When You Are Left Alone

Worry is the darkroom in which "negatives" are developed.

Stop worrying and have a Positive day!

When You Are Left Alone… Depend On God…

Jacob was left alone. (Genesis 32:24)

Like Jacob in the bible, many of us know how it feels to be "left alone".

When a loved one dies or a friend leaves, or you walk through the fire of separation and divorce, no matter how 'spiritual' you are it still hurts!

Emotional pain is to the soul what physical pain is to the body; it tells you something's wrong; that you need God to guide you through the challenges and upheavals of realigning your life to cope with what has happened. And the struggle doesn't begin in earnest while you're surrounded by people, it starts when you've been left alone!

The fact is you can survive without others, but you can't survive without God. That's why He sometimes strips away everything that makes us dependent on people. He sends certain individuals into your life to help build your faith and develop your character, and when they're gone, to leave you with the assurance that God's in control.

The loss of loved ones

(a) develops our Spiritual muscle;

(b) tests our resilience;

(c) shows us the scope of God's power.

When Moses died and Joshua was left in charge, God told him, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you" (Joshua 1:5). That's something Joshua could never have learned while Moses was in the picture. And it's a lesson you can't learn while you're looking to other human beings for all your answers. In Mark 4:39 when Jesus "ordered the wind and waves to be quiet" the Bible says "everything was calm". In the midst of your storm, ask Him to come and stand in the bow of your boat, and to speak peace to the things that are upsetting you.

He'll do it!

(by Irma Raymond)

Your Value...

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

Read: 1 John 4:4

Have a Great day!

We have believed the love that God has for us. (1 John 4:16)

A gem dealer was strolling through the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show when he noticed a blue-violet stone the size of a potato. The seller, thinking the rock wasn't as pretty as others in the bin, sold it to him for ten dollars. That ugly stone was later certified as a 1,905-carat natural star sapphire, appraised at 2.8 million dollars.

It took a lover of stones to recognize its worth. And it took the lover of souls to recognize your worth. Do you realize how much God loves you? If not, look at the cross. Perhaps you're disappointed because you've asked God for something and He didn't do what you thought He should have done. Before you feel unloved, take a moment and look back.

Hasn't He blessed you and held you steady through rough places? It's been a long ride, but He's still holding you, right? Don't act as if your heavenly Father doesn't love you because He doesn't always cater to you. Our society has spent so much time criticizing differences that it fails to see God in diversity. Because you're different, doesn't mean you're 'less than' - just different!

If God hadn't made you as He did, you wouldn't have been able to persevere as you have. You're uniquely equipped to be a blessing to those around you. Remember, people are blessed because you're sincere and available - not perfect.

So next time you feel worthless, stop and remind yourself, 'God loves and values me!'

I am a gem of great value!

(by Irma Raymond)

Strength and... Courage

It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard,
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pains,
It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.

May you be blessed with courage today!

(by Irma Raymond)