BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!

 

Give Me Jesus

This song really encourages me, if you are facing difficult times, I hope that it encouages you today 💗

GIVE ME JESUS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rZ8k9m2hwo

by Fernando Ortega

In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Give me Jesus

And when I am alone
Oh and when I am alone
And when I am alone
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Give me Jesus

And when I come to die
Oh and when I come to die
And when I come to die
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
You can have all this world
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

CREDIT

Joy

 

ALWAYS

It is Well with My Soul

Over the last years I have faced some hardships, and I am sure most people have...
This hymn and it's story is one that often comes to mind during difficult times, and I thought
I would post it today.

It is Well with My Soul, the Song and the Story

Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. His circle of friends included Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey and various other well-known Christians of the day.

At the very height of his financial and professional success, Horatio and his wife Anna suffered the tragic loss of their young son. Shortly thereafter on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost every real estate investment that Spafford had.

In 1873, Spafford scheduled a boat trip to Europe in order to give his wife and daughters a much needed vacation and time to recover from the tragedy. He also went to join Moody and Sankey on an evangelistic campaign in England. Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead of him while he remained in Chicago to take care of some unexpected last minute business. Several days later he received notice that his family's ship had encountered a collision. All four of his daughters drowned; only his wife had survived.

With a heavy heart, Spafford boarded a boat that would take him to his grieving Anna in England. It was on this trip that he penned those now famous words, When sorrow like sea billows roll; it is well, it is well with my soul.. 

Philip Bliss (1838-1876), composer of many songs including Hold the Fort, Let the Lower Lights be Burning, and Jesus Loves Even Me, was so impressed with Spafford's life and the words of his hymn that he composed a beautiful piece of music to accompany the lyrics. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey, in 1876.

For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless thousands who have lifted their voices to sing, It Is Well With My Soul. 

Here are the words:
It Is Well With My Soul


When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

And Lord haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) 

photo credit

A woman whose work demanded constant reading began to have difficulty with her eyes, so she consulted a physician. After an examination he said, “Your eyes are just tired; you need to rest them.”

“But,” she replied, “that is impossible in my type of work.”

After a few moments the doctor asked, “Do you have windows at your workplace?”

“Oh, yes,” she answered with enthusiasm. “From the front windows I can see the noble peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and from the rear windows I can look out at the glorious Allegheny foothills.”

The physician replied, “That is exactly what you need. When your eyes feel tired, go look at your mountains for 10 minutes—20 would be better—and the far look will rest your eyes!”

What is true in the physical realm is true in the spiritual realm. The eyes of the soul are often tired and weary from focusing on our problems and difficulties. The upward look—the far look—will restore our spiritual perspective.

At times we feel overwhelmed by life’s troubles. If we look to the Lord in His Word and in prayer, however, He will put our problems in perspective and renew our strength.

Let’s lift up our eyes! (Psalm 121:1).  —Henry G. Bosch

Lift up your eyes, discouraged one,
The Lord your help will be;
New strength will come from Him who said,
"For rest, come unto Me." —Anon.

For the right spiritual focus, fix your eyes on the Lord.

Our Daily Bread Credit

Psalm 121 King James Version (KJV)

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.



CHECKLIST FOR ENCOURAGERS

The command to “encourage” others is found throughout the Bible. In I Thessalonians chapter 5 Paul gives many specific examples of how we can encourage others.

I Thessalonians 5:11

Build each other up.

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

Christians are to encourage one another. A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can be the difference between, finishing well and collapsing along the way. Look around you. Be sensitive to others’ need for encouragement, and offer supportive words or actions.

I Thessalonians 5:12

Respect leaders.

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.”

Look for ways to encourage and cooperate with your pastor.

I Thessalonians 5:13a

Hold leaders in highest regard.

“And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake, and be at peace among yourselves.”

Express your appreciation, tell them how you have been helped by their leadership and teaching, and thank them for their ministry in your life. If you say nothing, how will they know where you stand? Remember, they need and deserve your support and love.

I Thessalonians 5:13b

Live in Peace

Search for ways to get along with others.

I Thessalonians 5:14

Encourage the timid

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

Encourage those who are timid by reminding them of God’s promises.

Help the weak

Support those who are weak by supporting them and praying for them

.

Be patient

Think of a situation that tries your patience and plan ahead of time how you can stay calm.

I Thessalonians 5:15

Resist revenge

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.”

Instead of planning to get even with those who mistreat you, do good to them.

Be joyful

I Thessalonians 5:16

“Rejoice evermore.”

When we do God’s will we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful. Remembering that even in the midst of turmoil, God is in control.

Pray continually

I Thessalonians 5:17

“Pray without ceasing.”

We cannot spend all our time on our knees, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing His presence within us, and determining to obey Him fully. Then we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers. A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times.

Give thanks

I Thessalonians 5:18

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Paul was not teaching that we should thank God for everything that happens to us, but in everything. Evil does not come from God, so we should not thank Him for it. But when evil strikes, we can still be thankful for God’s presence and for the good that He will accomplish through the situation.

Make a list of all the gifts God has given you, giving thanks to God for each one.

Count on God’s constant help

I Thessalonians 5:23

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Realize that Christian life is to be lived not in our own strength but through God’s power.

I pray that I can be an encouragment to others!

This was sent to me by my sweet and dear friend Marie. (This could have been written about her!) Thanks Marie!

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

photo credit

In a previous post I mentioned that I was reading a bit more these days, and that I was reading through the Love Comes Softly series.

 I love how God uses even small things like this to encourage my heart!

The verse above is the central one in the book I am reading, and everytime I read it throughout the book it was a blessing to me!

I hope it brings some encouragement to your heart today as well.

Blessings!

Sharri

For when I am weak, then I am strong

My sweet friend sent this to me yesterday and it really blessed me, hope it is a blessing to you as well!

April 2, 2012

Strong One

T. Suzanne Eller

"That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT)

The wind blew through my fingers as I held my hand outside the window. The bright sunshine seemed foreign after several days in the small hospital room.

My husband had insisted that I go home. "Take a long bath, babe. Take a nap in a real bed. I've got this."

After four weeks, my world had shrunk to my son's bedside, X-ray rooms, the therapy wing, and a dimly lit cafeteria in the basement. I had no idea how long my son would be in the hospital, or what awaited us when he was released. The doctors used phrases like, "It's uncertain at this time."

Before the drunk driver hit my son, I was strong. It wasn't that my faith hadn't been tested; it had. But this was my child, broken and battered at the hands of another, and I couldn't fix it.

As I drove home, I heard these words deep in my spirit:

When you are weak, you are strong.

That didn't make sense to me. I felt anything but strong.

When I arrived home I took my bath and a nap. Afterwards, I pulled out my Bible and flipped to the verse. And there it was. Paul's words:

"For when I am weak, then I am strong."

The apostle suffered with a "thorn in the flesh." Scripture doesn't tell us what that was exactly, but we do know that it was something he couldn't fix on his own. When he prayed, God reminded Paul that His power comes through when we are at our limits.

There was no mistaking it. Like Paul, I was at my weakest point. As a mom, I wanted nothing more than for my son to be okay and the wreck to be behind us. I wanted my son at home. I was exhausted by long nights on a too-small, too-thin cot, and days of caring for my child as he battled extreme pain.

Yet God was trying to tell me something. Something I hadn't realized until that moment.

I didn't have to be the strong one all the time. While I was caring for my son, God was caring for me.

It took a year of therapy and prayer to make my son well; there were many more weak moments ahead for this momma.

But in each, I paused and I whispered these words:

"When I am weak, then I am strong."

My strength was not found in my own abilities or even my staying power. Instead, I was strong because God sustained me and filled me with His grace in the midst of the battle.

Sometimes, when that period of my life is brought up, friends remark, "Suzie, your faith was so real during that time."

I can't help but remind them that I was far from having it all together. What they were seeing was God's grace and love poured over my weak places.

Are you struggling today? Do you feel weak? Whisper it with me:

"When I am weak, then I am strong."

Dear Lord, thank You that Your grace is all I need. Thank You for Your power in the midst of my weak places. I offer up my need to be the "strong one" and replace it with the knowledge that Your strength is sufficient. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do your weaknesses ever make you doubt you can fulfill God's calling or purpose for your life? A Confident Heart, by Renee Swope, is a great resource to help you stop doubting yourself and start living in the power of God's promises. In it you'll learn how to rely on God's strength and truth in every area of your life.

Reflect and Respond:

Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up. ~Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening (November 4, Morning).

Today, exchange feelings of defeat for praise. Thank Him for doing what you cannot.

Write down one way that only God can lift you higher than the weak places.

Power Verses:

Isaiah 40:31, "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (NIV)

Philippians 4:13, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (NIV)

© 2012 by T. Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

http://www.proverbs31.org/

fyi-I prefer King James version, but left this as it was due to copyright :)

Take it Patiently...

I am constantly amazed at the goodness of God! He provides for me-in every way... Recently, my family has been going through a difficult trial. (What trials aren't difficult?) :0)
I was so blessed today in my Daily Bread because God used it to minister to me perfectly, and provided me with the perfect guidance. :0) (now why am I surprised?)

Responding To Criticism
Read: 1 Peter 2:4-12
whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12

Abraham Lincoln knew what it meant to face criticism. He is quoted as saying, “If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how--the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
Lincoln, against huge opposition, went on to reunite the fractured United States, win the Civil War, and abolish slavery in the US. Had he allowed his critics to defeat him, Lincoln would not have accomplished what he did.
The apostle Peter understood the dangers of unfounded criticism. He wrote, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12).

Criticism can consume our lives to the point of emotional paralysis, or we can set our hearts to serve God faithfully undeterred by that criticism and put our God on display. When we do that, we won’t need to answer our critics with words--our lives will say all that is needed. --Bill Crowder

If we keep doing what is right--And serving Christ each day,We need not fear what others think Nor what the critics say. --D. De Haan

The most powerful testimony is a godly life.

I also read these verses this morning in 1 Peter 3: 14-17

14But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

If you're going through a trial, I hope that this will touch your heart and encourage you to seek God and His will with all of your heart--and may we all have the strength to stand for Him in every situation--so that we can finish our Walk with Him STRONG!