Bits and Pieces

I just want to jot down some things that have been a real encouragement to me in the last few days. There is no particular order or connectedness. My prayer is that you will read something that will inspire or encourage you, too.

(from an inspirational calendar)

"Love requires sharing,

sharing requires struggle,

struggle requires faith,

faith requires love."

"Snuggle in God's arms. When you are hurting, when you feel lonely...let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love." Kay Arthur

"The wonder of living is held

within the beauty of silence,

the glory of sunlight...

the sweetness of fresh spring air,

the quiet strength of earth,

and the (L)ove that lies at the very root of all things."

"To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else."

Bernadette Devlin

(from Joyce Meyer's devotional)

"Do you lack appreciation for your own worth and value? You may not feel treasured or even acceptable, but you are. In Ephesians 1:6, Paul says that all who believe in Christ have been 'accepted in the beloved'. What joyous and amazing affirmation! Surely you are valuable; otherwise your heavenly Father would not have paid such a heavy price for your redemption."

(from my daily readings)
selected verses from Deuteronomy:

"...what does the Lord your God require of you?...only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul....Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God. Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of his love....Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn. For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing...... He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes.... Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him."

from Psalms:
"May he (the Lord) grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed."
"For You have given him his heart's desire; You have witheld nothing he requested."

from Luke:
"But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer."

"Jesus answered them, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do. I have come to call, not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent."

"But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. 'The old is just fine,' they say."

from Thessalonians:
"...we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ....
Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts....
We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too.
...And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
...After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes you are our pride and joy....
So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How we thank God for you! Because of you we have a great joy as we enter God's presence.
...For you are all children of the light and of the day...be on your guard...stay alert and be clearheaded...
Now may the God of peace make you holy in everyway, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."

Bless you, friends!