Category Archives: Encouragement

Jan13

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 13, 2015 by lsgrlr

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 11. “But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David'” (Verses 1-6). This chapter makes me sad. The fall of a great king, all because he started to listen men (technically women) instead of God. I think Solomon is a warning that no matter how close our relationship, not matter how strong we start it is the ending that matters. Solomon started out strong, loved God, and was blessed. But then he started to believe a lie, he forsook the God of the universe and served others. In the end Solomon fell, and did not recover. Here is the lesson Christian: It’s not the beginning that matters, it is the end. Where did you end up at the end of the race? The finish line or in the bushes somewhere?

Jan12

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 12, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 10. “Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness'” (Verses 6-9). The Queen of Sheba traveled a great distance to come to king Solomon, she had heard the reports and wanted to find out for herself if what she heard was true. What I find awesome is that she didn’t walk away telling Solomon how awesome he was, she walked away telling Solomon how awesome God was. That’s the goal, that’s what we are called to do: Point people to God. Solomon’s love for God brought a queen to the Lord, and if we think about that from the perspective of paying it forward, God’s wisdom not only affected the queen, but the people she ruled. Today let us like Solomon draw people by what they see and hear in us.

Jan11

DAY 11 (2015)

Posted on January 11, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

Only God can truly answer this question…

Have you just ever had a time of worship, were you felt every song, sung, was somehow a message solely meant for you? Today’s praise and worship was like that for me… it came when we sang this chorus: “Lead me to cross where your love poured out, bring to me to my knees Lord I lay me down. Rid me of myself I belong to you. Lord lead me. Lead me to the cross.” It was one of those moments were the words felt so real it was almost difficult to say them, because they brought tears to my eyes and repentance to my heart as I realized, this wasn’t just words in a song. No, this was my heart laying prostrate before God, and giving Him the parts of myself that I have been unsuccessfully trying to hide from Him. I felt refreshed and renewed after the experience. Then I was gently reminded of the fact that, that is the purpose of worship. We mistakenly believe worship is just a time for us to sing, when really it is a time for us to fellowship and communicate with our heavenly Father. Worship is our way of telling God how much we love Him, and opening the door for Him to reply to this message, Today my relationship with God was brought a little bit closer through worship, today parts of my heart were changed and made new in the light of His grace. Today I learned (or was reminded) that worship was a time to pour our love out to God.

“Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth” (Psalm 96:9).

So what am I thankful for today? Worship that leads me to the cross.

Jan9

DAY 9 (2015)

Posted on January 9, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

What words are you using?

Some days the message is so simple you wonder why more people don’t understand. Then you realize that it’s not because they can’t as much as they don’t want to. God doesn’t make it hard, He doesn’t make finding Him hard. God gives freely, He loves us freely, He saves us freely (although it cost Him so much). Today as I strolled through my day, for some reason I was blown away by the simplicity of our very complex God. Complex in that He is the beginning and end, but simple in that all we have to do is believe and trust and His power is at our disposal. Here is the truth that today has taught, and no nothing amazing happened in my day, gold did not fall from the sky, all my deepest desires have not been meant: But God LOVES me, and that is ENOUGH.

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fail” (Lamentation 3:22).

So what am I thankful for today? Unconditional, unending LOVE.

Jan9

Random (hopefully inspired) Thouught

Posted on January 9, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 8. “And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord” (Verse 10-11). This will be simple and true. When we prepare a place for God to dwell, He will come and live there. Solomon built God a temple and God took residence. Today He doesn’t need a physical house, but if we offer up our hearts, offer up our lives God will dwell in and with us. Now, that’s amazing GRACE.

Jan8

DAY 8 (2015)

Posted on January 8, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

Just like unexpected snow in Spring. Life can throw us curve balls. When that happens we either take a swing or get hit.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Today we had a blizzard, in Buffalo and I was not expecting it. Why? Because this morning when I drove to work it was bright and sunny, cold but not a cloud in sight. Now I am going to tell you a story about a God who sees and knows and who puts His plans in action in a such a way that blows our minds. I was hired for my job two months before I actually started working, I didn’t start working till November. In August I tired making an appointment for my mom to see a doctor before work started, however, I was unsuccessful. The earliest appointment I could get was for January (yeah, crazy I know). So in August I made an appointment for January 8th, for my mom to see her doctors. On Monday I requested to leave early to take her to her appointment. Today when I walked out to my car and saw that the snow, I was freaked out (can’t lie). But as I was driving home I realized that God knew that it was going to snow today. He also knew that it was it would be easier and safer for me to drive when the sun was out than it would be to maneuver the slick roads in the dark. He planned my safe journey home almost five months prior. I am blown away, that He cares about me that much. The irony I was so irritated at how far out the appointment I was, that I had actually thought of cancelling it, but I didn’t and today I understood why. Here’s the truth even when we don’t realize it God’s at work, and He uses even the most normal of circumstances to bring about His miracles.

“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 3:18).

So what am I thankful for today? A God who plans ahead. 😀

Jan7

DAY 7 (2015)

Posted on January 7, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

Don’t worry about what’s to come. Instead let God’s peace fall like snow.

Mmmm… almost forgot to post today. it was a long day, not a bad one by any stretch of the imagination, just long. This morning it snowed really bad and I was nervous about driving. But my awesome brother gave me an out when he offered to take me if I didn’t want to drive. So at 7 am I called him, woke him up and asked if his offer was still good, and it was. Yes!!! The drive was beautiful, but that is not my point of thankfulness. No, today I want to thank God for a brother who doesn’t mind getting up at seven am to take his sister to work. Even although he didn’t have to go to work. Life is lonely if we try to travel it alone. Lonely travelers are easy prey and fall quickly to the schemes of the enemy. But when we have a companion we have accountability and friendship. So thanks Jon for taking me to work, and thanks God for giving me a brother that didn’t complain about being woken up.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

So what am I thankful for today? Companions on the journey.

Jan7

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 7, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 6. “Then the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying: ‘Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel'” (Verses 11-13). Here is what I am learning, God doesn’t make it hard. He breaks it down to the simplest form of instructions… if you do this, I will do that. He is never trying to confuse us, He is never trying to make it had. If we obey we will be blessed and God will dwell with us, walk with us, and guide our path. It really is just that simply.

Jan6

DAY 6 (2015)

Posted on January 6, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

So true!

Today we got a raise at work thanks to the state of New York. New York raised the minimum wage and thus the company I work for gave all the employees a cost of living raise. I was so blessed because while I get paid well, it has been a tight lately it took me a while to find a job when I first moved here, so I blew through my savings paying bills. When I finally started to work, I started at a deficit so to speak. I prayed asking God for financial wisdom and He placed me in a company that rewards hard work, so getting promoted is not a struggle, but then today was an extra blessing that I just didn’t see come. Here’s what I realized: God hears and He understands and in His time he gives us just the right answer.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

So what am I thankful for today? A God who hears and answers.

Jan6

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 6, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 5. “But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence. And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name'” (Verses 3-4). God gave Solomon rest, but instead of resting on his laurels, Solomon got busy. He wanted to build God a home. The God who had blessed him with wisdom and peace. I am blessed by this. Because Solomon didn’t forget. Forget what, you ask? Forget to praise and live for God in the GOOD times. For the most part we get complacent when life is good, forgetting who it was that blessed us with the good we are enjoying. In this portion of scripture, in his good time, Solomon made God a place to dwell. Let us do the same, in our good, let’s give God a place to dwell.