Living above circumstance...

Good Morning dear Christian hearts...

This message from In-Touch ministries, with Charles Stanley was so meaningful, I needed to share with you this morning --Just in case you are having a blue Monday!

Pls. note that underlining is my own emphasis:
    "Surely, if anyone had a right to gripe, it was Paul, who’d endured persecution, shipwreck, and beatings for the gospel. Yet he never once complained. His letter to the church at Philippi is filled with rejoicing, as focusing on God let him live above his circumstances (Phil. 4:8).

    The more we talk and complain about a situation, the worse it looks, until the problem looms larger in our mind than our faith does. Conversely, carrying challenges straight to God keeps matters in perspective. The Lord is bigger than any hardship. On His strength, we rise above the difficulty.    Problems can look so big and unwieldy that they distort our perspective. God invites us to live above our circumstances by fastening our eyes upon Him. The trials of this life shrink when compared to our loving, powerful Lord, who exercises His might in defense of His people."

(For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit

www.intouch.org )

    I have certainly found in these last 6 years specifically, how hard it is to cope with catastrophic illness with my Husband's Multiple Myeloma Cancer.  And at times our cash flow has been a cause of stress as well.  Then there are grown children with their problems and grandchildren and, and, and....  If I were to let all of these things weigh down my life, my joy and my heart would parish from lack of nourishment!  But I choose to react differently to the many obstacles in our lives.  And above all, Hubby and I have each other for support, for our daily "dose of Love" from each other and the Lord.  And it does help to talk with loved ones or that one great friend about your concerns as we are only human though we strive to be God-like.  Just remember that Jesus is our one great Friend above all others, talk to Him.

   Too often we "overdose on ME" saying, "why is this happening to ME?  Why do I not have riches and health and a happy-no-problem life??  Why is my old age not the "golden years" that we always heard about?  Because that is not reality.  God never said we would not have stress and strife in our lives, but he did promise to be there with us through the storm.  Again, note the video in my side bar, it says it all.  "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face.  And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim...In the light of His Glory and Grace......"☺

Just as the little creatures in our back yard look up to us for a morsel to sustain them, we look up to the Lord for our spiritual nourishment and support. 
Thank you for visiting with me today and I hope you found something meaningful in today's shared message as well as my own.  If you have prayer concerns, please comment or e-mail and I will add you to our prayer list.  You matter to us, You matter to Jesus...

♥KERRIE♥

My Christian heart to yours...

WHERE COULD I GO?

  When all else fails in today's sinful world, people turn to the Lord.  Many do not know Him but we as Christians are called to spread the Word, the Good News of God's saving grace!!  What a blessing we are awarded for our faithfulness and when we are filled with God's Love, we cannot help but share him with others!
  We all feel at some time in our lives that we have no place to turn.  Cares of the world, illness, loss, grief, money and/or work problems, family troubles may all weigh us down to the point when we feel we cannot function any longer.  What do we do?  Where can we go for help?

    Where Could I Go?
1
Living below in this old sinful world,
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptations sore,
Where could I go but to the Lord?

Chorus:
Where Could I go, oh where could I go,
Seeking a refuge for my soul?
Needing a friend to save me in the end,
Where could I go but to the Lord?
2
Neighbors are kind, I love them every one.
We get along in sweet accord;
But when my soul needs manna from above,
Where would I go but to the Lord?
3
Life here is grand with friends I love so dear,
Comfort I get from God's own word;
Yet when I face the chilling hand of death,
Where could I go but to the Lord?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really like this rendition in the side bar by Elvis Presley.  Although Elvis was a lost soul, he really believed in the Lord and God is the final Judge so it is not for us to say if he is with the Savior.  I do know that his Gospel hymns were heart felt and true and evoked great Love of the Lord in many.  Growing up, he worshiped and sang in black churches as well as white which gave him his own unique style.  Whether you cared for this man or not, you cannot deny his spreading the Gospel as God can use ANYONE as his instrument, his witness.  Enjoy the video and sing along.

Looking for answers to Life's temptations?  Read the Bible.  Start with Matthew for God's instructions are there while his Son is speaking to the world....  The more you read of God and His Son, the more you thirst for living in God's way.  There is a peace you will receive like no other.  Find the standardized versions too stuffy or hard to read?  Start with a child's version of the Bible for example, Precious Moments Bible or "The Book" published by Tyndale House Publishers.  It is a very comprehensive version and you will understand it readily.  My copy is dog-eared and worn.  I like it as a cross reference tool that helps me to understand the NIV and other standard versions and I always go back to the original with a deeper understanding.  God will give you the power of discernment (insight; penetrating; make out; distinguish.)

1 Corinthians 2:14-16  "The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.  The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.  For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ."

   Thank you so much for visiting today and may God bless you this beautiful day!  If you have prayer concerns for any reason, please request them and I will add you to our prayer list.  Each person is prayed for by us and by everyone who reads this blog.  Become so excited for the Lord that when you wake each moring, you can't wait to see what He is going to do today!!

♥KERRIE♥
My Christian heart to yours....