August 22, 2024 In Case of EmergencyTRACIE BRAYLOCK Lee en español "The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path]." Psalm 37:23 (AMP) Hospitals have emergency codes every employee must be aware of. As a nurse, I'm familiar with how these codes are announced, either within one department or to the entire hospital, depending on the situation. For example, "Code Red" indicates smoke or fire while "Code Blue" indicates a medical emergency like cardiac or respiratory arrest. When the code is announced, a series of steps are followed so hospital personnel can keep patients, visitors, employees and the general public from undue harm or panic. In a Code Red, for instance, staff are to complete the R.A.C.E. procedure: R: Rescue those in immediate danger.A: Activate the nearest fire alarm.C: Close all doors and windows within reach, and turn off fans and air conditioners.E: Extinguish small fires with a fire extinguisher. As a believer in Jesus, did you know you also have emergency codes you can use in dangerous, dire or discouraging situations? They're found within the Scriptures! God has given us the counsel of the whole Bible to guide, bless and teach us - but it is also helpful to know some key verses for encouragement and prayer in hard moments. Here are some examples: -When you feel alone, you can pray Deuteronomy 31:6. -When you feel fearful, you can pray Isaiah 41:10. -When you are in danger, you can pray Psalm 91. -When you have sinned, you can pray Psalm 51. -When you need courage, you can pray Joshua 1:9. -When you are seeking peace, you can pray Isaiah 26:3. -When you are heartbroken, you can pray Psalm 34:17-19. God offers the safety and support you need to navigate whatever situation you're facing. Psalm 37:23 says, "The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path]." Not only do we have steps we can follow, but God redirects our attention away from the pain of our problems and toward Him as our Protector and Provider. God orders and establishes our steps and guards us as we go. My friend, isn't it wonderful to know that in times of stress, struggle or stumbling, the Lord still holds and sustains you? God is right there with you every step of the way as your ever-present Guide, helping you navigate both everyday and emergency situations. Call out His Word, follow the path He's established for you, and trust Him with each new step. Your safety and deliverance are found in Him. Dear God, thank You for directing our steps, holding and sustaining us every day of our lives. Let us turn to You, remembering that as we face challenges, we can seek solutions within Your living Word and loving arms. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS What if the unseen seasons of our lives are actually the most important? Our Circle 31 Book Club pick for September dives deep into what God has to say about our unnoticed efforts. Join us for: Anonymous: Jesus' Hidden Years...and Yours by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole. We may feel uncelebrated, unnoticed or unappreciated by others, but we are always seen by God. Discover the sacred strength that comes through an "anonymous" season by reading with us! We'll be starting on September 1. Get the book! ENGAGE Want to connect with today's devotion author, Tracie Braylock? Connect with Tracie on her website and on Instagram, and be encouraged by her inspiring posts! FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 119:133, "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me" (KJV). Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you" (NIV). What scriptures do you need to call out to help you with a situation you are currently experiencing? How has God helped you navigate emergency situations in your life? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Tracie Braylock. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post In Case of Emergency – Encouragement for Today – August 22, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer When Everything Goes WrongBy Kelly Balarie "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry." – Matthew 4:1-2 NLT Everything I said to my friend she misinterpreted. Grr!!! It was aggravating and infuriating. My hands gripped the steering wheel like a vice clamping wood. At this point, I knew if I told her my shirt was blue, she would adamantly proclaim it was purple. Our communication was missing the target. Face red and heart pounding, I did the only thing I knew to do — console her feelings, speak truth and to try to turn misunderstanding into understanding. Yet, doing that was not an easy task. My mind was run down by an illness, I felt stressed from work pressures and unsure about what the future held. Mind spinning, I tried to remember where I was and how everything had gone so wrong. I can't take this, God! My whole world is blowing up before me. How did I end up here? I wonder, dear friend, if like me, you might be in a place where everything appears to be going wrong? Where no matter how hard you try, things don't work out... Where no matter what you resolve to do in the morning, it goes bust by afternoon... Where family relations feel hard... Where circumstances just aren't working out... Where fear is mounting... Where it appears, there is no way out... Desert spaces are where Satan comes to convince us we've been deserted by God. We learn much from Jesus' time in the wilderness on how He defeated the devil. He did these three things: Jesus told Satan, "No!" (Matt. 4:4) Jesus proclaimed, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matt. 4:4) Jesus used Scripture to combat enemy lies. It is important to note that Jesus was not brought to the desert to die from hunger and attacks; He was brought to the desert to release the overcoming power that defeats the devil. It was after this wilderness season that Jesus went out in power-ministry. In our places of defeat, as we overcome, we are transformed into freedom liberators and power troopers of God's cause. Nothing can stop us because we know how to overcome the enemy of our souls. Think: The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Isn't that wild? The Lord of lords, The Son of God, The Perfect Lamb who embodies sinlessness – was led by God into the wilderness? Our God is not a wasteful God; He is a purposeful God. Just as the wilderness was Jesus' launching pad, what if it is ours too? Let's pray: Father, this is a hard place to be. Often, I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. There are days or times when I don't think I can make it. I need your strength. I need your wisdom. I need your guidance. I want to do your will. I want to walk in the fruits of the Spirit and in the ways of the Spirit. Will you give me fresh strength for remaining steadfast, fresh resolve for enduring, and fresh hope for believing? There is only one way and it is You. There is only one door, and it is through You, Christ Jesus. Give me the power not to turn to other vices but to endure and persevere. I may feel pressed, but I am not crushed. I may feel persecuted, but I am not abandoned.  I may feel struck down, but I am not destroyed. Give me your eyes to love others, even in the face of the fires all around me. Help me to keep hope that you are carrying me through. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/digitalskillet3 Kelly uplifts believers with boosts of faith; be encouraged weekly by getting Kelly's blog posts by email. Kelly, a cheerleader of faith, is a blogger, national speaker, and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly loves seeing the power of prayer in action. She loves seeing the expression on women's faces when they realize – their God is faithful! Kelly's work has been featured on The Today Show, CBN's 700 Club, Relevant and Today's Christian Woman.  Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer When Everything Goes Wrong – Your Daily Prayer – August 22 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer When Everything Goes WrongBy Kelly Balarie "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry." – Matthew 4:1-2 NLT Everything I said to my friend she misinterpreted. Grr!!! It was aggravating and infuriating. My hands gripped the steering wheel like a vice clamping wood. At this point, I knew if I told her my shirt was blue, she would adamantly proclaim it was purple. Our communication was missing the target. Face red and heart pounding, I did the only thing I knew to do — console her feelings, speak truth and to try to turn misunderstanding into understanding. Yet, doing that was not an easy task. My mind was run down by an illness, I felt stressed from work pressures and unsure about what the future held. Mind spinning, I tried to remember where I was and how everything had gone so wrong. I can't take this, God! My whole world is blowing up before me. How did I end up here? I wonder, dear friend, if like me, you might be in a place where everything appears to be going wrong? Where no matter how hard you try, things don't work out... Where no matter what you resolve to do in the morning, it goes bust by afternoon... Where family relations feel hard... Where circumstances just aren't working out... Where fear is mounting... Where it appears, there is no way out... Desert spaces are where Satan comes to convince us we've been deserted by God. We learn much from Jesus' time in the wilderness on how He defeated the devil. He did these three things: Jesus told Satan, "No!" (Matt. 4:4) Jesus proclaimed, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matt. 4:4) Jesus used Scripture to combat enemy lies. It is important to note that Jesus was not brought to the desert to die from hunger and attacks; He was brought to the desert to release the overcoming power that defeats the devil. It was after this wilderness season that Jesus went out in power-ministry. In our places of defeat, as we overcome, we are transformed into freedom liberators and power troopers of God's cause. Nothing can stop us because we know how to overcome the enemy of our souls. Think: The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Isn't that wild? The Lord of lords, The Son of God, The Perfect Lamb who embodies sinlessness – was led by God into the wilderness? Our God is not a wasteful God; He is a purposeful God. Just as the wilderness was Jesus' launching pad, what if it is ours too? Let's pray: Father, this is a hard place to be. Often, I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. There are days or times when I don't think I can make it. I need your strength. I need your wisdom. I need your guidance. I want to do your will. I want to walk in the fruits of the Spirit and in the ways of the Spirit. Will you give me fresh strength for remaining steadfast, fresh resolve for enduring, and fresh hope for believing? There is only one way and it is You. There is only one door, and it is through You, Christ Jesus. Give me the power not to turn to other vices but to endure and persevere. I may feel pressed, but I am not crushed. I may feel persecuted, but I am not abandoned.  I may feel struck down, but I am not destroyed. Give me your eyes to love others, even in the face of the fires all around me. Help me to keep hope that you are carrying me through. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/digitalskillet3 Kelly uplifts believers with boosts of faith; be encouraged weekly by getting Kelly's blog posts by email. Kelly, a cheerleader of faith, is a blogger, national speaker, and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly loves seeing the power of prayer in action. She loves seeing the expression on women's faces when they realize – their God is faithful! Kelly's work has been featured on The Today Show, CBN's 700 Club, Relevant and Today's Christian Woman.  Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer When Everything Goes Wrong – Your Daily Prayer – August 22 appeared first on GodUpdates.

August 22, 2024 In Case of EmergencyTRACIE BRAYLOCK Lee en español "The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path]." Psalm 37:23 (AMP) Hospitals have emergency codes every employee must be aware of. As a nurse, I'm familiar with how these codes are announced, either within one department or to the entire hospital, depending on the situation. For example, "Code Red" indicates smoke or fire while "Code Blue" indicates a medical emergency like cardiac or respiratory arrest. When the code is announced, a series of steps are followed so hospital personnel can keep patients, visitors, employees and the general public from undue harm or panic. In a Code Red, for instance, staff are to complete the R.A.C.E. procedure: R: Rescue those in immediate danger.A: Activate the nearest fire alarm.C: Close all doors and windows within reach, and turn off fans and air conditioners.E: Extinguish small fires with a fire extinguisher. As a believer in Jesus, did you know you also have emergency codes you can use in dangerous, dire or discouraging situations? They're found within the Scriptures! God has given us the counsel of the whole Bible to guide, bless and teach us - but it is also helpful to know some key verses for encouragement and prayer in hard moments. Here are some examples: -When you feel alone, you can pray Deuteronomy 31:6. -When you feel fearful, you can pray Isaiah 41:10. -When you are in danger, you can pray Psalm 91. -When you have sinned, you can pray Psalm 51. -When you need courage, you can pray Joshua 1:9. -When you are seeking peace, you can pray Isaiah 26:3. -When you are heartbroken, you can pray Psalm 34:17-19. God offers the safety and support you need to navigate whatever situation you're facing. Psalm 37:23 says, "The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path]." Not only do we have steps we can follow, but God redirects our attention away from the pain of our problems and toward Him as our Protector and Provider. God orders and establishes our steps and guards us as we go. My friend, isn't it wonderful to know that in times of stress, struggle or stumbling, the Lord still holds and sustains you? God is right there with you every step of the way as your ever-present Guide, helping you navigate both everyday and emergency situations. Call out His Word, follow the path He's established for you, and trust Him with each new step. Your safety and deliverance are found in Him. Dear God, thank You for directing our steps, holding and sustaining us every day of our lives. Let us turn to You, remembering that as we face challenges, we can seek solutions within Your living Word and loving arms. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS What if the unseen seasons of our lives are actually the most important? Our Circle 31 Book Club pick for September dives deep into what God has to say about our unnoticed efforts. Join us for: Anonymous: Jesus' Hidden Years...and Yours by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole. We may feel uncelebrated, unnoticed or unappreciated by others, but we are always seen by God. Discover the sacred strength that comes through an "anonymous" season by reading with us! We'll be starting on September 1. Get the book! ENGAGE Want to connect with today's devotion author, Tracie Braylock? Connect with Tracie on her website and on Instagram, and be encouraged by her inspiring posts! FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 119:133, "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me" (KJV). Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you" (NIV). What scriptures do you need to call out to help you with a situation you are currently experiencing? How has God helped you navigate emergency situations in your life? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Tracie Braylock. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post In Case of Emergency – Encouragement for Today – August 22, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

1572 - Failed assassination on Gaspard de Coligny, a French nobleman and admiral, a Huguenot leader in the French Wars of Religion (killed 2 days later) 1914 - German troops execute 384 inhabitants of Tamines, Belgium 1939 - Dutch border guards take positions for German invasion 1952 - The penal colony on Devil's Island is permanently closed. 1954 - WPTV TV channel 5 in Palm Beach, FL (NBC) begins broadcasting 1971 - Approximately 130 non-Unionist councillors announce their withdrawal from participation on district councils across Northern Ireland in protest against Internment (allowing suspected terrorists to be indefinitely detained without trial) 1979 - 200 black leaders meet in NY to support Andrew Young 1980 - Leaders of Port Elizabeth's Black secondary school children in South Africa decided to end a four month boycott of classes 1993 - "In the Summer House" closes at Beaumont Theater NYC after 25 performances 2018 - Forbes say George Clooney made more money in a single year ($239 million) than any actor ever ($239m), due to sale of alcohol company, followed by Dwayne Johnson ($124m) More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1654 - Jacob Barsimson arrives in New Amsterdam (modern day Manhattan) aboard the Peartree, one of the first Jewish colonists 1912 - England defeat Australia to win the Triangular Tournament 1914 - Canada's Finance Act, 1914, receives assent 1932 - BBC begins experimental regular television broadcasts 1950 - Rotterdam dock strike ends 1960 - Gil Hodges set NL right handed HR record with #352 More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1848 - Melville E. Stone, American newspaper publisher (Founder of Chicago Daily News), born in Hudson, Illinois (d. 1929) 1920 - Pierre A. Lauffer, Antillian poet (Patria), born in Curacao, Venezuela (d. 1981) 1945 - Ron Dante, American rock vocalist (Archies - "Sugar, Sugar"), and producer (Barry Manilow), born in Staten Island, New York 1956 - Paul Molitor, American Baseball HOF infielder (7 x MLB All-Star Milwaukee Brewers; World Series MVP 1993 Toronto Blue Jays) and manager (Minnesota Twins 2015-18), born in Saint Paul, Minnesota 1966 - GZA [Gary Grice], American rapper (Wu-Tang Clan), born in Brooklyn, New York 1975 - Robert Enes, Australian soccer midfielder (Olyroos, Olympics 1996) More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1914 - Léon Amédée François Raffenel, French general (3rd Colonial Div, WWI), dies during Battle of Rossignol at 58 1929 - Otto Liman von Sanders, German general in Turkey during WWI, dies at 74 1985 - Paul Peter Ewald, German Crystallographer and Physicist who devised the theory of X-ray interference by crystals and pioneered X-ray diffraction methods, dies at 97 2009 - Beryl Sprinkel, American economist (Council of Economic Advisers), dies at 85 2009 - Elmer Kelton, American Western novelist (b. 1926) 2011 - Jerry Leiber, American songwriter (Leiber and Stoller - "Hound Dog"; "Jailhouse Rock"; "Is That All There Is?"), dies at 78 More Famous Deaths »

Having paid his dues – and then some – 1984 found Bryan Adams entering a creative purple patch, writing a timeless hit of the future seemingly every single day