Category: Encouragement

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The Greatest Love

My heart is filled with the great love the Father shows me on a daily basis. For over 40 years my focus has been on His goodness and love.

Before that I was caught up in the do’s and don’ts, the rules and regulations of religion and not in the relationship that the Father offered me. This morning, I was reminded of something I wrote years ago and feel it is just as honest and true today as it was then.

I hope it touches your heart.

20th Day of Thanksgiving.

There was a time when I was very insecure and was hounded by feelings of unworthiness and low self-esteem. I just didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere. I hope none of you have ever felt that way because it’s awful.

Yes, I knew that God loved me but at that time those were just words in my ears and not a truth I held in my heart. I can’t tell you how the Lord did it but He made His love a reality to me personally!

I came to see in the Scriptures that God saw me as valuable, lovable and worthy of His attention.

This morning as I was reading Jesus prayer to the Father from John 17, I saw that again.

“I am not asking you to take them out of the world. But I am asking that you keep them safe from the Evil One. 16 They don’t belong to the world, just as I don’t belong to the world. 17 Make them ready for your service through your truth. Your teaching is truth. 18 I have sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world. 19 I am making myself completely ready to serve you. I do this for them, so that they also might be fully qualified for your service.

20 “I pray not only for these followers but also for those who will believe in me because of their teaching. 21 Father, I pray that all who believe in me can be one. You are in me and I am in you. I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me. I gave them this glory so that they can be one, just as you and I are one. 23 I will be in them, and you will be in me. So they will be completely one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me.” John 17:15-23 ERV

Verse 20 and 23 are the verses that really hit home with me. First Jesus said he wasn’t just praying for his followers that were with Him but that He was praying for those that would believe in Him because of their message. That meant He was praying for me. And secondly, He prayed that the world would know that the Father loves us as much as He loves Jesus! Did you get that? He loves me as much as He loves Jesus!

That was life changing for me!

Today that is my prayer for each one of you – I want you to know, really know, down deep in your heart know, that the Father loves you as much as He loves Jesus!

Yes, today is a day of gratitude. I am grateful for the love of God!

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Time to Celebrate

I remember years ago when our oldest daughter was just a toddler we had bands of sheep across the road in the fields. I would walk her across the road and she would watch the sheep.

My husband grew up with sheep herders and had the opportunity to watch their ways. Interesting people. One man with several working dogs could control a large band of sheep – protecting them and moving them from one field to another.

Shepherds care for their sheep. They live with them in the field. They don’t abandon them. They protect them personally and then leave the dogs with them to keep them safe from predators in the night.

The shepherd makes sure they have plenty of grass in the pasture and when it is eaten down they move the sheep on to the next field. Shepherds also make sure their flocks have plenty of water. They pay close attention to the weak and injured; nursing their wounds and seeing that they aren’t picked on by the stronger rams.

I have a good shepherd. He loves me, He cares for me, He feeds and protects me and He searches for me if I get lost and He brings me back to His fold!

” Jesus said: I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. 2-3 But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.

4 When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. 5 The sheep will not follow strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away…

7 Jesus said: I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. 9 I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.

10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. 11 I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep. 12 Hired workers are not like the shepherd…

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. 15 Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them together too, when they hear my voice. Then there will be one flock of sheep and one shepherd.” John 10:1-16 CEV

“Then Jesus told them this story: 4 If any of you has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won’t you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? 5 And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder 6 and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep.’” Luke 15:3-6 CEV

I am a loved sheep -> lost but now I’m found. It’s time to celebrate the Shepherd’s great love!!

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Smile on Me

Well, not that I’ve gotten your attention with that silly smiling horse let me explain the thoughts that came to me this morning.

Yesterday I explained to you that my life “in a nutshell” is a love for God’s word and the practical direction it gives me for daily life. Decisions are easier when I trust God to lead me with peace. Worries are less as I roll the cares of life over on the Father. Fear dissipates as I know that He has promised to never leave me or abandon me, even in the valley of the shadow of death.

My future is secure because I know that for me to live is Christ but to die is gain as I join my heavenly Father in heaven.

His word brings me joy, strength, forgiveness, grace, mercy and provides for all my earthly and heavenly needs.

And then this morning, I found this verse, that I know I have read 100’s of times before but it jumped off the page and into my heart.

“ Smile on me, your servant, and teach me your laws.” Psalm 119:35 CEV

But chapter 119 of Psalms, the longest chapter in the Bible, highlights a love of God’s word and the benefits of reading and obeying it in 176 verses. It really is my theme chapter.

“Your teachings are wonderful, and I respect them all. 130 Understanding your word brings light to the minds of ordinary people. 131 I honestly want to know everything you teach.
132 Think about me and be kind, just as you are to everyone who loves your name. 133 Keep your promise and don’t let me stumble or let sin control my life. 134 Protect me from abuse, so I can obey your laws. 135 Smile on me, your servant, and teach me your laws. 136 When anyone disobeys you, my eyes overflow with tears. 137 Our Lord, you always do right, and your decisions are fair. 138 All your teachings are true and trustworthy. 139 It upsets me greatly when my enemies neglect your teachings. 140 Your word to me, your servant, is like pure gold; I treasure what you say. 141 Everyone calls me a nobody, but I remember your laws. 142 You will always do right, and your teachings are true. 143 I am in deep distress, but I love your teachings. 144 Your rules are always fair. Help me to understand them and live.” Psalm 119:129-144 CEV

For those who think the Bible is just “the good book” but don’t really take the time to read it I encourage them to pray this short prayer. “Lord, I want Your Bible to come alive for me. I want to learn from you. Teach me Your Ways. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

That honest, simple, heart-felt prayer will be the beginning of a wonderful adventure discovering the personal message from God to you. Then you will see why the psalmist says “Your word to me, your servant, is like pure gold; I treasure what you say. “

Remember this:

“Then we will never turn away. Put new life into us, and we will worship you. 19 Lord God All-Powerful, make us strong again! Smile on us and save us.” Psalm 80:18-19 CEV

I can see the Father smiling on us now.

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Thoughts of Peace

Yesterday morning we talked about decluttering our thoughts. It really is freeing to let go of the worries, the what-ifs, the constant bombardment of unsolicited thought and focus on what the Spirit of God is teaching us.

“We who have the Spirit are able to make judgments about all these things. But anyone without the Spirit is not able to make proper judgments about us. 16 As the Scriptures say,

‘Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind? Who is able to give him advice?’

But we have been given Christ’s way of thinking.” I Corinthians 2:15-16 ERV

The Apostle Paul was continually instructing the new Christians on how to have a renewed mind. He wanted them to have their thinking conforming to God’s word and in turn he knew it would transform their lives.

“ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:3-11 NLT

To be like Christ we need humility. We let God’s word and will be done in our lives. Learning to serve and care for others, knowing that God, Himself, is committed to caring for us.

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Luke 6:45 NLT

Our hearts are the treasury of God’s love, and we can make daily deposits into our account by what we think and by following through with corresponding actions.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 NLT

We choose to think on the good things, the things that are godly and pure. We capture thoughts that go contrary to God’s word. When we do, we have peace, God’s abiding peace!

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Swept Clean

This morning when I got up and looked around the house, I stopped to be thankful for my mother. I so appreciated the qualities of tidiness and organization that were a natural part of her life and that she passed those qualities on to me.

“ But everything should be done in a way that is right and orderly.” I Corinthians 14:40 ERV

He uses the word everything and every place I have researched the word everything means everything. Cluttered minds, thoughts or actions that can be a detriment to us hearing God. Too many distractions are stressful and rob our peace.

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

It’s hard to “be still” with a 1000 things on your mind. It’s important that we have our thoughts line up with God’s so that we can make wise and godly decisions. God’s purpose in creating the earth was to make order out of chaos. In the beginning the earth was without form and void but God spoke the worlds into existence with His words and brought order and beauty.

“Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Romans 12:2 ERV

We need to let His Word bring order and beauty to our lives as well.

The word “perfect” in that verse jumped out at me and reminded me of another verse that focuses on perfect peace.

“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NLV

Still your mind. Take on God’s way of thinking. It will sweep out the clutter and lead you to perfect peace.

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Loving Care

Yesterday we were at the racetrack. These races are for the year’s championship title. It’s our time with our oldest daughter and son-in-law and it’s also a great time to people watch.

That’s what I found myself doing during last night’s Xfinity race.

We had a family directly in front of us. Down about 10 rows was another family group. Then right before the race started a family with a small boy came and sat directly behind us. All three families caught my eye.

One family had two children about 8 and 10, the small boy was about 3 or 4 and the other child was a baby about 6 to 9 months. All the kids had the right ear protection, were dressed warmly and were happy.

Happy because mom, dad and extended family members were giving them the attention and loving care they needed. Although the adults came to watch the race, be part of the action and cheer for their favorite driver, their kids took priority.

There were several trips to the concession stand for food and drinks, and more than one exit to the restrooms. Even the baby was cuddled and rocked safely in loving arms. Not once did I hear a cross word or see one of the children being scolded.

No.

There were smiles exchanged between the adults as they would get up and leave the grandstands. Helping kids maneuver the grandstand seats, and not disrupting the other race fans, as much as possible, was their general concern.

Yes. They missed parts of the race, and maybe they missed seeing their favorite driver make an exciting move, but their attention was on the child who was dependent upon them.

“So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us.” Romans 8:31 ERV

I couldn’t help but think of the lyrics from an old song, “My heavenly Father watches over me”.

“Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 ERV

Our heavenly Father rules the universe, but we have His attention. He knows what we need, and He provides.

“The Father has loved us so much! This shows how much he loved us: We are called children of God. And we really are his children. But the people in the world don’t understand that we are God’s children, because they have not known him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God…”I John 3:1-2 ERV

My prayer is that you will know and trust God’s love just like those little children at the race track last night.

I am so thankful for our Father’s loving care!

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The Sweet Fragrance of Praise

Chanel – White Diamonds – Giorgio – Versace – perfumes! All have a wonderful odor. Just one drop, and a room will be completely filled with fragrance.

Have you ever experienced that?

Just one little dab of expensive perfume on a cloth or piece of clothing will bring a wonderful bouquet to all the other clothes in your closet or drawer. Or maybe you’ve had the experience of walking past someone, you pick up on the sweet smell of perfume and it reminds you of a loved one or a special place and time.

“I am grateful that God ALWAYS (emphasis mine) makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume.” II Corinthians 2;14 CEV

The Apostle Paul tells us that we should be thankful because God ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ. ALWAYS!! Not just occasionally, not just half the time but ALWAYS!

And then He helps us spread the message of Christ and His victory everywhere like a sweet perfume. We’re not the perfume, the message of Christ is. We’re simply the article that transports the aroma.

This reminds me of the woman who broke the box of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus. People were upset because she had wasted such a costly ointment but everywhere Jesus went, He left a sweet-smelling fragrance and there was no denying that they had been in His presence.

Are we leaving people with the ability to sense that they have been in the presence of the Lord?

“You are God’s dear children, so try to be like him. 2 Live a life of love. Love others just as Christ loved us. He gave himself for us—a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 ERV

Talking about His victories in our lives isn’t bragging on us and our great feats; it’s simply leaving the fragrance of Christ for others to enjoy.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

Be grateful, be thankful, leave a sweet smell!

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Praying, Lots of Praying

Lots of prayer this morning. So many loved ones and situations to talk with the Lord about. I am so thankful that He always has a listening ear.

“ Always be full of joy. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 ERV

There is such a connection between prayer and joy.

Prayer is expressing our need; joy is an expression of God’s provision and faithfulness. Thankfulness is trusting God for the right answer.

Seasons change and so do situations, but God never changes. He is always faithful, always good, always loving, always just, always gracious and merciful. Always true to His word.

“ My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. 3 You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. 4 If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.

5 Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom. 6 But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is blown up and down by the wind. ” James 1:2-6 ERV

When we come to the Lord with heavy hearts He promises to give us rest. We lay our burdens down and He takes them up. He carries them and He works all things out for our good.

“Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 ERV

I know I’ve used this example before, but this verse reminds me of a little child coming to their parent with a broken toy. “Fix it daddy, fix it”, they say. When the Father reaches to take it, they cry. “No, let me hold it”. To which our Father gently replies “You must give it to me if I’m to fix it. Let go. I’ll handle it from here.”

The hard part is in letting go but we can trust our Father, He only wants what is for our good.

I’m going to close this morning and go back to my time of prayer. A time to “be still and know that I am God”.

“Thank you for Father for perfecting those things that concern me. Thank you for working all things out for my good. Thank you for listening, loving and leading me. In Jesus name, I proclaim, Amen!”

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Anticipation & Expectation

I hope you have been encouraged in your prayer life as we’ve studied the Bible verses on prayer the last few days.

Prayer is not a “genie in a bottle” experience. It’s not even Amazon delivery. It’s better!

Prayer is bigger than that. It is bringing our needs and our heart’s desires to the Father and leaving them in His capable hands. It’s allowing God to move on our behalf; inserting His power into our circumstances.

Sometimes we are tempted to give up or take things into our own hands, trying to make them work out how we think they should. Standing and believing God requires determination and fortitude. Expectation of God’s working; anticipation of how it’s all going to come to pass.

It’s hard to wait but that’s where the excitement of anticipation comes in.

Look at Abraham, he and Sarah waited 25 years to see God’s promise come to pass.

“ The Holy Writings say, ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’ This promise is good because of Who God is. He makes the dead live again. He speaks, and something is made out of nothing. 18 Abraham believed he would be the father of many nations. He had no reason to hope for this, but he had been told, ‘Your children will become many nations.’ 19 Abraham was about one hundred years old. His body was about dead, but his faith in God was not weak when he thought of his body. His faith was not weak when he thought of his wife Sarah being past the age of having children. 20 Abraham did not doubt God’s promise. His faith in God was strong, and he gave thanks to God. 21 He was sure God was able to do what He had promised.” Romans 4:17-21 NLV

I can just imagine the excitement that Sarah felt when she first learned that God had said Abraham would be a father, she would be a mother. She had been barren. Did she start making baby clothes, did she have diapers folded neatly and waiting in a hamper? The anticipation of what God was going to do had to be thrilling.

Years passed and there was no child. Sarah thought she would help God out. Maybe the Lord meant that Abraham would be a father but not that she would be a mother. She did the customary thing, she found a surrogate, her handmaid.

As we stand, waiting to see the answer to our prayers we need double dogged determination not to waiver in our faith and stay focused on God’s infallible word.

When the handmaid gave birth to a son Sarah became jealous and bitter. God protected the handmaiden and her son, forgave Sarah for her intervention in His plan and He reaffirmed His promise.

“Because Sarah had faith, she was able to have a child long after she was past the age to have children. She had faith to believe that God would do what He promised. 12 Abraham was too old to have children. But from this one man came a family with as many in it as the stars in the sky and as many as the sand by the sea.” Hebrews 11:11-12 NLV

A good lesson for us all. God’s plan is better than ours.

The verses above from Romans say that Abraham was strong in faith and gave thanks to God.

A heart filled with thanksgiving is a wonderful booster to our faith. We get up each morning and say “Thank you Lord, I am one day closer to seeing the answer to my prayer.” Personally, I remember two specific instances when Dave and I had to wait over eight years to see the final answer to our prayers. Thanking God for working kept us strong.

“So don’t lose the courage that you had in the past. Your courage will be rewarded richly. 36 You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you.” Hebrews 10:35-36 ERV

Anticipate. Expect. Just don’t quit!

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Face the Future with Hope

You know that I start each day with prayer. This morning is no different. Praying for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren is a large part of my morning prayer time.

I had a praying grandmother. She and my grandfather would spend hours in prayer. It was such an encouragement to know she was praying, daily and sometimes hourly, for me. When I had children of my own, that comforted me in a greater way.

Now I am the matriarch of our family, and I take my responsibility of prayer very serious. Life has changed tremendously over the last 70 plus years. Things my grandmother could never imagine have come into being and I wonder what the future will be like for my grands.

It doesn’t cause me to fear but it does keep me in prayer.

“ I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. 14 I will let you find me.’ This message is from the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:11-14 ERV

Each generation has had their search for God. There are no spiritual grandchildren. Every person needs to have their own personal relationship with the Lord. The good news is that when we search for the Father, we find Him, and we find the hopeful future that He has planned for us.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of his mercy he gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death. 4 Now we wait to receive the blessings God has for his children. These blessings are kept for you in heaven. They cannot be ruined or be destroyed or lose their beauty.” I Peter 1:3-4 ERV

In Christ, we have a living hope. It’s a hope that grows, giving us strength for each day. Great Is Thy Faithfulness, the favorite old hymn, puts it this way.

“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with 10,000 beside

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me”

The Apostle Paul and King David knew this hope long before these words were ever penned.

“ I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 ERV

“It may seem that those who are poor and needy have been forgotten, but God will not forget them. He will not leave them without hope.” Psalm 9:18 ERV

“These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he says something, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath. So these two things are a great help to us who have come to God for safety. They encourage us to hold on to the hope that is ours. 19 This hope is like an anchor for us. It is strong and sure and keeps us safe.” Hebrews 6:18-19 ERV

As I pray for my family, I also pray for you. I pray that God who gives hope will fill you with joy and peace as you face the future!

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