Archive for September, 2009

“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” Ecclesiastes 3:12

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. ” Isaiah 41:10

I would like to share with you a passage from the Word of God that might help you deal with something that you might be going through right now, and possibly have been struggling with; in terms of worry and fear.

You might say…”Well that’s easy for you to say Dr. McLaughlin. You are a man of God and don’t have to deal with life the way that I have had to, and am living with from day to day.”

Not true! I am flesh and blood just like you. While it is true that I am a man of God, that doesn’t exempt me, or anyone else for that matter from having to experience the trials and tribulations of life that exist for each person: Christian or non-Christian.

This passage gives me comfort, instruction and helps to keep me focused when I am challenged in my faith. When the Devil comes around and tries to instill fear and weary into my spirit, and cause me to doubt the very God of Creation who has promised to take care of my needs according to His riches in glory. THe same God who tells us in His Word that He will never leave us or forsake us. The same God that hears and knows our every cry and need!

“Therfore I say unto you, Take no thought for 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 add 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 I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all those things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:25-33

There are some things in life to think about and consider, but when we react in the flesh, it shows that we are weak in our faith. It takes time for an oak to grow; just as our faith takes time to mature. Just because we cannot see the wind, we certainly cannot deny it’s existence, when the results tell us another story.

Today I am upstairs recuperating, as I have been since Tuesday from having hip surgery. The challenges that we all face vary; but praise the Lord that He changes not, and is ever near in times that we need Him most.

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

“Precious Lord, I ask this day that you would help me with my unbelief and that you would strengthen my heart in the affairs of my life; before you and a needy world today. Father I know in my heart that you are there for me and have been there for me, but help me not to grow bitter and cold in a world that thrives upon the negatives of the here and now. I love you and thank you for all that you have done and continue to do in my life, even when I am not paying attention.”

Each day that we wake up, above ground, is a new day that the Lord has given us. How our day will go depends not only on God, but upon us! We can either determine to have a good day, or we can run our day into the ground before we even get started.

Before getting out of bed in the morning, if you didn’t do it today, Lord willing tomorrow will come; give thanks unto the Lord and praise Him for another day to glorify Him in everything that you say and do.

Psalm 118:24, is a good place to begin: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice rejoice and be glad in it.”

When facing the unknowns of today I find that it is more profitable for me to start out this way, before going out and being attacked by all the evil, negativity and discouragement that the world, the flesh and the devil are trying to defeat and destroy me with.

How I choose to start my day will determine my altitutde and attitude from then on! Depression can be around me 24/7, but I don’t have to let it be in me. I can choose to be thankful or become ungrateful at will and that is not God’s fault if I choose the worst; it is mine.

When I stop to consider what I have as a born again Christian, it just humbles my heart. Before my salvation back in 1983 I could not appreciate the blessings that I enjoy today. Giving thanks is much better than complaining.

“Precious Lord, thank you for the many blessings that you have given me. What a privilege it is to have You love me and care for me the way You do. Father in Heaven, forgive me when I fail to see your GRACE that has rescued me from the penalty of sin, and give reflection to my heart as it beats for you that others may be transformed, for righteousness sake.”

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1: 1-3

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1st Peter 5:7