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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God Rests, Do You?

cherylz1961

Rest Image

“I said to myself….

RELAX and REST. God has showered you with blessings.                                                           Soul, you’ve been rescued from death.                                                                                     Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears; and you                                                                               Foot, were kept from stumbling.” ~Unknown

God was busy when He created the universe.  For six days He worked on establishing heaven and earth, light and dark, water and dry land, and designing all living things. However, after He finished His work He RESTED.  Many of us have such a hard time resting.  We are busy with our family, career, ministry and so much more. Continue reading “God Rests, Do You?” →

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Hope

cherylz1961

Strong:Hope In Lord TL

In his song STAND, Rich Mullins wrote, “There is more that rises in the morning than the sun.” He knew that with each new day there is the gift of a new beginning, one brimming with promise. 

Anticipated desires, which we expect to occur, are called hopes. God hears all of our prayers and petitions. Therefore, our hopes are certainly obtainable so long as they are aligned with His perfect will. Through the refining process, God transforms our selfish desires into His perfect ones. The desires, dreams, and hopes planted in our hearts will mature and grow with time, eventually bearing the fruit that serves His glorious purpose. Continue reading “Hope” →

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Adversity Is A Part Of The Race

cherylz1961

!Pain:Monkey Bar:CSLewis

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”   Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28 (NIV) 

At some point in life we all think AFFLICTION is our middle name. 

In fact, during difficult times some believers may look up to the heavens and question whether God has forgotten the frailty of mankind.  Graciously, God forgives such moments of arrogance. From the dust of the earth He created Adam and He will never forget how His hands formed each one of us. He knows exactly what His children can manage and endure. 

Although we may find ourselves afflicted on many fronts, it is not God’s intent to crush us beyond repair. He knows we have a race to run and lovingly cheers us on, eager for our homecoming. But as we make our way to the finish line, we are bound to have a few trips and stumbles. God will help us up after every fall but He does expect us to learn something from our mishaps. 

Isaiah 42:3 describes Jesus as, “a reed bruised but not broken.” However, we are not the sinless Son-of-Man, so there may be a need for some brokenness in our lives.  The necessary breaking I speak of is the self-reliance and self-will we humans stubbornly cling to, and claim as our right to practice.  

This independent attitude is not aligned with God’s desire and design for us. He wants His children to rely on Him for everything. He is the great provider, Jehovah Jireh.  He freely gives us all good things, including wisdom, strength, love, and hope. All He asks for is a prayer of faith absent of doubts, for doubting suggests an uncertainty in His power and might. 

Painful situations or circumstances may have you perplexed, but confusion is never of the Lord. Seeking God during such times will help clear out the cobwebs. Ask Him to lead and direct you, and  trust the Holy Spirit to be your counselor.  One of the many reasons the Holy Spirit has been placed within each believer is to teach discernment.  And how else would we learn to use this gift if there were not opportunities to practice it? Storms and struggles are the means to perfect this spiritual gift. 

The Bible tells us that our life on earth is a race.  All races require effort and active participation.  In fact, our spiritual race involves an obstacle course.  We must hurdle roadblocks, landmines, and encumbrances of many kinds.  Although runners may trip and fall, they get back up in order to cross the finish line. We can’t get discouraged and throw in the towel if we want to claim the reward waiting at the finish line. This reward is eternal life with God! 

Each one of us has a unique journey to travel. We have the freedom to run our course however we choose.  Our pace, how many times we trip, and whether we stay down and let others pass us by will determine what we take into the Kingdom of God.  For with each struggle there is a lesson to learn and wisdom to gain.  If we sit and remain down after a fall, we will have fewer opportunities and less time to learn the many mysteries of God. 

MEDITATE ON THIS SCRIPTURE AND QUOTE

“A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice.” Isaiah 42:3 (NIV)

“But God is the God of the waves and the billows, and they are still His when they come over us; and again and again we have proved that the overwhelming thing does not overwhelm. Once more by His interposition deliverance came. We were cast down, but not destroyed.” ~ Amy Carmichael

“One day someone is going to hug you so tight that all of your broken pieces will stick back together.”   ~Anonymous

(*I so believe that someone special is God!!)

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Happy Father’s Day, God

cherylz1961

Earthly Dad WhollyHis

“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:6 (NKJV)

Your heavenly Father is so in love with you! Through the incredible blood sacrifice of His son Jesus, you are an adopted child of a heavenly King. Indeed, you are not just the daughter/son of a King, but a child of the one true Creator. Your heavenly Father is the all-powerful ruler of the universe and He predestined you for adoption, according to His good pleasure and will!

“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”  Ephesians 1:5 (NKJV)

Through His infinite wisdom, God knew we would need an earthly role model of His love. He places us in families where an earthly father has an opportunity to demonstrate examples of God’s love. Sadly, because of the incredible gift of free will, not all men have risen to the task God has ordained for them, thus many of us have suffered because of their sins and neglect. However, it was always God’s intention and will that earthly fathers love their children as He loves us….. unconditionally.

Even though the sins of many fathers rest upon their children, God remains the Father of the fatherless. He weeps over the pain others inflict upon us, and over the abuses we must endure.  Though we may find ourselves in places of despair and misery, the Father of all never looks away and will faithfully guide us when we are helpless and lost. He faithfully provides for our needs in the midst of heartbreak and distress. We simply need to cry out for His help.

“A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.”               Psalm 68:5 (NKJV)

Children are so special to God that He warns us not to harm them lest we suffer severe consequences.                                                                                                                “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”   Matthew 18:6 (NKJV)

A child like faith is also praised, for complete and innocent trust is of great value to Him.                                                                                                                                  “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Luke 18:17 (NKJV)

God is affectionate with His children and enjoys spending time with them. “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”  And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”  Mark 10:13-16 (NKJV)

Our heavenly Father gives His children gifts and blessings.                                               “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”  James 1:17 (NKJV)

God even likes to hide knowledge from those of worldly intelligence and confound them by giving it to His babes. “At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.” Luke 10:21 (ESV)

A father’s love should be long-suffering and unconditional. With the provisional strength of God, it should endure disappointments and failures since none of us are perfect.  A willingness to hope and believe in their offspring will thus inspire them to follow their dreams and withstand adversity when it knocks on their own door. A father’s love should be as strong as a mighty oak and as fierce as a raging tide.

“ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV)

On this Father’s Day do not forget your Heavenly Father. Acknowledge Him with your thanks and praise. He has done great things for you and will continue to bless you all the days of your life. He is your faithful provider, protector, and Abba. Yes, as children of the Father most High, we are permitted to call Him “Daddy.”

TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO REFLECT UPON THESE VERSES

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16 (NKJV)

“ Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”

And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” Matthew 21:14-16

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”  1 John 3:1 (NKJV)