Tag: trust

By Pastor Andrew Farland

Has this happened to you?
You’ve been super busy, and after a few hours, you notice you’re really thirsty. Your mouth feels like it’s full of sand, but that doesn’t matter because you’re too tired to care. Your head hurts, and you’d sit down and cry if you didn’t feel so empty.

These symptoms tell you that you’re physically dehydrated. It seems like there’s nothing left in you. Oftentimes, when you experience these symptoms and feel like you’re thirsty, you are already experiencing the signs of dehydration.
You must have water – and electrolytes – if you are to go on. The human body is about 60% water, and if that number drops even by 1.5%, you’ll notice it right away. Your body can’t continue unless you nourish it. You must provide it with the water necessary for life.

Your soul is the same way.
Without spiritual nourishment from the Holy Spirit, your soul will shrivel, never fulfilling its purpose, always trying to eke out an existence in a parched land that offers no relief. You’ll have no energy, and even your mood will suffer.
God doesn’t want you to live in a deprived environment. He has something better for you. He wants to nourish your spirit, lift you up and help you experience abundance with the water of life.

John 4:13-14 says,
“Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

If you will trust God, he will make sure that you are always nourished.

Isaiah 58:11
” The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

If your life was a story, what would it be called? What kind of impact do you think it would make on those around you?
That may depend on what you choose to focus on.

Joseph is an amazing figure in the Bible, and his life has had a huge impact on others.
How is that possible, considering that his eleven jealous brothers picked on him constantly, bullying him, threw him into an empty well, and sold him into slavery? They even pretended that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.
But that wasn’t the end of Joseph’s story.

Joseph’s troubles grew worse when he was thrown into prison, but his dreams accurately predicted the future, and Pharaoh was able to save Egypt from famine. Joseph was even able to save his family from certain death.
Joseph never presented his life story as one about a boy who was betrayed by his family. He didn’t tell a tale of woefulness. Instead, He made his story about How God used him to preserve his family.

Along the journey, there were many times he could have thrown a pity party, but Joseph never once let his situation define his story. God used Joseph’s life to teach us today that while we may be going through tough situations, ones that don’t look like they will get any better, God is with us, showing us kindness and doing things behind the scenes to make everything end well!

As his plans for Joseph, God’s plan for your life is good and unshakeable. Nothing can come against what God has planned. If things aren’t good for you right now, then it’s not the end of your story.
Keep going!

Romans 8:28
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

Most of us have been there. I’ll bet that you have been, too.
You’ve found yourself in a situation where you thought you weren’t, well, enough.
Not smart enough, rich enough, good enough . . . the list could go on forever. It seems like there’s always someone with more of whatever we feel we’re lacking.

You’ve allowed yourself to be held back by what you perceived were your limitations.
God has given us each different gifts and different levels of faith. But regardless of what my gift is or my level of faith, I can be sure that whatever He’s given me . . . is enough. Each of us will have our own limitations, but even those limitations are a blessing, reminding us that only God is our source of strength.

2 Corinthians 12:9
“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

In Matthew 8, a man with leprosy (an incurable, contagious disease of gross disfigurement) comes to Jesus and worships Him. He does this because He knows God can do anything, In fact, he’d probably heard about all the miracles Jesus was doing for others, but internally, he had all the same question you and I still have today:

“I know God can do anything for OTHERS but is He really WILLING to help ME?”
Does God really care about MY LIFE?
Which is it? Does God want to LOVE me or SLUG me?

You know, this story of the man with leprosy is only in the Bible because God wanted to reveal His character to us once and for all. He didn’t want us to be in the dark when it came to His will. And what’s more, Jesus didn’t want us to question whether or not He was truly willing to help us!

In the story, the leper comes to Jesus, vulnerable and with humility, to seek healing, but he still questioned whether or not God WANTED to heal him. The leper knows all too well how much he was suffering, so he puts himself out there, probably embarrassing himself. He kneels publically before Jesus. So . . . here we finally find out if Jesus will turn the leper away and reject his desire, or whether He would welcome Him with open arms and heal Him!
Almost afraid to breathe, the leprous man waits on his knees before Jesus and all the people gathered around him.

What happens next is no surprise.
Without delay, the Bible says Jesus REACHED OUT and TOUCHED THE LEPER (something that was forbidden by society), and He lovingly tells this man the words many of us need to hear today:
“I AM WILLING, BE HEALED.”
And at that moment, leprosy INSTANTLY disappeared.”
Today, you might be wondering if Jesus really cares about YOUR struggles and what you’re going through. I’ve got good news: He does. Jesus is never changing, which means that He is always the same: yesterday, today, and forever. Today Jesus desires to help and love you through whatever you are going through.
Today, He still is willing!

Matthew 8:3
“Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.