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Listen while you read: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"1 (Lyrics) |
Psalm 100:4-5 – Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (NIV)
During just two weeks last year, my life suddenly overflowed with problems. My washing machine died for the third time in a few months after $170 in repairs. I was overwhelmingly busy, teaching Bible studies, finishing a pile of charity quilts, and coordinating several events that all seemed to be on the calendar at the same time. I lost a credit card. The tension on my sewing machine went awry, and because I'm a dedicated (some would say obsessive) quilter, this was a major issue. My car quit running in a most spectacular manner far from town in a spot where I had no cell phone signal, eventually leading to the unplanned purchase of a new car.
Now, I look back and see all the ways that the Lord brought blessings that overcame the trials. Friends and family helped me. There was no fraud on the credit card, and a new one came quickly in the mail. The washing machine and sewing machine somehow fixed themselves — really! — they just started working correctly, and I have no idea why. Soon after I coasted the dying car to the side of the road, locked it, and set out on foot for the eight-mile walk into town, a kind local resident and his wife offered me a ride. The staff at the car dealership gave me good advice, and a knowledgeable friend went with me to purchase a new car. I was able to pay the bills, and I made a commitment not to take on so many duties next year.
It was a difficult couple of weeks. Some of it I handled well, some not so much. It certainly helped to "strengthen me with all power according to his glorious might so that I might have great endurance and patience" (my paraphrase of Colossians 1:11).
Lamentations 3:22-23 – Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (NIV)
I love this verse and the powerful song written from it: Great is Thy faithfulness. There have been many times in my life when God has been faithful, but I'm not always ready to recall those times when trials erupt in the quantity they did in that time period.
Let's all try to remember that problems may derail us for a time, but God is always there, full of compassion and love, ready to provide support and blessings.
Prayer: Lord, help us to depend on You, no matter what the circumstances. Help us to remain calm and trust that You will provide as needed. Amen.
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Tuesday, April 16, 2024 – In Peru — Please pray for this summer season at our beach-town home to be a blessing to the little Fellowship we have started and that the Lord would "add to our numbers those who are being saved".
Housing: "Update April 14, 2024; Please pray extra fervently for tomorrow when she and her son will be going..." 
Yup. Amen.
Great perseverance and Bible quote, Sharon. Thanks for sharing!
Amen Sharon. So glad it all worked out.
Blessings.
It never rains but it pours! Satan was out to get you, but God was on your side.
Hi Sharon,
A wonderful devotional sharing some of the trials and ups and downs we face in this life … But God!!! Hallelujah He is faithful. Thank you it was very up lifting.
We all get them time and again.
They are challenging in our time, but they remind us to remember who is really in charge.
God bless and keep smiling.
Wow, I could have written this myself. Sure, could relate to it. I always see God’s hand at work in my daily struggles but not always during the struggles. God is so faithful to me! Thanks for the reminder and God bless you.
Hi Sharon,
This is such an encouraging message of reassurance of God’s presence during trials! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us!
Blessings.
Thank you, Sharon, for crafting this devotional from the bits and pieces of a difficult day forming a lovely quilt portraying God’s faithfulness and love for us. Again, thank you. Keep quilting together daily lessons learned into devotionals. Blessings.
Wow, Sharon! What a wonderful situation you are in; owning a washing machine and sewing machine (which probably means you own a house) AND being able to afford a car at all, let alone buy a brand new one… God certainly blesses your life. Thank you for sharing it.
Dear Sharon,
Your devotional came at just the right time. Isn’t that remarkable? It is more than that. God knew the hearts who would benefit from the time your fingers touched the keyboard who would need this example and with perfect timing. Thank you for writing.
Hello Sharon,
Truly you had a lot to deal with all at one time, but thankfully got through all the trials. Yes, we are surely fortunate to have our loving Lord help us through so many situations in life and we need only call on Him. Thank you for sharing this devotional.
Blessings,
(B.C.)
Hi Sharon,
Love your devotional this morning, there are indeed times when things “Happen” and then afterwards we see that there was divine guidance, even when things don’t always go the way we would like.
Great is Thy faithfulness, a great hymn. people like it when I choose it as one of the hymns in a worship service.
Thanks for writing.
Blessings.
After my husband was promoted to glory, I found it very difficult to deal with household repairs. He was always so capable and willing to do whatever was needed.
My daughter bought two footprints. One for her and one for me.
It says,
No matter how smooth or rough this day,
God is with us each step of the way.
It is a constant reminder near my front door.
Hi Sharon,
I loved reading your devotional on Trials. You are a quilter as I am.
This winter has been complicated due to falling and breaking my wrist. Never good to have when you are a quilter. Couldn’t drive, quilt or do much of anything with lifting for several months. Throughout the winter I learned many lessons on letting others help me and being patient with things I couldn’t change.
Thank you for your devotional and encouragement. As women we need things that build us up when we are so often giving out to others. Thank you. The Lord has blessed me with my being able to purchase of a small quilting frame where I can use my sewing machine with the frame to quilt my own quilts. I never expected to be able to have one, but God has blessed me so sweetly.
Blessings,
(Canada)
Sometimes, God has to hit us on the head with a 2×4 to get our attention!
I had a similar chain of events recently.
Your comment, “I made a commitment not to take on so many commitments next year” was my learning point. I don’t think my busyness does anything for the Kingdom.
When I was a new Christian, my mentors were always available for a “drop in”, when they would take out their well-worn Bibles and patiently try to answer my questions.
My recent crises prompted depression, a never-before experience. My husband pointed to my commitments and advised dropping those that I could.
It worked! Immediately I felt peace and renewed hope in my walk with God.
“Great is thy faithfulness” indeed!
Thanks for sharing these challenges and the scriptures that won through as you held on to them in faith.
Blessings on you and courage to follow through with the plans God has for your life. They are unique and will bear much fruit as you show YOUR faithfulness to God!
(BC Canada)
Life gets a bit fraught sometimes. Best to ask Jesus in before we get too far gone! If only I could remember that when I need to.
Dear Sharon – thank you for sharing your period of burdens. It helps to know that we are not alone in these times of difficulty. Thank you also for showing how God intervened to help you with each of the situations. God Bless you.
Sharon,
Sounds like James 1:2-3 doesn’t it? I am so thankful you made it through these difficult times! In these testing times, He does give us a testimony to others when they find themselves in similar situations!