Devotional Song: Go to this link … Please go to this video link to see/hear a video of Cathy Trocolli singing her poignant song with lyrics, He Will Make A Way, which proclaims the truth that nothing in our lives is beyond God’s way and power to retrieve and redeem us when things seem impossible. … And then go to this link to another video of the movie character, ANNIE, singing the classic song of hopeTomorrow, which gives all who believe hope in the face of the trials of today.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Isaiah 42: 18-19 [NKJV] …
18 “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.?
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Isaiah 42: 14-21 [NKJV] … Go to this link … =============
Reference Passage #1: 1st Corinthians 10: 13 [NKJV] …
13 No temptation [also translated “test, trial, or tribulation”] has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Reference Passage #2: 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] …
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Reference Passage #3: Matthew 19: 25 [NKJV] …
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” … 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
My Journal for Today: This very morning, on the day before I celebrate the brightest, most hopeful, day of my life, the day I became a Christian 31 years ago, I’m headed to a retreat meeting of the Elders of our church; and the meeting has a foreboding cloud over it. At the present time there is a growing feelings of pessimism which are spreading among our flock; and there is some degree of turmoil which lies ahead. I hate confrontation, even when I know it must be encountered, to deal with the trials of life.
And in the midst of all of this, I woke up this morning with these foreboding feelings and the realization, being called by God to be an Elder in our church, I was going to have to go “face the music” and head out to this retreat today where my brother Elders and I will be facing these storm clouds.
And then … and then … I went, as do everyday, to get with God, in the solitude of my quiet place, to pray and delve into God’s word; and low and behold, God’s perfect timing brought me to my Our Daily Bread devotional, which led me to read a highlight passage from Isaiah 43: 14-21 where the Prophet was speaking for God to a remnant of believers among the Israelites; and God’s people back then were in a lot more turmoil than we – NOW - in our church could ever imagine.
And I was lifted up to search for songs, as I do everyday, which would reflect the subject matter of my quiet-time journaling; and God’s Spirit – I believe – led me to two songs, one by Kathy Trocolli, where she proclaims that “God Will Make A Way” no matter how bad things get; and then to the classic Broadway song, from the musical Annie, …the song ”Tomorrow,” which also tells the story of hope in the midst of trial.
Then God’s Spirit bubbled up from my memory three reference Scriptures to my mind/heart, the first two where the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth (and to all Christians alike) about two truths which help any believer to know that God will never allow His faithful remnant, just like those to whom He was addressing through the Prophet Isaiah, to face any set of trials where, with a heart of thanksgiving and humility, we cannot confront and where our Lord won’t give us the enabling and empowering grace to prevail.
So, though I’m still headed toward a meeting where the storm clouds hang heavy, I do so – in faith – with an attitude of hope because as my final reference verse above where Jesus proclaims, ” nothing is impossible” when we rely on our God.
My Prayer for Today … Lord, I pray that your servants this morning will find the humility to surrender to Your amazing grace so that Your church can come through these storm clouds with a testimony of victory for You. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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