do you want to feel better?...

in this matter of being lonely here is an awesome fact, john 15.15 (tev), JESUS said, i call you friends. HE's a friend that knows more about you than any other friend. HE knows more about you than you do. HE understands you.

so when i am lonely i need to remember that GOD is my companion because HE says “i'm always with you.” HE never asks you to do anything by yourself.

david got lonely sometimes. psalm 16.1 (tev), david said, your presence fills me with joy.

so that's a benefit of recognizing GOD's presence. HE says if you recognize it, GOD's presence cheers me up. it makes me feel better. when i'm lonely, GOD's presence cheers me up.

and then when i'm worried, GOD is my confidence.

isaiah 42.2-3 (nlt), when you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. when you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! when you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up.

reminds me of the three hebrew children, shadrach, meshach and abed-nego who walked through the fire. GOD walked through it with them. when they came out the ropes were burned off. they were protected.

you're going through a fire – some of you are going to go through difficulty this week. none of us can predict the problems we're going to face. none of us saw what was going to happen when we woke up on that tuesday, september 11 but in each day one thing we can be certain of: GOD's going through it with you. GOD is with you! when i'm worried, GOD is my confidence.

GOD told moses one day, you're going to lead the children of israel out of egypt into the promised land. moses started making excuses, “GOD, i can't do that! i'm insecure! i'm nothing! i can't speak!” GOD gave one answer to his excuses, “i will be with you. i will be your confidence.”

just a thought from the front porch…