Mercy
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Author: Lori Casto
Grace
Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:20-21
Where God Brought Me From
Sunday, June 15th
I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me, (leaned)
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3
- He Brought Dad from Wounded to Walking
He didn’t want to forget:
- The Report
- The Waiting
- The Setbacks
- The Miracle
- He brought Moses & The Children of Israel through the Sea
And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14
- Don’t be Afraid
- Stand Still
- Hold Your Peace
- THE PROMISE- YOU SHALL SEE AGAIN NO MORE!!
- He brought Peter from sinking
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14: 28-32
- He Got out of the boat/ obeyed
- When He Saw, He Sank
- Jesus Caught Him
- He brought David from Goliath
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samual 17: 45-47
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:22-24
- God’s Power- Not Ours
- The Battle’s Gods
- He will Equip Us
The picture dad never wanted deleted was of an amputated toe area. What’s your picture look like?
What does God want to bring you from?
Where has God brought you from?
What did God teach you while he brought you?
Guidance
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Life Lessons from My Father
Notes
1. Prayer & Fasting Make a Difference
While they were worshiping the Lord & fasting, The Holy Spirit said: Set apart for me Barnabas & Saul for the work to which I have called them. Acts 13:2
2. Sometimes Serving Means Sacrifice
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up His cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
3. God Provides Every Need (and More)
And my God will supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, Ephesians 3:20
4. Don’t Let People Talk You out of what God Can Do
…and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able to also perform it. Romans 4:21
5. Never Forget What God Brought You Out of
I Waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my steps. Psalm 40:1-2
Wisdom
If anyone lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you.
Amputated
“Don’t delete it.”
My dad would say those words when I scrolled through the pictures on his iPad. His iPad contained lighthearted pictures of his grandkids, and maybe the occasional picture of my mom, sisters and me. It contained funny videos he would take recording the moments he beat his grands in a game of monopoly. Those words weren’t said as I scrolled through the fun pictures. Those words were said when I came to a picture that always caught me off guard no matter how many times I saw it. It was the horrific picture of his amputated toes. Every time I saw it, I threatened to delete it, to which he would respond, “don’t delete it.”
One day I finally got tired of seeing this horrible sight amid all the funny pictures and videos he had, and I was getting ready to delete it, when He got very firm with me… “Don’t delete it.” I knew at that moment according to his tone I would never bring up the subject again. Before I let it go, I asked him why he was so insistent on keeping the horrific picture.
His response? “I never want to forget where God brought me from.” Wow! His response was powerful. I will never forget it. I never thought about deleting that picture again.
What was it dad never wanted to forget? Was it the many times he was told by doctors he needed to have his leg amputated to the knee?
Was it the doctor who was ready to amputate to the knee who said he would be in a wheelchair the rest of his life?
Was it the surgery he was entering to have his leg amputated when they literally saw blood in his toe area which caused doctors to cancel the amputation surgery and instead send him home to heal? A miracle took place in seconds.
Maybe he didn’t want to forget the more than 6 months of setbacks which could cause anyone’s faith to waiver until finally seeing complete manifestation of the healing He received the day they sent him home?
Maybe he didn’t want to forget how it took 2 years of everything from hyperbaric chamber, skin grafts, surgeries, toe amputations, being told leg amputation was imminent, to a finality that he not only didn’t need his leg amputated, but he was able to walk with no help for the rest of his life.
God performed miracle after miracle so that dad could walk for his final years of life. I will never forget the huge miracle moment when the doctors saw blood instead of performing a leg amputation. I will never forget all the other miracles before and after that led to my dad walking without assistance for the rest of his life.
Thank you, dad, for not allowing me to delete the picture.
Perfect Peace
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3
Sufficient Grace
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
You Know Me
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. Psalm 139:1-4
Unconditional Love
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. Psalm 139:1-4
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, (nothing) will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
As I try to wrap my head around how much God loves me, I’m reminded about how well God knows me and still loves me. He thinks so highly of you and I even while knowing our thoughts and every word we are about to say. It’s easier for friends to love us because they see our best. They see the us that has put on our clothes and make up. God sees us before we brush our teeth or comb our hair. God loves us when we act unlovable. God loves us unconditionally.
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9.
“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10
God’s Masterpiece
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10