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Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men." Immediately they left their nets, and followed him. Mark 1:16-18 WEB.When I was youn...
Crickets And Bill Collectors
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My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids. Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. Job 16:16 WEB
Bills steadily piled up at our house, with no income to pay them. After months of intimate fellowship with the Lord, I now felt alone, and abandoned. When I tried to pray, I got no answer. When I tried to worship, there was no presence. When we gave, we just had less. When we fasted, we were just hungry. I know that He will never leave you nor forsake you, but I could only hear crickets, and bill collectors.
When a school teacher is teaching the class, they will answer any questions that you have. But when the test begins there is silence. If you ask a question, then you will be ignored at best, possibly disciplined. You are supposed to use the knowledge that you recently learned to pass the test. The teacher is still there, but they do not speak until the test is over.
Job was a righteous man who went through a test. When everything fell apart, there was only silence. God showed up at the end of it and Job was restored. In my life, I went through a test. After several months of no work and intense pressure, we were packing to move out of our home. It ended abruptly and in twenty-four hours everything changed for us. The test was over, His presence returned, and like David and Job, we recovered all.
If all that you hear are crickets and bill collectors, know that this is a test. Keep the faith, do not give up today. Keep praying, and try to stay positive. It will soon pass and you will be taken to a new level. As Job sat there on the ground having lost everything, he probably did not see the blessings that were soon coming, for the Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life, more than the beginning (Job 42:12).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to You and ask for mercy. Please bring the things that You have taught me back to my remembrance. Give me the grace to pass the tests that I face. Fulfill Your will in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
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This was an excellent devotional. Great job brother.
Amen.
amen
Boy Pastor Dion this hit home for me. Thank you for these awesome words! I'm hearing crickets right now, actually 6 years, but down to car and suitcase. LOL God Bless you and your family. May you continue to do his will. Have an amazing day!
Amen.
Amen thank you pastor Todd for this message. It gives me hope inspite if what am facing or going through God is going to come through for me if I put my trust in him. Lord Jesus I put my trust in you.
There have been more than a few times in my life that my husband and I heard only crickets. When we scraped together the change to buy enough food for a day or two. These times were a blessing because even when we struggled so hard to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, He provided just enough to squeak by. We never went a day hungry and we always had somewhere to lie our heads at night. These times of testing made us stronger and matured my faith. It also was a good way to show our children that when times are hard that God will provide. They were never spoiled by wealth, so my children all have the backbone of faith to help them when hard times fall upon them. What God tested me with brought my family much experience in seeing that my prayers are not wasted.
Prayers are never wasted. They are always answered in GOD's time. I too have to wait but I know GOD is always with me every moment of my life.
Amen
TYL
I'm at my wits end in this life. Please God help me. Amen.
OUR LORD GOD Is listining. HE will answer you. Just keep listining and be patient.
Amen♡
I almost want to cry cause of your words! Now in my prayer time your blog is the first thing I go to. The way you write is so clear makes total sense. I stuggled so much to get this home I am in but I don't own it yet. I'm working with a lender and they continue to need more forms, more documentation etc it's a bit overwhelming and part of me wants to worry or fear but I won't let myself. I keep telling myself no "Jesus I trust in You! I went through a faith crisis a while back tempted to not believe after 4 failed purchase orders. Maybe that was a test. He spoke loudly in no. I finally said I may waver and doubt in faith but I don't doubt my love of Jesus. I wanted to be with him and love him even though he was silent, couldn't feel him or he was saying no. Love won. Faith, hope, love but the greatest is love.
This message hit me like a ton of bricks. Right now all I hear is crickets and bill collectors but, I have faith and I know this is something I have to go through and my God is with me. It's his Grace that keeps me. Amen!
Thank you, Pastor Dion, for this encouragement. Walking beside a friend in this test right now--I'll share your story!
Amen, thank you Pastor Dion.I have passed and failed test, through it all, I'm thankdul!
God is so Good!
Thank you Abba for all you bless us with!!!
A test for a testimony.
Pastor Dion, I THANK GOD FOR YOU! It would seem that whatever you write is a Revelation to what I may be going through as well as Confirmation. GOD BLESS YOU and I will continue to THANK GOD for using YOU to give me MY MESSAGES...AMEN <3
Thank you Marie. The Lord confirms His word to us in ways that we understand, we just have to believe it.
I've read..."life/experience is the hardest teacher, it gives the test first and the lesson comes after". Been going through some tough "tests". This mornings devotional spoke to me and lifted my spirits. Thanks!
Amen! I'm going through this, but I trust in Jesus because He sees the big picture that I can't see, or even imagine!
That really spoke to me, as at times I've received the silence that feels like God has deserted me.Almost like there's a glass ceiling above and nothing gets through. I like how you said "When the test starts there is silence.' That put things into perspective for me and made it easier to understand. Thanks Pastor Dion. I also pray your prayer. Amen
Amen and WOW thank you so much for this it brought geniune tears of joy and relief after reading this devotional I feel so blessed to be apart of this!! Thank you Jesus for always putting me where I'm supposed to be all my love Scott. PS WOW Blows me away, I sure hope everyone gets to feel this! Amen
Be blessed Scott, there is still hope :)
Amen
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to You and ask for mercy. Please bring the things that You have taught me back to my remembrance. Give me the grace to pass the tests that I face. Fulfill Your will in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen! Thank you<3
Amen!! Thank you for this daily devotion Pastor Dion. :-) I know what you mean when the bills pile up. Many things after 32/33 years need to be taking care of. My husband was holding off from things that had to be taking care of 3 years ago so he made a fund 3 years ago for a new roof. We live on a hill and the wind get really bad up here. He was always going on the roof to check on it he has some shingles left in the shed from when we built. He would replace them placed tar in some spots too. Well he was not sleeping well at night because he saw some wood that got damaged. So he knew it was that time. He called roofers for bids and got names from people he worked. Here the guy we got his mother lived by me grown up and he just lost his dad two weeks ago. He's also a city fireman and a lady who grew up with me and hts mother was married to an older fireman who worked with him. He end up giving us a bid that was not even close to the others. He gave us a bid that was shocking and his work is beautiful. God, blessed us known what we had save and what we was hoping the offer would be. It was a lot for me to fo threw not being well but my husband said it must be done. So it's done and like he told me we have to watch because there is srill things that need to be done. We was fine we built 33 years ago and we are at the age that everythng has to be replaced. The furnace will be next and we have been holding off on that we have a furnace fund and when the time comes and the right person to do the job it will be done. I never knew how much wwork and money goes into a house over the years. We have always been the type of people who always had funds for things that you know you'll need one day or just in case something happens. The guy next door got laid off and we was going to ler him do the roof but we also told him we want 3 bids. My husband told him if it a couple hundred i'll give you the job it end up being a couple thousand. Our own neighbor was trying to really rake us over coals and when he found out what we paid he said the work won't be as good as my work. Here it was everything that he would have done and he said they really did a nice job. I said Tom I grew up with his mom his best friends mom works right next to my husband. Tom is from a different area than where we came from. Were we come from you always give a break to people you know take there cards and pass them to people who say they need a roof. They get more business that way they got a jon out the road from us someone saw their truck and called them. I'm happy for him he's a young man with a wife and a bew baby he just lost his dad and has been taking care of everything. He even calls to check on his mother a lot from what I heard at times when I went outside. Amen Good people have good things come back to them do right by God and he will do for you. <3