Tag: encouraging words to live by

Hope

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Friend, our hope is not dimmed. Nor is the flame of fire of our faith extinguished. For as long as our Lord remains on high (He always will) and remains on the throne of heaven (He always will), our reason for hope is always alive and fanning the flames of faith in our hearts. Today, don’t look around at what you may see but look up to Him who is the source of our true hope: “Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7).

~Word for Life Says

Shaped

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Friends, without even realizing it we are on the wheel today. There is a final destination awaiting us in glory and progress is being made on that final product. While the end goal is heaven, here we are formed to be vessels fit for the Master’s use (2 Timothy 2:21). Some days we may feel all right, others our imperfections may seem more pronounced, but take heart for even that great apostle once declared, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect…” (Philippians 3:12). It may be we are still in the process. It may be that the Father’s loving and careful hands are still at the wheel shaping us: “Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand…” (Jeremiah 18:6). By faith, allow yourself to be shaped.

~Word for Life Says

Quiet

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Friends, there is a stillness of heart and soul one must appreciate and long for. When the world demands noise and roars its desires, the Lord beckons us to steal away in His presence and just be still (Psalm 46:10). It is in the quietness of this moment where we shut out the world’s demands and wrap ourselves in the familiar embrace of knowing our God.

~Word for Life Says

Can vs. Can’t

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Friend, do you ever feel like you can’t? Oh, how that contraction of perplexity hinders our progress of moving forward. But as we prepare to cross the threshold into the new year, we can choose to override that contraction and replace it with the Bible’s language of faith. The Bible says we “CAN” and when it comes to our faith and where God is leading us in the next season of life, the words of Philippians 3:14 can be a great source of encouragement: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

~Word for Life Says

Journeys

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Friend, as we are drawing closer to the end of this year, contemplating days and times past, realize through it all our Heavenly Father has been present, even when we could not comprehend everything or feel Him. Journeys take us through many avenues of life – some roads bring pleasure and some pain. But the journey we take with Him shall never be in vain. With God, we are never forsaken or need to feel dismayed. He is our ever-present Rock to stand up and Refuge to tuck ourselves away when the cares of this life seem too much. God, our Heavenly Father, loves you. Look to Him when you can’t figure it out. He’s there, and He’s waiting: “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

~ Word for Life Says

Eternity Focused | Words to Live By

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“𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒏.” 𝑳𝒖𝒌𝒆 21:36

There is a future, a time to come that will reach beyond all we see today. Our hope is for that day. We live this Christian pilgrimage for that time. Our promises were never to be completely fulfilled or satisfied in our natural life. But in eternity, more than we could ever conceive with our human intellect will be ours as we lay down the burdens of these days forever and step into glory the natural man cannot fully comprehend. Watch for that day. Be ready for that day.

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42

“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” Mark 13:33

“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

“And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:37-40

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4

“Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” Isaiah 51:11

Beautifying the Temple

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“And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty…” 2 Chronicles 3:6

The house of God, have we lost our wonder and respect for such an edifice? The specified place designated for drawing near to His holy presence. The place ordained by His Spirit for the saint to come and be refreshed, and to learn what thus saith the Lord. The place for the sinner to find refuge if he will but hide himself in the salvation offered there.

Solomon did everything in his power to beautify this sacred space. Other kings had other gods with other buildings of worship. But for the King of all kings, and the one and only true living God, Creator of all, he knew he could not do enough to honor the Holy Presence there. Yet, he would do what he could because God deserved this and more for this designated meeting place.

The wonder and respect for the Lord God over all compelled him to lay out the best of the best to honor Him.

But Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19), speaking of His body regarding His death and resurrection. Paul goes on to say, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you…” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Are we taking such care as Solomon did in beautifying and honoring the temple? How are we caring for the temple within?

My friends, whether we be in a building we designate as the house of God, or be it the temple within, let us remember to bring honor to the place where God’s Spirit dwells. Never lose the awe and wonder over such a sacred assembly.

Take away anything that mars the beauty, stop any practice that brings dishonor and replace it with ornaments of grace (Proverbs 3:22), remembering we are “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10).

May we bring our own precious stones of praise and honor to beautify His house.

In the finiteness of our humanity, Father God, You deserve so much more glory, honor, and praise.

Text Free Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

She Builds Her House

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I believe we are a DIY nation.  To some extent, that’s not a bad thing.  People have learned ways and methods to get things done, while in the process, saving money and finding joy in the pleasure of taking on such projects, learning their way through it to fully execute it. 

But some of the things we need to be most mindful of building cannot be found in a box or a creative idea.  They must, with careful consideration, be approached with special awareness, carefulness, and love to ensure a proper build.

The Bible says “Every wise woman buildeth her house…” Proverbs 14:1. Rest assured, it is not a physical building we are called to hammer and nail (but if that is your skill set, good on you).  But the actual construction of a house caused me to pause and ponder a few things.

One thing I realized is that for any house or building to be strong, there must be a good, strong foundation.  Anything built on something less will not stand the test of time (see Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49).

There, one must ask themselves what kind of foundation they are laying for their house.  Is it laid in truth?  Is it poured with love?  Is it smoothed out properly and settled in the care you have to hold and support those around you?

In just dealing with the basics of building next, we understand that there are walls needed in the building of a house.  Strong walls show that you care and want to protect those in your dwelling.  Unbuilt or broken walls give the enemy access to what’s yours.  So, as Nehemiah said, “Let us rise up and build” Nehemiah 2:18.

Spiritually, we must stand in the gap as walls protecting what is ours.  This will mean laboring in prayer, and sometimes fasting, and staying fortified for ourselves in His Holy Word that you may surround, step in, and cover others in their times of need.

Lastly in a physical building but first spiritually, we have the roof.  Every house, no matter the design, needs a roof built on top of it.  While this top can act like a covering of protection in much the same way as walls do, when I think of topping this house, I am thinking along the lines of spiritual authority.  And of course, that authority comes by way of God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Is He the head or the top of your life?  Because if He’s not, it would be very hard to build, help, and encourage others toward Him when we have not fully submitted to Him for ourselves.

James tells us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” James 4:7.

James also tells us, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” (4:8), and again, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (4:10).

All these work toward building that roof – acknowledging God’s authority over our lives. 

Some areas may be harder than others to relinquish total authority, but in all areas, God must be Lord.

Her relationship with the Lord is key above all else, and in maintaining a healthy spiritual relationship with Him, she can support and oversee the maintenance of her own house.

A wise woman seeks to build a house that will stand because she cares, and in doing so, she takes careful measures to ensure that she builds her house properly.

Text Free Photo by Los Muertos Crew on Pexels.com

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Unmovable!

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Steady ahead
into this day,
anchored in Jesus,
our power to stay.
©Word for Life Says

“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” Hebrews 6:19

“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; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38, 39

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22