3.Keeping Calm

3. Little Member—Big Trouble

This little member, the tongue, can get us into a bunch of trouble, or minister grace unto others.

Our pastor became discouraged when a faithful member left with his wife and five children to pastor a church. I said, “God sent Brother Troy went out of our church to pastor. These few words encouraged our pastor.  At times the Lord gives me words to help someone.

However, hurtful words can flow out of the same mouth. God said, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be,” (Jas. 3:10). My tongue can be used for good or evil.

Once I forgot my husband’s uniforms. “Your uniforms,” I yelled. “I left them at the laundry. We went back to the laundry and did not find them. I stomped out of the laundry, and yelled all the way home. My words affected my husband and daughter, not just myself.

If after that explosion, I said, “It’s not that bad,” the poison of my stinging words remained in the atmosphere.

I felt like I was no good. This did not fix my problem.

Saying, “I’m not mad,” solves nothing.

The only remedy when things like this occur is agreeing with God that I sinned with my lips and my thoughts.

When we utter venomous words out of our mouths, God will forgive and cleanse us when we admit our wrongdoing. Mankind has tamed all kinds of animals, but not the tongue. God says, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison, (Jas. 3:8). I cannot tame my tongue, but God did when I made things right.

Bio.: Lynn’s book, Our Lifeship: A Study in Proverbs for Women, contains a chapter on the tongue. Her website,www.writingfrommyheart.com, received a new look. Now she puts things up there herself

2. Keeping Calm

Keep a Calm Heart

The heart is the lifeline of our lifeship. It resembles the ship’s motor. If the motor dies, the ship dies. ^“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). When we fail to keep our hearts right, our ships will capsize.

The Captain, Jesus Christ, spoke about the heart of our ship. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). We look on the beauty of a ship. But will it hold the water back? Can we cross the Red Seas and Jordans in our lives?

As long as she heeds her Captain’s warnings, she will dwell safely and be quiet from fear of evil. Jesus gives her peace and calm even in the midst of dire circumstances.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. “Be careful for nothing” means “Do not worry about anything.” He tells us to pray and supplicate or beg God for it. We do this on the basis of His promises in His holy Word, the Bible. When we meet these conditions, He gives us the peace of God which surpasses our finite understanding.

Earlier in my life, I fell into a depressed state four times. When trials come my way, I feel troubled at that time. God has helped me so that I can deal with it and not stay in that state of mind.

Once, vandals trashed my place. That night I stayed in Mom’s condo and slept like a baby. I woke up with a smile on my face. Nothing I could do about my circumstances gave me this calmness and joy. Only my God can do that.

God has promised us peace. He said, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isa. 26:3). Do we trust in Him when everything seems against us? God knows all about it, and wants to give us His peace.

All Scriptures are taken from the King James Version. This article is based on Lynn’s book: Our Lifeship: A Study in Proverbs for Women. You may find more from her website, www.writingfrommyheart.com. This website is in the process of getting a new look and then new articles and other things will appear on it.

1. Keeping Calm

Helm of Our Ship

By Lynn Wallace

God uses the analogy of a ship in Proverbs one. In verse five He says, “A man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” The English words “wise counsels” are translated from the Hebrew word tachbulah. The Hebrews used this term to refer to steering a ship. This word comes from chebel, a rope. This rope guided the ship. God gives us wise counsels in the way we conduct our lifeship.

A wise sailor guides her ship by “wise counsels.” This God-fearing woman embarks on her vessel towards Heaven’s portals. Her Captain, Jesus Christ, imparts wisdom to her in the way she conducts her ship.

Thus she keeps on course and steers away from erroneous paths. She shuns the advice of pirates. Their ships run into the coral reefs. The Captain says, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment” (Exo. 23:2). When the pirates seek to enmesh her in their nets, she says, “No, I belong to Jesus, and I cannot do that.”

As long as she heeds her Captain’s warnings, she will dwell safely and be quiet from fear of evil. Jesus gives her peace and calm even in the midst of dire circumstances.

One mother told the school principal where her daughter, CJ, and a friend went when they played hooky. CJ wanted her mother to write a note saying they stayed home sick. The mother, a sailor for Jesus, refused to do so. She thought, Now I’ve made them my enemies. I’ll never be able to speak to them about Jesus.

Later, the countenance of CJ’s friend changed after she received Christ as her Saviour. On another occasion, her mother listened when CJ’s mother testified to her of Jesus. A lie reaps its harvest, not peace. Honesty does pay.

This sailor pleased God by telling the truth and trusting in Him. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:5-6). Telling about the girls when they played hooky seemed to be a way to make enemies. Because the mother told the truth, the way opened for her to witness. God promises in Proverbs 16:7 that when we please the Lord He will make even our enemies to be at peace with us. In this case this mother had peace with her enemies because she guided her ship aright.

Outwardly, the winds of adversity may rage, but a sailor who trusts the LORD in this tempest remains unruffled. A godly sailor follows godly counsel from her logbook, the Bible. She avoids the crags of envy, pride, harsh judgment, ill temper, and bad words. With the Captain’s help she steers her lifeship in the right direction, and avoids shipwreck. Jesus Christ guides her lifeship in the right direction.  God gives her peace in her heart.

Names in this article were changed to protect privacy.

All Scriptures are taken from the King James Version. This article is based on Lynn’s book: Our Lifeship: A Study in Proverbs for Women. You may find more from her website, www.writingfrommyheart.com. This website is in the process of getting a new look and then new articles and other things will appear on it.

Beginning Anew

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new  (2 Cor. 5:17).

As we celebrate the New Year, those in Christ have cause for rejoicing. God made His children new persons.

Jesus Christ came unto us and gave us a new hope. In 1 Peter 1:3-4 He says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” This eternal hope gives His own a confidence no man can take from us.

The Word of God speaks of several new things:

• The new relationship of God with man.
• The new desire of man for God’s Word.
• The new life of man.

In1 Cor. 6:19 we are told “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” We belong to God and His Holy Spirit dwells within us.

When Christ comes in, He gives us new desires. One of these is for His Word. Before we did not understand it, but now we love it and hunger for it.

Then He gave us a new life, a life of victory over sin. The Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit in our life: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Gal. 5:22-23). This does not mean a life free from affliction, but a productive life.

Ellen lay in bed wracked with pain. The pastor chatted with her husband. In the background he heard Ellen. “How are the people in my church?” In the midst of all her pain, she was concerned about her church.

At last Ellen was able to attend church again. She stood and gave her testimony. “When I have pain in the middle of the night and cannot sleep, I’m thankful,” she said. “It gives me more time to pray.”

Later,  she sat in a wheelchair in a nursery home. “How are you?” she asked. “You know Jesus is with you.” She continued her ministry of cheering visitors and the other residents.

This is as Ezekiel 36:26 says, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” God givesus a new heart and a new spirit that reaches out to others.

In this month of new beginnings you and I can pray: “Dear Lord, help me live a life of victory. May the fruit of the Spirit be manifest in my life. Help me reach out to others. This New Year’s Day may others see Christ in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

(All Scripture is from the King James Version.)

13. Our Eternal Hope

13. My Hope in Trails

Romans 5:1-5

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15).

Trials upset us. They can make us angry. Some become bitter in them. If you trust in Jesus, you have a friend. He is touched with the feeling our troubles. He was tempted by the lust of the flesh. “Turn these stones into bread.” (my paraphrase) He was tempted by the pride of life. “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down.” He was tempted by the lust of the eyes. The devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. He promised, “All these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matt. 4:6). He was tempted, yet without sin.

The temptation or trial is not sin. We sin when we give in to temptation. We can use the Word of God and have hope as our Saviour did. God wants us to “rejoice in hope” and “glory in our tribulations” (Rom. 5:2-3). This is not the natural human reaction. As God works in and through us, we can react in this way.

Temptations have come to me where I did not read all the fine print. God rescued me from my sin, but it almost spelled disaster.

Once I came home to a trashed house. When at the bedroom door, one step inside looked impossible. Had a tornado struck? In the living room rice crackled under foot. Water ran in the kitchen sink and bathtub. Papers, shampoo and other items floated on top. My skirt got wet. My friends, who brought me home, waited for me. They suspected something amiss. I called them inside, and said, “I cannot stay here.”

“Do you want to stay at our house tonight?”

“No, please take me to Mom’s house.” I called Mom and told her what happened. That night at her house I slept like a baby. The next morning I awoke with a smile on my face, and peace in my heart. Lynn cannot in herself work up those feelings. God gave me peace and joy in the midst of troubles. He can do the same for you.

Lynn’s book, Our Lifeship, was written to help you sail calmly on life’s seas. Come abroad this ship and God will give you peace and joy in the midst of the deepest troubles.

Lynn’s Bio: After her beloved husband died, God called Lynn to write. Ambassador International published her first book, Our Lifeship: A Study in Proverbs for Women. It is available from PayPal through her website, www.writingfrommyheart.com, and other places.

Mrs. Noah & a Woman

Most women in Noah’s day, woman with wicked hearts, steered their ship off course.

“Mrs. Noah, you are not going to get on Noah’s boat, are you?” the woman taunted her. “I would leave my husband if he did anything that foolish.”

“Lenora, you do not understand. My family believes in God. God said, ‘Noah, build a big boat. People are so wicked that I will send rain. It will flood the earth.’ Yes, I will board that boat. I do not want to drown.”

“Do not be silly. It has never rained on the earth. We will not drown.”

“Oh, Lenora, I wish you believed God. He always speaks the truth.”

No one believed God except Noah’s family. Only eight people climbed in the boat. All the others drowned in a worldwide flood. God also saved two of every kind of animal. This boat was big and could easily accommodate that many baby animals, including the dinosaurs. Noah may have housed smaller animals in cages.

God punished mankind for their wickedness “Every imagination of the thoughts of his (her) heart was only evil continually.” God says in Proverbs 15:9, “The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.” Noah’s wife and her family boarded the ark by faith. They sailed and landed safely on Mount Ararat.

This is an excerpt from Lynn’s book, Our Lifeship: A Study in Proverbs for Women. It is available from www.writingfrommyheart.com. This website will soon have a new look. Later, Lynn will be editing and adding new things. Please join her excitement. Thanks.

12. Our Eternal Hope

12. My hope and Trust in God

Numbers 13-14; Joshua 14

The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish…Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope (Prov. 10:28; Zech. 9:12).

In the book of Proverbs “the righteous” are the just, those declared righteous by God. When God looks down from Heaven, He buried their sins in the deepest sea (Mic. 7:19).

Moses, by God’s command, sent out twelve spies to spy out the land of Canaan. At this time Caleb was forty, and one of the spies. Because Caleb trusted God, he followed Him wholly.

“Taste this honey, Joshua.”

“Ummmm, good.”

“Can you help me carry back these grapes, Joshua.”

“Sure, Caleb.”

“Here, I’ve got this pole cut down. Did you ever see such big grapes, Joshua?”

“No, and they’re so delicious.”

“Let’s gather some pomegranates and figs in our baskets.”

“I never tasted such good fruit.”

***

“The land of Canaan flows with mild and honey,” ten of the spies reported. “But,” they said, “Giants live there in great walled cities. We saw them and felt like grasshoppers. We cannot overcome them.”

“Oh yes we can,” Caleb said. “Let’s go up right away and conquer the land. The Lord will give it to us.”

The people said, “Let’s stone Caleb and Joshua. They speak foolishly.”

“These ten men shall not see the land,” a voice thundered. “They will die by a plague. The people will wander in the wilderness forty years.”

However, Caleb and Joshua lived. They had a different attitude. God said because Caleb followed Him wholly, He would bring him into the land of Canaan.”

Forty-five years later Caleb reminded Joshua of God’s promise. He said, “Give me this mountain. I can drive out the giants.”

“You, Caleb, have wholly followed the Lord.  You can have this mountain. The Lord has given it to you.” At eighty-five he drove out the giants and the land had rest from war.

The spies had their eyes on the circumstances and their own ability. They died in the wilderness.

Caleb and Joshua had their eyes on the LORD and His might, and God gave the victory. None of us are sufficient in ourselves, but only in God.

Giants stalk all our paths. A few years ago I came home to a giant. Vandals had trashed out my house. I saw it and felt utterly helpless.

That night I slept at Mom’s house. God gave me sweet sleep. The next day I awoke with a smile and deep peace in my heart.

My friends, knowing of my plight, helped me conquer this giant. It took us a full day to clean up.

If I had trusted in my own resources, this giant would have defeated me. By God’s strength we overcame it.

Other giants have threatened my life and my property. When I trust in myself, I fail. If I look up to Jesus, He gives me victory.

We all face giants in our lives. Your giants may wear a different face than mine. As we trust in God and then step out in faith, we can conquer the giants in our lives.

Your giants may wear a different face than mine, but we can conquer as Caleb did when we place our faith and hope in Christ. “Faith, humility, and peace keep us afloat as we sail on troubled seas” (Taken from Our Lifeship by Lynn Wallace, page 19).

Bio:

Ambassador-Emerald International published Lynn’s book, Our Lifeship: Studies in Proverbs for Women. (See www.writingfrommyheart.com) Periodicals published about eighty of her articles and fillers. Accent Publications published two of her curriculum packages. Leon, her late husband, and she served on the Navajo field several years. She plays the piano for Canyon View Baptist Church in Montrose, Colorado.

10. My Eternal Hope

10. My Hope in God’s Help

Psalm 146

Psalm 146:5

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

The happy woman has God for her help and her hope (v. 5). She trusts in the Lord. God promises that she shall be like a tree planted by a river. Even in the heat her leaf is green. She does worry about droughts and yields fruit even in those times (Jer. 17:7-8). We can have a happy and fruitful life even in these times of recession.

Our God is the same God who watched over Jacob. Now Jacob was by no means perfect. He cheated his brother, Esau, out of the birthright and the blessing. Consequently, his twin brother, Esau, hated him and wanted to kill him.

Jacob fled to Haran. On the way he became weary and fell asleep with only a stone to lay his head on. He saw a vision of angels ascending and descending upon a ladder. God promised, “I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goeth.”

Jacob arrived in Haran where his Uncle Laban lived. This man looked out for his own interests and tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel whom Jacob loved. Jacob had labored seven years for her. Now Laban forced him to labor seven more years for Rachel. Jealousy arose between his two wives and contention.

Because Jacob hated Leah and loved Rachel, the second wife bare no children. Her anger lashed out at Jacob, “Give me children , or else I die.”

Jacob’s anger waxed hot. He said, “Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?” Rachel sinned and gave him her maid, Bilhah, that she might bear children for her. She bore two children. Leah had born four children. Leah followed Rachel’s bad example, and gave her maid, Zilpah, to Jacob. This made bore two children for Leah. Leah gave birth to two more sons and one daughter, Dinah. At last Rachel birthed one son, Joseph.

God blessed Jacob. He served Laban six years for his livestock Jacob’s livestock multiplied Laban ended up with the least desirable of the animals. Laban had changed Jacob’s wages ten times.

After this, God spoke to Jacob and reminded him of a promise he had made if he returned to Bethel in the promised land (Gen. 28:20-22). He said, “Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.” Jacob left with his family and with his livestock.

On the way the angels of God met him. Jacob said, “This is God’s host.” Jacob sent messengers to Esau. They returned and told him that Esau was coming to meet him. Jacob was greatly afraid.

He divided the people and the animals with him into two bands. He said, “If Esau come to the one company and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.” Then he prayed, “O God of Abraham…I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies…Thou hast shown unto thy servant…Deliver me, I pray thee…from the hand of Esau…Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good.” He stayed there that night, and prepared a present for Esau. He divided this gift into three droves with servants. He thought to appease his brother’s anger with these gifts.

That night Jacob was left alone. That night he wrestled with a man whom he later learned was God Himself. He called the name of this place, Peniel. He said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” God touched his thigh and Jacob limbed from that time onward. The Lord changed his name to Israel, a prince with God.

Jacob awoke and saw Esau. He ran to meet him, and hugged him. He fell on his neck and kissed him. At first he refused to take any gift from Jacob, for he said, “I have enough. Jacob insisted; he took the gift. Then the two brothers parted and went their own ways.

See Genesis 25:29-34; 27-33 for this story.

We are not better than Jacob. We are all unworthy of what God has prepared for us. God says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). God is a merciful and just God. He wants to bless you as He blessed Jacob. He has blessed me greatly. The greatest blessing is my salvation from my sin and the punishment it deserves. He called me to do a work for Him.  I feel so unworthy, but He keeps pouring out His blessings.

He does not promise us a trouble-free life, but He promises to go with us just as He did Jacob. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). He opened the way for me to live on my parents’ farm. I love to watch the robins, mourning doves, hawks and other birds. Deer bound along on this property. I gaze out the windows and see the San Juan Mountains. I walk to my mailbox, look the other way, and see Grand Mesa. One day a raccoon sat up outside my bedroom window. A skunk goes outside the same window. He looks so cute, but, oh, the smell!

Even in my troubles, He brings a blessing. The other day a big truck backed into me as I went on the homeward path. As we waited for the police, we spoke together, and a woman bought one of my books. I held up my book, Our Lifeship: A Study in Proverbs for Women. I said, “I wrote it to help women sail calmly on life’s troubled seas.” She wanted it and her sister bought it for her birthday.

9. Our Eternal Hope

9. Hope Out of the Depths

Psalm 130:5

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

The psalmist cried out of the depths of despair. He said, “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord” (Psa. 130:1). Many of us have experienced this.

In all his troubles, he cried out to the Lord God, and hoped in his word. He knew God is merciful and that with Him is plenteous redemption. Redeem means to buy back. Jesus Christ came to redeem us from our sin. He paid the purchase price when he died on a cruel cross and shed His innocent blood.

As a young believer, I struggled. The Lord gave me hope. After four breakdowns and a long wait, He called me to the Navajo Indian. There I met the man who became my husband, Leon. The Lord gave us a daughter. Many Navajos professed to receive Christ as Saviour. I look forward to seeing them in heaven one day.

One day when we had other plans, a Navajo asked us to baby sit her baby. She left her daughter with us. We agreed to care for the little one. They brought in a cradle board. I wanted to hold that baby. She needed changing. I took her out of the cradle board and took care of her problem. I had no idea how to get her back into the cradle board and fasten it. I held her until her parents returned.

My husband took his Bible and talked to Marilyn about salvation. She wanted to become Jesus’ little lamb. We rejoiced that we changed our plans to care for a baby.

Another time, three girls came to our place. Lugarita spoke up, “May we stay here tonight? A drunk came by while our parents went on business last night, and scared us all.” Leon scratched his head. You cannot refuse a request like that. We had wall-to-wall sleepers that night. Their parents came by about two in the morning. The next day we had seven visitors in our church service from that family. The three girls accepted Christ as their Saviour. Leon baptized them in Lake Powell near Page, Arizona.

After sixteen years of a wonderful marriage, God took my beloved home. What will I do now, Lord? I pondered. The next week I visited my brother-in-law’s church. Pastor Bill preached on writing. He described my shanty though he had never seen it. I knew the Lord was speaking to me. Many manuscripts and two curriculum packages found publication. My first book, Our Lifeship: A Study in Proverbs for Women, sailed off to Ambassador International who published it. I love to write. My God is so good and so great.

My hope is that Our Lifeship will help women sail calmly on life’s seas. My hope is in God’s Word. My desire is to help them find hope in God and then to help them sail calmly on troubled waters. It is like a little bird who finds shelter in the cliff while the waters pour down from above.

Do you have hope in God’s Word? Do you know God promises peace in the heart in the midst of trouble?

Lynn’s book is available from www.writingfrommyheart.com through PayPal.

8. Our Eternal Hope

8. Hope in the Word

Psalm 119

“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope…My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word…Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word…Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope” (Psa. 119:49, 81, 114, 116).

This entire psalm speaks about the Word of God.  In Psalm 12:6-7 God has promised to preserve His Word forever. He preserved in English in the King James Bible. He orders our steps in His Word. The psalmist hoped on God’s Word before daylight and meditated on it in the night. God’s Word is true from the beginning to the end (from Genesis to Revelation).

Before Jesus entered my heart and my life, I picked up the Bible at times, but I did not understand. One friend said, “The book of Revelation tells us about the future.” I read this book through, but I knew as much as when I finished as before I started reading it.

Another time I started reading in the gospel of John. I came to the fourteenth chapter. Who is the Comforter? as I did not understand, I stopped reading. First Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The natural man refers to a person without Christ. That is why many say they cannot understand the KJV.

In the King James I read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). In another version this verse reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” It changes the whole meaning of the verse.

My hope is in the Word which cleanses me from sin. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psa. 119:9). The psalmist memorized the Word of God. He meditated and delighted in God’s Word.¹

Heavy hearts threaten to overwhelm us. God strengthens us with His Word.² He gives us hope.

When we keep and obey God’s words, it increases our hope in God. Sometimes, afflictions come into our lives. God uses these to teach us to do right.⁴

One time vandals trashed my trailer home. I could not walk into my bedroom with all the clutter. Water overflowed the bathtub, and almost the kitchen sink. Rice crackled underfoot in the living room. God used my friends to help me. I spent the night at Mom’s house. In bed I slept like a baby and smiled in the morning. God had given me His peace and joy and thereby encouraged me to live for Him.

In Psalm 119:89 God says, “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” He preserved His holy Word for us. His Word gives me hope.

God gave the Valley of Achor (trouble) for a Door of Hope (Hos. 2:15). In this place Achan was stoned because he stole what belonged to God (Josh. 7:1, 25-26). Let us look up to God and He will bless us in our Valley of Trouble as He has promised to bless Israel.

1. Psalm 119: 11, 15-16; 2. Psalm 119:28; 3. Psalm 119:67.