done with my life? My life was ticking away, and I could see (and hear) each second go by.

The clock got moved into the utility room, but not before its cadence of marking time prompted me to do a “bed check” of my life. Bed checks are something that all military people understand. As you sleep, the barrack sergeant comes through and makes sure everyone is in bed—to make sure everything was OK.

So now every day I do a bed check to see if I am OK. It is so easy to “slide” if I don’t constantly check up on myself.

We tend to get all fired up about our commitment to God, even go to the church altar for prayer. We have a close encounter and are very happy. Life is good and we’ll serve God forever.

Then we get very busy and miss a few Sundays at church. Bible study gets scheduled on the evening all of our friends get together to play Bunco or go bowling—or whatever. We rush out of the house in the morning and collapse into a chair when we get home at night. There’s just no time for reading the Bible and praying.

Eventually, we fail “bed check.” We get wrapped up in our own world and get in touch with God only when there is a crisis. He will still be there to help, but our lives have lost their real meaning. We have allowed ourselves to go into a spiritual twilight zone.

Time is ticking away. There is no way to buy it back. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. But as long as God gives us another breath, it is not too late to turn around and get back into the loving arms of God. Our God is an awesome God. He loves us very much, and He will be there to accept us in whatever state we have allowed ourselves to lapse into.

As we get back into the center of His love and try to walk in His path, we will have done a spiritual U-turn.

 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

 

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:7

 

Further Adventures

Do your own bed check. Think about the direction you’re going. Do you need to make a U-turn? God allows you to get back in His love any time you want to seek Him more. His love is everlasting. He never forgets you. He never turns His back on you. After all, He even knows every hair on your head doesn’t He? Make that big turn and drive (or dive) into the loving arms of your heavenly Father.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny that if we confess our sins to God, He is faithful and just enough to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong?