Ruth O'Neil's Blog, page 12
November 1, 2015
Song of the Week - "He is Able"
Our finite minds cannot understand the ways of God all the time, or at any time for that matter. We may not feel as if He listens to our pleas or cares what we are going through. When we pray for answers we may not get the answer we wanted. But God's ways are higher than our ways. Most importantly, He is able to work all things together for good.
As you listen to this song, close your eyes and lay your requests before God and KNOW that He is able to do all things.
As you listen to this song, close your eyes and lay your requests before God and KNOW that He is able to do all things.
October 25, 2015
Song of the Week - "Who Am I"
It seems as if there is a lot of confusion on who people think they are. And I'm not talking about people who are confused about their sexuality.Young people on their way to college don't know what they want to do or who they want to be when they grow up. There are plenty of older people who don't know what they want to be when they grow up, either.
Many people feel unworthy because of life experiences and choices, and let's face it...we are all unworthy of Christ's love. The good news is that God knows exactly who we are, and He loves us in spite of all our faults.
If you need to know who you are today, go to God, accept His grace and you will know that you are His child.
Many people feel unworthy because of life experiences and choices, and let's face it...we are all unworthy of Christ's love. The good news is that God knows exactly who we are, and He loves us in spite of all our faults.
If you need to know who you are today, go to God, accept His grace and you will know that you are His child.
October 18, 2015
Song of the Week - "Your Grace Still Amazes Me"
Here’s a newsflash: I’m flawed. Well, it may not be that much of a newsflash even if you met me only one time before. The truth is we are all flawed. Every day I have struggles. Every day I need grace. Thankfully, God’s grace never runs out. It never runs out for me, and it will never run out for you, either.
God’s grace amazes me!
God’s grace amazes me!
October 12, 2015
Song of the Week - "Find You on My Knees"
So often we look for help in every place but the obvious. I know this from first hand experience. I like to do things myself. If something needs to be done, I try to do it myself. However, sometimes circumstances are beyond my control. I have to find the Ultimate Help and to find that, I have to look when I'm on my knees.
October 4, 2015
Song of the Week - "You are Beautiful"
I love it when friends share songs with me. I am often introduced to something new. This is just one of them. And the words are true...God is beautiful.
September 27, 2015
Song of the Week - "We are the Light of the World"
As I watch the news I am constantly aware of the mixed messages that are sent out on a daily basis, especially through the media. Teens are encouraged to have intimate relationships outside of marriage, but then one goes to jail because of that very thing. We can’t kill animals, but we can kill babies because that’s our right. Drugs are legalized, but then we feel so bad when someone needs rehab.
Do you see where I’m going with this?
As Christians, we need to be the light of the world. People need to see us as different. If they don’t, then maybe we aren’t doing something right.
This week, be the light in one person’s life who is desperately searching for what is right.
Do you see where I’m going with this?
As Christians, we need to be the light of the world. People need to see us as different. If they don’t, then maybe we aren’t doing something right.
This week, be the light in one person’s life who is desperately searching for what is right.
September 20, 2015
Song of the Week - "Pray On"
For all of you fighting battles today…
September 13, 2015
Song of the Week - "El Shadai"
As summer officially comes to a close, I want to hold on for just a moment longer in my memories. The Song of the Week this week takes me back to the days of summer camp. A friend of mine and I sang a duet one night during Bible time. I messed up, but she sounded great. Even after all the years have passed, this song still means a lot to mean, probably more as I have become more spiritually mature.
There are many names of God. El Shaddai is only one. God is all we ever need, no matter what is going on around us. God is sufficient. We should fall on our faces as Abraham did when we know we are in the presence of the Lord Almighty.
Adonai is another. I was fortunate enough to be born into a Christian household. My parents had me in church as soon as I was born. They taught me about God on a daily basis. But it wasn’t till I made the choice that He became Lord of my life. That was when God became my Adonai.
As you listen, think about some of the names of God that mean a lot to you? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
There are many names of God. El Shaddai is only one. God is all we ever need, no matter what is going on around us. God is sufficient. We should fall on our faces as Abraham did when we know we are in the presence of the Lord Almighty.
Adonai is another. I was fortunate enough to be born into a Christian household. My parents had me in church as soon as I was born. They taught me about God on a daily basis. But it wasn’t till I made the choice that He became Lord of my life. That was when God became my Adonai.
As you listen, think about some of the names of God that mean a lot to you? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
Finding Hope in Hopelessness
Hope is an emotion that we all experience at some point or another in our lives. We hope for little things that are truly insignificant. We also hope for big things that could really change our lives. Often times we get disappointed because what we had hoped for didn’t happen. However, it wasn’t the act of hoping that upset us, it’s the fact that we didn’t get what we had hoped for. God is not only epitome of hopefulness; He is faithful to those of us who hope in Him.
Rahab is one of the most famous women of the Bible and she absolutely fascinates me. Her predicament was literally hopeless. She knew that something terrible was about to happen to her city. This was probably the only place she had ever lived. Yet she found a reason to hope. She chose to believe in the God that was not her own to find that hope. This hope found her a place in Hebrews chapter eleven among many true faithful of the Bible.
Rahab lived in Jericho. She was a sinful woman, living in a sinful city. In our human eyes, she was probably one of the worst sinners of her time. However, in God’s eyes we are all sinners and not one worst than another. That is why He came to earth as a man to die for the sins of us all. Rahab must have known this and that is where she found her hope.
The people of Jericho had heard stories of the Israelites. They had defeated all the cities they had come to with the help of their God. Next thing they knew was that their hometown, Jericho was in the path of the Israelites. They knew they were about to be destroyed and were afraid. They had no hope. Knowing you are about to physically die can be hopelessness, and it was hopeless for most of the people of Jericho.
Except of course for Rahab. She found faith in a God she had only heard rumors about. She found faith in the two spies she had just met and helped to hide on her roof. Because of her actions, she found faith in the one true and living God. She found hope.She found spiritual hope, which nothing can take away or replace. She found hope not only for the present, but also for her future.
But what about us? What happens when we are lost in the despair of hopelessness? We, like the people of Jericho, may see no way out. Do we turn to the God of heaven who created us and loves us or do we look within ourselves? Rahab only had rumors and stories of this God and she believed with her whole heart. Today we have His Word right in front of us where we can read first hand about the wonders of His grace and mercy, His strength and power. Why do we always have to turn away and look for hope elsewhere?
No matter what the circumstances of our lives, we can put all of our faith and trust in God. When we are going through difficult times, we can have hope. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint” Isaiah 40:31. We can’t always see where God is working and what He is doing for us. Sometimes we just have to trust Him. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an excepted end” Jeremiah 29:11. Even when things are going well in life, we can still have a hope because of our future. “For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off” Proverbs 23:18. Even if we know that physical death is imminent, we can have the hope of knowing where we will spend eternity. If we already have that hope, we can share it with others. We all need hope in our lives, but that hope should not focus on the things of this world, but on God Himself, the true giver of hope.
Rahab is one of the most famous women of the Bible and she absolutely fascinates me. Her predicament was literally hopeless. She knew that something terrible was about to happen to her city. This was probably the only place she had ever lived. Yet she found a reason to hope. She chose to believe in the God that was not her own to find that hope. This hope found her a place in Hebrews chapter eleven among many true faithful of the Bible.
Rahab lived in Jericho. She was a sinful woman, living in a sinful city. In our human eyes, she was probably one of the worst sinners of her time. However, in God’s eyes we are all sinners and not one worst than another. That is why He came to earth as a man to die for the sins of us all. Rahab must have known this and that is where she found her hope.
The people of Jericho had heard stories of the Israelites. They had defeated all the cities they had come to with the help of their God. Next thing they knew was that their hometown, Jericho was in the path of the Israelites. They knew they were about to be destroyed and were afraid. They had no hope. Knowing you are about to physically die can be hopelessness, and it was hopeless for most of the people of Jericho.
Except of course for Rahab. She found faith in a God she had only heard rumors about. She found faith in the two spies she had just met and helped to hide on her roof. Because of her actions, she found faith in the one true and living God. She found hope.She found spiritual hope, which nothing can take away or replace. She found hope not only for the present, but also for her future.
But what about us? What happens when we are lost in the despair of hopelessness? We, like the people of Jericho, may see no way out. Do we turn to the God of heaven who created us and loves us or do we look within ourselves? Rahab only had rumors and stories of this God and she believed with her whole heart. Today we have His Word right in front of us where we can read first hand about the wonders of His grace and mercy, His strength and power. Why do we always have to turn away and look for hope elsewhere?
No matter what the circumstances of our lives, we can put all of our faith and trust in God. When we are going through difficult times, we can have hope. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint” Isaiah 40:31. We can’t always see where God is working and what He is doing for us. Sometimes we just have to trust Him. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an excepted end” Jeremiah 29:11. Even when things are going well in life, we can still have a hope because of our future. “For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off” Proverbs 23:18. Even if we know that physical death is imminent, we can have the hope of knowing where we will spend eternity. If we already have that hope, we can share it with others. We all need hope in our lives, but that hope should not focus on the things of this world, but on God Himself, the true giver of hope.
September 6, 2015
Song of the Week – “A Flower in the Rain”
The Song of the Week this week is for all my friends who seem to be going through one difficulty after another. Many have lost loved ones. Many have had one health issue after another. Both the issues and the friends are too numerous to mention.
When we go through difficult times it’s hard to see through to the other side, yet we must. If we open up ourselves to the Lord’s leading, He may break us, but that in the end it will only be for the better.
We will be better people. We will have experiences that we can use to help others through later.
So, for all of you going through a trial right now, give your heart to the Lord and allow Him to work through the trial and make you like the "Flower in the Rain."
When we go through difficult times it’s hard to see through to the other side, yet we must. If we open up ourselves to the Lord’s leading, He may break us, but that in the end it will only be for the better.
We will be better people. We will have experiences that we can use to help others through later.
So, for all of you going through a trial right now, give your heart to the Lord and allow Him to work through the trial and make you like the "Flower in the Rain."
