Lessons from the Garden — Leave it in God’s Hands

Posted on 2020-05-23 by Mirjam Fels

And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Mark 4:41

LORD Jesus, we praise You for this beautiful day which You have made. Guide us mightily today. Lead us on the right path, and keep us on Your way which is the right way. Bless us in all our doings and enable us to give all the glory to You, our Savior, Almighty God and Creator of the heavens and the earth and everything in it. In Jesus’ powerful name we pray. Amen.

Due to a storm the cover of our newly built greenhouse flapped quite a bit over these last days. One of the mornings I noticed that the bottom of the cover on one side was loose. The wind had free access into the greenhouse and whirled around the tiny plants. I’ve got very upset watching this and immediately wanted to control and fix everything. The bad weather, however, made it impossible, at least at this point, to adjust or change much. All I could do was to trust the LORD and leave everything in His hands.

We want to take matters into our own hands, don’t we? How can we fix certain things? Is there a way we control them? Do we need anything else to succeed? Where can we buy the best materials for our projects?

What if things do not go according to our own plans? What if thick storm clouds gather above our heads? What if things get out of hand and destruction is on its way? Then what?

If Jesus is in your boat there is absolutely no need to be fearful, sister. Believe in God. Have faith in Him! Psalm 107:29 says: “He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.” God is the One who not only tells the wind to cease but makes it obey at His Word.

What if He doesn’t calm your storm yet? Then I would like you to remember and cling to the words of this teacher:

“The LORD Jesus IS the calm in the midst of the storm.”

(M. McKillen Caught in the Storm)

No matter the storm in your life: Leave it all in God’s Hand.

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Trust in the LORD

Posted on 2020-05-22 by Mirjam Fels

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 118:1

LORD Jesus, we praise You for You are good and Your mercy endures forever. When we pray You hear us. Whom shall we fear? What shall we be afraid of? You are the Light and Salvation, and You are the Strength of our Life. Thank You, LORD. In Jesus’ wonderful name we pray. Amen.

While wrestling with a major problem or facing an immense hardship we tend to forget about eternity. The here and now becomes so overwhelming that we don’t see the there and then. Time to take a break, be still, and remember who God is.

The LORD is almighty and sovereign no matter what happens on this earth and in this time and age. God remains in control. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. The LORD is mighty to save. He came to seek and save the lost.

It is He who made us and not we ourselves. (Psalm 100:3) He created all things, and by His will they exist and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

Colossians 1:16 says:

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

What a thought! Now, if He created all things, and all thing exists by His will, would He not be able to work all things together for good? (Romans 8:28)

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

Is the LORD your Strength? Has He become your Salvation? Trust in Him today!

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Fruit With Patience

Posted on 2020-05-21 by Mirjam Fels

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Luke 8:15

LORD Jesus, we thank You for Your Goodness which leads sinners to repentance. Guide us this day in Your Word so that we may not only hear it but that we will do what the Spirit is telling us to do. Help us as we are reminded of the things which we have to change or endure. Protect our hearts and minds and make us grow toward the Light. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.

There are two books in the Bible that I listen to quite a lot: Ephesians and James. I remember many words and even sentences of these two by now. One word I want to neglect that is found several times in the Book of James is, you’ve guessed it, patience. This virtue is definitely not one of my strong ones. In fact, it’s a weak point in my life I keep fighting against — a lot.

The Book of James, in connection with patience, also talks about suffering and how the testing of faith produces patience. I don’t like to suffer. And I don’t like it whenever my faith gets tested. It’s necessary, though. Necessary? Suffering and trials? Yes, I’m afraid so.

Naturally many of us prefer the sugar-coated talks and walks. It’s great when things run smoothly and according to our (own) plans, isn’t it? But, you see, it’s the saltiness (which often comes in form of suffering and trials) that will make us grow. Salt thrown into our wounds will make us cry out for help. It will drive us to our knees. And, it will show us that there are many things which we cannot do in our own strength. We have to acknowledge that we depend on God. Then, as James 1:4 says, patience has its perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

In Luke 8:12-15 Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower. Some will hear the Word, but it won’t bear fruit because, at the slightest chance, the devil takes it away. Others are so excited when they hear the Word. Their faith doesn’t have any roots, however, so they will eventually fall away during a time of hardship. Then there are those whose faith is choked and without fruit because they set their focus on worldly things. The ones who not only hear the Word but who also keep it, meaning, they will do as it says no matter what, and who bear fruit with patience are the ones who will succeed.

Keep your focus on the LORD Jesus and, with patience, fruit will grow.

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