My 45th Class Reunion

 Proverbs 27:9
The sweet smell of incense can make you feel good, but true friendship is better still.^[a].

I  came very close to saying, I’ll just plan to attend the next reunion, which will be the 50th Class Reunion.   I am so thankful that God impressed upon my heart to attend this one.  Who knows how many of us will still be around to attend the 50th.  I certainly hope that God sees fit to allow me to be one of the ones there. Wow! It has been 45 years since I graduated from high school in 1974.  My how quickly the time flies!

This past Labor Day Weekend was my 45th Class Reunion Celebration.  I am still trying to figure out where the time has gone.  In the busyness of living, lifetime slips away, and before you know it, you realize that maybe you should have savored more of the good times.

I must say getting to spend time with my classmates was a blast!   Of course, there were many that I did not recognize, or if the face was familiar I had forgotten the name of the person.  I have no doubt that they were probably thinking the same thing about me.  It was hilarious and we all laughed about it because everyone was in the same boat.

The committee that was in charge of planning the event had a brilliant idea!  They made copies of photos from our senior class yearbook. With these photos, they created really cute name tags with our maiden names on them.  That was a lifesaver for those of us that were struggling. Some of us had stayed in touch over the years, such as my best friend Deborah and I.  We have been best friends since the 9th grade.  She and her husband came in from Tennessee, and as always we had a great time.  Some of my other close friends were there as well, and it was great to see them.

Has Your Blessing Become Your Stumbling Block?

Deuteronomy 8:6-20
 ⁶ “So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. ⁷ For the Lord, your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. ⁸ It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig-trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey.
⁹ It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. ¹⁰ When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lordy our God for the good land he has given you. ¹¹ “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lordy our God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today.
¹² For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, ¹³ and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! ¹⁴ Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.
¹⁵ Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! ¹⁶ He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good.
¹⁷ He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ ¹⁸ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. ¹⁹ “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed.
²⁰ Just as the Lord has destroyed other nations in your path, you also will be destroyed if you refuse to obey the Lord your God.

Have you ever received a blessing from God that later became a stumbling block? Well, I would like to share with you today from my personal experience on this subject.

When we first moved into our new home, my main focus day and night was on getting things unboxed and in place. Needless to say, it was a bit overwhelming!

Because I was over the moon excited, I could not stop thinking about how I wanted to decorate and beautify our new space. I was constantly window shopping online, (notice I said window shopping) looking for the perfect dining room chairs, or the perfect comforter or the perfect whatever to go with the decor that I had envisioned for our home. I watched the home decorating channel every time I had a free moment. I looked through magazines for ideas etc. and oh the countless furniture stores that I drug my husband through. I realize that some of this are normal to a certain degree, and the fact that I was an Interior Designer for 20 years certainly did not help the situation.

I believe that my quest to get it just right was becoming a wee bit of an obsession. I finally had to make myself, take a moment and just breathe, and just slow the pace down. You see God had revealed something that He wanted me to do on a weekly basis for my Women’s Ministry prior to moving into our home. Although I was still spending time with God each morning, I was not walking in obedience to the extra that God was calling me to do. I was too busy with my house project and trying to balance it with my career to focus consistently on what God had asked me to do.

With all that I was trying to accomplish with my house, I started to find myself drifting further and further away from what God had led me to do. What I had failed to realize in the process, was that God was still God and that He still requires obedience no matter what’s going on in my life. I was allowing my blessing to overwhelm my life. My blessing was becoming my stumbling block. When God brought this to my attention, it was like a light bulb moment. I had put my desires above what God desired. Looking back, I realize that my gift had become my priority instead of the giver of my gift.

How many times do we come so close to worshipping the blessing instead of the blesser? Make no mistake about it ladies, this is the breeding ground for idolatry.

Well, after receiving that big thump on my head, I think it is safe to say that God got my attention and that I am back on track. I am sure that this won’t be the last time that He will give me a thump on the head and a light bulb moment in order that I might see just how I really look before Him.

I must say that I still have boxes in my garage and the decorating project will take longer than I originally anticipated. I am OK with that because my priorities are back in order and when my priorities are in order my life is no longer chaotic but peaceful.

Today, I encourage you to do a self-check. What have you been blessed with that has become your stumbling block? Remember, no matter what God has blessed you with, He must be honored above all else.

Galatians 6:7-8  (NIV)
⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Hosea 10:12-13  (NIV)
¹² Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;  for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
¹³ But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil,
you have eaten the fruit of deception.
Because you have depended on your own strength
and on your many warriors,
Job 4:8  (NIV)
⁸ As I have observed, those who plow evil  and those who sow trouble reap it.
Proverbs 11:18  (NIV)
¹⁸ A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
James 3:18  (NIV)
¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11  (NIV)
⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”^[a]

¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Galatians 6:9  (NIV)
⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Proverbs 20:4  (NIV)
⁴ Sluggards do not plow in season;  so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

What Seeds Are You Planting?

I was blessed to spend my childhood years growing up on a farm. You see my dad was a farmer, so my siblings and I always had lots of farm chores to do.  One of which was helping in the garden each year. From that experience I learned something quite valuable, and that was whatever you harvested during the harvest season, was totally based on the type of seeds that you had planted during the planting season. During those years of living on the farm,  I never once saw my dad plant corn and harvest cucumbers, or plant a pear tree that harvested peaches.

Another interesting thing that I noticed when working in our garden planting corn, is that one kernel of corn would produce a stalk with several ears of corn on it, from which many kernels would yield at harvesting time.   The lesson here is that whatever we plant is usually multiplied and returned back to us during harvesting season, and that’s another good reason to only sow good seeds.

Ladies the Law of Sowing and Reaping is real.   My advice to you, is watch what you sow, because it will return to you in great abundance, and it will be when you least expect it. Sometimes it takes years but the reaping season is inevitable.

The type of seeds that we sow into the lives of others are so important.  Whatever you do, sow seeds of love and encouragement and generosity.  Stay away from the seeds that bring negative consequences or a negative harvest.  

Sowing seeds of discord, strife, selfishness, gossip, hatred, and unrighteousness will only come back to you in a harvest that will measure more abundantly than you initially sowed.  Ask yourself, can I live with a tenfold harvest of what I have been planting?  If the answer is no way, then maybe the next course of action should be to start planting better seeds. 

The Law of Sowing and Reaping says that what you sow must come back to you. Just as you are sure that the sun will rise and set each day, be just as sure that what you sow you will reap. If you sow well you will receive good and if you sow evil you will reap evil back. 

We all have planted bad seeds, forgetting that someday they would grow into a full grown plant.   If we ask God for forgiveness for the bad seeds that we have planted, He will certainly forgive us, but there are still consequences for our behavior and those consequences are the harvest.

I am sure that we all know people who have not connected the dots yet, when it comes to the direct correlation between what they are reaping with the seeds that they have planted. Let’s be wise spiritual farmers and be selective as to what seeds we choose to plant in our spiritual gardens, because harvest time will surely come.

Let’s Pray For Our Children

Psalm 127:3 (NLT)
³ Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.
Isaiah 54:13 (NLT)
¹³ I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NLT)
³ But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.^[a]
1 John 5:14  (NLT)
¹⁴ And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
¹ God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

From the time our daughter started kindergarten until the end of her senior year in high school, we prayed for her each morning before school. 

Our routine went like this; while I was driving I would ask her to start our prayer. She would pray over her day and for our family, and then I would pray for her safety, for her teachers and all of the school administrators.  I also prayed for her friends, and I asked God to bless her with friends that had a desire to honor Him by being obedient to those in authority at her school. By the time we were finished praying, it was time for her to get out of the car.  This happened every morning without fail, and on the mornings that her dad took her, they did the same thing.

Your Pain Has Purpose

 Ephesians 1:11 (NLT)
¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,^[a] for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
²¹ You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
Psalm 57:2 (NLT)
² I cry out to God Most High,^[a] to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
Jeremiah 32:19 (NLT)
¹⁹ You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You see the conduct of all people, and you give them what they deserve.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NLT)
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.^[a] Because of the joy^[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ³ Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;^[c] then you won’t become weary and give up.
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together^[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

It is amazing how many times we hear of people whose purpose has been realized, as a direct result of a tragedy, or some type of painful life situation.  Many times after these tragedies, support groups, charitable foundations, and other organizations are started, that would not have been stated otherwise.

In 1988 I went through a very very painful and violent divorce.  Little did I know that God would use my pain to start my speaking and writing career.

One Sunday while sitting in a Women’s Bible Class, I decided to share a bit of my story in response to the topic that our class was on that Sunday.   Afterward, several women came to me sharing, how they had no idea that I had gone through so much.  One lady even said to me “you are always so cheerful and bubbly, no one would ever know what you have been through”.  She asked; how can you be so happy all of the time, when you have been through so much?  My answer to her was how could I not be happy?  God had been so good to me, to spare my life on more than one occasion.  After all, that I had gone through, to be joyful was the only way to live, and the only way to express my gratitude for God’s amazing grace and protection. My heart was so full of joy because I was so grateful to simply be alive!  I had no complaints.

After the class, our minister’s wife,  who was teaching that day, came over and gave me a big hug.  As we stood there talking she said, “we have our Ladies Retreat coming up in October, and there are so many women who would benefit from hearing your story.  I would love it if you would be one of our speakers at the Ladies Retreat”.  At that moment I knew that God was working. He was in the process of giving me a crown of beauty for my ashes. He was working good from my years of pain and struggle.

After a few weeks had gone by, it was finally time for me to speak at the Ladies Retreat.  I would not have expected hearts to be moved by my story, but they were.  Some women came up to me afterward with tears in their eyes, sharing that they too, had endured abuse, while others were still living in abusive marriages.  My mind was blown away, because some of these women, were women that I was sitting beside every Sunday in worship.  No one would have known when they walked into Church with their husbands, flashing their pretty smiles and wearing their gorgeous dresses that this was what was really going on at home.

These women had been silent because they thought they had to be,  and just as I was, they were too embarrassed to let anyone know their truth. They were assuming guilt that was not even theirs to assume. They were hurting and God used my story to give them strength.  When they could listen to someone who had not only survived the same type of physical and emotional pain they were going through but was thriving, it gave them hope that life could be different.  My prayer is that it also gave them the courage to never allow themselves to be violated again.

God was showing me how the emotional and physical pain that I had endured,  would not be wasted.  He also showed me, that He uses everything for our good and for His divine purposes. If He allows it, there is a purpose in it.

God was helping others to heal through my speaking and He was also helping me to continue my own healing process through speaking. Through this process, I was also encouraged to write more.  You see, I had been a person that had journal since I was a teenager.  Little did I know, that my habit of daily journaling would be the therapy that God would use to get me through some of my darkest days.  As I wrote about my pain day after day in my personal journal, I never knew that God was preparing me to become a writer.

Many great lessons and blessings have come from the painful years I endured.  I certainly don’t want to wish painful experiences on anyone,  but what I do want you to know about pain is this;

1.  Every life will endure some pain.
2.  If God allows pain in your life, it is for a reason that has a purpose and many times Kingdom purpose.
3.  Your pain and God’s purpose will not only benefit you but others.
4.  Trusting that God knows what He is doing, is the only way that your attitude can remain hopeful when you are experiencing pain.
5.  God’s ways are higher than our ways. We may never understand why we must suffer painful or tragic things, but God will use those very things to make us stronger and to help us be a blessing to others.

P.A.I.N.

P- Pain is not forever. When our pain has served its purpose it will end.
James 1: 2-4
² Dear brothers and sisters,^[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Romans 8:18-2
⁸ Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. ¹⁹ For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. ²⁰ Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, ²¹ the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. ²² For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children,^[a] including the new bodies he has promised us.²⁴ We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope^[b] for it. ²⁵ But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)²⁶ And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷ And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers^[c] in harmony with God’s own will. ²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together^[d] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
2nd Corinthians 7:9-10  (NLT)
⁹ Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. ¹⁰ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
 2nd Corinthians 12: 9-10
 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
A- Always remain prayerful during your time of pain.  Ask God for strength for your journey.
1st Thessalonians 5:16-18
Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
   Ephesians 6: 18
 ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.^[a]
   1st John 5: 15
And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
 1st Chronicles 16:11
 Search for the Lord and for his strength;  continually seek him.
 2nd Chronicles 7: 4
 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the Lord.
  James 5: 13
 ¹³ Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.
 Psalm 102:17
He will listen to the prayers of the destitute.  He will not reject their pleas.

I- Ignore the negative thoughts and lies that will come from the enemy during your time of pain.
Philippians 4: 8
 ⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
 2nd Corinthians 10: 3-5
³ We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. ^4 [a]We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. ⁵ We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
 Romans 12: 2
² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
N- Never lose sight of God’s love for you.
Ephesians 3: 16-21
¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ²¹ Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
   John 3:16
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave^[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
   Psalm 136: 26
 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.
1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT)
¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
1 Peter 4:19  (NLT)
¹⁹ So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Pretty Plates

Psalm 92:4 (NIV)
⁴ For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

Matthew 7:11  (NIV)
¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Psalm 96:8  (NIV)
⁸ Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.

Have you ever seen something so pretty, that with just one look, you knew that you couldn’t live without it?  Well it happened to me a few years back.  What’s so interesting about this, is that I have tried to train myself not to get too worked up or excited over material things.   I have learned from experience that they only give temporary satisfaction.   However, on this particular day the lure was much too strong.  My whole thought process regarding the pleasures of material things being too fleeting, went flying straight out of the window.

This is how it all got started; The company that I work for, offers quarterly prizes for those who qualify for them.   One year they offered us the opportunity to acquire a complete set of dishes.  All throughout the year you could earn a place setting every quarter until you had acquired the complete set.  I absolutely fell in love with the dishes that they were offering.  They had a colorful band that went around the outer edges of each item in the place setting, and on the banding were the words; Belief, Courage, Commitment, and Enthusiasm.  I thought that these words would be the perfect thing to see each morning, to get my day off to a well motivated start.  I thought they would send a positive message each time I ate on my pretty little plates.

After the contest was finally over, I realized that there were several pieces that I still needed to complete my set.  The more I thought about not having all eight place settings, the more obsessed I became with wanting to find them.
The thought came to mind, that maybe there were ladies in my area that worked for the same company that I did, that had extras and they wouldn’t mind me purchasing one or two sets from them.

I called several people that I knew, and no one had extra place settings to spare. I even called people in other towns.  My heart was broken!  I wanted a complete set of those pretty plates and it simply did not seem like it was going to happen.   I finally stopped my frantic search for the plates and all of the matching pieces.

One day months later,  the UPS driver that delivered to me each week, accidentally left my box of products at another lady’s house.  It just so happened that she lived in my neighborhood, but several streets over.  In his rush to get his deliveries done, he gave her my box and he gave me the box that belonged to her. I now know however, that it was no accident.   Although it appeared to be one, it was actually God’s divine intervention at work on my behalf once more.  Praise God!

When I got ready to open the box, I noticed that my name was not the name on the box.  I called the company that I worked for, and told them that I had the wrong box. I asked them if they would please track the box that belonged to me..  When they told me where it was, I recognized the name of the street.  I went to the lady’s house to deliver her box and to retrieve mine. The two of us had never met before.  She was a really nice lady, with a gift for gab.  We talked for quite some time.  After spending time having a great conversation, we decided to exchange phone numbers.   From time to time we would call one another just to say hello.

One Saturday morning out of the clear blue sky, she called and said:  “ I am cleaning out my front closet and I have several things that I want to get rid of.   I thought I would see if you would like any of them”.

What she said next brought tears to my eyes.  She said; “Do you remember the dishes that we could earn last year”?  At that moment I knew that God was working!   Trying to stay calm, I said ” yes I do remember those”, and she said “well I have lots of them, if you would like them, I will just give them to you.”   That very moment my heart was so full of gratitude.  God had granted a favorable answer to my heart” s desire.  He cared about my desire for something as simple as a set of pretty plates.

God blessed me in a way that only He could orchestrate.  From the UPS man leaving the boxes at the wrong house, to me starting a friendship with someone that I had never met before.  God was steering me and guiding me to the dishes the entire time.   When I tell you that God is Awesome, please hear me.  This story is not just about pretty plates. It is so much bigger than pretty plates.

This story is about God’s kindness, His generosity, His wisdom, His will, His timing, His guidance, and His sovereignty.  Most importantly, its about God receiving the glory that is due Him.  I could not take one ounce of credit for finding those dishes and God wanted me to be very clear, that this was a gift from Him and that only He could arrange this!   He wanted my heart to be grateful, and He wanted me to express that gratitude to Him, and boy did I ever!

Isn’t it amazing to think of the many things that God could work from something as simple as a set of dishes.  You see I also learned from this experience,  that though we may want something, God has the final say and it will be in His time and not ours.

I also learned that just as we want to give our children some of the things that they want, God does the same for us. You see I did not need the dishes, I just wanted them.  Sometimes God just blesses us because He desires to do so.

Another lesson is that He always wants more for us than we want for ourselves.  I was looking to get eight place settings and after the lady  blessed me with her sets of dishes, I ended up with twelve place settings.

Something else that this reminded me of is; just because you don’t see the blessing coming, it doesn’t mean that the blessing is not on the way. Keep trusting!

So here it is about fifteen years later,  and we still have those dishes.  Some of them have been broken or chipped over the years, but for the most part we still have quite a few remaining.  They are a reminder to me that God cares about the smallest things that concern me and I hope that you always remember that He feels the same way about what concerns you.   Keep waiting and trusting, and you will also get to experience a pretty plate moment!

Psalm 100:4-5  (NIV)
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. ⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 103:13  (NIV)
¹³ As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

Don’t Let Anyone Shatter Your Dreams 

Genesis 37:3-20 (NLT)
³ Jacob^[a] loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.^[b] 4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.⁵ One-night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. ⁶ “Listen to this dream,” he said. ⁷ “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”⁸ His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.⁹ Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”¹⁰ This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?” ¹¹ But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.¹² Soon after this, Joseph’s brothers went to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem.¹³ When they had been gone for some time, Jacob said to Joseph, “Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Get ready, and I will send you to them.”

“I’m ready to go,” Joseph replied.

¹⁴ “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are getting along,” Jacob said. “Then come back and bring me a report.” So Jacob sent him on his way, and Joseph traveled to Shechem from their home in the valley of Hebron.¹⁵ When he arrived there, a man from the area noticed him wandering around the countryside. “What are you looking for?” he asked.¹⁶ “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph replied. “Do you know where they are pasturing their sheep?”¹⁷ “Yes,” the man told him. “They have moved on from here, but I heard them say, ‘Let’s go on to Dothan.’” So Joseph followed his brothers to Dothan and found them there.¹⁸ When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. ¹⁹ “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. ²⁰ “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”
Genesis 41:38-45  (NLT)
³⁸ So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” ³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. ⁴⁰ You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”⁴¹ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” ⁴² Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. ⁴⁴ And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”⁴⁵ Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah.^[a] He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.^[b] So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt.

Genesis 42:1-9  (NLT)
When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? ² I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.”³ So Joseph’s ten older brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain. ⁴ But Jacob wouldn’t let Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him.⁵ So Jacob’s^[a] sons arrived in Egypt along with others to buy food, for the famine was in Canaan as well.⁶ Since Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all the people, it was to him that his brothers came. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where are you from?” he demanded.
“From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We have come to buy food.”
⁸ Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. ⁹ And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before. He said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.”
Nehemiah 2:11-20  (NLT)
¹¹ So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, ¹² I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. ¹³ After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well,^[a] and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. ¹⁴ Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. ¹⁵ So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley^[b] instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.¹⁶ The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. ¹⁷ But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” ¹⁸ Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.

They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.

¹⁹ But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked.²⁰ I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”

This past weekend my husband and I were channel surfing, when we came across a station that was showing 2019 Commencement Speeches.  This is the time of year that I love to listen to the words of wisdom, that some of the speakers impart to the graduating classes.  The speeches are so motivational and so full of hope for the future.  One of the speeches that really resonated with me, was from Congressman Elijah Cummings.  He told his audience about his days as a young school boy, who had to attend Special Ed classes each day. He stated that one day when he was in the 6th grade, his school counselor asked him what he wanted to become in life. When he told his counselor that he wanted to become a lawyer, his counselor said” you poor kid, you will never be a lawyer”.   He then went on to ask him ” who do you think you are”?  The counselor then proceeded to point out, how all the odds were stacked against him.   Well needless to say Elijah Cummings did go onto become a  successful lawyer and now serves in our U.S. Congress.

When I heard this speech my mind instantly went back to my high school days.  You see I was also asked by my high school counselor what I wanted to become in life.  When I shared with her that my dream was to become an Interior Designer, without asking how I came to that decision or why I thought I would make a great designer, she immediately tried to steer me in a different direction.  She asked me, had I ever thought of becoming a nurse or a teacher.
In the community that I grew up in, a large majority of the women that worked outside of the home professionally, were either nurses, secretaries or teachers.   I absolutely realize that all of these are very honorable positions.  However, they were just not what God was calling me to do with my life. Looking back I now understand that my counselor’s view of what I could become, was limited to her level of exposure. She was actually projecting her limited view of my career options on to me, without realizing it.

I was taken aback initially, but then in a split second, I decided that she was not the one that would get to decide what I would become.  That was my decision, and at that moment I decided that my dream would not be shattered by anyone.  If anything, I became even more determined to become an Interior Designer and a good one at that!
I left my hometown when I graduated from high school to pursue my degree in Interior Design.  Upon graduating from college, I was very successful in this field for twenty years, fifteen of which,  I had my own Interior Design business. I even severed on the State Board of Interior Designers for a while.

I was expose to wonderful opportunities and met great people that I would not have met otherwise.  Please know that I am not sharing this story with you to brag on myself.  I simply want you to understand the severity of listening to the wrong voice.  Suppose I had listened to my high school counselor.  More than likely I would not have experienced the joy of following my passion and seeing my dream become a reality with God’s help.
This little incident taught me to really trust my intuition, and to allow myself to be guided by the Holy Spirit and not by others.  You see what I have come to realize,  is that most people mean well, but they will talk you right out of your dreams and your blessings if you allow them to.  If you need directional advice, certainly seek out the wisdom and the professional council of others,  but let God help you make the final decision for your life. God is truly the giver of dreams, so who better to ask for directions.

No one will ever understand the passion and excitement that you have for your dream to be birthed, and that’s because it’s not their dream.  It is uniquely yours.

Don’t allow yourself or your dream to be derailed by naysayers. In the scriptures above, Joseph was actually hated by his brothers, because of the dream he shared with them.  They were already jealous of his relationship with their father, hearing about his dream just added fuel to the fire that was already burning inside of them. Another example of this type of resistance was the opposition that Nehemiah experienced from those who scoffed at him when he decided to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.

Sometimes you have to quietly keep trusting God and seeking wisdom from Him.  Its not necessary for you to share everything that God reveals to you.  Some things are just between you and God.  He has a vision and a purpose for what He has planted inside of you, therefore stay connected to Him, and don’t let anyone shatter the dreams that God has uniquely given to you..

10 Important Lessons About Dreams
1.  Your dreams are a gift from God,  and the purpose of your dreams may vary.  Some dreams are presented to you when you are sleeping.
Genesis 37:9
⁹ Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”They may warn you, or even give you a small glimpse of what your future could be like.   Other times your dreams may be a strong passion that you have for something and you feel inspired to do something with that passion.
Nehemiah 1:3-4
³ Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.
Nehemiah 2:2-5
 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”Then I was terrified, ³ but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
⁴ The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”
With a prayer to the God of heaven, ⁵ I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

2.  It is not always wise to share your dreams with others. 
Nehemiah 2:11-12
Pray and ask God for guidance for the right time to share.
3.  Protect your dream from those that you know,  that are dream killers or dream stealers.
4.  Your dream will always require divine intervention to become a reality.
5.  No one can dream a bigger dream for you than God.
6.  When your dreams become a reality, share your story.  It will give others hope that some day their dreams will also come true.
7.  Dreams come true for those who don’t lose faith.. Just Keep believing!
8.  Dream Big!  God will always be larger than your biggest dream.  He can help you achieve the largest dream ever.
9.  When one dream comes true, ask God to bless you with a new dream. Never stop dreaming!
10. Give God the glory, when you realize your dreams after all, He is the Dream Giver!
Nehemiah 4:1-23  (NLT)
 ^[a]Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, ² saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices?^[b] Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”³ Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”⁴ Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! ⁵ Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of^[c] the builders.”⁶ At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.^7 [d]But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. ⁸ They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. ⁹ But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.¹⁰ Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”¹¹ Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”
¹² The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”^[e] 13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
¹⁴ Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
¹⁵ When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. ¹⁶ But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah ¹⁷ who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. ¹⁸ All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.
¹⁹ Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. ²⁰ When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”
²¹ We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard.²² I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. ²³ During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.^[f]

Powerful Promises From God’s Word

I cannot tell you the number of times that I have found comfort from reading God’s word.  As Christians we are so blessed that God has given us so many powerful and wonderful promises, to encourage us on this journey called life.
Today I would like to share just a few of His promises.   My prayer is that you will bask in the joy that spending time with Him brings and that you will draw even closer to Him as you meditate on these verses.  I am thoroughly convinced that no matter what we face in life God has a scripture in His Word that will strengthen and encourage us as we face our fiery trials. His provision to comfort us, even though His word is simply Amazing!

God Is Faithful

Psalm 100: 5
For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

1st Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever.
James1:17
17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.[a] He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.[b]

Hebrews ….13:5
………For God has said, “I will never fail you.   I will never abandon you.”[a]

Romans 8:35-39
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1st Corinthians  10:13
13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

God Will Always Be With Us

Psalm 23:4
Even when I walk  through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Isaiah 43:2
When you go through deep waters,   I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,   you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
 you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Joshua 1:9
9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go.”

Deuteronomy 31:8
8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Matthew 28:20
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

God Will Give Us Peace

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,  all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

John 16:33
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 14;27
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

God Will Provide For Us

Galatians 6:9
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Psalm 34:10
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,  and he will show you which path to take.

Philippians 4:19
19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Matthew 7:7-8
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
    He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
    from those who do what is right.

John 15:5
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:7
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

Luke 11:9-13
9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “You fathers—if your children ask[a] for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Mark 13:11
11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

2nd Corinthians 12:9
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me.
John 14:15-16
15 “If you love me, obey[a] my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[b] who will never leave you.

God Will Cleanse Us

1st John 1:9
9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let’s settle this,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
    I will make them as white as wool.

He Will Give Us Strength 

Isaiah 40:29-30
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

^{Isaiah 41:10}
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

He Promises Eternal Life

John 3:16
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 11:25-26
25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[a] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Romans 10:9
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Galatians 6:7-8
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

John 14:1-3
14 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.[a] If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

Romans 8:1
8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

God Will Protect Us

Proverbs 1:33
But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”

James 4:7-8
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty, is divided between God and the world.

Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good,  a strong refuge when trouble comes.
    He is close to those who trust in him.

Romans 8-1
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesu

Psalm 91: 1-6
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High  will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,  nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,  nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

God Will Give Us Long Life On Earth

Ephesians 6:1-3
6 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord,[a] for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”[b]

Psalm 91: 14-16
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.  I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life  and give them my salvation.”

Inner Peace

Isaiah 26:3-4 (AMP)
³ “You will keep in ^[a]perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both^[b]inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].
⁴ “Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner],
For the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].
Psalm 29 (NLT)
¹¹ The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.
John 16:33 (NLT)
³³ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)
³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.³³ Seek the Kingdom of God^[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. ³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)
²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.