tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57019107912097488192024-03-05T07:53:53.857-08:00Don't Waste Your PainPain and suffering are no strangers to humankind, and their existence is well documented in the Bible. God doesn't promise that you won't suffer, but He does promise you won't suffer alone; He will be with you. In my book I describe my journey with chronic pain to show that God has a purpose in our lives through pain.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-79476018224774602272016-08-05T18:53:00.001-07:002016-08-05T18:55:08.907-07:00Refocus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My life this week: When you think you trust God, but then you show you really don't fully trust Him.<br />
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Yep...I was feeling that today. My pain has been my constant companion for 10 years. My trust in God about my pain hasn't waned at all. But then last week I was hit with a very difficult, different trial that I wasn't ready for. You would think after walking with the Lord for 16 years and going through the pain I have gone through that I would be rock solid in my trusting God. I have become so complacent in my faith.<br />
Yes I believed God was there.<br />
Yes I trusted Him.<br />
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But then a new trial comes barrelling in with no notice. What? How could I deal with this too?<br />
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Oh no. I just kept thinking, "It's too much."<br />
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I had a lump on my throat and a very heavy heart.<br />
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But God's plan for me was and is always good. This didn't feel good though!<br />
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Ahh...the light goes on...<br />
What do feelings have to do with God's goodness?<br />
When I feel angry or sad does that mean God is not good? <br />
No, my feelings don't tell me anything except that I am fallen. They actually lead me astray more times than I can count.<br />
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These two verses “<i>He who trusts in his own heart is a fool</i>” (Proverbs 28:26a) and “<i>The heart is deceitful above all things</i> (Jeremiah 17:9a) are so good to point us <i>away from listening to our thoughts.</i> <br />
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Think of the last time you had strong negative emotions...<br />
Did it lead you to love God more?<br />
Desire His Word?<br />
Seek Him?<br />
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So we are getting somewhere...<br />
John.16:33 says, “<i>I have told you these things, so that in me you may have
peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have
overcome the world."</i> <br />
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Our emotions (since we are sinful) can draw us away from God. We aren't believing God when He says we can truly have peace even when life gets crazy scary. Why? We fall into believing we are losing control and if we just get a handle on this issue we will be back to normal... But God never promises that. We are NOT in control. But God has overcome this world and He loves us! Imagine if we kept our eyes focused completely on Him even in the very, very hard times.<br />
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Picture a runner at the start line, seeing the endpoint 100 meters away. He has worked for years perfecting his start, his endurance, his end. He has kept his eyes on the finish. If he was distracted in any way he would not win the race. <br />
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<i>"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and
not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Do your
best to come to me soon." </i><br />
<i> </i>~2 Tim 4:7-9<i> </i><br />
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<i>"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."</i><span class="p"><br /></span><br />
~Isaiah 26:3<br />
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<i>"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."</i><span class="p"><br /></span>~Col 3:2 <br />
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Are you resting in God's promises?<br />
All I can say is I'm with you. I doubt. I cry. I fear.<br />
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But I'm glad God doesn't leave me there. Even in my week of despair that things would never change, God was keeping His eyes on me, loving me through it. He was there and He still is.<br />
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I'm thankful for this new trial. God has strengthen me through it in a way I couldn't be taught any other way.<br />
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If you are going through a really difficult time don't think God is far from you. Believe His Word. He is closer than a brother. Thank Him for the trial. What an awesome God we serve. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-35181563974672129442016-05-23T20:17:00.001-07:002016-05-23T20:17:49.774-07:00The very short, terribly hard walk to paradise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Imagine for a moment that you are a mile away from Paradise:</div>
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No more pain, no more suffering, and pleasures forever more! But you have no way to get there except walking barefoot on sharp, jagged rocks. </div>
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"It's only a mile," you tell yourself! "I can deal with the pain." </div>
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So you start walking. Your eyes keep looking down as you wince at each painful step. But then it occurs to you...</div>
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"If I keep my eyes fixed on Paradise I will be able to get there, happily!"</div>
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Yes it will be a painful mile, but, OH the joy of getting there!</div>
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It
seems like in our own life, a "hand-breath," we think we have such a
long time before we arrive Home. We painstakingly complain each day of
trivial things that don't go our way. Our eyes are so focused on the
here and now, the little idiosyncrasies that bother us, the pain that
afflicts us, the people that hurt us.<br />
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But, we have a great hope! This hope is in the One true God who awaits us, at home.<br />
You
are one mile from there dear friend, a "hand-breath" away and we will
be there, with our heavenly Father who awaits us with arms wide open.<br />
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<i><b>See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.</b></i><br />
<b> 1 John 3:1a </b><br />
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<b><i>But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,</i><span class="p"></span></b><br />
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<span class="p"><b> Philippians 3:20</b></span><br />
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He
delights in calling us His children. That in itself should make us
praise Him! We are His! He has prepared a place for us and we need to
keep our fixed on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith.<br />
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Don't let this world hold you down through its deception. No, run to Him, focus on Him, love Him!<br />
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Amen and Amen<br />
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<b><i><span class="text Rev-21-1">Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.</span> <span class="text Rev-21-2" id="en-ESV-31040">And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.</span> <span class="text Rev-21-3" id="en-ESV-31041">And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people,and God himself will be with them as their God.<sup> </sup></span><span class="text Rev-21-4" id="en-ESV-31042">He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”</span></i></b> <br />
<b><i><span class="text Rev-21-5" id="en-ESV-31043"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”</span> <span class="text Rev-21-6" id="en-ESV-31044"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning
and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of
life without payment.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span class="text Rev-21-6" id="en-ESV-31044"> </span></b><span class="text Rev-21-6" id="en-ESV-31044"><b>Revelation 21:1-6</b> </span> <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-30508234438780996362016-04-14T18:15:00.000-07:002016-04-14T18:15:04.798-07:00Don't let anxiety or fear consume you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the strangest struggles I have dealt with on this pain journey has been fear and anxiety. It's not because I don't think I should have to deal with them, but because God allows them to draw me to Him. Yes! Anxiety and fear are great gifts! You see, when I am afraid or start to feel anxious that my pain will be with me for the long haul, or I am tempted to dwell on the fear of pain getting worse over time I turn that fear into praise. God's word is so helpful for when fear grips us.<br />
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I absolutely love Psalm 73:26 </div>
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Are you in God's word daily? If not you are missing a huge blessing.<br />
This pain you and I have consumes our thoughts and lives, but it doesn't have to!<br />
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Read Isaiah 41:10 with me-<br />
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Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand!<br />
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Those words are dear to my heart. I know God is close to me, tenderly taking care of me. When He tells us not to fear we can trust Him.<br />
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Who are you trusting today? Still trying to do this pain thing by yourself? Surrender the control you think you have and find comfort from the Lord who loves you! Meditate on these verses today and watch Him work! Your fear and anxiety will leave when you decide God is all you need and that He is fully in control.<br />
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Thank Him!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-19741578064500797442016-04-10T18:16:00.001-07:002016-04-11T17:54:54.651-07:00Hungering For God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="verse-2"> I came across these verses as I was reading a few days ago and they completely stopped me in my tracks! Yes I have read them before but this time- <span style="font-size: small;"><i>WOW</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">-</span> I got so much from them and I hope in a few minutes, you too will be blessed by them. We read in Deuteronomy that Moses is recalling what God did in the wilderness for <span style="font-size: small;"><i>His</i></span> people. He says-<br /><br /><br />"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, <span style="font-size: small;"><i>to humble and test you</i></span> in order to <u>know</u> what was <span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">in your heart</span></i>,</span> whether or not you would keep his commands. </span> <br />
<div class="verse font-family: 'Dawning of a New Day', cursive;" id="v-3">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="verse-3"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>He humbled you</i></span>, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, <u>to teach</u> <u>you</u> that man <span style="font-size: small;"><i>does not live on bread alone</i></span> but<span style="font-size: x-large;">...</span> <span style="font-size: small;">on <span style="font-size: small;"><i>every word</i></span> that come from the <u><span style="font-size: small;"><i>mouth of the LORD</i></span></u>."</span> <br /><br />Deuteronomy 8:2-3</span><br />
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<span class="verse-3">Moses starts out with the word-<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Remember</b></i></span>...</span><br />
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<span class="verse-3">Oh how hard it is to remember back on what the Lord has done for us when we were in pain yesterday, two months ago, 7 years ago, etc! <u> </u></span><br />
<span class="verse-3"><u>It's easy to forget how good He is to us.</u> </span><br />
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<span class="verse-3">But here Moses says to remember. Just that word alone should be enough for them to relive all that <span style="font-size: small;"><i>God</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>did for them in the desert. </span><br />
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<span class="verse-3">And it should be enough for us to say, </span><br />
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<span class="verse-3">"<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you</span></i> </span>Lord for all you have done for me! Help me to stop wallowing in my self pity and today, just remember your goodness and all you've brought me through!"</span><br />
<span class="verse-3"><br /></span>
<span class="verse-3">Then Moses says that the Lord <i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">led</span></span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></b>them for 40 years in the wilderness. Umm...am I the only one taking a big gulp right now? Remember (lol there is that word again!) when you were in preschool and you had to hold the person's hand in front of you as the teacher led you all to lunch or the library? I tend to picture this like that (although I am sure they weren't holding hands). <span style="font-size: small;"><i>But</i></span> I do see that they had <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>no</i><b><i> </i></b></span><span style="font-size: small;">ability to go out on their own and live. They were in the <span style="font-size: small;"><i>wilderness</i></span>! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="verse-3"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>RIGHT WHERE GOD WANTED THEM</b>.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="verse-3"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">And this life that you are living right now, pain and all, is where God <i><span style="font-size: medium;">wants</span></i> you, so that you will<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> </b>trust<b> </b></i></span>Him as <u>He</u> leads you. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="verse-3"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Are you beginning to see why I love these two verses? </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">They weren't out there for a few days relying completely on God for food, shelter, water, shoes, clothes, etc...We are talking<i><u> </u><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>40</u></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></i>years!</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm not even 40 years old. That would mean for <span style="font-size: medium;"><i>all<b> </b></i></span>of my life I would have been in a dry, <span style="font-size: medium;"><i>hot </i></span>desert not knowing where my next meal would come from or where we will pick up and move to tomorrow morning at dawn. These people were totally, 100% relying on God for <span style="font-size: small;"><u><i><span style="font-size: small;">everything</span></i></u></span>. But...they weren't doing it very well.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">God had a purpose for all those years. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I bet the people <span style="font-size: small;"><i>cried</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>out daily, </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Why</i></span></span> Lord, why do I need to go through this even one more day. I get it! You are in control. Now can we please have a place to stay?" </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But God was at work, humbling their stubborn and unrepentant hearts. Just as He is <i>today.</i><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">He did this... this leading, this wandering to <i>test</i> their hearts. The outer appearance means nothing! God is more interested in our motives. He never tempts us, no that's the devils job. But our Lord tests us! This should be sobering news. Our hearts are full of wickedness and deceit even though we tell ourselves we are <i>good</i>.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm sure the Israelites felt the same, sadly. They may have even said, </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"But God, I'm good! I keep the commandments and all so why can't you just take us to the Promised Land already?"</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>We<b> </b></i>do the same thing. We think we are good! We think God <i>owes<b> </b></i>us! How foolish we can be! Of course they couldn't keep the commandments (maybe outwardly) but God knew their hearts and He knows ours as well!</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our Pain, our suffering- God is using it to <u><i>humble</i></u> us and to draw us to Himself. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Each day out in the wilderness, God provided for them, but </span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>only for that day</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">God was lovingly guiding His people and feeding and clothing them but they didn't see it like that.<i><b> </b>We do the same thing!</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"God why do I have to suffer in this way?" All the while He is taking care of you and using your pain for a reason!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"He will never leave you or forsake you!" Praise Him for this. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Deuteronomy 31:6b</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Then God tells them a profound truth. Incline your ear to hear:</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> "...<span class="verse-3">man <span style="font-size: medium;"><i>does not live on bread alone</i></span> but<span style="font-size: large;">...</span> on <span style="font-size: medium;"><i>every word</i></span> that come from the<i> </i><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>mouth of the LORD</i></span>."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;">These are the same words Jesus used in His wilderness.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;">you see, bread is, well, a staple of most people's diets. We eat to survive, but this sentence completely throws that out the window. <i>God sustains us</i>! God! Not bread! Hunger for Him! For Righteousness!</span><br />
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;">It is His will in our lives that matter. He has chosen for you and I to suffer! And because of that, we need to look to Him for <i><u>everything</u><b>. </b></i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;">You will find that when you do look to Him for everything, your focus becomes a little more clear. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;">He has the answers!</span><br />
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;">He holds our future! <i><b> </b></i></span><br />
<span class="verse-3" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>And...It's all for His glory and our good.</i></b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="verse-3"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>So let's return to my new, favorite word:</i></span><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Remember.</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="verse-3"> </span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-50993966000567634562016-02-14T12:21:00.000-08:002016-02-14T12:22:59.242-08:00Our Treasure<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79-I6aIE9gjDQQ8sy5wP_ciTSfxahOQ-Y6jRV2IQGKwyRYkUIRfgQ1mvijKWOcELp8ff0qCUBrckEWGVtkN1VUA0WgOyN1SJfHHWXOwv1eReF3zH7maWZZ_vOgy0CqRV-ZrpU4jaEun-j/s1600/images222.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79-I6aIE9gjDQQ8sy5wP_ciTSfxahOQ-Y6jRV2IQGKwyRYkUIRfgQ1mvijKWOcELp8ff0qCUBrckEWGVtkN1VUA0WgOyN1SJfHHWXOwv1eReF3zH7maWZZ_vOgy0CqRV-ZrpU4jaEun-j/s1600/images222.jpeg" /></a></div>
Our health cannot be our treasure! If our hope is in getting better
or getting over this we need to change our focus. The Lord needs to be
our treasure! <br />
When we are going through pain of any kind our
first inclination is to pray, "Lord get me out of this! Heal me! Take
this pain away!"<br />
But God lovingly may re-directs our focus...<br />
When I was diagnosed 10 years ago with Trigeminal Neuralgia I was not
going to accept defeat as I saw it! My dreams of getting my Master's
degree and having a family and just enjoying life were all that
mattered. I couldn't see how pain would become the means that God used
to take my focus off of this world and all that allured me, to a life of
constant pain but closeness with my Lord and with His people.<br />
He promised me He would never leave me or forsake me. (Deut 31:6b)<br />
He promised me that He was working out all things for His glory and my good. (Rom 8:28)<br />
He promised me that His grace is sufficient for me and that His power is made perfect in my weakness. (2 Cor 12:9)<br />
I started to believe He had something way better for me than health. <br />
If we count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of
knowing Christ Jesus as our Lord, we will have everything we will need
for this life and the life to come. (Phil 3:7)<br />
Don't let your
treasure be found where moth and rust destroy: in things, in people, in
titles, in power, in all things of this world. Let your treasure be in
Christ alone. Stop feasting on this world. You will be too full for the
things of the Lord. <br />
Feast on Him! <br />
In your pain, <br />
in your weakness, <br />
trust Him!<br />
He is doing amazing, beautiful things in your life. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-49547890804567508302016-01-23T12:02:00.001-08:002016-01-23T12:02:19.945-08:00I Don't have time for this pain!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_3YZR3HzCGc6pg8Zyw2_UBh9K1c8uT-jEBO2xh9PAMRKW0eCD0awirniqj5aMq44_Sv9G_6REu7tTIsk-6B0eZd6ScyXsPZVJkFofsWWSSWdt7TtmxZIj2ugkc9AhQ6vJkKuVnYaOxPX/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_3YZR3HzCGc6pg8Zyw2_UBh9K1c8uT-jEBO2xh9PAMRKW0eCD0awirniqj5aMq44_Sv9G_6REu7tTIsk-6B0eZd6ScyXsPZVJkFofsWWSSWdt7TtmxZIj2ugkc9AhQ6vJkKuVnYaOxPX/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Before you get frustrated that your pain has interrupted your life, remember, God has a purpose:<br /> IN your pain<br /> THROUGH your pain <br />
<br />
In John 11 we hear the story of a much needed response from Jesus. <span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">BUT, He delayed because His purpose was much bigger than His friends thought. </span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
Take a look-<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">'Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany,a the village of Mary and her sister Martha.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried
his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> So the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> When Jesus heard this he said, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (WOW)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was.'</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Jesus didn't rush there to save him... </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">His purpose was to wait, and let Lazarus suffer and die...<br /> Why????<br />
To save more people through what He was about to do. Praise Jesus that
He doesn't always say yes in that moment to our pleas for help. His
plan is <br /> BIGGER and BETTER than we could ever imagine. His delays are never a waste.<br /> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">TRUST. HIM.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-9566186282505831012015-12-30T19:16:00.000-08:002015-12-30T19:25:42.106-08:00 Suffering without murmuring<div style="text-align: center;">
Nothing, I repeat, Nothing </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
magnifies the excellency of the might and mercy of God </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
like suffering for Him </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
without murmuring against Him.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know, it's so easy to do... <br />
Suffering, itself seems to<br />
say, "Hey, I'm not ok and I want to complain!" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But it doesn't make it right.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
God has allowed this suffering in your life today. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What will you do with it? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Are you complaining </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to God about your pain?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or are you using your time to worship and thank Him?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We can use the time God has given us</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to praise Him and help others</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
see and delight in the Lord</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our God!<br />
<br />
He has given this PAIN to you today.<br />
Don't waste it! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h1 class="passage-display" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv">Psalm 145</span><span class="passage-display-version"><br /></span></h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Ps-145-1" id="en-ESV-16322">Great Is the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span></h3>
<h4 class="psalm-title" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Ps-145-1"> A Song of Praise. Of David.</span></h4>
<div class="poetry" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="line">
<span class="chapter-3"><span class="text Ps-145-1"><span class="chapternum"></span>I will extol you, my God and King,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-1">and bless your name forever and ever.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-2" id="en-ESV-16323"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Every day I will bless you</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-2">and praise your name forever and ever.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-3" id="en-ESV-16324"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Great is the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, and greatly to be praised,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-3">and his greatness is unsearchable.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-1" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-145-4" id="en-ESV-16325"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>One generation shall commend your works to another,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-4">and shall declare your mighty acts.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-5" id="en-ESV-16326"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>On the glorious splendor of your majesty,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-5">and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-6" id="en-ESV-16327"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-6">and I will declare your greatness.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-7" id="en-ESV-16328"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-7">and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-1" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-145-8" id="en-ESV-16329">The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is gracious and merciful,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-8">slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-9" id="en-ESV-16330"><sup class="versenum"></sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is good to all,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-9">and his mercy is over all that he has made.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-1" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-145-10" id="en-ESV-16331">All your works shall give thanks to you, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-10">and all your saints shall bless you!</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-11" id="en-ESV-16332"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-11">and tell of your power,</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-12" id="en-ESV-16333"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-12">and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-13" id="en-ESV-16334"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-13">and your dominion endures throughout all generations.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-1" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-145-13">[The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is faithful in all his words</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-13">and kind in all his works.]</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-14" id="en-ESV-16335"><sup class="versenum"></sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> upholds all who are falling</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-14">and raises up all who are bowed down.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-15" id="en-ESV-16336"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>The eyes of all look to you,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-15">and you give them their food in due season.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-16" id="en-ESV-16337"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>You open your hand;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-16">you satisfy the desire of every living thing.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-17" id="en-ESV-16338"><sup class="versenum"></sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is righteous in all his ways</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-17">and kind in all his works.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-18" id="en-ESV-16339"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is near to all who call on him,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-18">to all who call on him in truth.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-19" id="en-ESV-16340"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-19">he also hears their cry and saves them.</span></span><span class="text Ps-145-20" id="en-ESV-16341"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> preserves all who love him,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-20">but all the wicked he will destroy.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-1" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-145-21" id="en-ESV-16342"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>My mouth will speak the praise of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-145-21">and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.</span></span></div>
<div class="line">
<br /></div>
<div class="line">
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-145-21">Amen.<br /><br />God bless you!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-15372739363415954862015-12-08T19:14:00.000-08:002015-12-27T21:49:23.493-08:00The best thing to happen to you!<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcINvvw_PacwqrNEr8c2brr2HP5Lq7fLjvAc94qzsh_gvbqXkP1OXbqKUN3eBgX1sOPpQuDQd0Nld61rPXNN7_RTT3qEY4SN-EHRCtpcz6oqIXgD12ibg9LLuNOOIFKAt2fekE2gwBbZZk/s1600/Tx-dusty-road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcINvvw_PacwqrNEr8c2brr2HP5Lq7fLjvAc94qzsh_gvbqXkP1OXbqKUN3eBgX1sOPpQuDQd0Nld61rPXNN7_RTT3qEY4SN-EHRCtpcz6oqIXgD12ibg9LLuNOOIFKAt2fekE2gwBbZZk/s320/Tx-dusty-road.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The best thing to happen to you...Hmm <br />
I bet you are thinking I am going to say:<br />
<br />
a new job<br />
<br />
a great spouse<br />
<br />
obedient kids<br />
<br />
ideal vacation<br />
<br />
money in the bank<br />
<br />
but, no, none of these are what I want to talk about today.<br />
The best thing to happen to you is a trial. Yes I said it, a TRIAL.<br />
What???<br />
Why would a trial be the best thing to happen to you?<br />
<br />
James tells us in chapter 1:2<br />
"Count it <u>all</u> <span style="background-color: white;">joy,</span> my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,<span class="p">"</span><br />
<br />
<span class="p">You may say, "Well that's easy for James to say! He doesn't have my pain. If he did, he wouldn't say to count it ALL joy." </span><br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<span class="p">But James shows us an amazing treasure if we could understand it.</span><br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<span class="p">You see, our faith isn't proven until we face a trial. When things are going really well our faith isn't tested. In fact, when things are going well in life we hardly go to the Lord. We feel we are doing a pretty good job, but then....when difficulty comes we go running to God.</span><br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<span class="p">"Please God take this problem from me! I can't do it anymore. I need you!"</span><br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<span class="p">WOW...I hope you see the error in this conversation. God is not our genie. He doesn't show up on the scene to put out the fire. </span><br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<span class="p">He is: </span><br />
<span class="p">Almighty God</span><br />
<span class="p">Prince of Peace</span><br />
<span class="p">Our Savior</span><br />
<span class="p">King of Kings</span><br />
<span class="p">The First and the Last </span><br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<span class="p">When a trial comes, how do we react? Do we go to God, seeking HIM rather than relief? Can you truly say you trust the Lord whether you are in pain or not? How is your prayer life when your pain is gone? I want you to really think through these questions today. This tells a lot about what you truly believe. </span><br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<span class="p">You and I are standing on a road we didn't plan...</span><br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<span class="p">But God has it all planned out. He is in complete control and that should give you so much peace! Nothing that happens to you is outside His control. Amen. So in your pain, in your trial, thank Him! He is growing you and showing you your dependence on the Lord. <br /><br />Proverbs 16:9</span><br />
<br />
The heart of man plans his way, but the <span class="sc">Lord</span> establishes his steps.<br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<span class="p"></span><br />
<span class="p"><br /></span>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-84534013993944445822015-11-12T19:39:00.000-08:002015-11-12T19:39:26.256-08:00Stand Firm in your faithOne of satan's most tempting seductive lies:<br />
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<br />
YOU ARE ALONE IN YOUR SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE<br />
<br />
somehow everyone else's life is easy and you are the only one with this issue. <span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> He wants you to question "where is God in my life?!"<br /> "Doesn't he care?"</span><br />
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Peter gives us an answer in chapter 5:<br />
<br />
Satan goes around as a lion seeking someone to devour...to devour you at your weakest. <br />
<br />
What are you called to do?<br />
<br />
Resist Him<br />
<br />
STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH!<br />
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The same kinds of suffering or problems are in every corner of the world. <br />
We live in a fallen world!<br />
Recognize it!<br />
<br />
Where should you go when you don't think you can take anymore?<br />
<br />
When you listen to an evil lie...<br />
<br />
God's Word!<br /> Trust in God's sanctifying grace!<br />
He will, after a little while, will Himself, restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you!<br />
YOUR LORD WILL NOT TURN FROM HIS GRACE<br />
Suffering doesn't change His plan!<br />
He works best through suffering! <br />
The Cross wasn't Plan B<br />
Praise Him!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-63614282084480926762015-10-30T17:13:00.000-07:002015-11-01T13:01:08.511-08:00Good reminder <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCSlFbgFnoPk2Gk_fduo1z_jBa5JFuIMwzPTxShaPX4Xl1dADAsg013cnkTx1ei5LChdN3E871-FrWQy25i5Bwjz1eg-tbbhl4qLxCmR2H2ZkCVBtl9QRDgbxuO8pIEaqzuik7300RLG6/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCSlFbgFnoPk2Gk_fduo1z_jBa5JFuIMwzPTxShaPX4Xl1dADAsg013cnkTx1ei5LChdN3E871-FrWQy25i5Bwjz1eg-tbbhl4qLxCmR2H2ZkCVBtl9QRDgbxuO8pIEaqzuik7300RLG6/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So
I'm sure you, like the rest of us, have put up a few Fall items in your
house, even if it is hard. There's something about Fall that makes me
want to curl up in my favorite chair with my comfy blanket and a great
book! Today, though, as I was lounging in my favorite chair this
decoration was staring at me straight in the eye.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Give Thanks to The Lord!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And it made me stop<span style="font-family: inherit;">
in my tracks, realizing I had been grumbling all day about how I never
get a break from pain (you too?). Why does this decoration have to be
staring at me? Today I don't <span style="font-family: inherit;">FEEL like being thankful. I FEEL like crying, wi<span style="font-family: inherit;">shing <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">THIS</span> wasn't my life anymore. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, <span style="font-family: inherit;">H</span>ow <span style="font-family: inherit;">I</span>t's <span style="font-family: inherit;">E</span>asy <span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span>o <span style="font-family: inherit;">W</span>allow</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bitter<span style="font-family: inherit;">
feelings, deep down begin to surface and I begin thinking of all the
ways I'm not thankful. This is the ugly side of chronic pain. The side
that just can't focus on BEING thankful. How do I do that right now? How
do I help <span style="font-family: inherit;">others do that right now, in the midst of terrible pain<span style="font-family: inherit;">?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We Get Our Eyes Off Of Ourselves</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This isn<span style="font-family: inherit;">'t <span style="font-family: inherit;">easy. Our flesh<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">wants to keep th<span style="font-family: inherit;">e focus on ME-ME-ME...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But God, (I love those two words) has a much bigger PLAN. You see<span style="font-family: inherit;">,
the pain we struggle with is there to teach us more about Jesus, to
draw us nearer to the Father, and remind us to give thanks! There is OH
so much to be THANKFUL for. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">I Urge You To Read 2 Corinthians 4<span style="font-family: inherit;">:6-18</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Oh what a blessing it would be if I would REMEMBER these verses<span style="font-family: inherit;">! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God has given us <span style="font-family: inherit;">THIS pain to show the world His <span style="font-family: inherit;">grace<span style="font-family: inherit;">--</span>I can't do this THING called pain by myself. I need Him-and so do many others<span style="font-family: inherit;">-(Be thankful!)</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God has saved us<span style="font-family: inherit;"> (Be thankful!). </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All glory and power i<span style="font-family: inherit;">s in the Lord's hands (Be thankful!).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are in pain, but it's momentar<span style="font-family: inherit;">y (Be thankful!).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are not forsaken by our God (Be thankful!).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This pain is preparing us for an eternal<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>glory we can't comprehend (Be thankful!). </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One day...we will be in the presence of the Lord (<span style="font-family: inherit;">Be thankful!).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what do we do?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">We Give Thanks To Our Most Gracious Lord</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">amen.</span></span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span> </span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To those who don't believe and trust in Jesus as their Savior:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
You are separated from God by your sin and do not have this hope to
look forward to. I urge you, beg you, to sek forgiveness from the Lord,
repent from your sinful ways, and turn to Christ. Then, He will save you
and you will have an eternal inheritance waiting for you-free from
pain, free to love the Lord, and free from sin.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-37555230449635226342015-10-27T13:53:00.000-07:002015-10-27T13:53:50.536-07:00Roots Down Deep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qQvsu1sNagxwp8_Db74XFrxktbK80ajVN_W0s2KfV-Kff0LQOluCDtdV7zQd5Tjymx-4x2TL7_EmLBWkkmslBxEzfAHGfAhabP_3YaBIMuHUp4suIbEq51_gxJzRI9vH80GfAJEhbeC1/s1600/12191896_685721681529282_747362368429812683_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qQvsu1sNagxwp8_Db74XFrxktbK80ajVN_W0s2KfV-Kff0LQOluCDtdV7zQd5Tjymx-4x2TL7_EmLBWkkmslBxEzfAHGfAhabP_3YaBIMuHUp4suIbEq51_gxJzRI9vH80GfAJEhbeC1/s320/12191896_685721681529282_747362368429812683_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">My
hope in Christ is stronger today than ever before. It makes no sense to
the world around us, but the hope we have in Christ is as strong as a
tree next to the water with our roots down deep. Nothing will make us
waiver. We are held strong IN Christ. HE is the one who makes us strong.
<br /> <br /> When we cry out WHY Lord...<br /> We long for eternity. We long for the future promised to us through Christ. It ke<span class="text_exposed_show">eps me focused on the Lord, especially in my pain. <br /> <br /> How about you? Are your roots down deep, IN Christ? <br /> If you are satisfied in this world, your roots are not deep. <br /> But if you love the Lord, <br /> if you long for Heaven, <br /> if you trust in His will <br /> THEN you can say with me today, "God is my hope, and my HOPE is sure!"<br /> <br /> Jeremiah 17:8<br />
"He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the
stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear
fruit.”<br /> <br /> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/standstrong">#StandStrong</a></span></span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-23706761065843400032015-10-15T21:03:00.000-07:002015-10-15T21:08:09.594-07:00Assurance!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2AbcfiGN_iHOKgZ85SeZr-CfzcRRFM1vF7Vp1C8SNNvh9jMmj131lZmGBZjZP1NZwzBexnz06Fyk2BnGckENGZM7opC16gCtXRegNKFvTWgG8rL9bd9PrwuPJN9E7266IvqeP6-QTAZW/s1600/article-2207525-152AAF6C000005DC-51_638x517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2AbcfiGN_iHOKgZ85SeZr-CfzcRRFM1vF7Vp1C8SNNvh9jMmj131lZmGBZjZP1NZwzBexnz06Fyk2BnGckENGZM7opC16gCtXRegNKFvTWgG8rL9bd9PrwuPJN9E7266IvqeP6-QTAZW/s320/article-2207525-152AAF6C000005DC-51_638x517.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I am loved with everlasting love,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">clothed in eternal righteousness,</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">my peace flowing like a river,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">my comforts many and large,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">my joy and triumph unutterable,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">my soul lively with a knowledge of salvation,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">my sense of justification unclouded.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I have scarce anything to pray for;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Jesus smiles upon my soul as a ray of heaven</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">and my supplications are swallowed up in praise.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">How sweet is the glorious doctrine of election</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">when based upon thy Word</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">and wrought inwardly within the soul!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I bless thee that thou wilt keep the sinner</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">thou hast loved,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">and hast engaged that he will not forsake thee,</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">else I would never get to heaven.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I wrong the work of grace in my heart</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">if I deny my new nature and my eternal life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">If Jesus were not my righteousness and redemption,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I would sink into nethermost hell</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">by my misdoings, shortcomings, unbelief, unlove;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">If Jesus were not by the power of his Spirit</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">my sanctification,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">there is no sin I should not commit.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">O when shall I have his mind!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">when shall I be conformed to his image?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">All the good things of life are less than nothing</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">when compared with his love,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">and with one glimpse of thy electing favour.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">All the treasures of a million worlds could not</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">make me richer, happier, more contented,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">for his unsearchable riches are mine.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">One moment of communion with him, one view</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">of his grace,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">is ineffable, inestimable.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">But O God, I could not long after thy presence</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">if I did not know the sweetness of it;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">And such I could not know except by thy Spirit</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">in my heart, nor love thee at all unless thou didst</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">elect me,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">call me,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">adopt me,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">save me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I bless thee for the covenant of grace.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-82569406608855737772015-10-15T20:50:00.000-07:002015-10-15T20:50:14.583-07:00YAY!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I'm super excited my book is back from the publishers. You can now purchase it directly <a href="http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU-001023213/Dont-Waste-Your-Pain.aspx">HERE</a>.<br /><br />Please let me know what you think of my book by leaving a review on Amazon. I pray it blesses you and through your pain you are glorifying the Lord and trusting Him more!<br />God bless you!</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-79053082343359829792015-06-03T14:35:00.000-07:002015-07-01T11:46:30.803-07:00Trials as a Blessing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL_8VrG1AaxzmgM0wpKPsh-4URmPvjtDGnBJ6EZUFA6X9Va-ClX1h1u8IhB7i5wIX7Jnhc-x0bzZI6LZKxAW-4NK9J32w-Wva0IhJUz8MBcG_eI3yeRuQ4raHFNN5Sb7sY5d73PzM-qb_/s1600/blessing_in_disguise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL_8VrG1AaxzmgM0wpKPsh-4URmPvjtDGnBJ6EZUFA6X9Va-ClX1h1u8IhB7i5wIX7Jnhc-x0bzZI6LZKxAW-4NK9J32w-Wva0IhJUz8MBcG_eI3yeRuQ4raHFNN5Sb7sY5d73PzM-qb_/s320/blessing_in_disguise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">We all hear that these trials we are facing are really blessings. We may have even told this to a friend to help ease their suffering, but do we truly believe it and what are we learning from these trials that God ordains?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> To better understand these trials in our lives we have to go back to the Cross. We know Jesus died for us, but do we think about all He was doing in His life that would make people hate Him. He was feeding the people, healing them, eating with them, loving them. None of that seems to point to hate-filled men and women seeking to destroy Him. No. He wasn't taken to the cross for what He loves, but for what He hates. He hates SIN. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> That yucky words is like water</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span> It seeps into everything. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> It drips from the ceiling, and floods your feet while you are walking. It drowns out your happiness and makes you fall. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The people loved their sin, as they do today, and they didn't want to hear about sin.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It made them have to look at what they were doing and they knew in their hearts it was wrong. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> So Jesus died. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> He died to save those very sinners who were killing Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> He died for You and He died for Me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> How does all of this fit into blessings? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When we look at the cross we see death, but we also see life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We see grief, but we see joy everlasting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Each trial has two sides. One side is what Satan wants to use it for and the other side is what God is doing in and through us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But do we work to see what Christ is doing through our trial? Or more often then not, do we complain that this isn't fair? He has a purpose!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The moment you become a Christian expect persecution and trials to come. People will hate you because of Christ. If you are blending in and trying to look like the world it won't hate you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But is that what you want? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Is it more important to please people or please God? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <b></b>I feel that in my own life if I'm not seeking to understand why something is happening to me I wallow. I hate that! If I truly seek why God is allowing this suffering I start to see a<b> <span style="font-size: x-large;">beautiful </span></b>picture of how much the Lord loves me. God is preparing us for something. A lot of the time the thing needed to get us to wake up is affliction! It brings us back to seeking the Lord when</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> our </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">world <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i</span>s out of CONTROL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes God gives us little trials because He wants to prepare us for a much bigger trial around the corner! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We could look at those small trials and say to ourselves, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> "Wow I must not be on God's good side today. Why do the waves keep coming?" Or </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We can thank Him for His hand upon our lives and KNOW HE is working it out for our GOOD and His glory! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Everything is for those two reasons! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So today, in your pain, in your agony, in your persecution, remember you are not left </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> alone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God is there.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">God has perfectly suffered in our place and is there to help us through our suffering. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> CLING TO HIM</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you are not saved, turn to Him now! Repent and Trust in Him for salvation! You cannot save yourself. We are all sinners in need of a perfect, righteous Savior!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. </span><span class="highl" style="background-color: #fff4ec; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;</span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">1 Peter 3:17-18</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-22959068087373251442015-05-24T20:26:00.000-07:002015-05-24T20:43:19.196-07:00Biblical Encouragement for this Season of Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9781601426505?width=125&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9781601426505?width=125&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif" /></a></div>
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I have been so blessed to read numerous books about mothering, numerous books about being a mom, BUT not very many well written books about the combined effort of walking with the Lord in THIS crazy, wonderful, difficult, draining period of Motherhood. This book, Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood written by <a href="http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=220112">Melissa Kruger</a>, is such a great resource for you! Not only is it written well, and is easy to follow, but you can tell quickly she truly understands the worries and long days of being a mom.<br />
<br />
This book is an eleven-week study which is broken down into small tid-bits for the very busy mom. The verses that you will go through are right there in the book, which I found so very helpful especially if I'm reading on the go, or at a doctor's office (Where I seem to spend a lot of time) when I don't have my Bible in front of me. This study is theologically sound and Kruger goes over the very needed, but rarely heard topics of:<br />
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Understanding your Purpose- <i>Walking by Faith</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i> </i>Knowing God's Word<i>- Walking in Wisdom</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> </i>Letting go of Harshness and Anger- <i>Walking in Patience and Kindness</i><br />
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Training Hearts through Discipline<i>- Walking in Goodness and Faithfulness</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
And many more thought-provoking topics...<br />
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I love the last two sections. One part is for moms to memorize Scripture and the other is for kids. They are topical verses for kids, like- kindness, truthfulness, compassion, and trust. All the things we want to instill in our children are focused on in this well-thought-out book. If you are a mom struggling with your kids in the day-to-day reality of raising your kids to love the Lord, this book is a great asset to do by yourself or with some friends. It even includes all you need to do it as a study with others at the end! Because this is a"devotional" style book the days are broken down so it is easily manageable for busy moms. Since I have chronic pain, I need that even more! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: brandon_regular, Arial, sans-serif;">I received this book from </span><a href="http://www.bloggingforbooks.org/">Blogging for Books</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: brandon_regular, Arial, sans-serif;"> for this review!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-39950453947474844152015-05-18T23:09:00.000-07:002015-05-18T23:09:46.465-07:00The Testing of Our FaithWhat was the prominent theme of the Puritans?<br /><br />The testing of their faith...<br />
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And it seems to be the same today, doesn't it?<br />
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You may ask, "Where is GOD in my suffering?"<br />
or<br />
"Why would GOD allow this and seem so far removed from my pain?'<br />
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"Does HE even care?"<br />
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Look with me at Luke 8:22-25 for some clarification.<br />
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<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.55em; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">
<span class="text Luke-8-22" id="en-NIV-25268" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Jesus Calms the Storm<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25268A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25268A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25268B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25268B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></h3>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Luke-8-22" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">One day Jesus said to his disciples, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“Let us go over to the other side of the lake.”</span> So they got into a boat and set out.</span> <span class="text Luke-8-23" id="en-NIV-25269" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and <u>they were in great danger</u>.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Luke-8-24" id="en-NIV-25270" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">The disciples went and <i><b>woke Him</b></i>, saying, “Master, Master,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25270C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25270C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> we’re going to drown!”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Luke-8-24" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">He got up and rebuked<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25270D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25270D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.</span><span class="text Luke-8-25" id="en-NIV-25271" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>“<span style="color: red;">Where is your faith</span>?”</span> He asked His disciples.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Luke-8-25" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”</span></div>
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So imagine with me this great event. These men were feet away from the Lord of Lords! They saw Him do many miraculous things and still they feared and thought He didn't care for them. You and I are tragically in the same place when we question where God is in our circumstance. For some reason, when we are tempted to fear we do what non-Christians do, they panic! But wait...WE are different!<br />
We are saved.<br />
We are redeemed.<br />
We have been given the gift of <span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i>faith</i></span>.<br />
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Why are we doubting the Lord's love and attention in our lives?<br />We don't actively use this gift! We hang it on the shelf and hope in our moment of crisis it will actively come alive! It doesn't do that, does it?<br />
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Think about what Jesus said to them. "Where is your faith?"<br />These men allowed their circumstance to dictate their faith...<br />
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No, no, no. Let's see this as an example of what not to do!<br />We are to TRUST. To BELIEVE that God knows what's best and that He is working everything out for His glory!<br />
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We are to say, "I may not understand this pain, this situation, but I know my God. He is good. He sent Jesus to die in my place because of His great love for me. So even though this is so PAINFUL, I'm trusting Him! And then you...<br />
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STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH.<br />
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Do not be swayed by ideas that come into your head.<br />
"This is too hard," you say. "I just can't do this anymore." Doesn't God get it?"<br />
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He does. AND...He's there. He loves you. Run to Him today and pray, "Lord I believe. Help my unbelief!"<br />
and watch Him work.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-809675199761330232015-05-11T11:52:00.000-07:002015-05-11T11:52:03.019-07:00Changing publishers My book is going through a change of publishers so it won't be available online for a few weeks, but if you want to order a copy you can contact me directly. My new publisher will be Westbow Press. Thank you for your support.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-72662463287391841752015-04-27T22:46:00.002-07:002015-04-27T22:46:55.726-07:00Take a number!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVQF4EmbwYgu8KQFYUXrhA5vvDdAaNLwOp25UZtABBA6Hq-lteeK7DIPir7Rytv_H6sYEAASzs7QANjdgh3UHlzmLUgSCJkXXI4_UbBKJyvuodB3nTbjS75qKWFLXE54z1C4yu7lW1gVM/s1600/2011-01-18-Take-a-Number-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVQF4EmbwYgu8KQFYUXrhA5vvDdAaNLwOp25UZtABBA6Hq-lteeK7DIPir7Rytv_H6sYEAASzs7QANjdgh3UHlzmLUgSCJkXXI4_UbBKJyvuodB3nTbjS75qKWFLXE54z1C4yu7lW1gVM/s1600/2011-01-18-Take-a-Number-copy.jpg" height="168" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do you ever think about your pain and your prayers as something that isn't as bad as so-and-so's pain or problems so you shouldn't be bothering God...<br />
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He has MUCH more important things to think about than Friday afternoon at 3 pm in your household where you are in pain and you think to yourself, "I don't need to pray. I'm bothering the Lord. I mean there was just a huge earthquake in Japan, or my neighbor is dying, or a pastor is in jail for sharing the Lord."<br />
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God has sooo much going on.<br />
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My prayers are insignificant.<br />
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My pain is insignificant.<br />
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Although in your mind it is miserable what you are going through, you still feel as if you don't deserve the attention of the Lord God, Creator of the universe, as if He stopped being the lover of your heart!<br />
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God most frequent command in the Bible is...<br />
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Do. Not. Fear.<br />
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This may seem way off in left field but trust me, it ties in completely with our prayer life.<br />
God reminds His people, His children, that they have no need to fear because He is in control.<br />
<br />
When I say, "Don't fear." to my child I am trying to reassure them that it's ok.<br />
But completely different is when God says, "Do not be afraid," and then says, "MY peace I give to you." John 14:27<br />
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Why? He is sovereign over everything that happens to you!<br />
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So we can truly know it will be ok! It's in His hands and He has us.<br />
Because He hears us and knows us soooooo well, He tells us constantly not to fear.<br />
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He speaks to the <span style="color: #0b5394;">DETAILS</span> of your <span style="color: #0b5394;">LIFE</span>. He <span style="color: #0b5394;">KNOWS</span> you so <span style="color: #0b5394;">WELL </span>and <span style="color: #0b5394;">LOVES</span> you so <span style="color: #0b5394;">MUCH</span>!<br />
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So bring your pain, your frustration, your suffering, your fear before our Almighty Lord and see Him work!<br />
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See Him bring you peace that surpasses your understanding.<br />
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See Him draw you close to Him during your pain.<br />
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See Him give you compassion for others.<br />
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He doesn't hear your prayer....compare it to others...and then hand out a number based on which is more important.<br />
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He is for you!<br />
His love for you is an everlasting love.<br />
Turn that around and give Him praise! He is worthy of our worship!<br />
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Oh and P.S.<br />
Say a prayer for others too who have pain, who have lost someone, who are discouraged, who you don't even know halfway around the world being persecuted for Christ!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you God that you care about our deepest needs!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Help us not to fear, but to bring you our burdens and leave them there at the cross. You are so good to us, your bride. Help us in our unbelief. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-13985045669300493492015-03-08T21:02:00.000-07:002015-03-08T21:03:12.286-07:00What to pray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZOvWjT-L3im9LDwqA7TXtNg4kqkB3mRytBPj4A5ZfrxO-Im85ugfR8uKbEMWmONPuBsIcCRoY8ibspaELGkg9Zo-Dnq43gVeyR8EgS6k-eNjb118bfnZRZRZodhZDj7CIW3d00Tx7jO0/s1600/th+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZOvWjT-L3im9LDwqA7TXtNg4kqkB3mRytBPj4A5ZfrxO-Im85ugfR8uKbEMWmONPuBsIcCRoY8ibspaELGkg9Zo-Dnq43gVeyR8EgS6k-eNjb118bfnZRZRZodhZDj7CIW3d00Tx7jO0/s1600/th+(3).jpg" /></a></div>
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What are you praying for today? If you're like me it probably goes something like this, "Lord, please be with my family and strengthen us and please take away my pain."</div>
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But...maybe, just maybe, God desires that YOU and I have THIS pain. That we have this Cancer, this death in the family, this mystery illness. Maybe, just maybe He is working IN your pain. Maybe He wants to draw YOU to Himself and this is the way He knows how to get a hold of you.</div>
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There is much suffering happening in our world right now and although we are two thousand+ years removed from biblical times, our issues are no different than those who prayed and sought after the Lord in the Bible. But what if we changed the way we pray? What if we sought after being holy, having wisdom, loving what God loves and WHO He loves like those in the early church did? What if we started THANKING Him for our pain. This pain you and I have is a STAGE for Christ to shine on.</div>
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When we praise Him during our pain all glory goes to Him! The world has NO hope without Him, let's show them what a GREAT GOD we SERVE!</div>
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I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren (Luke 22:32)</div>
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I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers . . . that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:16,18)</div>
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Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Matthew 9:38)</div>
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If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him (James 1:5)</div>
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Don't waste your pain</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-80295274533147874512015-03-05T20:29:00.001-08:002015-03-05T20:42:18.572-08:00Beautifully written!This prayer from Valley of Visions book really ministered to my heart. May it do so as well for yours!<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">My Father,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Enlarge my heart, warm my affections,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">open my lips,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">supply words that proclaim ‘Love Lustres at Calvary.’</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">There grace removes my burdens</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">and heaps them on thy Son,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">There the sword of thy justice smote the man,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">thy fellow;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">There thy infinite attributes were magnified,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">and infinite atonement was made;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">There infinite punishment was due,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">and infinite punishment was endured.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">cast off that I might be brought in,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">trodden down as an enemy</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">that I might be welcomed as a friend,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">surrendered to hell’s worst</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">that I might attain heaven’s best,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">stripped that I might be clothed,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">wounded that I might be healed,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">athirst that I might drink,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">tormented that I might be comforted,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">made a shame that I might inherit glory,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">entered darkness that I might have eternal light.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">groaned that I might have endless song,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">endured all pain that I might have unfading health,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">bowed his head that I might uplift mine,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclothed brightness,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">expired that I might forever live.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">O Father, who spared not thine own Son</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">that thou mightest spare me,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">All this transfer thy love designed and accomplished;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Help me to adore thee by lips and life.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">my every step buoyant with delight,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">as I see my enemies crushed,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">hell’s gates closed, heaven’s portal open.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Go forth, O conquering God, and show me</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">the cross, mighty to subdue, comfort and save.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-24852410161758695172015-02-01T21:09:00.000-08:002015-02-01T21:15:15.988-08:00My prayer tonight<div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana;">
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O You Father of mercies, and God of love, who have kept me so long under your chastening hand, I thank you for all the tender care and kindness you have shown me.</div>
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Pardon me for any impatience, and for any restless feeling, which has at any time sprung up within me. Pardon me for my lack of faith and love. Pardon me for my coldness and dullness of heart. Pardon me for those sinful thoughts and evil desires which have crept into my soul. Oh cleanse me, Savior, from my guilt. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.</div>
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Give me peace, even in the midst of suffering. Make me to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may rejoice. When I read your holy Scriptures, make them speak <i>words of life and power </i>to my soul. When I pray, may the Spirit help my infirmities. When I am alone, be with me. When I am with others, may I try to do them good. When I sleep, guard me. When I lie awake, may I enjoy sweet thoughts of you.</div>
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O God, make this long illness a blessed preparation time for eternity. Make me to know Christ, to love Him, and to serve Him. May I live upon Him from day to day, and from hour to hour. And for His sake may I at length be admitted into Heaven, to dwell with you for evermore. Amen.<br />
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-Ashton Oxeden</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-60808561331845356182015-01-03T20:38:00.000-08:002015-01-03T20:38:46.664-08:00Peace That Surpasses All Understanding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last night as our family was reading through Philippians 4 we got to verse 7 and I really digested the words spoken-<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> "And the peace of God, which surpasses all </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."</span></b></div>
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Peace...what chronic pain sufferers want the most! Where do we get this peace? The world is looking for this peace everywhere, but nothing satisfies, nothing brings us comfort or peace like the Lord. Let's look deeper at this verse. </div>
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In verse 6 we are told not to be anxious about anything but pray about everything with thankfulness. </div>
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So the first step towards peace is <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>prayer</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we come to the Lord with </span><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">thankfulness</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">, even in our pain and suffering we demonstrate our trust in Him. I have a saying I like to think about when I pray. It's pretty simple...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pray your thankfulness that you may realize it.</b></span></div>
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When we pray to the Lord and our <b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">heart</span></b> is thankful, we realize how much the Lord has graciously given us and it creates in us an abundance of <b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">joy</span></b> because of how good God is...Even. In. Our. Pain.</div>
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Because of this first step of praying with a <b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">thankful</span></b> heart we don't have to be anxious, and because of what the Lord has done in us, the Holy Spirit gives us <b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">peace</span></b>. And this is not the peace the world offers...This peace <b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">surpasses</span></b> all our understanding... No one outside of the family of God can ever explain the peace a believer experiences in the midst of our pain. The world <b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SHOUTS</span></b> at us to find a way out of the pain, to numb the pain, <b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But</span></b> nothing gives us that peace only God provides. And that peace <b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">guards </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">our hearts and minds. What from? From ourselves. From our wicked, selfish attitude. The one that cries, "This isn't </span><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">fair</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">. I don't deserve this." You see, that peace we've been talking about replaces our selfish need to have it our way. This peace tells us </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">God </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is in control and because of that I can face this pain. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Glory </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to God!!! He knows what we need and we just need to be </span><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">obedient</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to His Word. May you, today, experience this peace.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-3762798788195150722014-12-29T20:22:00.001-08:002014-12-29T20:23:42.098-08:00Through the Fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ouch! On Christmas I burned my right hand on the stove. It really hurt! We've all been there. Fire is very beautiful but...oh how it can burn. This fire that burns so hot is also so great in refining...We can put gold and silver into the fire to refine it, to take out the impurities and make it more pure. In comparison the Bible describes us being refined in the fire (Psalm 66:10). God purposely places us, His dearly loved children, in the fire of affliction, pain, despair...etc. Why? What could be His purpose? Well if we look at what fire does to gold we see the Master's purpose-it refines us, makes us more like Him, less like ourselves and our sinful nature. How does it do that exactly?<br />
I'm sure you can attest to times in your life, maybe recently, that you have been in terrible pain, like the affliction will never end. You may have continually gone to the Lord, seeking comfort. You see, God may want to wake you up out of your complacency! It may have been awhile since you noticed the Lord or prayed to Him. Getting our eyes off of ourselves and onto Christ is a huge reason for the refinement. Zechariah 13:9 answers this:<br />
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And <b>I will put </b>(them) into the fire,</div>
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and refine them as one refines silver,</div>
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and test them as gold is tested.</div>
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<b>They will call upon my name</b>,</div>
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and I will answer them.</div>
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So the things that really stick out in this verse is that first off God is the one that PUTS us into this fire. Yes, our loving God allows us to be tested and afflicted. And what happens is that His children TURN to HIM. Amen!<br />
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Are you, in your pain, turning to Christ? He is there, waiting. He loves you and has a purpose in your pain! He is good all the time. Thanks be to the Lord that He hears our cry. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-3939323035792745742014-12-22T21:14:00.000-08:002014-12-22T21:16:29.121-08:00Immanuel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh899_q3r-kNGCHM9Mm-EyL2MmQaL5z43qviW2TzlqxCH-fAXHk6GTUDHv_yP4C8ve81sgOs6z3zanSmHiW6i0cn_oCp0Y61uHaTPLyfG-FFagMvd5oBBMnkay1gvLweE2B7SVLwZFDEc5E/s1600/th+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh899_q3r-kNGCHM9Mm-EyL2MmQaL5z43qviW2TzlqxCH-fAXHk6GTUDHv_yP4C8ve81sgOs6z3zanSmHiW6i0cn_oCp0Y61uHaTPLyfG-FFagMvd5oBBMnkay1gvLweE2B7SVLwZFDEc5E/s1600/th+(1).jpg" /></a></div>
Merry Christmas to you. I know it is a hard time of year for those of us with chronic pain...All the shopping, interacting, demands on us, etc. It can become overwhelming. Tonight I want to reconnect you with the meaning of our lives...this baby, this God-man, our Savior-Immanuel who is God with us.<br />
I love Spurgeon. If you've never read his works I highly suggest you break open a book by him. He loved the Lord and brings God freshly to life! I have included a part of one of his sermons for your reflection. I pray your Christmas is pain free, but if it is not, I pray your eyes stay on our Immanuel.<br />
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Here is the <a href="http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2012/12/god-with-us/">link</a>. My favorite part is when he says,<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">"God with us," is the sufferer's comfort, is the balm of his woe, is the alleviation of his misery, is the sleep which God gives to His beloved, is their rest after exertion and toil.</span></b></i></h3>
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God bless you!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701910791209748819.post-52988431806486906212014-12-14T20:44:00.000-08:002014-12-14T20:44:04.446-08:00Christmas with Chronic Pain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A fellow sufferer of chronic pain has a great blog post about dealing with pain while everyone else is merry. You can get to it <a href="http://jojoisms.com/ten-most-frustrating-things-about-holidays-with-chronic-illness/">HERE</a>.<br />
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Thanks JoJo!<br />
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God bless!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16789260460296382102noreply@blogger.com0