Archive for Daily Encouragements
July 23, 2017 at 8:33 am · Filed under Daily Encouragements, Food for thought, God's beauty, God's love, Inspiration ·Tagged a house or a home, always adding on, joy, love, our Father's house, Peace, rooms full of dreams and memories
On Father’s Day several years ago, Sherry gave me a card which on the front read, “I love this life we’ve built together.” We have indeed built a life together that is wonderful, and along the way we’ve added many rooms, each built to hold the dreams and memories of that season in our lives together. The end result is not a house of brick and mortar, it is a beautiful mansion filled with peace and love. And… we’re always adding on.
But, as grand as this place is…
In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2
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July 22, 2017 at 7:54 am · Filed under Daily Encouragements, Food for thought, God's beauty, God's love, Inspiration ·Tagged comprehending God's love, faith, God's love, hope, joy, pass it forward, unconditional love, using all our heart
It’s been said we only use a small portion of the abilities of our brain, and I think that’s probably true of our hearts, as well. I believe we’re capable of great achievements with our minds; and, likewise, I believe we’re capable of absorbing and giving much more love than we can possibly imagine.
I look forward to the day when I can fully comprehend God’s love. As of now, I feel I’ve only had a taste of it, and yet even that small portion overwhelms me.
But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him. Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:5-6
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July 20, 2017 at 7:53 am · Filed under Daily Encouragements, Food for thought, God's beauty, God's love, Inspiration ·Tagged doubt, faith, fear, hope, if Jesus showed up today, living a life of ease, love, salvation, what would we do
After all the time Jesus had spent with the disciples, telling them time and again He would return from the grave, they were still frightened when He appeared before them. And, even after He showed them the scars on His hands and feet, they still didn’t think it was Him. What was wrong with these guys?
Probably the same thing that’s wrong with most of us: short memories. We go through much of our time here on earth—especially in the U.S.—living a relative life of ease, never giving much thought to all our blessings and where they come from.
We hear the good news that Jesus will one day return, and we talk about how we can’t wait for that glorious day, while secretly we hope our faith is strong enough to get us into heaven. Why? Why are we troubled? Why do we have doubts?
He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds.” Luke 24:38
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July 19, 2017 at 7:58 am · Filed under Daily Encouragements, Food for thought, God's love, Inspiration ·Tagged Bible, breakfast of champions, faith, God, hope, Jesus, love, our daily bread, staying close to God, the word of God
Our daily bread is not merely the food and water we need to nourish our bodies, it is also the love, faith, trust, hope, and knowledge we need to sustain our hearts and minds.
I spend some time with God each morning, reading, writing, and learning about Him, and I’ve come to need this communion with Him as much as I need food and water. I find that when I am away from Him—when my thoughts become too absorbed in worldly matters—I begin to feel weak and helpless. But more and more, as my love for God grows, I’m quicker to realize the symptoms, and return to where His bread is stored.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13
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July 12, 2017 at 9:23 am · Filed under Daily Encouragements, Food for thought, God's love, Inspiration, Uncategorized ·Tagged God's knowledge, if I knew then what I know now, learning the hard way, Life lessons, pain and heartache, turning to God
The familiar saying goes, “If I only knew then what I know now,” but the fact is, we learn as we go, and sometimes the lessons are hard. In most cases (with me anyway) it seems the school of hard knocks is the one that teaches the lasting lessons.
Yes, if we knew then, what we know now, we probably could’ve saved ourselves a lot of pain and heartache. Unfortunately, it’s usually after we realize how little we know, and turn to God, that we truly begin to learn.
Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. Psalm 119:73
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July 11, 2017 at 7:48 am · Filed under Daily Encouragements, Food for thought, God's beauty, God's love, Inspiration ·Tagged architect, building by the plan, engineer, faith, God's plan, life, plans, reflections, truth
When you set out to build something—a house, for instance—you will achieve the best results if you have a set of plans to guide you as you build. Architects and engineers put their knowledge into the plans so the house can be constructed soundly and beautifully. Likewise, if we follow God’s plan we will help to build His house. But in either case, if you deviate from the plan, you probably won’t like the results.
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
1 Peter 1:8
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July 6, 2017 at 8:27 am · Filed under Daily Encouragements, Food for thought, God's beauty, God's love, Inspiration ·Tagged don't beat yourself up, forgiving yourself, forgiving yourself first, God loves you, Nobody's perfect, self condemnation
I’m a perfectionist—to a degree—and when I make mistakes it really bothers me. I usually get over it, but at first I have a hard time dealing with whatever mistake I’ve made. I tend to condemn myself for the one mistake, even though I’ve done a lot of good things.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1
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