Inspirational Video Moment: Near to God

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I Want A Do Over, or Do I? by Bob Valleau

Is your life like a roller coaster -- a never ending ride of ups and downs with a few sharp turns now and then? When you left home to embark on living your own life, were you prepared for such a tumultuous experience? Yet, if you could go back in time and had the ability to change your destiny, would you?

How many of us wish we had a life "do over"? Oh, some of you would say you are happy at this point in your life, and, as believers, you may quote how we are commanded to be content in whatsoever state we find ourselves.

Still, haven't you ever wondered where you would be if you had the ability to choose your own destiny? I have, and, I must admit, it's scary. I have often wondered, "What if?" And then there are the "could've, should've, would've" possibilities that run through my mind. I know. I live dangerously because entertaining such thoughts border on the edge of plain fiction or total lunacy.

Well, call me crazy for being human and nonsensical. But my wandering mind has never steered me wrong. It has always led me back to the most sensible and logical conclusion: my destiny is not a destination but a person, Jesus Christ. My rambling thoughts have helped me to see how God does not live in our "what ifs." Nor does He live in our "could'ves, would'ves, should'ves." He lives in our here and now, always drawing us closer so we can experience a more intimate relationship with Him.

You see, I'm glad God never gave us the power to chart our own course. I'm glad He wraps our life's journey in a mystery which forces us to place our trust in Him. I'm glad He knows the end from the beginning and only reveals what He has to at just the right moment.

So no, I don't want a life "do over." The only power God has given me is what I do with each day and whom I will serve. In reality, isn't that what our destiny is all about anyway?

Copyright 2012 by Bob Valleau. Bob has over 25 years of writing experience for the Christian market. He was once named Christian Writer of the Year by the American Christian Writers Association. Currently, he freelances and lives in Texas.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

A Prayer in a Time of Difficulty by C.L. Glover

Lord, today we come to You seeking refuge in Your Word because incidences are happening to us that we do not understand. We know in our hearts that You only want what is best for us and You will exalt us in due time.

However, our minds are confused because we are struggling to solve our own problems. So Lord, we ask You to give us the peace that surpasses all understanding as we cast our burdens on You.

In Your Word You said You would never leave us nor forsake us. Your presence means everything to us. So help us to focus on You while we are going through our challenges.

Despite the consequences, we give You the praise, the glory, and the honor You so rightly deserve. We praise You because You know all things and nothing is hidden from Your sight. Since we are praying according to Your will, we know You hear us and You will grant us what we asked for.

So now we have all confidence in You and believe You will do just what You said. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.


Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

He is My Sunny Day by Kathleen Angell

Some time ago, I had been going through really difficult times mentally.

Most of my life my emotions had been low, and this particular year had seen many difficulties, and I was in a particular low, a darker time than I had known in many, many years, if ever. Both in situations, and also within myself. I had no where to go inside.

I was sitting and writing one day, and I heard the Lord speak to me. I hadn’t heard him in so long, but I knew it was him. It was an inner voice, but with it came a wonderful change and joy.

He said to me that he was my Sunny Day.

I had been writing to someone about the weather here in Oregon. All my life I grew up where it was hot and sunny and I was known to love sunniness. Weather that was hot didn’t bother me, I just loved it.

I was affected by moving here because it is always rainy, and I was speaking about this to someone in a letter.

It had cast a darkness and gloom over me, the weather, but the Lord with that word, split it aside.

The weather, the natural weather became the happiest thing in my life. The more rain, the happier I felt. I loved it.

Dark for days? No problem, I loved it.

The weirder, the hazier, the gloomier, the sweeter it became for me, as that word remained in me, and I knew the natural weather was not my sunniness, Jesus was.

And it was a lot more than just knowing that, he made it that way.

It’s now about a year later. I woke up this morning with the Sunshine of Jesus Christ all over me. The joy of the Lord filled my being.

I thought, oh Lord, what it is like for people that don’t know you. More than that, I felt for people, I felt what it is like for people who do not know Jesus, and as I lay in my bed upon awakening, I knew what it is like for people who are blessed with his precious presence.

The Light of God surrounds me. The Sunshine fills my air. Dew and mist gently are there.

More than anything, Jesus is my Sunny Day and today as I see him there, his light, his presence, it is a wonderfully Sunshiney Day.

I can feel his warmth all over me. Warmth and healing, peace and joy. I know if there is anything wrong, it is okay, it is in his hands. I am utterly at peace as if basking in the sun, without a care in the world, peacefully resting and getting my rays.

When I felt the Lord that way, I could realize how people who don’t know him, need him. So I wanted to write about life with him.

Life without him is a dark and gloomy day. Storms without him are furious and turmoil.

But when we have asked Jesus to come into our lives and we believe the best we can and keep turning to him, we’ll see his day. He’ll become our Sunny day.

When the Lord touched my life with his word about him being my Sunny Day, it didn’t take long to figure out that that was the natural day, but also in the day within me.

My moods and emotions, people’s actions and situations, all make up an atmosphere that affects my day.

Life can provide problems on-going that seem like clouds are forever over me, but I am here to tell you that Jesus is all in control of my days.

He is my Light, and the clouds of circumstance part at his appearing.

If they are present, I still know from within who the Sunshine is, and that he will appear, so I always have hope. I praise Him.

It is overcast outside but my joy wells up within me. My Sun shines all around me. My feelings come from him.

He parts the atmosphere of circumstance and we walk out in another Day. And the Light on us is not the circumstances of gloominess, but the Light of our God and his Son, his joy and peace, and healing.

It is okay in my world. My failures are not my burden. The One who made this very Day I am in also has everything else in his hands.

I awoke this morning and am still at wonder of our Wonderful God. That he would give me something so wonderful as his precious presence.

Nothing in my life is worthy of him. Yesterday was a day full of tensions and difficulties and problems.

The clouds he has parted, none of it affects me, and I just find, I love Him. It is not an effort, I can’t help but love Him.

If your life seems to overwhelm you, ask Jesus to come into your life. Ask him to come into your very heart and live there forever.

We give over a life that can not make us happy, and by asking him in, we receive a life that is from him and we share his happiness with him.

We have fellowship with our Creator. And he loves us and he walks with us and we aren’t alone.

Nothing in this world is like that. Jesus is my Sunny Day.

And he didn’t just give himself to me. He gave himself to all of us. I can’t help but want to share about him.

It is not for just a few to know him. I didn’t do anything to deserve the Lord. But he gave himself to me, and to you, and for all of us, and he is there for all of us to turn to no matter what our circumstances are, no matter how big, no matter how we feel about them or ourselves, he wants to share his life with us.

He wants us to come to him. And he wants to be our Sunshining Day

My name is Kathleen Angell. My life was dramatically changed when the Lord made Himself real to me. My website is christiannews.highpowersites.com. We take testimonies out door to door and feed the poor as the Lord provides.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

Pain Along the Journey by Elizabeth Marks

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 NKJV

It’s all about the Lord, isn’t it? Everything is the Lord’s. He rules over it all. He is the one guiding our hearts toward Him. He gives us our very breathe. He provides for our every need. He guards us against the evil one. We do none of this on our own.

God is faithful. He will establish you. This section of scripture reminds me of 1 Peter 5:10: “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” After you have suffered a while it says. We can conclude suffering is part of growth journey. There are some things we can never learn without suffering.

In my own journey, I had to suffer the consequences of poor choices. I had many expectations in life, none of which came out the way I envisioned. I was disappointed most of the time. Then, again, I believe most perfectionists are disappointed constantly. It’s a sad condition to live in. As I became more critical of others and cynical about life, I resented everyone and I allowed bitterness to take up residence in my heart. I didn’t handle things well before and it brought me more pain, than I ever imagined.

During times of suffering, God is there, eager to show himself faithful, loving and kind. All He asks is for us to turn to Him, trust Him and He will lead us out of the difficulty, whatever it may be. I can say He was there for me. When I finally could stand no more of my life, sobbing in the shower one morning, I prayed “Jesus, I’ve messed up my life! Help me! The bible says You died for my sins and rose again to give me a new life. Please come into my life and give me a new life. Amen.” I didn’t know how my life could ever be good again, but a wonderful peace came over me anyway. He was there waiting for me to turn to Him. He was faithful to answer my prayer.

Lord, thank you for wanting to come into our lives and heal us from our poor choices. Thank you for your faithfulness to answer our prayers. Thank you for dying for our sins and rising again to give us a new life in Christ Jesus. Amen.

God will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. The Bible teaches us this, but the Spirit of God living in us, confirms it in our own lives. He did for me. He will for you. Are you trusting God today? If not, ask Him to convince you how good He is. He will not disappoint!

Copyright Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions, has a heart for encouraging believers with God's Word. Please visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com for more devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more!

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS