Bob Steinkamp of Rejoice Marriage Ministries “May I borrow from Charlyne’s style today and ask you a question? What do prodigals want? No, not why do prodigals leave home, because we all know that answer. Husbands and wives walk out on their mates and on their children because of an attack from the enemy. Drugs, sex, and alcohol are not “why” prodigals leave, but “how” they leave. You and I both know how temporal those pleasures can be, and so does every prodigal spouse. We make that discovery the hard way; by experience, often at the cost of family, career, health and happiness”.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world”.
~~~1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)~~~
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”.
Bill Winston “Satan’s job is to contain you. And he’s built a counterfeit system and society. And what he’s trying to do is teach people to live without God. And what is happening without God is things are getting worse. Why? Because the whole earth is groaning, waiting, come on, for the manifestation of the sons of God. You and I are the only ones that can really fix this. So I’m saying for you now, why don’t you when you get in the Word of God, ask the Holy Spirit, say Holy Spirit show me what this really means. See, don’t go by your traditional thinking anymore. Just ask Him to show you and take you as far out there as He wants to take you. And get, start praising God about it. I came to speak some things. I’m speaking into the atmosphere. You don’t let this counterfeit society tell you who you are, what you can do and what you can have. The standards of the world don’t have anything to do with you, you from another place. You like superman. You gotta say some stuff and you gotta say it and not care what they think about it”.
~~~Luke 4:1-13 (KJV)~~~
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.”
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.”
“This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him” Psalm 18:30 (ESV).
The much loved, but nearly forgotten hymns of old continue to come to mind. Being brought up in a Christian home where our family attended a very small country church, hymns were a staple and thankfully still form a reassuring melody in my heart during discouraging times as well as uplifting moments when I stand amazed at His glory. Hymns are poetically sung prayers of heartfelt desires, admiration and devotion being lifted up to our Heavenly Father by those who believe.
1 Why should I feel discouraged, Why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, And long for heav’n and home; When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is he; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me.
Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free; For his eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me.
2 “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, And resting on his goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path he leadeth, But one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me. [Refrain]
3 Whenever I am tempted, Whenever clouds arise; When songs give place to sighing, When hope within me dies, I draw the closer to him, From care he sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know he watches me. [Refrain]
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“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” Psalm 32:8 (KJV).
