Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Where's the Christmas Wonder???


The days seem shorter . . . the lines seem longer, time is fleeting away . . .

But, where's the wonder?

Make a list, trim the tree, stockings hung neatly in a row . . .

But, where's the wonder?

Children's faces all aglow, shine bright as the day quickly approaches . . .

But, where's the wonder?

Adults are flustered with a laundry list to accomplish . . .

But, where's the wonder?

Pageants, presents, shopping, baking . . . an endless list of "to do's" . . .

But, where's the wonder?

The Wonder is found in Christ alone . . . Most anticipated . . . Most revered . . . Highly Exalted, the One the angels fear.

Born in Bethlehem, no fanfare, no fame . . . only a star shining bright to guide the way . . . to the Light of the world.

The Light of the world, God's Only Son, our Savior . . . King of Kings, the One Who brought salvation . . . rich . . . full . . . and free.

Priceless gift for all who will receive. He's the only gift we'll ever need!!!

The Only One Who can bring lasting peace, joy in times of trouble. Not at Christmas, but everyday . . . He's the Christmas Wonder!!!

The question for this Christmas is . . . will you embrace the Wonder???


"For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Remembering God's faithfulness during this Thanksgiving season. Through times of joy and laughter, sorrow and tears; He remains the same. "Every 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 May your heart be filled with His praise.

Joy and Laughter

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

"You have made known to me the path of life, You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Psalm 16:11

"You make me glad by Your deeds. O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of Your hands." Psalm 126:6

"{God} will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." Job 8:21

Sorrow and Tears

"I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble." Psalm 59:16

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD . . . has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, . . . to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion . . . the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:1-3

"Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You." Psalm 9:10

"Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surround His people both now and forevermore." Psalm 125:1-2

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Seasons . . .
"Praise be to the name of our God forever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons. . ."

Daniel 2:1-2

I am so enjoying this beautiful fall season with its lovely, brilliant colors. I especially love looking at the tall maples in our front yard. I love the way the sun shines through the leaves, glistening brightly, showing off the golden hues with some deep orange mixed in. It simply warms my heart, yet I know in such a short time, things will change. These lovely colors will fade, the leaves will fall and in its place a stark picture compared to the fullness that was once there.

Life is so much like this, just as Solomon quoted in Ecclesiastes, "there is a time for every season." One minute we find ourselves in a season of brilliance, where everything surrounding us seems golden, peaceful, lovely to look at and a place we'd like to stay. Then all too quickly things change. Sometimes our circumstances change gradually like the leaves that fall from the trees, fluttering, swirling in the air as they make their home on the ground below. Other times our circumstances rapidly change.

Change happens, but the important question to ask is, "How do we handle our changing circumstances?" When reality sets in and things look bleak and empty, what do you do? Do you run to the One who can give you perfect peace amidst the change you're experiencing or do you run from His warm embrace? God allows different seasons to come in our lives for His purpose and His glory. What season have you found yourself in lately?

"We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope. And we know that hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy spirit, whom He has given us."

Romans 5:2-5

"The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love."

Psalm 33:18

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:31

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Praising the Lord for ALL our military ~ both my Dad an my husbands Dad served our great nation. Thank you for your incredible sacrifice!!!

Praying for those (and their families) who serve today ~ may you be richly blessed by our great God and may each of you embrace His unconditional love that will sustain, strengthen and empower you.

"being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance . . . For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son(Jesus) He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:11,13 ♥

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Bondage . . . Freedom . . . our choice

"We need to pay more careful attention, therefore to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." Hebrews 2:1

Have you ever felt or feel like you have drifted so far away from God that it's too late for you? That you've disappointed Him with your choices, in such a way, that He'll never forgive you. Those choices that seem LARGER than life itself. Feeling like you're drowning in the depths of your sin, sunken to a level that is so overwhelming, you think there is no escape, no way out . . . that it's simply, too late? Well think again my friend, it's never too late for you to come back to the Lord. Your problems ~ your situations ~ your circumstances will never be too big for God to handle. "The LORD says, "I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak." Ezekiel 34:16; see also: Daniel 9:9; 1 John 1:9

This morning I began reading the book of Judges ~ whew!!! As I read the brief commentary by Pastor Chuck Swindoll in the Living Insights Bible, I was struck by what an incredible time this was in Israel's history. Scenes of human depravity at its worst, yet through it all, we see God's unrelenting mercy, grace and unfailing love. As I continued to read, once again I was struck by what was happening, not to Israel, but at how much it looks like the world we live in today.

Pastor Swindoll hits the nail on the head, "First", he writes, "depravity results in permissiveness when righteousness is ignored. Second, permissiveness leads to rationalization when holiness is ignored. In other words, in a time such as ours, it is no longer vogue for someone to refer to something as "bad, sinful and wrong. Such appraisals mark us in the eyes of many as rather ignorant, or ill-informed, because moral absolutes and ethical values are now redefined. Rationalization has become such a way of life in this generation. Third and finally, rationalization encourages rebellion when repentance is ignored. This all happens so slowly, like an erosion that, though silent, causes immeasurable damage over time."

The children of Israel chose compromise rather than obedience. Do we? Often as not, we choose to listen to the enemy's unrelenting lies, rather than listening to God's unchanging Truth. The enemy comes to seek and to destroy us, our families and our relationships in any way he can. In 1 Peter 5, it says, "Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Remember he is stealthy, sneaky and silently waits to pounce. But God says, do not despair. He tells us to, "Cast all anxieties on Him because He cares for you."

God is BIGGER!!! He can take what the enemy tries to dish out for bad and use it to bring glory to His name through His deliverance. The choice is ours. We do not need to spend another moment clinging to our sins that keep us in bondage. We need to pray for godly sorrow that leads to repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10) Freedom is ours in Him. For He has promised to rescue us from the dominion of darkness and bring us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we can have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14) Know that He also promises to sweep away all our offenses like a cloud, our sins like the morning mist. "Return to Me, for I have redeemed you," says the LORD. (Isaiah 44:22)

King David beautifully sums it up like this:
"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man (woman) whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD" -- and You forgave the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.

You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

Psalm 32:1-7

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Praying for Christian Leaders

This morning in my quiet time I was reading about two different Christian leaders ~ Moses and Paul. Both men were fully yielded to God ~ both were described as servants of the Lord, and both were determined to serve wholeheartedly as they shared God's incredible Truth. Was their ministry an easy task, with no problems? I can almost hear you shouting a resounding, NO.

One of the things I noticed about Paul is that as he ministered, he asked for prayer from fellow believers. In fact, he depended on their prayers. Romans 15:30 says, "I urge you brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me." That's an honest prayer from a person who had real needs, and wasn't afraid to admit it. He went on to say in Ephesians 6:19, "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words my be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel." (see also Philippians 1:19); 1 Thessalonians 5:25 and Philemon 22)

Our Christian leaders need prayer too. We need to focus on lifting them up not tearing them down with our words and actions. We would do well to follow the example of Epaphras, who as Paul described,"is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured." Colossians 4:12 We need to be praying that our leaders will be men and women who are faithful to the Lord and clearly speak His truth. Pray that they will use whatever gift they have received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If they speak, may they speak the very words of God. As they serve, may they serve with the strength that God provides, so that in all things God my be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11

When was the last time you prayed for your Sunday School teacher, your kids Sunday School Teacher, your Pastor, Christian leaders across the US and world? It's so easy to be critical, but that doesn't create an atmosphere of unity in the Body of Christ which we are all commanded to do. In Romans 12:16 it says, "Live in harmony with one another." and in Romans 12"18 it say, "As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

The best way to combat disunity is through prayer. When we're praying for others, we're less likely to be critical. Begin today to pray for leaders and watch God work.

Lord, help me to obey my leaders and submit to their authority. For they keep watch over us as men who must give an account. May I obey them so their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to me or my fellow believers.

Help me to remember to pray for them that they would have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. May You, the God of peace, equip our leaders with every thing good for doing Your will and may You work in all of us what is pleasing to You through our Lord Jesus Christ. In Your Name that is above every Name, Amen.

For more Scripture on unity see:
Psalm 133:1
John 17:20-23
Romans 15:5-7
1 Corinthians 1:10
Ephesians 4:13
Philippians 2:2-5

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

"Who can possibly measure the lasting impact of the Word of God? In a world without standards, where everything is relative, where the pace is maddening and prices are soaring, there is great security in opening God's timeless Book and hearing His voice. It calms our fears. It clears our hearts. It comforts our walk. It confirms our commitment." (Chuck Swindoll, Living Insights Bible, page 201.)

God's Word is timeless, never changing, always perfect for any need. Is there to encourage, strengthen, discipline us for our good and His glory and is not too difficult for us to obey. "Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. No, the Word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." Deuteronomy 31:11,14

God tells us that He will bless those who hunger for it. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 Filled with His promises, filled with His joy, filled with His peace, filled with hope.

Are you reading His Word daily ~ do you seek to know Him more intimately? STOP ~ be still ~ get your Bible and read His Words ~ linger in His presence ~ sit at His feet until you hear His voice. Drink in the beauty of His Truth ~ lavish in His blessing as you are still before Him. This is not a monetary gift that is here for the moment, no this is lasting and goes deep within your soul.

~ ~ ~

"Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to Your holy mountain." Psalm 43:3

"The unfolding of Your Words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple." Psalm 1129:130

"I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your name for Your love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your Word." Psalm 138:2

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God's people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

" The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

"Jesus said, " Heaven and earth will pass away, but my Words will never pass away." Mark 13:31

"Your Word, O LORD is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." Psalm 119:89

"Every Word of God is flawless;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him."
Proverbs 30:6

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Remember God's Faithfulness

This morning I began reading the book of Deuteronomy. In it God, reviews His law for His people and reminds them of His faithfulness in the past. Regardless of their failures, shortcomings and down right disobedience, He remained faithful. He always has been faithful and always will be faithful to keep His promises. The challenge is for us to remain faithful to Him. When we do, our obedience produces blessings for us. In the very center of the word obedience is the word, die. In order to be fully obedient to God, we need to die to self and our selfish desires daily.

Chuck Swindoll encourages us in The Living Insights Bible, to "remember the holiness of God in the present." He says, "blessings accompany obedience. When we consider the holiness of God, then God says, "Obey Me." If we faithfully obey, God blesses." Secondly, "compromise weakens distinctives. When the Lord gives us a standard and we begin to compromise, our distinctive as His children begins to weaken." Thirdly, "consequences follow disobedience." Something our grandchildren can quickly attest too. : ) Swindoll goes on to say, "It was true for Israel, and it is just as true for us today. When we walk in the presence of a holy God, the sin of disobedience will always carry a steep price."

We tell our sweet "grands" all the time, "we love you too much to let you disobey". God does too. "Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live. Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:9-11

No matter how long we've been wandering, God is always there, ready to forgive and help us move forward. The past, if we let it, will cripple us. So let it go!!! I love the verses in Isaiah 43:18,19 where the prophet Isaiah encourages us to, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Chuck Swindoll goes on the say, "The discipline of remembering God's faithfulness in the past will strengthen us for our journey in the present."

I can't begin to know the struggles you've gone through or are going through right now, but God does. He is waiting and ready for you to call on His strong, powerful name. "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands." Deuteronomy 7:9

His faithfulness endures forever . . .

For more verses on God's faithfulness see:
Psalm 145:13
Psalm 89:1-2
1 Corinthians 1:9
1 John 1:9
Psalm 108:4
Psalm 100:5
Psalm 33:4
Psalm 25:10
2 Thessalonians 3:3

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Trusting the will of God

Have you ever been afraid to trust the will of God? Worrying over what will happen to you if you do? You're not alone ~ most of us have been afraid at one time or another ~ maybe you're afraid even now. But I can assure you that you do not need to be afraid. God's will is the incredible expression of His love for us and it comes directly from His heart. "But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations." Psalm 33:11

In the Living Insights Bible, Pastor Chuck Swindoll says, "It's awesome to realize that today was in God's mind and plan long before this earth was created. He knew you would be where you are at this very moment, living in your present circumstances. Turn over the controls of your life to Him. Admit your weakness, your hypocrisy, your tendency to worry, your deep need of His presence and His counsel in your life."

God's will is nourishing for us, not some medicine we have to choke down. We're nourished as we obey. "Meanwhile his disciples urged Him to eat, "Rabbi, eat something." But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Then His disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought Him food?" "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work." John 4:31-34

Oswald Chambers said, "Doing God's will is never hard. The only thing that is hard is not doing His will." The first thing we need to do is obey, wait then follow His leading. Our human nature wants to always rush ahead of Him. We need to be reminded from time to time that we have to "rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." Psalm 37:7

Give God your fears, your anxious thoughts, your doubts and completely trust Him to show you His will ~ "His good, pleasing and perfect will." Look to His Word and receive His truths that will transform your heart and mind.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is --- His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

"God made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment -- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." Ephesians 1:9-10

"God who searches our hearts know the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Romans 8:27

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrews 10:36

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Trusting as you wait . . .

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:1-2

How often to we call out to God . . . God I need this . . . God I want . . . God if you'll only do this . . . only to miss His voice in the silence. He tells us to "be still and know that He is God." Being still doesn't mean you stop doing life, it just means to wait for Him to clearly answer. Often He answers with a clear resounding "yes"; often with a clear resounding "no"; but more often with a clear resounding; "wait." It's in the waiting that we G R O W in our relationship with Him. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 Remember the words in 2 Peter 3:8, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day."

Okay, before you say, "a thousand years"???, "I can't wait that long", it just means, God isn't in as big a hurry as we are and His ways and timing, well, are His ways and timing and He is perfect, without error. So waiting isn't a bad thing ~ although hard, it isn't a bad thing. How we wait reveals our true character and our obedience in not grumbling or complaining as we wait. (Philippians 2:14)

I love a quote I read this morning by Andrew Murray, "In prayer, I give myself to God; in the Word, God gives Himself to me." God's Word is compared to the greatest treasure you'll ever find. The Psalmist knew this. Listen to his words in Psalm 119:162, "I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil." He also went on to say in verse 165, "Great peace have they who love Your law and nothing can make them stumble."

The world will tell you that you can have anything you want any time you want. However, what the world offers is only temporary pleasure, not lasting joy and peace. True peace and security are only found in God and God alone through His Son, Jesus Christ.

If you feel like you're stumbling today as you wait on God to reveal His answer to your request,
1) Trust Him ~ Proverbs 3:5-6
2) Dig deep in His Word because all His Words are true ~ Psalm 119:160
3) Ask Him to reveal His promises to you in a fresh, new way today Psalm 119:73
4) Receive His Word with an open heart and mind ~ Colossians 2:6-7
5) Know and experience His perfect peace ~ John 14:23, 27.

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD,
the LORD, is the Rock eternal."
Isaiah 26:3-4

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Satisfaction

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for

they will be filled." Matthew 5:6

What are some of the things you hunger and thirst for on a daily basis? Things you think will satisfy. Is it . . . Power? . . . Position? . . . Possessions? . . . or People? Do you long for notoriety ~ to be the one in charge, a job with prestige, a new home or new things for your home, the latest and greatest gadget, a new car, because you don't want to be seen in your old one? Maybe it's replacing things that have worn out. Maybe it's wanting out of a marriage relationship, because that person doesn't satisfy you any more. You've bought into the saying, "off with the old, on with the new"; thinking "If I just had . . . I'd be happy."

At their very best, none of these things offer what will fully satisfy or quench that deep longing inside the recesses of your very being. No person, no thing, no position, no amount of power can possibly do that. There is only One person and one place we can look for the answer. Christ and the Truth found in His Word.

As 1 Peter 3:12 says, "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer." The righteous are those who have been made righteous by receiving God's Son as their Savior. Remember there is nothing we can do to make ourselves righteous. Righteousness comes from God alone. "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21


Remind us Lord, as many times as it is necessary, that true satisfaction can only come from You.

Take the time right now to ask the Lord to reveal any area(s) where you're looking for satisfaction apart from Him. Whether it's in power, position, possessions or in people, ask Him to forgive you for looking to anyone or anything but Him to fill that hunger in your life. Confess any sin He reveals. This is not a time to point out sin in others, but to ask God to examine your heart. Accept His forgiveness and move forward today, finding true satisfaction in Christ alone.

"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."

Revelation 22:17

"Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy: Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare," declares the Lord.

Isaiah 55:1-2

"The LORD satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Psalm 103:5

"You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Psalm 145:16

"The LORD will guide you ways; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58:11

"My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips
my mouth will praise You."

Psalm 63:5

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

This morning I was reading from Acts 13. You know when you're reading, some times a verse will seem to leap off the page? Well for me, verse fifteen did just that. Simply stated it says, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."

In a note from The Living Insight's Study Bible, Chuck Swindoll says, "God's people need to turn on the encouragement! The family of God is not a place for verbal put-downs, sarcastic jabs, critical comments or harsh judgment: We get enough of that from the world. This is the place we need where we can go to be encouraged . . . the place where we are free to be ourselves."

I trust this verse will challenge you as much as it did me to be a better encourager to my brothers and sisters in Christ. This is not a time to "puff" believers up ~ that promote pride. No, it's a time to pray for others and a time to genuinely say, "Thank you", " I appreciate you", "You have such a knack for always saying the right thing at the right time", "You reflect Jesus", etc. You get the idea. Enjoy being an encourager today!!!

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Father today,
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer", for You deserve nothing less.

Psalm 19:14

"Let no unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen". Whether I'm at home, at work, with friends, or out shopping, etc. May I not grieve You, O Holy Spirit of God, with whom I am sealed for the day of redemption. Help me to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander; along with every form of malice.


Through the power of the Spirit, help me to be kind and compassionate to others, forgiving them just as I have been forgiven by Christ Jesus. Help me to let go of any thought that would hinder me from doing this. Whether I think the one who offended me deserves my forgiveness or not. Give me strength to extend grace, just as you extend grace to me; not by my might, nor by my power, but by You, Holy Spirit; precious Lord God Almighty.

Ephesians 4:29-32; Zechariah 4:6b

Help me to remember that when words are many, sin is not absent, but when I hold my tongue from speaking too quickly, I am wise. May my words be like choice silver and my lips speak only words that nourish and are filled with wisdom.

Proverbs 10:19-20,21,31

"Let my words be controlled by the word of God and my words will be valuable."
Warren Wiersbe, With The Word, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

"Every word of God is flawless;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him".

Proverbs 30:5

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Father today,
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer", for You deserve nothing less.

Psalm 19:14

"Let no unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen". Whether I'm at home, at work, with friends, or out shopping, etc. May I not grieve You, O Holy Spirit of God, with whom I am sealed for the day of redemption. Help me to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander; along with every form of malice.


Through the power of the Spirit, help me to be kind and compassionate to others, forgiving them just as I have been forgiven by Christ Jesus. Help me to let go of any thought that would hinder me from doing this. Whether I think the one who offended me deserves my forgiveness or not. Give me strength to extend grace, just as you extend grace to me; not by my might, nor by my power, but by You, Holy Spirit; precious Lord God Almighty.

Ephesians 4:29-32; Zechariah 4:6b

Help me to remember that when words are many, sin is not absent, but when I hold my tongue from speaking too quickly, I am wise. May my words be like choice silver and my lips speak only words that nourish and are filled with wisdom.

Proverbs 10:19-20,21,31

"Let my words be controlled by the word of God and my words will be valuable."
Warren Wiersbe, With The Word, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

"Every word of God is flawless;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him".

Proverbs 30:5

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Ladies all of us need to be reminded, from time to time, that what we wear and how we present ourselves does matter. Pray about what you wear. It matters to God ~ hear His words, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4

I also want to be quick to say, it's not wrong to look our best with the clothes and accessories we wear. That's not what this passage says. What it implies is that clothes and accessories shouldn't be our focus. Our focus should be our inner beauty.

Just listened to this brief excerpt from Beth Moore on modesty. It came from a study she's written on the book of Esther. By the way, a wonderful study!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3kU0crua1E&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Read the verses again. I love those words, "in God's sight." If He is pleased with what we wear, then we will present ourselves in the right way, regardless of who sees us. Remember, if you are a daughter of the King, you have a reputation to protect ~ HIS.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:14-15a

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Prayer . . . a waiting game or a great adventure

Sometimes prayer can be a waiting game. All of us have been there or are there now waiting on God to answer a request we've given Him. Day by day we lay that request before Him . . . nothing. How do we respond while we wait? Do we ring our hands in anxiety, in frustration, or do we trust His timing? How we wait is a reflection of the trust we have in Him; the faithful One, who only wants what's BEST for us. Praise Him that His delays are never denials. Remember His timing is perfect.

Read the following quote from Dr. David Jeremiah, The Great Adventure this morning. Trust it will be an encouragement to you. "We err when we judge our prayers solely by what we can see happening around us. Prayer is a matter of faith. Prayer is taking God at His word. Prayer is understanding God's promise that if we pray, He will work. And we must keep on praying even when we cannot see what He is doing. We do not see into the world in which God lives, but He definitely sees into ours . . . we will often discover that when God finally answers our prayers, His answer came in a moment in time. We did not know it, but the preparation was going on all the while we were praying."

"Yet God longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait on Him!

O, people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you.

Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity
and the water of affliction,
your teachers will be hidden no more; with your won eyes you will see them.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Isaiah 30:18-21

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Changes

Let's face it they're inevitable ~ regardless of age. Some changes we look forward to like the kid who can hardly wait to get his/her license, entrance into the college of his/her choice, finding that perfect soul mate, etc. Some changes we relish and some we would like to ignore, but face them we must. How we face them speaks volumes about our character and who we place our trust in.


This past week, my husband was laid off from his job of 32 years. As God has given us yet another change, we are choosing to give Him glory. No whining, no complaining, just complete trust in the One who is completely trustworthy!!!! Sounds simple doesn't it? It is when you know the One (Romans 10:9-13) who doesn't make mistakes in what He allows to come into your life. "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." Psalm 145:17-18 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " Jeremiah 29:11

I have a wonderful book that I use in my daily quiet time with the Lord called Promises for Women (Zondervan). It is full of Scripture promises that are organized topically like, security, stress, peace, loneliness, obedience, fear, etc. Issues that we deal with everyday. Each day I take a topic and simply pray the verses back to the Lord. He always has a special Word that renews, refreshes and restores me in my spiritual journey with Him. Today was no exception. As I turned to today's topic, you guessed it ~ it was entitled "change". The following verses are the ones that I prayed today. May they be an encouragement to you in whatever changes come your way today.


"I the LORD do not change," says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:6


The Father of the heavenly lights . . . does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17


Be made new in the attitude of your minds.
Ephesians 4:23


Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever, wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.
Daniel 2:20-22


Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
Isaiah 43:18-19

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

See how I love your precepts;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love.
All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal.
—Psalm 119:159-160 NIV

"A voracious love for His Word is gloriously contagious." Just read this great quote this morning preparing for a Beth Moore Bible Study on Esther. Then I saw this prayer from Chuck Swindoll. Trust both will encourage you as much as it did me!!!!!

Thank You, Father, for breathing out Your Word through men so many centuries ago. Thank You for preserving the message that You revealed through the miracle of inspiration, Father. Thank You for Your Word—the inerrant, authoritative, infallible Word of God. We live in a day in which others' words have replaced your eternal Word, at least in the public's mind. In this difficult era, it is hard to hear again Your Word. We pray that the scales will be lifted from our eyes and that which has blocked our hearing will be removed so we might see and hear and be comforted and encouraged by Your revealed Word. May the truth that appears in Your Word make its journey through our minds and probe deep within our hearts, so that our minds are transformed and as a result, our actions.

Father, we pray that You will cause us to glean from Your Word truth to live by, knowing that it represents truth to die for. Ours is a troubled era. The battle for men's and women's souls and for our youth's minds is raging. And rather than simply throwing a fit and screaming at the top of our voices, we bring our requests to You. We ask that Your truth may equip us with sufficient ammunition to do battle in a world that's lost its way and is guided by an enemy who is deceptive and effective, who knows exactly where he's going. We pray that we will grasp the value of doctrine as it establishes us for whatever comes our way—those surprises, those unexpected events, those things we will call tragedies, and those joys and delights that are before us.

Anchor us, our Father, to the bedrock of truth and remind us that Your Son, Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday and today and forever. It's all His story. Our Father, our eyes are upon Jesus. It is in His merciful, matchless name we pray. Amen.

Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Encouragment . . . for the Journey

Prevailing Peace in the midst of the Storm

All of us go through storms in life. There are times we feel the waves pounding as they wash over us, making us feel as if we will drown. Storms come in ALL sizes and intensities and to ALL people. We cannot escape them. James 1:2-4 encourages us with how we are to react when the storms blow our way. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers (sisters), whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Our family just found out that my Mom has pre-leukemia, treatable but not curable. Praise the Lord for His peace in the midst of this storm and His incredible power to face the days ahead. He knows the plans He has for my Mom and we can trust Him to accomplish them according to His timetable. Don't get me wrong, we're praying for her healing because, after all He is the great physician, but we're leaving the results in His capable hands.

What storm of adversity are you facing now? Financial disaster? Poor Health? Rejection? Insecurity? Loss of a job? Loss of a loved one? Worry or anxiety, etc?

I love the words I was reading in a commentary from Warren Wiersbe right after we found out about my Mom. "No storm is greater than our God." Amen!!!!! "If you trust Him, the storm will bring glory to God. If life is stormy just now, worship Him and wait on Him. The storm will pass, and He will give you peace."

Pastor Chuck Swindoll says, "What comes from the Lord because it is impossible for humans to manufacture? Wisdom. What comes from humans because it is impossible for the Lord to experience it? Worry. And what is it that brings wisdom and dispels worry? Worship.

Psalm 29:1-1, is a great prescription for any storm you might be facing right now. Enjoy it's beauty. I would encourage you to take the time to read it out loud. Let the words penetrate deep within you. Your storm, like mine, probably won't go away, but you'll find that your focus will be on the One who can bring you peace in the midst of it.


1."Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2.Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.
3.The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4.The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5.The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6.He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
7.The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.
8.The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9.The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, "Glory!"
10.The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is King forever.
11.The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace."


Quotes taken from: With The Word by Warren W. Wiersbe, copyright 1991. Thomas Nelson, Inc. and The Living Insights Study Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1996 by the Zondervan Corporation

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Freedom

I praise You Father that You have given us freedom in Christ Jesus.


Freedom from sin that separated us from You, Holy God.
"Jesus answered, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12


Freedom to walk in all Your ways.
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7


Freedom from bondage.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1


Freedom from fear.
"I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4


Freedom from anger.
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32


Freedom from despair.
"to provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor." Isaiah 61:3


Freedom from an unhealthy lifestyle.
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I love what Anne Ortland says, "Your body is the flesh that clothes His presence."


In 2011, may each of us choose to honor our faithful God in what we say, what we see, what we do, what we think, in our attitude, our actions and our desires. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14