After the rain, the sun will come out… Of the Lord’s faithfulness, we must not doubt.
Rain is most often a life-giving thing… May the “rains” of life be faith-strengthening.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 RSV
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy….” Psalm 107:1-2
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:8-9
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:2-3 NASB
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart….” Luke 18:1
Jesus said: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” …from Matthew 7:24-29
When it looks to you, at times, like there’s simply no way out, let thanking God, the Father, be your sure and chosen route.
When it seems that pressing problems have no known solution, let thanking the Lord turn any worries into a grace revolution.
Paul and Silas were imprisoned but raised their praises high– then found they were delivered, with praise their only cry.
When the way seems very foggy and you’re tempted to despair, just know, though you can’t yet see it, the victory is there.
A great principle of the Bible is to walk by faith and not by sight– so thank God for His presence when it’s dark and you need His light.
Like a pilot relies on instruments through weather good or bad– let thankfulness be the “instrument” with which your life is clad.
P. A. Oltrogge
Acts 16:23-40: “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.” (25-26)
“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:14-17 NKJV
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV and Hebrews 11:1
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
You’re going to be all right.. God can heal things overnight.
Let’s continue to observe the Covenant meal… another way that the Lord can heal.
If medical becomes the way to go, then, thereby, healing can also flow…
Put your hand in the Lord’s as you walk this course… His power is the greatest healing force.
P. A. Oltrogge
The above was written for a family member who had been taking daily communion and ultimately went in for surgery, which was successful and was less extensive than thought.
“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
I want to recommend a most encouraging true account told in the book, Healed Overnight by Amy Keesee Freudiger. You can read of her book when you visit Amy’s website at http://www.HealedOvernight.com
Lord, Make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred–let me sow love, where there is injury–pardon, where there is doubt–faith, where there is despair–hope, where there is darkness–light, and where there is sadness–joy.
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive– it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi
…Some versions of this prayer add “where there is friction, union, and where there is error, truth.” You may want to add those thoughts in praying the prayer, as well.
I was driving down the road today with my sunroof open, tunes cranked, and the wind blowing my hair. Then, all of a sudden, something came over me, and I missed my mom. Now, the truth of the matter is I always think about my mom and I miss her in some way each day. But this, this was different…this was coming from that deep yearning to have her in the seat next to me to have one more conversation, to sing together, to just be together. I wanted to share all that is going on in life and hear her advice about it all. I wanted one more day to tell her what has happened over the last nineteen years since she has been gone. To have one more laugh over the silly things and to be able to cry over the moments of heartache. To be able to dream together and to mourn the things hoped for that had to die. It will be nineteen years this autumn that my mom has been gone; and, like I said, I always think of her. But then there are these moments that the grief is thick and washes over me. So I feel it, I cry for what I have lost, and I wait. I wait for the day we are reunited and I know even in these moments I am not alone. All of this to say if you have lost someone, something you are not alone. Helen Keller said, “We bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in all the world–the company of those who have known suffering.”
Forgive the long post, but I thought maybe someone else needed to hear this. Grief comes and goes in waves, and even nineteen years later, it can still sneak up on me and wrap around my heart. And that is okay. So if you are grieving something, someone please know you are not alone and this is not the end! ♥️
“…for He (Jesus) Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
If you’ve been discouraged for a spell, then say, “It is well.” Or if anxious and problems seem to swell, say, “It is well.” For Christ is the Victor, and He’s passed that on to you. Your words have power to see you through. And cast all care upon your Lord. Give thanks for the answers that He’ll afford.
When you’re doubtful with fears you need to quell, then say, “It is well.” Or if dismayed ’cause bad news came to tell, say, “It is well.” Remember the Shunammite woman, great confidence had she. Elisha came to pray for her son, and God gave her the victory. We may not have always seen such great things, But we still look to our God from whom all hope springs.
And we’re growing in faith about each word, ‘Til opposing circumstances have heard– Giving angels God’s Word on which to move, For God desires His promises to prove. Yes, we’re saying, “It will be well.” Yes, it IS well!
Reference: the story of the Shunammite woman in II Kings 4; and after verse 20, when her son died–yet she said:
“…it shall be well.” verse 23
“…it is well.” verse 26
and her son was raised up. verses 33-37
P. A. Oltrogge
An inspiring true miracle of today where God Himself, by the Holy Spirit, said, “It is well…” in the second feature of the article.
The following scriptures remind about the importance of speaking in faith, (often in the midst of a “storm”). Our words of faith, especially through scriptural promises, and prayer can make a difference in a situation. And Jesus said to speak unto the mountain.
” For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you,whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:23-24 NKJV
“With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; he will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:20, 21
“He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23
“Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Hebrews 1:14
“…the mouth of the upright will deliver them.” Proverbs 12:6
“A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words….” Proverbs 12:14
“…but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18
“The one who guards his mouth preserves his life….” Proverbs 13:3
“My son, give attention to My words; Incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” Proverbs 4:20-22 NKJV
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3
“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations), before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be.” Romans 4:16-18 KJV
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Luke 18:1
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills– From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
Lord, you are the source of my help on any given day. You made the heavens and the earth–On you, my hope will stay.
I will look even to the hills–On their horizon, I’ll always see, through the eye of faith, my Savior, heading down with help for me.
P. A. Oltrogge
“He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:3-8 NKJV
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” words of Jesus in John 14:27 NKJV
As told in John, chapter 9, Jesus’ disciples questioned Him one day about a blind man they’d passed by who’d been born that way.
That he or his parents had sinned was their initial thought. Jesus said it was neither, but that a work of God should be wrought.
Then He spoke of doing God’s work before the coming night– and that while He was in the world, He was the world’s light.
After that, Jesus spit on the ground, to make some clay for the man, which He applied to his eyes, as the first step of God’s healing plan.
Then, washing in the pool of Siloam would turn out to be freeing. The man obeyed Jesus and washed there, and he came back seeing!
Those who’d known the man wondered if he could possibly be the same beggar they had known, who’d been blind, but now could see.
When he said, “I am the one,” they questioned him as to how… such a thing could have happened, for his total blindness to “bow.”
Well, it bowed to “the man who is called Jesus,” was his immediate reply. “Where is He?” they asked; but he didn’t know, for Jesus had passed by.
Then he was brought before the Pharisees. It was a Sabbath day. He told them, also, about the pool and Jesus having applied the clay.
Because Jesus had done this on a Sabbath, His divinity was dismissed. Keeping that law was a matter on which most of them would always insist.
Other Pharisees said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” So there was a division among them as they considered this in their minds.
Again, they questioned the formerly blind man, calling for his parents, too. The Pharisees doubted he’d been born blind and asked them if it was true.
They confirmed that he was their son who’d been blind from even day one. But how or by whom he’d been freed, they couldn’t say–“Just ask our son.”
They were afraid of being put out of the synagogue by giving laud to Christ. But their son said he only knew this–that Jesus’ healing touch had sufficed.
The synagogue leaders kept questioning him, to the extent that he, in turn, asked if they were wanting to be Jesus’ disciples–a notion which they spurned.
Calling him a disciple of Jesus, they said that they followed Moses of old. At that point, the man who’d been healed made statements that were bold:
“Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing, and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
That was enough for the Pharisees to berate him as being a sinful man. “Are you teaching us?” they said, and made him subject to a synagogue ban.
Jesus heard of this and then found him and asked him a question of His own. “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” But of that title, he hadn’t known.
So he asked the Lord who that was, so that he could, therefore, believe. Jesus said the Son of Man was Himself. (By God’s Spirit, He’d been conceived.)
“Lord, I believe,” were the heartfelt words of the man who had been born blind. Then he worshiped Jesus, who is the Son of Man and the Son of God combined!
Conclusion: “Then Jesus told him, ‘I entered this world to render judgment–to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.’ Some Pharisees who were standing by heard Him and asked, ‘Are you saying we’re blind?’ ‘If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,’ Jesus replied. ‘But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.'”
Beloved, to God, you are His rose in the rain; And don’t ever think He doesn’t feel your pain. Trials aren’t sent to us by the Lord; No, they’re deep rivers that He alone helps us ford. The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, But we’ve got God’s Word to foil the thief’s ploy. God’s promises are sure–He never has lied; And the desire of your heart will surely be supplied! With our eyes on God’s Word, we persevere; We know this fulfillment is already here! For faith says right now what isn’t seen with our eyes, Because we know that our God has heard our hearts’ cries. A rose in the rain, but you’re hardy and strong— You trust in God’s Word and in Him to Whom you belong. There’s an answer in God for every problem we face; So we thank You, Heavenly Father, for the answer by Your grace.
P. A. Oltrogge
“The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:17-19
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” spoken by Jesus in John 10:10
“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:10-20
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
The following is told by Marian, a woman who has been ministering for many years to the homeless people in Chicago. She began doing so, actually, after and due to the death of her young son, Timothy. You can also read her account of how “Timothy’s Ministry” came into being at http://www.timothysministry.org under “Stories.”
Hi Everyone! SHARING A STORY
I just wanted to share a story of how God provides in such miraculous ways. This is how God always has come through since the beginning!
A couple of weeks ago, I sent out an e-mail requesting just two items (although they were unusual and kind of big items and I couldn’t imagine who might donate, but decided it wouldn’t hurt to ask). I asked for: 1) A laptop and 2) A used car.
Sara, who sadly is completely homeless, told me she would be so grateful to have a laptop so that she could use it at the library for her personal research. I asked for a car for John who was once homeless, but has been living in subsidized housing and had been working delivering pizzas for the past year with his very old car which finally died. John had asked me that same day if I could possibly ‘ask in my e-mail’ for a car. He said he had saved some money and could pay something toward it, Honestly, I was hesitant to ask for a car in one of my e-mails, because I thought that people have been so generous so how could I ask for a car? (Just my own thoughts…but not God’s thoughts).
Out of all of the hundreds of people on my contact list, one woman (Pam) immediately replied and offered her used laptop which she said had already been cleaned up and ready to give away. The day after the donation of the laptop, I began to wonder about the car and thought to myself that God always seems to bring in whatever we need and doesn’t just do things ‘half-way’…but certainly there were no expectations on my part because, after all, it was such a big item and I’ve never asked for a car in 16 years!. But, later that SAME day, my friend Sue (who does not receive or read my e-mails) called me out of the blue and said, “Marian, sorry to bother you, just a quick question…I’m with my daughter cleaning out my Dad’s house and I already told her you wouldn’t have a need for this but she keeps insisting, ‘Just call Marian and ask’, so, we just want to ask if you think there is anyone in your group who could use a mini-van in good condition?” Whatt!!!?? I told her about my e-mail from 2 days before and we both knew THIS was God! It’s always like this, not 10 offers of laptops or 4 cars, but always just exactly what we need and God found a way to remind through the car offer that it wasn’t anything I did (sending the e-mail) this was.just a gift from Our Father in Heaven!!!
Sara was so happy yesterday talking about how much she is enjoying her time at the library with her laptop; and John was ecstatic with the hugest smile on his face! He said “I had been praying about a car because I really need to work and the restaurant owner was holding the job open for me!!” Over the years, John has always been so happy and willing to deliver small items to people who could not get to us because of health issues (large grocery bags, small appliances, etc.) He was saying yesterday, ‘Now I can bring larger deliveries to people with a mini-van!) Although John had saved up money and was willing to pay something for the car, my friend would not accept any money and said he could use his money for oil changes, etc. All I can say is, ALWAYS take everything to God even and especially when it doesn’t seem like a possible request! All things are possible with God!
The Porch of the Lord 