Song of the month:
A Beautiful worship song... "Lord I'm amazed by you"
WANTED:
Have you written any Christian poems, or devotionals? If so, email them to me and who knows, maybe I will end up using one in a newsletter sometime!!
This Month's topic: "Trials, Tests and Frustration"
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”
Bible Verses:
He trusted on the LORD [that] he would deliver him:
let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. Psalm 22:8
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily:
be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
Psalm 31:2
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Psalm 40:13
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Psalm 50:15
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revalation 21:4
But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy [is] good, deliver thou me. Psalm 109:21
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12
Devotion:
Have you ever felt frustrated with how life was going? Sometimes it's hard to trust God when tough times come into our lives. God promised he would be with us through trials, he didn't say we wouldn't have them, he said he'd be with us when they came our way. This brings a familiar verse to mind,Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
If this verse is true, which we know the word of God is, we have nothing to worry about! We can simply trust in the fact that God will make our frustrating cirumstances turn out for something good. By you sharing your testimony of a test and trial in your life and how God used it for your good you may be able to help someone else going through a similar circumstance. So let us remember God can turn our frustrating circumstances in life into something to be used for His glory!!
Living for HIM,
Deborah Allyn Martin
