Darkest Periods

“I can look back at my darkest periods and realize that these were the times when the Lord was holding me closest. But I couldn’t see his face because my face was in his breast – crying.” ~ John Michael Talbot

Taxes

During the Christmas season, a Sunday School teacher asked his students: “Now, who decreed that all the world should be taxed?”

A student said: “The Democrats!”

Do you have a Quiet Center?

Do you have a quiet center in your life?

For many of us our life motto seems to be, “When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.” God, however, invites us to be still and know that he is God (Psalm 46:10).

Be still: Let go. Relax your grip. End your struggle. Unclench your fist.

Be still: Pause. Step back. Let go of panic. Release your anxiety.

Be still: Quit struggling. Stop fighting. Shut out the noise. Get rid of distractions.

Be still: Quiet your heart. Cease striving. Quit racing around. Don’t sweat it.

Be still: Recognize God’s presence and power. Breathe.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

The Power of God's Word!

Thomas Brooks said, “The Word of the Lord is a light to guide you, a counselor to counsel you, a comforter to comfort you, a staff to support you, a sword to defend you, and a physician to cure you. The Word is a mine to enrich you, a robe to clothe you, and a crown to crown you.”

E. Stanley Jones added, “The Bible redirects my will, cleanses my emotions, enlightens my mind, and quickens my total being.”

Charles Colson stated, “Nothing has affected the rise and fall of civilization, the character of cultures, the structure of governments, and the lives of the inhabitants of this planet as profoundly as the words of the Bible.”

A.T. Pierson realized, “While other books inform, and some few reform, this one book transforms.”

And my favorite – Martin Luther declared, “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.”

The Bible is God’s written revelation to us! It’s inspired! It’s alive! It’s powerful! It changes lives!

God will stand with you!

The apostle Paul said, "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength" (2 Timothy 4:17).

Do you know what that means to have God stand by your side?

It means that the person of Jesus Christ comes alongside you in your pains and puts his hand on your shoulder.

He puts his arm around you to hold you up. He lets you lean on him when you feel wobbly. He allows your tears to fall on his shoulder.

He is an understanding friend who “sticks closer than a brother.” He will weep together with you, and he will wipe away the tears. He will help you stand up strong.

God will stand with you!

What is Forbearance?

Forbearance is overlooking the faults, quirks, and opinions of others just as God looks beyond yours.


Forbearance means to “cut some slack” and to “give people room to be themselves” and “room to become what God desires” – without judgment.

A grandmother, celebrating her golden wedding anniversary, once told the secret of her long and happy marriage. She said, “On my wedding day, I decided to make a list of ten of my husband’s faults which, for the sake of our marriage, I would overlook.”

A guest asked the woman what were some of the faults she had chosen to overlook. The grandmother replied, “To tell you the truth, my dear, I never did get around to listing them. But whenever my husband did something that made me hopping mad, I would say to myself, Lucky for him that’s one of the ten!”

That's forbearance!

If you were God, what would you collect?

If you were God, what would you collect? What would you treasure in your portfolio?

Some people collect stamps or coins. Others collect dolls or teddy bears. Others collect antique cars or baseball cards.

God says, “Here are my treasures. Earth. Everything in it – plants, animals, minerals. All who live on earth – people from every tribe, language, people group, nation. I made them all. They’re all mine. I possess all things.”

That’s what it says about God in Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

You and I might lay claim to a postage size plot of ground and everything piled up on it. But God owns it. The bank might try to hold the title deed. But the Bible says God owns the property, the deed, and the people that work at the bank. He is Creator and Possessor of All.

There is only one who stands out as one worthy of our worship . . .

○ The God of the Bible who created the earth and everything in it.

○ The God who possesses all things.

○ The God who owns the earth . . . and he’s not listing it for sale.