When the going gets tough, the tough get going… Ever more diligently, God’s Word be sowing!
When it seems to you to be your darkest hour, it’s THEN that your attitude must NOT turn SOUR. Instead, keep trusting in God’s supernatural PLANS and POWER!
Do not fret; don’t be glum…believe that the best is yet to come!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 RSV
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, oh Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” Acts 16:25-26
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.” – Psalm 34:1
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24NKJV
Dear Lord Jesus,
You thought of the lowly, the forgotten, the oppressed… You thought of us all; and, through You, we are blessed.
You’re always the Good Shepherd, our Savior and friend. If any setbacks befall us, you help things to mend.
You’re closer than a brother; and we can draw near to You for Your assurance that there’s nothing to fear.
You loved the little children and do to this day. For the unborn, young, or old, You’ve taught us to pray.
And also our enemies, You’ve said, are in great need of prayers to be enlightened, that Your Word they might heed.
Obedient to Your Father, You went to Calvary’s hill. You prayed that cup might pass, but accepted Your Father’s will.
Yes, what a friend we have in Jesus, as the hymn goes… You died for all of mankind, and, praise God, You then arose.
P. A. Oltrogge
“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’” Matthew 26:39
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19-20
“Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.” Acts 10:40-41
What a Friend
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit–oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a Friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge–take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer. In His arms, He’ll take and shield thee–thou wilt find a solace there.
Amen
Joseph Scriven/author Charles C. Converse/composer
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” John 14:15-16
It’s nothing but God’s mercy and nothing but His grace that can take over for my faith, in running the Christian race. When I’ve exercised my faith, but find there is no trace of a faith that will endure–then I just need the solid base… of Christ as my life’s Savior, who’ll extend His hand of grace.
If troubles overwhelm, we need to sense the Lord’s embrace. So think of “grace” through any circumstance; and in every case, Christ’s love will lift you from discouragement–there is no disgrace. Sinking, by fear of wind upon the water, Peter then looked to Jesus’ face. “Lord, I believe–help my unbelief,” is understood by God’s heart of grace.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So he said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’” Matthew 14:25-34 NKJV
…from the account of Jesus healing a boy with a mute spirit:
“…’But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe;help my unbelief!‘ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!’ Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.” Mark 9:22-24 NKJV
“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” 2 John 1:3NKJV
“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
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV (and entire Psalm)
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. God is to us a God of deliverances; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death.” Psalm 68:19, 20 NASB
“Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47 (words of David to the Philistine, Goliath)
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint…” words of Jesus, in Luke 18:1 KJV
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 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
…our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth–in whom we’ve placed our faith and who we look to, pray to, and offer our praise. Jesus is Lord!
“A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” John 16:21
“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.” John 10:10… and “Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13
The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy–
those who the Master designed to bring joy.
Over 63 million abortions since Roe v Wade–
all have gone against what God forbade.
Life, sweet life, was changed, instead, to death,
in defiance of the Creator, who gives us breath.
Through prayer, some children escaped that fate,
by a mother’s change of heart before it was too late.
May those who continue to promote pro-choice
think of their own births, which gave them a voice.
They can be glad their mothers saw things through
to give to them the life that their Creator said was due.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you…” from Jeremiah 1:5
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” Acts 17:24-27 NIV
Scriptures: NKJV or as noted
This last Sunday, Kenneth Copeland, of Eagle Mountain International Church, reminded of the great worth and importance of children in God’s eyes, and to keep that in mind when voting…which candidates/party have/has aligned more with God’s values…
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’
“Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:1-6
Many of you may have seen this previously; but for those who may have not, here again is a wonderful true story on adoption versus abortion: http://www.ilivedonparkerave.com
…the following are a few thoughts, in a prayer and conversation with God regarding the importance of voting for those candidates who align more closely with Biblical values…His values…
__________________
We come boldly to God’s throne of grace as we’re praying for the 2024 Elections.
We’re ever dependent upon Yourguidance, Lord. We need Your selections.
Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, wise candidates will look to You.
They honor You and Your Word, which is Your directive on all that’s good and true.
The wisest candidates have a greater reverence for the helpless child in the womb
and are a voice for the voiceless, whom You’ve designed to be born–to live and bloom.
____________________
Though immigrants can be welcomed, there’s a legal way for them to proceed…
Our border shouldn’t be a place of lawlessness with cartels ruling by their greed.
Some who’ve entered illegally have killed Americans–precious ones whose lives were lost,
whose names should not be forgotten. They represent what mass immigration has cost.
And then there are the children lost to human trafficking, and those who’ve also perished
from drugs pouring in through an open border, because law and order is not being cherished.
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And we can’t forget the Afghanistan withdrawal, where people were left behind and alone,
not to mention billions of dollars of our advanced military equipment for the Taliban to then own.
Thirteen brave young U.S. soldiers lost their lives due to poor leadership regarding that event.
Certainly their families back home were sorry that their loved ones were the ones to have been sent.
Many other policies have been promoted, which have been questionable, even unbiblical, so we pray…
that You’ll influence the hearts of enough Americans to hear what You have to say.
____________________
And why should Americans have their tax dollars be barely available for victims of storms…
because they’ve been given freely to noncitizens, in the name of some kind of new “reforms”?
America has always been a place of opportunity where effort and hard work are rewarded…
It shouldn’t have such high inflation and taxes that necessities of life can hardly be afforded.
One of the Presidential candidates today governed previously, as President, in a wise way…
To create fear about him governing again, his opposers have had untrue and malicious things to say.
____________________
So, God, we know You love America, which has sent out many missionaries in Your name…
We’re trusting You to rescue this land of freedom and opportunity…before it would never be the same.
P. A. Oltrogge
“ThefearoftheLordis thebeginningofwisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
“He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.” Psalm 119:9-10
“Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us…” Acts 17:35-27
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” Psalm 127:3
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16
While we may differ regarding the qualifications of candidates, we know that the winners, Presidential on down, will need our prayers and divine guidance from the Lord…
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 KJV
“Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’”John 8:58 NKJV
“Fear not, little flock…” for I AM your fortress, and I AM your rock.
My Word has endured throughout the ages, and I have been revealed in the holy Bible’s pages.
In perilous times that are evident in these days, you’ll sense My peace and presence as you offer Me praise.
My name and blood over your life are a powerful shield. My blood was shed for you for the benefits it would yield.
The world is passing away and the lust thereof; yet nothing will be able to separate you from My love.
I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you… Remember that, when troubles try, at times, to overtake you.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble, amid its distress, for I AM the Lord of all…and have all the power to bless.
So, trust your Lord Jesus and fear not, little flock… In Me, there’s safe harbor where your disciple-“ship” can dock.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Walk with Me,” by Greg Olsen. Used with Permission: www.GregOlsen.com
“Be to me a rock of refuge and a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually come; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.” Psalm 71:3 AMP
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” 2 Timothy 3:1 KJV
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15 NKJV
“Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 RSV
“In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me. Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.” Psalm 86:7-8 NKJV
“…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 KJV
“They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones….Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish, that they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord; are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm 83:3, 17-18 NKJV
“Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.” Psalm 143:9 NKJV
“The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16 NKJV
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’” Psalm 91:1-2 and all of Psalm 91
“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17 NKJV
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 NKJV
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19-20
In Exodus 12, an unblemished lamb was slain and its blood was applied to the lintel and doorposts of the homes of the Hebrews for their protection and deliverance. Through His crucifixion, where His blood was shed on our behalf, Jesus became God’s pure sacrificial Lamb. Before His death, He said, “It is finished.”
Recently I heard a testimony of a Syrian man, who’d escaped from that war-torn land. He spoke of how his faith in Jesus protected his family when bombs were dropping around them on every hand.
Then he told of their escape to Greece by way of a harrowing passage over the sea. Again, he said, his constant prayers to the Father, through Jesus, were his family’s security.
In both instances, he said, they felt the hand of God, bringing them safely through. In the interview, he added a prayer request for his country and for all of the world, too.
How easy it is for some to express doubts about the Bible and Jesus Christ when they’re not in a dangerous hour–while those in the throes of war do call upon Him, for there is no higher power.
We all, in fact, are in the middle of a war–a spiritual battle for every soul’s fate. Deception is rampant, but God’s still offering grace. May many more come to know Jesus Christ as Savior, before the hour becomes too late.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah” Psalm 61:1-4
Peter said, regarding the name of Jesus Christ… “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NASB
“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21 NKJV
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” Ephesians 1:3 NKJV
Paul prayed… “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:17-23 NASB
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…” Ephesians 2:8
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
Two criminals on punishing crosses were next to the one which held the Lord. One of the men rebuked the other, saying they were receiving a just reward…
for the other had blasphemed Jesus, ridiculing Him because He hadn’t saved…Himself and them—words which showed no fear of God but were, instead, depraved.
The criminal who defended the Lord must have known of His ministry of peace, saying, “This Man has done nothing wrong,” though, for Christ, there’d been no release.
Then he, with humility, asked Jesus simply to remember him at the time, later… when He would come into His kingdom—he knew, in his heart, it was eternal and greater.
“Lord, remember me”…a simple, reverent plea, but so very wise…for Jesus gave him the promise that that day, he would be with Him in Paradise.
P. A. Oltrogge
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10 NKJV
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV
“…and after he brought them out (of the inner prison), he said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they answered, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus (as your personal Savior and entrust yourself to Him), and you will be saved, you and your household (if they also believe).” Acts 16:30-31 AMP
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:14-17
“There is nofear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19 NKJV
Let God’s perfect love cast out any and all fear. Jesus said to have faith in God and to be of good cheer!
Anxiety in the heart weighs it down. Thank the Lord for answered prayer, instead, and that He is turning things around…
Reversals may not seem possible, the world being an imperfect place. But, remember, where sin abounded, there did, much more, God’s amazing grace!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.” Proverbs 12:25 NASB
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Psalm 27:13-14
“Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:3-4 NLT
“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’” Matthew 14:27
“So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God.'” Mark 11:22
“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15
“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.” John 14:27
“… I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, Ihave overcome theworld.” John 16:32-33
“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 42:11 and 43:5
“God is my strength and power: and He makes my way perfect.” 2 Samuel 22:33
“As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength And makes my way perfect.” Psalm 18:30-32
The Porch of the Lord 