HEART TROUBLE

One of the reasons we Christians find ourselves in trouble is because we have a tendency to say that we believe but we often do not trust.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.”John 14:1

“I am the way the truth and the life ”  John 14:6

Why were the disciples troubled?  Because they did not trust. So then ,it is a matter of what ever situation we are in we can trust God. You see He is the way, He is the truth and He is the life.

Now, He doesn’t say I will show you the way, no, He says I am the way. He doesn’t say I will tell you about truth, no, He is the truth. He doesn’t say I know how you can get life,no, He says I am life. When you get hooked up with Jesus you are on the way , you know the truth and you have life.

If we can tap into this principle then we will not have troubled hearts. We will not only believe but we will trust.

Be encouraged with these scriptures about trouble. You see trouble is all around us but you must recognize that God is all around us dealing with our trouble.

           

 

IV’E HAD ENOUGH

We have been talking about trouble in the last few post and I am sure there is no need to try and define trouble. Most of us have our own definition. Up to this point we have seen that God is in our midst as we go trough our troubles.

I do believe there is a way that we might escape some of the troubles we find ourselves in at times. let me share a scripture with you that is important.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow. for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”   Matthew 6:34  English standard verson.

Today’s trouble, does that mean we will automatically have some kind of trouble today? I guess it does, sure didn’t want to hear that kind of nonsense. I guess tomorrow will soon be today, so I guess I can assume when tomorrow becomes today I will have a new set of troubles.

Seems like a vicious circle to me. I am sure glad I have God in the midst of this day to help me with the troubles I have today and no doubt He will be there when tomorrow turns into today. I tell you what, I am not going to worry about tomorrow.

CHECK OUT heartburncafe.com

 

 

 

TROUBLING TIMES

Every one of us has, at some time, experienced trouble in our lives. God knows our troubles and He gives us comfort in those times of affliction. Incidentally, there is more than one reason as to why He comforts us. Remember it just isn’t about us. Here is a great biblical principle to follow.

“Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted.” II Corinthians 1:4

Because God helps us and comforts us in our trouble it is then our ministry and obligation to comfort those who are in trouble. Have you been ministered to lately in your trouble, or have you ministered to others while they are facing their trouble.

We are living in TROUBLING times. We need each other to provide the comfort we need in these trying times.

 

TROUBLE INSIDE

When we think of trouble we often are thinking outwardly. Things that happen to us in just living life. Not having enough money, a broken relationship, a health issue of some kind, a wrecked car, losing a job, bad grades.

“Hear me and answer me. My THOUGHTS TROUBLE me and I am distraught.” Psalm 55:2

The items I mentioned previously usually have a way of making themselves into our inner being,  into our minds. That is why the psalmist said that his THOUGHTS  TROUBLED him. He went on to say I am distraught. The word distraught means upset or distressed.

Maybe you have experienced what David the psalmist had experienced in Psalms 42:5   “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?”

Probably the greatest trouble any of us experience is being depressed. A heavy cloud hangs over us and our THOUGHTS TROUBLE us.  Now I know most of you will say, I have never experienced what you are talking about.  However, if you will be honest with me, you will humbly say, I know what you are talking about.

Do what the psalmist did. ATTEND TO ME, AND ANSWER ME!  Sounds kind of pushy doesn’t it. I think that is the way God intended it to be. Let God bring healing to your mind today.

Check us out on heartburncafe.com

 

LOOK BEHIND YOU

Anything troubling you today? If not, just stick around because trouble is near.

“Be not far from me, for TROUBLE is near, and there is none to help.” psalm 22:11

Another word to describe trouble is DISTRESS. Distress is mental agony caused by anxiety, grief and unhappiness. Because we have so many things we deal with during the day such as money, family, health, pride, work and church any one thing can trigger mental distress and that leads to trouble. You can see how trouble is always near.

We often times seek help from people around us.  As sincere as we might want to be in helping, often times we fall short of actually helping other in their time of trouble.

Though it may seem that God does not care and many times it may seem as if He is absent when we are in trouble. Be assured He is not far from you.

These are very encouraging words for today because trouble is near and God is not far from us in our trouble.

Be encouraged today. Psalm 23:6 says “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

In other words, when in trouble just look right behind you and you will see goodness and mercy. You see they follow you where ever you go.

 

HIDING FROM TROUBLE

Have you ever been in trouble? I am sure the answer to that question would be yes, of course, I have been in trouble. We are going to look at the question of trouble for the next few post. More importantly we will look at scripture and see how that God is there with us in time of trouble.

“For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of TROUBLE; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will lift me high upon a rock.”  Psalm 27:5

In each post I will give a word that defines the word TROUBLE from the original Greek language. You will be able to identify with at least one of these words.

The first word to define trouble is ADVERSITY. This word simply means an extremely unfavorable experience or event.

Remember this, when you find yourself in an unfavorable experience or event be assured God will hide you in His shelter, He will conceal you under His tent and set you upon a rock.

If you are in TROUBLE at the present time, claim this verse and trust God that He will do what He says He will do for you.

May God encourage you in your trouble with His word today.

Check out heartburncafe.com

 

PUFF

“Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”   Ecclesiastes 1:2

Verses like this bother me, as a matter of fact I get confused. For one thing preachers say a lot of things that confuse me, Solomon says a lot of things that confuse me and as a matter of fact, even God says some things that confuse me.

Vanity simple means a VAPOR or a BREATH. Pictured by a warm breath in the cold air which vanishes and disappears, empty, gone. So the preacher is saying everything is empty.

He is saying wealth, fame, fun,  honor, pleasure, all those things that I enjoy so much are empty.

I guess my question is, what do we live for?  We are just chasing a vapor that vanishes. Wow, that sounds like fun, that seems like purpose in life doesn’t it.It sure seems like in our culture we are all running around trying to grasp the air and coming up empty.

Sometimes it is best to read the end of a book to see a clearer picture as to what the writer is talking about.  Maybe we  can make sense out of this vanity.

The conclusion of the whole matter is: “Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13

This then is the whole purpose of man is to fear God and to obey Him.  By doing so you will be able to grasp something other than that which vanishes. For you see God is eternal, no vanishing in Him. You want to grab something that is not in vain, then grab a hold of God. When you grab a hold of Him, you have something real and lasting.

Check us out a heartburncafe.com

 

GO AHEAD AND SHOUT!

In my last post I spoke of the overload of noise in our culture today in comparison to the still small voice of God. Psalm 46:10 reads ” Be still, and know I am God.“

In contrast to this quiet mode that the bible speaks of I am curious at such verses that speaks of shouting and being loud.

Psalm 32:11  “shout for joy, all you upright in heart.”

Psalm 47:1    “oh, clap your hands, all you people!  Shout to God with the voice of triumph!

Psalm 98:4   “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.”

Psalm 150:5 “Praise him with loud cymbals.”

How do we explain the contrast between being quiet and being loud?

When God is speaking to us and dealing in our lives to grow us spiritually we need to be quiet and listen to His still small voice. He is not going to speak to us  in all of the noise of our culture. He will speak to us in His still small voice of God.That voice we hear inwardly.

When we are speaking on behalf of God concerning how He has blessed us and has grown us spiritually we are to shout that message to all those around us. In a sense it is to bring glory to God concerning His mighty acts and works He has done for us in our lives. I want everyone to know what God has done for me.

We have before us a great contrast in our relationship with God. In other words, there is a time to be quiet and their is a time to shout and be noisy.

It reminds us of what Solomon said many years ago, there is a time for everything. A time to be quiet and a time to shout.

Check out heartburncafe.com

 

QUIET PLEASE

Our culture is overloaded with noise. Early today before all of the  man made noises were going about their business, I was able to listen to the beautiful sounds of God’s natural world. The birds were singing as if they were expecting spring to arrive.

I often think of our kids today with the noise of video games and music. With controls in their hands and audio plugs in their ears. When do they ever come off their emotional highs and relax their body, soul and mind.

I was reminded of that quietness today when I officiated the funeral service of a women that had lived for 90 years. Her family commented upon the fact that she had a gentle and quiet spirit.

I thought of I Peter 3:4 ” rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

I Kings 19:12 ” and after the fire a still small voice.

How about you? Have you had a time  today when you were able to block out the noise of the world and have a quiet time with God and listen to His still small voice?

It is worth your time daily to listen for that still small voice, and it’s sort of precious to Him.

 

THE ENDURANCE TEST

“People are valued more for what they endure than for what they achieve.” Mick Hume

I believe this is the way God looks upon His kids.He is more concerned about our becoming so we might endure than our doing so we might achieve. You see where the value is to be placed. Many of you may be enduring at the present. Be assured that is of great price in the eyes of God.

Check out heartburncafe.com