Encouragement for the Journey ~ 2013 

 Seek His face ~ ~ ~ 
 
Why?   Fills us with His joy and we see His faithfulness 

Many are asking, Who can show us any good?  Let the light of Your face shine upon us, O LORD. You have filled my heart with greater joy . . . Psalm 4:6-7a

Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. 
My heart says of You, "Seek His face!"  Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; You have been my helper.  Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me."  Psalm 27:70-10


When?  Always

Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.  Psalm 105:4


Result?  Our faces are radiant and we represent Him well.

Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.  Psalm 34:5

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Our loving Father has given His Truth, His never changing Word,  for all who receive Him through His Son.  From time to time we need to be reminded and remember they are His commands.  They're not burdensome and they are not to be taken lightly.  In following them, we show our love, affection and complete surrender to Him. 

This is love for God:  to obey His commands.  And His commands are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3

Encouragement for the Journey ~ 2013  . . . Confidently Dependent

"Blessed is the man (woman) who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
Jeremiah 17:7
During my quiet time with the Lord this morning, I found myself smiling and my eyes brightly shining. As I continued to read His Word, I recognized that the smile was coming from the trust I have in my unfailing Lord and Savior.  He alone is the One I cling to, the One I put my complete confidence in.  Why?  Because HE NEVER FAILS!!!  He remains true to His Word.  He is "the same yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13"8)

"A saint (a believer in Christ) is never consciously a saint; a saint is consciously dependent on God."  "God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is."  (quotes from Treasures from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers) 

Who or what are you depending and relying on today to sustain you?  Where does your confidence come from?  Remember the words of John, "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man (woman) remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing."  (John 15: 5)

~  "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.  Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent." 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

~  "The LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared."  Proverbs 3:26

~  "The effect of righteousness (having a right standing with God through salvation in Christ Jesus) will be quietness and confidence forever."  Isaiah 32:17

~  "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need."  Hebrews 4:16

~  "Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."  Hebrews 10"35

~  "The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8


Praying that in all we do today, we will fully depend on Him!!!

Encouragement for the Journey ~ 2013 . . .  Tracks

Yesterday morning I was praying through Ephesians 6:10-19 for our family and co-laborers in Christ.  Putting the armor on is something I do everyday.  I know how important it is be prepared for the enemy's onslaught that I know will be coming.

Verse 15 stuck out to me in particular as I was praying, "and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."  Someone shared an article with me some time back from Dr. Charles Stanley that I use a guide as I pray.  He encourages believers to pray, "Lord, this morning I put on the sandals of the gospel of peace.  I am available to You, Lord.  Send me where You will.  Guide me to those who need encouragement or physical help of some kind.  Use me to solve conflicts wherever they may arise.  Make me a calming presence in every circumstance in which You place me.  I will not be hurried or rushed, for my schedule is in Your hands.  I will not leave a trail of tension and apprehension I will leave tracks of peace and stability everywhere I go." 

I would love to say I always leave tracks of peace and stability everywhere I go, but I can't.  So often I blow it, let's be honest we all blow it from time to time.  The Lord brought to mind a few of the types of "tracks" I've left in the past.  See if you can identiy.

~ tracks like an elephant ~ heavily (I'm not talking about weight here) tromps on anything in it's path to get to where it's going.
~ tracks like a cat ~ light footsteps but ready to pounce at a moments notice.
~ tracks like a swan ~ gracefully gliding across the water, not bothering anyone or noticing what's around.
~ tracks like Jesus ~ filled with compassion, grace, mercy


Fill me Jesus, full to overflowing with Your ways that I may walk like You today.  Tracks of peace . . . tracks of peace . . . tracks of peace . . .

Encouragement for the Journey ~ 2013 . . . Deliverance

Have you ever felt like someone was chasing you?  Feeling that you are being relentlessly pursued.  That there is someone lurking at every corner, ready to pounce; watching for that moment when you let your guard down.  If you are a believer in Christ, I know your answer is an unequivocal, YES. God makes it so clear who is chasing us with the warning given by the apostle Peter, "Be self controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."  (1 Peter 5:8) It doesn't get any clearer than that.

The enemy is always lying in wait. Silent. Looking for his prey. Ready to pounce when you least expect it.   He'll use whatever/whoever will accomplish his purpose and plan for destruction. Charles Spurgeon, the great theologian said, "He is more cunning  than the wisest:  How soon he entangled Solomon! He is stronger than the strongest:  How fatally he overthrew Samson!  Yes, and men after God's own heart, like David, have been led into most grievous sins by his seduction." (page 57, From the Writings of Charles H. Spurgeon, Baker Books)  All of us are vulnerable.

"Our enemy, crafty and clever and experienced as he is, knows which lure best attracts each one of us.  Our unique inner "itch" longs to be satisfied by that particular outer "scratch."  And unless we draw on the all-conquering power of Jesus Christ, we'll yield.  We'll bite the bait, and we'll suffer the horrible consequences."  (page 1347, The Living Insights Study Bible, Pastor Chuck Swindoll, Zondervan) (see James 1:13-15)

We need to remember that we are conquerors in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:37-39) So, the next time you feel chased and pursued, do exactly what Jesus did when He was being pursued in the wilderness by the enemy. (Matthew 4:1-11)  He spoke Truth!!!  God's Truth always overcomes!!!  We can rely on His faithfulness to deliver us. "I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.  He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends His love and His faithfulness."  Psalm 57:2-3

"My Heart rejoices in the LORD;

in the LORD my horn (strength) is lifted high.

My mouth boasts over my enemies, (that's confidence, my friend)

for I delight in Your deliverance."

1 Samuel 2:1

Encouragement for the Journey ~ 2013

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;  His faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100:4-5

This morning I woke up to another gray, gloomy, rainy day.  Although I don't mind the rain, it can put a damper on my attitude.  I immediately realized I had a choice to either give into the gloominess or choose a garment of praise. (Isaiah 61:3b-c)  My choice was a garment of praise.  I simply don't want to waste my time complaining.  We all know that complaining comes way too easy. 

Today I focused on praising the Lord with the following words that describe His character/attributes/what He does, etc. that begin with letter S.  Starting my day like this totally changed my attitude and put a song of praise in my heart. 
~  Sovereign
~  Sweeps away our offenses like a cloud
~  Sweeps away our sin like the morning midst
~  Shows mercy
~  Searches us
~  Spirit of Truth
~  Savior
~  Salvation
~  Splendor
~  Shield
~  Save by Your right Hand
~  Saving Power
~  Stronghold of my life
~  Strong Tower
~  Saved us by Your shed blood
~  Search our hearts
~  Son of the Most High
~  Shows no partiality
~  Source of our love
~  Security
~  Steadfast love
~  Strong Deliverer
~  Slow to anger
~  Strength
~  Song
~  Supplier
~  Sacrificial Lamb

And this is only one letter in the alphabet and not a complete list of "s" either.  Add your own.  Look up the words and see where they're found in the Bible.  Good way to get rid of the blah's!!!  And God loves to hear His name praised!!!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.   Psalm 150:6

Encouragement for the Journey . . . 2013

What are your goals and aspirations for 2013?  Your new resolves and resolutions?  Those daunting tasks you've been putting off?  Will this be the year you succeed in any or all of those areas that you've been setting aside way too long? 

All of us have or will make those kinds of goals for ourselves, but what about your personal Spiritual goals?  Those things that draw you closer to the Lord.  Those things that equip you to do more for His glory ~ touching more lives with His Truth.  It goes without saying that we need to saturate our minds with more of His Word ~ purposefully reading it daily. Self help books are fine too, but be careful that you don't read so many that there is no time left for the BEST book of all.  

I remember hearing Dr.Leighton Ford, Billy Graham's brother in law, say many years ago, find a few good books that powerfully reveal God's Truth to you and periodically reread them.  A few of the books I've found to be helpful with my walk with Him are, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence; My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers and another favorite, the little, but powerful book in challenging me to do more for Him,  The Prayer of Jabez, by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson. I use the Jabez prayer daily as I pray for me, my family, friends and co-workers in Christ.

My prayer for each of us in this new year is that He will bless us with more knowledge of who He is, using us "to make a difference for Him that is utterly disproportionate to who we are. (John Piper) "Expand our opportunities and our impact in such a way that we touch more lives for His glory.  Let us do more for Him."  (Dr. Bruce Wilkinson) 

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"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel,

 "Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory.

 Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm,

so that I will be free from pain." 

And God granted his request."

 1 Chronicles 4:10