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Bitter or Blessed?

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“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?” — Ruth 1:20-21 (NLT) After the death of her husband, and later, her two sons, Naomi felt that the LORD had raised His fist against her. (See Ruth 1:13) Instead of being called Naomi, which means pleasant, she told them to call her Mara, which means bitter. But look at Yahweh and His faithfulness to continue providing for her. In Ruth 1:6, He got word to her in Moab, that the LORD had blessed His people in Judah by giving them good crops again. In Ruth 1:16-17, He provided the loyalty of her daughter-in-law, Ruth, who told Naomi: “...Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May th...
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Before the Battle

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Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?” The LORD answered, “Judah is to go first.” — Judges 20:18 (NLT) In the first battle, Benjamin’s warriors, killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield. (See Judges 20:21) In Judges 20:23, the Israelites sought Yahweh again. For they had gone up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the LORD until evening. They asked the LORD, “Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again?” And the LORD said, “Go out and fight against them.” So the next day they went out again to fight against the men of Benjamin, but the men of Benjamin killed another 18,000 Israelites. (See Judges 20:24-25) In Judges 20:28, they sought God a third time. The Israelites asked the LORD, “Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again, or should we stop?” The LORD said, “Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.” This time He ensured them of success. Even after the two prev...
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Be Aware

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And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that Yahweh had left him. — Judges 16:20 (LSB) Samson did not realize that Yahweh had left him. What a sad situation. After being lulled to sleep with his head in the lap of Delilah, and having the seven locks of his hair shaved off, Delilah began to bring him down, and his strength left him. (See Judges 16:19) Today, we have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of us and He promises to never leave us or forsake us. In Matthew 28:20 (NKJV), Yeshua says: “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Intentionally set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD our God. Seek Him, and you will find Him when you search for Him with all your heart. (See Jeremiah 29:13 NASB1995) Don’t let the things of this world, distract you and draw you away from Yahweh. Remain alert and aware of Satan and his devices.
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His Purpose Prevails

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His father and mother objected. “Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?” they asked. “Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.” His father and mother didn’t realize the LORD was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time. — Judges 14:3-4 (NLT) Samson was disobeying Yahweh’s instructions not to intermarry with the nations He was driving out of the land before the Israelites. (See Deuteronomy 7:1-3) But God had a plan to use Samson’s disobedience to bring about His will.  Sometimes we cannot see how God is working, but let us confidently believe that He is always working for our good. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. (See Isaiah 55:9) May we trust God and continue to follow the lead of His Holy Spir...
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Hope in Him

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“The LORD is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him, to those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word]. It is good that one waits quietly for the salvation of the LORD. — Lamentations 3:24-26 (AMP) Yahweh is our eternal inheritance. He is all we need. Keep your hope in Him. Yahweh is always good to all who trust in him, to the soul who searches for him. (Lamentations 3:25 TPT) For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. (See 2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV) Wait quietly, no whining, grumbling, nor complaining. Wait expectantly for the LORD to show Himself strong on your behalf.  I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living. Hope in Yahweh; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Hope in Yahweh. (...
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Know His Name

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The LORD also will be a refuge and a stronghold for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble; And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not abandoned those who seek You. — Psalms 9:9-10 (AMP) Our help is in the name of Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth. (Psalms 124:8 LSB) His name endures forever. He is El Elyon, the God Most High, over all the earth. He is El Roi, the God-Who-Sees. Call upon His name and He will answer. Now I know that Yahweh saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand. Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of Yahweh, our God. (Psalms 20:6-7 LSB) He is Elohim, the all-powerful One. May our hearts be united to fear His name. (See Psalms 86:11) Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not dread; For Yah—Yahweh Himself—is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” (Isaiah...
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“WHY?”

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Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His wondrous deeds which our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” — Judges 6:13 (LSB) We may sometimes wonder “ why? ” certain things are happening to us, but the more important thing is “ WHO ” is with us in the midst of all the trials and tribulations. As Yahweh told Gideon in Judges 6:16 (AMP), He will certainly be with you. And if God is for us, who can be [successful] against us? (See Romans 8:31 AMP) When you go through deep waters, He will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. (See Isaiah 43:2 NLT) And thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ… (See 2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB1995) And Yahweh did not abando...
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