Archive for the ‘Comfort’ Category
Don’t Waste Your Season
It’s A Season!
Each Season Has It’s Purpose, Don’t Waste It!
Somehow the word ‘Season’ sometimes seems to us that it is a world without end!
But, it doesn’t snow all year long in my town. Neither does it rain all year long in your town.
- Farmers don’t plow all year long.
- Farmers don’t plant all year long.
- Farmers don’t irrigate all year long.
- Farmers don’t harvest all year long.
- Farmers understand that ‘different’ things happen in ‘different’ Seasons.
We commonly hear and use phrases like: Spring Time, Summer Time, The Fall, and Winter Time.
(Then there’s even the Rainy Season and the Dry Season just to complicate things.)
Every nation in the world understands the concept of those Seasons.
We live by them. We dress accordingly. We adapt to them. We understand that this Season will soon change. It’s just a Season. We may wish that Summer would last longer, or that Spring time would never end. But all Seasons come to an end.
Seasons come and Seasons go.
Seasons are even shown in animals. Horses, dogs, and cows, to name a few, grow a ‘Winter Coat.” They adapt for the Season. Isn’t it strange how we humans struggle with adaptation?
Caterpillars look lowly and without beauty or distinction, but don’t let that fool you. It’s just a Season. Soon that Season of their life will pass and they will become a Beautiful Butterfly that turns every child’s head and causes them to marvel.
We understand that the Seasons of our Natural Environment that are controlled by the moon.
- Psa. 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons:
We must have an understanding too, that the Seasons in our Spiritual Life are controlled by the Son.
May it bring comfort to those in pain to understand that it’s a Season. Is it a Painful Season? Yes, most assuredly, but a Season nevertheless.
Weeping endures for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. The Weeping Season concluded with a Season of Joy. May your Weeping Season end the same!
- Psa. 30:11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
Thou hast turned for me!! God controls your Seasons! He knows where you are at and what you are going through. Have confidence in His great ability!
There Are Seasons Of Sickness. There Are Seasons Of Healing.
- Luke 5:17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
There Are Seasons Of Opportunity
- John 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
May this be your Season to be Healed!
May this be your Season to be Blessed!
May this be your Season to be Delivered!
May this be your Season for Revival!
May this be your Season of Financial Blessings!
May this be your Season of Spiritual Growth!
May this be your Season of Victory!
There Are Seasons of Loneliness
When Paul was on trial, no one came to support him.
- 2Tim. 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
But God came through and brought him a Season of Comfort during his trial.
- 2Tim. 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
- 2Tim. 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Don’t Fail To Make The Most Of Your Season!
- 2Kings 13:18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.
- 2Kings 13:19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
The King of Israel only made a half-hearted attempt. He never took full advantage of his Season. He learned that God does not force blessing or victory on you. You must recognize your Season!
Noah’s Day had their Season!
Ninevah had a Season!
America has had it’s Season!
Israel will be trodden down until the ‘Season’ of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
- Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
This is YOUR Hour!
This is YOUR Season!
Don’t Waste YOUR Season!
Catastrophic Bonding
Catastrophic Bonding
A catastrophe is something everyone wants to avoid. It sounds like the end of the world. For some, it no doubt seemed that way.
What do the following have in common? Most of them have reunions.
- Holocaust survivors
- 9-11 survivors and their families
- Sailors that spent WWII on a the same battleship
- Plane crash survivors
What they have in common is that their lives were in jeopardy and they survived. They came close to dying but together they survived. The only thing that bonds them together is what they have been through. It is not unusual for them to hold reunions from time to time.
Even High School and College Graduates have reunions and talk about past experiences.
Have you ever heard of the VFW? They have a meeting hall, a bar, and a club to talk about the days when they were in uniform. They relive the memory. They exchange war stories.
It’s what Psychologists call ‘Catastrophic Bonding.’ The glue that holds them together is the thing they survived together.
1. The Apostle Paul
His brethren abandoned him when he had to go on trial. He then gives God all the credit for helping him survive.
- 2Tim. 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
- 2Tim. 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
- 2Tim. 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Notice:
- All men forsook me
- (But) The Lord stood with me
- (He) Strengthened me
- (He) Delivered me
- The Lord shall deliver me (in the future)
- (He) will preserve me
“To whom be glory for ever and ever”… Paul was bonded to Him.
King David
Psa. 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
David experienced affliction. It didn’t drive him from God it drove him to God. David was bonded to Him too.
My son Martyn II, was a tenderhearted child. From his toddler years on, he wanted to please me. If he heard correction in my voice or saw it in my body language, he would run to me and hug me. He never ran from me. (It’s hard to correct a child that’s loving on you and hold you tight.) Why don’t we do that with God. Run to Him, not from Him.
Sis. Bobbie Shoemake sings a song that still makes me tear up nearly every time I hear it. “I’ve Been Through Enough To Know He’ll Be Enough For Me.”
I’VE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH” BY JANET PASCHALL
When I first began to walk with the Lord,
I did not really trust Him,
How He longed for me to understand that I could
So thru the valley, He lead me, afraid as I could be,
Until I felt His loving arms, embracing meI’ve been through enough to know, He’ll be enough for me
He’s come through too many times
That puts my mind at ease, for good
I’ll stake my very life, He’s gonna take care of me,
Cause I’ve been through enough to know, He’ll be enough for meHow could I ever doubt a God whose hands hold the universe,
Why would I ever question His ability,
There’s no place that I can go, where He doesn’t know,
The things that trouble me
He’s always aware of where I am and what I needI believe Him now, after all these years,
He’s been so faithful He’s proven to be true,
Nevermore will I doubt or question why
Cause I’ve seen them all before and I know what God can doI’ve been through enough to know, He’ll be enough for me
He’s come through too many times
That puts my mind at ease, for good
I’ll stake my very life He’s gonna take care of me,
Cause I’ve been through enough to know, He’ll be enough for me.
Financial problems? Health issues? Relationship problems? Spiritual warfare? Depression? Heartache? Disappointment? Failure?
Don’t waste your trial. Let your pain and tears draw you closer. Maybe, just maybe, He’s using your catastrophe to draw you closer and bond you securely to Him.
With A Storm This Bad, It’s Hard To See Jesus
With A Storm This Bad, It’s Hard To See Jesus
“Carest Thou Not That We Perish?”
More times than we wish to remember, life hasn’t always been smooth sailing. The journey that had been uneventful up to this point is now interrupted by sheer panic. What do we do? Where do we turn? How do we cope? How do we survive? The answers to those questions, for the disciples, were found in Jesus.
- Mark 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
- Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
- Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
- Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
- Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
There are times when even professionals can’t help themselves. This was their boat. They were commercial fishermen. They knew these waters. They could handle a boat like this. It was the unexpected that caused them to panic now. All it would take was one good storm to sink them and they knew it. They looked at the size of the waves with increasing fear. They just knew this was the end.
- A great storm of wind and waves was beating into the boat.
- The fierceness of the wind was unbelievable.
- The waves were very high.
- The boat rocked.
- Water was coming over the sides.
- It was just a matter of time.
All along they had known that Jesus was on board. They all knew that he had performed unbelievable miracles. Now was the time when they needed a miracle. This storm didn’t look like one that could be survived.
- They looked at the storm.
- They looked at their boat.
- They looked at each other in their despair.
- They looked at Jesus and wondered why He hadn’t done something by now.
- They looked back at the storm.
- With a storm this bad it was hard to keep their eyes focused on Jesus.
- They couldn’t see Jesus for the storm.
- They couldn’t understand why He didn’t recognize their need.
- They were pained by His lack of response to their need.
- Was He waiting for them to go to Him?
- If He knew everything, why didn’t He fix this problem for them?
Finally, they got to the point where they could no longer be polite or considerate. They were desperate. They woke Him up.
If the storm wind is howling, and the boat is rocking it will take more than a tap on the shoulder or a whisper to wake Him up. They would have to holler above the sound of the wind to be heard. Or they would have to jostle Him more than the rocking boat for Him to be roused. Whatever it took, they did it successfully.
Jesus arose (When God stands up something is going to happen.) and He rebuked the wind and said to sea, “Peace, be still.” And immediately there was a great calm.
He then chided them for not having faith in Him.
Question?
Is this story Descriptive or Prescriptive?
- Is it just ‘describing’ a story about a day a long time ago or is it written in His Word to ‘prescribe’ hope for you in your storm today?
Answer!
It was more than just a feel good story. It’s a story that I can place myself into. It’s a story for you to insert yourself inside.
Your storm may overwhelm you today. Your storm may be one of:
- Financial emergency
- Serious health concerns
- Relationship problems
- Spiritual oppression
- Chemical dependency
- Emotional upheaval
- Whatever the storm, be comforted that the Peace Speaker is in the boat.
He rebuked the wind, the cause of the problem. I am not sure what He said to the wind. But it stopped immediately.
He then spoke calmness to the sea. It laid down like a rug on the ground.
God will rebuke the storm for you today. He will speak Peace to your troubled waters. He will say the word that brings an end to your storm!
Verse 36 mentioned that there were other little boats following them. I would hate to be in any of life’s storms without Jesus in my boat.
Be encouraged today. Why are ye so fearful? Jesus is in your boat! He’s standing up even now!
“It’s OK To Struggle, Let Us Struggle…”
“It’s OK To Struggle, Let Us Struggle…”
I sat the phone down slowly. My eyes were still brimming with tears. What I had just heard was heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time.
I had been talking on the phone to my oldest son Anthony and his beautiful new bride Kim. She was the former Kimberly Elrod of Piqua, OH. Her father Richard Elrod pastored there. Anthony and Kim had just gotten off their honeymoon just a few days prior.
My son had been asked to be the Youth Pastor in Jackson, MS at Bro. Tommy Craft’s church. The church had secured housing for them. It was a nice apartment that was furnished with a stove and a washer and dryer.
I knew that their small U-Haul truck did not contain much more than a bed, and a dinning room set she had purchased at a yard sale. Not much else besides personal articles and clothing. They were just starting out in life. Both had graduated from JCM only a few weeks earlier.
It dawned on me that there was no mention about a refrigerator in the house, I asked them about it on the phone. When they told me they didn’t have one, I felt desperate for them.
I had saved up about $350.00, so I volunteered to help out. I said to them, “Look, I have some money put back, and I will send you $350.00 to buy one. You still have the U-Haul, and maybe you can find a used one in the Classifieds and use the truck to haul it.”
That’s when the sweet feminine voice of my new daughter in law piped up. She said, “No dad, don’t do that. We’re OK. Let us struggle. It’s OK to struggle!”
Emotion overwhelmed me. I cried silently. I had already fallen in love with her beauty and her talents. But I was unprepared for how beautiful her heart was. I immediately fell hopelessly in love with her sweet spirit and would then have freely given her half of my kingdom… if I’d had one.
“Well, you call me if you need me and I’ll be glad to do what I can to help!” I added.
(I couldn’t believe that there was still people like this in the world.) She was serious. She didn’t want me to intervene. They would make it, she said. Somehow they did.
The struggles in life of those you love is not easy to watch. You would love to bail everyone out of whatever mess they are in. Even when you know you can’t, you still want to.
The problem however is not always fixed if you do. When you look at nature it’s a clearer, although harsher picture.
Remember your journey to the farm when you were a kid? One of the highlights was watching baby
chicks hatch. The 6 hour procedure is excruciating to observe. You see their little head hanging out. The look wet, helpless and tired. The heat lamp is keeping them warm. The shell is cracked. They’re exhausted and have to stop and rest for long periods which makes you want to help them.
If you try to help the baby chick, at best it may live 2 days. More than likely it will die sooner. I hate to say how I know that. The success of the chick’s survival is not the help, but the struggle.
Just because we are struggling in life, doesn’t mean God hates us, that we are out of His will or that our support system of loved ones has let us down.
Struggle is necessary to survival. (You’re still here aren’t you? Then don’t give up or give in.) It’s OK to struggle. The Father knows where you’re at. He’s watching. You’re going to make it!
Divine Comfort
Divine Comfort
2Cor. 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
It is peace to our spirits to know that our Heavenly Father specializes in comforting. It seems that none of us can make it through life without needing Divine comfort.
In but a moment, your world can change, disaster hit, or calamity fall. None of us are exempt from crisis, whether physical, spiritual, emotional or even financial. When that happens all of us need someone to lean on. He’s always there!
•••••••••••••••••••
(Red Foley made a song famous that brought comfort to many in his generation.)
“Someone To Care”
When the world seems cold and your friends seem few
There is someone who cares for you
When you’ve tears in your eyes your heart bleeds inside
There is someone who cares for you
Someone to care someone to share
All your troubles like no other can do
He’ll come down from the sky and brush the tears from your eyes
You’re his child and he cares for you
When your disappointments come and you feel so blue
There is someone who cares for you
When you need a friend a friend to the end
There is someone who cares for you
••••••••••••••••••••••
Solomon sat down one day and began to recount that in life there are times and seasons we all must face. He described that there was a time and a season for everything. Toward the last of his discourse he makes a simple statement whose truth may escape the unobservant…
Eccl. 3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew;
Imagine if you will, a small boy playing in the yard and in a moment full of life he tears his pants. Regardless of what they cost or who gave them to him, the damage is done. He doesn’t know how to fix the problem but he goes to bed knowing that his mother said she could mend his little trousers.
When he has gone to sleep, and all the children are in bed for the night, the mother sits in her chair and sews. What took little Johnny but a moment to tear, takes his mother much longer to mend. The mending always seems to take longer than the rending.
Don’t be impatient. Your God knows how to mend the torn areas of your heart and life. Go on to sleep. The God of all comfort is at work. Your heart is in Good hands! Trust Him!
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 