When I, (your name), am surrounded by troubles, You (LORD GOD) keep me safe. You oppose my angry enemies
and save me by your power. You, My God are my shelter and strength, The LORD GOD is always ready to help me, (your name) in times of trouble. So I, (your name), will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the ocean depths; even if the seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence. The Lord is my protector. The Lord is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I, (your name) am safe.The LORD GO protects me like a shield and He defends me and keeps me safe
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Scripture References > Psa.138:7, Psa.46:1-3, and Psa.18:2
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Additional Scriptures for you to Read & Study > Nahum1;7, Psa.55:22, Matt.11:28 and John16:33
Category Archives: Encouraging Posts
OUR FOOD FROM HEAVEN THAT SATISFIES!
Eat and drink of His Spirit and His Word!
John 6:35 ~ I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Jesus promises that if we come to Him with faith we will never be hungry or thirsty. He has given us the bread from heaven, the manna of His living Words, which are freely available as food for our souls as we prayerfully meditate on the Scriptures. He is the fountain of life, the living water which quenches our thirst for God’s presence. – Only Jesus, The Word of God, can satisfy us. Take the time to eat and drink of His Spirit and His Words. You will be refreshed!
Rev 22:1 ~ “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” ~bernadette.
LAY-BY
LAY-BY in the dictionary has 3 uses but all the same meaning, pretty much- to REST
1- to store, save, or put away for future use
2- nautical(sailing vessel) to come to a standstill; heave to; lay to
3- in midland and southern U.S. used as an agricultural term- to tend (a crop) for last time, leaving it to mature without further cultivation (WORK)
Historically, this happened in the South during the month of August before the harvesting of cotton, soybeans, tobacco. This is the time that there was nothing more the farmer could do but take his hands off and WAIT, REST and let it mature, let it prosper to its peak state before time to harvest/reap what he sowed; to gather his REWARD.
SO, since the men were not out in the fields, the community church would hold REVIVAL services for at least 2 weeks. While the crops were “laid-by”, being cared for by God alone, the farmers and families who also were “laid-by” became REVIVED in their REST before the REWARD! The men were physically, and most certainly, emotionally WORN OUT from WORKING/TOILING and WORRYING about the weather, the insects, the yield, the fluctuating prices etc.
Interesting how when man ” RESTED from his work” ( Sabbath), when he took his hands off the crops and left it all to the Creator, not only did the crops get a REST from being WORKED, but man too.
Interesting how in that RESTING state the crops flourished and peaked and man did too- physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
So there is a lesson for us here- in God’s kingdom, RESTING by laying something down into God’s care and WAITING expectantly, trusting He is doing His WORK, REVIVES us, recharges, refreshes, restores us. It is a necessary step in order to “bring in the harvest”, the REWARD !
On the flip side, if we don’t “lay-by” into God’s hands what’s gripped in our hand, has our attention, has our heart, and we keep WORKING it to death in our own strength, we nor the “crop” benefits. Like my dog in the pond, we muddy the waters in our anxiousness, lose sight of the treasure, and aren’t in the right place or position (physically, emotionally, or spiritually) to RECEIVE our REWARD when given back. It becomes a weight on our shoulders instead.
Being personally set aside, “laid-by” by the LORD of the Harvest is usually baffling, confusing, misunderstood, and/or discouraging. We don’t like to REST/trust, we like to DO/WORK. We don’t see it as a gift but a negative. It feels like we’ve been forgotten. But it is necessary.
We need that preparing time to prosper, be at our peak before He calls us back out into the field to join Him in His REAPING WORK. Notice I said His WORK, not ours. We get to move in His path, not TOILING but FLOWING in His current. And that Harvest, that REWARD is His promise we’ve been WAITING for.
I’m hearing Him tell me in this that it is the season to “lay-by” our treasure, our promise, our dream and desire, our limited expectations, our load and REST in great assurance that Jesus is taking hold of it, taking hold of us, and doing His perfect finishing WORK for our good.
Let’s take a ‘vaycay’ while we can, because there’s a Harvest right around the corner!!
prepared by Vicki Pedron
shared with permission
momma Joy
Thoughts on Calling Members of God’s Family, Brother or Sister ❤️
❤️❤️ I think that calling each other Brother or Sister shows respect for one another and reminds us to love those who belong to the Body of Christ. This title recognizes their membership in the Family Of God. It can help us from being critical when we think we know it all. It is a blessing to be honored by being named Sister or Brother (In Christ). I do not consider it to be legalistic religious rhetoric, but a vocal and recognizable symbol of agape love & respect for one another. ❤️❤️ This is just something that has been weighting on my heart. As I was always taught to say Brother & Sister, when addressing a member of the body of Christ. I know that it is not necessary to do so, but unless you ask me not to – you can expect me to call people in Christ my brother or sister. ❤️❤️
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Okay, I have shared my thoughts. I would love for you to share you’re as well.
JoyNotes -07/27/2016- GN/CSO
In Christ, Your Sister Joy Lyons
A widow Surrendering her all in all to Christ Jesus
~♥~ I am sharing this as a recent Widow whose precious husband Ed is now in heaven with his Personal Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. To lose the love of your entire life is most crushing to your spirit. It tests your faith to the hilt. Your better half is not with you! You’re only half there!
After everyone has gone home, there I was feeling so broken-hearted and completely alone. The sound of my footsteps echoing over the hardwood floors filled every room in the house we used to call our “Sweet little nest way out in the West; where we let the rest of the world go by.” I was so lost without my Ed, my husband of 57 years, 7 months, and 17 days.
But our faithful God came to my rescue with His strengthening Words from the Scriptures. He told me to “Cast my cares upon Him! That He had prepared a place for Ed and that he is there now in and with Christ touring the heavenly places which are more royal and magnificent than we can ever imagine! And that someday I would meet him there!”
This is what I do to cast my burdens upon the Lord. I simply surrender Ed to Him every moment I need to do it. I learned to give Ed over to Him, to say Yes to his new Heavenly Home where the Spirit and the Bride abide. I raise my hands up to the Lord and give Ed up to Him over and over as I need to!
This has helped me find rest and peace. I pray that this sharing might comfort other widows who go through mourning, weeping, many tears, and deepest grief; mixed in with the joy of knowing that God Our Father has His children with Him in His heavenly kingdom. They will never be cast out! I will see Ed again! I surrender him to Jesus! Amen! (John 14:1-3, 1Pet 5:7),
Sis bernadette.
Encouraging Notes by Bernadette.
I CAN TRUST IN CHRIST JESUS FOR CONTENTMENT WITH PEACE AND JOY AS I CARE FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.
Phil 4:10-19 ~ As these anointed Scriptures tell us, we can learn to be content in every state that comes our way whether in our need or in our comfort. Seek Christ Jesus Himself in His Word and Spirit in all your circumstances because it is Jesus Christ Himself who promises to strengthen us. He is faithful to keep His promise.
(Phil 4:13 ~ I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me).
This promise leads us on to care for others by sharing in their need. This sharing and giving of ourselves to others is a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God, and brings fruit to your service and to your name. And very importantly, God’s promise follows your caring for others. This promise is that He will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:19). Hallelujah!! Amen!!
TRUST IN JESUS AND HIS PROMISES WITH OBEDIENT CARE FOR OTHERS IN THEIR NEED, AND YOU WILL KNOW HIS CONTENTMENT, PEACE, AND JOY EVERYWHERE AND IN ALL THINGS! AMEN! (Phil 4:12)
~Sis Bernadette.
Joy Notes – “Loving on God”
The love of God comes to the human spirit when we communicate or fellowship with Him.
When we are Loving on God – His loves fills us. —– How do we obtain it?
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By coming and bathing in His love. I am not talking about spending hours praying. Most folks when they come to pray are simply bombarding the Lord with petitions and requests. I am talking about coming into His presence just to spend time with Him.
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Jesus said: This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friend. God commended His great love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
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In Scripture it says: We love Him because He first loved us. If you want to see the force of love go to work in your life, start giving, giving and giving. I will show shortly that faith and love work together. If you want to release the power of faith, you will need
love to go with it.
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How we must grieve Him when we so rarely go to Him just to spend some time with Him, but almost always to ask for something for ourselves or someone else.
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Joy Notes ——- “Loving on God”
SPRINGTIME IS NEW LIFE TIME!
SPRINGTIME IS NEW LFE TIME! ???????? ????. We hear the sound of birds singing. We see the new life sprouting from the flowers and the trees. We feel the new hope that God gives us in this beautiful Springtime!
Ephesians 5:18 ~ Be filled with the Spirit.
~bernadette.
_ Joy Notes_ “Time to Worship”
Worship is the way we see God’s larger purpose for us. A life of worship usually doesn’t make media headlines, but even the smallest things done in relation to God are significant because they’re part of a grand plan.
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Saying you don’t have time to worship God is like saying you don’t have time to breathe. If you don’t breathe, you die. If you don’t worship, you will wither up, living small – PRAISE GOD!
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_ Joy Notes_ “Time to Worship” ======= GN/CSO =======
-Joy Notes- “Trusting a Loving God”
God wants to lift our burdens, but he can’t as long as we’re tightly grasping them.
Have you ever noticed how some people derive their identity from their burdens?
In worship, we’re caught up in the immensity of God. It’s easier to stop grasping for control and to start trusting a loving God who has a bigger plan for us than we can imagine.
Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you!
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———————(Reference I Peter 5:6-7)——————-
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