Jehovah Jireh: The Lord my provider

Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/JillWellington-334088/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=4579561">Jill Wellington</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=4579561">Pixabay</a>

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. (Genesis 22:13-14)

This is well-covered territory for most Christians, but God is a good God. More than that, God is a good Father. We are his children. As a good Father, the Lord knows he must take care of us. 

I reiterate this as a reminder to myself and anyone else out there that needs to hear it again. 

My family and I are in a battle. We are on a journey. But, in this journey, we have enemies. 

Some of the enemies are our circumstances. I'm jobless. I'm 54. I'm on unemployment. Most businesses in this day and age have no interest in hiring a man my age. 

First of all, a man my age needs a larger salary than a 22-year-old just out of college. I have established bills and a family to care for. Companies can pay the young college grad (I'm a recent college grad myself) far less than what they would pay me.

Secondly,

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intentional-insights/202003/why-you-should-hire-women-over-men-according-science

https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/why-you-should-hire-women-over-men-according-to-science/

That's just 2 examples of the narrative that our society is pushing. Supposedly, 2020 has been declared the year of the woman. So employers are actively searching for reasons and ways to hire women over men. 

Both of these, plus the Covid-19 economic mess has made it extremely difficult for me to find a job. Even looking for a job is more difficult now for us older folks. In my youth, you went to the place you wanted to work at, filled out the application, talked with the manager (many times before you left) and you at least left with an interview set up. 

Now, companies get offended if you look for a job that way. "Can't you go to our website and apply like everyone else? We don't do applications in house." So, we're left with the cold, and impersonal cyber world. We go to the job sites, linked in, and company websites. But, usually, we don't even get a "thank you for applying" email. 

It's very frustrating and disheartening.

Other enemies include the devil (who hates all Christians) and even some brothers and sisters in the Lord who do not like the way that we live or believe. 

These folks actively send curses our way (not from God) by praying for us to fall flat on our faces. Supposedly, in their minds, if we fail, then it negates the scriptures that we live by and they are not responsible to line up with God's word in that department. 

But, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." (Psalms 23:5)

Take heart! 

God says that when we are surrounded by enemies because we are his child, he will provide for us! He'll even give us a glorious picnic for us to eat while our enemy is kept at bay. All they can do is sit back and watch us eat it! 

Hallelujah!!!

Also, in the process, the Lord will refresh our anointing and fill us to the point of running over again! 

I'm not there quite yet, but he is providing for us. I know the refreshing is coming though- because he said so.

The enemy of our souls whispers, "you're going to lose everything. All is lost. You're God has abandoned you. You're going down this time." He tries to fill our minds with images of our pets and children starving, and we're homeless- having no way or place to go. 

But, just like when Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac, if we will willingly say, "thy will be done," the long trek up the mountain will be worth it all. The Lord will make a way where there seems to be no way. 

Abraham and Isaac climbed that mountain. Isaac was willing to be strapped onto the altar of sacrifice. Abraham was willing to strap him in and lift the knife. 

Then God spoke.

There will come a time when God will look at our willingly offered sacrifice and speak deliverance into both my situations and yours. 

When he does, we, like Abraham, will once again call him, Jehovah-Jireh- The Lord my provider.

Until then, let's just hold on to him and enjoy our picnic. Let the enemy watch us eat every bite. Because one day, victory will be ours because the Lord will free us!

A personal request.

Hello friends,
                    Today's blog post will be a little different. Today's is a request of you, my readers. Every writer/blogger hits a point where they begin to question the effectiveness of their work. Are people reading? Am I making a difference? Do the words that I write make any real difference in anyone's life?

                    First, for those who have been reading, I want to apologize. As a blogger, regardless of what is going on in my life, I owe it to you to write regularly. I haven't done that. I am sorry. So, part of this personal request is a promise that, if you see any value in what I've written, I will write every Wednesday from now on- as long as the Lord allows. Part of being a Christian is consistency. This needs to be evident in blogging, as well.

                    Why Wednesday? Several reasons.

                    The first is that my days off from my job are Wednesday and Sunday. Today, I intend to write several blog posts. For I have more than one message rolling around inside me.

                    Secondly, Sunday, which is when most of my postings have been written, tend to be a very busy day for most people. But, they don't seem to spend as much time on-line on that day. Therefore, to try and maximize my possible audience- to try and touch as many as possible- I feel it is better to post my blog on Wednesday, rather than on Sunday.

                    Finally, many people attend church on Sunday to be fed by the Lord. However, few go to midweek services. Many times by Wednesday, many folks are running low on spiritual fumes. It is my prayer that, in some small way, this blog will help to rejuvenate them so that they can keep going on for Jesus in the midst of a hard week.

                    I am toying with the idea of changing the name of my blog to, "Wednesday Wisdom," to show the new focus. But, that's hard to do, since I've been doing this for several years under the current blog title. What do you think?

                    So, I have some questions for you, my readers.

                            1) Do you think this blog is worthy of your time? Has it helped you in any way?
                            2) Do you think that I need a new blog name? If so, what do you suggest?
                            3) Does the blog need a new look?
                            4) Do you think I need to change the style of my blogs? I tend to start with scriptures and expound on how those scriptures apply to our lives as Christians. Does that work for you?
                            5) Do you have other suggestions that would make this blog more relevant for today?
                            6) Do you have scriptural questions that you want answers for? I don't know all things, but I know the one who does. I promise I will try and study and pray it out and get back to you as fast as possible with the answer I feel God gives me.

                     In short, I'm asking for feedback from you. Any advice, questions, criticisms, etc that you send my way will be seriously pondered, prayed about, and answered to the best of the ability God gives me.

                    You can either post a response on this blog, my facebook page, or to my email- mwinskie@yahoo.com.

                    Thank you for your time. I covet your prayers and responses to this humble request.

Numbers 6:24-26

King James Version (KJV)

24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.