Apron Strings Devotional for 4/22/98

4/22/98

Good morning....
Jesus loves You!!

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Has God forsaken you? He told you He wouldn't, and He never has. Never.

"When Angels Speak"
Martha Williamson

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Good Morning Dear Brethren!

Got a goody for you today...and my prayer is that you will be singing and praising the Lord, when the revelation hits you full force!

Just a brief note to the Brethren that are on servers other than AOL. I want to clear up a mystery for you. The three symbols on the top of this devotional are actually "coffee cups." They look like the letter "D" to you. The "D" is the handle.....and there is a colored block in front of the "D" making up the cup. I guess you can't receive those graphics. <sorry!>

Anyway..I hope you guys are truly blessed today...and especially ENCOURAGED. Please read on: Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 42:11

It was once announced that the devil was going out of business and would offer all tools for sale to whomever would pay the price.

On the night of the sale they were all attractively displayed, a bad looking lot. Malice, Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Deceit, and all the other implements of evil were spread out, each marked with its price.

Apart from the rest lay a harmless looking wedge-shaped tool, much worn and priced higher than all of the rest. Someone asked the devil what it was. "That's Discouragement" was the reply. "Why do you have it priced so high?" "Because," replied the devil, "it is more useful to me than any of the others. I can pry open and get inside a man's conscience with that when I could not get near him with any of the others, and once inside I can use him in whatever way suits me best. It is so worn because I use it with nearly everybody, as very few people yet know that it belongs to me."

It hardly need be added that the devil's price for Discouragement was so high that it was never sold. He still owns it and uses it to this very day.

-Submitted by: Hopefilled-

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The Lord taught me through my prison experiences that for a child of God, a pit can be very deep, but always deeper are the everlasting arms of our Lord.

But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled. 1 Peter 3:14

Thank You, Lord, that no matter how deep our distress, Your comfort is always sufficient for our needs. You have promised to be with us until the end of the world.

-Corrie Ten Boom-

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HEALED AND WHOLE One day I dug a little hole
And put my hurt inside
I thought that I could just forget
I'd put it there to hide.

But that little hurt began to grow
I covered it every day
I couldn't leave it and go on
It seemed the price I had to pay.

My joy was gone, my heart was sad
Pain was all I knew.
My wounded soul enveloped me
Loving seemed too hard to do.

One day, while standing by my hole
I cried to God above
And said, "If You are really there --
They say, You're a God of Love!"

And just like that -- He was right there
And just put His arms around me
He wiped my tears, His hurting child
There was no safer place to be.

I told Him all about my hurt
I opened up my heart
He listened to each and every word
To every sordid part.

I dug down deep and got my hurt
I brushed the dirt away
And placed it in the Master's hand
And healing came that day.

He took the blackness of my soul
And set my spirit FREE!
Something beautiful began to grow
Where the hurt used to be.

And when I look at what has grown
Out of my tears and pain
I remember every day to give my hurts to Him
And never bury them again.
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By: Carol Parrot
submitted by: CHale7904

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Josh 1:9 ....
Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Me again, Brethren!

I know that discouragement has got to be one of the greatest setbacks in the Christian walk, today. We constantly hit these brick walls and "overcoming" seems to be a distant dream. It seems like we can never get this "Christian Thing" right! There are times when we feel like we fail God to the hilt, and wonder why in the world He wants to keep hanging onto us.

Every time a test comes our way....we seem to fail it miserably and end up feeling like the Apostle Paul:

Rom 7:15
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

Now, breaking down that scripture in Alabama slang, it goes like this: "Man, I keep messin up ever whicha way!"

But seriously folks, isn't that the truth? AND THEN....we get discouraged. We ease farther and farther away from God...because, after all, we aren't getting it right...and besides, it is really getting frustrating!

Ok...now for the life preserver. You didn't think I was gonna leave you out there floatin, didja? Hang wif me while I untangle the rope.

First of all, I'd like to break down the word "Discourage." <Wanna show you something here>

Dis- means opposite or absence of;

Ps 22:1
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Don't we sometimes feel that way, especially when discouragement has settled in? It seems like God is so far away. Now, watch this:

Courage- means strength in overcoming fear and in persisting against odds or difficulties.

2 Tim 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Phil 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

2 Cor 12:9
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Three synonyms of Courage are: Bravery, Valor, and Heroism

Bravery- stresses bold and daring defiance of danger

James 4:7-8
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

2 Cor 4:8-9
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Valor- applies especially to bravery in fighting a dangerous enemy

Eph 6:12-13
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Heroism-suggests bravery and boldness in accepting risk or sacrifice for a noble or generous purpose.

Rom 8:37-39
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Phil 3:13-14
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

You see what happens when the "Dis" is gone? Brethren, it is high time to "Discard, Disown, Disinherit, Dismiss and Disembark the 'Dis' in Dis-courage!" <Now say that real fast!>

What does that leave us with? COURAGE! God has NOT forsaken us. He has equipped us with COURAGE, BRAVERY, VALOR, and HEROISM. We ARE overcomers by the BLOOD of the Lamb...and the word of our testimony! <Rev. 12:11>

This world is full of sin, and deception..and we shudder when we realize the vastness of it, but the vastness of God is MUCH greater!

It all goes back to what we "see." If we are looking through our natural eyes...then yes, we will be discouraged, we will be disheartened.

1 Cor 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2 Cor 4:18
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

When we are seeking Christ...when all other "securities" are laid at the altar, when He becomes the most important Object of our desires, then God will equip our eyes to see in the "Spirit." Discouragement is not in our vocabulary when we are walking in the Spirit. We are in fact, ENCOURAGED...because we see PAST the natural...and we are assured of the Hope and Glory that is being worked in our hearts and minds THROUGH Christ Jesus.

Here is a question. With whose righteousness are we clothing ourselves? If we are trying to walk out this journey in the flesh, in our own "righteousness," and not allowing Christ to manifest Himself in our hearts according to His Will, and His purposes, then yes, we will be discouraged.

Isa 64:6
.....all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;

Matt 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. <emphasis mine>

The Lord can do much with a heart that is turned toward Him. He can do much with the ones who admit daily...that we NEED Him. He can do much with the one vessel, whose faith is even the size of a "mustard seed." We need to stop comparing ourselves to the "Spiritual Giants," and know that He has engraved US, each one, individually, in the palm of His Hand. <Isaiah 49:16>

God has a purpose and a plan for our lives, and discouragement is NOT a part of that plan. I ENCOURAGE you this day, my Brethren! He is still there, within grasp...and He is STILL on the throne.

Is He on the throne of our hearts as well? You see, that is a key, that can open the door to great amounts of encouraging insight. As we reach for Jesus...and all that He is...with a heart that says: "I thirst!!" then this next scripture will be embedded in our hearts, even when discouragement comes knocking on our door.

Matt 28:20
...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

God Bless You Brethren, and I love you very much!!

THIS is the day that the Lord hath made... Let us rejoice and be glad in it....WITH COURAGE!

In Christ!!

Carol
Justaservn@aol.com

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