God always shows up when we need Him most

God had provided! God had blessed! God had given me everything I needed to succeed in something that seemed impossible to me and everyone around me. In the hardest of times God showed up!!

Source: Inspirational Bible Verses on Breathtaking Photos

I have often found my walk with God a little lonely, I have amazing inspirational God-fearing parents who I praise the Lord for blessing me with, but I never really had any friends or people my own age to share the experience of a life lived with God in it. When I was 24 I got the opportunity to take part in a gap year project, three months in Kenya and two months in Canada. Towards the end of the Kenya leg of our trip, our challenge was to climb Mount Kenya. A few days before this happened I had developed throat ulcers by taking my anti malaria tablets one evening without following it with plenty of water which was a most painful experience. It was agonising to even swallow, which made the three day climb up the mountain all the more difficult, although my team were amazing and helped me as much as they could. The day came for us to climb to the summit and as I was woken at 3 or 4am. I felt a lot of anticipation and in my heart, due to the way I was feeling, I knew I couldn't do it. As we began our climb I began to struggle almost immediately, I had no energy and was finding it difficult to breathe. Eventually my group made the decision to go on without me, leaving me with one of our three guides. At first I attempted to keep going with the hope of catching them, however their head lights quickly disappeared out of sight. Over the next hour or so several groups passed by and each time I tried to follow them, but it didn't take long before they too had disappeared from sight. I got to a particularly ‘temperamental’ section of the mountain and found myself falling over again and again and after the sixth time of this happening I just sat on the ground in despair.

Source: PInterest

My group had left with the small amount of food and water we had to share, I was alone with a guide who didn't speak English, trying to make my way up a mountain in the dark. I didn't have the strength or determination to keep going and I started babbling to the guide about how I just couldn't go on. When I mentioned the word water, he clearly recognised this and pulled a bottle from his backpack which he handed to me. A few moments later I saw a couple of lights bobbing up the mountain towards us which turned out to be a lone man and his guide. The latter (the guide) spoke English and he offered me an eclair sweet. As they moved on up the mountain I was determined to keep up with them. I continually ran out of steam and giving up hope, but each time, still in visibility, the man and his guide would stop too, giving me fresh determination to keep going. This continued all the way up the mountain, and the generous man also offered me a little food and drink from his flask as sustenance along the way. Eventually we came within sight of the top of the mountain and I saw my group on their descent. When I mentioned it was time to go back down, the man’s guide spoke to me about not giving up and making it to the top no matter what. So, I pushed on and I made it!!

My team continued down the mountain without me which I was a little upset about. For the duration of my descent it went over and over in my head, how could they leave me? I had no issue with them doing so on the way up, no-one believed I could make it, but on the way down I could not understand why they would leave me. The wonderful guides assisted me on the descent (towards the end, leaving the man to find his own way down). I was so grateful to them all, but so angry with my team. In time, when I had calmed down I realised this - God had provided! God had blessed! God had given me everything I needed to succeed in something that seemed impossible to me and everyone around me. In the hardest of times God showed up!! But then, the enemy had crept in to try to steal and destroy, to take away my joy and my blessing, turning something amazing into bitterness and anger. We need to remember to count our blessing, to see God's hand in all the wonders in our life, but also recognise and protect our hearts and minds from the deception of the enemy. God is good all the time and when you need Him, He will always show up. Praise God.

John 10:10 'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’

1 Corinthians 13:7 ‘It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres’

Author:Rebekah Cronk

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God is at work in All our circumstances All the time

Time cannot diminish God’s love or His power to work within our lives. God was in the past, God is present in the here and now and God will be there in the future. The truth is God has all the time in the world, a thousand years or a day it's all the same to Him

Source: Zazzle

We manage time, waste time, spend time and save time. We wish time would pass, we see time fly, we feel time drag. We watch clocks, mobile phone, watches and we carry diaries, however, it is God that is in control of time. God created time and His creations are formed by His time, directed and guided by His loving hands. I've mentioned time so many times, because all time and circumstances are in God’s hand. We are surprised by unexpected developments, but God is never surprised, even by the most disastrous turn of events. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that His power is at work within us to carry out His purpose in His time (not our own); ‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us’.
   
There is a comforting message in Exodus 14:21 showing us how God is at work all of the time, including during the hours of darkness; ‘Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided’. The work of God for the children of Israel was done all through the night. The Israelites did not wake the following morning to find that they could not cross the Red Sea, because God was at work all that night, which is exactly the same way He works in our circumstances.  Our outlook on life should change when accept that at this very moment, God is working within us to carry out His purpose. Think about how you would live if you were absolutely certain that God was at the end of your deadline, that even if there were mere seconds left you believed through faith, with certainty, He was working through all your circumstances. Nothing would seem or indeed be impossible. In the scriptures below and in the worship song at the end of this article, God is telling us that time is in His hands and that there is no need for us to worry because He will establish our steps. Amen:

Source: Women of Grace

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace’.

Matthew 6:33-34 ‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own’.

Proverbs 16:9 ‘In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Believing that God is there always and that He will provide in all circumstances is the essence of faith.  In Hebrews 13:8 we are reminded that ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever’, and He makes us the following promises:

We can give our burdens to the Lord and He will look after us; Psalm 55:22 ‘Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken’

God is our help and refuge during tough times, day and night, 24/7; Psalm 46:1 ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble’. Notice that God is our ‘ever-present help’, which tells us He is there for us at all times.

God’s greatness is beyond our comprehension, there is nothing He cannot do; Psalm 145:3 ‘Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom’

Time cannot diminish God’s love or His power to work within our lives. God was in the past, God is present in the here and now and God will be there in the future. The truth is God has all the time in the world, a thousand years or a day it's all the same to Him; Psalm 90:4 ‘A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night’. God’s ultimate goal is to bring us into eternity, not just to get us through to the end of the week, which is why God is always in all of our circumstances. So, let's remind ourselves that in every situation God’s power is at work within us to carry out His purpose, and to do super abundantly above all that we dare to ask or think beyond our highest prayer desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams. Praise God that He is always at work in all our circumstances. Amen.

Ephesians 5:15-17 ‘Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is’.

Author: Herbert Jean

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Oh, precious one of Israel do not fret

God tries to communicate with us in many ways and there is no doubt that God wants this message heard.

Source: PInterest

A member of our congregation recently purchased a second-hand bible from a charity shop and was surprised when she opened it up to see a handwritten note. It is not clear how old the note is as there was no date on it and there were also no details of who wrote it. God tries to communicate with us in many ways and there is no doubt that God wants this message heard, which is clearly a Word for somebody. There were a small number of words that were difficult to read due to the handwriting however in these instances the words have been interpreted in the context of the writing that proceeds and follows them. What follows is a transcript that has been written word for word as it was originally written with a few minor interpretations (those words highlighted in blue) where required;

‘Oh precious one of Israel do not fret for the time is short and the door is open for you, just climb in, do not be afraid of tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself. Do not be afraid because I have put you here to do good to each other and to man. Do not fret I am coming soon to rescue you all, do not fret, do not fret my child I am coming to rescue you all, do not be afraid even if they advance an army against you, my gates are open wide, do not fret, do not fret even if an army advances against you, because I have positioned you here my child. Do not be destroyed in your worries of the future or past. You have been made a prisoner, stolen from the past into the future. I am coming soon to break the fettles which claim you, I am coming soon to break the shackles. You will be free soon my child, do not fret, because I am coming soon, soon my child. Do not fret my child because I have not deceived you about your future home, which is with me. Reflect my life in your life, do not be shy and speak the truth my child because I have set you free from all the lies and deceit. Do not fret my child because I will be coming soon. I have chosen a home for you. They teased you because of me and the future I have for you. I am taking you to a new land of pastures where there will be peace, away from everything. I am your future husband, I am the man in your life, I have chosen you for this hour, I have chosen you my chosen one of Israel. Come out of here – I cannot be deceived’.

Source: Stephlin's Mountain

In addition to the hand-written note above there was a further much briefer note found in the same bible. This note was clearly written by a different person as the writing was significantly different and much easier to read. A date of 6th September 2015 was written at the top of this note. The transcript below is exactly as it was written, as all words were clear to read, and was entitled ‘A forgiving heart’;

‘Christianity is best defined in terms of relationships, to loving God with all our heart and loving people as ourselves. Un-forgiveness in any of these, our vital relationships, block our access to God who commands us to be kind to one another with a loving compassionate heart, forgiving each other as God in His mercy forgave us' (Ephesians 4:32).

Ephesians 4:32 ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’

Be blessed.

Authors: Anonymous

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God supplies our needs; not our wants

There is a very big difference between something we need and something that we want. A need is something that we must have and is essential, whereas a want is something that we would like to have, but is not essential.

Source: Be Overcomers

In January 2016 I had an old van that I used for work. It was quite a small van but it served its purpose, however I needed an upgrade for all my tools, equipment and materials and therefore decided that I needed a much bigger van. After a bit of searching I found a van, not too far from where I lived which seemed to suit me down to the ground. The van cost me £3000 and I thought to myself, new year, new start, new van and I was quite excited. The trouble is, from that point onwards everything seemed to go downhill. I had a few problems where I couldn’t get the engine to start so I had to get a friend of mine to come and take a look.  My friend did some work on the engine and everything seemed to be ok, until the next morning when the van wouldn’t start at all! The van was taken to a specialist garage who managed to get the van going again and I was relieved and thought ‘great, I’m back on the road again’. A few days later however, something else went wrong and I broke down again and this continued to happen for the best part of three months. I think, in all I must have broken down about eleven times and it was costing me an absolute fortune, in fact I suspect that I must have spent more than double the amount I had paid for the van, on repairs.

At the time of my van troubles it is also worth mentioning that I am self-employed and as you can imagine, having an unreliable van had a major impact on my work. If I’m not working, I’m not getting paid so it was essential for me to get the van fixed. I remember having an argument with God and asking Him, ‘Why me?’. His answer really surprised me when He told me ‘you must tithe’. I thought to myself, ‘that is not exactly the answer I was looking for. I’ve already spent thousands of pounds and now you want me to tithe as well!’. I decided to carry on as before and tried to get the van fixed again and a week later it broke down again, I got it fixed again and then it broke down again.  I had another argument with God because I clearly was not getting anywhere and He gave me the same answer; ‘you must tithe’. I thought to myself ‘how can I tithe, I’ve got no money left?’ Another week went by, my head was spinning and I did not know what to do. Throughout this entire period, God still provided me with plenty of work, Praise God. I spoke to my Pastor and he told me exactly what God had told me ‘you need to tithe’. I thought ‘great, that’s three times I’ve heard that now, God must have a sense of humour!’. It is only now with hindsight that I can understand where He was coming from but at the time, when I was in that time of trouble my head was filled with fog and desperation.

Source: nancyaruegg.com

Matthew 6:31-33 tells us ‘So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’. With my van problems, at first I thought, I’m going to carry on under my own strength, but I got so fed up that I ended up not driving the van at all because I couldn’t be bothered anymore. I ended up hiring a different van! It was at this point that I thought to myself ‘you know what, I’m going to step out in faith and tithe.’ The scripture from Matthew 6:33 came to mind; ‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’ and I felt an idea planted in my mind to go and buy a brand-new van, so that if anything went wrong with it then it will be the manufacturers problem, not mine. I went to a Dealership and one of the sales team talked me through the different options that were available to me. The van I had originally bought (the one that kept breaking down) was the one I really wanted, however I realized that this was not what I needed. I ended up getting a new blue van which was far better (and much more reliable) than I could have ever imagined. God knows exactly what we want and He knows our needs. Every time we go through times of trouble God helps will help us out, He knows us so well, He knew everything we needed before we were born. I can see now that I was getting my wants mixed up with my needs and God showed me time and time again that He will provide all of my needs, which is very different from my wants, as long as I was prepared to step out in faith. Remember God’s Word tells us to ‘seek first his kingdom’. First means, before anything else, and as you can see from my testimony it took me a while to really understand and grasp that.

In Philippians 4:19 God tells us that all our needs will be met; ‘And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus’. To think that God will provide all our needs is very comforting however we can often mis-interpret this, believing that all our wants will be met instead. There is a very big difference between something we need and something that we want. A need is something that we must have and is essential, whereas a want is something that we would like to have, but is not essential. My testimony provides a good example of how God taught me the difference and that in all circumstances at all times I should seek Him first rather than try to do things under my own strength. Praise God and thank you for Jesus.

Author: Phil Jones

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