Early this morning I had a frightening dream. When I awoke I was hyperventilating, and I was afraid of the very room I was in. It was totally dark in our bedroom, and because I couldn't see and the nature of the dream my mind started to make me afraid of the darkness. But I instantly began to pray, and the fear started to subside. And the Spirit of God helped me recall a song that lifted my spirit, too. I sang the song in my head, and afterwards I felt so much better!
Because of the encouragement I received from the song, I wanted to share the lyrics with you. ☺ It's a Patch the Pirate song, and I find that kind of funny because most of the songs that I treasure or hold dear are from Patch the Pirate. Ron and Shelly Hamilton have a wonderful God-given gift for encouragement and music.
How Can I Fear
When shadows fall and the night covers all,
There are things that my eyes cannot see.
I'll never fear, for the Savior is near;
My Lord abides with me.
How can I fear? Jesus is near.
He ever watches over me.
Worries all cease; He gives me peace.
How can I fear with Jesus?
Remembering that our Savior was there with me indeed did give me peace. Praise God!
~~~ "...be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord..." Ephesians 5:18b-19 ~~~
Showing posts with label encouragement from God's Word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label encouragement from God's Word. Show all posts
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Whiter than snow
Everyone sat in folding chairs placed in a circle around the room. I was nervously biting my nails, hoping that no one would notice the "newcomer" in their midst. The leader of the group, a middle-aged woman with shockingly red hair cropped closely to her head, waited for the clock to strike 7 exactly before she started speaking. I stared at the clock whilst trying not to notice the polite yet obvious stares directed towards me. Finally, the minute hand reached the 12.
"Welcome tonight, and thanks for coming." she said. There were many uttered "hellos" in response. I was silent. "I'm Judy, and I've been a LONG time member." Lots of chuckles from the group at this comment. "Caroline, why don't you start us off."
Oh great. Caroline just HAPPENED to be seated right next to me. As if that wasn't planned by the now sinister-looking 'Judy'. Caroline went into telling her story. Everyone clapped afterwards, and she received a hug from the woman next to her.
That's when I could feel Judy's eyes upon me. She gave me an encouraging smile and said, "Everyone, we have a new attendee here tonight. Why don't we all welcome Patsy to the group." (I had cleverly used a fake name.)
"Hi, Patsy." they all said.
It was obviously my turn now. I took a deep breath, gave one of those clear-your-throat-even-though-there's-nothing-in-your-throat coughs, and stated, "Hi. Yeah, my name's Patsy, as you can see from my name tag. And...well...this is pretty difficult for me to say."
Judy, ever the sweetheart, gently said, "It's okay, Patsy. We all understand." Wow. She's good.
"Yeah, okay. Ummm...My name is Patsy, and...*sigh* I have gray hair."
☺ No, I didn't really attend a meeting, but yes, I am going gray. Phew, it feels good to say that! I noticed my first gray on my 25th birthday. I was styling my hair when I saw it--a lone white strand sticking straight up on the top of my head. I pucked it out immediately, but I knew that I was only prolonging the inevitable; the white hair would grow back. Since then I have been on a never-ending search for those elusive white hairs. And they just keep coming! Why is it that when I wash my hair or blow-dry it every day I lose many strands of hair but not a single one of them is white?? Those stinkers must have suction cups attached to their roots! I am now contemplating whether I should start dying my hair again. What do you think?
Last week I did a quick study on gray hair in the Bible, and I will leave you with some verses from the Scripture: Proverbs 20:29b says, "...the splendor of old men is gray hair." Glad to see that's only for old MEN. ;-) "Gray hair is like a crown of glory, it is attained in the path of righteousness." {Proverbs 16:31} And lastly, from Isaiah 46:4 God says, "Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you."
"Welcome tonight, and thanks for coming." she said. There were many uttered "hellos" in response. I was silent. "I'm Judy, and I've been a LONG time member." Lots of chuckles from the group at this comment. "Caroline, why don't you start us off."
Oh great. Caroline just HAPPENED to be seated right next to me. As if that wasn't planned by the now sinister-looking 'Judy'. Caroline went into telling her story. Everyone clapped afterwards, and she received a hug from the woman next to her.
That's when I could feel Judy's eyes upon me. She gave me an encouraging smile and said, "Everyone, we have a new attendee here tonight. Why don't we all welcome Patsy to the group." (I had cleverly used a fake name.)
"Hi, Patsy." they all said.
It was obviously my turn now. I took a deep breath, gave one of those clear-your-throat-even-though-there's-nothing-in-your-throat coughs, and stated, "Hi. Yeah, my name's Patsy, as you can see from my name tag. And...well...this is pretty difficult for me to say."
Judy, ever the sweetheart, gently said, "It's okay, Patsy. We all understand." Wow. She's good.
"Yeah, okay. Ummm...My name is Patsy, and...*sigh* I have gray hair."
☺ No, I didn't really attend a meeting, but yes, I am going gray. Phew, it feels good to say that! I noticed my first gray on my 25th birthday. I was styling my hair when I saw it--a lone white strand sticking straight up on the top of my head. I pucked it out immediately, but I knew that I was only prolonging the inevitable; the white hair would grow back. Since then I have been on a never-ending search for those elusive white hairs. And they just keep coming! Why is it that when I wash my hair or blow-dry it every day I lose many strands of hair but not a single one of them is white?? Those stinkers must have suction cups attached to their roots! I am now contemplating whether I should start dying my hair again. What do you think?
Last week I did a quick study on gray hair in the Bible, and I will leave you with some verses from the Scripture: Proverbs 20:29b says, "...the splendor of old men is gray hair." Glad to see that's only for old MEN. ;-) "Gray hair is like a crown of glory, it is attained in the path of righteousness." {Proverbs 16:31} And lastly, from Isaiah 46:4 God says, "Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good..." [Romans 8:28a]
I find it very encouraging how God plans our lives out so that when we really need to learn or be reminded of a certain Biblical truth He hammers home that point. On Friday during school I taught the girls a little bit about God's provision and prayer. We read and discussed the verses Matthew 7:7-9. "Ask, and it shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock, and the door shall be opened unto you." -verse 7. We talked about how when we need something and we ask a friend, if they are truly our friend then they aren't going to give us something useless. Similarly, when we ask something of our earthly father, he isn't going to give us a useless item either. Well, how much more than of a useful gift will our Father in heaven, who is perfect and sinless, give us?
Currently we are waiting for another vehicle to sell, and usually during this time I get very discouraged (which I am.) During Bible study Friday night we looked over those same verses once again. Isn't that awesome how God worked that out? I know that I for one needed to hear those verses again and be reminded that God IS working in my life, but I need to pray about what is troubling me.
Currently we are waiting for another vehicle to sell, and usually during this time I get very discouraged (which I am.) During Bible study Friday night we looked over those same verses once again. Isn't that awesome how God worked that out? I know that I for one needed to hear those verses again and be reminded that God IS working in my life, but I need to pray about what is troubling me.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Verses regarding our sin
During our Friday night Bible study through the book of James Pastor Phil recalled the following verses:
Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin?" ~Proverbs 20:9
For there is not a man on earth who does good and does not sin. ~Ecclesiastes 7:20 (emphasis added)
Pastor also read to us 1 John 1:8-2:2. Afterwards Pastor said, "We're not going to be sinless, but we CAN sin less." He has a great way with words, doesn't he? ☺
If you struggle in your Christian walk you are not alone. We ALL struggle, and that was the point. But sometimes I know I get really discouraged and I think, "Why do I keep struggling with this particular sin? Why do I sin over and over again? I feel like such a failure." God's word says that I am not the only sinner; we all fail! And even though that doesn't make it "okay" to sin, we know from 1 John 2:2 that "if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." We only have to confess our sins to Him, and "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). What encouraging news!!
Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin?" ~Proverbs 20:9
For there is not a man on earth who does good and does not sin. ~Ecclesiastes 7:20 (emphasis added)
Pastor also read to us 1 John 1:8-2:2. Afterwards Pastor said, "We're not going to be sinless, but we CAN sin less." He has a great way with words, doesn't he? ☺
If you struggle in your Christian walk you are not alone. We ALL struggle, and that was the point. But sometimes I know I get really discouraged and I think, "Why do I keep struggling with this particular sin? Why do I sin over and over again? I feel like such a failure." God's word says that I am not the only sinner; we all fail! And even though that doesn't make it "okay" to sin, we know from 1 John 2:2 that "if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." We only have to confess our sins to Him, and "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). What encouraging news!!
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