Through the Fire

This is the day that the Lord has made! And I believe He did His part wonderfully. Now, I need to do my part to the best of my ability, REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN this day. The day goes so much better for me when I start off rejoicing.

If the volume is up on your computer, then you have noticed that I have song playing on this blog page. It is by the Crabb Family and it is entitled, "Through the Fire". I have a lot of favorite songs, but this one is in my top five for sure. I couldn't sleep last night and was awake from 2:45 am until I got up at 5 am. During that time, the words to this song kept going over and over in my mind as the Lord brought several people to my mind to pray for. People that are going THROUGH the fire.

Before I share the words of this song with you, let me share a few verses from the Bible with you about going THROUGH your fire.

Isaiah 43:1-3 BUT NOW [in spite of past judgments for Israel's sins], thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. (2) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you. (3) For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;...

Listen to this passage in the Message translation:

Isaiah 43:1-5 But now, GOD's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: "Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. (2) When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end-- (3) Because I am GOD, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! (4) That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you. (5) "So don't be afraid: I'm with you. I'll round up all your scattered children, pull them in from east and west.

This Word is for someone today that is:

• In over their head
• In rough waters
• Between a rock and a hard place

But you need to remember what God said about each of these:

• In over your head? I will be THERE for you
• In rough waters? You WILL NOT go down
• Between a rock and a hard place? It WON'T be a dead end

Why? (3) Because I am GOD, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you:

Wow! That's GOOD NEWS! Regardless what you are facing today, God wants you to KNOW that He will bring you THROUGH it. Listen to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; (9) We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;

God WILL BRING YOU THROUGH THE FIRE! Please read the words to this powerful song:

So many times I've questioned those certain circumstances
And things I could not understand
And many times in trials, weakness blurs my vision
That's when my frustration seems to get to out of hand
Its then I am reminded church I've never been forsaken
I've never had to stand one test aloneT
hat's when I look at all the victories
And the power rises up in me
And its through the fire my weakness is made strong

Chorus:
He never promised that the cross would not get heavy
And the hill would not be hard to climb
He never offered our victories without fighting
But He said help would always come in time
Just remember when your standing in the valley of decision
And the adversary says give in
Just hold on, our Lord will show up
And He will take you through the fire again

Once again, listen to Paul's words in 2 Corinthains 12:

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! (8) At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, (9) and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.

God wants you to know TODAY, that in your WEAKNESS His strength is made strong!

He WILL bring you out. You may have to go THROUGH some things, but He hasn't forgotten about you. Please, PRESS ON in Jesus' name!

I love you guys, and pray that you have a HOPE-filled weekend! Remember, we start our Daniels Fast this Sunday! I am EXCITED about what God is going to do in and through us!

For more information, please check out our Daniel Fast blog at: http://www.wmfirstassembly.blogspot.com/

Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

This weekend's "THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR" reading:

• February 29 (Friday) I Samuel 18:1- I Samuel 20:42
• March 1 (Saturday) I Samuel 21:1 - I Samuel 24:22
• March 2 (Sunday) I Samuel 25:1 - I Samuel 26:25