FYI: Posts will be sparse around here until I replace my laptop.... Coming back to work after Christmas break apparently was too hard and it quit on me!
"to encourage someone is to give them a new perspective on life"
Encouragement comes from actions, words, and simply the way we live our lives.
Our actions matter--they have a bigger impact than we would ever imagine...
*it says that "these two people have never met and never will." well, I'd change that to "these two people have never met, but one day will" because they will both one day be in heaven. *
A song that has been stuck in my head the past couple days. =)
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
--matt redman--
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name
Right now it feels like everything in my life is changing. Nothing is how it once was.
My daddy has a new job. He has to commute 6-8 hours away one way. He is only home on weekends.
My family switched churches. Everything is so different. The people, the services, what I do, the whole atmosphere.
My dance studio closed. The flooding from Lee was so bad. The teachers still want to teach, but don't have a building. We will have to use another studio's rooms. Classes still haven't started. It is going to take twice as long to get there.
My life changed from camp to coming home. Camp is its own little world up there on the mountain top. Coming back home has been such a change.
It seems like everything in my life has changed this past year--my life at home, at church, at dance, everywhere.
Yet I have a constant.
Your commands ... are my constant guide.
-Psalm 119:98
Right now it may feel like everything is changing and there is nothing to cling to. Wrong. I can cling to HIM.
Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey His
commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.
-Deuteronomy 13:4
He is always faithful and constant.
Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He
is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand
generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey His commands.
-Deuteronomy 7:9
I will trust Him.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
It is not about me--it is about Him. --something I learned at camp this summer.
He is using this time to grow me, it may not be comfortable(in fact it is not at all!), but He has my best in mind.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28
"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." —2 Corinthians 12:7-10
I am weak. I have many faults. I worry. I stumble. I doubt. I fear.
Is it just me, or is it heartening to know that even Paul was weak? That even though he prayed and pleaded to God, that he was given the 'No.' answer? The fact that others have faults may be heartening to my humanness, but it is so comfortingand reassuring to me know that:
If I didn't worry, then I wouldn't rely on His faithfulness. Because He cares for me.
If I didn't stumble, then I wouldn't rely on His grace and forgiveness. Because He forgives me.
If I didn't doubt, then I wouldn't rely on His Sovereignty. Because He even died for me.
If I didn't fear, then I wouldn't rely on His protection. Because He lovesme.
If I can't __(anything)__, then I wouldn't rely on Him. Because:
Do you wonder why you have to,
feel the things that hurt you,
if there's a God who loves you,
where is He now?
Maybe, there are things you can't see
and all those things are happening
to bring a better ending
some day, some how, you'll see, you'll see
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming
so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning
My friend, you know how this all ends
and you know where you're going,
you just don't know how you get there
so just say a prayer.
and hold on, cause there's good who love God,
life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
but you'll see the bigger picture
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming
so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning
yeah, yeah,
before the morning,
yeah, yeah
Once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
memory, memory, yeah
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming
com'n, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the hurt before the healing
the pain you've been feeling,
just the dark before the morning
before the morning, yeah, yeah
before the morning Before the Morningby Josh Wilson
This song played on the radio and it caught my attention--during the night it seems like the light of morning will never come but it always does.
P.S. Head over to Abby's giveaway where you could win a new blog design from me!
Yes, it is Veggie Tales. =) It has such truth though.
There's a story that started on Christmas
When a baby was born in the night
And those who came far, who followed the star
Were seeing a heavenly sight ...
a heavenly sight.
Well the years hurried by, and the boy, now a man
Could make the blind see with a touch of his hand
He was born to be King -- he was Rabbi and Priest
But the best that he had, he gave to the least ...
He gave to the least.
He was born and he died, almost 2,000 years ago
He laughed and he cried, he felt all the fears we know
But what does it matter? A story so strange ...
Even if it is true, what does it change?
What does it change?
Well he spoke like a prophet -- like no one they'd heard
This simple young carpenter -- crowds hung on every word
He hated injustice -- He taught what is right
He said “I'm the way, and the truth, and the light.”
His friends soon believed that truly he was the one.
The Savior, Messiah, God's one and only son.
But others, they doubted, they did not agree
So they took him, they tried him,
He died on a tree ...
He died on a tree.
God has made a way
for all who mourn and grieve
Death will never be the end
if you just believe.
There is nothing left to fear
nothing Heaven knows
For he died for us to give us life
and to give us hope He rose
He died for us to give us life
And to give us hope He rose.
Lord, may I never cease to praise you! For sunny days, healing, answered prayers, trials, raspberry lemonade, friends, laughter, what seems like unanswered prayers, Your word, books, music---everything.
I came across this lovely collection of Bible verses over at Liberty's blog, Teenage Musings. =) Be encouraged!
When you are sad, call on John 14
When you don’t feel loved, call on Romans 8:38-39
When you have sinned, call on 1 John 1:8-9
When you are facing danger, call on Psalm 91
When people have failed you, call on Psalm 27
When God feel far from you, call on Psalm 139
When your faith needs encouraging, call on Hebrews 11
When you are scared, call on Psalm 23
When you are worried, call on Matthew 6:25-34
When you are hurt, call on Colossians 3:12-17
When you feel no one is on your side, call on Romans 8:31-39
When you are seeking rest, call on Matthew 11:25-30
When you are suffering, call on Romans 8:18-30
When you feel you’re failing, call on Psalm 121
When you pray, call on Matthew 6:9-13
When you need courage, call on Joshua 1
When you are in need, call on Philippians 4:19
When you are hated because of your faith, call on John 15
When you are losing hope, call on 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
When you are seeking peace, call on John 14:27
When you want to do good works, call on John 15
When you want to live a happy life, call on Colossians 3:12-17
When you don’t understand what God is doing, call on Isaiah 55:8-9
When you want to get along with others, call on Romans 12:9-21
Have a lovely evening!
(p.s. I'm coming up with a pretty awesome new spring/summer design! =D)
