November 22, 2024

A Letter From Your Father

March 27, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves,
so that you live in fear again;
rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15

Adoption…God has searched you out and adopted you for His own.  Before you knew you even needed Him as your Father, He had already filled out the paperwork and made you a room in His House.

For God knew His people in advance,
and He chose them to become like His Son,
so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29

He will never leave you fatherless in this world…after all, He wrote your name in His family tree.  And He paid a huge price for you too!

God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law,
so that He could adopt us as His very own children.
Galatians 4:5

We didn’t pay for our adoption, we only have to accept it.  The minute we do, we go from orphans with nothing to heirs with everything.  We are adopted into a new family…but we are not home yet.  We know our Father’s name, but we haven’t seen Him face to face yet.  He has claimed us but He hasn’t come for us yet.  But we know He will.  But until that day, we live as His.

You are no longer wandering alone.  You are loved so much by a King! Someone actually paid for your freedom in full with His own life!  All the sins you have committed and ever will have already been erased by His blood.  You can never do anything to make Him love you any more or less.  And, though this world may be hard, He will never let you flounder alone.  He wants so much for you, His child.

If God were to write you a letter, it might sound like this:

Dear ______,

I love you more than  you will ever understand.  I bought you and I complete you.  I will always comfort you and I will never fail you.

I know all that you have done, all the regrets and shame you feel about your past.  I want you to know that My grace is sufficient for you and I have put them all behind Me.  I have the ability to actually forget them and, of course, forgive them.  You have been washed clean, like new.  Please come to Me, for I have truly set you free.  I broke the stronghold of the enemy.  You have a home with Me in Heaven and all glory. There you will have no more sorrows, no more sadness or crying and no more death and pain.

I see that you are worried about so much that you cannot control.  But I can.  Please put your trust in Me and I will rescue you every time from all your trials.  Cling to me in your struggle and know that I will give you the strength you need to get through what is in front of you.  Don’t ever give up.  I will give you the help you need and I will give you courage.

Just trust me with all that you have.  I will never leave you.  I never sleep and I am always looking out for you.  I will go before you and make a way.  I have planned every detail of your journey here and until I come again and bring you home, I will give you what you need daily.  I love you, my precious child.

Keep pressing on toward the finish line, never losing momentum.  I will see you soon!

Your Father

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Do you know Jesus?  He is waiting on you with open arms.  I encourage you to pray with me today and ask Him into your life, to be Lord.  Pray with me:

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner.  I need a Savior.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son and You sent Him to die in my place.  I ask that You come into my heart and be my God.  Please go with me and help me to grow in You.  Thank You for this life You have given me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: encouragement Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Beautiful…In His Time

March 20, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under Heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT

Before we get started today, will you read Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 with me?  I’ll make it easy for you:

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
What do people really get for all their hard work?
I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.
He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so,
people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

Time is something that I would love to pause as I watch so much around me change.  This past year I have seen my babies leave the nest and move away (I guess I really never thought it would happen). They are getting older, and I am getting older. With each month, day, year and minute, you and I are aging.

I imagine that you have weathered some hard things by now: loss and learning by doing; being married, divorced or single; raising children or not being able to have children…and so much more.  By now, many have probably benefitted from knowing your story.  Maybe you have mentored some younger sisters and shown them how God has helped you through rough times and shared some lessons that you have learned from just clinging to your faith.

Age isn’t all bad, right? Along with it comes wisdom and stamina (if not physical then spiritual), insight into deeper things, as well as looking at the more meaningful things instead of focusing on the trivial.

And as verse 11 (AMP) says,

“He has made everything beautiful in its time…”

That is YOU.  You are beautiful and God has a purpose designed for you at exactly this time in your life that is so different than any other time.  All those bumps and bruises you have had along the way and all the hard valleys and steep hills you have trudged are all so that He can grow you.

I remember as a child asking my mom, “How many days do I have left here on vacation?”  I so loved being at our favorite vacation spot that I didn’t ever want to go home and sometimes I worried more about the end than enjoying the vacation.  My parents would say “Enjoy what we are doing right now, Kim, and don’t worry about what tomorrow or any other day will be like.”  I think God says that to me, too—that wherever I am (and wherever you may be) that right now is so important to Him.  And that we should not worry about tomorrow and don’t spend time regretting yesterday but love Him now.  Trust Him now and worship and delight in Him now.  Now is all we have. See, it is in the process and in the living that the events of our lives glorify God, not just the outcome.

So whether you want time to stop or you are expecting the next phase, enjoy where you are now and ask your Father to show you just how much you mean to Him now and how important you are in His great plan!  All you have been through has meaning and will be used for something huge. Enjoy the process!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear God, thank You for this time of life.  Help me to see Your plan for me.  I want to glorify You in all that I do and say and in the experiences I have already had and those I have yet to do.  Give us the peace we need now and the faith to trust in You in the process.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: encouragement Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

More Than You Think I Am

March 15, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

You always think I’m somewhere on a mountaintop
But never think behind bars
You’d be amazed the places that I go
To be with you, where you are

So forget what you’ve heard
What you think that you know
There’s a lot about Me
That’s never been told

I’m more than you dream
More than you understand
Your days and your times
Were destined for our dance
I catch all your tears
Burn your name on My heart
Be still and trust My plan
I’m more than you think I am
More than you think I am

Rumor has it there’s a gavel in My hand
I’m only here to condemn
But let Me tell you secrets you have never known
I think of you as My best friend

So much has been said
Even done in My name
But I’m showing you now
Who I really am

Let me open your eyes to see
The heart of Me, differently 
Come closer than you’ve ever been
Let Me in like never before
Bring Me every broken part
The wounds and scars of who you are
Hide in Me and you will see

More than you think I am
More than you think I am
I’m more than you think I am

Singer/Songwriter: Danny Gokey along with Bernie Herms, Tim Nichols

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

My God is loving and forgiving and full of grace and mercy.  He is thrilled when I succeed and cheers me on…even when I slip.  There is no condemnation from Him.  When I think of Him, I don’t see a gavel.  I see a Father Who was willing to send His one and only Son to die so that we might live. Every day was planned before we were born and all He wants for us is a life full of abundance.

God is with you.  Everywhere you go, He goes before you and walks beside You.  He is not somewhere that He cannot be reached (though it may feel that way when we have moved a little far away from Him).  And He will go to any lengths to be with you.  Wherever you go, He will go.  He is in prisons everywhere and in detention centers.  He is in hospitals here and overseas.  He is with those little children digging through trash piles.  He wraps His arms around the homeless sleeping on the cold streets.  He is everywhere.

He is waiting for you to let Him in.  And He wants all parts of your life. Oh, how much He can do in your life…if you just let Him.  He can take away pain and sorrow and give you grace and love and comfort . Don’t you see that the Creator of this world dances over you with singing and dancing.  He is the Lover of your soul and the Guardian of your heart.

I pray as you listen to this song, that you will let Him speak to you and tell you all that He is.  Just be still…know that He truly is God and He is able to do everything you need. And if you need to rededicate your life to Him today, all you have to do is tell Him.

What is He to you? I leave you with His own words:

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in His love He will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

He says, “Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Dear God, You are Holy and awesome and full of wonder.  Your Presence is everywhere and there is no where we can go that You will not follow.  Oh Lord, thank You for loving instead of condemning. Thank You for grace instead of a gavel.  And thank You for loving us enough to pay the ultimate sacrifice.  You are God and there is no other like You.  For those today that are far away, keep them wrapped in Your arms until they come back to You.  Help us to continue to spread Your hope to all who are hurting.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , ,

O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing

March 8, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His grace

My gracious Master and my God
Assist me to proclaim
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name

So come on and sing out
Let our anthem grow loud
There is one great love—Jesus

Jesus, the Name that charms our fears
That bids our sorrows cease
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears
‘Tis life and health and peace

He breaks the power of canceled sin
He sets the prisoner free
His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me

He speaks and listening to His voice
New life the dead receive
The mournful broken hearts rejoice
The humble poor believe

Glory to God and praise and love
Be ever, ever giv’n
By saints below and saints above
The church in earth and Heav’n

There are so few words
That never grow old
There are so few words
That never grow old
Jesus, Jesus

Hymn written by Charles Wesley/ Chorus by David Crowder
Performed by the David Crowder Band

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

I heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands.
Revelation 5:11

Years ago, John and Charles Wesley tried to start a ministry in America where they were in school at the time. It failed and they went back to England.They realized that they were missing the joy that all the other Jesus followers had around them. And they remembered that they had never asked Jesus to come into their hearts so they did just that. On the 11th anniversary of their new relationship with Jesus, Charles wrote this hymn. It has been sung in thousands of churches worldwide and was remade into a contemporary Christian song by the Crowder band.

For me it takes me back to a time when I was a child, standing in front of the pew, holding my own hymnbook and singing with all my heart.  I just knew if I sang loud enough that God could hear me.  I remember thinking that at least 1,000 people were in that sanctuary singing His praises. Chills went over my arms as I sang for Him and about Him.

I still love singing my great Redeemer’s praise and, yes, it never gets old.  He still sets captives free and breaks the power of sin.  His blood still cleanses the dirtiest sins and hearts rejoice as He is King.  He loves to hear us sing to Him and about Him.  And I am sure He has heard this very song sung in many languages.  So today is His Day—the Sabbath.  You may be singing this very song with a hymnal or maybe it is up on screens for all to see.  You may be worshipping with hands up in the air or maybe in quiet reverence. You see…that part doesn’t really matter to Him.  He just loves to hear His children’s voices in unison, singing to one God as one body.   He hears all and smiles.

Have a great Sunday!  Rejoice and sing His praises all day long!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Lord, we do want to sing Your praises all day long and we are so grateful that we are free to do so.  This hymn is so beautiful and we are reminded of all You have done to set us free.  And for all those today that are still in bondage, we pray for freedom and forgiveness. You are worthy to be praised!  As long as we have breath, we will continue to praise You.  We love You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Remain In Him

March 6, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

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

So Jesus and His disciples took many walks before they stopped at the final place—the Garden of Gethsemane. They fed the hungry, healed the sick and gave hope to the hopeless. As Jesus led them, He used every opportunity to teach them all that He could before He left this earth for Heaven.  One day, as they were walking, they passed a vineyard…the vines were full of fruit.   Jesus told them that He is the True Vine.  And that if they would remain in Him, as branches connected to a vine, they would bear beautiful fruit. Beautiful for others to see. He said:

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.
This is to my Father’s glory,
so that you bear much fruit,
showing yourselves to be My disciples.”
John 15:7-8

God wants so much for us as His children and the best way to have the abundant life that He ordained is to remain in Jesus.  The closer we get to Him, the more He pours into us.  And then we begin to bear His fruit!   Before you know it, you are equipped to lead others to the Kingdom.  What kind of world would we live in if all those who are lost saw in us the hope that they have been searching for and we gave them the answer—it is Jesus!

The stronger you become in Jesus, the more the enemy seems to comes at you.  He will tell you over and over how insignificant your life really is…and that Jesus isn’t enough to brighten your life…and that joy is temporary.  (Remember after all, he is the father of lies. Jesus, however, is the Truth.)  And God would haveve never sacrificed His own Son for us if He didn’t think we were really worth it.

He loves us so much…as much as He loves His own Son, Jesus.  As Matthew 3:17 says, “This is My Son, Whom I love…with Whom I am well pleased.” Jesus has this same love for us, too.  And He never gets tired of us.  He only wants to give us all that He has and all the love that He can give.  We need only remain in Him. He is the True Vine and we are the branches. Without the vine, and the nourishment that spreads through to the branches, there is no fruit. As Christians, without fruit, we cannot be a witness to others.

Maybe you just need to be still today and let Him love on you. Maybe you don’t feel lovable today and life has really been hard lately and you just need to be reminded that He really is for you and He is always working on your behalf.  Please don’t forget that He died for you—even if you were the only one on earth that needed saving, He still would have gone to the Cross.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

I have loved you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

I ask you today: do you know Jesus?  Do you know God?  He is waiting for you, my friend, with open arms.  All you have to do is ask Him into your heart and to be your Lord.  Will you pray with me?

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus is Your Son and He came into the world as a baby, and walked the earth as a man then died on the Cross with my sins on Him.  Jesus is the Savior and I need Him.  Please come into my heart and be Lord of my life.  I want to know You more.  Walk with me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: encouragement Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Have Everything

March 1, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The first time I met you, I was on my knees
Praying, “Lord, if You’re out there, can You speak to me?”
‘Cause I was in a desperate place
My life looked like a hurricane
The moment I felt Your grace

You can have me, You can have everything
Oh, I am Yours
Not holding on, onto anything
But Your promise, Lord
It’s a new day, it’s a new dawn
I’ve found a place where I belong
Nothing I want more than what You’ve given me
Hey, so You can have everything
You can have everything
You can have everything

You are like the sunshine in the dead of night
You’re the only one standing when my world ignites
So why would I hold anything back
‘Cause You keep my world intact
It’s true, Oh, God, it’s true, so I’ll say

Every day I’m gonna wake up,
Gonna wake up, wake up and say
You can have me, have everything

Singer/Songwriter: David Dunn along with Justin Ebach

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

It’s hard for me to remember a time when I didn’t have Jesus as my Savior, my Companion, and my Rock.  I was a young child of eight when I asked Jesus to come into my heart.  I had very few hard times as a young believer and really all throughout my childhood.  He walked with me through my days and I could feel His presence.  I knew I belonged to Him and I knew that He was all that I needed.  I remember thinking, “How do people live when they don’t have Him?” Little did I know just how desperate I would feel one day…like He had left or taken a break or maybe fallen asleep on the job.  But really, it was I who had moved.

“…I was in a desperate place, my life looked like a hurricane…”  Oh, how those words described my life at times, when I had decided that I knew how to run my life better than Him.  He waited patiently, with so much grace and mercy until I once again told Him that He could have everything.  Now when my feet hit the floor, I pray a simple prayer: “Empty to fill.”

Every day is a new day.  One that is full of joy and wonder at the greatest life I could ever have.  My sweet Savior rescued me from darkness and filled me with His light and I will never be the same. What about you today?  Have you asked Jesus to be your Lord?  Have you felt His presence lately…or do you feel you have moved away a little bit? If so, all you have to do is ask Him to come into your life and live in your heart.  He is waiting for you to say, “You can have everything.”

Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:23

LORD, be gracious to us; we long for You.
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
Isaiah 33:2

I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known
through all generations.
Psalm 89:1

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Let us pray:
Dear God, thank You for giving us Your Son to be our Savior and Rock and Comforter.  Thank You for the grace and mercy that are ours through You.  When we fail and trip and stumble, Your hand is always there to pull us up.  What a privilege to be able to lay it all at Your feet, to be able to give You everything that weighs us down knowing no burden is too heavy for You.  All we have to do is ask…and trust You. You love us and You forgive us.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Imperfect Yet Beautiful

February 27, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

For His invisible attributes, namely,
His eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived,
ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made.
Romans 1:19 and 20

So after a long day I am out walking my precious dog with my youngest daughter and I see it—the sky is blue and pink…and there are clouds drizzled in between the colors…and the sun is breathtaking as it gets ready to drop off behind the ocean.  I stand amazed at His handiwork.  And I think of how good He is and how all He gives is good!

Then the questions come:  “Why is there so much yuck in this world, mama?  Like why do bad guys steal Christians and their children over there?” I have to really think before I answer. Because haven’t I asked these same questions? When marriages end…and children suffer…when there is cancer and chemo…and childrens hospitals that are always half full….  How do I answer?

I begin to read in Genesis and how much God loved the first man and woman and how beautiful He made their their home. The Garden of Eden was flawless. Trees and flowers bore their fruit and food. Adam and Eve met with God everyday; they walked with Him in the garden. Life was beautiful. Until the enemy convinced them that what God gave wasn’t good enough. That they weren’t REALLY satisfied and surely they wanted more.  The fall of man was ingratitude. Here is the story:

The Fall  Genesis 3:1-19

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”  He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”  The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”  The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals!  You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.  And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;  He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.”

To the woman He said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children.  Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

To Adam He said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.  It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.  By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

God didn’t mess this world up…we did.  He saw that we needed help so He sent Jesus to die with all this sin on Him, so that we don’t have to. Jesus was the sacrifice to save us.  God is good and all He gives is good. There is beauty that comes from the ashes of all this hard.  We may not actually see the good that comes or the one person that was saved through it…but God does and that is enough.  Yes, this world is suffering but there is a day when there will be no more bad…only good. But until that day, let’s keep encouraging each other, praying for each other, and reaching out to those who don’t know Him and together we can change lives for Him.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Do you know Jesus?  Have you ever asked Him into your life?  Oh friend, He is waiting. Will you pray with me?

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner, I need forgiveness.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son and the Savior of the world. I believe that You sent Him to die on the Cross so that I can live free and in eternity with You.  I ask Jesus today to come into my life and be my Lord.  Please walk with me and guide me and direct me.  Thank You for loving me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: encouragement Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Evidence

February 22, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
It’s not a flag on a field
It’s not a sign in my yard
Not a cause that I join
Not a phrase on a coin
It’s the change in my heart

Mercy and grace and compassion
They’re only words without action

I need hands that are open
Reaching out to broken hearts
Cuz’ that’s the only way this world
Will ever know who You are
Love is the evidence
Love is the evidence

Might be the pain that you share
Might be the time that you spend
Or the war you don’t fight
Backing down from your pride
After all in the end

My life wasn’t changed by an argument
That never would have been enough
My life was changed by the evidence of love

Your hands that were open
Reaching out to my broken heart

  Citizens Way

  *  ~   ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  

For I was hungry, and you fed Me.
I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink.
I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home.
I was naked, and you gave Me clothing.
I was sick, and you cared for Me.
I was in prison, and you visited Me.’
Then these righteous ones will reply,

‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?
Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Or a stranger and show you hospitality?
Or naked and give you clothing?
When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth,
when you did it to one of the least of these
my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25:35-40 NLT

One day we will stand before Jesus and He will speak to us, His sheep.  There will be one line on the right and one line on the left.  To some He will say; “Oh you, righteous and obedient sheep, I was in prison and you visited Me. I was hungry and you fed Me. I was thirsty and you gave Me water. I was homeless and you took Me in. I was needy and you met My needs.

To the others He will say: “I was in prison and you didn’t come visit Me.  I was hungry and you didn’t give Me food.  I was thirsty and you gave Me no water.  I was cold and you gave Me no clothes. I had no home and you did not invite Me in.”  They will say; “Lord, when were You thirsty and hungry? When were You in prison? When were You homeless? When did I not clothe You?”

He will answer: “If you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me.”

Jesus calls us to love each other.  More and more we are to love all of God’s people.  Love changes lives.  You may not be able to change the world for everyone but you can change the world for one person just by investing in them and loving them and being Jesus to them. How can we do this?  We cannot do anything on our own, my friends…we have to cry out to Jesus to change our hearts and to make them like His.

If only we could all do this—be intentional with our time here on earth and seek those who are in need and ask Him what we can do. Anyone come to mind?  If not, I pray this week that God opens your eyes to someone that you can bless.  In return, you will be blessed!

   *  ~   ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  

Let us pray:
Dearest Lord, You are amazing and loving and the Blesser of our lives.  You give so much love to each one of us.  You give us a life of abundance and we praise You for it all.  Oh Lord, may we be Your hands and feet to the hurting and needy of this world.  Help us to be intentional about our lives and live to love all people and serve them as You do.  Open our hearts, Lord, to receive the message that You want us to spread—the love of Jesus is so much that He died for them so that they can live with You forever.  As this song says, ” that’s the only way this world will ever know who You are…“.  We love You, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

We Are Full Of Hope

February 20, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15What strength do I have that I should continue to hope?
What is my future, that I should be patient?
Is my strength that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?
Since I cannot help myself, the hope for success has been banished from me.
Job 6: 11-13

God created us to feel every emotion we as humans will experience in our lifetime. We never want to be so dead inside not to grieve. Tears are actually a gift…they take us to a place that words cannot. And they bring healing, yes, much healing. As much as this may hurt or cause us discomfort, can you imagine if you weren’t allowed to cry and grieve?

As Jesus’ followers, the world that we live in causes us to grieve on a daily basis. Then hope and faith are found also, when we rely solely on God the Father and Jesus the Son to fill us.  That which we lost, we gain in Him.

Job’s thoughts hit home.  “What  strength do I have…since I cannot help myself, so all hope for success has been banished.”  When we feel God has let us down, or didn’t answer the way we wanted, we feel like Job—hopeless because we have no control over the outcome.  We cannot always help ourselves. But He can!  He is always the answer! He is always your strength! The best part is this:

Life’s outcomes aren’t dependent on you…
Your future lies in His hands, His capable, strong hands.

Need proof? Let’s go to The Word:

Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

I will praise You forever for what You have done.
In the presence of Your faithful people,
I will put my hope in Your name, for it is good.
Psalms 52:9

__________, {put your name here} put your hope in the Lord.
For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with Him is redemption in abundance.
Psalm 130:7

Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:12

I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened
so you may know what is the hope of His calling.
Ephesians 1:18a

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering,
for HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL.
Hebrews 10:23 (emphasis mine)

Pain will fill our lives in different seasons and we will have loss in this life. So we must grieve when we need to but we must not be hopeless. Because His hands control everything and in Him is so much hope.  Sadness?  Yes we will feel it, but we will be happy and full of joy again.  Why?  Because He promised us!  And He can be trusted, even when you can’t trust anyone else.

He will bless you and He will love you.
And there may be sadness right now…
but joy comes in the morning!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Do you know that God loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die in your place? And He would’ve done this for just you if it meant that you would live with Him forever. Jesus is waiting to come into your heart. Today is the day for change! Ready?

Let us pray:
God, I know I am a sinner. My life is out of control and I am so tired. I need You to be my God. I believe that Jesus is Your Son. You sent Him to die in my place so that my sins are forgiven. I will get to live in Heaven with You forever. Walk with me through this hard life and bring me into the light. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Filed Under: encouragement Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

He Knows

February 15, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvall the bitter weary ways
endless striving day by day
you barely have the strength to pray
in the valley low

how hard your fight has been
how deep the pain within
wounds that no one else has seen
hurts too much to show

all the doubt you’re standing in between
And all the weight that brings you to your knees

He knows, He knows
every hurt and every sting
He has walked the suffering
He knows, He knows
let your burdens come undone
lift your eyes up to the One
Who knows…He knows

we may faint and we may sink
feel the pain and near the brink
but the dark begins to shrink
when you find the one who knows

the chains of doubt that held you in between
one by one are starting to break free

every time that you feel forsaken
every time that you feel alone
He is near to the brokenhearted
every tear  He knows

Singer / Songwriter: Jeremy Camp (with Seth Mosely)

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

He does know…He knows the last of our days and the beginning, and the number of hairs on our heads.  He knows how much pain you can actually bear and He knows when it will end.  You struggle with hard choices and exhausting circumstances…He knows and He wants to carry the struggles for you and He wants to help you make the right decisions. He knows….

He knows when you are walking in darkness and you desperately need His Light. All you have to do is ask. He knows what your deepest sin and secrets are.  He will never tell, but He wants to hear them from you. He will only give you grace, forgiveness, mercy, and all the love you will ever need. He knows when you feel alone and when you feel the world is unfair.  He is just and He fills every void you will ever feel.

He is pulling for you to win every battle. He is cheering you on as you reach the finish line of this life; and He has a place for you, with Him, forever, in eternity. He is singing over you daily and rejoicing over each victory in your life. He also sheds tears with you when you feel defeated.

He knows your heart (even when you don’t) and He loves you even when you don’t feel it.  He is never far away and He will never, ever leave you! He is always for you! So that hard thing that you are dealing with?  You know… the one you feel like you could never tell anyone? My friend, He knows and He is ready to step in and deliver you…just ask!

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:30

Even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father;
and I lay down My life for the sheep.
John 10:15

The secret things belong to the LORD our God,
but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever,
that we may observe all the words of this law.
Deuteronomy 29:29

It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.
Daniel 2:22

Let us pray:
Dear God, oh how amazing You are. You created each one of us in Your image and You know the intimate details of our lives. How comforting to know that we are never alone. Your hand is always there to hold, and You are willing to walk with us every day, never stopping. Thank You for loving us, for cheering for us, and for guiding us through this sometimes hard world. Because of You, we are always loved and we have a full abundant life. And when we don’t know, You do. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »