Updated on May 23, 2014
Sunday Scripture: 5/25/14
The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.
– Acts 16:22-26
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 23, 2014
Recommendation Saturday: Being Buttermilk
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We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
– 2 Corinthians 4:7
Bet you can’t watch this video without smiling.
Without laughing, giggling, shaking your head.
I’ve been thinking a lot about being bold in our happiness.
Contagious in our glee.
Will they know we are Christians?
I’ve been thinking about being Buttermilk.
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 21, 2014
Strength for Your Shaky Knees
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With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” – Isaiah 35:3-4
Is it not enough just to know? Is it not enough to remind ourselves? Is it not enough that we already know the promises?
No. No, it isn’t enough. Not nearly.
Encouragement is everything. Everything. It’s why we’re not to forsake our assembling. God knew we needed more. He knew we needed each other.
One word, just one word from you could mean the difference between life and death. Between thankfulness and despair. Between turning to and turning away.
Did you realize you were so powerful?
It’s so important, that God reminds us again in the New Testament:
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. – Hebrews 12:12
I guess He figured old Isaiah had already told us how…
Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”
Say to those. Say. To. Those.
Have you reminded anyone lately? Do you need reminding?
Be Strong.
Do not fear.
Your God has come to save you.
Bet you can’t say it without a wave of comfort washing over you. Bet you can’t hear it without a smile coming to your heart, and maybe even your face. I dare you to read it without feeling a need to pass it along.
Flex your super-power muscles today. Give yourself an encouragement workout.
Go.
Mighty God, Thank You for each other. What a blessing. What a gift. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 21, 2014
Pillar of Salt
But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt. – Genesis 19:26
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Yes, we are called to be the salt of the earth, but I really don’t think that was the type of salt God has in mind. And yet it’s what I’m most guilty of being.
I’m the “once was” queen. I’m the “look back” leader. I’m the “if only” gal, and my if-only’s always revolve around reclaiming the past.
I don’t mean to do it. It’s not a conscious choice. That makes it sadder, don’t you think? This unconscious longing for the way things used to be. Back when I was healthy. Back when I had energy. When I could drive and run and was busy as a bee. Those were the days, right?
But this thing that has happened to me, it’s only as tragic as I allow it to be. That’s the truth. And the looking back is inviting nothing promising or hopeful or right into my spirit.
There is still so much God wants to give me. So much He can do for me. So much me is still here. And I’m missing it all.
Today is the day I will remind myself once again that my eyes should be pointed in the same direction my feet are headed. And I’ll remind myself as many times as it takes in the weeks and months to come.
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. – 1 Peter 1:6-7
See that? See where that joy is? It’s not behind. It’s ahead.
He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. – Hebrews 11:26-27
There it is again. And the HOW is there, too. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. – Philippians 3:13-14
Pressing on, not pressing back. Focus. On ahead.
Won’t you join me?
Dear Lord, help me to keep my eyes pointed in the right direction. I know that my feet and heart will follow that focus, and I want it to be You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 18, 2014
Are You Living Life in 3-D?
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For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10
God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus. To do good works. Wow.
The New Living Translation puts it this way:
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
You are already a masterpiece.
Do you hear what I’m saying? Do you hear what God is saying?
A masterpiece. Already. Just as you are.
Won’t you come on over to Rest Ministries with me, to finish this devo?
I hope you’ll take the time, while you’re there, to look around and see all that they offer on their great site.
It’s amazing.
See you there!
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 16, 2014
When You Just Need Community
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. – Acts 2:42
Each time I read the above verse, I’m reminded that community is important. It is sacred. It is necessary. A life of chronic illness can be very isolating. The isolation can make us feel invisible. We need community.
I want to tell you today about a community of women that has reached right into my life and touched my heart. More than that, I want to invite you to join us. Because our community needs you, as much as you need us.
No matter where you are right now in your journey, there is a group of women waiting to connect with you. They are praying for you as we speak. They are hoping you will reach out and join your life to theirs.
This community is an (In)Courager Group. There is no cost, no obligation, no prerequisite except that you want to belong. There are many groups to choose from and the women you will find there are warm, welcoming encouragers who can’t wait to meet you.
I will be co-leading (in)Hope through Chronic Illness group, but there are other chronic illness groups to choose from as well! There are groups for all interests, challenges, and walks of life. We meet privately on facebook to encourage each other. We study together, pray with each other, lift each other up, cry with each other, vent to one another. We find fellowship. We take it all to our Father. There’s lots of good times, sincere friendships and (my personal favorite) heart hugs.
Join us, won’t you? Sign up is for a limited time, and opens today. Please follow this link and choose a group. You deserve community. They need you. <3
Heavenly Father, please bless the forming of these communities with Your mighty hand. Lead each person who joins to just the right folks they need to connect with. Thank You for this avenue of fellowship. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 16, 2014
Sunday Scripture: 5/18/14
photo credit: Mars Hill Church via photopin cc
And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. – Hebrews 10:21-23
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 16, 2014
Recommendation Saturday: How to Save a Life
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? – Mark 8:34-36
photo credit: Davi Ozolin via photopin cc
Even the youngest of us can save a life.
Even the least among us can model how.
Do you know who’s watching?
Teach them, with the way you live, how to save a life.
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.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 12, 2014
Winds of Change
When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation. – Proverbs 10:25
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Don’t just come like a slight breeze,
stirring my hair but not my spirit.
Don’t cool the air with a draft,
sliding under the door to chill the coals of my fire.
Don’t puff or gust a stronger wind,
attention-getting in power but dying out when it’s hardly begun.
Don’t send a flurry,
with gusts that show more of an illusion of movement than any actual change.
Don’t allow a hurricane,
in which the eye might lull me into complacency while the floods douse my flame.
No, what I want, Lord…
what I really want is this…
Forego all those,
that just won’t do.
And
Blow. Me. Away.
Father God, I want nothing less than all You have to teach me, no matter what that brings my way. I trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 12, 2014
Open Your Eyes
“Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.”
So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.
“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked. Then Elisha went out and told them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to the city of Samaria.
As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.
When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?” “Of course not!” Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.”
So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel. – 2 Kings 6:13-23
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This passage always fills me with such peace. I hope it will do the same for you today.
I pray that the Lord will open your eyes today and let you see. There are more on our side than on theirs.
No matter what you are facing or how bleak your circumstances seem, you are not alone. Not ever.
God has already sent the contingent that you need. Everything is in place. You are delivered.
Have faith, Dear One. Have eyes that see.
When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.
The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple. – Psalm 27:2-4
Kind and Merciful Father, I pray that each soul reading this right now will come to truly see your care. Show them the numbers on their side. Thank You for everything You do for us each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
