The GOD Who Sees, Hears, and Remembers

Are you lonely? Rejected? Bashed? Used and dumped away on the dunghill? Has family betrayed you - like most narcissistic members therein do?

Are you even feeling lonely in the midst of a crowd as has been proven possible? Then you're not alone in your thoughts. David the Psalmist wrote: "I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. I watch and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop" (Psalms 102:7-8).

Young David was one soul who knew what rejection feels like. Born of a mixed heritage of Jesse the Bethlehemite and an unnamed Moabitess, David's destiny seemed strewn out in the front of his eyes - and all other onlookers'. One major reason for this was that the Moabites - along with at least five other nations - had been accursed of God through the mouth of Moses, His servant because of their meanness to the nomadic nation of Israel whilst they were yet like an aimless group of nomads journeying through the desert!

Soon, his six half-brothers had rejected the outspoken lad. They had also either persuaded or pressured their father Jesse to eject him. He had been banished to the backside of the desert. There, no one would have to ever explain the 'mistake-child' he was! But God had other better plans. At the backside of the desert, feeding just a few sheep, grief was much, but grace was greater. There had been no friends and families to depend upon, but Providence had shown forth, daily. Divine Presence was with him. His sheep began to number into folds; milk and cheese supplies were being sent home to his father and mean-spirited brothers. At night, he sang lullaby to his sheep and they dwelt securely.

Even when the predators had visited uninvited, the erstwhile shepherd-boy had outsmarted them, all by the dint of evident anointing upon his life: A bear had been smothered to death. As much as a lion's jaws had been torn out of its sockets with bare hands! His experiences would become his resume to kill Goliath with just one shot! He would soon be crowned - and have oil poured upon his head - as the next king of Israel!

Who does that, except the God Who sees, hears, and remembers to deliver us?

The Bible says God remembers us in our little estate because of His mercy that endures forevermore (Psalms 136:23).

SUMMARY OF HOW GOD SEES, HEARS AND REMEMBERS

1. More times than average, God allows souls destined for high places of His choice to pass through excruciating crucibles where they could be molded by His Divine hands alone;

2. Most of the time, if we will yield to God in the midst of our excruciating pains of loneliness, rejection, depression, and hurt; what we are saying is: "LORD, even though I do not know the reasons why I am undergoing these heavy clouds, yet, I will allow you to work through these unpalatable circumstances of my life, to turn me into what you would love to do in me";

3. The Bible says "Weeping endures a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalms 30:5). This translates that the pressures of life and sufferings that you are going through are just transient; they are not worthy to be compared with the triumphs and glory that are about to be revealed in you!

4. Your background does NOT matter when God is ready to avail His covenant in and through your life! Hence, do not let anyone abuse or abase you - or your circumstances. Why? Because we serve the God Who sees, hears, and remembers covenants;

5. Even when your father and mother forsake you, God says, I will take you onboard, and look after you;

6. El Roi is the title of the GOD Who sees us, our pains and struggles, plus unfair treatments. He doesn't just notice these, but He provides succor and wells of life for us. He partakes in our pains to deliver us!

If you are hidden away from view somewhere in the backside of a desert, lonely, Lodebah; in any sort of pain or disappointment, know this assuredly that we serve the God Who remembers to deliver us.

P.S.

Should you love to attend our one-on-one counseling session, then, make contact here: https://www.harvestways.org/counseling

Photo credit: Tiffany Thornton. (Tiffany is a Canadian travel writer; a professional wildlife photographer and newspaper columnist). Copyrighted photo used by permission and must not be reproduced or stored or altered without the written permission of the copyrights holder!

When It Comes to DATING

Sincere, happy, and content look this couple offers us. Don't they? But they're are pigeon-couple. Methinks, sometimes, that nature itself could teach humans a whole lot about what life should - and should not be about. For example, 'Why does nature seem to follow its pre-planned route by the Creator, but not humans?'

For the entire month of June, I have been led by the Holy Spirit to teach and pour out ALL He's taught me on this subject. I have compiled these in a playlist on our youtube channel: HarvestWays, titled - 'Godly Dating Tips'. Look for it here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwMpFxOEvygNohko5Yi3eFxvX1kxWObSQ

There is no need to get worked up about the dating process. It is essentially a process that we all hope and pray will lead to that exquisite, life-and-death covenant called marriage. In other words, the dating process is a means to an end, and, not an end in itself.

WHAT DATING IS NOT

Allow me to quickly recap what the dating process is NOT:

1. Dating is NOT marriage. So, you should not be acting in any way as if you were married. If you have been defiling your body; stop it today!

2. Dating is NOT being blinded to the baggage of the other person you are attracted to. Hence, we see, that everyone in this world is broken and does possess some baggage of some kind, to say the least!

3. Dating is NOT co-habitation.

4. Dating is NOT for anyone who is still legally married. You should not be looking/searching for new love. Doing so would be immoral - and breaking your marital vows. Anyone who flings while married, the Bible refers to as an adulteress/adulterer whom God will judge (See Hebrews 13:4-6).

5. Dating is NOT an excuse for unfaithfulness. Some, whose marriages are just about dead can't wait until the divorce process is over and Decree Absolute is pronounced before they have started 'nosing' and 'sniffing' around for potential new mates. They barely gave room for personal reflection of what parts they have played in the death of the marriage. And of course, they would not mourn its demise. That's the thorough way of the narcissist: He/she has no capacity for moral reflection or loving anyone else but him/herself!

6. Dating is NOT being nonchalant pursuing multiple dates. This is the way the cosmos advises us to go about it. But not the WORD of God. Even though the word 'dating' does not occur anywhere in the Bible, yet we can see precedents set for us in the Word. You should be single-eyed for each potential date. Not dating Alice, Alicia, Lizzy, and Lakishia at the same time, holding their details on different cell/mobile devices. That's why you hide - and slide into immoralities. That's why you lie and get confused with facts. God is not the author of confusion.

7. Dating is NOT abusing the privilege of getting to know someone. Your fingers ought to be disciplined enough to know what to text, and not text another being. Your mind must be alert, lest you mortgage your future into insolvency. Your mouth must be disciplined enough to conceal someone else's private details and matters that you may be privy to have access to. Releasing people's details to others without their consent could land you a lawsuit. Telling your friend(s) of the details of another is called gossiping. It shows the presence of moral bankruptcy.

Should you love to know more about DATING and other forms of relationships, I have written an excellent book titled 'APPRECIABLE Gifts'. You may order it by clicking upon this link: https://www.harvestways.org/product-page/appreciable-gifts or at BarnesAndNoble Or on Amazon Should you love to book a one-on-one counseling session with me, then, click upon this link: https://www.harvestways.org/counseling

Photo credit: Tiffany Thornton. (Tiffany is a Canadian travel writer; a professional wildlife photographer and newspaper columnist). Copyrighted photo used by permission and must not be reproduced or stored or altered without the written permission of the copyrights holder!

Why Do You Get Consumed WORRYING?

There's certainly not one person on the face of the earth who has not been buffeted with the perennial enemy called WORRY!

Almost everyone has had a worrisome appointment with this enemy, possibly brought about by the receipt of a sad, unpleasant, unsavory news; or a bad Doctor's report that had suddenly raised the blood pressure, and the body's breathing mechanisms. Worry, if not quickly checked could metamorphose into a mushroom-headed monster of many unprecipitated diseases that would attack the body and mind, with the certainty of its destructibility. In other words, Worry is not a friend. It is a silent killer. The loss of a job, or the means of livelihood through which the bills could be paid; the deterioration in the health situation of one, or a loved one, or the loss of a spouse's love to adultery or an affair that is now threatening the life of the marriage could beckon Worry on. These are just some of the situations that breed this enemy. There are certainly many more scenarios that you probably could think about, too! It is, therefore, safe to deduce that losses of any kind not curtailed or ineffectively managed will usher in Fear. And Fear, Worry!

Worry is not the evidence of a lack of faith. Rather, it is the indicator of the lack of trust in the limitless capabilities of the Almighty God! It is a TRUST issue.

Ask yourself: 'Do I REALLY trust in God's infinite capabilities?'

No one ever walked on water until Jesus Christ did. And in stark darkness on a sea! And when the impetuous Peter had witnessed the impossible being done, he had challenged the Master: "Bid me come!" The Master had invited him on, and at once, all thoughts of sinking or the impossibility of walking on a sea had left the protege. Peter too had walked on the sea. He had walked for a good while until the sea had become boisterous and choppy. Then, he had feared. And immediately had begun sinking. But Jesus Christ reached out to him and caught in, just in time. (See Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; John 6:16-24). Here's the worrisome spiritual equation:

1. Scenario that beckons upon Fear arises.

2. Fear, if entertained leads to Worry; and

3. Worry leads to sinking Death.

WHAT DID JESUS CHRIST TEACH ABOUT WORRY?

Matthew the Evangelist recorded this famous teaching of Christ Jesus:

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought of your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. is not the life more than meat?, and the body than raiment?

Behold, the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can take one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the field which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"

These purple ones are not lilies but of the Augustifolia Hidcote family. However, the teaching is regardless of a particular species. It is not little faith that is the issue, but Fear seducing Worry to take over. Jesus didn't reprimand Peter for sinking, but for being afraid; for his state of being afraid had deprived the continuous on-working of his faith that helped him walk all that distance before he had quitted believing God that he was unsinkable! Yet the Master was nigh - and quick and ready to save the doubting Peter.

What does the story teach us?

Here's the bottom line: 'No matter how boisterous the wind is, and at whatever time it arises, teach me O, LORD, to not take my eyes off of Jesus Christ, the Author and the Finisher of my faith, that I sink not.' Amen!

Another lesson I have learned from Worry is that worrying NEVER solves any problem. Rather, it aggravates the situation. 'Which of you by taking thought can add a cubit unto his stature?' The phrase "taking thought" was the archaic expression: WORRY!

Possibly, the last lesson for me is to do all I can in my ability to increase my faith from little faith to greater faith. Because a greater faith certainly can withstand the onslaught of any boisterous wind far greater than a little faith.

How can this happen? "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

P.S

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Should you love to book a one-on-one counseling session with Pastor Sammy, then, click here to book: https://www.harvestways.org/counseling

Photo credit: Sammy Joseph Ministries. Copyrighted photo used by permission and must not be reproduced, stored, or altered without the written permission of the copyrights holder!