How would you respond if you lost your husband, your dreams, and found you were plagued with cancer? 

Would you humbly cling to your Heavenly Father or shake your fist at Him demanding something more?  

One of the gals on my prayer group is living the scenario above and has chosen to cling to her Savior and bless thousands of others with a quiet, gentle, and obedient spirit.  Her faith is an inspiration to all.  This is one of 3 tools that she created for herself that will now bless many others.  Thank you Marcia for all that you have endured for the sake of the gospel!

ABC’S OF HOPE IN THE SEASON OF DIFFICULTY

We walk by faith not by sight -2 Cor 5:7

A: Anxious: Do not be anxious about anything , but in everything by prayer, supplication, and with thanksgiving make your requests know to God and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. 

Phil 4:6

B: Believe: I believe, help me in my unbelief. 

Mark 9:24

C: Content: for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 

Philippians 4;11-13

D: Dismayed: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Isaiah 41:10

E: Eyes: I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 

Psalm 121:1

F: Future: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Jer 29:11

G: Grace: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 

2 Cor 12:9

H: Hope: Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:11

I: Instruct: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 

Psalm 32 :8

J: Jesus: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

K: Keep: You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 

Isaiah 26:3

L: Lamp Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light on my path. 

Psalm 119:105

M: Mercies Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 

Lam 3:22-23

N: Needs: And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 

Phil 4:19

O: Outweighs: For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 

2 Cor 4:17-18

P: Paths: Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 

Psalm 25:4-5

Q: Quiet: The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save, He takes great delight in you and will quiet you with his love and rejoice over you with singing. 

Zeph 3:17

R: Rock Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. 

Ps 62:2

S: Sustain: Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, who will sustain you.I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:4

T: Thoughts: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

U: Understanding : Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Prov 3:5-6

V: Vine “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing

John 15:5

W: Wait: but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Isa 40:31

X: Anxious: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23

Y: Yoke: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Z: Zion: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. Isaiah 28:16

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.

                                                                Micah 6:8

The post ABC’s Of Hope In A Season Of Grief first appeared on Brian Friedl.

You see, I knew a little over 1/4 of the people on board and they are not your typical salespeople. Their goal is to serve others. They are not focus ed on their own greatness. On the contrary, they took the time to offer advice and answers my and others questions completely even though they received no personal gain.  

Now I’m sure, if I had met everyone I would have found some self-serving superstar out there in the mix.  But of the 400 I knew and the 50+ new people I met, all of them shared the same mindset of serving others.  This didn’t just make them great but made the whole experience great.  

I’m reminded of the competition the disciples were having of who was the greatest.  Yes, pride snuck in, even with the disciples. Jesus, humbly and patiently taught them that to be great means to be the greatest servant. Certainly He lived His teaching as a foot washing Rabbi who eventually went to the cross for all humanity. 

If anyone deserved to be woshipped and served it was our Savior. While the spot for greatest servant was filled by Jesus, we can still make the most of our time by being a great servant.  There are many in need and you have the means to fill those needs. You are equipped with the gospel, ears to listen, and a mouth to encourage.  Some of you even have money tied up in resources that could be sold. These funds could change the world.  

Think of how the world would be if we were all working to be the greatest servant.  This is how greatness would truly be seen. 

 Reflection

In what ways is pride keeping you from serving unhindered?

Can you explain the Gospel clearly to someone else?

What resources, skills, abilities, gifts, experiences do you have that can benefit others?
Put away your pride and find someplace to go and serve.  This could be at your church, a local food pantry, or even a mission trip.  

Prayer

Father, Your Son, has taught us rightly that we are Your servants.  We are about Your work; the work of reconciling the world to You through the greatest act of love ever known…the cross. Give us even more opportunities to serve using all You have given us.  Pour us out like a drink offering to the world around us. May Jesus receive all the glory He is due.  In His name we pray, Amen!

The post How To Be The Greatest first appeared on Brian Friedl.

I had been trying to hold my life’s pieces together by myself and it seems that I had reached my limit in that moment. More importantly, through the truth shared from God’s word, I had entered into the presence of Jesus Christ. 

I have to admit I was a little caught off guard.  Perhaps that was because, like Paul said, Jesus is light and there is no darkness in Him at all.  Being in the presence of Jesus’ pure holiness causes our darkness to be see clearly.  That night, for the first time, I clearly saw the darkness of my soul; my blatant disregard for my loving Father in heaven, my willful disobedience and self-centeredness.  I felt worthy to be in His presence.  

As Simon (Peter) was cleaning his nets from the unproductive attempts , he likewise had an encounter with Jesus.  Our Lord requested that he put out into deep water and let down the nets again.   I’m sure Peter was tired, frustrated and there may have been a hint of sarcasticastic tone as he speaks to Jesus but obeys.  The nets end up getting filled to full measure so much so that it takes two boats to haul in the catch.  Peter falls at Jesus feet and says “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”  

There are three things that stand out to me in this passage about the presence of Jesus. 

HUMBLED- Jesus is light and therefore exposes our darkness.  Peter was humbled. Jesus didn’t comment on Peter’s sin.  He didn’t have to. The powerful presence of His holiness and light revealed that Peter was not worthy to be in His presence. 

DEPENDENT- With God all things are possible. Peter had worked hard all night without any success.  I’m sure he had used years of experience and every trick he knew and yet his hands were empty.  Peter was taught a simple lesson that he would need reminding of later.  We need to be dependent on the Lord, not our own hands, to provide. 

PREPARED – Jesus prepares us for our mission.  Later in the text we see Jesus tell Peter that he will be a fisher of men.  To do this it was necessary that he be humbled and dependent.  As they arrive at shore, a new journey in life began for Peter as he leftbehind everything and followed Jesus. 

Reflection

I believe those of us who sincerely profess Jesus as Lord must remain humble and dependent as we walk out our mission as fishers of men.  One of the biggest dangers in the Christian life is forgetting the holiness of God and thereby our need of Him. 

Take some time to remember back to when you first understood your sinful nature and your need of Jesus. 

Are you still operating in that humility and dependence?

Prayer

Father, let us never discount your holiness and think that we are good enough.  May our hearts ever desire to be more obedient and dependent on You.  Hide Your word in our heart that we might not sin against you.  Fuel us by every word that proceeds out of Your mouth as we fish for the men and women You have set in our path.  We lift all this in the powerful and holy name of Jesus, Amen!

The post Humbled Dependent And Prepared first appeared on Brian Friedl.