God Is With You

Goodness and Love Follow You!

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalm 23:4-6 Today, we’re going to continue our verse-by-verse breakdown of Psalm 23, as we examine and meditate on the sufficiency we have in Jesus.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. No matter what you go through, like the King James version says, even if death hovers over you, you have nothing to be afraid of. There is absolutely no place you can go where

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Present Through Suffering

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance…” – Romans 5:3 We talked yesterday about the importance of not asking too many questions during the winter seasons of our lives. Today, I want to provide another tip that can aid us in navigating the difficult times we are in: be present in your suffering. I’ve previously told the story of a boy and a silver ball on a string, and it perfectly illustrates the argument I want to make today. It’s a Russian tale about a school-aged child who meets a fairy while roaming through the woods. She gives him a present during the encounter, which appears to be a simple silver ball on a piece of string but is actually a magic wand that allows him to pull the string and fast forward past difficult aspects of his life. While

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Facing Your Fears

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” – Psalm 46:1-3 When you hear the term worry, what comes to mind? Maybe you’re thinking about a circumstance or incident that makes you scared, or maybe you’re thinking about an upcoming appointment or meeting. Whatever it is, I want to share with you today that worry has nothing to do with a specific event or situation, but rather with the desire to avoid it. Worry is the result of our attempts to avoid unpleasant feelings or events. When we are injured or burned by someone or something, our bodies and minds have a natural protection mechanism, which is to build walls and promise

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Sent Into the Storm

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” – Psalm 107:28-31 Did you know that sometimes God intentionally sends us into a storm? He is our Heavenly Father, and now and then, He will do what any good father would do and lead us through a difficult situation to teach us how to face our fears. I remember having a fear of water as a child that lasted for many years. This is not ideal for a toddler living in Southern California, as we are close to the ocean and my family would frequently visit.

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His Eye is On You

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” – Psalm 139:7-10 Yesterday, I shared one of my most memorable Rancho Capistrano stories, and today, I’m reminded of another one. On a different Friday, when I was at the ranch praying and communing with Jesus, Pastor Russ Jacobson needed to reach me. However, as is often the case when I’m seeking solitude, my phone was off. Since he couldn’t text me or call me, he used a feature that Apple offers called “Find My Friends,” which enabled him to see my

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Quiet Waters

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” – Psalm 23:1-2 To those who feel alone, abandoned, or unseen, I want to remind you that God is with you. Even in stormy seas, when the waves of change and currents of difficulty make it hard to navigate, Jesus is in the boat. No mountain is too high, no valley is too deep, and no pit is too dark for His loving presence to reach. You see, as His children, regardless of where we find ourselves, our Savior promises to lead us beside quiet waters. In the middle of a mess, He lovingly shepherds us to a place of safe pasture, even if our circumstances remain unsettled. Psalm 23 reminds us that

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God Is With You

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,” – Ephesians 6:14 So stand your ground and don’t give up the victory. Stand your ground. The enemy is scared — he’ll want to remind you of your past and all the ways you have failed, given up, and messed up. He’ll want to make you feel guilty and ashamed. He’ll say God has left you because of that thing you did. There’s no way He’d be with you. You’re a mess up. You’re a screw up. These are rally calls. This is the enemy trying to get you to run. God is with you. He is your banner; He’s never left you. Prayer Protect me, God, against the enemy. Help me to put my faith in you and not him. Reflection Are you standing your ground against the enemy?

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