Category Archives: Encouragement

What Am I Thankful For??? A Thanksgiving Word for today! #7

07 Monday Nov 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Contentedness, Encouragement, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Thankful, Thanksgiving, That They May Know, Weather

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What Am I Thankful For???  A Thanksgiving Word for today! #7

As most of you know, we live in Oklahoma and drought is a regular part of our lives, so rain is a real “biggy” for most of us here; and when the rains come, we are grateful.  I have a dear friend, and I’m always telling him that if nobody else in Oklahoma is praying for rain, I know that he and I are!  And that is true, for I pray for the rain continually—both asking God and thanking HIM when it comes.  In fact, I am often heard to say, “My confidence isn’t in the government nor the weatherman!  But my confidence is in Jesus Christ my Lord!”  God is the giver of sunshine and rain.  And for that I’m grateful, and we’ve had some wonderful rains of late, and I almost always smile and say, “Thank YOU, Jesus!”

How about you?  Have you considered that God is the One who is in charge of the weather?  I trust HIM with a grateful heart! How about you?

“And it shall come to pass,

if ye shall hearken diligently

unto my commandments

which I command you this day,

to love the LORD your God,

and to serve him

with all your heart

and with all your soul,

14 That I will give you the rain of your land

in his due season,

the first rain

and the latter rain,

that thou mayest gather in

thy corn,

and thy wine,

and thine oil.”  Deuteronomy 11:13-14

May you enjoy your day, thanking God for sunshine and rain!

Amen and Amen!!!

What Am I Thankful For??? A Thanksgiving Word for today! #5

05 Saturday Nov 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Comfort, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Thankful, Thanksgiving

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What Am I Thankful For???  A Thanksgiving Word for today! #5

I am thankful for second chances (and third, and fourth….God’s infinite grace and mercy can only count…) in Jesus Christ my Lord.  For He has promised to forgive us, and not only to forgive but to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness”!  Praise HIS dear name.  If you are wrestling with guilt or shame, won’t you simply confess your sin and ask for Jesus’ forgiveness and cleansing.  He is standing ready to meet you right there!

“But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:7-10

Don’t be a liar—especially to yourself—but call on the TRUTH!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

 Blessings on your day and remember that attitude of gratitude!!!

What Am I Thankful For??? A Thanksgiving Word for today! #4

04 Friday Nov 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Confidence, Encouragement, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Joy, Joy of The Lord!, Thankful, Thanksgiving, That They May Know, The Only Way

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What Am I Thankful For???  A Thanksgiving Word for today! #4

I am thankful for the love of Jesus that brings the “joy of the Lord” to my heart and soul.  I can’t imagine doing this life without the greatest friend I’ve ever had, Jesus Christ The Lord.  He loves me, He died to save my soul, and He gives me joy beyond measure.  Won’t you join me and spend some time today rehearsing all the blessings of God, and you’ll surely find the “joy” begin to well up inside and you can’t help but smile!

“Then he said unto them,

Go your way,

eat the fat,

and drink the sweet,

and send portions unto them

for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our Lord:

neither be ye sorry;

for the joy of the LORD

is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

An amazing verse to a people who had wrestled with their enemies and their own unfaithfulness yet worked together against all odds to restore their city, and God’s faithfulness met them at every turn, and now they are come together to praise God and listen to HIS WORD; and here Nehemiah reminds them that God has given them joy in a job well done, and in HIS joy we find our strength.  Need a boost?  Look to Jesus and let HIS joy fill your soul.

Peter also reminded a group of believers, in great persecution, that there is joy IN JESUS no matter our circumstances!  Trials come to us all—but IN JESUS there is hope and joy.

“That the trial of your faith,

being much more precious than of gold

that perisheth,

though it be tried with fire,

might be found unto praise

and honour

and glory

at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen,

ye love;

in whom,

though now ye see him not,

yet believing,

ye rejoice

with joy unspeakable

and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith,

even the salvation of your souls.”   1 Peter 1:7-9

May the “joy of the Lord” pervade your soul today.  Remember, we win!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

It’s Not About Feelings??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #43

19 Wednesday Oct 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Deceivers, Encouragement, For Such A Time As This, Forever, Forgiveness, God's Faithfulness, God's got you and me!, Good News, Gospel, Grace, Hearing God, HOPE, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, I Will Never Leave You, Listening To God

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It’s Not About Feelings??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #43

 

Maybe you can relate to this idea of “feelings” and how they have come to rule in our culture:  I don’t ‘feel’ like going to work; I don’t’ ‘feel’ like taking care of my family; I don’t ‘feel’ like getting out of bed’; I don’t ‘feel’ loved, or appreciated, or cared for, or able to cope….and the list could go on!  But God has given us clear truth in HIS Word that I pray will encourage you today that no matter how you “feel” right this moment, God Has not given up HIS sovereign control, or HIS love for you and me.

I understand that sometimes we become so overwhelmed with the circumstances that we find ourselves in, that we feel like throwing in the towel, so to speak—to let the lies of the enemy take our joy, our hope, our confidence in our God.  So, I felt that we all needed reminding that “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”!  (See Revelation 19:6)

Peter gave some great instruction to believers who were facing persecution and difficulty; and we can count on this same truth.  I pray that it will lift you up today.

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist

stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished

in your brethren that are in the world.”  1 Peter 5:6-9

The enemy of our souls is ever vigilant, whether we recognize it or not, to devour those who aren’t aware or prepared to “stand fast in the evil day”!  May we truly come to stand on what we know about our Lord, not our feelings that are flighty and change like the wind (especially the Oklahoma winds which never blow the same direction two days in a row, and Satan is always coming in new and surprising ways when we don’t know what God says!)!  We must stand fast in confidence of the sovereign control of God Almighty—who sent Jesus “right on time”!

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God

among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him,

being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified

and slain:” Acts 2:22-23

“But when the fulness of the time was come,

God sent forth his Son,

made of a woman,

made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law,

that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons,

God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son

into your hearts,

crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant,

but a son;

and if a son,

then an heir of God

through Christ.”  Galatians 4:4-7

We are sons and daughters of God, by the love and grace of God, through the blood that Jesus came to shed for sin, yours and mine!  We don’t have to let the enemy steal our joy, our confidence, or our assurance that God hasn’t gone to sleep and forgotten about us!  HE hasn’t!  He never will!  I must simply choose to believe truth NOT lies!

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

We can stand in what we KNOW!  But we must dig into HIS WORD and find out what God says about us, not what our feelings may say on any given day!

“Whereunto I am appointed a preacher,

and an apostle,

and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless

I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded

that he is able

to keep that

which I have committed

unto him

against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words,

which thou hast heard of me,

in faith

and love

which is in Christ Jesus.”  2 Timothy 1:11-13

And two passages in closing, which are a great comfort and encouragement to me, and I pray that they will help you today as well!

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:

he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel

shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper:

the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee

from all evil:

he shall preserve

thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out

and thy coming in

from this time forth,

and even for evermore.”  Psalm 121:1-8

And Paul’s admonition to Timothy is just as necessary for us today!  May God’s blessings of hope, joy and encouragement abound in your heart today.  My heart has been lifted even as I write these words!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power,

and of love,

and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7

 Amen and Amen!!!  Today and every day!!!

A Friday Boost!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #41

07 Friday Oct 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Advice for the journey, All About Jesus!, Confidence, Contentedness, Contentment, Courage, Encouragement

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A Friday Boost!!! A Word from THE WORD!!!  #41

“Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight,

O LORD,

my strength,

and my redeemer.”  Psalm 19:14

I would like to share a Friday boost for our hearts and minds to end our workweek on a positive note.  No matter how stressed or tired—how many crises arose in our paths—how confused we may feel in our current situations—how many answers we are wrestling with—God still reigns!  He is ever there for us no matter what the world or those around us may say—again, and again, and again!  So, let’s just take a few and look up, walk right, and press on with Jesus today…every day!

“And I heard as it were

the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent

reigneth.”  Revelation 19:6

And some of my favorite reminders from the Psalms:

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see

if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

“Create in me

a clean heart,

O God;

and renew a right spirit

within me.”   Psalm 51:10

How does God do this?  Only one way—through Jesus’ blood and righteousness!

“For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

Paul said it so beautifully—all because of Jesus, we can be– right with our God—at peace with God—recipients of HIS love and redemption:

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also

we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:1-8

So, as we all know, even when it looks like HE is four days late—HE is always right on time.  Look up my friends—remember—We Win all because of JESUS!!!  Take heart for, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”, and HE will still be that “fourth man in the fire” with YOU TODAY!!!

Amen and Amen!!!