Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 54 (Tuesday)

Encouragement Post #54 (Tuesday) - "Who would've thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of men? Oh, You rescue the souls of men."

1 Peter 1:17-19 "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 53 (Monday)

Encouragement Post Day #53 (Monday) - Psalm 79:8-9 "Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us; Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us, For we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake."

The Glory of Your Name
by Watermark

It was in the way You came
As a lowly babe
That Your glory was displayed
And it was in the sacrifice
Of the purest life
It was in Your Father's will obeyed

[Chorus]
The perfect Lamb that was slain
And there's the glory of Your name
No other one, no other way for me to see
You took my place, You are the way
And there's the glory of Your name
Yes, there's the glory of Your name

It was in Your victory, risen for the world to see
That all who would believe could enter in
And it is in the passionate price
Now demanding all my life
And beating in the chambers of my heart
[Chorus]

And there is nothing in this world
That could take the place of You
That could take the place of You my Jesus
And there is nothing in this life
That could take the place of
One life, one love
One power to save us all
One hope, one truth
And one glory in it all
One glory in it all
[Chorus]

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 52 (Saturday)

Encouragement Post – Day #52 (Saturday) We know God as our Father, but He also has motherly characteristics. Here is how the prophet Isaiah (49:15-16) describes His love for us, “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” His care and love for us extend farther than a mother’s for her nursing child. Amazing! And my experience with my own mother includes buckets full of unconditional love. I am truly blessed. Which brings to mind a very mother-like characteristic of our God in this familiar scripture from Lamentations 3:21-23, “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 51 (Friday)

Encouragement Post – Day #51 (Friday) - I can hardly believe that my song list now has over 50 songs!! We have heard an awful lot of talk about freedom lately. And while it has long been a value in our country, we get it wrong so often. What is real freedom? Is it having no boundaries at all and being allowed to do whatever you want to… any whim at any moment? If that were freedom, then the people who go around killing people would ostensibly be living in freedom. In actuality, being subject to the whims of our sinful fleshly desires is utter bondage. We see that bondage played out on a large scale daily as people give in to those desire and wreck their own lives or the lives of others.

Jesus knew what true freedom would mean to us. While here on earth, He lived in total submission to the Father, while being entirely free to do what He desired. These two were one and the same. He desired to do the Father’s will so much that He CHOSE the cross. He was free not to, but He chose it for us because He KNEW it would set us free. Now, because of the cross, as we surrender to Him we find out what true freedom really is. It is abundant life, peace that passes understanding, victory over the bondage of sin, and joy that is unspeakable.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18

Update – again thanks SO very much to all who prayed for me. I am significantly better, with just a little twinge of discomfort here and there… day 4 of antibiotics and VERY thankful!!

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 50 (Thursday)

Encouragement Post – Day #50 (Thursday) Today is the National Day of Prayer in our nation. In my lifetime, at least that I can recall, there has never been a more desperate time in our nation for the need of God’s hand to move. Amazingly, God has given us a formula for praying for our nation even in our current situation right in His Word. We are pointed once again to the verses in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” As His people, these are conditions that we must meet for the healing of our land: humility, prayer, seeking His face, and turning from our wicked ways. 

Jesus echoed this by His example (Philippians 2:5-11), “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Lord, please heal our land.

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 48 (Wednesday)

Encouragement Post #49 - First of all, thank you all for your prayers! I am definitely better today. I love this Psalm and it has really been on my mind today for some reason... maybe it's for you.

Psalm 63
1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
7 For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.
10 They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
11 But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 48 (Tuesday)

My soul waits for the Lord... If you were wondering where the encouragement posts went these past few days, I have been battling a pretty nasty diverticulitis attack with a tremendous amount of pain and honestly just haven't felt much like looking at a computer. But God is faithful, whether I feel like it or not. I am so grateful for His love and His word. I am hoping to feel better soon, but He SO ministered to my heart through Psalm 130 this morning. When I opened my YouVersion Bible app, I discovered it was today's reading. It was as if He were speaking the words directly to me. And the marvelous thing about Him and His word is that He can speak to you just as personally through the same words.

Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 47 (Friday)

2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

Romans 5:1-2 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Captivate Us
by Watermark

Your face is beautiful
And Your eyes are like the stars
Your gentle hands have healing
There inside the scars
Your loving arms they draw me near
And Your smile it brings me peace
Draw me closer oh my Lord
Draw me closer Lord to Thee

Captivate us Lord Jesus set our eyes on You
Devastate us with your presence falling down
And rushing river draw us nearer
Holy fountain consume us with You
Captivate us Lord Jesus with You

Your voice is powerful
And Your words are radiant bright
In Your breath and shadow
I will come close and abide
You whisper love and life divine
And Your fellowship is free
Draw us closer oh my Lord
Draw me closer Lord to thee

Captivate us Lord Jesus set our eyes on You
Devastate us with Your presence falling down
And rushing river draw us nearer
Holy fountain consume us with You
Captivate us Lord Jesus with You

And let everything be lost in the shadows
Of the light of your face
And let every chain be broken from me
As I'm bound in Your grace
For Your yoke is easy Your burden is light
You're full of wisdom power and might
And every eye will see You
And captivate us Lord Jesus with You
Captivate us

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 46 (Thursday)

I am always just amazed at just HOW alive and active God's word is. It is never dull, always applicable, and always encourages me... God's promises are true and "yes" in Christ! If you love the Word, you probably already know this song by Sara Groves titled (not coincidentally) "The Word." If you don't know it, well there's no better time than right now to get acquainted.

"For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us." - 2 Corinthians 1:20

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 45 (Wednesday)

Encouragement Post #45 (Wednesday) - Let Your kingdom come...

Psalm 103:19-22
"The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
Bless the Lord, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the Lord, O my soul!"

My Encouragement Music YouTube List

For anyone who might be just interested in listening to the songs I am linking here in a list, I have created a YouTube list that is growing longer each day. You can find all the songs here:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXGZcicnEddKCr4BmIj7f042lsv2kECYu

YouTube Encouragement

44 songs so far, and counting...

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 44 (Tuesday)

Encouragement Post #44 (Tuesday) - Do you know? I do...
“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth." (Job 19:25)
"Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not rule over me; then I will be blameless, and I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:13-14)

O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer
by Sovereign Grace Music

VERSE 1
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Greatest treasure of my longing soul
My God, like You there is no other
True delight is found in You alone
Your grace, a well too deep to fathom
Your love exceeds the heavens’ reach
Your truth, a fount of perfect wisdom
My highest good and my unending need

VERSE 2
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Strong defender of my weary heart
My sword to fight the cruel deceiver
And my shield against his hateful darts
My song when enemies surround me
My hope when tides of sorrow rise
My joy when trials are abounding
Your faithfulness, my refuge in the night

VERSE 3
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Gracious Savior of my ruined life
My guilt and cross laid on Your shoulders
In my place You suffered bled and died
You rose, the grave and death are conquered
You broke my bonds of sin and shame
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
May all my days bring glory to Your Name

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 43 (Monday)

Encouragement Post #43 (Monday) - Let Your kingdom come...

Matthew 6:9-10
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Messiah
by Twila Paris

For all you are, All you have done
We worship you, Eternal one
Savior and Lord, Forevermore
You are Messiah

Down on our knees, Bleeding as one
Together we pray, Your kingdom will come
In Heaven and Earth, Your will be done
You are Messiah

Chorus:
Let your kingdom come (x3)
You are Messiah
Let your kingdom come (x3)
You are Messiah

Radiant hope, We long for you
Deep in our hearts, Your word is true
Be lifted up, In all we do
You are Messiah
(Chorus)

For all you are, All you have done
We worship you, Eternal one
You are the Lord, Forevermore
You are Messiah
Let your kingdom come (x7)
You are Messiah
Let your kingdom come (x3)
You are Messiah (x4)

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 42 (Sunday)

Encouragement Post – Day #42 (Sunday) Today began with worshiping our great God with our church family (via Zoom). What a wonderful blessing to see each other’s faces, to sing with one another, and to be fed from God’s word together. We walk together, by faith. We encourage each other, by faith. We trust that our God is working all things together for our good and for His glory, by faith. Without faith, we have no hope because without faith it is impossible to please God. But by faith, we believe that He holds our lives and our ultimate reward of being with Him forever in His all powerful and all loving hands.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 41 (Saturday)

Encouragement Post #41 (Saturday) After a wonderful morning at our church's Annual Conference, I am looking forward to worship with our church family tomorrow morning. Our message will be on the holiness of God. Did you know that Hebrews 12:14 says, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." Holiness is pretty important to our great God, and we cannot manufacture it on our own. We have to trust Him to give it to us. Our Holy God wants to give us His holiness, and He can only do this when we accept the willing sacrifice of Jesus as payment for our unrighteousness. 

Only a Holy God
by City Alight

"Who else commands all the hosts of heaven
Who else could make every king bow down
Who else can whisper and darkness trembles
Only a Holy God

What other beauty demands such praises
What other splendour outshines the sun
What other majesty rules with justice
Only a Holy God

Come and behold Him
The One and the Only
Cry out, sing holy
Forever a Holy God
Come and worship the Holy God

What other glory consumes like fire
What other power can raise the dead
What other name remains undefeated
Only a Holy God

Who else could rescue me from my failing
Who else would offer His only Son
Who else invites me to call Him Father
Only a Holy God
Only my Holy God!"

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 40 (Friday)

Encouragement Post – Day #40 (Friday) Now more than ever, I think it is increasingly clearer that our worth does not depend on what we own. Nor does it depend on our own strength. These beautiful lyrics are in the song I linked below, "Two wonders here that I confess, My worth and my unworthiness; My value fixed - my ransom paid, At the cross." These days are teaching me over and over again that my worth is completely in Him... He is my greatest treasure and the ONLY thing in this world that can truly satisfy my soul. Have you considered the magnitude of these words from Psalm 82, "No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly"?

Psalm 82:1-2, 4-5, 11-12
“How lovely are Your dwelling places,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are ever praising You. Selah.
How blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
In whose heart are the highways to Zion!

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 39 (Thursday)

Encouragement Post #39 (Thursday) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:1-5

New Every Morning
by Audrey Assad

In the beginning You hovered over the waters:
You broke an unbroken silence: You spoke light into darkness
And there was light

In the beginning we were made in Your image
We were naked without shame til we fell for the darkness
And there was night

Your mercies are new
Your mercies are new
New every morning.

In the beginning there was the Word and he was God
And the Word was with God and He dwelt among us
And there was life

In the beginning the Lamb of God was broken
And His blood was poured out for the sins of the world
And there was life

At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light
At the cross, at the cross, I received my sight
At the cross, at the cross where you laid down your life

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 38 (Wednesday)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face…

Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 37 (Tuesday)

Do you love surprises? I thought these Tiffany hybrid tea roses had long since kicked the bucket. I haven't seen them produce in several years, and truthfully had let the foliage around them grow up over them because they weren't getting enough sun. But today I just happened to be peeking around in the shrubbery, and what to my wondering eyes should appear... two HUGE pink blossoms on the longest stems, almost over my head. These beauties were just begging to be brought inside and enjoyed... God's beautiful creation never disappoints. The lavender sweet William in the vase is a wonderful accent and smells heavenly along with the fruity fragrance of the Tiffany roses and the color is perfect with my smaller pink knockout roses!

 

 

 

Encouragement Post – Day #37 (Tuesday) All creation sings of His majesty…

Psalm 104:1-3, 10-12, 19, 31-33
“Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak,
Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain. 
He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
He makes the clouds His chariot;
He walks upon the wings of the wind…

He sends forth springs in the valleys;
They flow between the mountains;
They give drink to every beast of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
They lift up their voices among the branches…

He made the moon for the seasons;
The sun knows the place of its setting…

Let the glory of the Lord endure forever;
Let the Lord be glad in His works;
He looks at the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.”

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 36 (Monday)

Encouragement Post – Day #36 (Monday) Let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns…"

1 Chronicles 16:29-34
“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the Lord in holy array.
Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord;
For He is coming to judge the earth.
O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”