By Reverend Patrick Vossen
During Difficult Times 1 Peter 5:7 CEB Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you. Psalm 9:9 CEB The LORD is a safe place for the oppressed--a safe place in difficult times. How do you react during difficult times? Where do you place your trust? Or, where do you go to hide, abide or thrive? It doesn't matter who you are, but difficult times of some sort will come your way. Heartaches, disappointments and just life's little hiccups will cause you some kind of anxiety at some juncture of life. How we approach it can surely make the difference in our beings successful in life, or finding ourselves on the way out. These two passages of scripture have been two favorites of mine throughout my life. Both have given me wisdom and comfort when I've acted upon their advice. However, there have been times I have not acted upon these scriptures. In those cases, I have found myself alone and frustrated along life's journey. Either by not recognizing the importance of transferring my burdens to the Lord or by my not to recognizing the " safe places " that God has for me in various stages of my life. There is a peace in abiding in and trusting God that can bring us through so many circumstances. Yet we sometimes take back the cares which we have given to the Lord through worry. Then we become overburdened, overwhelmed and sometimes of spiritually "out of joint" in our Christian walk. We then forget the "safe place" that the Lord can be for us and, instead, seek false comforts which are only temporary. It always does us well to choose His Word's direction, rather than our own and total frustration. When going through trials, pause and medidate on these two passages. Then pray and trust in the unseen hand of God. It's better to give God a chance, then to have no chance in handling the difficult times of life.
0 Comments
You will find a wonderful message for you on the CGMF Prayerline today, that will encourage your soul. It is a message from the heart of Job as he wishes he could have an arbitrator. If you would like to listen in to the recording of the daily message you may. It has been saved on the CGMF Prayerline. You just have to call in as you normally would the Prayerline at 916-233-2999. When prompted enter the conference id number 584684 and you will be placed into the conference, the recording will then start. If your in the UK you can call 0844 316 0103, please use the same conference id 584684 ( Don't get frustrated if you have to call more than once for the service to pick up, it sometimes is busy ). We also have made it available on this blog post for your convenience today. We have a lot of feature rich articles and alterations on the website for you to view. I think you will enjoy the new Highlighted Prayerline message on our homepage, as well additional articles, audios and more sprinkled throughout the website. Also, for all CGMF bible students we have a new CGMF Quick Quiz available for your personal study.
I hope everyone is having a great Wednesday. Blessings to all in Jesus Name. ![]() Well, yesterday was basically filled with games, watching Discovery Channel videos and other personal interests. Today there were some church duties to accomplish and updates with the CGMF Prayerline. It was fun seeing some old friends this weekend as well. As we went back to North Platte to where the ministry of CGMF started and to just chill. This afternoon it is back to goofing off. Can I get a Amen? Oh, and we are attempting science experiments. I had gotten Adam a special science kit for his birthday a couple of months ago, and we REALLY broke it in. LOL. I am no scientist to say the least. Hope your weekend was as nice as mine. Psalm 30:5 NKJV
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. I was reminded again today of how awesome is the character of God: that He can be angry at our sin but, when we have recognized our fault, gives us the power of His abiding Holy Spirit to get us back on course. While some if the hurt may remain, our renewed relationship with Him will open us to the opportunity for joy. We also gain some of His perspective and so can trust in Him to give us the grace we need as He opens tomorrows of everlasting joy and love in His presence. I hope you all are surviving this sweltering heat this summer. It definitely has led to some erratic changes in some of our bible fellowship settings. Please double check with your Bible Neighbourhood Coordinator to make sure where your study might be. Some folks have not gotten contacted, and have mistakenly gone to the wrong location.
I am working on the last two week's quick quizzes in order for you to see what you've retained from the studies. They should be uploaded today or tomorrow night. My schedule has not permitted me as much time as usual, plus I have had some pressing issues to handle of late, which has taken up a lot of my energies to say the least. We still have some openings for those whom would like to be a part of the new study group we are starting in the South Omaha area. I will be the minister and temporary coordinator for that study. It should be a lot of fun. Hope to be starting our studies the first week of September. I also have added to the archives a teaching series I've spoken about before on, " Life's Bitter Pool " by Reverend Derek Prince. DPM has been gracious in allowing us to use materials for the ministry, and once again we are thankful for their kindness. This particular series has helped me immensely to overcome a spirit of bitterness, that I thought was going to overwhelm me. Please take advantage of the availability to listen to that series of lessons. God richly keep you and bless you all. The Church of England has recently done a ten year study on church attendance. They've found that from 2001 to 2011 they have had an 3% level of church growth. However, the fascinating part of the study is that by and large most of that increase is in mid-week services.
Churches and Ministries must learn to adapt to the times, and still keep their historical identity. This allows for growth, as well meeting the needs of the public at large. Here is a link to an audio file describing the details of their report. Church of England Report We have uploaded the audio and pdf files for the Foundations of Life series, as well other previous CGMF study guides. I hope you will take the time to use them and enjoy them.
There is a new message on our homepage, plus Reverend Tom Burlington has allowed me to post some very useful tools for discipleship in our archives. I hope to have his audio interview with me updated from CGMF radio as well shortly. God bless you all, thank you for your grace and prayers. Yesterday, I was having a lot of thoughts about the past. Remembering both good and bad times, as I was in a rather melancholy mood. Then all of a sudden I came upon some old cassette recordings of mine from way back in yesteryear. I started to check them out, and found four cassette tapes of old recordings that I had made off my cassette recorder back in the 70's. They were from a program I used to listen to called " The Scott Ross Show ", which was birthed during the Jesus Movement, and had a lot of contemporary Christian music. I used to religiously listen to that broadcast each Sunday morning. From those broadcasts I learned about how personally Jesus wanted to be a part of my life. The ministry of Scott Ross and his guests encouraged me greatly in my Christian walk. Andre Crouch, Barry McGuire, Second Chapter of Acts, Larry Norman, and so many more touched my life with their personal testimony of what a difference Jesus Christ had made in their lives. I'd have to say they truly had an affect in my personal walk with God. Two things touched my heart as I wrapped up those cassettes and put them away last night. One, how much God loves me and sends special people or things in my life to let me know how much He cares. Secondly, how important faithful perseverance is in our walk of faith. Why is that you may ask? Well, because it keeps us on a steady course, no matter what the obstacles of life that come our way. That's right, those people or " things " remind us of how special God's love is, and that in every way, shape and form He cares for us. My friend in Christ will you pause and take the time to remember what Christ has done for you. Taking inventory of the special places God has " met " up with you and touched your life. I believe it will strengthen your faith, giving you new found hope. As you acknowledge God's love and presence in your journey of faith. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One of those songs that touched me from those cassette tapes. Enjoy my friends. Praises, Andre Crouch and the Disciples ![]()
Many of us have had personal failures and loss in our live's that has occured, It has not just been emotionally and physically damaging to us, but many times has caused other hardships as well. Too many times we focus on those past failures and allow them to beat on us till depression steals our joy. Or, we just recoil and give up! Friends, that is not God's will for you, He is the Lord of restoration. Our God receives great pleasure in seeing you become an overcomer, beginning afresh and seeing a firm foundation of faith renew your life. Removing the barriers or personal flaws that might have hindered your past and establishing for you a blessed future.
The scriptures show us that whom God loves, He delights in restoring. Just as he did the city of Jerusalem to the people He loved. Look at this passage of scripture and note all God says He will forgive, then the blessing He says He will pour out. With those around about recognizing the " awe of the blessings ". What amazing Love. What amazing Grace. Jeremiah 33:6-9 6-9 "But now take another look. I'm going to give this city a thorough renovation, working a true healing inside and out. I'm going to show them life whole, life brimming with blessings. I'll restore everything that was lost to Judah and Jerusalem. I'll build everything back as good as new. I'll scrub them clean from the dirt they've done against me. I'll forgive everything they've done wrong, forgive all their rebellions. And Jerusalem will be a center of joy and praise and glory for all the countries on earth. They'll get reports on all the good I'm doing for her. They'll be in awe of the blessings I am pouring on her. I don't know where you are in your relationship with God. Whether times have been good or bad, but I know our God. His intentions are good and He wants you to have life in Jesus name. So if Satan has stolen your goods, or your choices have been bad ones. God is not interested in beating you down, but lifting you up. Get your eyes focused on His great Love. Allow Him to remove from you the doubts and fears of approaching His Grace. Then give Him the opportunity to show you His great Love. Restoring to you the joy of salvation, and turning your tragedies into triumphs. Its not always an easy road, as He teaches us lessons along life's pathway. However, His intentions are always good. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prayer of St, Anthony Saint Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find (mention your petition) which has been lost. As least restore to me peace and tranquillity of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss. To this favor I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen. |
Reverend Patrick Vossen,
|