Walking under dark clouds

" Darkness
 is all around me,

thick, impenetrable
darkness is everywhere." - Job 23:17 NLT

When I read this verse, for some reason I could literally see a man walking and looking up at the dark clouds above him. It was Job. And for some reason, I started to cry. When we are at a place of hurting and feeling alone, we do feel like we are walking under dark clouds. Oh poor Job.

This man felt like God was not with him. In verse 3, he said, " If only I knew where to find God." Oh Job, I can so relate to what you say. When we are struggling and hurting, we sometimes do wonder and ask, "God, where are you?"  I believe in my heart, that is what Job wanted to know. He was willing to go to God's court and present his arguement.

How many times would this man have to do that? Job was saying that his suffering would be more bearable if he knew why it was happening. If there was a sin for which he had to repent of, he would. I am reminded of when I was a little girl and i was blamed for doing something wrong, I would say over and over again, " I didn't do! I didn't do it!" I wonder if that is what Job was wanting to tell God, " I didn't do it Father! I didn't do it!" I still do not understand the patience that Job had through out this difficult and heart breaking time in his life. I would have developed alot of anxiety. No matter what he was feeling and walking through, he feared God, acknowledged His power, and he maintained his integrity. Even though he felt at the moment that God was not there with him, he did not lift his arms up and say, " Okay God, I'm out of here!" He continued to walk through the fire and under the dark clouds. I know that this man will one day see God's light shining through the dark clouds. And that right there gives me hope that one day I will look up and no longer be under dark clouds.

I dont know why, but i wanted to share this thought!!

Written by Liz Chavez

FALL HARVEST

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. First of all, its a budget conscious person's dream. You can cut way back on water for the lawn and yard. There is no need for air conditioning. Don a morning pair of fuzzy slippers and a cozy robe and there's no need to turn on the heater. This all adds up to the lowest utility bills for the year! The weather is divine with sunny afternoons, coolish evenings, and that ever present signiture crispness in the air. Feast your eyes on autumn trees drenched in majestic hues of crimson and gold. A pleasant stroll around the neighborhood reveals dazzling yellow, red, and copper chrysanthemums in the yards and leafy autumn colored wreaths on the front doors.

Autumn is the perfect time to swap out that backyard grill for a lazy steamy crockpot. Homeade soups and stews are starting to sound appealing. How about a trip to the apple farm with the family? Don't forget to bring home a fresh baked pie for desert. And who can resist a pumpkin spice latte at Stabuck's? Wouldn't you love to chat and pray over coffee with a special friend?

Yes, fall has many perks and can be an amiable transition from the glorious days of summer. It also brings to mind the theme of the harvest. “Harvest is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields.”(Wikipedia) It is true that the farmer will reap whatever type of crop he sows into the ground. Each crop has its own growing season or cycle, taking a certain length of time to complete. The Lord uses these concepts to illustrate the consequences of our own lives and conduct. In the book of Galatians, the Heavenly Father reminds us...

“Don't be mislead. Remember that you can't ignore God
and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow!
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires
will harvest the consequences of decay and death.

But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life
from the Spirit. So don't get tired of doing what is good.
Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest
of  blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity,
we should do good to everyone, especially to
our Christian brothers and sisters.”

 Galatians 6:7-10

(NLT)

These are sobering words, but also words of hope and encouragement that our good works will be rewarded in due time.

As we head into the autumn season let's ask the Lord to lead us in paths which will bring glory and honor to His name. May we pray for wisdom, discernment, and grace to do those things which please God and which benefit and edify others. Then we can look forward to a harvest of blessing, both in our own lives and in the lives of those we touch.

By Cathy Friberg

He deserved a trip to the woodshed!

                                                          ...HOW CAN WE AVOID THE SAME FATE?

Peter is the perfect example of someone who, in my opinion, was in need of a good God spanking. Peter needed a trip to the woodshed where God could give him a good whoopin’. After all, Peter lived day and night with Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He listened to all Jesus taught and saw miracles every day. Peter also knew scripture and knew Jesus was the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. He knew Jesus intimately and declared his love for Him, even vowing to serve Him all his life. How could he just abandon Jesus like that?

It only took a little peer pressure for Peter to fail, and fail big. He denied he was a disciple, denied he even knew Jesus and then started cursing to make his point appear more valid. And this was not just a momentary lapse. In Luke, the Bible says over and hour went by between the times when he was questioned. So, Peter had an hour to stew, think about what he said and decide if it came up again how he would answer, if he would stand for Jesus. When the question did come again, Peter denied Jesus even more violently.

When morning came and that famous rooster crowed, the full understanding of what he did hit Peter. His remorse and regret consumed him and he left the crowd and “wept bitterly.” The most painful failures of our lives are the ones where we can only blame ourselves and Peter was looking in the mirror. Peter had betrayed someone he really did love and by his denial, made himself part of the mob that were torturing for sport and crying out for blood.

I can not imagine the misery and despair of that moment, the grief and the loneliness. What would I have done in that situation?

There is a part of me that would want to crawl under a rock, even too ashamed to look Jesus in the face again. And I would hope that rock could hide me from the punishment that certainly must soon follow.

But Peter had the opposite response. When he heard of the empty the tomb, and the women saying Jesus was alive, he went tearing out of the house in a foot race with John to the tomb. John won the foot race but, while John was standing at the entrance looking around, Peter was the one who blasted past him into the tomb to see for himself.

And after the resurrection, when the disciples were out fishing and Jesus appeared on the shore, Peter was the one who threw himself, fully clothed, into the sea in order to reach Jesus faster.

These two Peters, the Peter of denial and the impulsive can’t-wait-to-get-to-Jesus Peter do not seem to agree with each other. Why, and how, could he run toward Jesus when he had wronged Him? But because this was the Peter who lived day and night with Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, listened to all Jesus taught and saw miracles every day and learned from Him, this was the Peter who knew that the Jesus waiting on the shore was not holding a club to let him have it over the head for denying Him.

When we fall in life, when we fail God and those we love, when our morning comes and our remorse and regret set in, we are faced with a choice – we can either find a big rock to crawl under, hoping to avoid the God spanking we probably deserve, or we can follow Peter and jump in the ocean to get to Jesus as fast as we can.

The more we learn the lessons of the Great Teacher, the easier it is to resist that tempting dark place under the rock. When we live each day with Jesus, listen to what He taught, experience His wonders, we understand the Jesus who spent His life teaching how to be disciplined, not dishing out discipline. But whether we spend each moment walking with God, or we have not talked to Him in years, the only thing we really need to know is what Peter knew. It wasn’t a wood club and a beating waiting for him on the beach. It was a warm fire and breakfast.

Jody Ward

What If God Made Some Of Us Not So “Pretty”?

                 .....Ccould we have become a FEMME FATALE

What if God made some of us not so “pretty” to save us from our pride?  He knew which of His creations could handle beauty and which ones would fall.  When we look around at all the “beautiful people”, how happy are they really?  Sometimes—often--, their joy and self acceptance come from compliments from others.  They wear their self-worth on the outside:  how they look, how slim they are, what they are wearing, or the whiteness of their teeth.  Or, they try to buy acceptance with money, often money they don’t have.  They need the biggest and newest house, the fastest and shiniest new car, membership in the best country club.  As soon as they “get” the next best thing, it becomes obsolete and they’re off to find the next best thing, often on credit.  Most of the time they are miserable, because no matter how hard they try, they just can’t keep it up forever.  Pride will catch up with them and they will fail in the eyes of the world.

What if God gave some of us a “thorn in the flesh” because He knew how prideful we would become if He made us just right?  Adversities not only make us stronger, they make us depend on God.  Even if we’re born with beautiful bodies and minds, that doesn’t mean that God will allow us to go unchecked through life, being all about ourselves.  Sometimes He allows something to damage us in order to get our attention, to get our minds off ourselves and onto Him.  We realize that we are no longer able to thrive in our own strength, but must depend on Him to see us through this life.  Sometimes it takes multiple blows to our egos or flesh to get our attention.  Sometimes He never gets our attention and we are lost.

So before I curse God for some abnormality, ache or pain, broken tooth or loss of income, I should be thanking Him for caring enough to save me from myself.  He loves me, and did everything to give me eternal life, including giving up His only Son to cover my sins and fill me with peace and joy.

Next time I wake up with a headache or get a speeding ticket, I’ll try to remember that maybe, just maybe, God is chastening me, making me less perfect in the eyes of the world, but more prepared for everlasting life with Him.

Written by

Paula Glauber

PRAISE BRINGS BLESSING

   David's Tent  

It is with great joy that I write today. I love the United States of America. I love its people, its spectacular terrain, rivers, lakes and seas, and I love the Divinely inspired form of government established by our founding fathers. I am excited and hopeful with the good news of a powerful event taking place...

September 25 through November 6 in Washington D.C.

“David's Tent DC"

is 40 day worship event.

House of Prayer Worship will happen 24/7

on the White House Ellipse in Washington DC."

The following article describes the event and some of the reasoning behind it.

White House Elip

“An Oval Altar for The Oval Office

"Before America ever enters the polling booth this November, we will first gather on the White House Ellipse and do nothing but enthrone Jesus on our praises 24 hours a day for over 40 days from September 25th – November 6th 2012. We seek worship teams from all 50 states to gather and lead worship from an Oval Altar near the Oval Office. Worship 24/7/40 from a stage on the White House Ellipse! If ever America needed a Savior, it is now. America's lamp stand in the nations is at risk of being removed. Many have concluded the obvious already that no man elected to the Presidency can save America. We need Jesus. We need the power of His Presence and Spirit of Revelation in the White House, Washington DC and in all America.

We recognize that America is in a desperate place, but not without hope. We believe God has called us as a nation to "circle the wagons" by the White House and build an altar of worship to offer as intercession for America.”

I am so thrilled about this exploit because I feel that it is the catalyst for a transition to Godliness in our nation. The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people. As we praise and worship Jehovah, the Lord will grace us with His presence. Praise is a spiritual weapon. As the Lord is lifted up, the ungodly strongholds and bondages of Satan operating in our nation will be torn down. As these strongholds are pulled down, people's eyes will be opened. The spirit of deception which blinds the hearts of the unsaved and spiritually oppressed will be lifted. I truly believe that people's hearts will be changed and their perceptions concerning Jesus and His Word will be directed toward the truth. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32 (NIV) As we delight ourselves in the Lord He will give us the desires of our hearts. Psalm 37:4 I'm sure that, as Christians, our hearts' desire is that righteousness would once again exalt our nation ( Proverbs 14:34) and that we could live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. I Timothy 2:2

I have heard it said, and it rings true with my spirit, that praise and worship raises up a canopy of safety and protection over our nation. Ancient Israel was well aware of the power of corporate praise, worship and intercession. In 2 Chronicles 20 Jehoshaphat led the people of Judah in prayer, praise and worship as they faced the challenge of war with Moab, Ammon, and Edom. “The King appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for His holy splendor. At the moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.” 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NLT) Judah's enemies were defeated and they didn't even have to fight them.

I believe, in the same way, as we praise and worship God, He will defeat our enemies. Who are the real foes in our nation today? I maintain that sin, wickedness, idolatry, godlessness, and deception are our greatest adversaries. Of course, this soul condition reaps a harvest of malaise, including poverty, crime, addictions, disease, ungodly laws, and broken families. However, corporate high praise of our Saviour is a marvelous starting point to turn this situation around. To have a move of God in our political leaders would prove an invaluable blessing to our nation. It would be an answer to the heaven inspired prayer, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

For more information on this event, please click on the following link:

www.davidstentdc.org

By Cathy Friberg

A Perfect Way to Start Your Day

Are You Beginning Your Day in His Presence?

I was so impressed with the following devotional by Adrian Rogers that I wanted to pass it on to you our readers. The message is clear and straightforward. However, I feel that is a reminder that we all need as believers, and one that grows more dear to me the longer I know our Savior.

“My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning,

O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee,

and will look up.”

Psalm 5:3

Most Christians fail in their Christian life for one simple reason: They fail to have a quiet time. They fail to start the day with Jesus.

It is so simple. They say, “Why am I failing? Why don’t I have the victory? Why don’t I understand?” And I want to respond, “Why don’t you get quiet before God at the beginning of your day and saturate your soul with His presence and bathe your heart with His Word?”

Someone once wrote, “Every morning lean thine arms a while upon the windowsill of heaven and gaze upon thy Lord. And then with the vision in thy heart, turn strong to meet the day.

Shared by Cathy Friberg from "Love Worth Finding" by Pastor Adrian Rogers

 I Come To The Garden Alone Hymn

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Song by Charles Austin Miles

Shared by Cathy Friberg

World is Insecure

 SECURE IN HIM

       One thing is for certain and that is that in today's world, nothing, absolutely nothing, is certain! Political, economic, financial, and social winds change radically at the drop of a hat. Leaders, systems, and organizations may fail us and let us down. We just cannot predict our future in this present climate. However, as the old saying goes, "We do know the one who holds the future." His name is Jesus Christ and we can trust that He never changes.

       We used to be members of a small Foursquare church in Southern California. On the wall behind the alter was a Bible verse in beautiful gold script. It read, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8. Whether I was listening to the pastor deliver his sermon or lifting my heart and voice in praise to the Lord, that passage of scripture on the wall brought me comfort. That was almost 30 years ago. Little did I know how much more turmoil, turbulence, sin, and depravity we would be facing in this year of 2012. Needless to say Hebrews 13:8 is even more dear to me today and is a stabilizing force in my life. 

      As we are bombarded with startling news concerning the state of our nation and the world, we can remain strong and confident as we turn to our Saviour. Intimate time in praise, worship, and thanksgiving will bring solace and security to our souls."You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you." AKJV Isaiah 26:3  I believe, too, that as we give glory and honor to the Lord in praise and as we declare His word that we actually change the spiritual atmosphere  around us. The Book of Psalms is a rich source of examples of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. As I  read through the psalms, I offer many of the beautiful hymns directly the Lord to glorify and magnify His name. 

There is a great book titled "Knowing God" by Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King.  The appendix of the study guide lists some beautiful names, titles, and descriptions of God. I would like to share a few of these with you in hopes that they will inspire you in your praise and worship time. As we call out these names to glorify His Majesty we are also reminded of the pure and precious attributes and qualities of our King.

Written By Cathy Friberg

Precious Attributes and Qualities of Our King.

FATHER                                                             JESUS                                                     HOLY SPIRIT

~~~~~~~                                                            ~~~~~~                                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~

~A faithful God who does no wrong          ~Alpha and omega                           ~Breath of the Almighty

~A forgiving God                                           ~Ancient of days            

~A master in heaven                                     ~Apostle and high priest                   ~Spirit of fire

~A refuge for the oppressed                        ~Author and perfecter of                ~Spirit of glory

~A refuge for the poor                                      our faith                                               ~Spirit of grace

                                       

~A shade from the heat                                ~Author of life                                    ~Spirit of holiness

~A shelter from the storm                          ~Bread of life                                       ~Spirit of justice

~Architect and builder                                 ~Bridegroom                                       ~Spirit of life

~Defender of widows                                   ~Christ Jesus our hope                      ~Spirit of the living God

~Father of compassion                                ~Chief shepherd                                  ~Spirit of sonship 

~Father of the heavenly lights                    ~Consolation of Israel                       ~Spirit of Jesus Christ     

              

~God of all comfort                                      ~Crown of splendor                              ~Spirit of truth

~God of glory                                                ~Fragrant offering and sacrifice       ~Spirit of wisdom and 

~God who gives endurance                             to God                                                      revelation

  and encouragement                                    ~Immanuel (God with us)                  ~The gift

~Great mighty and awesome God             ~Indescribable gift                               ~The promised Holy       

~God most high

 ~Hope of Israel  Spirit

~I AM                                                                  ~Light of life                                           ~Voice of the Almighty

~Lord who makes you holy                        ~Light of men                                        ~The same gift

~The one who sustains me                          ~My intercessor                                   ~Voice of the Lord

~The potter                                                    ~Prince and Savior                                 ~Holy one

~The spring of living water                         ~The bright morning star                   ~Holy one of God

~You who hear prayer                                 ~The living stone

~Your very great reward                             ~The rising of the sun (Dayspring)  

Shared by Cathy Friberg