Impossible

If you're more than like 5 minutes old you know one thing is certain: stuff in life will let you down or be taken from you. As babies, we were let down when our parents took away our pacifiers. As teenagers, we were let down when that certain boy or girl didn't like us back, or when mom and dad took away the car keys. As adults, we're still getting let down about that certain boy or girl not liking us back. We get let down when the economy looks like it's tanking and our life savings could be taken from us.

It seems like so many times in life, bad stuff happens and gets in the way of us getting where we want to be. For instance, you didn't get that job you KNEW was perfect for you and you deserved it the best. Or someone you love gets sick and you don't understand why your time with them may be cut short. Or someone breaks into your house and steals away everything that is of sentimental importance to you.

Those things happen. It's the harsh reality of life.

But you wanna know something that CAN'T be taken away from us? Something that is ours no matter what bad stuff gets in our way? (Yes, I promise, even though it sounds too good to be true, there is something that answers both of these questions).

No one can ever take away God's gift of Salvation from those of us who have made the decision to believe in Him and accept Him into our hearts. No one can ever take away God's love for us. No one can ever made God love us more, or less.

Don't believe me? Here's some Bible to back it up.

John 10:28-30
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;
no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”

Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 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.

Right there in black and white. NOTHING can separate us from the love of God. NO ONE can snatch us from His hand. It's impossible! Wow!

So for those of you who feel let down by something right now, or are in a confused place where you don't understand the circumstances, remember this: God loves you, and that can never be taken away from you. If you have believed in the name of the Lord and accepted Him into your heart, you will live forever with Him in heaven. No if's and's or but's about it. It's yours.

Be encouraged, friends.

Til next time,
ST

Refuge

We had a terrible storm hit the south east last night. In Columbia, South Carolina, the strongest winds were measured at 75mph, and I've heard that in Tennessee winds topped around 100mph.





It's crazy to me how all of a sudden everything seems to be going fine and then BAM. A storm comes in and just tears up everything. Your pretty yard is now a mess. Your house that you thought would keep you safe was torn in half by a tree. Everything is in disarray. Your power is out. Your car is flipped over. Everything you thought would protect you and provide you refuge is now turned inside-out.

Many people in our area are experiencing this today as they wake up. The storm is over, but the effects are long-lasting. They don't know what to do.




Ever feel like this in life? You're going along just fine and dandy and then WHAM. A storm hits you and makes your life crazy and unbelievably challenging. Things who you thought would protect you or keep you safe let you down. People you trust leave you hanging out to dry. The list goes on and on. And if you let it, the pressure of it all can be too much to bear.

Good thing we have a God who promises to be our constant refuge. Just in the book of Psalms alone, the word "refuge" is mentioned 43 times. When a word is repeated over and over in the Bible like that, it is repeated for a reason! God wants us to know that He will ALWAYS be there for us and provide us refuge from all of the storms life throws at us!

Psalm 59:16
16 But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 71:3
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 91:2
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

God promises to be our refuge in times of trouble. He promises to hold us and take care of us. If we don't believe that, then we're calling God a liar. And God OBVIOUSLY isn't a liar. So believe what His word says. Believe it, take a deep breath, and trust that whatever storm has left damage in your life, God will take care of you.

Til next time,
ST