Special to God

~Saturday Stories~

"You’re special to God, aren’t you? So you’re special to me." -Aleesha, Found in Translation

"He'd tell me I have so much potential and so much to look forward to because God has incredible plans in store for my life." - Unwritten Melody

"You are special in so many ways. You are kind. And you're so sweet with our children. You always put others first. ... But the most important reason is that God made you special, and he loves you so much." -Gloria, The Fight

How about you? Is it easy for you to forget that you are special to God and that He has great plans for you? Can you encourage someone with this truth today? 

New ideas, anyone?

~Friday for Friends~

"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)

I used to get quite annoyed with bloggers who randomly stopped writing and then randomly started again. And then I did that same thing. Do you guys ever find that after you disapprove of someone's behavior you notice, quite soon, that you do it yourself? Yeah...  

So, I'm sorry. With God's strength, I plan to go about blogging at roughly the same pace I did before this hectic month and a half. If you have ideas for this blog - what I could do differently or more/less of - please share them! I really do want to encourage you as Hebrews 10 mentions.

How have you guys been doing? What has been happening in your lives? 

Here's Lily by Nancy Rue

~Saturday Stories~

 

I have had the great privilege of having this book review posted on Rayleigh Gray's Literature Approved blog. Please head over to her amazing website to read my review of  Nancy Rue's Here's Lily.

The Cure

~Monday Movies & Music~

Unspoken has a beautiful song, "The Cure." Here are the lyrics. 

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 (NIV)

It is so grand, this truth that Jesus Christ is the Cure for our sin. Only He can save us from disaster; only He can love us as He does - enough to die for us.

"It was Your picture"

~Saturday Stories

“I taught you to look at the special gifts and qualities God gave you. ... Actually, we shouldn’t call it self-confidence. We ought to call it God-confidence.” - Kathleen, Here's Lily

"It's not about being good or living a good life. It's about believing that God is God, that he's good and he loves us, and that we need his forgiveness. That's it!" -Gloria, The Fight

"I couldn’t see the whole picture. You did, though. It was Your picture." -Kim, Found in Translation

How about you? Have you remembered that you are in need of God's forgiveness and that He loves you? Have you placed your confidence in God? Have you trusted Him with His picture? 

Do it this weekend!

~Friday for Friends~

Today, apparently, is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. A kindness I love giving and receiving is encouragement. It means SO MUCH when people take the time to encourage me and let me know they are there for me.

Over February 14th, a number of older people from church gave me gifts and cards, making it easier to be both single and far away from my family on that specific. :)

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

How could you encourage someone this weekend?

Our Shield

~Tuesday Thoughts~ 

"A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

1 Lord, how many are my foes!

    How many rise up against me!

2 Many are saying of me,

    “God will not deliver him.”[b]

3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,

    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

4 I call out to the Lord,

    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

5 I lie down and sleep;

    I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

6 I will not fear though tens of thousands

    assail me on every side.

7 Arise, Lord!

    Deliver me, my God!

Strike all my enemies on the jaw;

    break the teeth of the wicked.

8 From the Lord comes deliverance.

    May your blessing be on your people." Psalm 3 (NIV)

No matter what stands against us, our Lord is our Deliverer! When was a time God was a shield for you?