As Always

As always, God brings conviction, but with the conviction He brings comfort an encouragement.  I left the house to do errands shortly after I posted Tuesday's blog entry.  Admitting my failures in here, I thought about those shortcomings as I drove to buy cat food....wishing, praying that I could be braver when needing to stand for my convictions, and nicer to my heavenly Father when things didn't go my way....I can't say I was exactly falling into condemnation....the Bible teaches that we don't belong there....but I kind of felt frustrated with my self for not making faster progress in these areas. Sometimes my slow pace on this Christian walk drives me crazy!  I'm not a very fast jogger in the physical sense either...so I guess I'm consistent! LOL  But, as the saying goes, I digress.


So I was driving and thinking, driving and praying, off to do my stuff and a song came on the radio that just lifted my heart with reassurance.

And then, as only God can do....He picked the perfect time to let  me pass by one of the little Sandy encouragement stars to put the exclamation point on His message of hope....this one sad "FAITH."     (The stars appeared on telephone poles after the south shore of Long Island was ravaged by super storm Sandy and thousands of people lost homes, and  the area sustained severe damage to property and utilities.  I believe they were made by children in the area to encourage the residents who had lost so much)  Usually I don't notice these stars too much because when traffic is moving you pass them by so quickly, but his time I was in a slow down and the star was staring me right in the face! Coincidence....more like godincidence!

As always, I'm so blessed by our Father's love and attention.  He disciplines, but He also heals.  With the hand of correction, comes a heart of love and compassion.

Lord, I'm just thankful.  Thankful for Your heart of mercy, of the kindness You show, and the desire You have to share Your heart with me, with all of us Your children.  Help us to grow!

Look for God's encouragement today....make it a point to really seek.

Romans 8:1-2  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  

Hebrews 12:5-13  And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when He corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves and He punishes each one He accepts as His child."  As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you ad His own children.  Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?  If God doesn't discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all.  Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits and live forever?  For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how.  But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in the His holiness.  No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening--it is painful!  But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.  So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.  Mark our a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.