Tag Archives: anxiety

From a Need to be Accepted

aid beach safety buoy close up

From the love of my own comfort

From the fear of having nothing

From a life of worldly passions

Deliver me O God,

From the need to be understood

And from a need to be accepted

From the fear of being lonely

Deliver me O God,

Deliver me O God,

And I shall not want, no I shall not want

When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want

When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want

From the fear of serving others

Oh, and from the fear of death or trial

And from the fear of humility

Deliver me O God,

And I shall not want

 

Song Lyrics from  “I Shall Not Want”  – by Audrey Assad

Still

green pine trees near body of water

“Be still ,my soul; the LORD is on your side! Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to your God to order and provide… In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; your Best, your heavenly Friend,

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; your God will undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Your hope,  your confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul; the waves and wind still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.”

 

“Be Still My Soul”- hymn by J. Sibelius and K. Schlegel

Only a Prayer Away

I asked the Lord to comfort me

When things weren’t going my way,

He said to me, “I’ll comfort you,

And lift your cares away.”

I asked the Lord to walk with me,

When darkness was all that I knew

He said to me, “Never be afraid,

For I will see you through.”

I didn’t ask for riches,

He gave me wealth untold,

The moon, the stars, the sun the sky,

And gave me eyes to behold.

I thank the Lord for everything,

And I count my blessings each day,

He came to me when I needed Him,

I only had to pray,

And He’ll come to you

If you ask Him to,

He’ only a prayer away.

“I Asked the Lord”- Hymn by

Duncan & Lange

True Faith

“The beginning of anxiety

is the end of faith,

and the beginning of true faith

is the end of anxiety.

George Müller

Comforters

“Blessed be the God of all comfort;

Who comforts us

in all our tribulation,

 

that we may be able to comfort them

which are in any trouble,

by the comfort wherewith we ourselves

are comforted of God.”

II Corinthians 1:3-4

Be Still My Soul🕊

Be still my soul-

The Lord is on your side!

Leave to your God

To order and provide-

Be still my soul-

Your best, your heavenly Friend

Thru thorny ways

Leads to a joyful end.

– Jean Sibelius

Stayed

Stayed upon JEHOVAH,

Hearts are fully blessed –

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.

“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You…”

– Isaiah 26:3

 

 

 

From the Hymn, “Like A River Glorious”

by F.R. Havergai and James Mountain

God of All My Days

In my worry, God
You are my stillness
In my searching,
God You are the answer
In my blindness, God
You are my vision
In my bondage, God
You are my freedom
In my weakness, God
You are my power
You’re the God of all my days.
Each step I take
You’ve made a way
And I will give you all my praise
My seasons change
You stay the same
You’re the God of all my days
*****************************
 from “God of All My Days”, – Casting Crowns
Lyrics- John Mark Hall and Jason Ingram

Think On These Things🤔

“… Whatever is true,

whatever is honorable,

whatever is just,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is commendable,

— if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise,

— think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

 

 

Relaxed Confidence

When Abraham gave first choice to Lot, and Lot took the best and greenest pastures for himself, Abraham simply let it be so. Then God promised to give him all the land, as far as his eyes could see, to the east, west, north and south. It didn’t matter that Lot had taken the best for himself. Abraham held a relaxed confidence in God and His promises.

My hope for the future, my trust in your precious promises, and everything that concerns me, is secure in You, LORD,

So I choose to relax, and place my confidence in You.

 

With Heart In Hand I Trust You

“LORD, I trust You today with my WHOLE LIFE…

For my WHOLE LIFE.♥

For in trusting You,

My LIFE is made WHOLE.”

Hang in There


“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”
Charles Spurgeon

Power in Simplicity

 

“The ordinary acts we practice, every day at home, are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.”

-Thomas Moore

Amazing Grace

The Lord has promised good to me…His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be…
as long as life endures

Through many dangers, toils and snares…
I have already come.
T’was grace that brought me safe thus far…
and grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years…
bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise…
then when we’ve first begun.

John Newton

Stand By Me

When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea
Thou Who rulest wind and water,
Stand by me

Charles Albert Tindley

In God’s Hands

Image result for when i sit in darkness the lord will be a light to me

Where Healing Begins

Here’s to Hugs and Kisses

  Hugs

Reduce harmful physical effects of stress;

Calm deep pressure on children, tantrums, and mellows moodiness;

Help the body’s immune system, cures depression, and induces sleep;

Invigorate and rejuvenate

Increase heart rate and stabilize blood pressure;

Give a positive emotional state;

Bring out a surge of serotonine and dopamine, which are known as “feel good” brain chemicals.

Relieve pain, make you healthier and happier;

Help to overcome fear

 Kisses

Good for the heart, as it creates an adrenaline which causes your heart to pump more blood around your body.

Stress-reliever, lowering your cortisol ‘stress’ hormone.

Endorphins produced by kissing are 200 times more powerful than morphine.

Reduces anxiety and stop the ‘noise’ in your mind.

Increase the levels of oxytocin, an extremely calming hormone that produces a feeling of peace.

Great for self-esteem.  Make  you feel appreciated and helps your state of mind.

Those who kiss quite frequently are less likely to suffer from stomach, bladder and blood infections.

Those who kiss goodbye each morning live five years longer than those who don’t.

Here’s to Hugs and Kisses! OXOX

Take Courage My Heart

He’s In The Waiting.♥

“Take courage my heart
Stay steadfast my soul
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
Hold onto your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He’s never failing
He’s never failing.”

“Wait for ADONAI. Be strong, let your heart take courage, and wait for ADONAI.” – Psalm 27:14

Take Courage Lyrics- Kristene DiMarco/ Photo- Google Images

A New Day

If life seems at its lowest ebb, because a day’s gone wrong,

 

Let not your heart be troubled, for a new day soon will dawn.

And we can never be quite sure, just what it has in store,

Since each one is so different, than the one just gone before.

As it penetrates the darkness, with its soft and tranquil beams,

It calms even the most restless soul, and brings new hopes and dreams.

So when a day’s been troubled, and the night is dark and long,

Lift up your fallen spirits, for a new day soon will dawn.

-Anonymous

Cast Don’t Carry

“Why carry the weight of the world on our shoulders,

when the Lord our God carries us on His.”

“Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you.”

I Peter 5:7

*Photo- Google Images

My Shepherd

ADONAI is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.

Even 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 comfort me.

 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of ADONAI forever.”

Psalm 23- TLV

Perfect Peace

“Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

Finding, as He promised, Perfect peace and rest”

“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You; because he trusts in you.”

Isaiah 26:3

Way Maker, Chain Breaker

“If you’ve got pain
He’s a Pain Taker
If you feel lost
He’s a Way Maker
If you need freedom or saving
He’s a prison-shaking Savior
If you’ve got chains
He’s a Chain Breaker”

Lyrics from “Chain Breaker” by Zach Williams

Can a Mother Forget?

Image result for mother and baby nursing silhouette

Sometimes when we’ve been praying for something for a very long time, we begin to lose heart, and wonder if the answer will ever come. I know exactly how that feels. I remember praying and praying for God to work a miracle in my life, and sometimes, I felt that God had forgotten about me and my situation. Of course we know that God sees us always, and knows everything about our lives, but still, it is true of us as humans, that we sometimes think that our situation may not be as urgent to God as we would like for it to be.

This is so not true!

At one of my lowest points, the LORD gave me a verse which comforted me and reassured me, and to this day, this verse is very near and dear to my heart. In Isaiah 49:15-16, the Lord says, “Can a mother forget her nursing child?… Yes, she might, but I have not forgotten you… I have you engraved on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”  This is how I understood what He was saying to me through this verse:

1. “Can a mother forget her nursing child?” – Naturally, the answer to this question would be a resounding, “No.”  We all know how attached a mother is to her newborn baby, and so we understand the significance of this question. But…

2. “Yes, she might,” – Although it would seem impossible for a mother to forget or abandon her newborn child, it has happened, as unbelievable as it would seem, sadly, it has been the case for some mothers. But…

3. “I have not forgotten you” – God is saying that His love and care for us is even greater than a mother’s love. Infinitely greater. How so?…

4. “I have you engraved on the palms of my hands” – Here, I pictured the palms of my Savior’s Hands, which still bear the nail scars, pierced for me… And then…

5. “Your walls are continually before me.” – My situation and the circumstances that surround me, are continually before Him!… Oh, Glory to God!!

Here it is in a nutshell…

God loves you, more than you can imagine, He has not forgotten you, and  your situation is continually, always, before Him.

Hold on.  :)

Quietly Waiting

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“Let all that I am

wait quietly before God,

for my expectation

is from Him.”

Psalm 62:5

Don’t Worry

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“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Genesis 22:14

O God, Our Help

“O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home,” -Isaac Watts

Image result for psalm 46 1

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

Delay Does Not Mean Denied

Waiting for an answer to prayer can be hard sometimes, but I’d just like to share that although it seems that there  may be a delay, it doesn’t mean that your request has been denied. In fact, it has been my experience that after what seemed to be a great delay, I was blessed far and away more than I was asking for in the first place! 

Here’s an example from  John 11:1-44

A request for healing is brought to Jesus. “…A certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha… Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

 Jesus responds with a delay. ” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” Then, after finally arriving in Bethany, Lazarus having been dead 3 days, 

 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.  ” He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”

And he who had died came out,,.. “

“Are you praying for something, and there seems to be a delay in receiving your answer? Just remember that God is working all things together for your good, and He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that you may ask or think… So hold on, the answer’s on its way, and it promises to exceed your expectations!”  :)

In The Secret Place

“He that dwells  in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”

Psalm 91

Between Now and Not Yet

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

You may not realize

You will often forget
That I have a plan for you
Between now and not yet

I have so much more for you
You focus so much on debt
I have plans for you to prosper
 Between  now and  not yet

You’ll walk through the valleys
And fear to take your next step
My plans are not to harm you
Between the now and the not yet

If you’ll slow down and take a breath
Take time to watch My sun set
It’s My plan to give you hope and a future
Between the  now and  the not yet

“The Plan I Know” by David Andrews 

On Life’s Path

“Preserve me, O God: for in You do I put my trust…

I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel: my heart also instructs me

in the night seasons.

I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope…

You will show me the path of life:

In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

 Psalm 16

Tomorrow

“Don’t be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow shall be anxious for itself” Matthew 6:34

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”

Charles Spurgeon

Turbulence

Image result for airplane

A few days ago, a friend of mine encouraged me with these words…

She said, “When a pilot is flying and sees turbulence ahead, he approaches it head on. He does not go around it, over it, or under it; he goes right through it. The pilot can’t see beyond the limited view of his cockpit, so he must rely totally on the instrument panel for guidance. He goes right through the turbulence, difficult as it may be, and presses through until he reaches the beautiful clear sky on the other side.”

This life, as we know, can bring us to turbulent times that cannot be avoided. We’d rather go around them, but we must press through. As we rely on and put our complete trust in the LORD, even when it gets rocky, He will lead us through to the beautiful clear skies on the other side.

Poured Out

“I am poured out like water, … all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.”

“Trust in Him at all times; …

Pour out your heart before Him:

God is a refuge for us.”

Selah.

Psalm 22:14 and 62:8

Like Jabez

The bible says that Jabez, a descendant of Judah, was “more honorable than his brothers”and even though his mother named him Jabez (which means pain), he called out to the LORD and God heard him and gave him what he requested. 

This is not a story about getting everything we want, it’s actually an example that there’s always hope when we pray because no matter what we’ve been through, or what we’ve been called, as children of God, we have His eye.

 Jabez may not be as well known as Abraham or Moses but that’s just the point!  God’s love is there for the “little guys”too and the story of Jabez  reminds us that in Christ, each of us is special and uniquely significant. He cares for us and will answer when we pray.

“Jabez  called out to the God of Israel, saying,

“If only You would greatly bless me, and enlarge my territory. Let Your hand be with me,

and keep me from harm, so that I might not suffer pain.”

And God granted what he asked.” 

 I Chronicles 4:10-TLV

Trusting God

To trust in God means that He is our confidence; our minds are at rest, as we rely on His word, His integrity, His veracity, His faithfulness, and His unfailing love.

We don’t often hear stories about King Hezekiah, but he is one of my favorite examples of trusting in God. II Kings 18:5, says that Hezekiah trusted God like no other king before or after him.. What a wonderful way to be remembered, as someone who truly trusted in God. In the face of danger, at the threat of war from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and even after the prophet Isaiah warned him that he would soon die, Hezekiah prayed to God, trusted Him to hear and answer, and God delivered him every time!

King Hezekiah’s sincere, unshakable, trust in God, serves as a great encouragement and example for us today, as we face life’s trials and difficulties. Like him, we too can be assured, that God cares, He hears our prayers,He sees our tears, and will not fail to deliver us, as we place our trust in Him.

This Is Only A Test

“In the world ye shall have tribulation…”

“But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

He  Himself  will restore, establish, strengthen, settle you.”

John 16:33 and I Peter 5:10

The Barometer

Image result for barometer

“Circumstances are not the barometer of God’s love and goodness – the cross is.”

“Do you feel as though God isn’t answering your prayers?  Are you tempted to doubt His love and goodness?

When I feel this way, I have to remind myself that my circumstances aren’t the barometer of God’s love and goodness—the cross is. He has shown His love and how good He is by giving His only Son Jesus to die for our sin. We can’t rely on our feelings. But day by day as we choose to trust Him more, we learn to believe with confidence that God is good—all the time.”♥

-Anne Cetas

Jesus My Joy

Image result for Jesus my joy

Jesus, You’re the center of my joy
All that’s good and perfect comes from You!
You’re the heart of my contentment.
Hope for all I do.
Jesus, You’re the center of my joy.

Richard Smallwood

Never Ever Ever

“For God has said…

Image result for Jesus my joy

Hebrews 13:5

How Long

Image result for sad looking out window

“O LORD, how long will You forget me?

Forever?

How long will You look the other way?

How long must I struggle

With anguish in my soul,

With sorrow in my heart

Every day?”

Psalm 113:1-2

Rescued

Image result for hand reaching in to rescue from waves

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me. Love lifted me.
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!

James Rowe

The High Place, I’ll Bring Down

Image result for stone wall fortress gate

I will make the darkness light before you,
What is wrong I’ll make it right before you,
All your battles I will fight before you,
And the high place I’ll bring down.

When you walk by the way I’ll lead you,
On the fatness of the land I’ll feed you,
And a mansion in the sky I’ll deed you,
And the high place I’ll bring down.

With an everlasting love I’ll love you,
Though with trials deep and sore I’ll prove you,
But there’s nothing that can hurt or move you,
And the high place I’ll bring down.

Although satan in his rage would tear you,
And with all his scheming arts would snare you,
Even down to your old age I’ll bear you,
And the high place I’ll bring down.

I will make the darkness light before you,
I will make the crooked straight before you,
I will spread My wings protecting o’er you,
“And the high place I’ll bring down.”

Charles P. Jones

“…I will make the darkness light before them.”  Isaiah 42:16

Suffering

Image result for suffering

Suffering may endure for a season

And we wonder when relief will come.
Is this for a time of testing
A really deep trial for some?

Day by day we endure our heartaches,
Often questioning why,
We don’t seem to fully understand
And we come before God with a sigh!

“Just quiet yourself in My presence,” He says,
“I have blessings for you in store,
This time with me will be precious,
Even more than ever before.”

The wonderful promises in God’s Holy Word
Bring comfort, encouragement and peace,
And as we nestle up close to Him.
Our Faith brings sweet release.

So let us joyfully praise the Lord,
If, through suffering we can learn,
Truths that will help to guide our way,
And His Word more clearly discern.

Elsie K. Young

En Route

Image result for life's journey

“Forget yesterday.

Don’t worry about tomorrow.

Trust God today.”

In Quietness

“In quietness and confidence is your strength.”  Isaiah 30:15

New Morning, New Mercies

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.”

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.

The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”

Lamentations 3: 21- 26

You Know Better Than I

Image result for give it to god

I put up a fight
And told You how to help me
And just when I had given up
The truth is coming clear

You know…Better Than I
You know…The way
I’ve let go…the need to know why
‘Cause You know Better Than I

If this has been a test
I cannot see the reason
But maybe not knowing
Is part of getting thru

I tried to do what’s best,

and faith has made it easy 

I see the best thing I can do

Is put my faith in You, for

You know…Better Than I
You know…The way
I’ve let go…the need to know why
‘Cause You know Better Than I.

Joy Williams

The Real Me

Image result for loved by God

“My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.”

“Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.”

-Brennan Manning

I Will Rise

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“Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy.

Though I have fallen— I will arise.

Though I sit in darkness. The Lord is my light.”

Micah 7:8

Please Consider…

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“Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and lose heart.”

Hebrews 12:3

God is in Control

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This is no time for fear
This is the time for faith and determination
Don’t lose the vision here, carried away by the motion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together

There is one that will always be true,

It will be true forever.

God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control

He has never let you down
Why start to worry now?
Why start to worry now?
He is still the Lord of all we see
And He is still the loving Father
Watching over you and me

God is in control.

Twila Paris

 

Just Desserts

Image result for snoopy and dessertJust remember, Desserts is Stressed spelled backwards,

So relax and have a great weekend,

You deserve it!

On The Sunny Side

 

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Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

The Optimist Creed

You Can Change

Image result for butterfly coming from cocoon
…Sometimes pain’s the only way that we can learn
You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far
That you can’t get back when you’re lost, where you are,
It’s never too late, so bad, so much,

That you can’t change
Who you are, you can change who you are,

You believe in freedom,
But you don’t know how to choose
You gotta step out of your feelings

That you’re so afraid to lose, and everyday,
You put your feet on the floor…got to walk through door

Its never going to be easy
But its all worth fighting for

You can never fall
Too hard, so fast, so far,
That you can’t get back

When you’re lost where you are,
Its never too late, so bad, so much
That you can’t change who you are

You can change who you are.

So let the ashes fall where ever they land
Come back from wherever you been
To the foot of the cross
To the feet of Jesus
To the feet of Jesus

You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far
That you can’t get back when you’re lost
Where you are

It’s never too late, so bad, so much

That you can’t change

At the foot of the cross
It changes who you are
At the foot of the cross you can change
Who you are.

You can never fall
Too hard, so fast, so far,
That you can’t get back.

Lyrics- “Who You Are” by Unspoken

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Image result for shepherd and sheep images

“…He calls his own sheep by name,

and leads them out….

He goes before them,

and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.

And a stranger they will not follow…”

 My sheep hear my voice,…

 I know them, and they follow me:… 

 I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.  

I and my Father are one.”

John 10:1-5 ,27-30

Precious

“Look at the birds of the air;

They do not sow or reap or store away in barns,

And yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?

And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

Fear you not therefore,

You are of more value than many sparrows.”

Matthew 6:26 , 10:29-31

Perfect Timing

“As for God, His way is perfect:” Psalm 18:30

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“There is a time for everything:” Ecclesiastes 3:1

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God’s timing is perfect!

Unquenchable, Inseparable

“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it ” 

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“For I am persuaded

that neither death nor life,

nor angels nor demons,

nor things present nor things to come,

nor principalities nor powers,

nor height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Song of Solomon 8:7

Romans 8:38-39

It’s About Time

“As for God, His way is perfect:” Psalm 18:30

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“There is a time for everything:” Ecclesiastes 3:1

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God’s timing is perfect!

Every Single Day

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Sometimes…

Time goes by so slowly, and yet

“I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,

and in His word I put my hope.”

Psalm 130:5

Make Your Appeal, Present Your Case

“…If I were you, I would appeal to God, and would present my case to Him.

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He does great  and unsearchable things, wonders without number. 

He gives rain to the earth and sends water to the fields.

He sets the lowly on high, and mourners are lifted to safety.

He frustrates the schemes of the crafty so that they achieve no success.

He traps the wise in their craftiness so that the plans of the deceptive

Are quickly brought to an end.

They encounter darkness by day, and they grope at noon as if it were night.

He saves the needy from their sharp words  and from the clutches of the powerful.

So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.

See how happy the man is God corrects;

So do not reject the discipline of the •Almighty. For He crushes but also binds up;

He strikes, but His hands also heal.

He will rescue you from six calamities; No harm will touch you in seven.

In famine He will redeem you from death, and in battle, from the power of the sword.

You will be safe from slander  and not fear destruction when it comes.

You will laugh at destruction and hunger and not fear the animals of the earth.

For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

You will know that your tent is secure,

And nothing will be missing when you inspect your home.

You will also know that your offspring will be many

And your descendants like the grass of the earth.

You will approach the grave  in full vigor, as a stack of sheaves is gathered in its season.

We have investigated this, and it is true! Hear it and understand it for yourself.”

Job 5:8-27

Journey Forward

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“The LORD, He it is that does go before you;

He will be with you,

He will not fail you, neither forsake you:

Fear not, neither be dismayed.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

Garment of Praise

“Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…”

Isaiah 61:3

Put on the garment of praise
For the spirit of heaviness
Lift up your voice to God
Praise with the Spirit
And with understanding
O magnify the Lord

Lift up the hands that hang down
Lift up the voice now still
Give unto God continuous praise
Sing forth from Zion’s hill

Sing to Yahweh, alleluia
Worship and praise our God
Love and adore Him
Bow down before Him
O magnify the Lord!

David Ingles

 

 

 

 

Come To Daddy

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“Come unto me,

all ye that labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest”

Matthew 11:28

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

 

 

 

Spring is Coming

“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.”

-Author Unknown

 

Path of Life

“Preserve me, O God: for in You do I put my trust…

I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel: my heart also instructs me

in the night seasons.

I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope…

You will show me the path of life:

In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

From Psalm 16

Peace On Earth

“Peace I leave with you,

My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

Neither let it be afraid.”

John 14:27

How Long?

O LORD, how long will You forget me? Forever?

How long will You look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,

With sorrow in my heart every day?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!

Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”

Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

,,,I trust in Your unfailing love.

I will rejoice because You have rescued me.

I will sing to the LORD because

He is good to me.”

Psalm 13

Hope is Near

 There can be miracles … when you believe.

Though  hope is frail,
Its hard to kill.

Who knows what miracles  you will receive

When you believe,
Somehow you will…

You will when you believe

They don’t always happen when you ask
And its easy to give in to your fears
But when you’re blinded by your pain
Can’t see your way safe through the rain

A small, but still resilient voice, says

“Hope is very near”

-Kenneth Edmonds and Stephen Schwartz

 

Through Hardship

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny…”

C.S.Lewis

Question

“Is any thing too hard for God?”  Genesis 18:14

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”

Jeremiah 32:27

ANSWER 

“With God nothing shall be impossible.”

Luke 1:37

Rest

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

Dynamic Duo

Quietness and Trust

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,…”

Isaiah 19:15

Waiting

Sometimes it’s hard to wait but…

“Waiting is a sign of patience and true love.”

♥

“…as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.”

I Corinthians 2:9

“For since the beginning of the world no one has heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, O God, beside thee,what He has prepared for those who wait for Him.”

Isaiah 64:4

Strength for Today

 “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow shall be anxious for itself” Matthew 6:34

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it only empties today of its strength.”

Charles Spurgeon

Let Go, Let God

 Learning to turn my troubles over to the Lord...I surrender



        All to Jesus I surrender; 
	All to Him I freely give; 
	I will ever love and trust Him, 
	In His presence daily live. 
        I surrender all, 
        I surrender all, 
        All to Thee, my Blessed Savior,
        I surrender all.

        J.W. Deventer

Gracious Guidance

“…Therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you,

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

This is the way, walk in it,

when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.”

Isaiah 30:18-21

Think

“…Whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

The Path to Peace

 O God, our Heavenly Father, 
Give me the grace to accept  the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things that I can,
And the Wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time, 
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, 
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy
In this life,
And supremely happy
With You forever in the next…  Amen
 Reinhold Niebuhr

Just Float

“When you sense that your dark night is one of pregnancy and oceanic return,

You could react accordingly and be still.

Watch and wonder.

Take the human embryo as your model.

Assume the fetal position, emotionally and intellectually.

Be silent.

Float in your darkness, as if it were the waters of the womb,

And give up trying to fight your way out or make sense of it.”

Thomas Moore

Prospered, Favored, Promoted

“This morning before dawn, I opened my Bible to the story of Joseph.

Genesis 39 and 40

He was sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, but…

Because God was with him,

He prospered as a servant in Potiphar’s house.

   He was  favored in jail by the warden, and

  He was promoted by Pharaoh. 

So, be encouraged and trust in God.

Because no matter what things looks like…

God is with us. ♥

Happy Dance

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”

Psalm 30:11-12

Overwhelmed

“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer…”

“When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock

That is higher than I.

For Thou hast been a shelter for me,

and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever:

I will trust in the covert of Thy wings…

Selah.”

Psalm 62:1-4

No Matter What Lies Ahead

“Faith says that no matter what lies ahead of me…God is already there.”

Author Unknown

Strength for Today

 “…Be not anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow shall be anxious for itself”

Matthew 6:34

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it only empties today of its strength.”

Charles Spurgeon

Happiness

“Happiness is…  enjoying the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.”

Seneca

Break Every Chain

“What’s holding you back? What’s keeping you down?”

“… This kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.”

Matthew 17:21

Quietly Wait

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope

It is of  the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: Great is Thy faithfulness.

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.

The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him,

To the soul that seeks Him.

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”

“In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.“

Lamentations 3:21-26 and Isaiah 30:15

Double For Your Trouble

“Forty percent of people surveyed, said that 2013 was not a good year for them, and many of us would agree, so here’s some good news, and I hope that your blessings are double and running over in the coming New Year! “- Faith ♥

There isn’t anything that we go through, that hasn’t first been permitted by God. That may be a little hard to accept sometimes, but it’s true, and in the end we’ll see that it was only allowed for our good… But there’s more. When it’s all over, the Lord will bless you in such a way that you receive “double for your trouble”, and sometimes even more.

Remember when the LORD told Abraham, way back in the beginning before Sarah was even pregnant, that he would be the father of a huge nation and this nation would be slaves in a foreign land, and that they would be there for over 400 years, but He would deliver them with a mighty Hand and they would come out with great substance?( Meaning they would come out with great riches.) Well 400 years of slavery is a long time for people to spend working for no pay, and the bible says that the morning after the first Passover, the Egyptians just started giving the Hebrews anything they wanted and they “spoiled” the Egyptians. Psalm 105:37 says, “He brought them forth also (out of Egypt), with silver and gold.”  And we all know the story of Job who, after he had so tremendously suffered, received twice as much of all that he had before.

Think about it. Hasn’t God brought you out of trouble and then blessed you? It could be that He blessed you monetarily, or restored your health, or blessed your family, or even blessed you with wisdom, in preparation for the blessings yet to come. In Isaiah 61:7, the LORD says, ” For your shame you shall have double...” and if God says it, that settles it!

So if you’re going through a rough time right now, be encouraged…

You’re gonna be blessed DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE!!!!

To The Rock

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee

When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me,

… a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever:

I will trust in the covert of thy wings.”

Selah.

Psalm 61:4

Peace on Earth

“Peace I leave with you,

My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 14:27

Suffering

For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment
worketh for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory.
2 Corinthians 4:7

 

 

Suffering may endure for a season

And we wonder when relief will come.
Is this for a time of testing
A really deep trial for some?

Day by day we endure our heartaches,
Often questioning why,
We don’t seem to fully understand
And we come before God with a sigh!

“Just quiet yourself in My presence,” He says,
“I have blessings for you in store,
This time with me will be precious,
Even more than ever before.”

The wonderful promises in God’s Holy Word
Bring comfort, encouragement and peace,
And as we nestle up close to Him.
Our Faith brings sweet release.

So let us joyfully praise the Lord,
If, through suffering we can learn,
Truths that will help to guide our way,
And His Word more clearly discern.

Elsie K. Young

Poured Out

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after thee, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 42

Rest Assured

To trust in God means that He is our confidence; our minds are at rest, as we rely on His word, His integrity, His veracity, His faithfulness, and His unfailing love.

We don’t often hear stories about King Hezekiah, but he is one of my favorite examples of trusting in God. II Kings 18:5, says that Hezekiah trusted God like no other king before or after him.. What a wonderful way to be remembered, as someone who truly trusted in God. In the face of danger, at the threat of war from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and even after the prophet Isaiah warned him that he would soon die, Hezekiah prayed to God, trusted Him to hear and answer, and God delivered him every time!

King Hezekiah’s sincere, unshakable, trust in God, serves as a great encouragement and example for us today, as we face life’s trials and difficulties. Like him, we too can be assured, that God cares, He hears our prayers,He sees our tears, and will not fail to deliver us, as we place our trust in Him.

I Will Carry You

“Through the fire, Through the storm, Through the valley, Through the desert, Through it all.”

Through the Fire:”When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Isaiah 43:2

Through the Storm:“And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm…He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”

Mark 4:39 and Psalm 107:29

Through the Valley: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for  Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 23:4

Through the Desert: “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth ; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. “

Isaiah 43:19

Through it All:

 “Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

Isaiah 46:4

Trusting God

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart;

and lean not unto your own understanding

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Inseparable

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,

nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,

nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,

shall be able to separate us

from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

Quietness

“In quietness and confidence is your strength.”  Isaiah 30:15

Waiting on God

“Truly my soul waits upon God: from Him comes my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.

They only consult to cast Him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.”

Psalm 62

And I Know He Watches Me

This is, and will always be, a very special day for me. It is my dear grandmother’s birthday, and if she were still with us, she would have turned 100 years old today. She introduced me to Jesus as a young child, and has made a profound difference in my life, so I’m posting her favorite hymn in honor of her today. ” I love you Grandma, and I thank God that because of Jesus, and His precious sacrifice for us, I’ll see you again one beautiful day.”  :)

His Eye Is On The Sparrow 

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Just Relax

“My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Exodus 33:14

Sunrise

My oldest daughter has recently reminded me of how amazing it can be to just watch the sun come up in the morning. So often, the beautiful, breath-taking colors, go unnoticed each morning, (and I’m ashamed to say it) but, mostly by me.  My daughter has actually been getting up earlier just to see the sun rise and this has prompted me to stop and think… Am I so caught up with what’s coming up in the day ahead to appreciate whats right in front of me?   I’m so glad that she brought this to my attention, because it has given me the opportunity to reflect and regroup.

I reflect on how each sunrise brings me a brand new day.. It puts me a day ahead of where I was yesterday, and all the other yesterdays.  I reflect on the fact that there are so many other people who are no longer here to appreciate the sunrise of another day, and that I could have been one of them.

I stop to regroup and think about what’s really important, by changing my focus. This new day is a chance for me to focus outward rather than inward. Today I will focus on the circumstances and needs of others; my family, my friends, and the people who will cross my path. Taking the focus off of me will in turn make my problems seem smaller for the moment, while I  experience the many little joys and surprises that lie right in front of me… like the sunrise!

Perfect Peace

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with all of you.”

II Thessalonians 3:16

Forever Faithful

“Even to your old age and gray hairs  I Am He,

I Am He who will sustain you.

I have made you, and I will carry you;

I will sustain you, and I will rescue you.”

Isaiah 46:4

Can a Mother Forget?

Image result for mother and baby nursing silhouette

Sometimes when we’ve been praying for something for a very long time, we begin to lose heart, and wonder if the answer will ever come. I know exactly how that feels. I remember praying and praying for God to work a miracle in my life, and sometimes, I felt that God had forgotten about me and my situation. Of course we know that God sees us always, and knows everything about our lives, but still, it is true of us as humans, that we sometimes think that our situation may not be as urgent to God as we would like for it to be.

This is so not true!

At one of my lowest points, the LORD gave me a verse which comforted me and reassured me, and to this day, this verse is very near and dear to my heart. In Isaiah 49:15-16, the Lord says, “Can a mother forget her nursing child?… Yes, she might, but I have not forgotten you… I have you engraved on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”  This is how I understood what He was saying to me through this verse:

1. “Can a mother forget her nursing child?” – Naturally, the answer to this question would be a resounding, “No.”  We all know how attached a mother is to her newborn baby, and so we understand the significance of this question. But…

2. “Yes, she might,” – Although it would seem impossible for a mother to forget or abandon her newborn child, it has happened, as unbelievable as it would seem, sadly, it has been the case for some mothers. But…

3. “I have not forgotten you” – God is saying that His love and care for us is even greater than a mother’s love. Infinitely greater. How so?…

4. “I have you engraved on the palms of my hands” – Here, I pictured the palms of my Savior’s Hands, which still bear the nail scars, pierced for me… And then…

5. “Your walls are continually before me.” – My situation and the circumstances that surround me, are continually before Him!… Oh, Glory to God!!

Here it is in a nutshell…

God loves you, more than you can imagine, He has not forgotten you, and  your situation is continually, always, before Him.

Hold on.  :)

Be Still

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof…

There is a river,

The streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her and that right early.

Be still, and know that I am God

 I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

Selah.

Psalm 46

When You Don’t Understand

“When you  can’t see God’s plan,

And you don’t understand,

Trust in His word…

Hold tight to His Hand.”

-Faithrises