Archive for the ‘Christian Encouragement’ Category

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Wholesome Words September 8, 2010 Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn   READ: Ephesians 4:25-32 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. —Eph. 4:29 In November 2008, the US Supreme Court debated the constitutional limits on foul language. The Federal Communications Commission cited a national broadcasting company for allowing two entertainers to use two common profanities on the air. The broadcasting company argued that “fleeting” profanity that was not blatantly sexual should not be punished. Others countered that it is our duty to protect children from such language. The issue of inappropriate language was not up for debate in the church at Ephesus. Paul instructed believers that one of the ways they were to respond to the blessings of redemption and being made alive in Christ was by guarding their speech (4:29). Paul did not want them to be characterized by their old way of living, which included corrupt and unwholesome speech, profanity, malicious gossip, slander, or anything that injures another and sparks dissension. Instead, he wanted the Ephesians through their words to “impart grace” and encouragement, as the need arose. As followers of Jesus Christ, we want the words that flow from our hearts and out of our mouths to be a life-giving spring. And may all who hear our words receive a blessing. —Marvin Williams Lord, set a guard upon my lips, My tongue control today; Help me evaluate each thought And watch each word I say. —Hess God’s Word should shape our words.

From Gail:

It is easy to say “I didn’t mean that,” when we say mean things to people, but it is sound psychology and scripture that deep down inside, buried in the subconscious, you did mean it, or you wouldn’t have said it.  In these situations, we need to work through our feelings to get the subconscious to the conscious level so we can deal with whatever is causing us to say mean things, especially to those we love.

¹⁸But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man.  19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (Matthew 15)

Today, ask God to reveal secret sins in your life and to give you insight into why you say or think mean things.  Ask yourself what this situation reminds you of that mean things came out of your mouth.

   ²⁴But his bow remained strong and steady and rested in the Strength that does not fail him, for the arms of his hands were made strong and active by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob, by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,Genesis 49

God brought us out of Egypt with a powerful hand.” Ex 13:24

I’m singing my heart out to God—what a victory!
      He pitched horse and rider into the sea.
   God is my strength, God is my song,
      and, yes! God is my salvation.
   This is the kind of God I have
      and I’m telling the world!
   This is the God of my father—
      I’m spreading the news far and wide!
   God is a fighter,
      pure God, through and through.
   Pharaoh’s chariots and army
      he dumped in the sea,
   The elite of his officers
      he drowned in the Red Sea.
   Wild ocean waters poured over them;
      they sank like a rock in the deep blue sea.
   Your strong right hand, God, shimmers with power;
      your strong right hand shatters the enemy.
   In your mighty majesty
      you smash your upstart enemies,
   You let loose your hot anger
      and burn them to a crisp.
   At a blast from your nostrils
      the waters piled up;
   Tumbling streams dammed up,
      wild oceans curdled into a swamp. Ex15:1-3

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. —Psalm 55:17

If you know that God’s hand is in everything, you can leave everything in God’s hands.

God’s timing is unique. Be still and know that I am God.
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Silence, Please! September 2, 2010 Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn   READ: Psalm 46 Be still, and know that I am God. —Psalm 46:10 Our world has become increasingly noisy. But according to a news report, science has found a way to achieve absolute silence: “Scientists have shown off the blueprint for an ‘acoustic cloak,’ which could make objects impervious to sound waves. The technology, outlined in the New Journal of Physics, could be used to build sound-proof homes, advanced concert halls, or stealth warships.” When we seek out a quiet place for devotional time with God, we may wish we had an “acoustic cloak.” But even if we could silence all external sound, the internal noises of worry would still reverberate in our minds. We are told: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). But how do we calm our hearts in practical terms? God understands our dilemma and has provided His own “acoustic cloak” to quiet our hearts. It involves exchanging our cares for His peace. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). As we place our concerns in God’s capable hands, we find a quietness that only He can provide. —Dennis Fisher Be still and know that He is God For pathways steep and rough; Not what He brings but what He is Will always be enough. —Anon. God gives peace to those who are quiet before Him.

From Gail:

I have found there is a time for quiet prayers.  There is also a time for speaking and a time for listening.  Quite often we quit waiting on God to speak because we are in too big of a hurry.  For God, there is no time as we know it.  When we ask God “when God, when,” his answer is “when the time is right.” 

Another way to look at it is like this–your pregnant but you are not willing to wait the nine months to have your baby.  You ask God to speed up the birthing process.  God says no because it would be all wrong because of the timing.  Wrong for you and the baby. 

The circuit riding preacher used to ride across the land

With a rifle in his saddle and a Bible in his hand.

He told the prairie people all about the promised land

As he went riding singing down the trail.

The circuit riding preacher traveled through the mire and mud

Told about the firey furnace and Noah and the flood.

He preached the way to heaven was through water and the blood

As he went riding singing down the trail.

I saw a circuit riding preacher say these words one day, 

“Lord, I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day. 

And I would rather one walk with me instead of merely show the way.

The best of all the preachers are the men that live their creeds.

And to see their good in action is what everybody needs.

You know, Lord, I can learn to do it if you will let me see it done.

I can watch their hands in action but their tongues too often run.

The sermons they deliver may be very wise and true,

 but I would rather get my lesson from watching what they do. 

For I may misunderstand them and the high advice they give,

but there is no misunderstandings about how they act and how

they live.”

Yes, there is a land over the rainbow and it is called heaven.

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Remember, however, you must be made perfect to get into a perfect heaven, otherwise heaven would be corrupted.  Your soul becomes perfect when Jesus comes to live in your heart.

Have you ever heard the expression “the sun only shines on those who look towards it?”  The same is true with the homonym version:  “the Son [Jesus] only shines on those who look towards Him.”

All farmers know that sunshine is necessary for a harvest to occur.  In fact, nothing can grow without sunshine.  The same is true for us.  We can’t grow without the Son.

Another way to look at it is with a half filled glass of water.  Is your glass half empty or half full?

Today, think of the problems in your life and try to find new, positive  perspectives to see through.  Did you learn something from it?  If you are a Christian remember that God uses our mistakes/bad events to help us to grow.  He promises to work good from bad.  See how the amplified Bible renders Romans 8:28:

²⁸We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Another rendering:

²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

In other words, God will turn it around for good whether it is your mistake or trouble someone has brought your way.

Chasing after empty pleasure
Will not satisfy one’s heart;
But to those who follow Jesus,
Life’s fulfillment He’ll impart. —Sper

Only God can fill an empty heart.

I was wondering what I could add to this to make it more complete.  There is really nothing too much to add except I see so many people desperate for any type of peace and pleasure so they resort to temporary fixes such as alcohol and drugs.  You only dig yourself in deeper.  Your “inner chains” just wrap themselves around you tighter and tighter.

I don’t care how much you have messed your life up, tomorrow is a fresh new day with no mistakes in it.  Wipe your slate clean today.  Let God fill your empty, heavy, and sad heart. Click on the category “how to find Jesus” and find a new life today full of peace and satisfaction.  It doesn’t mean life will be easy and hard times will evaporate, but it does mean you won’t have to bear your burden alone anymore.

   ¹⁸“Come now, and let us reason together,” saith the LORD. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1)

1As the deer pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God.
2My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? (Psalm 42)

Search me, Oh God, and know my heart today!

The purpose of the blog today is to get you into an attitude of worship and to search your heart and cry out to God. Remember, He is just one prayer away!.

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Promises, Promises August 21, 2010 Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn   READ: Gen. 12:1-4; 21:1-7 Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. —Genesis 21:2 When people say with a sigh, “Promises, promises,” it’s often when they’ve been disappointed by someone who failed to keep a commitment. The more it happens, the greater the sadness and the deeper the sigh. Have you ever felt that God doesn’t keep His promises? It’s an attitude that can subtly develop over time. After God promised Abraham, “I will make you a great nation” (Gen. 12:2), 25 years elapsed before the birth of his son Isaac (21:5). During that period, Abraham questioned God about his lack of a child (15:2), and he even resorted to fathering a son through his wife’s handmaiden (16:15). Yet, through the ups and downs, God kept reminding Abraham of His promise to give him a child, while urging him to walk faithfully with Him and believe (17:1-2). When we claim one of God’s promises in the Bible, whether it is for peace of mind, courage, or provision of our needs, we place ourselves in His hands and on His schedule. As we wait, it may at times seem as if the Lord has forgotten us. But trust embraces the reality that when we stand on a promise of God, He remains faithful. The assurance is in our hearts, and the timing is in His hands. —David McCasland Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God. —Carter All of God’s promises are backed by His wisdom, love, and power.

Life is a love story.  You need me and I need you.  My broken world needs you.  Many a weary troubled heart needs you.  Many a troubled heart will be gladdened by you, drawn nearer to Me by you.

Health–Peace–Joy–Patience-Endurance, they all come from contact with Me

Oh!  It is a glorious way, the upward way, the wonderful discoveries, the tender intimacies, the amazing almost incomprehensible, understanding.  Truly the Christian Life–Life with Me–is a lovestory.  Leave all to Me.

All you have missed you will find in Me, the Soul’s Love; the soul’s Friend, Father–Mother–Comrade–Brother.  Try me.

You cannot make too many demands upon Me–nor put too great a strain upon my Love and Forebearance.  Claim–Claim–Claim– Healing–Power–Joy–Supply– what you will.

Taken from God Calling

From Gail:

Try to apply the concept of the movie, The Wonderful Life to yourself.  Think how the world would be changed in your little world if you had not been born.   Think of little things you can do to make a difference.  If everybody had this attitude, what a wonderful life this could be, but it all starts with you–one person–trying to make a difference.