Hard Times Teach Us to Battle Satan

“God does not send him this distress to destroy him... He wants to drive him to pray, to implore, to fight, to exercise his faith, to learn another aspect of God’s person than before, to accustom himself to do battle even with the devil and with sin, and by the grace of God to be victorious. Without this experience we could never learn the meaning of faith, the Word, Spirit, grace, sin, death, or the devil. Were there only peace and no trials, we would never learn to know God Himself. In short, we could never be or remain true Christians. Trouble and distress constrain us and keep us within Christendom. Crosses and troubles, therefore, are as necessary for us as life itself, and much more necessary and useful than all the possessions and honor in the world.”   Martin Luther, Luther's Works, Vol. 14: Selected Psalms III, Ps 118:5. 

Healed By THE Light!

Cancer radiation treatment is done with photons. Photons are bundles of energy that we call light, which are always in motion. The first thing God created was photons: let there be light (Genesis 1:3). Depending on the amount of energy a photon has, it will either behave like a wave or a particle. The lowest energy photons are known as radio waves (radio and TVs with antennae use these). Next are cell phone waves (for all our smart phones), then microwaves (for heating food and telecommunications), and finally infrared (for your TV remote). All of these light waves are invisible to the eye. Next in line in energy is visible light. All the colors of the rainbow are just the right balance between photons acting like a wave and a particle. As the energy of the photons increases, they become more like particles and we get ultraviolet rays, those nasty rays that cause sunburn. Next are X-rays; these are most commonly used by doctors to see the inside of our bodies. These are the photons used for radiation treatments but are given at a much higher dosage level. Imagine that: healed by light.  Healed by Jesus, the Light of the World (John 8:12)!

You Are Breathtakingly Unique!

 "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14 (ESV)

The meanings behind the Hebrew words are:

fearfully: awe inspiring, breathtaking
wonderfully: distinctive, unique
wonderful: marvelous

This means that when you and I were born we took God’s breath away as He witnessed His unique creation, each twist and link of the helix of the DNA molecule being exactly as He intended! He wouldn’t change a thing about us—we are formed just the way He wanted us. We are marvelous! God did not make a mistake when He made us. He knew exactly where, when, and to whom we would be born.

Do not listen to Satan's lies!!

 

Do you question your purpose in life when going through a hard time?

"Crucible" References in the Bible

Here are some references to "crucible" for further study!

Deuteronomy 4:15-24 The Lord’s words against idolatry

1 Kings 8:46-53           Solomon’s temple dedication prayer

Jeremiah 11:1-5          Keep the words of the Lord

Proverbs 17:3              How our hearts are tested.

Proverbs 27:21            How praise tests us.

Isaiah 48:9-11              Israel is refined for God’s glory

Blessed While In The Crucible?

To Whom Are You Listening?

If when you are in the crucible, you listen to the Father of truth you will remain calm (John 14:27); if you listen to the father of lies you will be agitated.