Tag: gift of life

By Pastor Andrew Farland

God never promised any of us a rose garden.
Even in the center of God’s will for your life, it won’t all be easy!
Going through valleys is normal and inevitable. You are either in one now, just got out of one, or are going back into another one. God is more than the God of the mountain tops; He’s the God of the valleys too!

Think about Joseph and Job in the Bible. These were two men that were righteous and who sought to honor God with their lives! They didn’t do anything wrong, yet they both had to endure hard days and much suffering. It seemed like their journeys took them through valleys more often than not, but in the end, they came out on the other side!
The same can be true for you. Just because you are going through a hard time doesn’t mean you did something wrong.
Hard days happen to everyone.

The Bible says that the rain falls on the just and unjust alike!
I want to remind you today that no matter what you are going through, God is with you. He is faithful, and He will lead you through every valley!

Deuteronomy 11:11
“The Promised Land you are about to enter is a land of hills and valleys.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

People seem to fall into one of three types of categories: those that are in a struggle, those coming out of a struggle, and those about to go into a struggle!

But with God, no matter which group we find ourselves going into or coming out of, we have a reason to be thankful and joyful! Your circumstances might make you sad, angry, depressed, or rejected. Any of those emotions might tempt you to drop your head and look down at the ground under your feet.

Stop looking at the situation you’re in.
Instead, lookup
Taking our eyes off of our situation and putting them onto our Savior changes everything. God promises to keep in perfect peace those whose eyes are fixed on Him, and that’s because He is our joy.
That joy exists regardless of the reason for our struggles if we’re just willing to look up and see it.
He is our reason to be thankful!

HABAKKUK 3:17–18
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Andrew Farland

No matter how much you despair, take comfort: you are never alone.
Psalm 42:3
“Day and night my tears keep falling and my heart keeps crying for your help…”

I acknowledge my need for God’s help.
Psalm 42:2
“I want to come to see the face of God.”

I remind myself of God’s faithful track record.
Psalm 42:4
“Remember when you use to be out front leading the procession of praise?.. So then my soul, would you be depressed. Yet
I will still remember you as I ponder…”

I speak over my heart-broken soul in Faith.
Psalm 42:4b
“I will say to God “You are my mountain of strength, how could you forget me?”

I remember joy comes from God’s presence alone.
Psalm 42:6
“Yes living before His face is my saving grace.”

Today if you are going through a hard time, know that I’m praying for you!
Isaiah 58:9
“Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help and He will say, “Here I am.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

If you feel like you’ve drifted from God, getting back is as simple as making one decision!
John 6:37
“…whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
You might feel like you can never forgive yourself for what you’ve done, but God can. In fact, the Bible teaches us that God takes our sin and drops it to the ocean’s floor never to be seen again!
The prodigal son ran away from home and lived foolishly. But at a certain time, he came to his senses. He couldn’t imagine ever being accepted back as a son. So he went home thinking he would be his dad’s slave just to earn a meal.
But as he walked back home with his shoulders down, His father RAN to him with his arms up! SO EXCITED to see his long-lost son again. His dad wasn’t thinking about all the wrong he did. He didn’t start blaming him… Why? He was too busy embracing Him!
That’s the heart of a Father, and that’s exactly how God welcomes us back when WE come to our senses and realize how far we’ve strayed. So today, right now, don’t fall into the trap of guilt and condemnation. Realize where you are isn’t where you need OR want to be, and simply come back to Him. You are ONE decision away from being back home.
Come back.

1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and WILL forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.