Good morning ladies. How are you today? Are you busy into the things of the new season? Our launch of the "Matthew 28:19 Disciple-Making Ministries Night" begins tonight. We start with dinner, followed by breaking off into groups. The kids and teens have their ministries, and the adults who want to be a part of a discipleship group ministry will have an opportunity. We've been using the book by Francis Chan called, "Multiply." Some of us have already been doing one-on-one discipleship, but this gives others, who might work better in a group setting, to be a part of this important aspect of ministry.
I would like to tell you I have a list of things that I plan to accomplish today, but it's back to sitting for awhile. Crocheting, reading, .... I get up and walk off and on too. This apartment is longer, so it's a bit easier to walk before having to turn around, but it doesn't have the advantage that the one in Maplewood had with its long hallways. I think maybe this afternoon I'd like to get out of the house for a bit.
Prayer & Praise
Let's be in prayer for all of those affected by the hurricanes, earthquake, and the wild fires. So many people are suffering right now. It's overwhelming to think about how we can even help, but we can all do something. And especially--PRAY!
Devotion
Although I love Psalm 23, it's not easy to face the fact that we will go through "valleys" in this life. The good part, however, is that God will personally be with us when we go through them. Have a great day and make it a Wonderful Wednesday ladies!
“Going Through Life’s Valleys”
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” Psalm 23:4a (NLT)
In life, we all certainly like mountaintop experiences better than valleys — the air is clean, the sun is shining, and the view is amazing. But the truth is, we’re going to go through valleys. It’s inevitable. You’ve observed that, haven’t you?
Jesus didn’t want us to be surprised by difficult times, so just before He died on the cross, He warned us, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows” (John 16:33b, NLT). “You will have …” means it’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that you can’t plan valleys or schedule them. Who’s ever had a flat tire or a root canal at a good time?
But be encouraged that valleys are temporary; they do have an end. And valleys have a purpose. God never wastes our pain.
The apostle Peter wrote, “There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold — though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6b-7, NLT).
When God assured Moses He would be with him as he led the Israelites to the Promised Land, God said, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest — everything will be fine for you” (Exodus 33:14b, NLT). I love Moses’ reply: “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place” (Exodus 33:15b, NLT). Amen, Moses — that’s exactly how I feel about going to strange, new places too.
What encourages me is that God never asks me to go through a valley alone.
Notice in our key verse that David, the one who wrote Psalm 23, refused to be filled with fear in the dark valleys, because God was with him in a very real and personal way: “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” (Psalm 23:4a)
Earlier in this psalm, David’s comments about God are in the third person — the LORD is my shepherd … He makes me lie down … He leads me… He refreshes my soul … He guides me.
But when David gets to the dark valley, he switches to second person: “for you are with me” (v. 4). That’s oh so personal. It’s as if David sees the darkness ahead, and he reaches out for God’s hand. What a comfort to put our hand in God’s hand, as we take a step into the dark!
Pastor, writer and Bible teacher Andrew Murray once encouraged us to say: “I am here --
1. By God’s appointment.
2. In His keeping.
3. Under His training.
4. For His time.”
Thank You, Lord, for that truth!
Lord, help me keep my eyes on You, not the painful circumstances I’m facing — not on my problem but on Your power. Thank You that You are with me and will never leave me. Here’s my hand. Please hold it tightly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Darlene Sala
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Hebrews 13:5b, “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’”(NLT)
2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (NLT)
I would like to tell you I have a list of things that I plan to accomplish today, but it's back to sitting for awhile. Crocheting, reading, .... I get up and walk off and on too. This apartment is longer, so it's a bit easier to walk before having to turn around, but it doesn't have the advantage that the one in Maplewood had with its long hallways. I think maybe this afternoon I'd like to get out of the house for a bit.
Prayer & Praise
Let's be in prayer for all of those affected by the hurricanes, earthquake, and the wild fires. So many people are suffering right now. It's overwhelming to think about how we can even help, but we can all do something. And especially--PRAY!
Devotion
Although I love Psalm 23, it's not easy to face the fact that we will go through "valleys" in this life. The good part, however, is that God will personally be with us when we go through them. Have a great day and make it a Wonderful Wednesday ladies!
“Going Through Life’s Valleys”
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” Psalm 23:4a (NLT)
In life, we all certainly like mountaintop experiences better than valleys — the air is clean, the sun is shining, and the view is amazing. But the truth is, we’re going to go through valleys. It’s inevitable. You’ve observed that, haven’t you?
Jesus didn’t want us to be surprised by difficult times, so just before He died on the cross, He warned us, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows” (John 16:33b, NLT). “You will have …” means it’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that you can’t plan valleys or schedule them. Who’s ever had a flat tire or a root canal at a good time?
But be encouraged that valleys are temporary; they do have an end. And valleys have a purpose. God never wastes our pain.
The apostle Peter wrote, “There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold — though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6b-7, NLT).
When God assured Moses He would be with him as he led the Israelites to the Promised Land, God said, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest — everything will be fine for you” (Exodus 33:14b, NLT). I love Moses’ reply: “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place” (Exodus 33:15b, NLT). Amen, Moses — that’s exactly how I feel about going to strange, new places too.
What encourages me is that God never asks me to go through a valley alone.
Notice in our key verse that David, the one who wrote Psalm 23, refused to be filled with fear in the dark valleys, because God was with him in a very real and personal way: “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” (Psalm 23:4a)
Earlier in this psalm, David’s comments about God are in the third person — the LORD is my shepherd … He makes me lie down … He leads me… He refreshes my soul … He guides me.
But when David gets to the dark valley, he switches to second person: “for you are with me” (v. 4). That’s oh so personal. It’s as if David sees the darkness ahead, and he reaches out for God’s hand. What a comfort to put our hand in God’s hand, as we take a step into the dark!
Pastor, writer and Bible teacher Andrew Murray once encouraged us to say: “I am here --
1. By God’s appointment.
2. In His keeping.
3. Under His training.
4. For His time.”
Thank You, Lord, for that truth!
Lord, help me keep my eyes on You, not the painful circumstances I’m facing — not on my problem but on Your power. Thank You that You are with me and will never leave me. Here’s my hand. Please hold it tightly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Darlene Sala
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Hebrews 13:5b, “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’”(NLT)
2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (NLT)
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