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| Isaiah 35:3 "Encourage the exhausted, and |
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| strengthen the feeble." That's what God's Word does, & what His followers are to do, the same! |
Hebrews
10:23-24, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and
let us consider how to stimulate (encourage) one another to love and good deeds."
"All of us need encouragement---somebody to believe
in us; to reassure and reinforce us; to help us pick up the pieces and go on; to provide us with increased determination in
spite of the odds. It's the act of inspiring others and affirming them with renewed courage, spirit and hope!" Pastor Chuck Swindoll
| 4 yrs. later--these dancers are still going strong |
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| and........they are amazing dancers! I only wish I could dance that well!!! |
"Cease Striving (be still) and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will
be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10
Psalm 31:24 "Be
of good courage; and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord."
| Ps. 23: "The Lord Is my shepherd. I shall not want |
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| He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He restores my soul. He leads me beside still waters. |
Song Playing: "Lord, I Lift Your Name On High"
by Sonic Flood
Ephesians 3:20: "Now to Him (Jesus) who is able
to do far more abundantly than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us!"
Because of the Holy Spirit indwelling every believer....remember this great truth which will make each day a
bit brighter and easier: "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!"
Phil. 4:13.
| Psalm 66:1-2, 3a "Shout joyfully to God, all the |
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| earth. SING the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious! How awesome are Your works!" |
| Reminder: On Saturday night Daylight Saving Times |
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| will be here (already) so set those clocks ahead one hour,..... "Spring forward!" |
Hello my family and friends! Today is Saturday, March 13Th, 2010!
Today is yet another special
day that God made for His glory and purpose; tailor made for each person and extended from His arms of goodness,
mercy and love!
I heard a radio DJ recite the
following to his listeners, and I'll repeat it for my readers: "Enjoy a big cup of encouragement today.
I hope it will warm your soul!" I add..... and ALSO make the day a bit brighter!
Happy Saturday! I added more in the early evening...down below!
"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice
and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)
I sure do hope that this finds everyone doing well and enjoying their day. May God
do great things today in each person's life and may He show forth His graciousness, power and might...giving strength for
those who call upon His name!
As I read in Is. 58 which is the chapter on fasting, He says in the very beginning of the
chapter to "Raise your voice as a trumpet....Seek Me day by day, Delight to know My ways.....while doing righteousness......they
take delight in the nearness of God." That's what I also ask the Lord today on behalf of all my brothers
and sisters in Christ.
In my town, the sunrise was lovely as were the clouds floating by my window mixed
with blue skies and sunshine. They thrilled my heart. The birds are singing merrily! "Everything
breathing praising God" (song by David Crowder) is what my eyes beheld.
I love the song now playing. There are some songs that I will never tire of and this
is one of them. "Lord I lift Your name on high" is what all of God's people who are walking by faith trusting in
the Word of God day by day....are to be about!
Lord I lift Your name on high
Lord I love to sing Your praises
I'm so glad You're in my life
I'm so glad
You came to save us
You came from Heaven to earth
To show the way
From the earth to the cross
My debt to pay
From
the cross to the grave
From the grave to the sky
Lord I lift Your name on high
Therefore, until I return later today after work....I encourage everybody to sing along. I pray today that all
of my family and friends will have a steadfast heart and sing praises (Ps.
57:7) and also say along with me, "Be exalted above the heavens, O God. Let Your glory be above
all the earth."
Early evening, just as it's getting dark outside! I want to encourage everybody
to not only enjoy but even purposely look for God's glory "everywhere." There's nothing like beholding the glory
of God in the land, water, sky and even in the people he made for His purpose and by his design.
Even though this was a rather long work day for me and I didn't arrive home until close
to 6:30, it was a good day because God graciously made it so. I was aware of other brothers and sisters praying for
me, as I did for them...and for any person who comes to this page!
The four little kids that I cared for today had fun jumping on the trampoline before
the rains came. When the sky had bits of blue poking through most magnificent cloud formations, I told the 5 yr. old
boy (Freddy) and his 3 year old sisters (Izzy and Maddy) to look up at the clouds. Freddy was the one paying the most
attention, partly due to his age.
While reminding the young boy that God made everything and that everything he sees is
for God's glory...to show God's greatness, power and beauty (As Mark Harris sings, "All for the glory of You).
I proceeded to share with Freddy that I have seen clouds that look as if they are bowing down in prayer, lifting hands (I
demonstrated) in prayer, and some with faces looking upward to God.
This was cute. He said, "Miss Charlotte, have you ever seen a cloud that looks
as if it's running to God?" I said, "Actually, yes I have." Then, he said while hugging his sister trying to hold
her down from jumping, "have you ever seen a cloud that looks like God hugging someone?" I was pleased to say, "Yes,
I've seen clouds that resemble a body with an arm extended out as if hugging another, and that's what God is always doing
to us (and for us) even though we can't see or feel Him physically.
I was thrilled for the opportunity to let little young Freddy know that even while he
was sleeping at night, God was always thinking about him and even sings over him. I reminded him once again that God
is always listening and that he could pray anytime and especially at night when afraid of the dark (as I was as a kid).
For many of us, we cannot remember what it was like to have the brain, the mind, the
innocence of a 5 yr. old or a three year old, but I do know that those little lives are impressionable and seem hungry and
desirable to hear about God and his ways.
After arriving home from work, followed by observing a most glorious sunset
and the clouds above until it was dark, I read a few of Dr. David Jeremiah's quotes in his March devotional magazine. These
should be helpful and encouraging for those who read them. God used them in my own life for reflection, encouragement,
faith building, and insight into the character and ways of the Lord!
Nothing in today's headlines or in our personal experience is random or haphazard.
The Most High rules in the affairs of men. Current events seem out of control, but history is His-story, and God is
working out all things according to the counsel of His will. (Eph. 1:11) David Jeremiah
The most trivial and the most important, the most likely and the most unlikely,
circumstances are made to minister to the development of God's purposes. C.M. Mackintosh
Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone but in
every leaf in springtime. Martin Luther
Alas! How we forget that we are but strangers and pilgrims on the earth;
that we are journeying to our eternal home, and will soon be there! Octavius Winslow
A person who wholly follows the Lord is one who believes that the promises of God
are trustworthy, that He is with His people, and that they are well able to overcome. Watchman Nee
When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket
and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer. Corrie Ten Boom
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth
will grow strange and dim in the light of His glory and grace. Helen H. Lemmel
Unity is necessary among the children of God if we are going to know the flow of
power...to see God do His wonders. A.W. Tozer
The Christian is strong or weak depending upon how closely he has cultivated the
knowledge of God. A.W. Tozer
{What
is written below stays on this page every single day... the same! I pray that it will be an encouragement
for every person's heart at all times!}
Each day....continue to count every blessing that God gives! And also
sing to the Lord with shouts of praise....for He is good all the time as can be
read in the following verses:
"Sing to God, sing praises to His name," and His faithfulness to all generations!"Psalm
100:5
ALSO: "Shout joyfully to the LORD, all
the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God. It
is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with
thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name!" Psalm 100: 1-5
Quote
by Roy Lesson:
God has given me another day to hear the wonders He has spoken…
To
see the beauty of His face…
To
enjoy the pleasure of His company
To
walk the pathways of His grace…
To
know the delight of His presence…
To
fulfill the desires of His Heart…
To
discover the treasures of His Love…
What
a Day this will be!
{Prayer below .... from the heart of God's people poured out in faith before the Lord, I
know that He will honor such a prayer as this; written by John Piper}
O Father of glory, this is the cry of my heart---to be changed from one degree
of glory to another, until, in the resurrection, at the last trumpet, I am completely conformed to the image of Your Son,
Jesus Christ, my Lord. Until then, I long to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord, especially the knowledge
of His glory. I want to see it as clearly as I see the sun, and to savor it as deeply as my most desired pleasure.
O merciful God, incline my heart to Your Word and the wonders of Your glory. Wean me from my obsession with trivial
things. Open the eyes of my heart to see each day what the created universe is telling about Your glory. Enlighten
my mind to see the glory of Your Son in the Gospel. I believe that You are the All-glorious One, and that there is none
like You. Help my unbelief. Forgive the wandering of my affections and the undue attention I give to lesser things.
Have mercy on me for Christ's sake, and fulfill in me your great design to display the glory of Your grace. In Jesus
name I pray, Amen!
Andrew Murray once said: "I am here by God's appointment, in His keeping,
under His training and for His time."
"The
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit; be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14)
| James 1:17, Every good and perfect gift if from |
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| above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow |
Bible verses to read often for
the purpose of.... assisting every reader in
growing closer to God and knowing Him better!
Hebrews 11:1 and 6 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen...And without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek
Him."
Hebrews 10:19-25,
"Since therefore, brethren, (brothers and sisters in Christ) we have confidence to enter the holy place
by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since
we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession
of our hope without wavering, and He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good
deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more,
as you see the day drawing near."
Isaiah 30:15, 18:
"In
repentance and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust is your strength."
"The
LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of
justice; how blessed are those who long for Him."
Psalm 34:1-3, "I
will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will continually
be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will heart it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD
with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought (prayed to) the LORD and He answered me, and delivered me
from all my fears."
Jeremiah 17: 7-8 "Blessed is
the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is in the LORD (whose confidence is in Him). For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the
heat comes; but it's leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor
cease to yield fruit. vs. 14: Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save
me and I will be saved, for You are my praise!"
Psalm 16: verses 7-9 and vs. 11:
I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
I have set the LORD continually before me.
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore, my heart is glad, and my glory (soul) rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
You will make known to me the path of life.
In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right
hand
there are pleasures forever."
Ezekiel 36: 25-28 is a most wonderful promise for those who's faith is in Jesus Christ, God's Son.
"I will sprinkle clean
water on you, and I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new
heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances...you
will be My people, and I will be your God."
Psalm 18: 30-33
"As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take
refuge in Him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock except our God, the God who girds me
with strength, and makes my way blameless. He makes my feet like hinds feet, and sets me upon my high places."
vs. 49, "Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O Lord, and I will sing praises to Your Name."
Isaiah 55:6-9: "Seek the LORD while He may be
found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and
let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD, for as the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
vs. 10-12 For as
the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout,
and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not
return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For
you will go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before
you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Psalm 19:7-11 "The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the
testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the
commandment of the LORD is pure; enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments
of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant
is warned; in keeping them there is a great reward!"
Psalm 19:14
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."
Lamentations 3:21-26:
"This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's loving-kindnesses indeed never cease,
for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says
my soul, "therefore I have hope in Him." The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.
It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord."
Psalm 5:11,"Let all who take
refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever!"
Jeremiah 29:11-13
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future
and a hope.
12
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
13
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
2 Chronicles 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those
whose heart is loyal to Him."
"But he was
wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and
with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord
has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6-5).
Isaiah 64:4, 7; also found in I Corin. 2:9 "Things
which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, ALL that God has prepared
for those who love Him."
Hebrews
13: 15, 16
"Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice
of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those
in need. These are the sacrifices that please God."
Psalm 84:11-12
vs. 11: "For the LORD God is a sun and
shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly."
vs. 12: "O LORD of hosts, How blessed is
the man who trusts in You."
Psalm
73:25-28 he said: "Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail. But God
is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.....but as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the
Lord GOD my refuge; that I may tell of all Thy (His) works.
Duet.
33:27, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."
Matthew 5:18, said by Jesus!
"For truly I say to you, until heaven
and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke (not an iota, not a dot) shall pass away from the law until all
is accomplished." New American Standard translation
"Not an iota, not a dot" is what I read in the
English Standard version of the Bible.
Matt. 5:16 "LET your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble---for the LORD your God is the
one who goes with you He will not fail you or forsake you."
"Therefore, the LORD longs to be gracious
to you, AND therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are
all those who LONG for Him." Isaiah 30:18
Psalm
23:
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He
makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3He
restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will
fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and your staff,
they
comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You
anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house
of the LORD
forever.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs
15: 8 "The prayer of the upright
(those saved by grace, trusting in Jesus as their Savior and Lord) is His delight."
Isaiah 26:3
"You will
keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."
Isaiah 40: 8 "The grass withers,
the flowers fade, but the Word of God remains forever!"
Proverbs 22:17-19
"Listen closely, pay attention to the words
of the wise,
and apply your mind to my knowledge.
For it is pleasing if you keep them within you
and if they are constantly on your lips.
I have instructed you today---even you----so that
your confidence may be in the LORD!"
Ephesians 1:16-19 (English Standard
Version) "I do not cease to give thanks for
you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom
and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the
hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable
greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might"
Ephesians 3: 14-19 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches
of his glory that He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend
with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Isaiah 40: 28
"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31
but 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."
In Psalm 149:4 "The Lord takes pleasure in His people." How amazing is that?
I John 4:10 tells us: "In this is
love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (payment) for our sins. "
John 1:14 "The Word became flesh
(Jesus) and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth."
2 Chronicles 7:3 "For He is good, for His faithful love endures forever."
"Call to Me, and I will answer you
and tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3
Ps. 90:14 "Satisfy us in the morning with
your steadfast (never changing) love---that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."
"NOTHING is too difficult for Me."
Jeremiah 32: 17
Philippians 4:6-8 (words
of Apostle Paul)
"Don’t worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. (7)Then
you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and
minds as you live in Christ Jesus. ( 8 )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 (as a
result) the God of peace will be with you."
SING PRAISE---always!
Remember this:
Praise is a catalyst that speeds up God's maturing process in your lives! |
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