The LORD is with you: part two

 -Just in Case You Ever Feel Alone by Max Lucado

Illustrated by Eve Tharlet

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"And you know what?

Even though I'm by your side,

sitting right next to you,

can you guess what's even better?

God is right here too!

He never sleeps or goes away.

So if you feel alone,

just remember, night or day,

you're never on your own.

He's with you when you're happy,

and He's with you when you're not.

He'll know what to do.

He'll know what to say.

In case you ever feel alone,

He's just a prayer away."...

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Hebrews 13:5b-8

..."He Himself has said, 

“I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 

so that we confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."...

Ephesians 3:14-19

..."For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God."

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Part One: June 20,2024

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The Uncontrolled Dogs

What do dogs symbolize in the Bible?

Metaphorically speaking, the dog signifies worthlessness and offense. 

Revelation 22:15

..."Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying."...

Psalm 59

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;


Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.


Deliver me from those who do iniquity


And save me from men of bloodshed.


For behold, they have set an ambush for my life;


Fierce men launch an attack against me,


Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord,


For no guilt of mine, they run and set themselves against me.


Arouse Yourself to help me, and see!


You, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel,


Awake to punish all the nations;


Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity.

They return at evening, they howl like a dog,


And go around the city.


Behold, they belch forth with their mouth;


Swords are in their lips,


For, they say, “Who hears?”


But You, O Lord, laugh at them;


You scoff at all the nations.

Because of His strength I will watch for You,


For God is my stronghold.


My God in His lovingkindness will meet me;


God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes.


Do not slay them, or my people will forget;


Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down,


O Lord, our shield.


On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,


Let them even be caught in their pride,

And on account of curses and lies which they utter.


Destroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more;


That men may know that God rules in Jacob


To the ends of the earth.

They return at evening, they howl like a dog,


And go around the city.

They wander about for food


And growl if they are not satisfied.

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;


Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,


For You have been my stronghold


And a refuge in the day of my distress.


O my strength, I will sing praises to You;


For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness."

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Oh Why, Oh Why, LORD?!

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

"Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.

For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God."...

Psalm 73

"Surely God is good to Israel,


To those who are pure in heart!

 

But as for me, 

my feet came close to stumbling,


My steps had almost slipped.

For I was envious of the arrogant


As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no pains in their death,


And their body is fat.

They are not in trouble as other men,


Nor are they plagued like mankind.

Therefore pride is their necklace;


The garment of violence covers them.

Their eye bulges from fatness;


The imaginations of their heart run riot.

They mock and wickedly speak of oppression;


They speak from on high.

They have set their mouth against the heavens,


And their tongue parades through the earth.

Therefore his people return to this place,


And waters of abundance are drunk by them.

They say, 

“How does God know?


And is there knowledge with the Most High?”

Behold, 

these are the wicked;


And always at ease, 

they have increased in wealth.

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure


And washed my hands in innocence;

For I have been stricken all day long


And chastened every morning.

If I had said, 

“I will speak thus,”


Behold, 

I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.

When I pondered to understand this,


It was troublesome in my sight

Until I came into the sanctuary of God;


Then I perceived their end.

Surely You set them in slippery places;


You cast them down to destruction.

How they are destroyed in a moment!


They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!

Like a dream when one awakes,


O Lord, 

when aroused, 

You will despise their form.

When my heart was embittered


And I was pierced within,

Then I was senseless and ignorant;


I was like a beast before You.

Nevertheless I am continually with You;


You have taken hold of my right hand.

With Your counsel You will guide me,


And afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You?


And besides You, 

I desire nothing on earth.

My flesh and my heart may fail,


But God is the strength of my heart 

and my portion forever.

For, behold, 

those who are far from You will perish;


You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

But as for me, 

the nearness of God is my good;


I have made the Lord God my refuge,


That I may tell of all Your works.

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The Strongest Among Us...

Psalm 54

"Save me, O God, by Your name,


And vindicate me by Your power.


Hear my prayer, O God;


Give ear to the words of my mouth.


For strangers have risen against me


And violent men have sought my life;


They have not set God before them.

Behold, God is my helper;


The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.


He will recompense the evil to my foes;


Destroy them in Your faithfulness."

Willingly I will sacrifice to You;


I will give thanks to Your name, 

O Lord, for it is good.


For He has delivered me from all trouble,


And my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies."

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And so my higher calling is to continue to PRAY to You, oh, LORD...

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