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The God of All Comfort - Jehovah Roi
I believe if a survey is carried among Christians about what is our most intimate or favourite attribute of our heavenly Father then the majority would choose His comforting nature.
Few months before I came to Canada in late 1999 I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour; I was 16 at the time. Of course as an immigrant from Iraq to Canada I went through what you call “cultural shock”: nothing seemed familiar to me and few things made much sense. One of the hardest things was feeling lonely and completely out of place. Even though I came to Canada with my family and I have my grandmother, uncles, aunts and their families here I still felt something major was missing. That’s when I started talking to God and He seemed to fill this emptiness in my heart and life perfectly. He not only has been my best friend ever since then, but also my only comforter. That’s why I would like to share this wonderful song with you, which has comforted and encouraged me so often. I hope you like it:
Comforter -- Cece Winans
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcfBMdLbkNM
Faithful friend and father
I've called you through the years.
You've been great physician when sickness lingered near.
Through distressing moments your name is new and sweet
You've become comforter to me.
You are comforter that's who you are to me.
Comforter a name that fits so perfectly.
Peace that passes all understanding
Comforter is who you are to me.
To the grieving family who weeps for loved ones gone.
The pain of separation consumes another home.
On the waves of sorrow
You walk with perfect ease
Comforter is who the whole world needs.
You are comforter that's who you are to me.
Comforter a name that fits so perfectly.
Peace that passes all understanding
Comforter is who you are to me.
Peace giver, Life changer
Joy giver, Peace river
Way maker, Life changer
Peace giver, Joy giver
Not only in times of trials and pain is God presence is needed. Sometimes we just need to feel His love, care and presence. I remember about two years ago I had a dear friend who had asked me to buy her some gifts for Christmas and so I wrote down the list of things she wanted for Christmas and decided to go to the mall. I prayed asking the Holy Spirit to please be my shopping companion because I didn’t like to go shopping or the mall by myself. I spent a couple of hours shopping and it was one of the most intimate times I had with God. I just could feel His presence all around me…I felt like I was walking in a bubble full of God’s presence! Of course, the shopping went perfect, and He even helped me finding the things she wanted, be patient, and enjoy the trip! It was such a comforting feeling to know that even in the “trivial” things of life, such as shopping, we have a companion that will always be there not only for us but also within us.
Another Christian song of mine that deals with God’s care and comfort is this one (sorry, I can’t find an online audio of it):
Someone Who Cares
When the world seems cold and your friends seem few
There is someone who cares for you
When you've tears in your eyes your heart bleeds inside
There is someone who cares for you
Someone to care someone to share all your troubles like no other can do
He'll come down from the skies and brush the tears from your eyes
You're his child and he cares for you
When your disappointments come and you feel so blue
There is someone who cares for you
When you need a friend a friend till the end
There is someone who's a friend to you
___________________________________________________________________
I will leave you with those verses:
“Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.”
(Psalm 23:4)
“I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will guide him and restore comfort to him.”
(Isaiah 57:18)
“As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."
(Isaiah 66:13)
”O my Comforter in sorrow,
my heart is faint within me.”
(Jeremiah 8:18)
"Therefore, this is what the LORD
says: 'I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,' declares the LORD Almighty.
"Proclaim further: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.' "
(Zechariah 1:16-17)
”Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.”
(Matthew 5:4)
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
(John 14:15-17)
The God of All Comfort
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
“For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him.”
(2 Corinthians 7:6-7)
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
(Philippians 2:1-2)
___________________________________________________________________
PS: I did not come up with the original idea of the photograph, I saw something similar to it and it touched my heart a lot, so do I decided to make a similar scene and photograph it. And without Gimp I doubt this photo would've turned like I wanted it...thanks Gimp!
(Toronto, ON; winter 2008.)
The God of All Comfort - Jehovah Roi
I believe if a survey is carried among Christians about what is our most intimate or favourite attribute of our heavenly Father then the majority would choose His comforting nature.
Few months before I came to Canada in late 1999 I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour; I was 16 at the time. Of course as an immigrant from Iraq to Canada I went through what you call “cultural shock”: nothing seemed familiar to me and few things made much sense. One of the hardest things was feeling lonely and completely out of place. Even though I came to Canada with my family and I have my grandmother, uncles, aunts and their families here I still felt something major was missing. That’s when I started talking to God and He seemed to fill this emptiness in my heart and life perfectly. He not only has been my best friend ever since then, but also my only comforter. That’s why I would like to share this wonderful song with you, which has comforted and encouraged me so often. I hope you like it:
Comforter -- Cece Winans
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcfBMdLbkNM
Faithful friend and father
I've called you through the years.
You've been great physician when sickness lingered near.
Through distressing moments your name is new and sweet
You've become comforter to me.
You are comforter that's who you are to me.
Comforter a name that fits so perfectly.
Peace that passes all understanding
Comforter is who you are to me.
To the grieving family who weeps for loved ones gone.
The pain of separation consumes another home.
On the waves of sorrow
You walk with perfect ease
Comforter is who the whole world needs.
You are comforter that's who you are to me.
Comforter a name that fits so perfectly.
Peace that passes all understanding
Comforter is who you are to me.
Peace giver, Life changer
Joy giver, Peace river
Way maker, Life changer
Peace giver, Joy giver
Not only in times of trials and pain is God presence is needed. Sometimes we just need to feel His love, care and presence. I remember about two years ago I had a dear friend who had asked me to buy her some gifts for Christmas and so I wrote down the list of things she wanted for Christmas and decided to go to the mall. I prayed asking the Holy Spirit to please be my shopping companion because I didn’t like to go shopping or the mall by myself. I spent a couple of hours shopping and it was one of the most intimate times I had with God. I just could feel His presence all around me…I felt like I was walking in a bubble full of God’s presence! Of course, the shopping went perfect, and He even helped me finding the things she wanted, be patient, and enjoy the trip! It was such a comforting feeling to know that even in the “trivial” things of life, such as shopping, we have a companion that will always be there not only for us but also within us.
Another Christian song of mine that deals with God’s care and comfort is this one (sorry, I can’t find an online audio of it):
Someone Who Cares
When the world seems cold and your friends seem few
There is someone who cares for you
When you've tears in your eyes your heart bleeds inside
There is someone who cares for you
Someone to care someone to share all your troubles like no other can do
He'll come down from the skies and brush the tears from your eyes
You're his child and he cares for you
When your disappointments come and you feel so blue
There is someone who cares for you
When you need a friend a friend till the end
There is someone who's a friend to you
___________________________________________________________________
I will leave you with those verses:
“Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.”
(Psalm 23:4)
“I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will guide him and restore comfort to him.”
(Isaiah 57:18)
“As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."
(Isaiah 66:13)
”O my Comforter in sorrow,
my heart is faint within me.”
(Jeremiah 8:18)
"Therefore, this is what the LORD
says: 'I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,' declares the LORD Almighty.
"Proclaim further: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.' "
(Zechariah 1:16-17)
”Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.”
(Matthew 5:4)
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
(John 14:15-17)
The God of All Comfort
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
“For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him.”
(2 Corinthians 7:6-7)
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
(Philippians 2:1-2)
___________________________________________________________________
PS: I did not come up with the original idea of the photograph, I saw something similar to it and it touched my heart a lot, so do I decided to make a similar scene and photograph it. And without Gimp I doubt this photo would've turned like I wanted it...thanks Gimp!
(Toronto, ON; winter 2008.)