Tag: Lamentations 3:22-23

Do Not Be Afraid – Day 2

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Genesis 21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

Children most certainly have God’s ear. Despite Hagar’s son mocking Isaac, God had His eyes on Hagar and Ishmael. He had made a promise to Hagar (in chapter 16) that He would multiply her seed exceedingly. He also confirmed the same to Abraham in today’s chapter. However, Hagar most likely had forgotten God’s former promise to her as she sat with Ishmael without anymore food or water. God lovingly tells her not to fear and that He had heard Ishmael’s cries. There’s nothing worse to a mother than to not be able to feed her family. Here Hagar’s supplies had dwindled down to nothing and all hope was gone. But the Lord reassures her that even in the most challenging moments of life, she is not truly alone.

In our times of distress and uncertainty, it is comforting to know that the Lord listens to our cries and responds to our needs, guiding us through the darkness that can often feel overwhelming. He gives us light through His Word, which gives light to our path and filling our hearts with hope that all will be well, even when the storms of life rage around us. Whether we find ourselves in valleys of despair or on mountain tops of joy, His watchful presence envelops us, providing a sense of peace and assurance that our fears can be cast aside. It is in moments of doubt and difficulty that His love shines the brightest, reminding us that we are never alone in our struggles. It is with this understanding that we can know that God is always near, ready to support and uplift us, offering strength in our weakness and comfort in our sorrow. This unwavering presence serves as a foundation for our faith, instilling in us the courage to face each day with renewed hope and confidence, regardless of the challenges that lie ahead. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

What are your fears today? Is there too much month left at the end of your paycheck? Has your spouse abandoned you and your children? Do you have an ongoing illness? The enemy wants us to be stricken with fear because it takes our eyes off the Lord and onto our circumstances, clouding our vision and leading us to despair. Can you think of an account in the New Testament that reflected this very thing? When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water in Matthew chapter 14, Peter walked on water to meet Jesus, filled with faith and courage at first. However, in verse 30, Peter focused on the wind blowing the waves about and was suddenly consumed by fear. He began sinking and he cried out to the Lord in desperation. Notice in verse 31 that Jesus immediately extended his hand to Peter and caught him! This demonstrates His unwavering presence and support in our moments of panic. Do you really think that the Lord wouldn’t do the same for you? You may be sinking; you may be at the end of your rope, feeling as if you are hanging on by a thread. But Jesus will not let you sink into despair if you cry out. In times of trouble, rest assured that He is always there, ready to lift you from your struggles and guide you back to solid ground, reminding you that even in the toughest moments, you are never alone. Trust in that truth, and allow His love to cast away your fears.

Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of [insert your name here] WHERE YOU ARE. Jesus hears you; right where you are; in the midst of your storm. He waits for you to cry out to Him so He can reach down and bring you comfort! In these moments of distress, when the waves of life seem overwhelming, remember that you are not alone. The Saviour stands as that beacon of hope, ready to listen to your worries and fears. As you pour out your heart to Him, He wraps you with His love and grace, guiding you through the darkness. Trust that even in the chaos, His presence is a steady anchor, reassuring your soul that peace is there for the taking. Let your prayers rise up as a testament of faith, for every cry is met with the Lord’s attention and compassion, lighting your path forward.

If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed.  If you look within, you’ll be depressed.  If you look at God, you’ll be at rest. ~Corrie ten Boom  

This is the beautiful relationship between God and man! It is a profound connection that rises above the trials and tribulations of life. We are not left alone to struggle through life’s battles, for God walks beside us, providing comfort, guidance, and strength in our moments of need. If you are not born again, you can’t claim this precious relationship, as it is a transformative experience that opens the door to a deeper understanding of God’s love for His creation. This is a privilege given to the child of God, one that brings peace, joy, and a sense of purpose. Don’t you want to be able to be called His child? Embracing this identity not only enriches your life but also aligns you with a community of believers who share in this extraordinary journey of faith. If yes, please follow this link and Bible verses will lead you to Him, and will guide each step of your path towards salvation and everlasting life!

Hymns 2.0 – Beneath the Cross of Jesus

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Lyrics (click here to hear instrumental)

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty Rock
within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and the burden of the day.

Upon the cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me:
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess,
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.

3 I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place:
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss;
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all the cross.

ELIZABETH C. CLEPHANE

The History Behind the Hymn

I never heard of Elizabeth Clephane until I did the research on this hymn. Of course, I knew the hymn but knew nothing about its author. What a blessing to read of her life! She is in the same company as a few of my friends who are undergoing the same frail health.

Elizabeth Cecilia Douglas Clephane was born in Scotland in 1830 and died in 1869. The daughter of a county sheriff, she lived most of her brief life near Edinburgh.

Though in frail health most of her life, Elizabeth found the strength to help the poor and sick in her town. She and her sister gave all that they could spare to charity including, it is said, selling their horse and carriage for the benefit of the needy. The townspeople of Melrose referred to Elizabeth as “the Sunbeam.”

“Beneath the cross of Jesus,” focusing on the shelter of the cross, was first published three years after the author’s death in 1872 under the title “Breathings on the Border,” perhaps a double entendre referring to a geographical location near Melrose, the Scottish Borders, and a reference to the border between life and death. 

Originally five stanzas, another omitted stanza, perhaps autobiographical, provides further insight into the comfort that the writer found in the shadow of the cross and the inspiration that the cross gave her as she anticipated her own death:

There lies beneath its shadow,
but on the further side,
the darkness of an open grave
that gapes both deep and wide;
and there between us stands the cross,
two arms outstretched to save,
like watchman set to guard the way
from that eternal grave.

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-beneath-the-cross-of-jesus

A Lesson for Me

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

When the realization hits as to why Christ came to earth and what He did for me, my heart was broken. Someone else took my punishment!

Why would the Lord do this for me? With my finite mind, there is no way I can comprehend the mind of God. But what I can comprehend is His Word. The Scriptures tell us of His love (John 3:16), and that His mercy is new every single morning (Lamentations 3:22-23)! There is balm to be had for the deepest wounds!

Upon the cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me:
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess,
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.

Message for today

The moment I meditate on God’s redeeming love, and my unworthiness of His saving grace, my heart is stricken with the same tears as Elizabeth’s. How many tears have been shed for the same reasons? Each one of those tears is recorded in Heaven. (Psalm 56:8) Every heartache, every tear of joy, every tear shed when I lost someone dear, is known by my Heavenly Father!

Are you hurting today, Reader? Have you spent half the night crying? Are you in the same ill health as Elizabeth? If you are born again, your Father knows all about it. He is there to apply that balm to your distraught heart. Will He remove your sickness or problem? I don’t know. But what I do know is that He will provide you with the strength to live through each and every day.

But if you are not born again, it’s time you find forgiveness and peace at the foot of the cross of Jesus. He stands waiting to hear from you. It is there you will find peace for your soul! (Matthew 11:28-30)

Pro 15:29  The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

The Lord hears your prayer when you turn to Him with a repentant heart and ask His forgiveness. Invite Him into your life – make a decision to follow Him every day. He hears the prayers of His children. If you do not get saved, the verse above says that He is far from you. Do not be far, Reader. Turn to Him before it’s eternally too late.

If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed – Unleavened Bread

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Leviticus 23:4-8  These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.  (5)  In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover.  (6)  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.  (7)  In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.  (8)  But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Oh what a joyous time of year this is! 😀 Although Winter appears fruitless with its frigid temperatures, we celebrate the Saviour’s birth! His birth leads to the salvation of mankind!

I’ve learned so much doing the research on this series! I sorta knew the basics of the Feasts but never really dug deeper. In doing so, I see the Lord Jesus in every aspect and it excites the spirit within me! I absolutely love God’s Word and how it blesses us over and over! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Today’s Feast is that of Unleavened Bread. We covered this in part in the posts about the Seder meal. Today is strictly about the Feast itself. This Feast was seven days long and during that time they could not eat any bread that was made with yeast (leaven). Let’s park there for a minute and concentrate on the word “leaven.” Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines leaven as:

LEAVEN, n. lev’n. [L. levo, Eng. to lift.]

A mass of sour dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough or paste, produces fermentation in it and renders it light. During the seven days of the passover, no leaven was permitted to be in the houses of the Jews. Exo 12.

Any thing which makes a general change in the mass. It generally means something which corrupts or depraves that with which it is mixed.
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Mat 16.
LEAVEN, v.t. lev’n.

To excite fermentation in; to raise and make light, as dough or paste.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 1 Cor 5.

to taint; to imbue.

Think on this definition for a moment. Yeast/leaven produces fermentation and changes the texture and the size of the bread. If we regard leaven as a symbol for sin, it clearly opens up the purpose of this Feast, don’t you think? If we allow sin into our lives, it doesn’t just sit still. It produces more sin. It also has its repercussions! To the believer, it causes our relationship with the Lord to suffer. (Psalm 66:18) From the time of Adam and Eve, when sin was first brought into the Garden of Eden, sin has continued to grow and has created a depraved people. It has hardened the heart to its effects. It also reveals that even a tiny amount will cause an entire lump of dough to rise. Jewish tradition has it that women would actually get on their hands and knees sweeping with a feather every nook to rid their homes of any leaven. Wow, what would our Christian lives look like if we took the same painstaking effort of ridding our lives of sin!!?? The more sin there is (size), the harder the heart becomes (texture).

The Apostle Paul reprimanded the Corinthian church for defiling their church with sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-8). The church, as we know it today, is not like the church of yesteryear. Sin has crept into the church willingly and it is accepted. We see this all the more today! Allowing known sin to abide in the church is like adding yeast to the dough. A little will cause the all of the dough to rise – a little sin will multiply and the church will not be pure and chaste. (2 Corinthians 11:2)

But there is Good News in this Feast for all! The Good News is that the Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins! He lived that sinless life – He is the true unleavened Bread of life – He is the perfect sacrificial Lamb! But the best news of all is that He arose and is sitting with the Father awaiting His return for the Church (His Bride) at the Rapture! Oh what joy for the believer!!

Do you see the Lord in these Feasts? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ, personally or do you only know of Him? He is the true Unleavened Bread – the sinless Lamb of God! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!