Tag Archives: Scripture

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A week ago I wrote this.

I was feeling optimistic and hopeful, but I’m still waiting on some blanks to be filled in. Questions that weigh heavily on me, and will possibly change the outcome. I’m still not certain as to which way I want to go, fully knowing it’s not up to me anyway.

In cases like this, where I have no control, it’s easy for me to feel defeated and discouraged. I could very easily sit and have worrisome thoughts all day long, pondering the what ifs. I can choose to listen to the lies of satan, or listen to God’s promises. Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

When I feel myself slipping, and it’s a very slippery slope, all I can do is pray.

I don’t want to carry worry, it’s not my cross to bear.

I don’t want to carry defeat. Jesus gave me victory when He withstood a horrific beating and was hung on the cross.  I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. Psalm 62:1

When I start to worry or have the desire to control the situation, I just turn to Him and repent. Jesus, I’m so sorry I keep picking up worry and trying to control situations and outcomes. I know that You have a plan, and You are in control. Honestly, I don’t want that pressure, and I’m thankful that You are willing to walk me through all this. Please forgive me, Lord, and guide me in Your ways. Take my thoughts captive and fill me with Your love and joy. Amen

Last night I simply gave the situation over to Him. I asked Him to take it from my hands and mind, and help me to trust in His ways.

Truthfully, I don’t have control over much of anything in this life. When I think about the presidential election coming up, it would be easy to be disheartened that I don’t want either one of the two running our country. The current state of the world is extremely frightening if I choose to dwell on it. I don’t want to be politically correct. I want to be biblically correct.

I choose to trust in Jesus daily, most days multiple times a day.  I see the bad and give it up.

It’s a choice. If I carried the bad with me, my heart would change for the bad.

How do you handle worry and stress?

I’m linking up again for Just Write.

When you hurt, I hurt too

I had all these thoughts rambling around in my head and wanted to get them out. Now I can’t form a sentence.

I guess I have questions.

Lots of questions.

Why do you go back to the pit when you’ve seen the LIGHT? I get that it’s comfortable, a place you’re familiar with. You’ve spent so much time there. But why is it so easy to go back to that place and dwell there?

Why do you not fight? It’s so easy for you to give up. And don’t tell me you’ve been through crap and back, because I KNOW THAT! I just want you to speak up to those that are doing wrong and stand up for yourself. And maybe even realize everyone goes through their own kind of crap, some of which is far worse than what you do.

Why do you call me to vent about someone yelling at you, that you’re not going to be yelled at again today, and end up yelling at me. How is that right? Why do you not see that? Do you wonder if, or when I will be done?

How can you not see the effects of your attitude? It’s like a riptide that carries everyone out to sea and underwater. It’s not just you.

Why do you shut me out and push me away? You close yourself off to anyone who wants to help. You withdraw when you need to reach out.

Why do you think so little of yourself? You are a child of God, created in His own image. He loves you and He has great plans for you. Believe His promises. Rebuke satan.

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. Ecclesiastes 2:22

When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. Psalm 91:15

For He loves us with unfailing love; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord! Psalm 117:2

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:35-38

Why not pick up the ball and take a step forward? I’m still here, waiting

David’s Prayer for Victory in Battle

Psalm 20 NLT

1 In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.

2 May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem.

3 May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings.

4 May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.

5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.

6 Now I know tat the Lord rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power.

7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.

8 Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.

9 Give victory to our king, O Lord! Answer our cry for help.

I wanted to add the King James Version after I looked it up for comparison.

Psalm 20

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice;

4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.

I looked up the above at www.youversion.com

Victory with Jesus

It was pointed out to me by a dear Godly friend that I have the tendency to try and control things. This is not a trait I am proud of, and it’s not something that I fight all the time. I notice it when life is getting away from me, we’re a little to busy, satan is whispering in my ear, and I feel like I can’t see the shore.

It’s so great to have friends who lovingly call you out and gently advise you. I left our coffee meeting with a lighter heart and direction. Not a newfound direction, because she told me to pray, and I know I need to pray. Need to pray!

Do you ever get so busy that you forget to pray?

Me too.

I have no excuse.

Forgive me Jesus. Please forgive me for taking you out of my day, and trying to take control of things all on my own. I am sorry, and I know I can’t do anything without you. You have already won the battle. You know the details of my battles, and with You I will be victorious too.

I want to share some scripture that really speaks to this. I found this during my quiet time, and I know that God gave it to me to share with you.

Romans 8:31-37
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one-for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one-for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. 35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 

Ahhh, overwhelming victory! Yes please!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P2R week 4

I’m gonna be honest right off the bat. I still have two verses that are kicking me from week 3 but I am not giving up. I will have these verses down by tomorrow, and then I am fully commited to carrying on with week 4. With that said, here is week 4.

Philippians 1:19-26
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that will full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

There’s week 4. Who’s in this with me?

P2R-week 3

Philippians 1:12-18
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice.

P2R-end of week 2

Here I am at the end of week 2. I can’t tell you what I had for dinner last tuesday, but I can tell you Philippians 1:1-11!! I know that I cannot do this without the Lord’s help. It doesn’t come easily for me, and there are certain words that I stumble over, but I am sticking with it. I love how His Word is permeating my thoughts.

Philippians 1:7-11
7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

A memorization challenge

My pastor has challenged us to do something beautifully difficult, something that will change our lives. Memorize the book of Philippians by Easter. The WHOLE book, not just a single verse. We just completed a Discipleship Training class where we would memorize a verse each week, along with spending daily time alone with God. I will be honest with you, there were some weeks that I would pick up the verse on the way to class because I just didn’t make it a priority. And if I try to remember those verses now, it doesn’t come easily. And that is SAD! Jesus gave me His Word to live by, and I am not fully utilizing it.

So the first time I read the challenge in an email, I breezed through it and didn’t think much about it. Well, really I thought it was impossible, but that was satan talking. Jesus said all things are possible with Him!! I read through it again and committed to doing it. We are one week in and I am throwing out the challenge to YOU. Yeah, you!! It doesn’t matter that I’m a week ahead of you, I want you to do this with me. I need you to do this with me.

The details can be found here. Partnering to Remember Philippians 2011 will change your life. In one week I’ve found myself quoting scripture while waiting in the car, while walking in a store, and it has been the last thing I think of at night and the first thing I do in the morning. It’s big. It’s difficult. Seek Him for help.

Please send me an email or leave a comment if you plan on taking this huge step towards Christ. I’d love to know about it!

Philippians 1:1-6

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jusus Christ. 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. 4 Always, in every prayer of mine, for you all making my prayer with joy. 5 Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 And  I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

You can do this, I just did!

Loneliness

God has given us so many promises that will encourage you if you are feeling lonely.  Just pick up the bible and spend some time with His word.  You are never alone.  I want to share some verses with you.

Joshua 1:9 “Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go.”
Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit.  God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin.”
John 14:18 “I will not leave you all alone like orphans; I will come back to you.”
John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as it loves its own.  But I have chosen you out of the world, so you don’t belong to it.  That is why the world hates you.”
Psalm 94:14 “The Lord won’t leave his people nor give up his children.”
Psalm 9:10 “Those who know the Lord trust Him, because He will not leave those who come to Him.”
Hebrews 13:5 “God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.'”
Isaiah 43:2-3 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.  When you cross rivers, you will not drown.  When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you.  This is because I, the Lord, am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. ”

God’s promises are true.  He stands at the door and knocks, waiting for us to let Him in.