Category Archives: Encouragement

Encouragement

Isaac and Joseph – More Impossible Situations

Luke 1:37  “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

The Birth of Isaac, the Son of Promise
After arriving in the land of Canaan, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, faced an impossible situation. God had promised to make a great nation from Abraham’s descendants. The problem was, Sarah was 90 and Abraham close to 100, and as yet they had no son through which God could fulfill His promise to them. Could God be taken at His Word? Abraham and Sarah faced what seemed to be an insurmountable challenge their faith, so they came up with a plan of their own to have a son. Sarah gave Abraham to her handmaid, Hagar, that Abraham might father a son through her. Hagar gave birth to a son, Ishmael. Ishmael would become the father of the Arab nations, but Abraham and Sarah were in for a big surprise as they looked adoringly at the son of their own planning. God informed them that Ishmael was not the son He had promised. Sarah, herself, would give birth to Abraham’s son within a year. Upon hearing this Sarah laughed, but God performed a miracle. The promised son was born, and at God’s direction he was named Isaac, meaning laughter. God specializes in impossible circumstances through which He can show Himself strong, and this is no laughing matter!

Priest Lake, Idaho

Priest Lake, Idaho

Joseph: from a Pit, to a Prison, to a Prince in a Palace!
Joseph was one of twelve sons born to his father, Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Jacob loved Joseph deeply because he was the son of his beloved wife, Rachel. Jacob played favorites when it came to his sons, showering Joseph with special honor and privileges. This did not sit too well with Joseph’s older siblings, who eventually hatched what they thought was a clever plan to get rid of their proud teenage brother once and for all. As a result of their jealous and heartless treatment, Joseph was thrown into a pit and left to die, his father being told he had been killed by wild beasts. This looked like an impossible situation for Joseph, but God wasn’t through with him just yet! God moved hearts and men, resulting in Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt, where he eventually became a slave in the house of Potiphar, Pharaoh’s servant, serving him loyally. What was Joseph’s “reward” for all his hard work? He was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife because he would not respond to her repeated sinful overtures. This landed Joseph in prison for many years. There was nothing he could do to help himself, so he waited on God and served faithfully even in prison. In time God vindicated Joseph, taking him out of the dingy prison, and putting him into a palace. Joseph rose to be second in authority only to Pharaoh in Egypt. Impossible! God not only honored Joseph, but He had a big surprise planned for Joseph’s brothers who had determined evil for him so many years earlier. Impossible circumstances sometimes lead to unique opportunities to display God’s glory.

Priest Lake, Idaho

Priest Lake, Idaho

God Will Put You in Impossible Situations to Prove He is God

God loves impossible situations!

Elijah, God’s prophet, faced an impossible and discouraging situation. The people of Israel refused to follow God and worshipped idols despite His unfailing kindness to them. How did Elijah handle these thankless rebels? He trusted God and turned to Him in fervent prayer. God responded with a series of amazing miracles that proved He, alone, was the true God, and challenged the people of Israel to obey God’s Word.

A Lake in Montana

A Lake in Montana

Let’s consider another impossible situation from earlier in Israel’s history. God chose Abraham out of a pagan society and made a very important covenant with him. God asked Abraham to leave his country and family for a new land He would show him. Just imagine what a difficult thing God was asking Abraham to do. It was nearly an impossible challenge for Abraham, but he pulled up stakes and left his home in Ur of the Chaldeans, never turning back. God graciously blessed Abraham’s trust, declaring him to be righteous in His sight.

Now consider the children of Israel and another impossible situation in this timeline.

  • Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, twelve sons
  • A famine
  • Down to Egypt they go
  • They are led into slavery
  • After 400 years of slavery they cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliver, Moses
  • There was much talking by Moses and miracles showing Egypt God’s judgment for refusing to let His people go free.
  • Now they are free and traveling towards the good land of Israel as God promised

Then they arrived at to the Red Sea, facing another impossible situation

They were walled in on four sides:

  • Behind: the army of Egypt
  • In front: the Red Sea
  • On the left: mountains
  • On the right: mountains

So what could they do?

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

They cried to the Lord, and the Lord made a way through the Red Sea.
This is by means of another miracle led by Moses listening to God and following God’s command.

God’s people were griping and complaining while Moses was listening to God’s Word and depending on God’s grace.

God loves impossible situations!

God will always make a way through life’s challenges and difficulties if we believe Him, pray and trust Him.

Learn to pray through the rough situations that come your way and obey God.

God will put you in impossible situations to prove that He is God.

Pray, and Let God Worry

A new Christian song encouraging us to pray and let God worry about our life. The phrase was inspired by Martin Luther who in the 1600’s wrote to his wife in a letter “…Pray, let God worry…”

Enjoy a short devotional music song video on “Pray Pray Let God Worry”

Martin Luther (16th century monk) said “Pray, and let God worry“. Which means don’t worry, give the concern to God. He can handle it.   Paul in Philippians 4:6 said: “Don’t worry; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” 

Enjoy a short devotional video on “Pray, Let God Worry”

Little Spokane River Area

Little Spokane River Area

Anxiety never seems to go away.  Anxiety and worry seem to be part of life.

Here is a video in which I shared on this subject.

So we need to pray and turn towards the Lord by praying, reading the Bible, singing or listening to inspiring Bible music.

Little Spokane River Area

Little Spokane River Area

Sometimes we need to back off and focus on God. In the world there are problems but have faith in Jesus.

Pray and Let God Worry

Pray and Let God Worry

Don’t lose sight of Jesus.

Little Spokane River Area

Little Spokane River Area

In the gospels, Peter needed to keep his eyes on Jesus not the raging stormy waters.
Peter sank when he looked at the water.  He needed to get his vision and perspective back on Jesus.

In Matthew 6:33  Jesus said: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Pray, and let God worry – Martin Luther

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Hebrew 13: 5-6  be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Psalm 103:1-5, A Psalm of David

Psalm 103:1-5, A Psalm of David

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel;
In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

So Isaiah is saying you need to slow down and trust God, but some of us have a hard time doing this. Just trust in Jesus.

Pray, Let God Worry

Pray, Let God Worry

Who Is In Control

Path at Little Spokane River

Path at Little Spokane River

“Rather than trying to maintain control over your life, abandon yourself to My will.”   This is a quote from one of my favorite devotionals Jesus Calling  that I read almost every morning for encouragement, spiritual nourishment and just get my day oriented to God. The devotional is available from Olive Tree for your smartphone, Mac or PC.

Little Town of Bethlehem

Luke 2:3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Merry Christmas

The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Israel

The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Israel

He Makes the Foundations of the Earth

When God is the one who made the foundations of the earth, why should we be anxious over anything. He is all powerful and almighty.  Who could be bigger or greater or stronger than God.   

Lakes on the Cascade Loop, Oregon

Lakes on the Cascade Loop, Oregon

Psalm 104  1 Bless Jehovah, O my soul. O Jehovah my God, thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honor and majesty:   2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain;   3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; Who maketh the clouds his chariot; Who walketh upon the wings of the wind;   4 Who maketh winds his messengers; Flames of fire his ministers;  5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved for ever.

Priest Lake, Idaho

Priest Lake, Idaho