Author: cherylz1961

Cheryl Zelenka is a retired teacher, author, single mom, and brain tumor survivor. Her passion to encourage others with the Word of God is why she writes her Christian Encouragement blog, http://facingtrials.com Her first book, Facing Trials: Thoughts For Meditation is now available on on West Bow Press. http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/AdvancedSearch/Default.aspx? SearchTerm=Zelenka Her second book is a unique Bible Study called Divine Interruptions. Using the book of Job, Cheryl intertwines her struggle recovering from a brain tumor to his trial and the lessons he learned. http://facingtrials.com/ http://weepingintodancing.com/ http://inspirationalchristiansfortoday.com/
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A Biblical Attitude of Hope

cherylz1961

*anchor

To read more devotions by Cheryl Zelenka go to http://facingtrials.com

Where does your hope come from and where does it rest? Is it in the economy or political system? Is your hope resting on your career or financial and social status? Have you placed your hope in your spouse or even in your kids? Hope is where your confidence lies. The only secure and lasting hope is found in Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul understood this fact as evident in how he opens the book of 1 Timothy. The very first verse states, that Jesus Christ IS OUR HOPE.

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope.” 1 Timothy 1:1 (NKJV)

Abraham also understood that his hope had to rest in God. With a mighty promise the Lord spoke these words to Abraham ….

“By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—  blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.  In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”      Genesis 22:16-18 (NKJV).

Abraham means “Father of a Multitude.” But it was not until he was 100 years old that his child Isaac was born. Can you imagine introducing yourself with such a name and not have a single child to boast about? To see the promises of God occur, we must trust the character of God and His faithfulness to His Word. God cannot lie and as there is no other name above His, He swears an oath with His own name.

In Hebrews 6:17-18 God reveals His determination to give THE HEIRS of this promise a solid hope by reminding them that He is UNCHANGABLE. In a world that is always changing, the promises of God never change. He cannot lie.

Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

AND

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

Therefore, we can take comfort in knowing our hope, found in Jesus, is our refuge. We all suffer from trials and tribulations and become refugees at some point in life. We look for comfort and help so He is that “Strong Tower” we must run to for protection and strength.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV)

Hebrews 6:19 draws an analogy between our hope in Christ and an anchor. Our hope rooted in Christ is an anchor for our soul, the seat of emotions, our will, and the mind. An anchor is that sure and steadfast presence that keeps us steady and safe in the most turbulent of storms.

During a tempest, the anchor of a sailing ship is deployed to the depths of an ocean floor. It keeps the ship secure so it won’t crash against rocks or get lost at sea. However, the anchor of a Christian is not tossed to the watery depths found on earth. No, instead it is cast high above into the heavenly realm where God the Father abides. Our hope is in Christ. Christ is our anchor. Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father in HEAVEN. Therefore, our hope is in heaven interceding for us both day and night. He does not sleep.

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

We have a secure line to our anchor in the throne room. It is made of supernatural twin. But to enter into the hope God has promised, we must FLEE TO the place of refuge. Yes, on our knees we must seek His face and ask for His help. To receive the blessings of God we must exercise our faith, trusting in His love for us and in His plan to give us a hope and a future. Hope is the confident expectation of coming good. This is a strong consolation based on the very character of God. God is love.

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” John 4:8 (NKJV)

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES. WHERE YOU HAVE PLACED YOUR HOPE?

“The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” Psalm 147:11 (NKJV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (NIV)

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.” Psalm 57:1 (NKJV)

“In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.” Proverbs 14:26 (NKJV)

“For You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” Isaiah 25:4 (NKJV)

* SPECIAL THANKS to Pastor Eric Cartier of Rocky Mountain Calvary. His sermon on Hebrews 6:13-20 inspired this devotion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkMapZB8qMk

MY HOPE IS BUILT

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness seems to veil His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath His covenant and blood
Support me in the ‘whelming flood:
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When the last trumpet’s voice shall sound,
O may I then in him be found.
Clothed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before his throne.

Words by Edward Mote (1797-1874) and others
Music by Francis Blight (PRS)

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Your Spiritual Journey

cherylz1961

*Light on Path

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)

“For this is God,our God forever and ever;He will be our guide even to death.”   Psalm 48:14 (NKJV)

Your spiritual journey will have many different terrains and not just one footpath. Each trail was carefully designed and laid out by God long before you were born. Some routes will lead to valleys and others will suddenly slope upwards leading to high and occasionally dangerous mountaintop experiences. No matter where you proceed remember God is by your side.

Some paths are for but a short distance yet they have a meaningful purpose a lesson. Take time to reflect as you journey into each new territory and collect knowledge and wisdom from every spiritual adventure. What you gain from one path is knowledge that can later be applied to even greater challenges lying ahead.

Our individualized paths are more than we can manage on our own. We must rely on God’s provision as we trudge to, and then beyond each twist, turn and milestone. Some believers will start their spiritual expedition with pride in their backpack. They don’t want to trust anyone, not even God, to help them overcome difficult obstacles. Self-reliance is not what God intended when He created our will to survive. Rather, He meant for us to persevere and face every challenge while relying on HIS strength and power.

Our spiritual trek is life long and life changing, as long as we yield to God’s will and purpose. Sanctification takes us through the Refiner’s fire over and over, until we are purified and reflect the image of Christ. Then, when our allotted number of days is finished, we will reach our eternal home and receive our just reward.

How rapidly we travel upon our path is not determined by God. No, we set our own pace. The measure of our surrender will determine the amount of knowledge we gain on our journey and how quickly we progress through specific terrain. A yielded heart of obedience will do wonders for ones gait. By listening, obeying, and trusting God, we conquer even the greatest depths and heights on our journey.

Foolishly, some wander off the path of life and get lost. The Good Shepherd searches for each one calling them by name. And because they were never really out of His sight, every lamb is found. But many in His flock will remain rebellious and refuse to heed His call. He will not force them to follow Him. With sadness in His heart He leaves, never abandoning and always hoping for repentance, to rescue wounded lambs that require His arms to carry and heal.

If you are overwhelmed with the journey before you, consider whether you are piloting the way. Slow down, reflect, and ask God to lead. Maybe your path is pitch-black and you can’t seem to find your footing. Remember, God is eternal light. Ask Him to light your way. If you hold His hand He will guide you though your adversity. He knows every stumbling block to avoid. And eventually the light on your path will extend out a bit further so you can see more than three feet in front of you. This means you have grown stronger, strong enough for God to reveal more of His plan for your life. Until then, lean into Him and trust your Shepherd with each step forward.

DURING YOUR QUIET TIME READ THESE SCRIPTURES AND CONTEMPLATE THE QUOTE. ASK GOD TO LEAD YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY WITH HIS PROVISION, STRENGTH AND MIGHT.

“You will show me the path of life;In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.” Psalm 27:11 (NKJV)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:1-4 (NKJV)

“The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)

“Each of us may be sure that if God sends us on stony paths He will provide us with strong shoes, and He will not send us out on any journey for which He does not equip us well.”   ~ Alexander MacLaren

*This is a devotion from my book FACING ADVERSITY WITH WISDOM, PRAISE, AND PROMISES. Look for it on Amazon

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Waiting Patiently

cherylz1961

*Patience

“Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, 
 and He shall strengthen your heart; 
 Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)

“But those who wait on the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, 
they shall run and not be weary, 
they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

In order for us to wait on the fulfillment of hopes, callings, and desires, Ms. Patience must step forward and work her wonders.  I picture Patience as a good and kindly woman full of compassion and love. Her mere presence calms and soothes even the most harassed and anxious of souls. Within her gentle nature, there is a hidden and marvelous strength. This strength rises out of self-control and her faithfulness to the one she serves. In fact, it is with pure joy that she assists others, for she lives to glorify her master.

If you read the first paragraph once again, you will come to realize that successful waiting requires the fruit of the Spirit. Patience is tied to love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The soul, who lays aside personal goals and chooses to trust God with His timing and purposes, truly lives in freedom. He or she is blessed for you see, they have learned the way to endurance. Job is a good example of faithful endurance, for in the end we see how God greatly blessed and rewarded his devotion and patience. 

Our Lord knows all about waiting. He has been waiting a very long time to be united with His Bride, the church.  And because the church is still incomplete, we must wait some more. There are many folks who have yet to join the Body of Christ. Because of His immeasurable mercy and grace, He will never consider leaving even one of His beloved behind. This is why His return has not yet materialized.

Therefore, we must rest in the knowledge of His promised return. To do so with an assurance that permits peace and rest is not easy, if our flesh is leading the way.  Instead, it is the Spirit within us that must spur us on to endure.

So, as our God waits, we wait. His justice and truth prevails. One by one, lost lambs are found and carried home to safety by the Good Shepherd. Many dear ones, near to death, suffer from deep wounds and gashes. Though He heals each and every wound, they have been saved right out of the mouth of that horrible lion. 

Eventually, God exposes and disarms every spiritual snare the enemy so cunningly sets. No trap escapes the eyes of the Almighty. Therefore, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” (Lamentations 3:25) We who long for His return and wait are called blessed in Isaiah 30:18. 

Let me share a warning. While waiting for something to happen, it is easy to get distracted. We can all quickly loose our focus and allow our eyes to slip from His loving reflection. Our gaze sadly settles on the things of the world. What dangers befall those who let this occur! Too often a believer lacks the self- control to wait for the promises of God to appear, therefore slipping off the course ordained for them by God.

Oh, the misery of missing out on even one of the gifts and blessings of God. Do you really want to let even one of them slip away? If you are desperate to have something right now, when patience and waiting is required, really pray fervently. Consider whether your desire is a need or a want, and if it is aligned with Gods will for you. Are you willing to settle for a temporary contentment when God is offering you a complete fulfillment, so long as you agree to wait for His timing and purpose? 

“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” James 5:11 (NKJV)

“Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you, for the Lord is a God of justice; 
 Blessed are all those who wait for Him.”  Isaiah 30:18 (NKJV)

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James 5:7-8 (NKJV)

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Is Your Cup Filled With Hope?

cherylz1961

*Cup of Hope

To read more devotions by Cheryl go to her blog http://facingtrials.com

How do you see your cup, half empty or half full? Do you predict the worst will happen in any given situation or are you well practiced at finding the Silver Lining? Is your hope resting on Jesus and His love for you? Hope should never be swept under a rug. It is what moves us through our day.

“Look at your problems in the LIGHT of God’s power instead of looking at God in the SHADOW of your problems.” ~ Anonymous

God knows His children well and understands our need for encouragement so He wrote a book full of inspiration, promises, and fortification. According to (bibleinfo.com) there are 3573 promises in scripture. If we claim one promise every day, it would take almost ten years to read them but once.

“Let us read the Bible reverently and diligently, with an honest determination to believe and practice all we find in it.” ~ J.C. Ryle

A visual reminder of God’s promised faithfulness can be seen after a storm. It comes in the form of a rainbow. After the great flood, God created this colorful symbol to encourage Noah and his family. It is a continual sign commemorating God’s covenant with mankind and His promise to never again cause a flood that destroys all life. The next time you see a rainbow remember God is in control.

“I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13 (NKJV)

Jeremiah 29:11 speaks about God’s plan for us and it is not one of disaster and hopelessness. He promises us a hope and a future. However, His plan will include adversity. Such times serve as our training ground in spiritual matters while good times provide us with rest. Both seasons are opportunities to reflect on the faithfulness of God.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

Our perspective regarding storms should be that they are necessary and beneficial gifts. They are private refinement sessions with God. Although the discomfort experienced during our sanctification process is often great, His grace is even greater. Learning to rest during our seasons of testing will produce an inner calm of patience and peace. Others will notice the growth in our character and God will be praised.

Why do we doubt God and His GOOD plans for our future? Why do we forget the incredible love He has for us? Why do we question His plan? Like the ungrateful children of Israel wandering in the desert, we become unsatisfied with the manna He provides and cry out for meat. We forget His provisions are what we NEED. Discontent never improves life, instead it consumes our thoughts and leads to bitterness.

The next time you find yourself tempted to complain about a matter, pause and ask yourself, ‘What will my grumbling accomplish? Will my words inspire and uplift others, or will they cause discouragement?’ Will any good come from your state of mind? If not, make a decision to change your perspective.

Find something (there is always something) to praise within the circumstances you perceive as unfair or offensive. It will be a challenge at first but with a little practice, it will get easier to identify the good all around you. After adopting this new practice you will discover you have a happier state of mind.

Seeing your glass as half full will provide you with enough hope to advance through the darkest of storms. That is the power of a grateful heart. That is the power of a thankful heart. That is the power of a positive perspective. That is the power of God.

“And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:       I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.  Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.” Genesis 12:9-15 (NKJV)

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV)

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (NKJV)

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

“We ought not to limit God where He has not limited Himself.”  ~ Jonathan Edwards

“The outlook is gloomy, but the uplook is glorious!” ~ Unknown