Who Can You Really Trust To Never Let You Down?

Who can you turn to?

So many people let us down, family friends, bosses and our leaders. Who can you turn to? Who can you trust?

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him." Jeremiah 17:7.

BLESSED

We do not use the word blessed much these days, but it can be thought of as "Happy" or to be in a place of contentment. It can mean that you have God's favor.

IS THE ONE

This is the ultimate singular. The one is not someone who is looking at God and faith as an extension of a family, culture, a formal religion that is inherited, or someone who is observing traditions for social reasons. This one is an individual who himself has personally chosen to trust; he would say it is a "Me and God thing." It is personal in the sense of ownership but it is not secretive or hidden.

WHO TRUST

Trust is unwavering faith. Believing in someone and looking to them with hopeful expectation. It is based on knowing the person and knowing that they are trustworthy.

IN THE LORD

Your faith is only as good as the thing you trust in. If you trust in a statue then your faith is only as good as that statue. If you trust in a person then your faith is only as good as that person. To trust in the Lord is the most secure trust you can have. He is ever able to save and provide.

The title of Lord reminds us of how God is the one who rules over all things. He is the ultimate authority and no one is higher in rank than he is As Lord of all he can command the stars and the seas the wind and flowers.  If you were to trust anyone there is no one better.

He is worthy of our trust, not only is the Lord the All-Powerful-One, he is one who never breaks His word and always keeps His promises found in the Bible. He is the Creator Father who loves you and sent his Son to be our salvation by sacrificial death.

WHOSE CONFIDENCE

Confidence here is like trust in action, it is to trust with experience, trust that has been tested, and is based on knowledge. If you do not know anything about someone it is almost impossible to trust them.

IS IN HIM

There is no one more worthy to put your trust in than The Lord. Express to him that you are trusting in him and that you are confident of his help. And whenever doubts occur reaffirm your trust in The Lord.

To learn more about how to have a relationship with God CLICK HERE.

© Adron  1/15/17

What is The Power of Wisdom in our Lives? Proverbs 24:3

We would all like to be wise but what would happen to us if we really were?

"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established." Proverbs 24:3.

WISDOM

Wisdom combines experience, knowledge, and good judgment; but more than that it is a gift from God and the result of diligently seeking it.

HOUSE

This reference can have multiple meanings. At first glance, you would think of a structure where a person lives as in a shelter and a place in a permanent community. Metaphorically it can refer to one's life, family and social standing. In both interpretations, several truths come to mind.

A house is built on a foundation, basic support that secures and gives stability to the structure. It can refer to a life that extends beyond oneself, a life that touches others and has an effect for generations to come. A house can be a place of identity and being.

BUILT

The effect of wisdom is intentional since it is actively building in a positive and desirable way.  We are all building a life and a legacy but not always with the counsel or guidance of wisdom.

UNDERSTANDING

Understanding does not just come it is the result of hard mental work. You need to think things through. You need to get informed and educated. Understanding takes time and effort.

ESTABLISHED
When something is established it is firmly set in place, it is ready and has an accepted place. It endures through difficulties and time. When our lives are established by wisdom and understanding they will be lives that others will respect and admire.

SOURCE

Wisdom and understanding are not something you can buy at a store or acquire in a classroom. These are unique things. The Bible teaches that the source of wisdom and understanding is God and He gives it to those who ask of him, James 1:5.

Seek wisdom from God and allow that wisdom to be your foundation then it will empower your works and your legacy will endure.

If you do not know God, who is the source of wisdom, and want to learn more about how to have a personal relationship with him then follow THIS LINK.

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I sincerely hope this post is helpful and encouraging.  For more like this see the most popular post in the left sidebar, or use the search box above.

(c) Adron 10/16/16

What Can You Do When Friends Let You Down In A Crisis?

It is surprising who gives us discouragement. We think our friends would support us in difficult times, but they can attack our decisions and turn on us or just silently withhold their support.

"Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain." Psalm 3:2-4.

MANY
We may have so many problems and so many enemies that we feel surrounded and trapped in an iron corner. They cast doubts and say things like you can't trust in God, or there is no hope for your situation. They seem to be everywhere, and their gossip spreads through social media until whole communities seem to be against us. We start to avoid people who were our friends and cease to reach out to anyone at all.

No matter how big the problem we are facing, the betrayal of our friends is far worse because of the despair they bring.

BUT
Sometimes a word like but is is a turning point or the beginning of a rebuttal statement. Here it is the beginning of hope. The author of this verse turns his attention from those full of discouragement to his hope in God.

Here he starts to speak personally and directly with the Most High. You can sense the attitude of confidence and expectation.

LORD
The Lord is the one who rules, commands, and controls. He is in charge and has ultimate authority. When you know who God is personally and in an intimate way, you find hope far beyond any other hope.

"Lord" is not only a title- it explains a relationship. A lord is one you are subject to and obey. Many call God Lord, but though He is the ruler of the universe, they themselves have not obeyed him. They make it only a name, not a declaration.

The psalmist speaks as if he knew the Lord personally and was actively subject to Him.

SHIELD AROUND ME
A shield is only good for warfare, and you use it in battle. A shield offers protection from attack and danger; it is comforting to crouch behind it as it stops sword thrust and arrows, but a shield offers only minimal protection. If a shield is big, it is also heavier, and its weight reduces your mobility, so you cannot turn to face a threat. A shield can only protect one side at a time.

The Lord is the ultimate protection. He is like a shield protecting us on all sides; His protection has no gaps in it.

MY GLORY
The Lord gives us more than success since it is He who is our victory. We cannot boast or revel in the conquest of our problems; instead, we look and see it was by God that we endure and will still be standing when the conflict is over.

LIFTER OF MY HEAD
He does what we cannot. He is the one who lifts us out of the dark pit, not ourselves.

I CALL
Here is the desperate cry of a soldier about to fall in battle. Imagine a battle that has turned against you as if your comrades on every side fell, leaving you alone and surrounded as you stand against the host of enemies. You raise your voice to cry for help, and immediately the general sends the entire army to your position to rescue you as they overrun the adversary.

God is always waiting for the humble prayer; it is as if He is waiting while holding the answer in His hand.

HE ANSWERS
It looks like we get out of the problem; but to say He answers does not always mean that He delivers. His answer may be the strength to endure through a difficult time. We can be assured that whatever answer the Almighty gives is more than answer enough.

The world we live in can be very adversarial, but the God we serve is the Lord who triumphs, and we can have confidence that if we come to Him in humble prayer, we will see the victory.

Adron©7/31/16

What If I Am Tired Of Serving The Lord?

Are you tired of serving God?

Sometimes, you just get tired of serving God because it is so draining on your time and energy, and after all that work, it seems like no one appreciates it. So what do you do?

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58. 

BROTHERS AND SISTERS...
In the writings of St. Paul, serving God was not exclusive to the clergy or the faithful of a certain rank; he saw serving God as a privilege and a mandate for every believer.

STAND FIRM...
At first glance, this phrase does not convey a lot of activity. More than once in the Old Testament, God says, "Be still and know I am the Lord," Psalm 46:10. Exodus 14:13. 2 Chronicles 20:17.
To stand firm means to not give way to an enemy in battle or leave a position. A soldier on the battle line does not need to advance as much as he needs to hold his one place in line, so he must stand firm. If he fails to stand firm in his position, the entire line may collapse, and the battle will be lost. When we fail the Lord, those we love are hurt too.

LET NOTHING MOVE YOU...
"Let" is a word that indicates we have a choice. Choose and resolve to allow nothing to move you. We must be watchful for the many little things that can move us by an inch from our place. If the enemy can get us to move enough inches, then we will have moved a yard. We must be vigilant and diligent to be watchful of all temptations, big and small.

ALWAYS...
There is no exception. There is not a day off and no vacation from persevering in service to God. Every situation is an opportunity to demonstrate faithfulness.

GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY...
Again, we are challenged to choose to be all out for the Lord. We don't give ourselves halfway or 90%, or mostly; we must be fully given to the Lord.  This is a reasonable response because he gave himself fully for us in his death for our sins.

YOU KNOW...
We can be assured there is no doubt.

LABOR IN THE LORD
A condition. Not all church work is in the lord. Two people can be doing the same work simultaneously and place, but one may be in the lord, and the other is not.  The difference is the heart attitude; if we are serving selfishly or seeing it as drudgery, it is not in the Lord. But if we are serving with an attitude of  Love, devotion, joy, and obedience, we are doing that task in the Lord.

NOT IN VAIN...
We may not see the fruit of our labors but are like the patriarchs who sought a city not made with hands, which is to say we obey God's calling in faith. We do not know the outcome and may not even see the fruit of it in our lives here on earth, but we have this promise in this verse that our labor, our energies, and our lives will not have been wasted.

Resolve that no matter how tough it is to stand for the lord where you are, he is the one who makes it worth it.

To learn more about how to have a relationship with God, CLICK HERE.

(c) Adron 7/7/16

If you are interested in seeing some calligraphy art for 1 Corinthians 15:58 CLICK HERE

What Are The Christian Values That The Bible Teaches?

We hear about Christian values in the media and our faith community. Does the Bible list a set of Christian values?  Are some more important than others?

The Bible gives several lists of values. Here is one.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14.

THEREFORE...
The context of this passage is that Paul encourages those who are made alive in Christ to set their hearts on things above. As he expounds on the idea that in Christ, we focus on heavenly things, he makes it practical for how we live here on earth.

CLOTHE YOURSELVES...
Clothing is a word picture for covering yourself. In this context, it is to say let all your acts be wrapped up in these things.

This is a beautiful teaching illustration. You must willfully put on clothing. He did not say, "Let your servant clothe you" or "Let clothing happen."  To say, "clothe yourselves" requires a purposeful act. we must become intentional in practicing the following virtues.

COMPASSION...
An act of grace when it is in your power to exercise justice or punishment. It is an act of sympathetic understanding.

KINDNESS...
An act of good mercy when it is in your power to withhold it.

HUMILITY...
Take the servant role and esteem others as better than you are.

GENTLENESS...
An act that considers another's weakness and approaches them with care.

PATIENCE...
Enduring over and over the weakness of others.

BEAR WITH EACH OTHER...
Holding others up in times of difficulty or to carry them in their weakness.

FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU...
The highest standard of forgiveness one could have. The Lord forgave sinners who rebelled against him, even those who died for their redemption. If that is our example, we must never hold a grudge or seek revenge.

OVERALL...
We are to put on these virtues, but over them like an outer garment, we put on love. These wonderful virtues are wrapped up with the one that is above all and holds all other values together. It is the supreme governing rule of conduct and is the one thing that is our default behavior. If in doubt, this is the one to do.

PUT ON LOVE...
As we put on the other virtues, we are especially admonished to put on love; we must intentionally choose to do it.

PERFECT UNITY...
Love is the most powerful and binding of virtues and brings balance where one value may become overemphasized, and others neglected. When love is the binding value, we must practice all the values sincerely and without hidden motivation.

To learn more about how to have a relationship with God, CLICK HERE.

(c) Adron 6/24/16

What If I Do Not Feel Like Praying? Luke 18:1

Prayer is essential, but we don't act like it.

We know we should pray and that prayer is supposed to be a good thing, even essential, but a lot of times we just don't feel like it. What do we do then?

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1.

In the parable that follows this verse, Jesus tells the story of a woman who repeatedly goes to a judge to seek justice, but he continues to refuse her. Eventually, he gives in because she has worn him out. Jesus makes the point that God responds to our request more willingly than the judge who does not, and therefore, we should always pray and not give up.

The type of prayer that the woman portrayed was the prayer of need. We may feel that our needs are insignificant or not worthy of God's attention, but the opposite is true. Every need and situation, no matter how small, is deserving of the attention of Him who sent his only begotten son to die for our sins.

ALWAYS

Always can refer to time. It means we should be ready and willing to engage in prayer at any time of day, whether it is morning, noon, or night. It means we should be willing to pray on any and every day of the week, regardless of the season of life.

Always can refer to any place. You should pray in your church as part of your community of worship, but you should pray at home, at work, in the place of leisure, or in the marketplace.

Always can refer to circumstances. When you face problems, trials, and tests, pray. When you have times of refreshment, peace, and relaxation, you should pray. Whether it's good times or bad, you should pray in those times.

Always refers to the practice of a daily discipline of prayer, where we have a habit of praying at specific times.

Always refers to a prayer that is spontaneous and offered on the spur of the moment.

We should pray in the morning and at night, both at work and at rest. We should not allow other things to crowd out the importance of prayer.

NOT GIVE UP

There are many hindrances to prayer, and there are numerous obstacles that hinder prayer in our lives.
Such as...
     * We are attacked by doubts, guilt, or a sense of unworthiness.
     * We may not see the answers we expect or desire.
     * We may have doubts that God is interested in our prayers.
     * Our sins may have made us feel distant from God.

But knowing that God is good and trusting in His goodness should encourage us to pray.

If you don't feel like praying, you should pray even more. If you are discouraged in prayer, you should resolve not to give up.

NOT JUST ADVICE

This passage has many parallels in the Bible where we are admonished to pray, and there are more where we are commanded to pray.

If we don't feel like praying, we shouldn't give up; we should still pray.

If you feel that you are distant from God, maybe you need to come to Him and receive his gift of 

(c) Adron 6/1/16

When Is It A Bad Idea To Read The Bible?

How often you read the Bible may show your true opinion of it.

We know we should read the Bible every day, and most people of the Christian Faith try to read through it once a year.  We think it is a good thing to do, and without a doubt, it is, but is there a time when it is a bad idea to read the Bible?

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James 1:22.

The context of James 1:22 is in a passage where the Apostle James tells the followers of Christ to live holy lives. He says that we must not listen to God's word and then not do it because we will become self-deceived. He concludes with an example of a simpleton who looks at a mirror and forgets what he saw.

DOERS

Of course, not everyone who reads the Bible is a doer of the Bible.
A doer of the Bible is
     * A person who is obedient to its teaching.
     * A person who observes the commands.
     * A person who intends to do what it says.
     * A person who applies it to his life.

WORD

The unique name for the scriptures illustrates its purpose. It is "The Word," an expression and communication of The Creator to the ones he created. The Word of God is a gift and a responsibility. Our Heavenly Father has a message for each of us and it is in the pages of the Word He gave us.

HEARERS ONLY

A healthy person with average hearing can hear something effortlessly under normal circumstances. The idea is not just the audible reception of the scripture; it could be a matter of studying or reading the Word of God. It might even be advanced study such as attending a seminar, camp, or classes at a renowned seminary.

ONLY
Only is defined as a lesser, a part of a task, it is something that is left undone, neglected, or overlooked. If you have only read or heard the scripture you have done the lesser part, there is more. The greater part is obedience to The Lord's instructions and commands.

DECEIVING YOURSELVES

A deception is essentially a lie. We deceive ourselves without knowing it. We do it when we tell ourselves that we are going to do one thing but really have no intention to do so. We do it when we refuse to see the truth about ourselves.

To deceive yourself is the worst deception. It goes on and reproduces itself in millions of thoughts and actions.

Jesus claimed to be the "Way the Truth and the Life," John 14:6, and if we are his followers we should be characterized by truth in our actions and thoughts.

MISSED BLESSING

James 1 continues to say that anyone who hears God's Word and does it he will be blessed. You are not blessed by just hearing or reading the scripture- your blessing comes from doing what it says.

THE LIVING WORD

Read God's Word and read it every day. It is living and active, Hebrews 4:12, it will slowly change you if you do so, but read it with an attitude of willing obedience because to read it and not obey it is self-deception.

To learn more about how to have a living relationship with God follow THIS LINK.

(c) Adron 5/11/16

Is There Any Reason To Trust God? Malachi 3:6

If everything changes, does God change too?

We have trouble with the idea that God does not change because we see and experience change on every level in our world and lives.  If He changes, can we be confident in the goodness of The Almighty tomorrow as we are today?

"I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." Malachi 3:6.

THE LORD
Here is a simple reminder of who He is.  He is not only the one who created the universe out of nothing, but he is also the one who, by that same power, has the authority to rule and even condemn.  As the Author-of-all, He is also the owner of all.

DO NOT CHANGE
Things change for different reasons.  They change because they grow, age, learn or are subject to external forces greater than they are.   But none of these things apply to the Almighty.  He does not grow since God is already complete.  He does not age since He is eternal.  He does not need to learn because He is All-knowing.  He is not subject to external forces greater than He is since God is the Almighty, and as the Creator of all things, nothing is greater than Him.  Nothing that causes change applies to God.

God has declared that He does not change, so we have a promise based on The holy character that He will not change.  If it is a matter of choice, the decision is made, and God has decided not to change.

Our understanding of God may change, but the way He was yesterday is the way He is today and the way He will be tomorrow.

DESCENDANTS OF JACOB
The verse and passage were addressed to a people and a time, but it may easily apply to all people and all-time since the point is not the audience but the author. It is about God.

The faithful today can identify themselves with the promises to Jacob.

ARE NOT DESTROYED
It is not because we are so noble and virtuous that we are not destroyed but because of the faithfulness of God.  He is faithful to Himself, so He does not change. He is faithful to His promise.

God is Good, loving, and gracious.  He always has been, and He always will be. Because He never changes and is holy, we can trust His promises in the Bible, where He offers eternal life, blessing, and goodness to those who receive him.

(c) Adron 4/23/16

What Have We Forgotten About Worship? Isaiah 12:5

Few of us think much about worship.

Worship may be one of the most important things we do, yet we do not realize how much is implied in the simple act, or how many truths we are expressing. Could it be that worship is the very point of it all?

"Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world." Isaiah 12:5.

SING

Singing is often thought of as a form of entertainment and an art form, but here it is an act of celebration. When you sing to someone you honor them and are showing that you value them.  When you sing the national anthem of your country you are celebrating, honoring, and declaring your relationship to your country.

HAS DONE

God has done many wonderful and blessed things in each of our lives. He has given us life and a measure of health and a measure of prosperity. Without focusing on the past we want to remember that we are in debt to the past mercies and glories of God. We should reflect on the great things he has done for us each as individuals and as a community.

GLORIOUS THINGS

His greatest blessing is that he sent his only unique son to be the sacrifice for our sin and pay our debt before his holy justice.

LET THIS BE KNOWN

The verse suggests that worship is a proactive act of proclaiming. We should not be silent, it is just wrong. God has done so much good for each of us we have a moral obligation to communicate to one another. For example, if we were publishing an article we would credit sources or if we were producing a movie we would list the names of all those who supported the project. How much more should we give God the credit that is His for what He has done in our lives?

ALL THE WORLD

This verse starts with a singular voice as if it was speaking to an individual, (the command to sing), and we experience scripture speaking to us individually because it is living, but the verse moves to a sense of the plurality in declaring to the world the deeds of the Lord.

First, we are singing to the Lord, then we are giving testimony to those around us. His greatness, grace, and mercy are worthy of telling to the nations. He is worthy of global praise.

Many faiths are obedient to the command to spread the Good News to the nations. Of course, we want to spread His kingdom and see souls rescued from the bondage and judgment of sin. Part of spreading the kingdom is spreading the worship.

Let us all follow that model of giving God private personal worship personally and then faithfully declaring to others his glorious deeds.

To learn how you may know God and find eternal life follow THIS LINK.
(c)Adron Dozat 4/14/16

Where Can We Turn For Strength?

Sometimes we are so worn out by loss and grief that we do not have the strength to go on.  Where can we turn to for strength to carry on?

"My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word." Psalm 119:28.

MY SOUL
We are creatures of body, spirit, and soul. The soul is often referred to in a poetic way to describe the deepest, truest part of a person. It is the part that is thought to be eternal and essential. The writer of this verse is speaking of his deepest feelings.

WEARY
Weary is more than being tired after a day of work. It is the bone-deep exhaustion that comes after the constant use of your energy and strength. It is the result of the sustained struggle.

SORROW
Sorrow is not just sadness but grief.  We may be sad, but this sadness is far more.

STRENGTHEN
The prayer of this verse begins with the need of the petitioner. The request is not to escape but to be strong and endure. It is not to avoid sorrow but to thrive through it. He asks God to prop him up and give him the ability to stay the course.

ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD
The Bible is full of promises from God to His children that offer hope, blessing and encouragement in times of struggle and sorrow. The verse does not reference any single promise in particular but the totality of scripture.

The psalmist speaks as if he is confident. There is no doubt in his mind that if he calls God to honor his word, there will be grace and blessing.

YOUR WORD
It is the word of:
     * The One who never breaks His word,
     * The One who is holy.
     * The One who is all-powerful.
     * The One who is all-powerful.
     * The One who never lies.


OUR PRAYER
We can take this verse as an example. We can ask for the enduring strength of the Almighty, loving Father with confidence that He is willing and able to give strength.

We must learn His Word, the Bible, and study it to know the many promises it has for each of us. Take time to read the Bible and look for the comfort it can bring as God speaks to you through it.

If you have never come to the Father in faith and are ready to learn more about the promise of salvation, then CLICK HERE to find out more.


© Adron 3/13/16