Encouragement Thread...

[InVue]

When it feels like you are fighting a battle alone, you're misunderstood, or challenged on every hand, remember child of God:

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psa 27:1-4

Lastly, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Rom 8:31

Hang in there you got backup power...

[GoddessMaker]

If you are reading this very post at this exact moment you should rejoice because you have breathe in your lungs and are in your right mind at this present time.The Lord has allowed you to remain with us today in order to tell the tale of your journey.Enjoy the little things such as pain as it allows you know that you are alive at this moment and remember that a instance God can remove all pain.In this very second your reading this line someone has been born into this world and someone has passed on think about how you want to be living or dead in your soul.

[Health&hair28]

I'll Trust You Lord
Donnie Mcclurkin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xcEX4aP8Sk&feature=related

I know that faith is easy when everything is going well. But can you still believe in me when your life’s a living hell. And when all the things around you seem to quickly fade away. There’s just one thing I really want to know.


Chorus

Will you let go. (I’ll trust you lord)
Stand on my word.(I’ll trust you lord)
Against all odds will you believe what I have said.(I’ll trust you lord)
What seems impossible.(I’ll trust you lord)
Will you believe.(I’ll trust you lord)
Every promise that I make will you receive?(yes I will trust u lord)
I know how bad it hurts you when that dark ones life came to an end. And when he had to leave you. You said you’ll never love again. But will you trust that I can help you. And I’ll never turn away (oh my). Do you trust me child no matter what one says.


Chorus 2

What if it hurt.(I’ll trust you lord)
What if you cry oh my(I’ll trust you lord)
What if It doesn’t work the first time that you try.(I’ll trust you lord)
What if you call my name.(I’ll trust you lord)
And don’t feel me near.(I’ll trust you lord)
Will you still believe in me or will you fear.

[DreamLife]

Kierra Sheard Free

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOlQ4...e_gdata_player

We are free. In Christ we can find comfort and rest from the cares of this world. If we keep our minds on Him he will keep us in perfect peace. Regardless of the chaos. He will direct our paths and lead us in the way that we should go.

In Christ we have EVERYTHING we need. God cares about everything we need, and nothing is too small or too great for Him to deal with.

God still heals today...in Him we can be free.

[loolalooh]

Quoting what a member posted in another thread. Hold onto to "your shield" so that you do not grow tired:

Originally Posted by Butterfly08

One other concept that was taught in bible study tonight is that the reason the enemy attacks our faith is because it is our shield against *his* attacks. Without our shield, we can fight with our sword - the word - but we get tired out from the constant battle with nothing to cover us from his offense. And eventually we lose the will and the strength to fight, so he has us right where he wants us.

Ephesians 6:16

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

[loolalooh]

Smokie Norful, "I Understand": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0skD...ure=plpp_video

One more day, one more step,
I’m preparing you for myself.
And when you can’t hear my voice,
please trust my plan,
(I’m the Lord, I see and yes, I understand)....

[kila82]

"in his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen" 1Peter 5:10 (NLT)

[LoveisYou]

Originally Posted by loolalooh

Smokie Norful, "I Understand": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0skD...ure=plpp_video

love this song too!!!

[InVue]

The most wonderful thing that can happen to any of us is to have that most profound of all experiences to know Jesus Christ personally. You can hear about Him all your life and never really know Him. You can believe that He lived and respect Him and honor Him as a great historical figure and still only know Him academically.

But when at last you find Him and experience His reality, then for you He comes out of the stained-glass windows and out of history and becomes your personal Savior, then you can walk through all manner of darkness and pain and trouble and be unafraid because you will know He's walking right beside you.

***********
"If God be for us, who can be against us?" Rom 8:31
If God be for us He's more than the whole world against us...

[Maracujá]

The Awakening

A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change... or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that neither of you is Prince Charming or Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any
guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you... and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are... and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions. And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself... and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.
You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always
say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself... and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties.. and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the crap you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you should wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should make, what you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your parents, family, and friends.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with... and in the process you learn to go with your instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love - How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. And you learn that alone does not mean lonely. You also stop working so hard at putting your
feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK... and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things you want... and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise. You learn that being tired fuels
doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve... and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that Wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone... and that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber baron of all: FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.

And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

This was posted on my FB timeline once and I loved it so much, don't know who wrote it though.

I also like these two songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSGpa...ure=plpp_video and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBJww...ure=plpp_video

[loolalooh]

Encouragement for strength:

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

[TraciChanel]

Since early this morning, I've been humming this tune all day:

After This - J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPkzx...e_gdata_player

There will be glory after this! There will be victory after this!

God will turn it around, He will bring you out

There WILL be glory after this!

Chorus2

There will be glory after this! There will be victory after this!

God will move for you, give him the praise He’s due!

There WILL be glory after this!

Verse 1:

God will move in your situation

He will heal when the doctor’s give you up

He provides in the midst of recession

Have faith in Him, He’ll come through

Chorus

Verse 2

God specializes in things impossible

He loves to move when all hope is lost

Just so He can show himself strong in your behalf

Don’t give up, He’ll come through for you

Chorus

There WILL be a praise after this!; There WILL be joy after this!

There’ll be a testimony after this; There’ll be glory after this!

God bless...

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

[PinkPebbles]

18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

20 The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,

21 the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.
Isaiah 43:18-21 NLT

God is good all the time and worthy to be priase...

[Iwanthealthyhair67]

@PinkPebbles peace and blessings to you missed you in these parts ...

[TraciChanel]

Originally Posted by Iwanthealthyhair67

@PinkPebbles peace and blessings to you missed you in these parts ...

Same here, @PinkPebbles! Btw, I love that scripture in Isaiah 43. One of my faves

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

[Laela]

PinkPebbles...I've missed your presence here... Good to 'see' you

[loolalooh]

Scriptures for Comfort:

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

[loolalooh]

Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

[loolalooh]

James Moss, "Restored": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXRQYV3Y-JQ

VERSE:
I'm restored
And I've been rewarded
I'm redeemed
From guilt and shame
Never rejected
Just reconnected
Now I'm exalted
Because I know his name
(REPEAT)

Chorus:
It's done (it's all over)
....
It's done (the struggle is over)

[PinkPebbles]

Do not allow fear to hinder your blessings. What God has for you it is for you! He will empower you and cover you with His favor shield.

Joshua 1:9-11
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’”