Video Bible Lesson - God Will Make a Way Where There Seems to Be No Way By Debbie McDaniel

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

6/9/2020

06/09/2020

God Will Make a Way Where There Seems to Be No Way
By Debbie McDaniel

“…I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19
He will make a way where there seems to be no way. In the toughest of situations, this seems to be God’s specialty. And aren’t you thankful?
God has it all figured out. So we don’t have to worry.
He’s working on our behalf even when we can’t see it all. He has a plan and purpose in whatever we walk through. He can cut a clear pathway through anything.
And in seemingly hopeless situations where we can’t see any way out, God’s power has the opportunity to shine the greatest. It’s in those times when we come to the end of ourselves, where we know we can’t depend on our own abilities, on anything we have, or anyone we know, but instead are reminded that we are totally and completely reliant on Him - it’s those times that are the most powerful of all.
He can make a way through the wilderness and cause streams to rise up, bringing refreshing even in the desert times.
He can split the sea, move mountains, or any barrier before us, and allow us to walk through on dry ground.
He can conquer any giant, and bring victory to His children.
He can close the mouths of lions, providing safety.
He can open prison doors, setting us free.
He can protect us from the flames of adversity.
He can carry us through any storm.
He’s the God of miracles. He never changes. For He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever.
And He fights for you today.
Peace.
Intersecting Faith & Life: God is always working on your behalf, even behind the scenes where you can’t fully see. In that place where you see no way out, in that struggle where you see no solution, in that problem where you have no answer, lay it before Him. Every worry. Every care. Be reminded that He is with you today, He knows your way, and has a plan. Trust Him.
Further Reading:
Proverbs 3:5-6
Isaiah 43:16-21
Exodus 14:13-31

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Invest Your Time—Don’t Just Spend It.....Dr. Charles Stanley

Invest Your Time—Don’t Just Spend It

Dr. Charles Stanley

Ephesians 5:15-17

Time is a most valuable commodity. Since it’s irreversible and irreplaceable, we ought to give careful consideration to how we spend our days—and even our minutes. Time is a gift from God. That means we are not owners but stewards and will one day be held accountable for how we used what was entrusted to us. According to verse 15, there are only two possible ways to live: wisely or foolishly.

Let’s first consider what is involved in using our time wisely. Those who realize that their days belong to God are careful how they live. Their goal is to understand the Lord’s will and align their schedules and activities with His purposes. As they seek guidance each day through intimate fellowship with Him in the Word and prayer, their spiritual eyes are opened to discern which opportunities are from the Father and which are not a part of His plans for them.

But those who are foolish do not give adequate thought to the way they live. Some become unproductive and lazy, living for their own pleasures while missing out on God’s purpose for their lives. However, others may be very busy and extremely successful by worldly standards, but if their days are occupied with activities that aren’t God’s will for them, they’re wasting their time.

To make the most of your opportunities, begin each day with the Lord, submitting to His will and asking that He direct your activities. After all, none of us want to get to heaven and discover that even though we’ve been busy spending our time,we have failed to invest it for eternity.

My Frailties Aren’t Frail to God.....🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

My Frailties Aren’t Frail to God
WENDY POPE

“But Moses pleaded with the LORD, ‘O LORD, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.’” Exodus 4:10 (NLT)

I had the skill and experience, but lacked the courage.

In my day, I was an excellent pitcher. The mound and plate were my dance floor. High and slow. The ball would drop at the back inside corner of the zone, the umpire would yell “Strike!” — and the batter’s mouth would fall open in disbelief. Those were glory days!

I had all the confidence needed to play on a no-cut team … like the church team everyone makes. However, I couldn’t muster up enough confidence to try out for my school team. Softball tryouts were the first of many things I didn’t attempt at school. Leadership teams. Cheerleading. Dramas, which I totally would have rocked, because I can do some drama, friends! Looking back, not trying is one of my biggest regrets.

The Old Testament patriarch Moses also dealt with frailty of confidence, as we see in Exodus 4:10. I love how the New Living Translation records it: “But Moses pleaded with the LORD, ‘O LORD, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.’”

Did you catch the word pleaded? I plead with God more often than I care to admit.

With honest sincerity, I present to God why I can’t possibly be the person He wants for the job. I imagine God sitting patiently on His throne in regal splendor, uttering, “Yes, I hear you.” Thankfully, God is always listening.

God knew Moses was fully equipped to free the Israelites from bondage and was prepared to pick up the slack of Moses’s lack. But what Moses remembered was the man he used to be: the man in the palace. Educated, eloquent and well-represented. The man before his major failure of murdering an Egyptian soldier.

Moses also realized he hadn’t used those skills in over 40 years, when he lived in Egypt. He no longer spoke to royalty; now he spoke to sheep. He was no longer on a “who’s who” list; he was a “not-anymore.” Moses didn’t feel his skills were developed enough to accurately and clearly communicate God’s message of freedom to His people, much less to Pharaoh.

When we submit our lack to the One who supplies all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19), they become treasures we can lay at His feet, trusting God has the power to strengthen us to accomplish all He’s planned for us.

In hindsight, my real misfortune wasn’t not trying.

The worst part was allowing Satan, the enemy, to keep his foothold in my thought life. He taunted me for years each time I entertained the notion of trying something new.

He would roll out the scripts: You aren’t good enough. You don’t have the look. If you were part of the “in group,” you would have made the ensemble. It’s better to accept that you aren’t good enough, and then you don’t ever have to risk crushed confidence and dashed hopes again.

Have you heard such things from the father of lies? (John 8:44)

You are a worthwhile possibility to God; He has a lot invested in your future: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV). God chose Moses for a good work, just as He chose you and me. Let’s confidently accept our assignments and let God work out all the details.

Lord, thank You for Your perfect love. Help me rest in it and confidently advance toward the calling You have placed on my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
2 Peter 1:3, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” (NLT)

Living in a Dream World

Living in a Dream World
by Stephen Sanders

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1

A life with no challenges would be awesome, wouldn’t it? Always making the right decision, never running out of money, your kids always doing what they are supposed to do, never biting off more than you can chew... circumstances just magically falling into place so that we can effortlessly waltz through life in a state of constant enjoyment. Man, that sure would be nice...

Let’s just close our eyes for a few seconds and imagine what that would be like…

I’m 32, and I have 3 daughters. One of them just turned 13. The other is 7. The youngest is 2. They are all very, very different. I cannot begin to tell you how overwhelming this can be sometimes.

The baby is absolutely the cutest little thing ever. However, she has turned out to be the “stubborn child.” She writes on everything no matter how many times we tell her to stop. She refuses to use the potty. She will do a halfway-pee in her diaper, hold it and wait for you to change it, then pee in the fresh one immediately. It’s not like we don’t discipline her because we do!

But she’s cute, and she’s little and can only really get into so much trouble, so she doesn’t stress me out too much…

The middle child is fairly drama-free these days. She recently got 1st and 2nd semester honor roll and citizenship awards at school with pretty much zero supervision. But a couple years ago she was the bane of her K4 teacher’s existence. I got called to the office, seriously, almost every single day that school year for her bad behavior. The principal felt like our daughter might have psychological problems. The teacher broke down in tears in the middle of multiple conversations. We had no answers.

The very next year my daughter was the teacher’s pet. But, at the time, we blamed ourselves for these issues because we were her parents. Now we don’t feel like such failures.

My oldest is actually my stepdaughter, and this relationship comes with obvious trials. She’s also a very attractive 13-year old; this poses even more issues. And if that wasn’t enough already, there are the unexpected things that happen. They are like dreams you hoped would never happen but did. Then they rear their ugly heads and taunt you like a nightmare you swear you’ve had before…

…they cause you to wake earlier than you want to type a devotional at 4am…

I remember living in a dream world when I was her age. I knew everything. Everyone else was wrong and stupid. I know that will change. What I don’t know is what scares me. Will she get involved in the wrong crowd at school? Will she make one bad decision and end up pregnant before she graduates? Will she grow up and want to live a life that is pleasing to God or pleasing to her? These are new questions that have started popping into my head recently.

I try so hard. I desire more than anything for her to grow up and have a perfect life; a life where she always makes the right decisions. A life where she never runs out of money. A life where... yeah...

I begin to realize that my expectations for her life are unrealistic. She is going to make bad decisions. I just need to be here to listen, to guide and to comfort her. Let her fail. In those things, listen to her worries and hurts and remind her why we need Jesus in the first place.

He isn’t our God for our benefit... even though our relationship with Him does benefit us. He isn’t our God because He will make us rich and healthy and free from the pain and difficulties of this world we live in. But He is here with us through these trials.

Intersecting Faith and Life:I recently started studying the Book of Psalms; a part of the Bible I’ve always neglected to see the true value in. I suppose God must have inspired them for times when His people were having times like I’m having right now. It’s only by God’s grace that I am as content as I am these days. I honestly don’t stress too much about the things that are going on in my life. Even when I do begin to stress, God brings others to my attention, like homeless people, and I realize things could be so much worse. Or maybe the material things I deem so important actually cause me more stress… who knows.

All I know is that God continues to teach me how to be more like Him. My kids will be OK. My family will grow and become everything they are supposed to be. I just have to have faith in God and know that He has a plan that is so much greater than I could ever predict -- that this crazy world I live in isn’t going to change. I will probably have a few more sleepless nights because of it; some nightmares may actually come true, but He is with me to provide peace and restoration and comfort.

For Further Study
 Psalms 1:1

How to Have Hope in Difficult Circumstances.....🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

How to Have Hope in Difficult CircumstancesBy: Kia Stephens

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13

Like seasons, we will all eventually find ourselves in a valley, a season of despondency. Sometimes we are able to rebound quickly, sometimes we are left with the lingering feelings of despair. And when the circumstances of our lives prompt discouragement to link arms with the past, it can feel impossible to overcome.

Thus, we may find ourselves plunging deep into hopelessness. This was the place I found myself. I was discouraged. I had been here before, but this time was different. I had prayed the same prayer for years. Though I longed for resolution my prayers went unanswered.

Then I discovered Romans 15:13. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The words of this verse captivated my attention. God was the giver of hope! He was the answer to hopelessness.

In the Greek, the meaning of hope is expectation of what is sure. This meant that God was the God of what we can be sure of. He is not peddling false hope and shallow words of encouragement. Whereas life, people, and outcomes are all unpredictable, God can be trusted. He offers words of life when we are in despair.

Paul prayed that the God of hope would fill us with joy and peace that would never cease. This joy and peace flows in and through our lives, seeping into every area.

Paul also says that God is able to fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him. God is not dishing out this overflowing joy and peace to anyone who wants it. God has reserved this tangible evidence of His love for those who are trusting and believing in Him. Those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ can cling to Paul’s prayer with anticipation. What an encouragement!

It would be a tragedy to have the promise of overflowing joy and peace and not take hold to it because of a refusal to trust in God. By placing our trust in him we have the privilege of engaging in an uneven exchange. We give Him our discouragement, and he offers us overflowing joy, peace and hope.

We do not have to live discouraged. We do not have to be perpetually stuck in a place of despair or hopelessness. We can know hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not have to try and make ourselves hopeful or conjure up joy where it does not exist. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God can impart hope to us.

It is important to note that this impartation of hope requires the power of the Holy Spirit. The third person of the Godhead makes this hope transfer possible. We experience the Holy Spirit as Christ described Him in Acts 1:4 (NIV). The Holy Spirit is a gift and He enables us to overflow with hope.

What difficult circumstances are you currently facing? Do you believe the truth of Romans 15:13? God has the gift of hope for you in the midst of your season of despondency. Trust in him and ask the Spirit to fill you with hope as you trust in him.

"The Lord is My Shepherd" Prayer - A Prayer from Psalm 23.....🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

"The Lord is My Shepherd" Prayer - A Prayer from Psalm 23By Debbie McDaniel

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:1-6

This well-known Psalm is so rich with peace and blessing for all our days. Yet often we can become so “familiar” with popular verses and chapters of God’s word, that they can almost lose the important message that He is wanting to instill within our hearts. Praying God’s words back to Him, and meditating on them verse by verse, can help us to remember his goodness, and be strengthened by his truths.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." v.1 - He leads us, He guides us, He's always with us, and we can be assured and feel safe under His protective care.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul..." v.2-3 -  He knows where true rest and blessing are found, and leads us there, He restores, He refreshes, He brings peace and goodness.

"He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." v. 3 - He leads us to walk in His ways, He draws us to stay close to Him and follow Him.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me." v. 4 - Though life is uncertain and we may suffer with illness, loss, or pain, our God of comfort, our Lord who holds all power over death and disease walks with us. Always. He is the only One who can take us by the hand through life's darkest moments of suffering, bringing freedom and healing from the pain of this life, straight into glory and the hope of heaven that He has reserved for us. We never have to fear, in life or in death, for He is with us, our constant strength and Shepherd.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows." v. 5 - We have a place at His table, He makes room for us, He wants us to stay close to Him. Through history, hosts were expected to protect their guests at all costs. God's protection is real, in the midst of the traps and attacks of enemy forces, we can find security and refuge in His great care. It doesn't mean that we won't ever face huge battles, but that He covers us with His Spirit of anointing and power, to live out our days with His strength and blessing.

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." v. 6 - That word for "follow" means "to chase, to pursue." We can be assured, He chases us today, and all our days, with His goodness and love. And even at the end of all our days here on this earth, He still has more in store, and it's greater than we could ever imagine.

Dear God,

Thank you that you are our good Shepherd and we can trust you with our lives. Thank you for your leadership and Sovereignty. Thank you for your guidance and care in all our days. Thank you that you restore our souls, give us peace, and bring us hope in all of our tomorrows. Thank you for your protection and strength that surrounds us like a shield. Thank you that we never have to fear. Thank you for your goodness and love that follows after us, chases us, even when were unaware. Thank you Lord, that you trustworthy and able, that you are our Refuge and hope.

In You alone is rest and peace. We praise you for the assurance that we will dwell with you forever.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.