"He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' " (Hebrews 13:5)— Vol. 2, Chap. 26

I failed you last week. I failed to post. I am sorry. Please forgive me. I should have given you at least a heads up of what was going on. I simply did not.

I have failed to be on time before, put the blog out the following day, I think three times in the last two years. But I have never not shown up at all, for an entire week... All I can say is I am sorry. Our RR&BC community ran without a hitch. I have those in the queue and I myself show up to read and respond. And I did. But the blog and the Wednesday Wellspring did not get published.  I failed you all. Again, I am sorry.

What I do find interesting is that the topic I had planned on writing was: God never leaving/deserting nor forsaking us.

Me— I'm not so perfect. 

Enough groveling! Let's get on to the good stuff.

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God has spoken to us!

He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5 NLT.

And God never fails.

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Think about those words for a moment.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Spoken words straight from the mouth of God. How many times have you heard them? How many times have you read them?

But, have you ever let God say  to you, 'I will never desert you nor will I ever forsake you?" NASV

He said this. Someone didn't say it about Him. He spoke out and said this. I remember the first moments I began to honestly understand and embrace this statement that He Himself said.

I was a single mother. My husband left. I had no job. I had no career.

I was the cliché.

Dropping out of University and putting him through University on a modest secretary income. Then when he graduated, and he was just making enough money for some breathing room, he left. My youngest  was in kindergarten. I had waited to return to school until then. A community college/one course/take it slow/ I had a family. Husband left.

No job, no career. I dog-paddled.

I wasn't as desperate as many women, my ex-husband paid child support. Granted it was under poverty level. But, I was determined to get a degree. I believed (and still do) that it was the best thing for my children.

I didn't know how good it would be for us to be in the situation of deep dependence upon God.
We were forced to depend on Him for our provision, for our stability, for our guidance.

I cried out to God and expected a miracle. But no miracle came. The day after I heard of my ex-husband's remarriage it was so hard to put one foot in front of the other, to go to class, to talk to people, to be a mother, to be half-parent not yet whole. Their father would not be returning to our family. I had been forsaken.

It was in this time frame that I read this passage.

Hebrews 13:5 New American Standard Version
"Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 'I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.' "

"HE HIMSELF has said." He didn't tell Martha to tell Mary to tell me. NO, He Himself has said that He will never leave me nor forsake me.

Was I living like that? Was I living a life with the understanding that God, the God that owns the cattle on a thousand hills, had promised to never leave me, nor forsake me? He Himself had said it. And He doesn't speak without His  following through.

This incredible truth sent me reeling. Sitting in my bedroom with many Elementary Education projects surrounding me, crying, recognizing the God of the universes would never desert me. I pondered on this for weeks. Everyday, driving to school, cooking dinner for my kids, working on projects I would repeat to myself: He is here. He said He wouldn't ever leave. He keeps His promises.

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At some point I remember having my eyes opened to the next verse. It wasn't long afterward. But isn't that how God has given me His word? In pieces. He will show me a verse and let me chew on it for awhile. Then He opens my eyes, my heart, my mind to another truth. And He did it that time as well.

Listen to the verses in the New American Standard Version:

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"...for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"  so that we can confidently say,
"THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"
Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you: and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:5-8 NASV

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I can come confidently/boldly and make my requests known to Jehovah, the most HIGH GOD! He will never desert/leave me nor forsake me.

For He Himself has said!

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Reminding myself of this truth in this time of upheaval. And Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Amen

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Because He IS the I AM, i am
robyn cox

God has more to share with us. Consider reading the bible to find nuggets for living life well and wonderfully.

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Until next week on Monday at some time...
Thanks for meeting me here today.
See you then.

Robyn & Biff Cox
RR&BC, LLC©2016
http://www.readthebiblewithrobyncox.com/

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I wish to share these verses from the Amplified Classic Version of the Bible: Hebrews 13:4-8 AMPC
You need not read further (unless you simply want to).
I feel compelled to share. His Word amplified, not mine.

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4. Let the marriage bed be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge and punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous.

5. Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and what you have]; for He (God) Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

6. So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

7. Remember your leaders and superiors in authority [for it was they] who brought to you the Word of God. Observe attentively and consider their manner of living (the outcome of their well-spent lives) and imitate their faith (their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ, and their leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness).

8. Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday,today,  [yes] and forever (to the ages).
Hebrews 13:4-8 AMPC