Saturday, January 31, 2009

Redemption and Restoration


Photo
by
Lynn
Chamblee





Redeem - to buy back, repurchase, to save by
payment of ransom, to rescue from
trouble or sin.

But as for me, God will redeem my life.
Psalm 49:15


Restore - to renew, replace, revive, return.

Trust Me in your times of trouble and I will
rescue you and you will give Me glory.
Psalm 50:15

Friday, January 30, 2009

Trials











God uses adversity to develop our character
and dependence on Him. And He works through
trials to bless us and others.

The Lord pledges to give us everything we
need for life and godliness. It's a promise
He always keeps.

God's Holy Spirit lives with us as our
constant companion and source of our strength.

We also should keep in mind that even in the
worst situations, our Father works to accomplish
His will.


~Charles Stanley~ from "In Touch" Devotional

And hope does not disappoint us, because God
has poured out His love into our hearts by the
Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Romans 5:5

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Power


The strength that He gives is continuous
for He is a source of power we cannot exhaust.

~author unknown~




We cannot comprehend the
greatness of His power.
Job 37:5

We cannot imagine the power
of the Almighty, yet He is
so just and merciful that
He does not oppress us.
Job 37:23

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

How God Feels About Us


I love you completely, just the way you are.
You don't have to perform for me, strive for
me or turn yourself inside out trying to please
me. You don't ever have to be insecure about
my love for you. It is eternal and will always
be there for you. My love will give you the
confidence you need to do anything you need to
do. My love will help you move into your destiny
and fulfill your purpose.

~Stormie Omartian~

God does not love us because we are valuable,
but we are valuable because God loves us.

~Martin Luther~


Behold, I have inscribed you
on the palms of my hands.

Isaiah 49:16

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Steadfast


Sometimes the trial will be difficult, but "the God of grace,
who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have
suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make
you strong, firm, and steadfast."
1 Peter: 5:10

Each of us may be sure that if God sends us over rocky paths,
He will provide us with sturdy shoes. He will never send us
on any journey without equipping us well.
~Alexander Maclaren~

Monday, January 26, 2009

Hope and Confidence


But, blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
Jeremiah 17:7

Thank you, Lord, for giving us hope in the midst
of life's adversities. Thank you for being our
strength and our shield, no matter what.
In Christ's name. Amen.

Jack Cunningham (taken from "The Secret Place"
Devotions for Daily Worship)

Friday, January 16, 2009

Direction


When we follow God's direction, we will
witness things happening in our lives that
can only be explained by His powerful presence.

From "Experiencing God Day by Day"
by Henry T. Blackaby & Richard Blackaby


Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the
power that works in us. Ephesians 3:20

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Fear


How prone to doubt and fear we are when
we fail to count on God. At such times,
our worries and problems loom like mountains
before us--too high and too steep for us to
surmount. And indeed they are "too much" for
us without His aid. There is a modern self-
sufficiency that sneers at the idea of our
needing help from God. And yet, it is the
glory of man to recognize God as his Creator,
Redeemer, Sustainer and Lord.

~P. R. Lindland~

There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casts out fear.

1 John 4:18

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Serenity


SERENITY PRAYER


God, grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things that I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.


Living one day at a time,

enjoying one moment at a time;

accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;

taking, as Jesus did,

this sinful world as it is,

not as I would have it;


Trusting that You will make all things

right if I surrender to Your will;

so that I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.


~Reinhold Niebuhr~

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

In His Time


Living a life of faith often requires us to
leave things alone. If we have completely
entrusted something to God, we must keep our
hands off of it. He can guard it better than
we can, and He does not need our help. Things
in our lives may seem to be going all wrong, but
God knows our circumstances better than we do.
And He will work at the perfect moment, if we
will completely trust Him to work in His own
way and in His own time.

~A. B. Simpson~

"But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;
I say, 'You are my God. My times are in
Your hands.'" Psalm 31:14-15

Monday, January 12, 2009

God is Seeking You

He's seeking you
so you can know just how amazing He is.

He's seeking you
so you can know what you're created for.

He's seeking you
so you can find Him and value Him with all your heart.

He's seeking you
because He's God...and He knows you can't live without Him.

~Louie Giglio~
From "The Air that I Breathe"

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Strength


Lord, you are my strength and fortress,
my refuge in the day of trouble. Jeremiah 16:19

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Plans



"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.
"They are plans for good and not for harm, to give you
a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

The Lord will work out His plans for my life--
for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Psalm 138:8

Friday, January 9, 2009

T H I N K


T is it true?
H is it helpful?
I is it inspiring?
N is it necessary?
K is it kind?

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but perversion in it crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4

He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
guards his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 21:23

Thursday, January 8, 2009

God is Worthy


He is your protector...when you feel lost, weary and afraid.
He is good...when it's time to renew your perspective.
He is holy...when you yearn for someone greater than yourself.
He is your guide...when you need guidance.
He is near...when you long to feel His presence.
He is a faithful friend...when you yearn for His company.
He is just...when you need to leave justice in God's hands.
He is all-powerful...when the battle is too much for you.
He is grace...when you need forgiveness.
He is love...when you feel orphaned by life.
He is merciful...when you need a Savior.
He is majestic...when you're filled with awe by His creativity.

~Lisa Tawn Bergren ~ condensed from "God Encounters"

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Promises


God makes a promise,

Faith believes it,

Hope anticipates it,

and Patience waits

quietly for it.


~Charles Stanley~


He has given us His very great and precious promises. (2 Peter 1:4)


Yet, he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised" (Romans 4:18-21)

Monday, January 5, 2009


"I am holding you by your right hand - I, the Lord your God.

And I say to you, do not be afraid, I am here to help you."


Isaiah 41:13

Sunday, January 4, 2009




God is continually drawing us unto
Himself in everything we experience.

~Gerard Hughes~

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Happy New Year


"Behold, I make all things new."
Revelation 21:5
It is a land the LORD your God cares for;
the eyes of the LORD your God are continually
on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
Deuteronomy 11:12