It’s not all about us. it’s about God’s plan. We have nothing to fear because whether we know it or not, we’re doing God’s work. There are times we wonder why we’re doing what we do. Maybe we feel like our job is meaningless and we feel like we’re just spinning our wheels in a world gone mad. The thing is, God’s will is in even the smallest thing we do. We’re a part of His plan! I compare it to a line in the poem, Desiderata: 
What we have to remember is, It’s God’s universe. No doubt about it!
Archive for Daily Encouragements
No Doubt About It
You Are My Reason
My hope–my greatest source of joy–is that my simple words encourage others.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:12
I Press On
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, Philippians 3:13
My Mother’s Faith
For most of her life, my mother prayed that her sons and daughter would be taught 
by the Lord and ultimately serve Him. And for many years, I have held to the words Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13: Brothers, I do not consider myself having taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.
I’m convinced my mother’s faith, along with mine, combined to bring us both to a place of peace. As our love for God continues to grow, we continue to dwell in His peace. I encourage you to never give up. No matter what your circumstance, always know God has a plan for your life, and He will not forsake you or leave you.
All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace. Isaiah 54:13
Amazon is currently selling hard cover copies of my first book of encouragements, “BE STILL“, for the ridiculously low price of $9.07. If you don’t have a copy, now’s the time to get one! The hardcover would make a great gift for someone else or a keepsake for you!
My second book of encouragements, “JUST A MAN“, is also available on Amazon.
You can check out all my books at my website, CHARLESLMASHBURN.COM
Waiting…
Sometimes, it seems wicked men flourish while good men suffer and perish; evil runs rampant, and good cannot be found. That’s when we must remember God is, indeed, in charge. At times, it seems God has abandoned us, but this is never the case. He’s always with us, and if we simply stay focused on Him, we’ll be at peace and know He is surely working His will in all things. Even though I’ve gained some understanding, I haven’t scratched the surface. With each morsel of knowledge God gives me, my hunger grows, and like a baby bird waits with open mouth and cries out to its mother for food, I wait with open heart and cry out to the for more knowledge of God and His love.
I’m Learning
There are times when the noise and the haste of this world we live in drag me down, and it is at those times I remember what peace there may be in silence. But I often allow the silence to become a hiding place. I sometimes see my withdrawal as a good thing, but at other times I see it is not a good way to deal with the confusion and chaos of this life. When I pull away and retreat within myself, I tend to feign affection, and become cynical about love.
But I am learning. I’m learning to nurture strength of spirit to shield myself in in the times of calamity, disappointment and sometimes sudden misfortune. I’m also learning to not distress myself with dark imaginings, which has been my habit for too many years. I have come to realize that many of my fears are born of fatigue and loneliness; fatigue the more prevalent of the two. But the loneliness—I cannot deny it—is there. And, again, it is something I have—sometimes unaware—chosen to be.
And so, I continue to learn. I’m learning to be gentle with myself and learning that though it is sometimes not clear to me, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. I strive to be at peace with God and have peace in my soul. For within the noisy confusion of life, with all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, there remains a beautiful world. And so, I will choose to be cheerful. I will strive to be happy.
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. … Psalm 23: 1-6
Please note: This writing was inspired by the poem “Desiderata”, which was written by Max Ehrmann. You can read his poem it in my previous post:
You can also listen to a beautiful recording of the poem by Les Crane, by clicking here:
And please visit my blog to see my other writings, including my inspirational books:
Thank you.
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