Steadfast
Steadfast – Stand Firm – Stand Still
– Immovable. In this Day
of Change, we long for something that is secure. Something that will last. Something we can count on no matter
what. We buy security gadgets for our
house, cover the house, our lives and car with insurance, and yet we search for
the Unchanging in our world.
– Immovable. In this Day
of Change, we long for something that is secure. Something that will last. Something we can count on no matter
what. We buy security gadgets for our
house, cover the house, our lives and car with insurance, and yet we search for
the Unchanging in our world.
Let’s look in God’s
Word. Imagine with me a people who lived under slavery in Egypt for hundreds of years. Moses, through the power of God, led them out
of Egypt. Were they saved completely
from the Egyptians? The people stood on
the banks of the Red Sea; they saw the horsemen and chariots in the distance
streaking toward them. They were
terrified as they saw instant death approaching.
Word. Imagine with me a people who lived under slavery in Egypt for hundreds of years. Moses, through the power of God, led them out
of Egypt. Were they saved completely
from the Egyptians? The people stood on
the banks of the Red Sea; they saw the horsemen and chariots in the distance
streaking toward them. They were
terrified as they saw instant death approaching.
† – But
Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and
watch the Lord rescue
you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. Exodus 14:13
Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and
watch the Lord rescue
you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. Exodus 14:13
Stand still? What else could they do? I can see the women weeping and holding their
children closely. Surely Moses spoke in
jest, that they would never see the Egyptians again. What could the Lord do? Why did they follow Moses anyway? Behind them, they heard a mighty ‘swoosh’ as
the waters heaped up leaving a dry path across the sea. Who could do this? Adonai, God the Father, the Creator of all we
see every day, parted the water and they passed to the far shore. They turned back to see another mighty swoosh
as the waters closed again over the heads of the Egyptians that had followed
them. Stand Still and Watch the Lord
Rescue You Today. Often the Word of God
says Wait. †
– Wait for the Lord; be
strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14
children closely. Surely Moses spoke in
jest, that they would never see the Egyptians again. What could the Lord do? Why did they follow Moses anyway? Behind them, they heard a mighty ‘swoosh’ as
the waters heaped up leaving a dry path across the sea. Who could do this? Adonai, God the Father, the Creator of all we
see every day, parted the water and they passed to the far shore. They turned back to see another mighty swoosh
as the waters closed again over the heads of the Egyptians that had followed
them. Stand Still and Watch the Lord
Rescue You Today. Often the Word of God
says Wait. †
– Wait for the Lord; be
strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14
When our world seems to have come to a stand still –
as calamity comes upon us through separation, death, a debilitating and
terminal disease, we think our world has come to an end. No one cares, not even God, is what we
believe. It is then the dawn breaks, a
sign of the steadfastness of God. The
rising sun is unchangeable. The seasons
change, the rains come, bounteous harvests speak of the steadfastness of God.
as calamity comes upon us through separation, death, a debilitating and
terminal disease, we think our world has come to an end. No one cares, not even God, is what we
believe. It is then the dawn breaks, a
sign of the steadfastness of God. The
rising sun is unchangeable. The seasons
change, the rains come, bounteous harvests speak of the steadfastness of God.
My Aunt Irene sent me a card with this verse —† –The
steadfast love of the Lord never
ceases; his mercies never
come to an end; they are new every
morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23. This card greets me each morning and
reminds me to give praise and glory to God for His Mercy and Steadfast
Love. This is Hope. Hope for the new day to give thanks, to
remember Him, to see my life through His eyes.
Thank you, Aunt Irene!
steadfast love of the Lord never
ceases; his mercies never
come to an end; they are new every
morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23. This card greets me each morning and
reminds me to give praise and glory to God for His Mercy and Steadfast
Love. This is Hope. Hope for the new day to give thanks, to
remember Him, to see my life through His eyes.
Thank you, Aunt Irene!
Have you ever felt the
power of God? Known the wisdom of His
Love? Had prayers answered? Known the surety of His love?
power of God? Known the wisdom of His
Love? Had prayers answered? Known the surety of His love?
When we visited our
daughter and her family in California, the experience I had was life
changing. We went to the beach, walked
on the sand. I gazed out at the curved
horizon. After I removed my shoes and
waded into the ocean and stood as the waves pulled at me, threatening to topple
me into the water. I knew I was at the
edge of the ‘pull’. Yet, its strength
continued to tug at me. And I knew a
small inkling of the power of God. The
steadfastness of the waves and the power of the waves made me know how real God
is. Can you imagine Jesus calming the
storm, or walking on the water? Can you
see Jonah in the midst of the storm?
Remember how Jesus changed the water to wine?
daughter and her family in California, the experience I had was life
changing. We went to the beach, walked
on the sand. I gazed out at the curved
horizon. After I removed my shoes and
waded into the ocean and stood as the waves pulled at me, threatening to topple
me into the water. I knew I was at the
edge of the ‘pull’. Yet, its strength
continued to tug at me. And I knew a
small inkling of the power of God. The
steadfastness of the waves and the power of the waves made me know how real God
is. Can you imagine Jesus calming the
storm, or walking on the water? Can you
see Jonah in the midst of the storm?
Remember how Jesus changed the water to wine?
Then the woman at the
well being introduced to living water…†
– Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God,
and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked
him, and he would have given you living water.” The
woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is
deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you
greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it
himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”
John 4:10-12
well being introduced to living water…†
– Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God,
and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked
him, and he would have given you living water.” The
woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is
deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you
greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it
himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”
John 4:10-12
I stood in the ocean that summer day, feeling God’s
power, remembering, and knowing that God created every drop of water, and gave
his Son, Jesus to give me the understanding of eternity with Him. No pain, no tears, no dying.
power, remembering, and knowing that God created every drop of water, and gave
his Son, Jesus to give me the understanding of eternity with Him. No pain, no tears, no dying.
Life is a series of choices – each of us make the
ultimate choice of faith and trust in God.
If we have choose life, we have it abundantly. † – The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life
and have it abundantly.
ultimate choice of faith and trust in God.
If we have choose life, we have it abundantly. † – The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life
and have it abundantly.
†
– Therefore,
my beloved brothers, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord
your labor is not in vain. I Corinthians 15:58
– Therefore,
my beloved brothers, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord
your labor is not in vain. I Corinthians 15:58
†
– But I have trusted in
your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
Psalm 13:5
– But I have trusted in
your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
Psalm 13:5
†
– All the paths of
the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25:10
– All the paths of
the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25:10
†
– For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart
from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
– For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart
from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
†
– Continue steadfastly
in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2
– Continue steadfastly
in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2
†
– May the Lord direct your
hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness
of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5
– May the Lord direct your
hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness
of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5
†
– Count it all joy, my
brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know
that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let
steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
– Count it all joy, my
brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know
that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let
steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
†
– Blessed is the man who
remains steadfast under
trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which
God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
– Blessed is the man who
remains steadfast under
trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which
God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
†
– Behold, we consider those
blessed who remained steadfast.
You have heard of the steadfastness
of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is
compassionate and merciful. James 5:11
– Behold, we consider those
blessed who remained steadfast.
You have heard of the steadfastness
of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is
compassionate and merciful. James 5:11
†
– For this very reason,
make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and
virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and
self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with
godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with
love. 2 Peter 1:5-7
– For this very reason,
make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and
virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and
self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with
godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with
love. 2 Peter 1:5-7
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