by Susan Duclos, All News Pipeline: So, the Democrat convention is getting ready to start, with protesters already causing chaos, and let us not forget the endless entertainment of their insane platform, and kooky, word salad candidate, Kamala Harris or the stolen valor guy, Tim Walz aka “tampon Tim” she chose as her VP choice, so we will all getting […]

A Prayer to Feel God’s Presence When You Need ItBy Keri Eichberger “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” – Psalm 139:7 The past week had hit me a bit by surprise. It shouldn't have. You'd think I would have learned by now that the introduction to summer will no doubt always throw me and any work-at-home parent into a stir-up of crazy. And you may know this drill. On day one, you prep a quick family meeting with simple guidelines in hopes of creating a little more order and avoiding an absolute mess 24/7. Or, you put in some extra prayer time to set up your soul with sufficient stores of peace to manage the uncertain winds ahead. But regardless of how prepared you think you are for some seasons, you become abruptly reminded that typically, life isn't that predictable–for heaven's sake, kids are almost never predictable–which means we certainly shouldn't be surprised when a life adjustment creeps in with some chaos alongside it.  Here's the challenge for me in these moments, though. And I wonder if you ever find yourself here, too. When life gets a bit out of whack, and my pace picks up a notch, I start to feel a degree of disconnect from God. And what's worse is that I know he's what I need the most at times like this. The obvious solution seems to be to pause and spend more calm and quiet with the Lord. And though this may very well be true because we are always blessed when we increase our time with him. I found another truth to be helpful in my recent whirlwind when I struggled to slow down and swelled with guilt for not making more space for isolation and prayer. I mean, what I'd been alternatively doing with my time wasn't bad. Serving my kids and husband well. But I needed to remember something specific in my swirling and stirring that I hope gives you a boost of encouragement and hope today, too. It's this: If you are sensing some sort of disconnect from God but desperately long to feel the grace, comfort, and peace of his sweet presence, will you remember that he is just as connected to you in the seeming distance as he is in the moments you experience his greatest intimacy? It's true you'll benefit by taking longer pauses to acknowledge his closeness. But even if just for a moment, let this truth sit, swell, and dwell within you. That as a child of God there is nothing you can do, nowhere you can go, to be removed from his spirit and presence. Nothing. Trust me, I know it feels like sometimes the Lord isn't as close. Like his presence is lacking and not lingering. (Likely because I've been more distracted or running too fast.) But that couldn't be farther from the truth.  I know what the Bible repeatedly says. It says he is with me, he is with me, he is still and always with me, and he is with you. forever. I know you need his presence. You need his strength, his wisdom, to feel his arms wrapped ever so tightly around you. You and I need him for everything-every hour, every minute. And remember, he is most certainly there-closer than ever. Let's pray: Good heavenly Father, You are everywhere I go. You see everything I do. You lead me, guide me, protect me, comfort me, and love me. I praise you for this truth. Lord, so often, I get wrapped up in all the swirling events around me. My tasks and to-dos, the expectations of myself and others, and just the fast-paced modern culture. I need to know you are near, yet sometimes I forget how close you actually are. Help me remember you are not only always near, but you are behind me, before me, and within me. Nothing could be closer. Regardless of my acknowledgment of your constant presence, you are indeed there. Help me acknowledge you. Help me be more aware of you so that my life may be enriched by a confident, unshakable knowledge of your light and that I may better reflect your radiance to those around me. Thank you for your unfailing companionship. In your ever-present name, amen.     Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Sinenkiy Keri Eichberger is a Jesus-loving Kentucky girl. She is married to her best friend, Mike, and has a full house of five kids. After years of writing for an online audience, Keri became ordained through Southeast Christian Church, giving her life to full-time ministry. She is the author of Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes, and has a passion for sharing faith-filled encouragement through devotional writing. Connect with Keri at KeriEichberger.com or Instagram. 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 to Feel God’s Presence When You Need It – Your Daily Prayer – August 21 appeared first on GodUpdates.

August 21, 2024  If Hoping Feels HardMEGHAN RYAN ASBURY Lee en español "My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak" Psalm 31:10 (NIV) We don't often talk about the grief that comes with disappointment. Grief does not just accompany a physical death; it also accompanies the death of a relationship or a dream. Grief signals that something has not turned out the way we want. Often we are expected to move on too quickly - but in our grief, we are actually more available to experience comfort and kindness. Even more, we are available to experience God's presence. In my own past grief, the previous two sentences would not have made me feel better ... at least not immediately. Knowing God could comfort me in my pain was not the problem; I knew He could change my situation, yet He'd chosen not to. This honestly made me question if He was the loving God I thought He was. But God can handle our honesty. Have you read any of David's psalms? Just look at today's key verse: "My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak" (Psalm 31:10). David often started his prayers with honest emotion, then eventually turned his thoughts back to what is true about God. When he was experiencing heartbreak or drowning in fear, he wrote about those experiences - then reminded himself of God's comfort and kindness. He recalled what God had already done in his life and clung to hope that God would rescue him again. We see this in Psalm 31 if we skip down a few verses: "How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you" (Psalm 31:19, NIV). We can be honest about the pain of disappointment and hopeful that God can change it. But we struggle to hold this tension. Hoping seems scary when we’ve felt constantly disappointed. When we've experienced repeated losses and letdowns, believing there is good ahead seems impossible. We forget God moves outside our framework of understanding. Friend, if you're struggling with disappointment today, can I invite you to bring it to God like David did? Start by being honest. Let it all out, and tell Him how you feel. But don't stop there. Declare out loud who He is and what He has done in your life. Then dare to allow hope to enter in. Our hope is in the Lord - not only for things we can imagine but also for things beyond our wildest dreams. God, I confess my disappointment to You now. I come before You with every honest emotion, question and doubt I carry. And I ask You to show me who You are. Remind me what is true about You, even if my circumstances don't seem to line up with that truth. Help me to hold both honesty and hope together. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS What if God has more in store for your life than you've given Him credit for? The pressure of unmet milestones and unfulfilled dreams can make you feel like you've already missed out on the life you were "supposed" to have. But you don't have to exhaust yourself by trying to keep up - you can enjoy what's right in front of you. Click here to preorder Meghan Ryan Asbury's new book, You Are Not Behind: Building a Life You Love without Having Everything You Want, today, and get the first three chapters immediately! ENGAGE Connect daily with Meghan @meghanryanasbury for biblical encouragement and practical ways to grow in your faith. And don't miss opportunities to get free resources and more tools to help you build a life you love through her weekly newsletter at alwaysmeghan.com. FOR DEEPER STUDY 2 Corinthians 4:18, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (NIV). What disappointment are you currently facing? What does the Bible say is true of God's character, even if you are struggling to believe it? What is something you are hopeful for? Share with us in the comments! © 2024 by Meghan Ryan Asbury. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post If Hoping Feels Hard – Encouragement for Today – August 21, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer to Feel God’s Presence When You Need ItBy Keri Eichberger “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” – Psalm 139:7 The past week had hit me a bit by surprise. It shouldn't have. You'd think I would have learned by now that the introduction to summer will no doubt always throw me and any work-at-home parent into a stir-up of crazy. And you may know this drill. On day one, you prep a quick family meeting with simple guidelines in hopes of creating a little more order and avoiding an absolute mess 24/7. Or, you put in some extra prayer time to set up your soul with sufficient stores of peace to manage the uncertain winds ahead. But regardless of how prepared you think you are for some seasons, you become abruptly reminded that typically, life isn't that predictable–for heaven's sake, kids are almost never predictable–which means we certainly shouldn't be surprised when a life adjustment creeps in with some chaos alongside it.  Here's the challenge for me in these moments, though. And I wonder if you ever find yourself here, too. When life gets a bit out of whack, and my pace picks up a notch, I start to feel a degree of disconnect from God. And what's worse is that I know he's what I need the most at times like this. The obvious solution seems to be to pause and spend more calm and quiet with the Lord. And though this may very well be true because we are always blessed when we increase our time with him. I found another truth to be helpful in my recent whirlwind when I struggled to slow down and swelled with guilt for not making more space for isolation and prayer. I mean, what I'd been alternatively doing with my time wasn't bad. Serving my kids and husband well. But I needed to remember something specific in my swirling and stirring that I hope gives you a boost of encouragement and hope today, too. It's this: If you are sensing some sort of disconnect from God but desperately long to feel the grace, comfort, and peace of his sweet presence, will you remember that he is just as connected to you in the seeming distance as he is in the moments you experience his greatest intimacy? It's true you'll benefit by taking longer pauses to acknowledge his closeness. But even if just for a moment, let this truth sit, swell, and dwell within you. That as a child of God there is nothing you can do, nowhere you can go, to be removed from his spirit and presence. Nothing. Trust me, I know it feels like sometimes the Lord isn't as close. Like his presence is lacking and not lingering. (Likely because I've been more distracted or running too fast.) But that couldn't be farther from the truth.  I know what the Bible repeatedly says. It says he is with me, he is with me, he is still and always with me, and he is with you. forever. I know you need his presence. You need his strength, his wisdom, to feel his arms wrapped ever so tightly around you. You and I need him for everything-every hour, every minute. And remember, he is most certainly there-closer than ever. Let's pray: Good heavenly Father, You are everywhere I go. You see everything I do. You lead me, guide me, protect me, comfort me, and love me. I praise you for this truth. Lord, so often, I get wrapped up in all the swirling events around me. My tasks and to-dos, the expectations of myself and others, and just the fast-paced modern culture. I need to know you are near, yet sometimes I forget how close you actually are. Help me remember you are not only always near, but you are behind me, before me, and within me. Nothing could be closer. Regardless of my acknowledgment of your constant presence, you are indeed there. Help me acknowledge you. Help me be more aware of you so that my life may be enriched by a confident, unshakable knowledge of your light and that I may better reflect your radiance to those around me. Thank you for your unfailing companionship. In your ever-present name, amen.     Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Sinenkiy Keri Eichberger is a Jesus-loving Kentucky girl. She is married to her best friend, Mike, and has a full house of five kids. After years of writing for an online audience, Keri became ordained through Southeast Christian Church, giving her life to full-time ministry. She is the author of Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes, and has a passion for sharing faith-filled encouragement through devotional writing. Connect with Keri at KeriEichberger.com or Instagram. 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 to Feel God’s Presence When You Need It – Your Daily Prayer – August 21 appeared first on GodUpdates.

August 21, 2024  If Hoping Feels HardMEGHAN RYAN ASBURY Lee en español "My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak" Psalm 31:10 (NIV) We don't often talk about the grief that comes with disappointment. Grief does not just accompany a physical death; it also accompanies the death of a relationship or a dream. Grief signals that something has not turned out the way we want. Often we are expected to move on too quickly - but in our grief, we are actually more available to experience comfort and kindness. Even more, we are available to experience God's presence. In my own past grief, the previous two sentences would not have made me feel better ... at least not immediately. Knowing God could comfort me in my pain was not the problem; I knew He could change my situation, yet He'd chosen not to. This honestly made me question if He was the loving God I thought He was. But God can handle our honesty. Have you read any of David's psalms? Just look at today's key verse: "My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak" (Psalm 31:10). David often started his prayers with honest emotion, then eventually turned his thoughts back to what is true about God. When he was experiencing heartbreak or drowning in fear, he wrote about those experiences - then reminded himself of God's comfort and kindness. He recalled what God had already done in his life and clung to hope that God would rescue him again. We see this in Psalm 31 if we skip down a few verses: "How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you" (Psalm 31:19, NIV). We can be honest about the pain of disappointment and hopeful that God can change it. But we struggle to hold this tension. Hoping seems scary when we’ve felt constantly disappointed. When we've experienced repeated losses and letdowns, believing there is good ahead seems impossible. We forget God moves outside our framework of understanding. Friend, if you're struggling with disappointment today, can I invite you to bring it to God like David did? Start by being honest. Let it all out, and tell Him how you feel. But don't stop there. Declare out loud who He is and what He has done in your life. Then dare to allow hope to enter in. Our hope is in the Lord - not only for things we can imagine but also for things beyond our wildest dreams. God, I confess my disappointment to You now. I come before You with every honest emotion, question and doubt I carry. And I ask You to show me who You are. Remind me what is true about You, even if my circumstances don't seem to line up with that truth. Help me to hold both honesty and hope together. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS What if God has more in store for your life than you've given Him credit for? The pressure of unmet milestones and unfulfilled dreams can make you feel like you've already missed out on the life you were "supposed" to have. But you don't have to exhaust yourself by trying to keep up - you can enjoy what's right in front of you. Click here to preorder Meghan Ryan Asbury's new book, You Are Not Behind: Building a Life You Love without Having Everything You Want, today, and get the first three chapters immediately! ENGAGE Connect daily with Meghan @meghanryanasbury for biblical encouragement and practical ways to grow in your faith. And don't miss opportunities to get free resources and more tools to help you build a life you love through her weekly newsletter at alwaysmeghan.com. FOR DEEPER STUDY 2 Corinthians 4:18, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (NIV). What disappointment are you currently facing? What does the Bible say is true of God's character, even if you are struggling to believe it? What is something you are hopeful for? Share with us in the comments! © 2024 by Meghan Ryan Asbury. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post If Hoping Feels Hard – Encouragement for Today – August 21, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

959 - Erachus becomes bishop of Luik 1573 - Spain begin siege of Alkmaar in the Netherlands 1831 - Former slave Nat Turner leads uprising against slavery 1932 - Cleveland Indians pitcher Wes Ferrell first to win 20 games in each of his 1st 4 seasons 1957 - The Soviet Union successfully tests the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile, the R-7, which flies over 6,000 km (3,700 mi) 2004 - South Africa clinch their 2nd Tri Nations Rugby Series on points differential with a 23-19 win over Australia in Durban; Wallabies score 3 tries to 2, but Percy Montgomery lands 5 goals for Springboks 2013 - 37 people are killed and 16 are injured in a bus crash near Chin Swee Temple, Malaysia 2016 - Brazil takes 3rd Olympic men's indoor volleyball gold medal at the Rio Games with 25–22, 28–26, 26–24 win over Italy 2017 - Destroyer USS John S McCain collides with an oil tanker near Singapore leaving 10 missing and 5 injured 2018 - Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull calls for and wins a leadership vote 43-35 over Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton More Historical Events »

Amp-humpin’, high-octane instrumentalists! Is it music made by guitarists for guitarists? Not always!

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