Psalm 103:1-5

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

What Do You Think?

 

I am doing a thing! Look here.

1.  What do you believe the purpose of life is?  

I think we are here to learn something. And choose something.

2.  How do you handle stress ? What do you recommend to others who are stressed out?

The right answer is to cast our cares on the Lord for He cares for us. The wrong answer is worry, sleeplessness, and fear. How do we cast our cares? I am still learning that part, but here is a good start:

Phillipians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayer and thankfulness and giving it to God really, truly works. Try it.

3. What enjoyable things do you wish you could do more often? How would  it improve your life? 

I like to walk on the beach. I think it is best not to do it too much, though. It is always special when I go. The nearest beach is about two hours from here.

4. Do you believe in God?   Why or why not? 

Yes.

"In this galaxy, there is a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all of the universe, three million million galaxies like this. And in all of that and perhaps more, only one of each of us." -Dr. Leonard McCoy

There is only one you. Why?

Fast From Discouragement

 

Fast from discouragement and feast on hope. 

That's how this lovely saying goes. Thank you, Gretchen, for letting me borrow it.

I have hope. If I look around at our world I see turmoil, despair, all the troubles from which we run and hide. Do you see them too? I hope not. While I am staring at it I am interrupted by a still, small, powerful voice that says, simply, "Look up." And I see like a blind man who has never seen before. What is that bright light? Do you see it? I have hope that in a thousand tomorrows, or one, this great light will defeat the darkness. 

I heard a song this morning that sounds like how I feel.

This is "No Man's Land" by Mean Mary. What do you think she means?

Here I stand, in no man’s land, drear and stark and dead 

Contrariwise, these merry eyes, see blue skies overhead 

All is Bleak, so very bleak 

In this land of grim mystique 

Empty spaces, harsh places, send a wistful plea 

Like someone near, someone dear, calling out to me 

And the wind wails its desire 

And it’s hungry, hungry like a fire, like a wildfire 

CHORUS: 

I’m full of fight, here I stand 

I’m doing alright in No Man’s Land 

With Blinders gone, I look upon, this mystic land of strife 

This open door, to the ground floor, of rough and restless life 

I looked up at the sky once more 

Had it ever been so blue before – 

Birds fly, shadows rush by, there’s movement behind each stone 

I’m lonely in name only, for I’ve never been alone 

All the earth is fierce and alive 

And it’s hungry, hungry to thrive, to survive 

CHORUS 

Endless rocks, endless knocks, endless shifting sand 

The sun’s ablaze, no shady ways, but still, I understand 

I understand this No Man’s Land 

Psalm 145:14

The Lord upholds all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

They

No one is beyond the grip of God.

Whisper

Hope comes like a whisper. It says,

"When you thought everything was horrible, you were wrong."

hush.

Walk 

gently

in

the

lives

of

others.

Friend

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, 

and bring her into the wilderness,

and speak tenderly to her. 

And there I will give her her vineyards

and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.” 

Hosea 2:14-15

Open the door and step out into the sunlight. 

Even though you can't see, look up. 

Let those heavy weights drop. 

You were never meant to carry them. 

Be at peace, really peace, 

deep in the hidden place 

where you are afraid you're a monster. 

Be forgiven and be free. 

Great Light

The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, 

Galilee of the Gentiles—

the people dwelling in darkness

have seen a great light,

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,

on them a light has dawned.

Matthew 4:15-16

Psalm 94:18-19

 

When I thought, "My foot slips," your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

 

Anchor

This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.

 

Hebrews 6:19

Romans 8:38-39

For I am sure that neither death nor life, 

nor angels nor rulers, 

nor things present nor things to come, 

nor powers, 

nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from 

the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 55:11

So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: 

it shall not return unto me void, 

but it shall accomplish that which I please, 

and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

91

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High 

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the Lord, 

“He is my refuge and my fortress; 

my God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 91:1-2

Hope

I am writing to you, little children,

because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, children,

because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God abides in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.

1 John 2:12-14

Today's News

Did you think it would not get dark in the last days?
Do you think I will not come when you call?
Do you trust me?
Do you believe my promises, for good and not for harm?

Think about the times when you didn't know something until I told you.
I am telling you things now.
Can you hear me?
Will you hear me?
I hear you.
Rest assured, I hear you.
I will not leave you.
I will not forsake you.

Frolic!

But for you who revere my name, 

the sun of righteousness 

will rise with healing in its rays. 

And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.

Malachi 4:2

Psalm 31:24

Be strong and take heart,

all you who hope in the Lord!

Relief

Fear Not 

For 

I Am

With You

Isaiah 41:10

Deuteronomy 28:2

May 

the 

Blessings

of God 

Pursue and Overtake

You