**Prayer Update** 
Let's lift up 
against spiritual warfare. "No weapon formed against you shall prosper" (Isa 54:17). Trust God's protection: "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge" (Ps 91:4). Praying for His intervention and peace. In Jesus' name! 
Let's lift up our fellow members in prayer! 
Do you ever hear people saying "why do bad things happen to good people"? Well bad things happen to good people and bad people, rich or poor, young or old - no one is immune. God tells us that the rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). Being a Christian doesn't mean you won't suffer hardships, sorrow, sickness or depression. It does however mean, that you have someone on your side that will be by you every step of the way and walk through the fire with you.
Going through difficult storms in our lives can lead us into discouragement. It can also reveal great faith in God. Where or should I say whom do you turn to reveals where your heart is. Do you look to family or friends when struggling with a bad diagnosis from the doctor or run to them first when you have just been laid off from your job! I am not saying it is bad to talk through some things with them, but God should be our first priority during these times. People mean well and try and offer you encouragement but unless they know the Lord, they don't always hit the mark when offering advice or comfort. Look at the story of Job. Job was righteous and upright before the Lord yet he suffered greatly. Jobs wife even told him to just curse God and die at one point. Over half of the book of Job, he is trying to figure out why and also consults his friends to figure out a reason for his troubles. God ultimately confronts Job but doesn't answer his question as to why but challenges Job to answer some interesting questions like, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation" or "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep"? After many questions like this, Job understands Gods power but still questions Gods judgment. Again God speaks to Job and Job repents for his attitude and is willing to trust God completely even though he still doesn't have the answer to "why".
If you find yourself going through a difficult time or have dealt with some major problems in your past, it is normal to find yourself asking "why" but ultimately we need to just simply trust God even though we may never get that answer or understand. God told Job, "everything under Heaven belongs to me" and Job ultimately told God, "surely I spoke of things I did not understand; things too wonderful for me to know" and Job repented before God.
Remember nothing happens that doesn't go through God's hands first. Trust God and thank Him that He knows what is going on and He will sustain you through everything. God loves you more than you will ever know this side of Heaven.
Going through difficult storms in our lives can lead us into discouragement. It can also reveal great faith in God. Where or should I say whom do you turn to reveals where your heart is. Do you look to family or friends when struggling with a bad diagnosis from the doctor or run to them first when you have just been laid off from your job! I am not saying it is bad to talk through some things with them, but God should be our first priority during these times. People mean well and try and offer you encouragement but unless they know the Lord, they don't always hit the mark when offering advice or comfort. Look at the story of Job. Job was righteous and upright before the Lord yet he suffered greatly. Jobs wife even told him to just curse God and die at one point. Over half of the book of Job, he is trying to figure out why and also consults his friends to figure out a reason for his troubles. God ultimately confronts Job but doesn't answer his question as to why but challenges Job to answer some interesting questions like, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation" or "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep"? After many questions like this, Job understands Gods power but still questions Gods judgment. Again God speaks to Job and Job repents for his attitude and is willing to trust God completely even though he still doesn't have the answer to "why".
If you find yourself going through a difficult time or have dealt with some major problems in your past, it is normal to find yourself asking "why" but ultimately we need to just simply trust God even though we may never get that answer or understand. God told Job, "everything under Heaven belongs to me" and Job ultimately told God, "surely I spoke of things I did not understand; things too wonderful for me to know" and Job repented before God.
Remember nothing happens that doesn't go through God's hands first. Trust God and thank Him that He knows what is going on and He will sustain you through everything. God loves you more than you will ever know this side of Heaven.
