"Is there a thief in your house?"

 

This is the 79^th letter: 

 

Text for the day: Hebrews 4:15 (King James Version)

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

Our Theme for the day: “Is there a thief in your house?”

 

Our Devotional

Sarah had just moved to a new apartment in Chicago, one with a big wooden deck that she was very excited about. She was looking forward to biking around all summer, coming home, and sitting outside. Her day was now shattered as she notice her locked bike was now gone, and her window by the wooden deck was open. The day after moving, a thief had come into her house. When she called to file a police report, the officer on duty told her that there's pretty much no way we will ever find the bike. To make matters worse they didn’t even try. This was not what she was looking for, after all she had gone through two prier robberies and now she was unhappy. Has it ever accord to you that God’s desire for you is to be cheerful. This leads me to the fourteen letter word that no one loves, discouragement. Many may not believe it but one of Satan’s last day weapons is the spirit of discouragement. Sarah had become discouraged and felt like giving up. But this is not a new thing, he (Satan) has been working through the avenue of discouragement from the days of our first parents to now.

Discouragement was, and still is one of his mind attack weapons by which he ultimately brings his victims to a state of depression. It is his goal to entrap people and discourage them. But, Jesus Christ came to break the hold of Satan, and give deliverance from his onslaught attacks of the mind. When people are under a cloud of discouragement, the next thing that follows is they become dishearten, and then they give up. Discouragement happens in all areas of life. An employee puts in thirty one years of working from 6.00 AM to 5:30 PM to ensure that their department achieves success, only to get a damaging response instead of a good appraisal from their superior, and finally given the walking ticket. A woman’s marriage dreams end when her husband is unfaithful as she comes home and finds him in bed with her best friend from the church. A couple suffers their second miscarriage while trying to have a family, and now the wife is in the mental hospital. All deal with discouragement differently, but some may become so discouraged, so distressed and as a result may attempt to take their own lives, or need special help. How do you know if you are under a cloud of discouragement? According to the latest from, “All about Life Challenges” they say the following are some signs of discouragement:

1)       Sleeplessness -- the mind and soul is full of worry.

2)       Restlessness -- Absent mindedness sets in and weariness results.

3)       Complacency -- Loss of interest in food even though you might not have eaten for hours.

4)       Negative Thoughts – The ultimate of this are thoughts of suicide.

In my five months short of twenty five years of service, at the mental and general hospital, I have seen that feelings of despair in the face of obstacles can also cause discouragement. If you are continually expressing your opposition and disapproval of a problem that you are going through, then you are under a cloud of discouragement. Discouragement is like a theft; it steals your surety and leaves you in doubt. Discouragement steals your fearlessness and leaves you with fear. Discouragement paralyzes your energy and leaves you weak. Discouragement deprives you of your confidence, hope, and enthusiasm hence often deterring your action. It is at this point that Satan is working to see all, especially servant leaders deterrent in action.  Everyone will have their share of discouragement at some point in their lifetime. However, the child of God approach to managing discouragement will distinguish them from others. The Devil has learned to attack the minds of people, making them discouraged and ultimately depressed. It is his goal to entrap people and discourage them.

But, Jesus Christ came to deliver us from this onslaught of mind-attacks.

God calls for cheerful servants in His cause, who refuse to become discouraged and disheartened by opposing agencies. The Lord is leading you forward courageously, assured that He will be with you, as He was in your past years. Remember when you labor in feebleness, but under the power of the Holy Spirit, God will send angels to you as they ministered to Christ. Like Christ whose life was not one of ease and freedom from temptation but over came every trick of the devil through His father, so are we called to live. The Bible says, “Jesus” "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15.) If you are having trials, perplexities, and temptations, while engaged in the work that God called and appointed you to. Don’t cast away your confidence which has great reward because your labor does not always bring the results that others so greatly desire to see. Go on. The true workers will not despond in view of the work before them, arduous though it may be. Shrinking from hardship, complaining under tribulation, makes the servants of God only weak and inefficient. Go on and encourage your self in the Lord.

 

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

 

We are into our 19th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs?   Our Prayer for today: Please join us as we seek God for the gift of encouragement for those who are discouraged.         Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.   If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them. These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/   Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/   and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.