Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "At Wit's End" by Pat Kissell for Friday, 16 December 2016 with Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-8

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "At Wit's End" by Pat Kissell for Friday, 16 December 2016 with Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-8
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"At Wit's End" by Pat Kissell
Hebrews 11:1 Trusting[Hebrews 11:1 Habakkuk 2:4] is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see. 2 It was for this that Scripture attested the merit of the people of old.
3 By trusting, we understand that the universe was created through a spoken word of God, so that what is seen did not come into being out of existing phenomena.
4 By trusting, Hevel offered a greater sacrifice than Kayin; because of this, he was attested as righteous, with God giving him this testimony on the ground of his gifts. Through having trusted, he still continues to speak, even though he is dead.
5 By trusting, Hanokh was taken away from this life without seeing death — “He was not to be found, because God took him away” — for he has been attested as having been, prior to being taken away, well pleasing to God.[Hebrews 11:5 Genesis 5:24] 6 And without trusting, it is impossible to be well pleasing to God, because whoever approaches him must trust that he does exist and that he becomes a Rewarder to those who seek him out.
7 By trusting, Noach, after receiving divine warning about things as yet unseen, was filled with holy fear and built an ark to save his household. Through this trusting, he put the world under condemnation and received the righteousness that comes from trusting.
8 By trusting, Avraham obeyed, after being called to go out[Hebrews 11:8 Genesis 12:1] to a place which God would give him as a possession; indeed, he went out without knowing where he was going.
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I know what it means to really cry out to God. I hit the wall when I returned to Pennsylvania to clean out the family home of 78 years and get it ready for sale. I was three months post-op with a brand new knee; I should not have been climbing those rickety, steep attic steps. However, I had no choice. The college students I contacted never materialized. While cautiously climbing the steps for the “millionth time,” I stopped and, in tears, cried out: “Lord, I have to have help! I cannot continue doing this alone.”

When I went downstairs, there was a message to return a call to my boss’s office in Idaho. My boss, in learning my situation, had searched the internet and found the pastor of the closest church. I called this unknown pastor and the next day he came with his truck and worked all day. He made the attic work so much easier for me. On Friday, my nephew and I hit the wall again when we could not disconnect the dryer for the movers. Guess who I called? The pastor dropped everything and came and bailed us out again.
Ask, seek, and knock (see Matthew 7:7).
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Hymn for Today: "I Must Tell Jesus" by Elisha A. Hoffman
1. I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
Refrain:
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
2. I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.
Refrain:
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
3. Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior,
One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.
Refrain:
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
4. O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me

Over the world the vict'ry to win.
Refrain:
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
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Thought for Today: Psalm 120:(0) A song of ascents:
(1) I called to Adonai in my distress,
and he answered me.
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Please Pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Egypt.
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