God is guarding us. He’s keeping our faith strong. This living hope gives us strength and joy in the midst of all sorts of trials.

Oh! when we think that Christ was Creator of the world and that on his all-sustaining shoulders did hang the universe, we cannot wonder that his death is mighty to redeem and that his blood should cleanse from sin.

Are you looking for ways to serve others or is your focus on how others should serve you? Think about where you may be acting selfishly or standing on your rights. Focus instead on how you can sacrificially serve others and you will have rewards in heaven.

He wants you to open your heart to Him. Let Him search you like David in the Bible did when he said, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” Psalm 139:1-6 (NLT)

Jesus is the sweetest name I know

And he’s just the same as his holy name

And that’s the reason why I love Him so

Jesus is the sweetest name I know

We can tell a lot about a person, tea,m, or community by how they win or lose. Winning can expose feelings of joy, pride, exhilaration, even boastful arrogance or humble dignity.

Losing can expose both humility and humiliation, anger and accusations, pettiness, jealousy, good sportsmanship and maturity or immaturity.

O Rock divine, O Refuge dear,

A Shelter in the time of storm;

Be Thou our Helper ever near,

A Shelter in the time of storm.

It’s possible to be too big or proud for God to use, but we can never be too little. “Out of weakness” we are “made strong” (Heb.11:34).

To practice the faith that is in us, there will come points where even a simple request will seem like too much. 

At each of those points along the way, we have to decide whether to be faithful even when it costs.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘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.’”