Regardless of What it Looks Like …

The Lord your God has set the land before you: go up and possess it, as the Lord God has said to you; fear not, neither be discouraged. Deuteronomy 1:21

If we've yielded to discouragement, it's usually because we gave too much thought to the past or to the future. We don’t have to let our yesterday determine our tomorrow. Stop entertaining the lies of the enemy. We shouldn't even be giving him the time of day.

If it seems like things are getting more difficult, remember that when the intensity heats up, it means you’re closer to your victory.

When clouds of discouragement roll in and darkness settles around you, hold the hand of your Father who promises to never leave you or forsake you. We serve a faithful God, and He’s working behind the scenes on our behalf.

… I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord. Jer 1:8

If you've got God living on the inside of you, you AREN'T a quitter, DON'T you dare give up. Every thought, word and deed for Christ carries you away from discouragement. Only He can give us the peace that passes understanding.

When you’re feeling discouraged – praise Jesus, read the Psalms, pray in the Spirit, call or write a friend to encourage them, keep a daily journal of what God speaks to you and go back over it during tough times, keep being faithful and do what you already know to do.

You hold on okay, 'cause this too is gonna pass.

Regardless of what it looks like … God's still gonna take care of it.

Father, I pray that You remove discouragement from our lives & let the sunshine of Your unfailing grace light our way. Lift the burdens my Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.


related post - Prescription for Depression

Christ is My Victory

Psalm 91
from The Message Bible






You who sit down in the High God's presence,
spend the night in Shaddai's shadow,
Say this: 'God You're my refuge.
I trust in you and I'm safe!'

That's right—He rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
under them you're perfectly safe;
His arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.
You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God's your refuge,
the High God your very own home,
Evil can't get close to you,
harm can't get through the door.
He ordered His angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they'll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

'If you'll hold on to me for dear life,' says God,
'I'll get you out of any trouble.
I'll give you the best of care
if you'll only get to know and trust Me.
Call Me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I'll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I'll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!'

Head of the Church

Christ is also the head of the church,
which is His body. He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the
dead. So He is first in everything.
Colossians 1:18





The church is often called the body of Christ. Each person in the church has an important and unique role as a member of the body. But what good would a body be without the head to sustain, guide, and direct it?

Jesus Christ is the head of His church. Look to Jesus to give you life, strength, and direction.

Father, I pray that You help us to have unity in the body of Christ. Give us I pray, life, strength and direction as You sustain and guide us. In Jesus' name, amen.

For All These Reasons and More

 
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4,5

Thank You Lord for ---
 
Your Word, the Holy Bible
that You're coming back for me
the breath of life
grace to go thru
my family
a sound mind
the gift of salvation
loving me
my friends
sending Your Son Jesus
Your presence
food on the table
cleaning me up when I was a mess
the Holy Spirit
healing my body
a roof over my head
a godly heritage
Your grace and mercy
deliverance of what had me bound
the Blood You shed so that I might live
EVERYTHING!

For all these reasons and more, I thank the Lord God Almighty. He is worthy to be praised.

Father, I pray that You provide food, shelter and love to all Your people  this Thanksgiving. Bless everyone and help them to have a good, safe holiday. I so appreciate You and I want to thank You … for everything. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Trusting God

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.  Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God. Run from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7

I recently read Romans 4 (see below) from the Message Bible (2011 NavPress) and was deeply encouraged by it. The writers of the translation really knew how to put things in todays terms to help simple-minded folks like me 'get it'.

Though your situation may be seemingly hopeless, believe anyway. Decide to not live on the basis of what you see you can't do, but on what God said He would do. God will make good on what He says. With a word, God can make something out of nothing.

Pray and expect God to answer. Prayer is simply talking to God. Everything will come in the time that God has prepared it to come, so keep praying until something happens. If you ask, God'll give you strength that you never thought you'd ever have.

The Lord asked me yesterday, 'Why do you continue to worry and stress over things that I've already told you I've taken care of?' Good question, why do I? Lack of trust obviously. The more we get to know about God and His character, the more we trust. Getting in the Word and staying in it helps us to get to know our Father better.

God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him & the power to do what pleases Him. Phil 2:13 

How long are we going to do things our way, before we realize we have to relinquish control to make it .. give it up. Sometimes, it's a good thing that we feel like we're loosing control. Don't trust your own instincts more than God and His Word, He's faithful and won't let us down ... BELIEVE.

Focus on the Lord and not the problem. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus instead of our circumstances. Don't panic, we're not alone. Even when we can't see which way we're going, God will show us the way to go.  We've come too far to loose hope. Our better days are still ahead of us.

Having done all ... stand. God's gonna take care of EVERYTHING. Simply trust. With God all things are possible, so I'm gonna keep believing.

We don't have to have everything all figured out. Let's let Daddy figure things out and handle them.

Father, I pray that You speak to us and our situations. Help us to hang on to every word that You give us. Create a spirit of hope and expectation that will never die, but instead grow each day, knowing that You will always come through for us, at just the right time. Give us peace while we wait on You, trusting that You have everything under control. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Romans 4/MSG

1 So how do we fit what we know of Abraham, our first father in the faith, into this new way of looking at things? 2 If Abraham, by what he did for God, got God to approve him, he could certainly have taken credit for it. But the story we’re given is a God-story, not an Abraham-story. 3 What we read in Scripture is, "Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own."

4 If you’re a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don’t call your wages a gift. 5 But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it’s something only God can do, and you trust him to do it-you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked-well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.

6 David confirms this way of looking at it, saying that the one who trusts God to do the putting-everything-right without insisting on having a say in it is one fortunate man: 7 Fortunate those whose crimes are carted off, whose sins are wiped clean from the slate. 8 Fortunate the person against whom the Lord does not keep score. 9 Do you think for a minute that this blessing is only pronounced over those of us who keep our religious ways and are circumcised? Or do you think it possible that the blessing could be given to those who never even heard of our ways, who were never brought up in the disciplines of God? We all agree, don’t we, that it was by embracing what God did for him that Abraham was declared fit before God?

10 Now think: Was that declaration made before or after he was marked by the covenant rite of circumcision? That’s right, before he was marked. 11 That means that he underwent circumcision as evidence and confirmation of what God had done long before to bring him into this acceptable standing with himself, an act of God he had embraced with his whole life.

12 And it means further that Abraham is father of all people who embrace what God does for them while they are still on the "outs" with God, as yet unidentified as God’s, in an "uncircumcised" condition. It is precisely these people in this condition who are called "set right by God and with God"! Abraham is also, of course, father of those who have undergone the religious rite of circumcision not just because of the ritual but because they were willing to live in the risky faith-embrace of God’s action for them, the way Abraham lived long before he was marked by circumcision.

13 That famous promise God gave Abraham-that he and his children would possess the earth-was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God’s decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed. 14 If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract! That’s not a holy promise; that’s a business deal. 15 A contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect. But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise-and God’s promise at that-you can’t break it.

16 This is why the fulfillment of God’s promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God’s promise arrives as pure gift. That’s the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it, those who keep the religious traditions and those who have never heard of them. For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father-that’s reading the story backwards. He is our faith father.

17 We call Abraham "father" not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. 18 When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, "You’re going to have a big family, Abraham!"

19 Abraham didn’t focus on his own impotence and say, "It’s hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah’s decades of infertility and give up. 20 He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, 21 sure that God would make good on what he had said. 22 That’s why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." 23 But it’s not just Abraham; 24 it’s also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. 25 The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.

Don't Look Back - Enough is Enough!

 
  I sought the Lord, and He answered me;
  He delivered me from all my fears.
  Psalm 34:4





Verbal abuse causes you to live in fear - wondering what's gonna happen next, waiting for that pen to drop, walking on egg shells, but God didn't give us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). After my abuser wined and dined me and reeled me in, then we moved in together. As soon as that door closed, they knew they had me and verbal abuse came - I was told I was stupid every day, that nobody else would ever want me, that I would never amount to anything, that I could never make it on my own, they would curse and scream at me ... it literally destroyed my soul. Separated me from my family, my friends, all to try keep me dependent on them.

Some say there's no harm in verbal abuse. I disagree. Being barked at and screamed at all day long removes the peace from the home, removes the unity and you get to where you can't make decisions on your own. An abuser is all about control, and God wants us to be led by Him, not some abuser.

We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:2

Physical abuse came later - throwing chairs, raping me and laughing while I cried, beating my head against the wall dozens of times during each episode, beating me repeatedly in the kidneys, telling me how to dress and what to do, would hit me over the head with a cast iron skillet if I didn't put my clothes in the hamper, would take me on suicide rides in the car and try to kill us, would sit me in a corner and throw knives at me, would push me out of the bed after we had had sex because they didn't want to sleep with me, would throw me out of the car and leave me, one time they let me out with some friends of theirs on the side of the road and then told them to gang rape me. They ran me and my mother off the road (we were all in separate cars) and at my mothers once they broke in to try to pull me out of the house.

Know that forced sex, whether you are married or not, is rape. We aren't a toilet or a possession of theirs, we're children of God and His temple.

Once God removed them from my life (I finally defended myself and then hi-tailed it out and never looked back) I didn't see them for another 10 years or so, and that was just in passing. God protected me ... because IT WAS TIME and He said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. All their threats to kill me and my family were hogwash. Not that it always is, but when He says go or kick em out - do it. My experience has been that eventually the Lord removes one or the other cause He doesn't want to see us suffer. He says in His Word that He'll only allow the innocent to be taken advantage of for so long. Anyway, as you can imagine, I don't have a lot of sympathy for abusers, verbal or anything else. FYI - 9 out of 10 verbal leads to physical.

But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from Me. I, the Lord, have spoken. Isaiah 54:17

Sad to say, so many people (including some ministers) say that we should stay with our abusers, try to make it work, win them over with love, and pray for them. Oh, please. Let those people advising that try living in an abusive situation like getting their face bashed in or demeaning them all day long and then see if they counsel, 'just pray'. Without God, an abuser will NEVER change. No matter how many times they tell you they're sorry or that they'll change or buy you things, it just ain't happening without God. Get out people. Set aside money, prepare a 'to go' bag with important papers, find a 'safe house' and ... get out. Let God fix them, while you're safe somewhere else. When you get out, don't look back or reminisce about the handful of good times ya'll may've had. One hit in the whole time ya'll were together is enough reason to never go back. Cut them soul ties.

Trust God, He has your best interests at heart.

You don't have to be afraid anymore, you'll find out the truth and it'll set you free.

Prayer: Father, I plead the Blood of Jesus Christ over us. Protect us. Lead us. Guide us. Tell us what to do and show us which way to go. Give us a way out. Help us not to look back or go back. Heal our hearts. Love on us. Fill the voids. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because

you are faithful and righteous.

2 Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you.

3 My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in

 darkness like those in the grave.

4 I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.

5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and

think about what you have done.

6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens.

Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.

8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.

Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.

10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

11 For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.

Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes,

for I am your servant.

See also

Step Away ... from that Stale Cracker!

God HATES Abuse - So Stop Being a Martyr & Let Go

 

__________________________________

The National Domestic  Violence Hotline

1 (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or 1 (800) 787-3224 (TTY)

Anonymous & Confidential Help 24/7

http://www.thehotline.org/

Prayer to Begin the Day

Look to the Lord and His
strength; seek His face always.
Psalm 105:4




The Lord gave me this prayer back in 2002. I have it in a frame on my wall in the kitchen and pray it whenever I get the chance.

Abba Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You that You will never leave us, nor forsake us. Be not far from us.

Baptize us in Your love. Reveal Your unconditional love for us to us - let us see that love in everything around us. Remove all obstacles that keep us from receiving that love.

Help us to know who we are in You. Lead us and guide us, in the way that we should go. I pray for a fresh anointing and re-newed strength.

Bless us so that we may bless others. Love people through us. Speak to people through us. Heal people through us. Let them see Jesus in us. For You are what it's all about.

Amidst the rush of the day, it's comforting to know that our job is to simply trust and obey. YOU do the work. Your response to me one day when I repeatedly told You, "I'm trying, Lord. I'm trying" was "I see you trying. Stop. Start leaning. Trust the Spirit. You can't do it. Why do you even try? Do you think that you can do a better job than I can? Only My spirit through you can do it ... that's what grace is for."

Work Your perfect will through us. I'm honored that You choose to live in us, Lord. Thank You that Christ in us is the hope of glory.

Thank You Father, in Jesus' name.

Obeying God & Not Seeing Results Yet?

'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor
are your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For
as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are
My ways higher than your ways, and My
thoughts than your thoughts.' Isaiah 55:8,9

Are You Obeying God & Yet Not Seeing the Results You Hoped to See?

Don't give up.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Reverance God above your own expectations.

Obey Him, even when you don't understand what you see.

Focus on what He has called you to do and trust Him for the rest.

God's ways definitely aren't our ways.

Respect Him and trust Him enough to know that His ways are the right ways.

Seek His ways above all else.

by SLF

You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord ... Jeremiah 29:13, 14

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. Ps 34:17

God's not finished with us yet. Don't give in when faced with adversity. We don't have all the answers, none of us do. But we serve a loving, compassionate God who does, and He awaits for us to call on Him.

God answers.

Prayer: Father, help us not to grow weary while we wait on You and the good plan that You have for us. Give us grace to wait and renew our strength. Give us what we need to go through. Help us to go about doing good and taking care of Your people while You work in our situations. Having done all, help us to stand. In Jesus' name, amen.

Contemplating Suicide?

'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' Jeremiah 29:11 

Contemplating suicide? DON'T do it. Instead, call on Jesus and seek help at 1-800-273-TALK or go to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's website.

God loves you - whether you believe it or not - and He DOESN'T want you to end your life. No matter how hard life gets, know that with God there is hope - eternal hope - in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

NOTHING will be ever able to separate us from the love of God that's in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:39).

Cover your mind and thoughts with the Blood of Jesus. Cast down thoughts of suicide. Don't listen to or entertain the voice of the enemy anymore. When a thought of suicide comes to you, speak out loud … ask the Lord for a scripture or you can use the above Jeremiah 29:11 one or use Psalm 118:17 – I will not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

You are worth so much more than that. Start seeing yourself as your heavenly Father sees you. You are special. You are loved. You are accepted by God. You don't have to be perfect (you can't be anyway) or try through works to earn His love. His loving, unfailing grace and mercy will carry you.

Put your faith and hope in Christ and His love for you, for you are never alone if you know Him.

Go ahead, ask Jesus for help, for He answers.

Prayer: Father, I pray that You renew our hope in You. Give us peace, heal our hearts, give us a reason to want to live. Strengthen us Lord God, according to Your Word. In Jesus' name, amen.

If you would like to pray a prayer of salvation surrendering your life to Jesus go here: Do You Know Jesus?

See related post: Prescription for Depression

There's a Reason for That Test, You Know

Blessed are those who endure when they are tested ... James 1:12

We're always being tested - by major changes, delayed promises, impossible situations, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticisms, etc.


When you understand that all of life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant. Every day is an important day and every second a growth opportunity to deepen your character, demonstrate your love and make you depend more on God.

Are you in a time of testing? If so, know that God NEVER allows the test you face to be greater than the GRACE He provides. God won't allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you're put to the test, He'll give you strength to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Every time you pass a test, God notices and makes plans to reward you. James wrote in James 1:12, 'When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.'

HANG IN THERE, for God WILL bring you THROUGH the tests of life and make you stronger and wiser.

Prayer: Father, where would we be if it weren't for Your grace? Thank You for equipping us with what we need to go through, for going before us, and for holding our hand through our journey. Wash away the disappointments and discouragements with Your love, Lord and renew our hope in You and the good plan that You have for our life. In Jesus' name, amen.

God HATES Abuse - So Stop Being a Martyr & Let Go

For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I hate divorce and him who covers his garment [his wife] with violence. Therefore keep a watch upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by My Spirit], that you deal not treacherously and faithlessly [with your marriage mate]. Malachi 2:16
Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Colossians 3:19




You've probably heard more times than you've wanted to that God hates divorce. But did you know that God ALSO hates abuse? Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) and we are to take care of and protect them. The Word also says to guard our heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23).

The Lord has delivered me from many abusive relationships, including the last one which was a verbal, mental, emotional, physical & sexual abusive relationship that lasted 10 yrs. - He can do it for you, too. I always felt like when I had chairs or knives or fists or hateful words thrown at me that when I called on Jesus He heard me but didn't do anything - but He did - I'm still here. The enemy and all my abusers have lost their power over me because of Christ's love for me and His Blood that covers me. If you're still around, you're a fighter and a survivor, too.

We are to be controlled and led by the Holy Spirit, not man. We should never submit to man to the point of sin (whether or not they are our husband, parent, or leader). It's better to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). Sad to say, so often out of fear or people pleasing (not wanting to offend), we obey man. Be obedient to the voice of the Lord and instead of being afraid of repercussions or retaliation, trust God for the outcome. Go to God for wisdom and the final say so regarding your relationships - not your friends. Friends can listen, support and advise but don't know what's best for you - only God does.

Without a radical moving and healing from God, an abuser will NEVER EVER change - even if they cry, beg or give gifts - DON'T fall for the lies. Men who abuse women are so chicken and so weak and what happened in their past is NO excuse or reason to do it. They think it makes them feel like a man and they need a mother figure to slave for them that they can control. They also want to have their own personal 'sex slave'. Abusers gain control through brainwashing and fear tactics (like I'll kill you or your family, you can't make it without me, nobody else would want you, or you don't have any money). That and the involvement of children is why some choose to stay anyway.

If someone yells at you, controls you, hits you and separates you from friends and family - you're being abused - pray for a way out and get out. Respect yourself and Christ in you enough to not allow others to abuse and belittle you. Don't allow others to take advantage of and mistreat you because of their position and power. 1 Corinthians 6:14 says not to be unequally yoked. God HATES abuse and DOESN'T want you to live in an abusive situation. You ARE NOT your abuser's savior. You can't fix them, change them, or save them. Jesus should be your Lord (there's only 1 God, 1 Lord, 1 Savior), not a man. 1 Corinthians 7:16 says, 'Wife, how can you be sure of converting and saving your husband? Husband, how can you be sure of converting and saving your wife?' DON'T be deceived into thinking you have to stay with your abuser to keep them from suicide, it's not your responsibility. DON'T worry about 'what ifs'. DON'T stay for the children, the abuser will probably abuse them whether you're there or not. Take you and them to a safe house. (SafeHouseCenter.org 24/7 Helpline: (734) 995-5444). Pray and let God do the work.

Our worth is found in God, not in how people treat us. DON'T define yourself by how you are being treated by an abuser. You ARE NOT a punching bag. You ARE a child of the Most High God. You ARE special in God's sight. You ARE valuable. You ARE loved. You ARE accepted.

God has a GOOD plan for our lives. The Word says in Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' Allow Christ's unfailing love to sustain you. You CAN live without your abuser. You CAN have friends that aren't tied to your abuser. You ARE NOT crazy, stupid, or unwanted. You CAN make it on your own - dependent on GOD. You WILL and DO amount to something. You CAN make good decisions on your own - with God's help. You ARE strong enough - God gives you the strength. God DOES hear your cries for help.

It should also be noted that it's a misdemeanor to know that a crime (like abuse) is being committed and not report it. It's a felony to commit abuse - whether they are your spouse or not. It's a felony to commit rape - whether they are your spouse or not. Be a listening ear to those in crisis situations, they don't need your judgment.

Being abused? GET OUT and call 911 - and DON'T let fear and threats talk you out of pressing charges. We won't think less of you, instead we'll be proud of you. If you're being abused, get out and don't look back.

Prayer: Father, I pray that You stop the cycle of abuse across this land. We curse ungodly soul ties in our lives and pray for deliverance from abuse and help us not to return to toxic relationships once we've been delivered. Help us to treat each other with love and respect. Help those of us being abused to get help. Protect us from further harm, Lord. Heal our hearts, minister to those places where we have withdrawn and retreated to in order to protect ourselves. Love on us. Help us to put down the old ways of thinking and doing and begin to trust You enough to do a new thing in us. We will press through. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 
Helpful Scripture

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] John 16:33
If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31
Greater is Jesus in us than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4God will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to Him. Ps 72:14
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24
NO weapon trying to form against us is gonna prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
JESUS is our Husband; He removes our shame: Is 54 http://bit.ly/gdamZG

Helpful Numbers & Websites

If you have been or are being abused now, GET HELP NOW - call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (http://www.thehotline.org) 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Signs of Abusive Men http://eshanya.webs.com/signsofabusivemen.htm
Male Victims of Domestic Abuse http://www.aardvarc.org/dv/malevictims.shtml
Power & Control Tactics Used in Same-Sex Relationships http://bit.ly/l6n4OR
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence - 'Safety Plan' http://bit.ly/a3LWvg
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence - 'Protecting Your Identity' http://bit.ly/dD6a7h National Coalition Against Domestic Violence - 'Internet Safety' http://bit.ly/aVhr3X

See related post: Step Away ... from that Stale Cracker! http://bit.ly/ihCXye

The Days Tweets 2-26-11

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who says to you, FEAR NOT, I am the one who helps you. Isaiah 41:13

DON'T stop believing.
Jesus is our ONLY hope.
Let go and let God.
Trust God and not man.

Behold, the former things have come to pass and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I TELL YOU of them. Isaiah 42:9

Jesus is our Healer.
I've got a feeling EVERYTHING is gonna be alright.
STOP listening to lies of the enemy - One way to identify them - when you say 'the devils been lying to me saying ...' what comes next is a LIE.
This too SHALL pass.
Relax in the LOVE that CHRIST has for YOU.
Hold fast to the words that the Lord gives you, for He WILL come through for you.
What in the world would I do without You – You're my Husband, Savior, Father, Best Friend, Healer, Provider, Deliverer – You're my EVERYTHING Jesus!
Our heavenly Father has us in the palm of His hands.
Apart from Christ, we can't do ANYTHING.

When you attacked powerful nations, the Lord MADE THEM run away, and no one has EVER been able to stand up to you. Any one of you can defeat a thousand enemy soldiers, because the LORD GOD fights for you, just as He PROMISED. Deep in your hearts you know that the LORD has kept EVERY PROMISE He ever made to you. Not one of them has been broken. Joshua 23:9,10,14

Stay close to the Vine and feed on God's Word and you'll go far.
God's got the WHOLE WORLD in His hands.

Prayer: Father, I pray that you touch our hearts and fill us with an overwhelming knowing of the love that you have for us. We need You so much, don't abandon us. Fill the voids. Heal the hurts. Strengthen us according to Your Word, in Jesus' name, amen.

Simple Word from the Lord to Me 2-7-11

Jesus said, If you love Me, obey My
commandments. All who love Me will
do what I say. My Father will love them,
and We will come and make Our home
with each of them. Anyone who
doesn’t love Me will not obey Me …
John 14:15, 23,24

 

 

 

It's in the fire that you get to know Me.
The more you know of Me, the more you love Me.
The more you love Me, the more you obey Me.

Prayer: Father, help us to hold on to our faith in You as we go through fiery trials. Give us a desire to want to know You better, love You more, and honor You by doing our best to be obedient. Give us grace. Live Your life through us, Lord. When we fall short, help us to stop beating ourselves up ... there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen.

So, Are You Still Standing?

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:13, 14




God's mercies are new EVERY morning. His grace comes RIGHT WHEN we need it.

If you are believing to see the promises of God come to fruition in your life - DON'T give up. God IS a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

You may be tired, things may seem dark, but remember it's always darkest just before the dawn appears. When you are weak, that's when God's strength will rise up in you.

DON'T give up because God wants to pour out His abundant blessing in every area of your life. When the bottom falls out, when it looks like you've hit an all-time low, hold on to hope. You don't know what God has around the corner.

Jesus triumphs in EVERY circumstance.

Keep standing, keep believing, keep declaring God's Word over your life.

Having done all ... STAND.

Prayer: Father, help us to keep holding on to You and Your promises of hope. Not one promise of Yours has ever failed, so give us the grace to keep pressing in and not give up. Renew our hope – in You. Be the lifter of our head. Encourage us and use us to encourage others. Refresh us and help us to be ever filled with Your Spirit. In Jesus' name, amen.