He and we...

He is "called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)" 

He is "good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation (Psalms 100:5)." 

He is faithful, and "the faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:22‭-‬23)." 

And, we are His "flock, the sheep of [His] pasture.  [We] are [His] people, and [He is our] God (Ezekiel 34:31)." 

May God, "the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End (Rev 21:6‭-‬7)," the One who is bursting with love, gives freely from the springs of the water of life, and is generous with His favor shower us with blessings and love and joy.  May His favor be with us, for us, and upon us both today and always. 

Have a sensational day! 

Love you---

The Goodness of the Good Shepherd

Life... it can be full of joy, new opportunities, beautiful days, and awesome nights.  Like the time we get picked for the team, the day we get our first kiss, the night when the stars are bright, beautiful and so peaceful that the moment takes our very breadth away. Life can be filled with great friends that stick to us like glue, joyous events that make our hearts flutter, and times when all is well and right and full of joy and bursting with excitement.

But life can also have "seasons of disappointment and suffering," episodes and events so devastating "that [they] can sometimes make us lose hope," and there are moments when the many "injustices of the world around us can make us cynical."

It is in these difficult times that we must, we absolutely have to, turn to our Savior "reflecting [long and hard] on Jesus as our good shepherd and remembering that... He laid down his life for us," that He loves us unconditionally and eternally, and that He is always faithful. 

May we have the courage and strength to believe that in every season God is with us, but to believe it even more in the dark, and especially when injustice seems rampant.   May we trust Him as our Good Shepherd, Righteousness, Faithful King, Eternal God, Refuge, and Help in time of storm.  May we remember that He promises one day, "He will wipe every tear from [our] eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things [will be] gone forever (Revelation 21:4)." 

I pray that you and I will be strong and know that He loves us always. 

Love you---

Looking up to the right help

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? (Psalm 121:1)" Our "help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Our help comes from the One who watches over us, who never falls asleep on the job, and who will "not let [our] foot slip." Our help today, and our hope for tomorrow is in the Lord— who loves us totally, hears our cries, answers our pleas, and has promised to care for us in our "coming and going both now and forevermore." May we turn to Him whenever we need hope, strength, courage, peace, and love. Have a great today and even better tomorrow. Love you---

Saved because of His unfailing love

"Help me, O Lord my God! Save me because of your unfailing love (Psalms 109:26)." 

Let me make this verse personal.  There are moments in my life (and I bet in yours too) when it has felt (and feels) raw, dark, and frustrating, when the hurt is real and the pain is hot and fresh again (like whatever it is was happened just yesterday). In some of these moments, if I'm being honest, I have teatered on the very edge of maybe, just maybe losing hope, giving in to gloom, being swallowed up in doubt and fear, or worse--- just giving up. 

But, then somehow, at just the right moment, I am reminded of the truth of Jesus Christ, that "Christ has always been faithful..., has [always] brought [us] through the many difficulties, and so many seasons of prosperity," and that He will do it again. 

At just the right moment, somehow, His grace steps into my darkness with light, my prison with a key, my problem with the answer, or my confusion with His way and truth and promises of new life--- life eternal.  And then, by "grace alone", I am once again encouraged to live again, to rejoice again, and to be filled with the hope that comes when I trust in Him and receive His unconditional, immeasurable, and steadfast love.

So baby girl, this is me reminding you that: "Christ has always been faithful..., has [always] brought [us] through so many difficulties, and so many seasons of prosperity;" that "overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us (Romans 8:37);" that "the faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease... His mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:22‭-‬23);" that "God has said, 'I will never fail you. I will never abandon you' (Hebrews 13:5);” and that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)."

May "Christ gives us the strength [for] any and every circumstance.  [The] power to conquer every problem the world throws our way."  And, the gentle and ever present reminder of the sure and certain promise of His sustaining presence, no matter [what]!" 

Love you---

3 Keys for calm in the storm

Three keys for calm in the storm:
#1. "Press into scripture and cling to the truth" that He has the power to illuminate our paths, direct our steps, and lead us to victory.  His word is never-failing and unchanging.

#2. Trust that the darkness can never overtake the light, and understand that the power of God shines brilliantly and brightest when we need it most, and especially when the day seems darkest.

#3. Even if we "find it difficult to see God’s work in our lives," He is still very much at work. The key is to keep "our eyes upon Him," embracing "the extravagance of His love," and His infinite compassion.

"And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
Ephesians 3:18‭-‬19 NLT

Praise break

B-e-e-p!  B-e-e-p!  B-e-e-p! 

Let's interrupt our regularly scheduled activity for a 15 second praise break!  Thanking Him for His glory, honor, love, favor, blessing, forgiveness, sacrifice, compassion, faithfulness, wisdom, understanding, peace, joy, comfort, strength, help in time of need, friendship, and for His presence with us always.  May the powerful truth that He is with us, loves us, and is better to us than we can ever comprehend make this a wonderful week and a magnificent Monday!  

Love you--- Cassius