Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

I recently finished teaching a 6-week study on Habakkuk from Dannah Gresh's book. Here are a few takeaways that I gleaned. Habakkuk was a prophet of God. He seems to start out self-focused but eventually comes around to aim his focus on God instead. This, I believe, is the daily choice we all face throughout our faith walk with Christ. Will we choose to let the cares of this world affect us, have more import in our souls than Christ? Or will we choose to trust in Him no matter what? Habakkuk had a relationship with God. That's where it all starts for each of us. How we respond in and to that relationship is entirely up to us. Pause and think on that! The God of the universe, the One holding everything together, deigns to have a relationship with us! And most are wandering through this life without knowing Him at all. I say wandering, because if they are without Christ, they are lost. No exceptions. Habakkuk learns to cling to God. This means that he took his eyes off

The Lord did many things for the Jews while they lived in the wilderness, but Exodus 19:4 sums up three of the ways He cared for them. He cares for us still in these same ways. 1.  He deals with our enemies.  He destroyed Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea.  You don't want to mess with God's people! 2.  He bears us on eagles' wings.  He lifts us up and carries us.  He helps us soar, even during our problems. 3.  He brings us to Himself.  This is His goal all along!  To bring us into intimate relationship with Himself. The Lord also provided daily bread in the wilderness - not too much, not too little - just the right amount.  But if the people hoarded His provision out of fear, greed, or doubt, the bread become full of worms and moldy. When, however, they saved two days' worth ( in obedience to God this time ) of manna so they wouldn't have to gather on the Sabbath, but instead rest, then the manna remained fresh and edible.   So many lessons here in there few vers

Sometimes, the Lord removes people from your life you thought were going to "be there for you" for life.  Not everyone in your life is a keeper. When God detaches them - when He has acted on your behalf - it is easy.  When the other person decides or when we decide to move on, it may not be so easy.  But when the detaching is from God, His peace is in your spirit. It's like you want to miss them, you think you should miss them, but you are alright with it.  This is a grace from God.  Don't fight it!  Relax into it. In these last days, the Lord knows who's who and who is a detriment to His work in and through us and who is a help.  Let Him remove whom He will.   We must stay closer to Christ than ever before in these last days.  To say the days are evil is the understatement of all time!  The Word clearly states that things heat up more in the end. How will we stand?  How can we endure? We must lean into the Presence of Christ more deeply.  This has always been the