Falling into the devil's trap

Today..I woke up, and I started working on another blog. I enjoy watching TV and movies, so I decided to start a blog with my opinion on various shows. I haven't had comments, so I wasn't sure if anyone was really reading it. I continued to work on my blog, because I take pleasure in doing so.

Well...Today, I had my first comment on my blog. Someone even took one of my surveys. I was thrilled. I called my friend to let him know that I actually had someone comment on my blog. I felt really good today.

Later on in the day, I had an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness come over me. I looked at myself, and I realized that I really didn't love myself. I thought about my career, and I became fearful that I would never be able to find a job. Suddenly, I thought there was no hope.

I turned on an episode of Joel Osteen where he talks about speaking faith over your life. I started thinking about my blessings. I thought about how I asked God for time off, because I was tired. He gave me timeoff with pay. Maybe it came in the form of a layoff, but I have to remember that God has always answered my prayers. I've asked God to help me lose weight. He put a nice treadmill on sale that is within my price range.

Do you know what happened to me today? I fell into the devil's trap. I allowed him to get into my head with the hopeless thoughts. I had a moment of being truly thankful to God, and the devil decided to try to take it away from me.

Now I'm saying...Thank You God for all of your blessings. Thank You for all of the blessings coming my way.

Joel Osteen spoke about Romans 4:17 "...and call the things that are not as though they were." What is God talking about here? He's talking about having faith in the unseen. I don't have a job yet, but this is temporary. I haven't lost this weight, but this is an eventuality.
PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! He saw me through this trial, and He will continue to see me through.

Remember to keep you faith. Praise God.

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Please pray for the safe return of Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, U.S. Soldier:



The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)

God bless Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, his family and friends through this hard time.

Keeping Faith In Hard Times

Hello,

I've been unemployed, since June 18th. I have to admit that my faith has fluctuated at times. I wonder how did this happen to me? Why did the people who harassed me for so many years get to keep their job and advance? What does God have in store for my future?

I know that in times like this I have to have faith. There are times when a person can't find anything to be grateful for other than waking up in the morning and breathing. Sometimes it's hard to feel like waking up and breathing is a blessing.

Well...I try to find things to be grateful for, and I thank God for them. Sometimes it's hard, but if you start looking for the small blessings, the big blessings start popping up themselves. For example, I can see a blessing in finding a good parking space. I see blessings in receiving an email or phone call from a long lost friend. There are also those times when an overwhelming feeling of hope passes through me, and I know that God is letting me know that everything is going to be ok. It's in this time that the following verse applies:

My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. (Exodus 33:14)

I have been asking God for a while for rest. I always asked that it would not be in the form of a layoff, but God brought me to this path anyway. Now, I have to have faith. I know that this is the direction God wants me to go. Each day is a challenge. I have thoughts that things will never get better, but I know God is not giving me these thoughts. I take comfort in knowing that God is in control of everything.

Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:3-5, 7a)

Right now, I trust that God is in control. I trust that He will not only see me through this trial, but I will be a better person because of it.

God bless.

Dawn

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7-8)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)

Now more than ever faith is being tested all over the world. On June 18th, 2009, I was laid off from my job of over 7 years. I knew it was coming. I started packing my things the day before the meeting with the VP of my department. Thankfully, I did not have to go through the embarrassing moment of packing in front of my co-workers and being led out the door.

I looked for verse from the Bible that helps me through this challenging time. I found the following:

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

I admit that I'm a little nervous...but I'm so thankful. For a while, I've known that God did not want me in this position. I feel that there is something bigger and better in the world for me. On the way to work, I would pray thankful prayers. I would thank God that I have a job and benefits. I would thank Him for his favor, mercy, blessings and grace. I would also thank Him for favor, mercy, blessings and grace for family and friends.

I've found that in times like this it is important to be thankful. God wants to know that you don't just thank Him in the good times, but you also thank Him during the hard times. It's important to thank God no matter what. Being thankful only brings you closer to God.

I'm so blessed. God made sure that I was given a great severance package. I'm able to rest. I'm also able to continue the journey that I know God wants me to be on.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understandings; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."

Why are some prayers not answered?

Do you ever wonder why some prayers are answered, while other prayers are not answered? Does it ever seem like the most important prayers just don't get answered?

Prayer is a gift from God. It allows us an intimate relationship with Him. God loves when we come to him. He wants to answer our prayers.

The Bible says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15).

I've found that all prayers are answered....not always the way we hope or expect. There are times when God gives us exactly what we ask for. What a blessing that is. It's like God is giving us His approval with a hug. It's the most amazing thing to feel God when He blesses us. Then there are other times when we don't get exactly what we want. This is where we need to have faith. During this time God may be trying to teach us something. Just know that whatever God has given you is for your own good. Finally, the answer to your prayer may be no. This doesn't mean that God doesn't love you. It means that He has something better for you. Sometimes there's a journey that comes with this gift. The journey may be a long one or a short one...depending on what God wants you to learn, and how long it takes you to learn.

Remember God does answer your prayers.

God bless.