Jabez prayed specifically to be protected from harm and pain. We live in a fallen world filled with sin, and it is important to ask God to keep us safe from the unavoidable evil that comes our way.

As we grow we learn spiritually those things that we should stay away from. If we are not careful the things that are not right in the sight of the LORD can easily become part of our nature. But we must also avoid evil motives, desires, and actions that begin within us.

Therefore, not only must we seek God's protection from evil, but we must also ask God to guard our thoughts and actions. We can utilize His protection by filling our minds with positive thoughts and attitudes.

Blessings,

Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes

TWFYT | LAB

Could you lie on your side for 390 days and only eat an eight-ounce meal a day that was cooked over manure? Shave all your off body? What if you were told you could not show any sorrow at the loss of your husband or wife? Could you do it? Ezekiel was a man who chose to obey God without question. Beginning with his call as a prophet and commissioning as a "watchman for the house of Israel, ".

God may not ask you to do anything quite so dramatic or difficult; as He asked of Ezekiel; but if He did, would you do it?

Ezekiel was a man who chose to obey God without question. How about you?

Blessings,

Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes

LAB

Worthless worry. We give so much energy away to worry. We worry about things that take up much of our time and add pressure to our hearts. We worry about the things that we cannot change instead of placing such things in the hands of God.

Psalms 91 says, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. And what better place is there to be?

Let's put ourselves in the Hands of the One, The Most High who made us a sincere promise to keep us and be with us no matter what storm or storms may come against us. He is our Rock and Shield, our Mighty God.

Blessings,

Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes

Grace For The Moment | Full Life Bible Commentary

A Chosen People: Believers are set apart from the world to belong completely to God (Acts 20:28; Tit. 2:14) and proclaim the gospel of salvation to His glory and praise.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

He picked you out!

Blessings,

Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes

FLB | GFTM

TRUSTING GOD IN ADVERSITY. It is easy to think that we have all the answers. In reality, only God knows exactly why things happen as they do, and we must submit to Him as our Sovereign.

A Test of Faith, trust God even when you can't trace Him.

Trust and know He already knows just what you need.

Blessings,

Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes

LAB

"Ever good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

The Bible often compares goodness with light and evil with darkness.

The purpose of God giving us spiritual gifts is clear. God, our Father who art in Heaven and loves us infinitely, has gifted us with gifts. Think of the gift of free will, the gift of receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We are ever so thankful for the wonderful gifts of God!

Blessings,

Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes

Grace For The Moment | LAB

"So the king restored all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now."

Because this woman demonstrated sincere faith and remained faithful to God's prophet in a time of general apostasy, the LORD guided and helped her in her time of need by the way of divine intervention.

There is no door that God cannot open that man has locked.

Blessings,

Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes

FLSB

God is often pictured as a Shepherd, gently caring for and guiding His flock. He is powerful, yet careful and gentle. He is called a Shepherd (Ps. 23); the good Shepherd (John 10:11,14); the great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20); and the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4).

Note that the Shepherd cares for the most defenseless members of His society: children and those caring for them.

This reinforces the prophetic theme that the truly powerful nation is not the one with a strong military, but rather the one that relies on God's caring strength.

Remember, God is the Great Comforter.

Blessings,

Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes

LAB