Daily tête-à-tête

Every now and then you hear of a news story about people who do something very brave, acting without any fear of what might happen. Like Victoria Leigh Soto, who died during the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting or assistant football coach Aaron Feis, who, according to some accounts, protected his students when he was killed during the recent Parkland, Florida, massacre.  I wonder what I would do if I was really faced with a frightening and dangerous situation. I guess none of us would know how we would react until we are actually faced with this kind of a decision.

Fearful things will happen as this age draws to a close. Fearful things will happen in my life in the days I have left on this earth. But of this I can be sure – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Jesus also made the promise, “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). What can be surer than that? To the very last minute before this world disappears, or before I take my last breath – “I am with you always”, he says.

Help me to remember…

1. to learn to trust God, especially when life becomes difficult.
2.  that God is so strong and amazing that I can always run to him during scary times.
3.  God is the one who takes care of me. He is right here with me, and He will always be here
4.  I don’t need to rely on my own strength.
5. that God loves his children and guards them from bad people.  God will punish those who do wrong like a good father.
6. I can find shelter in Him.

To quiet my soul and relieve today’s stress, I reflected on Psalm 150:6 by coloring & doodling in my NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible.

Psalm 150:6 provides guidance on praising the Lord.  There is only one qualification one needs and that is you must be breathing.

As long as I have breath in my body I can praise the Lord!

• I don’t have to be able to sing.
• I don’t have to be able to speak with eloquent words.

If I have breath in my body I have no excuse not to praise the Lord.

• I’m not in the mood! Not an excuse!
• I don’t “feel” like praising God! Not an excuse!
• I’ve had a “bad day.” Not an excuse!

LET ME REMEMBER… Praising the Lord lifts my spirits when I am down…replaces fear with courage…hopelessness with hope…sadness with joy…doubt with confidence…and worry with worship.