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    • Gentle reminders from my dog

      Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on April 19, 2018

      Psalm 31:3 (NCV) “You are my rock and my protection. For the good of your name, lead me and guide me.”

      I love reading through the book of Psalms when I need to be reminded of God’s ever guiding presence and protection as I walk through this somewhat chaotic world. I find words there that describe who I am in Christ, who He is (words that describe His character) and what He offers when I come to Him. This morning, I found this example in the first verse of Psalm 31. Here, David is coming to God seeking refuge. David often prayed for God to be his refuge and deliver him from his enemies. David knew he could trust God as his refuge, and his shelter from danger and distress. David was confident he could find protection and safety in God.

      In God, David was confident, safe, and protected (who I am in Christ). Why did David know this? Because David trusted God and knew He was a safe place (who God is – His character). When David sought God for protection, he knew God would guide (what God offers) him in the right direction.

      The character of God hasn’t changed since David’s time. God is just as much our refuge and security today. We can find protection in Him just like David did. I was reminded of this truth this past summer. I was in my home office and began to hear thunder off in the distance. Not thinking anything of it really, I continued to work….until I heard this big clap of thunder. The sound was as if the thunder cloud was directly over my house. A second after the crack of the thunder a bolt of lightning lit up the rainy grey sky outside my window.

      “Whoa, that was close!”

      Immediately my black lab was at my side shaking like a leaf. She hates thunderstorms but what she has learned over the course of her life is that she can run to me for protection from the storm. We typically cover her up with a blanket and in the security of the blanket she finds peace. In the same way, I can run to God for protection and refuge from the storms of my life. He will keep me safe in His shelter and hide me in his Holy Tent (Psalm 27:5 NCV).

      It is up to us to trust God completely – with everything we are and everything we have. We can be confident that God is true to His character and will deliver and protect us.

       

       

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      Posted in God my refuge, protection, storms of life | 1 Comment
    • Friends are a Gift from God

      Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on October 16, 2017

      2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.”

      Have you ever felt like your situation was so bad that no one could possibly understand what you were going through or how you were feeling? I know I sure have. I have been in valleys so low that I knew I was the only person on the planet walking through that very dry and desolate time. I was all alone and there was NO ONE who could understand what I was feeling or my heartache.

      Anyone with me?

      Looking at the verses above I see now that I am not alone and neither are you. God Himself comes alongside us when we walk through the tough times of our lives and then places people in our path who have experienced similar circumstances. He never intended for us to face this world on our own. He will provide friends to help us and support us. Biblical examples would be the friendship between David and Jonathan and Naomi and Ruth.

      I thank God daily for the incredible people He has placed in my life. Some have been there specifically to help me become a better person and encourage me to keep going. Others are there to help me see that I am not sitting in a great big boat alone hopelessly rowing.

      God understands what we need, when we need it. I have felt His love show up through people in the deepest darkest valleys of my life. People who know the pain I feel because they have experienced it firsthand. God uses them as an instrument of His love, mercy and grace. Once on the other side of the dark valley, I can pass the comfort I have received on to others.

      God uses the hurts (or trials of any kind) in our lives to grow us, increase our faith, and lift others up in their times of trouble.

      Rest assured! We can find comfort to weather any storm in the One who created us all. He will not leave us or forsake us no matter what situation we find ourselves in.

      Related Scripture: Isaiah 66:13; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 18: 1-6

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      Posted in Christian community, christian living, storms of life | 1 Comment
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