feeling blue? me too

(i wrote this note on facebook, but realized many people who i'd like to read and be encouraged by it, aren't my friends on facebook, so i'm posting on the dusty blog here for reading)


I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!--psalm 34:4-9

a couple of days ago, my sister and i were discussing the state of today's economy and other fears that are on the horizon for our generation. it seems like we are facing times that our generation has never faced before. in those times, one thing could define our lives, fear. yet, as someone who has been called by Christ from darkness and into light, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see where God leads because of my constant sin.

i'm not trying to say that the trials you are currently facing are hard or filled with pain and tears, trust me, i've had my share of them and while scripture directs me to mourn with those who mourn but also to rejoice with those who rejoice.

however, it seems to me that in these times of uncertainty, must not trust anything man made but rather trust the One who called us into His eternal kingdom. i know that might sound cliched but here's my logic, if God, who existed before all time and is completely sovereign over everything, from allowing the sun to shine but also to make sure our country is safe, He gave us our greatest need in life.

His son.

as someone who attends a church part of sovereign grace ministries, every sunday, i am blessed with the opportunity to be reminded through the songs and through the sermons of God taking on flesh, to rescue sinners like me. yet, when trials come and try to take my eyes from off Christ, i need to remind myself that this gracious God who doesn't allow me to be tempted more than i can bear, is also there to rescue me.

in my personal time of scripture reading and mediation, i've been focusing on how God not only saves sinners but continues to work in them, hold them, and rescues them. this scripture in particular has strengthen me and made me realize that now that i am in Christ, he has allowed me no longer to be alone.

"..But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."--2timothy4:17-18

yes, the trials we face are hard, but we are not battling them alone! the Lord is beside us every step of the way, and He will, never, ever, let us go. if any of you have known me for any length of time, you know that i love to read, alot. maybe more than i should, but one of my favorite blogs is one called, "Of First Importance (http://firstimportance.org/)", which every day has a quote that reminds us as believers of truth that is within the gospel message. i would strongly encourage you to subscribe to this blog and be encouraged by the truth that these wise men have written about. here's a couple of goodies that i have been strengthen by lately that i hope it does the same for you too:

“‘If I knew I were one of God’s elect, I would come to Christ; but I fear I am not.’ To you I answer: nobody ever came to Christ because he knew himself to be one of the elect. It is quite true that God has of His mere good pleasure elected some to everlasting life, but they never knew it until they believed in Christ. Christ nowhere commands the elect to come to him. He commands all men everywhere to repent and believe the gospel. The question for you is not, ‘Am I one of the elect?’ but ‘Am I a sinner?’ Christ came to save sinners.”

- Robert Murray M’Cheyne


“On Christ, and what he has done, my soul hangs for time and eternity. And if your soul also hangs there, it will be saved as surely as mine shall be. And if you are lost trusting in Christ, I will be lost with you and will go to hell with you. I must do so, for I have nothing else to rely upon but the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived, died, was buried, rose again, went to heaven, and still lives and pleads for sinners at the right hand of God.”

- Charles Spurgeon