Your Place of Encouragement
Peace is power. The power to truly see. When we have peace, we have rest. It is then that we can see people and situations with divine clarity. What an amazing gift! I pray this Memorial weekend is filled with the peace that our Creator provides. Remember what Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you
Purpose of the Award This award was created by Becomingtheoilandwine blog to support our fellow bloggers who have written and published books or who are in the process of writing a book. You are free to write as much as possible about your book and the reasons why you have decided to write a book. Remember,
Would a person really give their right arm? If so, what would be the purpose? I have found that we have sayings that make no sense, or sound like a curse: “I love you to death.” This doesn’t sound like “till death us do part.” Are your thoughts fruitful and life-producing? Our words have power.
“For if you embrace the truth, it will release more freedom into your lives.” (John 8:32, TPT). Knowing who and whose you are in Christ Jesus, is warfare, because your enemy will attack your identity in order to make you feel devalued and unloved. Your enemy is the accuser. He loves to make you wallow
“This is the way we know that we belong to the way of truth. When our hearts make us feel guilty, we can still have peace before God. God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” I John 3:19-20 (ICB). Feelings aren’t how we determine that we are walking in the truth. While
We have a downloadable pamphlet for you, your family, friends, and or church, to share in the Truth God provides to “Stop the Fear.” I don’t know about you, but it seems that materials for children (especially those that highlight God’s love), are a comfort at any age. Please feel free to pass this encouraging
Elijah confident in God, yet with knees knocking at the sheer intensity of the situation.
“I wish that all the LORD’S people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit on them.” Numbers 11:29 (NIV). Prophecy for me shows up like seeing the sometimes unseen. I ask the Lord to show me others as He sees them, and He does. And, I ask God to help me to
Also blow your trumpets at happy times. Blow them during your feasts and at New Moon festivals. Blow them over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. They will help you remember your God. I am the Lord your God.” Numbers 10:10 (ICB). Lately, the moon has been lighting our home at night to the point
You will bless us as you promised Jacob long ago. You will set your love upon us, as you promised our father Abraham! Micah 7:20 (TLB). Deep within we sometimes cry. Enlightened, it’s the dross we deny. Encouraged, we come before the throne. Praise! His statutes we condone. While we ponder, and call on wisdom,
You should love Him, your True God, with all your heart and soul, with every ounce of your strength. Make the things I’m commanding you today part of who you are. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re sitting together in your home and when you’re walking together down the road. Make
So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven. Then that time will come when the Lord will give you fresh strength. He will send you Jesus, his chosen Messiah. Acts 3:19-20 (CEV). It’s always time to do what is right, yet in times of crisis, doing what is right is
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly awaiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control. Philippians 3:20-21
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined,
I call to You from the depths of my being. Consider my anguish, even my breathing. All my emotions are enveloped in You, let all who relate remain ever true; let all with a need now, to break through. To You I cry out, emit pain as I shout; observers may pray, “help me to
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2. I have been in an unplanned time of fasting my written word. Prayer is taking even greater preeminence, and therefore I am compelled to come away; to spend time with my heavenly Father. When we spend time in prayer, God’s way permeates our perspective. We
Father, please help me by your Holy Spirit to live with revelation knowledge, that I may grow in patience, and do what is right. Please help me to love wisdom, and to learn all I can; so that my life will flourish and prosper. Please help me to be quick to forgive, as I walk
Good News Club is filled with activity, busy hearts and minds receiving the eternal seed of God. This month, we have been sharing aspects of the early Church with our club kids, and watching what Holy Spirit does best. We have the privilege of witnessing heartwarming, life transformation in our sweet first-graders. “Darren,” came to
“My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely
Many hardships and perplexing circumstances confront the righteous, but the LORD rescues him from them all. Psalm 34:19 AMP. What we focus on grows. Since I know that hardships and perplexing circumstances are part of life; it’s in my best interest (and therefore the best interest of those around me), that I focus on God’s
Your days are numbered by Me; how you function in those days is up to you.
I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me. John 15:5 NLV. God is the vine we are the branches. We live and move and have our being. His Word is love,
As my heart pounds it aches as well; what is happening? I’m an empty shell! When will my heart find its relief? What must I do to end this grief? My mother is not well, she’s become frail. She’s tired from being on the medical trail. She’s done with tests, shots, and more; she thinks
And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus. Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit. I Thessalonians 5:18-19 TPT. Offering up words of thanks (God’s perfect plan) for anything we can think of; gives us the “10,000-foot perspective.” When
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. Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV). Do you hesitate to say “I don’t know,” in response to those WHY
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one. II Thessalonians 3:3 (AMPC). As we walk amidst the shifting sands of our culture, we can have assurance that “the Rock that is higher than I,” is with us.
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11 (NLT). In those times when direction seems unclear or non-existent, wisdom dictates that we turn to Jesus. But, if you are like me, that is not always the first response. I
Living a life of love is for real; Objective and caring perspective. Vital incarnate kindness that heals, Eternally we are love’s captive. Illuminating what is right, Saturates with purest light. Participate don’t be partial, Abide in harmony with truth. Teach long-suffering to martial; Intuitive, caring, never uncouth. Entreat, inquire, without assumption. No “eye
Let sorrow go when it seems time Eliminate sadness, to happiness climb. Avert to joy that you can choose, Value the memories love accrues; Enter His courts with praise, hands raised. Become one with a brighter outlook, Ease your mind with a book; Having lost, you can love again. Into new life, from depression
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV. Temptation (the power of darkness) is all around in every form. I believe the most dangerous temptation there is,
Dear Ones, don’t allow notions based in human reasoning direct you. Let God’s Spirit be your guide. Press into His Word and it will press into you. You will speak it, know it, and most importantly think it. Then you will sense more of God’s love. Don’t wear yourself out trying to figure out things
Joy, joy, joy, sing for joy, shout for joy, worship the King, the source of joy! I just read a psalm I wrote two years ago about joy. Even though I wasn’t experiencing joy at the time of the reading; by the time I finished, I wanted to write about joy. Here’s the psalm: I
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed [received Jesus as our Savior] can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” Nelson Mandela Our children and youth need Hope, they need to be loved and cherished. May we be the one’s to bring them the love of Christ, and the best news they will ever hear!
Only wisdom that comes from heaven can imbue one’s life with lasting purpose. F. La Gard Smith. The book of Ecclesiastes seems repulsive with Solomon’s negativity. What Solomon brings into focus is what happens to our perspective when we turn our back on God; when we have “other gods before Him,” our focus becomes skewed.
May we see with 2020 vision what the LORD is about to do before our eyes! 2019 has been wonderful, but I believe it will pale by comparison to what God is about to do in 2020. I pray a blessing over our community, and look forward to sharing more of what God has in
Great Truth & Promise The rarest treasures of life are found in His truth. That’s why I prize God’s Word like others prize finest gold. Nothing brings the soul such sweetness as seeking His living words. For they warn us, His servants, and keep us from following the wicked way, giving a lifetime guarantee; great
14 children, 10 volunteers, 4 crafts, 2 songs, 2 games, and 1 story: This was an Extreme Christmas Celebration with the children at a church in our area: Images by: M. Mckein, Stux, Gellinger I pray that 2020 will be a year of God’s people seeing clearly the vision and purpose that God has
May the joy of knowing that the Savior has come, fill your heart to overflowing. Knowing that His gift of salvation is free with the promise of life abundant and life eternal. If you or someone you know needs this free gift, I pray His love breaks through in tangible ways, bringing peace, hope, love,
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Revelation 1:7 AMPC. “He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.” What
There was a man sent from God whose name was John…. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. John 1:6,8. We too, are called to be witnesses to the light, which is Christ Jesus. We do this by decreasing self: “I must decrease and He must increase.”
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2. It is through the cracks of our brokenness that we see God’s light; which allows God to flow to us and through us to those around us. Those of us
His joy is our strength for this life In His presence is no strife Speaking His Word to evil a knife. Jesus came to bring life forever more Overcoming evil, just what’s in store Yes, rejoice! He’s the open door. In all things believe and pray Sing and make merry through the day.
I felt the wealth as I sat remembering our after-school Bible club today. Gratitude swelled in my heart as I recounted what God had done for these children. Pete: In our club last week, “Pete” was disruptive and argumentative. He would blurt out disagreeable thoughts, and he informed us that his mother had extensive talks
“I know the plans I have for you, to give you a future and a hope”. Jeremiah 29:11 If you or anyone you know would be interested in offering a future and a hope to our children, please feel free to forward this along. Otherwise, please know how much Ken and I appreciate your prayers
Deception feeds perception, so if our thoughts are not anchored in Christ Jesus, we can and will believe whatever sounds right, or aligns with human logic. Deception| perception versus truth| faith: When we read and know God’s Word, the Bible, we build the foundation of faith. This is critical because the very nature of deception
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2 As we who believe God and His Word anticipate the return of Jesus the Messiah, these words from
And [may] the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7. This is my prayer for us all. May we be grateful and filled with peace as we consider not so much the things in our lives, but the God who makes life possible. May
Give me revelation about the meaning of your ways so I can enjoy the reward of following them fully. 34 Give me an understanding heart so that I can passionately know and obey your truth. 35 Guide me into the paths that please you, for I take delight in all that you say. 36 Cause my heart to
What’s the most dangerous thing we are facing? Parents, grandparents, guardians; Our children need support answering this question. While Ken and I work on getting packets out to our club kids to bring support and encouragement, we also believe the adults in our children’s lives need to be armed with answers that will bring
