Updated on June 6, 2014
Sunday Scripture: 6/8/14
You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do.
– Ephesians 5:5-7
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Shelly
Updated on June 6, 2014
Recommendation Saturday: Come Back Around
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. – 2 Corinthians 5:19-21
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No matter the nature of your fall.
Physical, emotional, spiritual, mental.
No matter how nasty and how many people were watching.
Make them remember that you were the one that got back up.
The one that came back around.
The one that won the day.
Come Back Around.
We are best when we are community.
I would love to share in some of that community
right here from my website.
You can join in, too!
Share a post from your own blog
and then simply click on the
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Then, please grab my Recommendation Saturday button
below, and place it on your website or post,
so that others can find their way to
our little Saturday community!
You can also Tweet your participation with the hashtag
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so that we can all find each other on Twitter!
You may also join in by leaving a comment.
The most important part of our community
is spreading our hope and love to others
by visiting some of the other inspirational sites
linked up and leaving comments there.
Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
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Shelly
Updated on June 3, 2014
Joy of the Lord
And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” – Nehemiah 8:10
How? Where does this joy come from? How can we be expected to feel and express joy in these difficult circumstances?
The early Christians wondered that same thing. Prison, terror, beatings, horrible deaths, threats… all of this and more surrounded them daily. Yet here is what they discovered through Jesus:
We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. – 2 Corinthians 6:9-10
We have everything because we have eternity. We have salvation. How can we not feel joy over that unmerited favor, no matter our present circumstances?
Anything else that comes into my heart, here is what I do with it:
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. – 1 Peter 5:7
We can be truly glad, Dear Ones. We can. Peter wraps it up in a neat little bow for us here:
And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:5-9
Let the true and unfailing joy of the Lord be your strength today, won’t you?
Gracious Lord, thank You for the bounty of Your joy. Thank You for the strength it gives us in the journey. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Updated on May 31, 2014
Leaning
The same happens to all who forget God.
The hopes of the godless evaporate.
Their confidence hangs by a thread.
They are leaning on a spider’s web. – Job 8:13-14
I find that leaning is getting easier every day. In fact, most days it’s completely unintentional. Like the people in the V-8 commercials, I’m constantly at an angle and looking for something to lean against. Something that will hold me up.
The important questions to put to myself are these:
Have I forgotten about God?
Has my hope evaporated?
These things I’m leaning on… the answers from men, faith of my own, medication to help, even encouragement from others… none of these things are bad, in and of themselves. However, if these things are all I am clinging to, leaning against, depending on, then how confident should I be?
As the scripture above says, my confidence hangs by a thread. These things are so tenuous, likely to come crashing down at any moment, and bound to disappoint.
I am leaning on a spider’s web. Expecting it to be as solid as a rock, as dependable as a strong tower. How foolish I am!
Maybe you’ve been leaning on a spider’s web, too? I hope I can encourage you today, as I’m encouraging myself, to go ahead and lean… but only on the everlasting arms. Only on the rock that is higher than I.
These things will renew my hope. They will strengthen my confidence. I will remember my God, and His beautiful promises.
Dear God, thank You for the beautiful words and perfect imagery we find in the Bible. Please help me remember to be more mindful in my leaning, and depend only on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Updated on May 30, 2014
Sunday Scripture: 6/1/14
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And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39
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Shelly
Updated on May 30, 2014
Recommendation Saturday: Welcome Spring
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“Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the Lord God is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.”
Therefore you will joyously draw water
From the springs of salvation. – Isaiah 12:2-3
Is it just me, or has it been a long winter?
I’m so excited to finally be able to officially welcome Spring!
The birds singing, the babies everywhere,
the greens and colorful flowers blooming…
God is a masterful artist, is He not?
Let’s take some time today to just relax
and breathe in the warmer weather and birdsong.
Happy Spring!
We are best when we are community.
I would love to share in some of that community
right here from my website.
You can join in, too!
Share a post from your own blog
and then simply click on the
“Add your link” button below
and enter your blog information.
Then, please grab my Recommendation Saturday button
below, and place it on your website or post,
so that others can find their way to
our little Saturday community!
You can also Tweet your participation with the hashtag
#recommendsat
so that we can all find each other on Twitter!
You may also join in by leaving a comment.
The most important part of our community
is spreading our hope and love to others
by visiting some of the other inspirational sites
linked up and leaving comments there.
Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
Loading InLinkz ...If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 27, 2014
Land, Ho!
For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. – John 1:16-17
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Sometimes I fancy myself a great explorer.
I’m like Magellan, sailing to prove the world is round when all the experts of the day are flat-earthers. I’m Lewis and Clark, blazing an exciting trail into faith unknown. I’m Neil Armstrong, the first to set foot here and live to tell about it. “One small step for man…” and all that.
But do you know who I am actually more like? Ponce de Leon. Poor guy. He had wanderlust and gold lust and then he heard of the waters of the fountain of youth. Didn’t matter much to him that it sounded fantastical.
In short, he wasted his youth looking for… well, youth. He squandered his gold looking for more gold. Never satisfied, that Ponce de Leon. Yes, I understand him quite well.
Do you know what I think the main problem is? I’m looking for Christ instead of looking at my life through the lens of Christ.
I’m searching high and low for a Savior who already lives inside me. I’m so determined to find grace that I use up all my grace on the search itself. I miss the mercies while I’m digging for mercy. I cry out for hope when it’s already been given. I demand answers that are already mine.
Do you?
In our exciting adventures and campaigns of exploration, let’s use Christ as our spyglass. He will reveal sweeter shores when we’re seasick and tossed. He will show where X marks the spot on every treasure map we follow. He will ensure that each interaction with new civilizations goes swimmingly.
No more looking for; I will be looking through.
How about you?
Father, help me. Be my lens. Forgive my futile floundering. Inspire me with all that You are in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Updated on May 27, 2014
I Will Believe
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The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die. – Psalm 116:15
Do you believe that?
Do you sometimes feel so swamped with sorrow, with hard, with life, that you doubt it? I do. I’m not proud of it, but I do.
I have to keep myself reminded. He not only cares if I lose, He cares if I am lost.
He has a reason. He has compassion. I can trust in that, even on my doubtiest days.
Good people pass away;
the godly often die before their time.
But no one seems to care or wonder why.
No one seems to understand
that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
For those who follow godly paths
will rest in peace when they die. – Isaiah 57:1-2
While I wait for my peaceful rest, I will do my best to dig down into the peace He offers me here in this life.
I will believe.
Dear God, remind me gently of Your care and compassion on these difficult days. Help me to remember and believe. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Updated on May 25, 2014
Who Knows?
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“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well” (Luke 12:29-31).
We’ve all heard it. And in this life of chronic illness that is so filled with uncertainty, it’s sometimes a mantra, isn’t it?
Will I feel better next week? Who knows?
Can I ever feel secure again? Who knows?
Will the pain ever let up? Who knows?
Allow me to introduce you to the One who knows…..
I’m writing over at Rest Ministries today.
Sure hope you’ll join us! <3
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 25, 2014
No Greater Love
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There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
– John 15:13
Pray Thank Remember (Memorial Day) from sermonspice on GodTube.
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY, Dear Ones!
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Shelly
