All in Encouragement
A gift from my daughter, a piece of barnwood with the word “dwell” on it, hangs proudly on the cabin wall. It’s a lovely word to ponder. “Dwell” has multiple meanings in the English language. The Greek verb, eskēnōsen, used in John 1:14 means “to make His dwelling among; tabernacle; dwell in a tent.” I love how the usage creates a vivid description for Jesus coming to live among us.
The longing for a place we can call home began after God created the world and called it very good. He fashioned a man and a woman and placed them in a garden named Eden. The dynamics of their world changed dramatically as a result of the choices they made. They lost their dwelling place, and rootlessness entered creation. They and their ancestors would forever struggle to find their place in a broken world.
How would you describe God? When Paul reasoned with the elite philosophers in Athens, he used these words as he described the one true God. …He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man, He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands (Acts 17:25-26).
If you read through Psalms 77, you will find that the psalmist was in a tough spot, in deep distress. He opened his heart to the Lord, and he was honest about how he was feeling. Then he turned his attention to what the Lord had done. He remembered God’s goodness and His mercy.
This verse is so comforting to us. We know that our God is good, and He works all things for our good. BUT . . . we also must remember that our good may include struggles and pain. Our good may be walking through that tough thing.
Quiet is nice sometimes. You know how it feels when that car alarm won’t stop? And then it does - ahhh. Or how about when the restaurant is so loud you can’t enjoy conversation with a friend or family? And then you leave - whew. It’s like you can finally relax again.
Have you ever had a season in your life in which a character quality of the Lord continues to come to mind? God keeps reminding me of His faithfulness these days. Maybe it’s because I am in a season of transitions. My oldest child is transitioning into adulthood, making decisions about life and future as she navigates college. My 16-year-old is now driving, transitioning into a more independent teen. My home church is even in transition to a new pastor. But God is faithful. In all things. He is faithful.
How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? (Habakkuk 1:1a) Habakkuk was disappointed and could not understand why God was silent as the Babylonians threatened Judah. He wrestled with God about its fairness.
The descriptive phrase in I Peter 2:9 explains that we are God’s chosen people. But in the next verse, Peter adds the glorious truth that Christians are called “out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
I smile and give God thanks every time I read these seven words of assurance!
Peter, the disciple who denied Christ three times, after His crucifixion later wrote rich authoritative instructions in his New Testament letters. His example and call to leadership greatly contributed to the establishment of the early Church. These words were written predominantly to Christians disciples scattered throughout Roman territory during the first century after Jesus Christ’s resurrection and ascension into Heaven.
Apostle Peter wrote letters to the early Christian disciples in the Northern part of Asia Minor around 64 AD. His intention was to encourage them to continue their work to establish the first churches even while they were suffering trials. He assured them they were the chosen ones.
My husband’s grandmother became my role model after I gave birth to our first child. So much so that our second child became her namesake because of the relationship she built with our first-born daughter.
Do you ever hear yourself now saying, “I just need to have some fun!”
Many of us have found ourselves isolated, fearful, frustrated, hyper vigilant and discouraged during the last two years. We have just been holding our breath too long!
Sometimes you just need a little good music to pull you out of the blahs. Here are some of my favorites. Dancing is optional — but I highly recommend!
Olga felt weary.
Anyone would in her situation — especially six months into a pandemic. She desperately needed a job, but all her leads seemed to go nowhere. Then, her mom died. She couldn’t even go back to her home country for the funeral.
Inna wanted to attend a Christian university.
Knowing her background, one could say this was a pipe dream.
The same neighbor’s cow from last year returned this spring to graze in my hay meadow. For days, she casually crossed fences between pastures leaving broken wires and leaning fence posts. She became known as the infamous “renegade cow” as multiple folks attempted to corral her. My brother finally explained the problem. “Once a cow learns a fence is only a psychological barrier/boundary rather than a real one, there’s no longer any way to keep them in a pasture. You might as well haul them to the auction barn!”
Words have powerful effects
They have the power to lift up, encourage, motivate, and give praise but if not controlled the evilness of your heart is revealed. It is scary to think that the very same lips that I use to give God glory, honor, and praise can also spit out mean, hateful, and degrading remarks to those closest to me.
In desperation these ten men cried out to the Lord for healing. Their act of obedience caused them to be cleansed outwardly. However, most of them missed the most important transformation - their heart to be cleansed inwardly.
Peter and John were at the temple courts surrounded by people. Peter had just healed a man in the name of Jesus Christ causing quite a stir. Many gathered around these “miracle workers” in astonishment which created a disturbance among the Sanhedrin. They ordered Peter and John to stop speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus. However, these two courageous men stood their ground and replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19).
