May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from the sanctuary

and grant you support from Zion.

May he remember all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious

and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;

he answers him from his holy heaven

with the saving power of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

They are brought to their knees and fall,

but we rise up and stand firm.

O Lord, save the king!

Answer us when we call!

~Psalm 20

~2 Corinthians 12:9

So many burdened lives along the way!
My load seems lighter than the most I see,
And oft I wonder if I could be brave,
Patient and sweet if they were laid on me.

But God has never said that He would give
Another’s grace without another’s thorn;
What matter, since for every day of mine
Sufficient grace for me comes with the morn?

And though the future brings some heavier cross
I need not cloud the present with my fears;
I know the grace that is enough today
Will be sufficient still through all the years.

By Annie Johnson Flint

his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him;

he ran to his son,

threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

~Luke 15:20

Read more about this parable Luke 15

~1 John 4:7-12 (NIV)

"We love because he first loved us." ~1 John 4:19

You may not have realized it, but today when you woke up there was a nice gift wrapped in a beautiful box with a red bow on top.  If you took the time to unwrap it, inside you found the treasure of God’s love.  This passage of scripture shares that “God is love”.  It’s not a decision He makes, it’s something He is.  You and I often have to make a conscious decision to love those around us.  Especially when we live with difficult people in our lives, at our jobs, in our neighborhoods, in our families, and within our friendships.

Thankfully, God doesn’t have to make a decision to love us on a daily basis.  He is absolute love! He sent His only Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  He did everything out of love for you and I.  When we accept His Son, we carry a great responsibility to share that love with those we come in contact with through our actions and our words.  May we remember that we are reflecting the image of our Father’s love to those around us at all times.

Be thankful that there is someone who will always love you, not because you are always lovable, but because HE IS LOVE.  Be the best representation of God’s love you can be each and every day!

Lord, please remind me daily that I have the opportunity to love others because You first loved me.  Please teach me how to love others in a way that is worthy of the work done on the cross.  May Your love flow freely from my life and may it touch those around me!

Living in and through His love,

Sarah

Read more of 1 John 4

Memory Verse Proverbs 21:23

he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”

~James 3:2

"The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook." ~Proverbs 18:4

Ever notice that when you go to the doctor, they often ask to see your tongue.  Doctors often use the tongue to determine the physical condition of the body.  Let’s take this to a deeper meaning.  What does your tongue reveal about your moral and spiritual health?  Are your words unclean or untrue, indicating a sick and diseased heart?  Or are your words filled with grace and God’s love, indicating a heart sold out for Jesus?  This week I want us to take inventory of our words.  Let’s see what the spiritual condition of our lives are!  Please read through the following verses and do a little self check-up.  What does the condition of your tongue reveal about your life in Jesus?

“Wise men store up knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.”

~Proverbs 10:14

“When words are many, sin is not absent,

but he who holds his tongue is wise.”

~Proverbs 10:19

“The lips of the righteous nourish many,

but fools die for lack of judgement.”

~Proverbs 10:21

“Reckless words pierce like a sword,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

~Proverbs 12:18

“Truthful lips endure forever,

but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”

~Proverbs 12:19

“He who guards his lips guards his life,

but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”

~Proverbs 13:3

“A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

~Proverbs 15:1

“A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,

and his lips promote instruction.”

~Proverbs 16:23

“He who answers before listening–

that is his folly and his shame.”

~Proverbs 18:13

“Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,

but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.”

~Proverbs 20:15

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue

keeps himself from calamity.”

~Proverbs 21:23

Dear Father God,  I pray this little self examination will be used to reveal what the condition of my heart is.  Please help me to see where my tongue is being used to heal or hurt!  Please make me aware of what my words are and hold me accountable to Your standards.  I search Your heart, in hopes that my tongue will reveal a healthy spiritual life in You! 

Desiring a Healthy Tongue,

Sarah

Read more of James 3

Memory Verse Proverbs 21:23

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the day ordained for me

were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

~Psalm 139:13-16

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,

who trains my hands for war,

my fingers for battle.

He is my loving God and my fortress,

my stronghold and my deliverer,

my shield, in whom I take refuge,

who subdues peoples under me.

O Lord, what is man that you care for him,

the son of man that you think of him?

Man is like a breath;

his days are like a fleeting shadow.

~Psalm 144:1-4

The things you planned for us no one can recount to you;

were I to speak and tell of them,

they would be too many to declare.”

~Psalm 40:5

Annie Johnson Flint has a remarkable story of her love for God and her dedication to live her life for Him during some very difficult times.  I encourage you to read Annie’s story.  Annie did not let the difficult things of life weigh her down.  She did not give up hope, she never gave into circumstances, and she always knew God would see her through.  Her poems can be found at Home Makers Corner .  And her story can be found at the following link Annie’s Biography.  I promise that you will not be disappointed by either links.  I tend to go back to Annie’s poems as often as possible and I am encouraged by her steady stand in the Lord.  She did not waver.  The poem below shares the vast thoughts of God.  I pray it encourages and uplifts you!

How wonderful Thy thought, O God!
Though poor and needy I may be,
How high, how deep, how manifold,
Thy never-ceasing thought of me!

Thou thinkest more than I can know;
Thy gifts transcend my fairest dreams;
Beside the greatest of Thy thoughts
How small mine utmost asking seems!

Thou thinkest peace; the winds are lulled
And lash no more the billow’s crest,
And all the tumult of my soul
Is hushed into Thy perfect rest.

Thou thinkest joy, and I rejoice;
Even in grief I must be glad,
For when my lips can sing Thy praise,
My spirit may no more be sad.

Thou thinkest strength; I rise again
Where I had fallen in the fight,
And gird Thine armor on anew,
Strong in the power of Thy might.

Thou thinkest light; the clouds depart;
The starts shine through the deeps of space,
And then the dawn, and then the day,
The sun, and glory of Thy face.

Thou thinkest love; ah! God of love,
That thought in Christ embodied lies;
I see a vision of the cross,
And every selfish impulse dies.

by Annie Johnson Flint
(altered)

Read more of Psalm 40

Memory Verse Philippians 1:6

I remember the days of long ago;

I meditate on all your works

and consider what your hands have done.

I spread out my hands to you;

my soul thirst for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, O Lord;

my spirit fails.

Do not hide your face from me

or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,

for to you I lift my soul.

Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord,

for I hide myself in you.

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God;

may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

~Psalm 143:5-10