Breathe

~Monday Movies & Music~

Jonny Diaz's "Breathe" is a interesting and often so-true depiction of our lives. Here are the lyrics. 

  "He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth.”" Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Can you be still today?

"You're so amazing, God" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"You're so amazing, God! Thanks for caring about everything we're going through." -Mick, Grace Notes

"Now is always the right time for forgiveness." - Heather, So Over It

“And that’s how God sees us: dirty from sin, but worth the time spent standing on the porch watching for us to return. And He’ll wait until we’re ready to turn from our sin." - Pastor Scott, Worth the Time

"Thank you, God. I can see I've been a fool, and I'm really sorry. I'm not even totally sure what the next step is for me, but I pray that you will show me. I pray that I won't question you, and that I will obey. Thank you again for taking care of me. And once again I'm really, really sorry. Amen." -Caitlin, Becoming Me

How about you? Do you think God cares about what you are going through? Do you have somebody to forgive or somebody you should ask for forgiveness? Do you appreciate and thank God for waiting for you for so long? Have you cried out to God for direction?

Walk in love

~Friday for Friends~

"And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." 2 John 5-6 (NIV)

How can YOU "walk in love" today? Who can you help? Who can you encourage? Who can you tell about your Savior? 

And/or 

Has somebody loved on you lately? Have you been encouraged? Have you been reminded of our Father's love? 

Forsaken?

~Tuesday Thoughts~ 

"1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
    by night, but I find no rest.[b]
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
    you are the one Israel praises.[c]
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
    they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
    in you they trusted and were not put to shame."Psalm 22:1-5 (NIV)

Sometimes it feels that God has left us. But He never has and never will. Amen! 

""The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”" Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

Alone

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Alone" is a song by Hollyn. Here are the lyrics. 

 "Do not hide your face from me,

    do not turn your servant away in anger;

    you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

    God my Savior." Psalm 27:9 (NIV)

""The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”" Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

He will never leave us. Amen. 

The beauty

~Saturday Story~

The description is based on this picture by I. I. Levitan (seen by me without the frame).  

  As I stand on the bank of the Kama river, I marvel at the beauty of nature. The water glitters, reflecting the sun and woods. Somehow little birches and other trees manage to grow right in the water. The setting sun casts long shadows on the bank. Not far away a small old rowboat rocks back and forth on the waves. I wonder whose it is and why it is there. On the other bank, about a mile away, I can see little cabins.
  After a while, I go home, but this scene will never leave my mind.


"3 For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land." Psalm 95:3-5 (NIV)

Isn't it amazing how beautiful God's creation is? 

Dishing out encouragement

~Friday for Friends~

I've heard (and can attest to the fact) that girls often want encouragement and compliments on how they look. I've also heard that boys like encouragement about a specific thing they did well. 

I'm not encouraging a huge ego. I'm just saying that sometimes we can encourage those around us in these ways, don't you think? 

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

Who can you encourage today?