This has been a real interesting and testing month for me and I imagine for a lot of people. Around the first part of the month Kit Patterson sent out an email to several of his employees and one of them forwarded it to me. I would like to share it with you.
We’ve heard some discouraging financial news recently. Scripture says that when we face trials, God will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart (Psalm 91:4).
I’d like to encourage you today by reminding you:
- Don’t lose perspective.- Don’t get discouraged.- Don’t quit. - Remember the Lord.
Let’s look at some comparisons between the perspective of the world versus God’s perspective as revealed in the Bible.
The world says...
But God says…
We have one trillion dollars of debt.
I will supply all your needs according to My riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19 NASB)
We have a slowdown.
My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled. (John 14:27 NASB)
It looks like a meltdown.
I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deut. 31:6 NIV)
We’re on the verge of financial ruin.
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Rom. 8:37 NIV)
We’re facing a financial Pearl Harbor.
Neither the present nor the future, nor any powers… will be able to separate us from the love of God. (Rom. 8:38 NIV)
We could see another crash like 1929.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you. (Isa. 43:5 NIV)
There’s panic on the street.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. (Isa. 43:2 NIV)
I stand to lose everything.
I am your refuge, your portion in the land of the living. (Ps. 142:5 NIV)
My retirement has been wiped out.
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. (Prov. 23:18 NIV)
My portfolio is down 70%.
I gave and I have taken away. Blessed be My name. (Job 1:21 NASB)
My situation looks bleak.
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 20:35 NASB)
Keep your hope in the Lord that is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His love is everlasting, His mercies new every day, and His faithfulness to you eternal. Walk by faith, not by sight.
My pastor has been sharing about John 16:33 the last couple of weeks and that has been one of my favorite verses for a number of years.
John 16:33 says “I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have peace. In THIS WORLD you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world.”
The weekend of October 10-12 we had a real neat conference at Journey church it was called “Establishing His Name in the Earth” and that is exactly what the scripture in John is telling us to do. You see it says that we have the choice to live IN HIM or in the world. You can impact your life, your family, your job, your marriage…just about anything you wish to touch if you do it in him. If you choose the other route in this world you get what you get…trouble, fear, doubt, distrust, lies….which place would you rather live in right now….IN HIM you have truth, security, trust, assurance and life….I will let you read this and make your own choice…..choose wisely for it can impact your life for a long time
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1) Pray for our leaders, our candidates running for office, for our banking and securities sectors. Things are being shaken right now and we need to pray for these areas.
2) Pray for our pastors and their families. October is pastor appreciation month but you need to continually lift these folks up in prayer. They need a constant covering of prayer and intercession for them and their families. They are constantly under attack from the enemy and they need for us to remember them daily in our prayers.
3) I have a friend at work who just lost his mother last week and I know he would appreciate us lifting his family up in prayer. Pray for David and Janet Brown and his family in the passing of his mother.
4) In our body there are several ladies who are expecting babies and are on bed rest please remember them in prayer Shelley Stephens and Alexis Whitaker are the ones I know of.
5) Remember to lift up all the folks who were in the middle of the hurricanes this year. My wife and daughters have been talking to a lady here in Fredericksburg who lost it all and is living in a tent now. So please remember these folks as they are still in need of so many things as well as just friends to help them out.
Earlier I mentioned that October is pastor appreciation month and I would like to encourage you to tell your pastor and his wife just how precious they are to you and to give them a word of encouragement. They do a job that is very hard to do. They minister to hurting people, they touch so many people whose lives seem to be falling apart, they touch families when love ones have been lost…and most of the time we as their congregations have no idea what is hurting or falling apart in their lives…..BE INVOVLED in their lives and keep them in your prayers as often as the Father brings them to mind. I am not telling you to be nosey about their business but be there if they need someone to confide in and above all honor their confidence and trust if they share things with you. I would like to say thank you to my pastor and his wife for all that they are and all that they do for Journey Church. Michael and Lori we honor today and thanks for all the great years. Outriders for Christ is an outreach of Journey Church here in Fredericksburg.
