Recharge!

Psalm 126
(New Living Translation)

⁴ Restore our fortunes, Lord,
as streams renew the desert.
⁵ Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.

⁶ They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest.

⁴ Some wandered in the wilderness,
lost and homeless.
⁵ Hungry and thirsty,
they nearly died.
⁶ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he rescued them from their distress.
⁷ He led them straight to safety,
to a city where they could live.
⁸ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
⁹ For he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom,
imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
¹¹ They rebelled against the words of God,
scorning the counsel of the Most High.
¹² That is why he broke them with hard labor;
they fell, and no one was there to help them.
¹³ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
¹⁴ He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom;
he snapped their chains.
¹⁵ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
¹⁶ For he broke down their prison gates of bronze;
he cut apart their bars of iron.

¹⁷ Some were fools; they rebelled
and suffered for their sins.
¹⁸ They couldn’t stand the thought of food,
and they were knocking on death’s door.
¹⁹ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
²⁰ He sent out his word and healed them,
snatching them from the door of death.
²¹ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
²² Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

²³ Some went off to sea in ships,
plying the trade routes of the world.
²⁴ They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas.
²⁵ He spoke, and the winds rose,
stirring up the waves.
²⁶ Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths;
the sailors cringed in terror.
²⁷ They reeled and staggered like drunkards
and were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
²⁹ He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.
³⁰ What a blessing was that stillness
as he brought them safely into harbor!
³¹ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
³² Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation
and before the leaders of the nation.

³³ He changes rivers into deserts,
and springs of water into dry, thirsty land.
³⁴ He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands,
because of the wickedness of those who live there.
³⁵ But he also turns deserts into pools of water,
the dry land into springs of water.
³⁶ He brings the hungry to settle there
and to build their cities.
³⁷ They sow their fields, plant their vineyards,
and harvest their bumper crops.
³⁸ How he blesses them!
They raise large families there,
and their herds of livestock increase.

³⁹ When they decrease in number and become impoverished
through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,
⁴⁰ the Lord pours contempt on their princes,
causing them to wander in trackless wastelands.
⁴¹ But he rescues the poor from trouble
and increases their families like flocks of sheep.
⁴² The godly will see these things and be glad,
while the wicked are struck silent.
⁴³ Those who are wise will take all this to heart;
they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.

Psalm 107 (New Living Translation)

I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.

Psalm 145: 13b-21
(New Living Translation)

My heart finds comfort in You Oh Lord.
My heart will sing.
I will rejoice that You Oh Lord are my God.
'Nuff said.

Psalm 36: 5-9 (New Living Translation)

How can you define unfailing love? Is there such thing as unfailing love?
I want to define unfailing love in a way that is real, that we can understand; and as hard as I want my mind to find examples of unfailing love, I can only remember all that the Lord has done.

I remember the Israelites when they were on the way to the promised land. Though the Lord has promised them the land flowing with milk and honey, the Israelites were afraid, they doubted, they couldn't trust. They grumbled, and what could have been a few days of travel became 40 years. Yes, because they were stubborn. They wandered around the desert. It is most probably the hottest place during the day, and darkest at night. I wondered if there was ever a time that God had not given them the pillar of fire or the pillar of cloud and had to ask my classmate to be sure. I know that God was with them all throughout the 40 years; though they grumbled, and were stubborn, God never left them- the fire was there at night, the cloud in the morning, and also the manna for them to eat; the whole time they didn't trust, the whole time they are suffering the consequences of their sins.
God is just, but He is slow to anger, abounding in love. You wouldn't want to miss the opportunity He is giving you to realize you won't, and have never even done anything on your own- that YOU NEED HIM.

Today, I still see moments of his unfailing love. In the midst of all the trouble that I have done, I still see His hand and mercy. He has given numerous chances to those who turn away from Him, and when they had fallen, He was still there to pick them up. He became like us, and took the sin of the world on his shoulders. He took the shame, the blame, the punishment. The unfailing love He gave to the Israelites didn't stop in them; it was extended to us, to all- and the Holy Spirit continues to reach out to people's hearts today, offering this unfailing love.

Have you ever wished for unfailing love?
This unfailing love was completely shown in Jesus.
He is giving it freely to you.
Reach out your hand to his hand that reaches out for you

- then believe and trust.

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11 (New Living Translation)

As I read these verses, the following words jump out of the page, screaming maybe.

HUMBLE; POWER OF GOD; RIGHT TIME; LIFT UP

GIVE ALL WORRIES; GOD CARES

STAY ALERT; WATCH OUT; ENEMY; DEVIL; LION; DEVOUR

STAND FIRM; BE STRONG; CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS; SUFFERING

CALLED; SHARE IN ETERNAL GLORY; SUFFER A LITTLE WHILE

RESTORE; SUPPORT; STRENGTHEN YOU; FIRM FOUNDATION

These are mere words written on a page, but to the heart that believes, these are gems. These words carry encouragement, a hope in the firm foundation that can be trusted.

We all go through difficulties. We all have struggles, all are unique. Our hearts carry a desire for something big; and we probably find ourselves in a place that is not enough for all of it. These circumstances are all different, but the encouragement remains the same: we can bring all of our cares to the only ONE who cares; who knows it even before you say it. He sees. He listens. He calls you to cast all of it on HIM.

While in this moment, we should humble ourselves. We should realize who holds time, and sees the big picture. We should stay alert, for in these moments the enemy wishes to eat you whole until no more is left. Don't ever let the enemy deceive you, for he doesn't want you to have that peace. We should be strong, and fight the good fight of faith... "We," for you are not alone.

Hang in there. This is all temporary. This too shall pass.