Comments

• Denise Says:
  September 5th, 2008 at 5:37 am

  I needed to read this devotional so desperately this morning. I was falling into that pit of self-pity, of feeling of no value at all to anyone.

  I was having a bad day yesterday and emailed my brother who lives on the other side of the U.S. from me. I guess I just needed a listening ear. We never seem to stay in touch and distance makes us just grow further apart.

  I tend to forget that the only ear I need to hear me and that really should matter to me is my Fathers. But, I didn’t go there, I sent this email, only to be really disappointed with the reply that I got back.

  The email was short, “Ultimately, you will need to be able to see beyond your immediate circumstances. (ie. Are you in a position to actively help someone worse off than you? Can you move about in the world freely and be an active part of advancing the gospel, through example and action?, etc. Can you really answer the questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? What is true?”

  I was really hurt by his questions as I’m not a poor me type of person, I just had a bad day at work with some very hostile people, not at me, but very vocal non the less.

  I guess I needed something else from his email…, not just questions.

  Then I read the devotional…, this part spoke to me: “This incident taught me that we have a choice, at any given moment, to focus on the negative or the positive. One leads to frustration and pain, the other leads to freedom and joy.”

  So I will choose to focus on the positive and let go of the feeling of hurt and emptiness that I felt. God really is the only one we can confide in isn’t he. Why didn’t I go to Him first, lay out of frustration to Him, ask for help in dealing with this? He already knows my needs.

  *
  *
  *
  There is a fine line which is hard to know how to deal with, reaching out to another person. God is always there, always listening, always loving. Reaching out to someone else is always risky, sometimes hurtful. And when you experience that over and over again, it’s hard to reach out, hard to trust. God’s word is unshakable, stable, trustworthy, why do I need more than that?

  I suppose the email has a lot to think in it, but an understanding ear was what I really wanted.

• Lisa Says:
  September 5th, 2008 at 6:06 am

  I too can have the tendency to go to others rather than God. My expectations can be high and I have realized over time that it is unrealistic. People are limited but God’s supply is limitless.

• Teri Says:
  September 5th, 2008 at 6:17 am

  This email has blessed me this morning. It is just another reminder to me, to know that God is in control, and wants to meet my needs. I will pray for you Denise. I’m sorry you had a bad day yesterday. I know what its like to need an understanding ear, and only get someone trying to “solve” your problem. In what I’ve read about men, that is just their nature, to “fix things”. I wouldn’t be too upset at him. :) He can’t help it. :)

  God bless

• Doris Says:
  September 5th, 2008 at 6:27 am

  Today my grand daughter, Angie, age 38 and with 3 children is haveing her second cancer surgery this year. Please pray with me for a complete removal not to return so that she will be able to be well and raise her children.

• anonymous Says:
  September 5th, 2008 at 9:43 am

  Hello sisters, it’s been a long time. I can’t write much here due to time, but just wanted to say thank you for your responses, support, prayers. I liked the last line of the devotional, the prayer, where it said God knows our weaknesses and brokenness, and He will meet our needs. It is easy to forgot God knows our needs, and will provide each one according to what’s best… may I remember that. May God be with us, and help us and give us strength. Your continued prayers are appreciated! God bless you.

• Eleanor Baentsch Says:
  September 5th, 2008 at 10:49 am

  God’s love for every individual IS true. I served in Kairos Ministries a few years ago. (A 3-day program for Imates) I found humility and God’s exceptance of who I was as I was that moment. I did not have to impress Him or earn HIS love. It simply is available any day any time we go to God. In this complex World, it is hard to think of this simple love from God and take the time to receive it.

• sharon Says:
  September 5th, 2008 at 11:39 am

  i have not got comments from the blog for 2 days now
  sharon
  doris i am praying for your daughter. i have had breast cancer and know what she is facing and am so sorry she has to face it a second time
  sharon

• Hannah Says:
  September 5th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

  This devotional is sure a great reminder to me. For many years, the first thing I would do if something happened to upset me or hurt me or go wrong, I would grab the phone and call a friend and tell her about it and we woudl discuss it, not even praying about it together.

  Now , I know better. It is still great that we have this blog to share with others because I feel that God put other people in our lives to communicate with as we do Him. He comes first though. And we have friends to call also and to email with.

  I had a very surprise phone call from a very Dear friend this morning that just made my day. We email each other. and I don’t see anything wrong with talking to friends and telling them about our problems so they can pray for us about them,and we for theirs. God put us ogether for a reason I believe with all my heart and I love each and every one of you.

  Denise, I am sorry for your bad day and pray and ask God to let you get over the hurt from your brother’s reaction to you telling him about your bad day. And you already felt that God was the one you should turn to. You did the right thing. God tells us to give him our burdens and He will carry them for us. It is amazing how we hang on to them sometimes before going to Him. I am so guilty of this sometimes, but I have learned better. Praise Him for His goodness to us and His Mercy.

  Teri, your comment to Denise about men brought a chuckle from me. You said a mouth full there. For that is true of a lot of men.

  Doris, my heart goes out to you and to your family about your grand daughter’s cancer. Father God, I lift up Angie to you as she has to have surgery. Lord, I pray for her surgeon , and ask God to give him His Divine Instructions for her surgery and all of the others attending to her and the ones that will care for her in the hospital. Father, I ask for a complete recovery for Angie. And hold her faimly in your Loving arms and let them feel your Presence and comfort them with the Peace only you can give them. In Christ, Hannah

  christ

• Bettye Says:
  September 5th, 2008 at 4:31 pm

  The joy of the Lord is our strengrth (Nehemiah 8:10). He give power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength (Isaiah 40:29).And the Word produces joy, God is going to show what is exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe. In his presence is fulness of Joy (Psalm 16:11). I have learn to bring God into my presence when I am in the midst of trouble or feeling down or feeling depressed, even if i say Lord I believe HELP my unbelief. And there are times when I want God with flesh on, but he have said he will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 12:2). I am thankful for the soveriegnty and goodness of God. IF Satan can’t steal Your Joy he Can’t Keep Your Goods (Jerry Savelle) Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God (Psalm 146:5). Hope is a great motivator.Doris, i am lifting Angie, up to our Heavenly Father, in prayer. In Jesus’ Name, Jesus, is Lord over Angie’s life. Cancer and disease have no power over her. Jesus have given her abundant life. His word flows to every organ of her body bringing life, healing and health (John10:10;John6:63). He sent His word and healed Angie (Psalm 103:19-20). In Jesus’ Name I command this cancer to die at the root and leave Angie’s body. I delcare that Angie is healed and made whole according to Isaiah 53:4-5, by the stripes of Jesus Christ.Amen.” Finally my sisters, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might (Ephesians 6:10). God bless you all mightily! Bettye

• Bettye Says:
  September 5th, 2008 at 4:38 pm

  The scripture where Jesus say he will never leave us nor forsake us is (Hebrew 13:5)I got the chapter and verses mixed up earlier. I just like looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Use that one alot. God bless! Bettye

• kanj Says:
  September 6th, 2008 at 4:57 am

  Helen, thank you for the devotional. your insight reminds me of what we lose when we don’t mend fences while we are here on earth. i am guilty as charged in running to other family and friends first putting the Lord off to the side line. the saying ‘you never know what you’ve got till it’s gone’ rings truth in my life. and then it’s too late. a hard lesson learned but family for me could not meet my needs. late in life i found that only God could and has. self pity, resentment, bitterness….i grew up with it all my life. it effected relationships as i got older, which in turn resulted in failure. where was family? still there. where was i? without God, my choice. married at 18 to escape the volitile family situation only to have it fail. divorced at 21(no children). estranged from a father i never really knew(as he came and went out of my/our lives as he saw fit and necessary). at one point when i married for the 2nd time(to a wonderful loving caring man with whom we just celebrated 20 yrs of marriage this past april), our first child was born. i wanted to re-new, re-connect with my estranged father because of my daughter’s birth. but to no avail as he wanted the relationship but on his grounds(which was what i grew up with-abandonment, abuse, much dysfunction). he passed not knowing me, his (now)two grandchildren. the hardest decision i had to make when he was alive was to once again sever the relationship for good. my father died about 8 years ago, alone, none of us went to the funeral. we were told that there were only strangers, staff there to send him off. i wasn’t sad about that at all. that was then. i did not have the blessing of Christ in my life. today with God in my heart, Jesus , my Savior, forgiving my father for abandoning myself and my siblings was lifted from me through Jesus’ love. the day i forgave my father was the beginning of a new relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. the hardened heart i carried all these years had softened, the Lord held out His hand to me and said ‘Come”. my life certainly has been a journey of wasted resentment and bitterness, but no more. God’s surprise for me was knowing i had purpose in my life, and it all started with leaving the old baggage behind and accepting the new. as believers we have available to us an abundant quality of life that comes from God. He has given it, our goal should be to enjoy it. John 10:10 reads: ”I came that they many have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance(to the full, till it overflows).”

• jane Says:
  September 6th, 2008 at 5:59 am

  I feel like God doesn’t care about me. I believe in Jesus,but don’t feel changed. I haven’t had my prayers answered,in fact I feel that God ignores me or doesn’t care. my prayers have been for my children.my daghter is an honor roll college graduate that hasn’t been able to land a job since she graduated in 2003, my son got out of the Navy after seven years ad ha done nothing but fuss. grip and play the blame gam{and guess who his target is}, my other son is an alcoholic and a smoker,a newwed iwth a baby on the way and a dui case hanging over his head,no insurance and a commerical truck driver that could lose his liscence. My finances have been gong south for a while and my husband is no help. He never does anything but play the blame Manly I’m worried about my daughter. Why won’t God give her a good job? And haveall the benefits that go with it. I really tryied, but I feel like a failure

• Darren Hewer Says:
  September 6th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

  jane, thank you for taking the time to share with us. It is a very difficult situation that you’ve been put in, and one in which you’ll need careful discernment and trusting prayer to guide you.

  For this sort of issue, it can often help to talk to one of our online mentors. This is a free and private service, and when you sign up you’ll be matched with an appropriate mentor who can guide you in your journey through email conversations. If you’re interested in that, please visit this page:
  http://thelife.com/interactive/ask.html

• Edna Says:
  September 7th, 2008 at 8:15 am

  Dear Helen:
  I have only recently began receiving Your Devotional, & it is proved to be such a Blessing in My Life. My Husband passed away in Feb/08 & it has been Difficult as we were so Close. I tended to go on a Pity Party, until I realized that God was ALL I NEEDED! This Devotional helped with this Also. God has become so Close to me, now, as I spend more time in the Word on a Daily Basis. I Also Journal, and HE has given me so many Answers to My Questions & Problems. He has become My
  Abba Father, & My All Suffiency. I’m so glad to have made this Closer Relationship with Him. I have had to go to him with Material Things as well as Spiritual Matters, and each time, HE ANSWERED! Praise the Lord! God Bless You All1

• You Can Overcome
  November 20, 2008 10:30 am (eastern)
• Praise and Devotional Chat
  November 20, 2008 8:00 pm (eastern)
• Waiting in God’s Waiting Room
  November 21, 2008 10:30 am (eastern)