The Pastor’s message began with verse 13. I started with verse 11 and as I read I thought of you.
Just two verses and just what someone needs today, including me.
11 We pray that you will be continually strengthened with all the power that comes from his glorious might; so that you will be able to persevere and be patient in any situation, joyfully
This tendered and encouraged my heart so much this morning that I’m sharing it with you. Perhaps you have seen it already on Facebook; either way, new or not, I hope it will give you encouragement. All ABBA’s Little Girls (and Little Boys) need strength for the next step.
It is Tuesday and that means it is The Loft day. (Graphic by Kerry Messer )This week’s topic is BOOKS. A great topic. BOOKS. Where would we be without them? Darkness I’d say. Reading. One of the most blessed privileges a soul can have. I think one cannot learn too early to read and a soul does not live long enough on this planet to read all the good there is to read out there! And I think I am learning that it is good to read outside your preferred genre from time to time. It broadens one’s perspective.
There were pages upon pages, chapter after chapter that was soul jarring, so much so that my instinct was flight but I stayed the course; much because the One who had recommended the book is loved and respected. The conclusion was worth it all!
As withLeah,I am of the same mind, the Bible is THE BOOK. The one read that if you miss it you have missed it all! Favorite Translations? That varies with the season of my life. I have a copy of The New American Standard Bible with worn covers. It was my constant companion for a space of about three especially hard years. Even though I now default mostly to the Complete Jewish Bible that dog-eared, chipped-up leather cover holds golden treasures for me. It would take an Act of the HOLY SPIRIT for me to part with it. Then there is the Amplified Version and the King James and the New King James, The Reese Chronological, the Parallel Greek English New Testament, The Message, The New Century Version, The New Living, and I think there’s an NIV too on one of these shelves. No shortage of Scripture on the shelves in this house — May it be, ABBA, there will be no shortage in me of Your Word.
Let me give a short list of some other titles that have nourished me.
Forest Man by J. Steve Biggs. Entertainment for me! Written by a much-loved friend. I’m waiting for a sequel. Or the movie! :) :) Steve has written another, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.It is a heavy one and at times over my head as to Creation – Intelligent Design. If you have an interest, you owe it to yourself to read it.
This has gone on sufficiently long, hasn’t it? I’m looking forward to seeing the Reading List of others at The Loft.
Rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin.
Our GOD tells no lies! And when He says there is pleasure in sin we know it is true for we have experienced it. And when He says it is a passing pleasure we know that too; for we have surely experienced it. As the saying goes: been there, done that, got the T-shirt!
But I’ve got more. A revelation has settled in upon me this morning and I am excited and I’m expecting the pleasure to last. Are you ready?
There comes the time when doing the right thing feels BETTER than doing the wrong thing! We just have to do the right thing long enough for the ‘feelings of the heart’ to catch up. However, honesty much rule so I have to tell you this good feeling for doing the right thing is not won in all aspects of our daily walk about in one fell swoop. Nope!it comes one issue, one area at a time as we practice choosing RIGHT over WRONG.
Little victories! BIG rejoicing!! Keep looking up!
We are glad you are here; stay a while, look around, and be encouraged. We estimate there to be over 3,000 posts here at The White Stone Blog. Please know my hope is ALWAYS to help and NEVER harm. I have voiced many opinions and thoughts here since 2007 and by now I MAY NOT EVEN AGREE with all of them and some of my grammar and punctuation likely needs editing. But this is changeless: JESUS is our ONLY Savior and Hope. Do you KNOW Him?
by Laura Hillenbrand