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Be Blessed

He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
~ Isaiah 40:29-31

blessed-to-be-a-blessing

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
~ Galatians 6:9-10

Be Blessed

Life can be tiring
Draining and void of energy
May you not give up
Do good while you have the opportunity
Appreciation is not your reward
For that is only temporary
Thanks and good gestures
That last but for a moment
Eternal reward is what you seek
Your heart’s deepest desire
Hold tight the God’s strength
Run the race
But do not tire
Though life takes more than you can give
Enjoy every chance to live
Find rest in the shadow of His wings
Live in love and grace
Be kind
Be generous
Be patient
Be joyful
Be loving
Be gentle
Be honest
Be sincere
Be hopeful
Be grateful
Be blessed

Are YoU LivInG?

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
~ John 10:10 ~

yolo

YOLO! Yep, that’s right You Only Live ONCE!!  What are you doing with the life that God has so richly blessed you with? Are you looking at all the bad in life and letting it bring you down, or are you choosing to see the rainbow midst the storms? Do you let the world drown you with its waves of chaos and despair, or do you call upon the One True God that can cause you to walk on the water? Do you sit on the throne of selfishness and greed, or do you humble yourself in the joy of giving and loving?

Life indeed throws us turbulence and turmoil frequently, and we often have exceedingly difficult choices to make, but we as Christians know that there is more than the insanity this world offers us, and we assuredly know that all the choices we make have lingering consequences both here and now that echo into the eternity to come! When the Lord leads your life, there is hope, there is freedom, there is mercy, there is light, and there is overwhelming love!

Yes, there will be sad times, times of anger and pain, and times where the mind is downcast, but Psalm 126:5 states, “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” God is true, just, and holy, and all that he allows to occur while we walk the face of this fragile world are to mold and shape us into the righteousness of Christ! He fulfills his promises of joy, peace and comfort daily….all you need do is trust and lean on him!

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
~ Proverbs 3:1-8 ~

No matter what you face, no matter how big the storm, no matter how hindering the mountain…God has you! He is in control and he will bring joy each and every day!  Choose to praise despite the chaos.  Choose to see the beauty and blessings of life instead of dwelling on the disparity and ugliness.  What you choose will bring you life or it will destroy your life!

Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Now as for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I will never be moved.”
O LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong;
You hid Your face, I was dismayed.
To You, O LORD, I called,
And to the Lord I made supplication:
“What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness?
“Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me;
O LORD, be my helper.”
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
~ Psalm 30:4-12 ~

Be the light of God’s love and the beacon of eternal hope to a desperate and hurting people! Choose to LIVE and live FULLY. Choose to LOVE and love DEEPLY. Choose to HOPE and hope ENDLESSLY. Choose to REJOICE and rejoice with SINGING. Choose to SERVE and serve HUMBLY.

May God grant you joy every morning and hope each day! May he bring you peace beyond measure and shower you with love overflowing! May your heart and mind always be set in eternity and not the here and now, and may you find the strength and courage of Christ to help you through the trials and persecution.

All my love!

Only One

In this world we are constantly protecting our heart and mind from the diseases of hopelessness and despair! Pressure comes against us and circumstances rise up, bringing fear and anxiety.  Hearts get broken with others words or character is defaced by someone’s malicious ways. No matter where we walk on this earth, there will be trouble for we live in a fallen world; a world that is not going to get better, but rather is waxing worse each day. The only way to find hope is to place your heart and life into the hands of the One who can bring you true peace (Philippians 4:6-7). The Son of God was sacrificed that we may find hope and assurance in something better than this world (Titus 2:11-14, Hebrews 9:28, Jude 1:21).

It is imperative that you remember the trials and tribulations you face here on earth are temporary, lasting but a brief moment in the entire scheme of your life. Rather than focusing on the circumstances you face in the here and now, focus on the joy and peace that is set before you in the real of heaven. Though this world is real, your reality does not have to be based on the things of earth, but in Christ, who not only is with you now, but will be with you in eternity. He is stronger than all you face, he is the key to calming your troubled heart.

Believe in the promises of God, seek His truth, abide in His word, and trust in His provision and strength. Take some time to dive into His word, resting on His promise for eternal life, and take your eyes off the craziness of this world, focusing them on the only cure that exists for the disease of hopelessness and despair–John 14:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Deuteronomy 31:6, Genesis 15:1, and Revelation 2:10.

You will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You.
~ Isaiah 26:3

theyallcallmemom.com

theyallcallmemom.com

Only One

This bitter cup from which you drink
Filled to the brim with misery and gloom
The diseases of the heart and mind
Only One remedy holds the cure

Through the veil of tears
Anxieties fill the troubled heart
Circumstances bring hurt and despair
Only One brings forth hope

Situation continue to wax worse each day
Fear encompasses like a fierce storm
Merely existing in this broken world
Only One foundation is secure

Listen with ears of faith
See with eyes of hope
Abide in the promises of the LORD
Only One brings eternal peace

Though the lightning strikes and waves crash
Focus your eyes on Jesus Christ
He is the remedy against the despair of the world
The only One reality that will carry you through

Today

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect,
but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet;
but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 3:12-14

The beautiful thing about walking with God is knowing he does not judge the past. He doesn’t stress about where you have been, what you have done, or the skeletons you hide in the closet. He cares about where you are going and what your future holds. God desires to make each and every one of us new, drawing us into his presence, making us righteous and holy. When we accept the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ and repent of our sins, God forgives us for what we have done and buries our sin in the depths of the sea, never to be remembered again. YOU are made new!!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:
The old has gone, the new is here! ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving-kindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. ~ Psalm 103:10-12

Who is a God like You,
who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?

He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love.
He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot.
Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. ~ Micah 7:18-19

As you journey through this world, take some time to seek the Lord and know that though there may be things in your past that you have to deal with or get help to overcome, God washes them away from his thoughts. You are free in Christ and made new! Trust in the promise and revel in the joy only he can bring to your life.

Jonathan Thulin has a beautiful song and the lyrics remind us that it is today that counts, not what was done in the past.

All my love ❤

Everything is Temporary!

Therefore, we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us
an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,
since what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

God is always so good! Life tends to put our hearts and minds in places where doubt and fear reside, but somehow, someway, God reminds us he is there. He whispers ever so delicately that no matter the pressure, no matter the circumstances, no matter how bleak things appear, it is all temporary. Nothing in this life is forever. There is nothing eternal here, nothing at all.  Our very lives are but a flash in the timeline of this earth. And within our lives, every situation, every challenge, every moment is a blink of an eye. True, it may seem like it will last “forever”, but in reality as we look back at all that has occurred in the history of our lives, everything has come to an end somehow. Again, I reiterate, nothing lasts forever.

With that said, hold tightly to the promises of God to get you through the struggles of life and enjoy every celebration to its fullest. Make it a point to LIVE each and every day with joy, humility and love. Turn the other cheek when life punches you and knocks you down, knowing that God will honor that and bring peace and comfort amidst the storms.  This is not to say there won’t be any pain, heartache, struggles, or despair.  It simply means God is there with us to help us through.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
cast down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

God will hold you no matter where you are or what you face in this life. Please rest in Him, letting His comfort, peace, and strength be your refuge.

God bless and keep you always and may you see the blessings in every situation and circumstance. In God’s love!

Choose!

All of life comes to one ultimate question….darkness or light, evil or good, sinner or saint?  Every decision leans one way or the other.  Every action takes a side, whether you consciously choose it or not.  Every word uttered is a reflection of the heart and reveals which side of the fence the speaker is on.  Even inaction is an action, is a choice, is a decision made that answers the internal question of evil or good.

You battle everyday with choices set before you.  The battles may occur at work, at home, during down time, in the busiest time of the day, with family, friends, or coworkers.  Choices are made in everything at every moment of every day of your life.  The choice you make reflects who you are as a person, your character, your beliefs, and your values.

So, I ask you:  What do your choices reveal about you?  Do they show your faithfulness to God or to yourself and this world?  Do they reflect love and humility towards others, or show pride, arrogance, and a lack of affection?  Is what you say encouraging and renewing, or do your words tear others down?  Or worse yet, do you stand silent, not taking a stand at all?  Remember the choice to do, say, or believe nothing is a choice!

As you approach the new year, take some time to examine your heart, soul, and mind, placing them open before God.  Let him in.  Let him convict you of areas you need to improve.  Let him show you areas where you are strong.  Let God examine you and bring you to a place of light and goodness.  Let him take the sinner that you are and make you a saint in His eyes.

You are God’s child and he can show you the way of righteousness.  He can lead you down the path that is designed for you.  Trust in him, knowing that he will always guide, guard, and keep you in his love.

All my love and may the God of unending peace and wisdom bring you clarity and conviction, leading to eternal life. ❤

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts:
  see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.  ~ Psalm 139:23-24

eisakouo.com

eisakouo.com

Put on the full armor of God,
so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:12

Choose

The devil comes knocking on the door of your heart
Evil coursing through his veins
Polluting your thoughts
Pouring darkness into your heart
Devouring your soul
Torturing your flesh
Stop
Breath
Release

faithcoffeeandbluejeans.blogspot.com

faithcoffeeandbluejeans.blogspot.com

Relinquish control
Give it all to God
There is nothing too ugly
No sin too bad
Darkness cannot hide
God is stronger than all the devil’s tricks and deception
The Lord brings truth to the mind
Showers the heart with His light
Restores the soul
Strengthens the flesh
Stop
Breath
Release

Jesus….the ReAsoN for the SeaSoN

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
~ Isaiah 9:6

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
~ Luke 2:11

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
~ John 3:16

Jesus is the Reason

Christmas day is here at last

With presents and decorations galore

The tree stands aglow

Twinkling like the stars in the night sky

A reminder of the that one blessed eve

Over 2,000 years ago

The angels appeared to the shepherds below

Telling the birth of Immanuel

He is the ultimate gift and Savior to the lost world

Born in Bethlehem, a lowly babe

Sent from Heaven above

God gave us His only Son to live and die

A sacrifice for all mankind

Though presents are lovely

And stockings filled with goodies bring a smile

Remember that fateful night long ago

He is the reason we celebrate

The magi came from afar to worship and adore

They brought Him gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh

The gifts we give to one another are thoughtful indeed

But the best gift we can give

Is the message of eternal life and love

Give the true gift of Christmas this year

Give the message of God’s mercy and grace

The promise of forgiveness of sins

A hope for an eternal life spent with Him

*****************************************************************************

 God bless and keep you and your family always, and may you have the courage to share the love and sacrifice of Christ on this blessed Christmas day!

Related articles

Go Tell it on the Mountain! Jesus Christ is Born!!

And then he told them,  “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” ~ Mark 16:15

Share the love, share the message!  Jesus Christ was born to save you, to save me, to save us all!  Come to Him, ask Him into your heart, live in Him, walk with Him, take up your cross and follow Him, and celebrate Eternal life!  May the message of Christ be with you now and always, shining bright for all to see.
God bless!  All my love ❤

You Are….

See what great love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Dear friends, now we are children of God,
and what we will be has not yet been made known.
But we know that when Christ appears,
and we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
~ 1 John 3:1-2

revsonja.blogspot.com

revsonja.blogspot.com

You Are….

You are called to be the light
To fight the good fight

You are called to witness
To bring hope and to bless

motivational moments-vwo.blogspot.com

motivational moments-vwo.blogspot.com

You are called to be like Christ
For your life has been bought with a price

You are the apple of the Creator’s eye
Of more value than gold or silver can buy

indecisiverice.deviantart.com

indecisiverice.deviantart.com

You are uniquely, and wonderfully made
A heart filled with love that will never fade

Your thoughts are known before you think them
The numbers of hair on your head known by Him

You are thought of more than the grains of sand
You are held always in the Lord’s hands

family.wikinut.com

family.wikinut.com

May you rest in the knowledge that you are so much more than this world sees. You are precious in the eyes of God, so precious indeed that He gave His only son to die for you so you could be with Him forever in heaven. Know you are loved even if you don’t feel like it. Know that you are special even if the world tells you different. Know that you are a child in the kingdom of heaven, a child in the family of Christ. God be with you in all that you do and encounter.
All my love ❤

The Soul’s Struggle

set-apartheart.blogspot.com

set-apartheart.blogspot.com

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning,
that we through the patience and comfort of scripture might have hope. ~ Romans 15:4

The Soul’s Struggle

Confused
Lying in a sea of lies
What to do
Stand and wait
Wait for what
Answers from God of course
A friendly voice to lead me on
But is it God I hear
Or does evil deceive
The difference seems so slight
Snares of Satan well disguised
A wolf in sheep’s clothing
Patiently he waits
Pouncing at the perfect time
Preying on weakness, fears, and doubt
Devouring the light
Uncertainty rules the moment
The struggle for the soul continues

cognitivedistortion.com

cognitivedistortion.com

In this life there are many obstacles. Some are easy to overcome, like what to have for dinner, or how to complete a project at work. Other obstacles are more difficult, such as which job offer to accept, or how to spend or invest money in the wisest way. Still other obstacles cause much heartache and confusion, especially those focused around the emotions of the heart, such as direction in an adulterous marriage with someone you love, clarity in how to best deal with a rude and disrespectful teen, yet still show them how much you love them, or what to do and where to turn when you are experiencing abuse.

God is always there, guiding you through the storms of life, helping you with the direction to go, giving you courage to do what needs to be done, and providing endurance and strength to get you there. However, another force is at play in this fallen world…Satan…and he seeks to draw you away from the only One that can help you most…God. He uses your fear, worry, doubt, weaknesses, and insecurities to cause you to lose sight of God and all His hope, comfort, guidance, and love. Satan knows that if he hollers loud enough, you will hear him and many times make poor choices because of it. This is the plight of the soul! The struggle between flesh and spirit! The war that rages between light and dark!

attackofthecute.com

attackofthecute.com

1 Peter 5:8 reminds us that Satan is always on the lookout, waiting to devour us, to destroy us. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” In our flesh it is easy to listen and heed the voice of Satan. Have you ever heard the whispers of doubt, shame, anger, bitterness, or arrogance in your head?

You will never be able to get out of this abusive relationship because you have no where to go, no one else who will love you.

How could you think you are smart enough to go back to school or apply for that job, just give up?

You are so ugly, no one will love you, stop trying?

You are not strong enough to lose the weight, so why bother?

You are a horrible person to talk to your kids that way, what kind of mother/father are you?

You should never forgive that person for what they did to you, stay angry, get revenge, you deserve it.

You can never be good enough for God so don’t bother trying.

somesweettalkinggirl.blogspot.com

somesweettalkinggirl.blogspot.com

Satan’s bantering on the heart and mind has a way of wearing you down, causing you to see only the dark parts of who you are, the weak flesh. He wants to tear you down and destroy you, so your soul remains bitter and lost. He seeks nothing more than the opposite of God–he wants you to remain dead, separated from God and His love. It is so easy to listen to the negativity in your mind; so easy to believe the lies than the truth of who you really are!

What is that truth? You are a child of God. You have a future filled with hope, glory, and righteousness. God has other plans, despite Satan’s intentions. God wants to encourage you, build you up, give you strength, provide comfort, give clarity and directions, bring hope and joy. He wants to shelter you in the shadow of His wing, finishing all the work He has begun in your heart.

prioritymoving.com

prioritymoving.com

When you feel lost and afraid. When you feel like your life just isn’t worth it and you would rather die than live. When you feel like all hope is gone and you can’t go on anymore. That is when you have to reach up toward the heavens and start listening to the truth of God. Here are some scriptures to help you begin your  journey of truth!

1. You are God’s child!

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

1 John 3:1-3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.•

2. You have been chosen by God!

Ephesians 1:3-8 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

3. You have been forgiven of all your sins, freed from condemnation!

Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Romans 8:1-2 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Romans 8:31-39 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughter” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

hopesource.com

hopesource.com

4. God is working for your good in all things, to bring you hope and a future!

Romans 8:28 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.

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

5. God will provide for you!

Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

6. God and His love will be with you always (no matter how you feel or what you have done)!

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Psalm 27:10 Though your father and mother forsake you, the Lord will receive you.

Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of Heaven. His love endures forever.

strongenoughtobebroken.blogspot.com

strongenoughtobebroken.blogspot.com

7. God created you on purpose for a purpose!

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

8. You can come to God with freedom and confidence!

Ephesians 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

9. You can do all things with Christ!

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

10. You are a new creation in Christ (your past forgotten, your future new and bright)

2 Corinthians 5:1 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

weighingthefacts.blogspot.com

weighingthefacts.blogspot.com

11. You are an overcomer!

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, not angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Remember, there will always be battles between good and evil, right and wrong.  You may lose a few battles here and there, or you may have surrendered to the wrong or the evil at times, but you can win war with God at your side.  You can overcome!  You can hold tight to God’s truths!  You can trust He will bring you to the side of good and right every time!  You can rest in the knowledge that He has already won the war through the sacrifice of His Son on the Cross for you!  Reach up to God, cry out to your Lord, and let Him fight the struggle for your soul!

God bless and keep you, and know you are in my prayers!