Life Encourager

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas

2011-11-23T13:44:00.000-08:00

Hello dear friends! It is Thanksgiving week and the Christmas season! Oh how I truly love this time of year and not necessarily because of the Christmas tinsel and songs but because the whole world is focusing on Jesus whether they know Him as Savior or not, He becomes the reason for the season for many. The banter is always interesting about nativity scenes and Christmas carols in the stores. We had a sales clerk tell us Happy Holidays last week and we immediately said Merry Christmas. She wished us a Merry Christmas too!! We go with the joy of the season and the joy of the Lord wherever we go but this time of year we want people to know who we serve and love. Over the past month many of our friends on Facebook have been posting daily what they are thankful for and quite a few have put scriptures online. I wanted to share some of the scriptures I put on my page with all of you. May you be blessed and encouraged that we have so much to thank our Lord for and Jesus IS REALLY the reason for the season.

Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to throw away; A time to tear, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.

Psalm 95:1-2 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up my eyes to the hills-from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Each day as I have voiced my thankfulness, I have been thankful for my precious husband, my children, all the many prayer warriors, my dear friends, Father’s beautiful world, the air we breathe and the voice we have to praise and adore our Lord, my wonderful sisters in the Lord, and for Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone and a Very Merry Christmas too!!

Freedom in Christ

2011-07-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

We have just experienced another July 4^th, Independence Day, with all the picnics, family gatherings and fireworks. For most folks it is a very exciting holiday because they enjoy the festivities but do they really understand the reason for the celebration. Most people probably have an idea what it is about but I just read a really good book that gives the history of our country keying on the role prayer has played in the founding of our nation. Our country separated from England and on July 4, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was adopted. I read the prayers given by our country’s leaders and the truly heartfelt patriotism that was shown. We have experienced this over the years as we have celebrated over 60 years of Independence Days. This year though I have another thought. That thought is about Freedom. Our son spent 20 years in the Marine Corps fighting for the freedoms we enjoy daily as we go about our life. There is another part of freedom that most folks don’t really think about. That is our Freedom in Christ. Some people think being a Christian and loving Jesus is restrictive. I disagree wholeheartedly! I love the fact that because of His great love for us we have the freedom to be who God wants us to be, live where He wants us to live and love who He wants us to love. That is the ultimate freedom because our Father through His Son Jesus and His Holy Spirit want only good and perfect gifts for His children. I am a child of God! When I received Jesus as my Savior and Lord, I gained all the promises that are in His Word, The Bible! What are the freedoms that we enjoy? Let’s see: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Psalm 37:40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.

Psalm 27:1 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?

Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he that believes in Me shall never thirst.

Acts 16:31So they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.

Deuteronomy 33:12 The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all the day long; and he shall dwell between His shoulders.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Psalm 146:7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Seek the truth today.

Charley & Karen

Life and Living

2011-05-03T07:07:00.000-07:00

Life and Living - John 5:24-30

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”

Harper's Bible Dictionary defines life as:

In the Old Testament - the gift of God is life. God breathed into Adam's nostrils the breath of life.

Gen. 2:7 And man became a living being.

Psalm 36:9 For with you is the fountain of life. In Your light we see light.

In the New Testament - Life has spiritual meaning

Matthew 6:25 Life is more than food

Matthew 16:26 Life has more value than the whole world.

Jesus regarded each human life as precious. In John's gospel - Life is a major word used for real or spiritual life lived in fellowship with God now and hereafter. Jesus is Life!

The American College Dictionary defines life as:

Life - growth, reproduction, adapt to environment

Synonym: vivacity, spirit, sprightliness

Living - alive, active, strong as in a living faith

Burning or glowing as a coal

Flowing freely as water - living water

Synonym: quick, vigorous

How are men saved to experience eternal life?

By hearing the Word of God - Making a commitment and obedience to the Word.

By believing God - John 3:16, Romans 5:8

What is the result of salvation? Eternal Life - Life with Jesus forever and ever.

Do we have to wait? No

What is eternal life? John 3:36, John 5:25-26, John 20:31

We pass from death to life

We pass from condemnation to justification

We pass from unrighteousness to righteousness

Contrast 2 ways of life - Psalm 1

Jesus is our Life Source - God has life with Himself and He has given the same energy of life to His Son

Jesus has the Power to give everlasting life to those who hear Him and believe.

Colossians 2:13 You who were dead, He has made alive

1 Corinthians 15:45 A life giving spirit

More Scriptures about Life

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 Choose life that both you and your descendants may live

Job 33:4 The breath of the Almighty gives me life

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is the strength of my life

John 1:4 In Him was Life, and the life was the light of men

John 10:10 I have come that they may have life – abundant, plentiful

John 11:25 Though he may die, he shall live

John 14:6 Jesus said, I am the Way, the truth, the life

John 12:49-50 I know that His command is everlasting life

John 8:12 Jesus said, I am the light of the world, light of life

John 8:31-32 If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

John 8:51 Keep His Word and never see death

John 10:28-29 Eternal life is given by Jesus, we shall never perish

1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life, no Son of God no life

Who is a Christian? A person who is exercising and practicing the salvation God has provided. Father gives us the desire and strength to do what pleases Him.

Do you have life? Are you living in that life? Are you walking in that life?

Prayer Needed in Our World Today

2011-03-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

Many people are spending much of their waking hours glued to the TV watching the videos of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11. While it is important to know what is happening in our world, many, some of our dear friends, are being anxious and fearful just from watching so much of the news. Right now around our country and abroad prayer meetings are being held to bring the Japanese people before the Lord and ask for His help in the issues facing this country today. The stories of miracles are coming forth quickly. Much devastation has occurred and many are dead but many are also alive and helping the others with life and death issues. How precious the love that is being shown around Japan but also how precious the love being shown through supplies and prayers from all over the world. Any time something like this happens it affects everyone. What happens in Japan also affects our country through the economy and also through families. Many people live in the US who have family living in Japan.

What can we do? We are only one person and we can feel very insignificant in the aftermath of such a catastrophic happening. Be of good cheer dear ones. You have a very important role to play. We cannot stress enough the power of prayer. Pray without ceasing! Take each person in Japan, in the spirit, and lay them at Father’s throne and allow Father to do His work in their life. Only He knows their immediate need. Only He knows His perfect plans for them. Take each of the leaders of Japan and lay them at Father’s throne. Only He knows the stress and pressure brought to bear on these people who lead this huge country in such chaos. What do we know about prayer?

Prayer is the means by which believers (those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord) communicate with God and receive guidance for their lives. Effective prayer depends on faith and a right relationship with God.” Faith is essential to prayer. “Asking for oneself and for others (intercessions) is an important aspect of prayer.” Prayer is our responsibility to God. It is addressing God in word or thought involving these: praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition and intercession. Father wants to fellowship with us through prayer. Our God hears our prayers when we are in right relationship with Him and He answers. We pray daily with confidence for over 2000 people and now over the nation of Japan and all of the people. That is the way we can touch each one with God’s love, His provision and His care. Many Christian organizations are offering to send help into the worst areas of destruction. As the Lord leads join with these organizations either through supplies or finances to help the Japanese people.

1Timothy 2:1-4 says “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Let us join together as Christ Ones to pray for the nation of Japan, the leaders of Japan, the people of Japan and for the mercy, power and love of God to be manifested.

Karen

Abiding In Jesus

2011-03-01T10:32:00.000-08:00

These past few months it seems that all I read about is staying in God’s presence, power and walking in total submission to Him. One of my favorite scriptures is John 15. In this scripture we read about how to abide in Christ and for Him to abide in us.

Jesus says:

V4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

What does abide mean? It means to be sure, to remain in place, to stand, to endure, to dwell, to sojourn, to be firm, and to stay. Are you getting the picture? How secure and stable is abiding? Well, the way I look at this definition and the Word of God, it is mighty secure and stable. Oh how I want to dwell in God’s presence no matter what is happening around me. It is not dependant on feelings or attitudes. It is not dependent on the circumstances of life. It is a matter of belief, trust and total surrender to the truth of the gospel, who Jesus is and who He is in my life.

It is a choice that we make. If I live daily in His Presence and under Father’s protection nothing can harm me, nothing can touch me, and He is my refuge, my hiding place. Yes, life happens. Tragedies happen but imagine yourself being held in Father’s cupped hands. I have seen myself there so many times and I have literally felt His hands holding me safe and secure even in the midst of the storms of life. I love that sense of His abiding presence. He has said He will never leave me nor forsake me. I also feel His arms around me, holding me tenderly and comforting me. He is telling me, focus on Me, trust Me, rest in Me. We know of several people right now who are resting in Jesus in the midst of a very big storm and nothing can harm them.

V5 I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Without Him I can do nothing. Oh how true that is! I want to bear His fruit but I cannot do that without abiding in Him. I can go through the motions and get something done but what quality of fruit am I producing. I want good quality fruit to be produced.

Here are 4 Keys to Effective Christian Living

1. Abiding - to live, to stay, to continue in a permanent state, to dwell, to endure.

2. Fruit Bearing - producing something in abundance, ministry, helping others.

3. Obey - to carry out or fulfill the command or order.

4. Love - Spiritual love - 1 Cor. 13 Unselfish, unconditional

Because you set your love upon God, He will deliver you. He will exalt you or lift you up because you have known the name of the Lord. You pray and He will hear and answer. He will be with you in trouble. He will deliver you and honor you. With long life, we will see His salvation and His glory.

Karen

What's Happening?

2011-02-23T05:40:00.000-08:00

Interesting times we are living in. The earthquake that has hit New Zealand is another reminder of how the earth is quaking and shaking. There is great turmoil in our country and the world. The Lord has had us praying daily about the disasters that have hit our country and the world from Haiti, New Orleans, to New Zealand. The Lord has also told us to continue to focus on Him and not on our circumstances but He does care about the world we live in and the people around us who are hurting. So He has placed the burden of prayer on our hearts and then He goes about working in the midst of the turmoil, disasters and tribulations of life. My weekly Bible study is from the book of John. Today I read in John 16:33, “these things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Oh what good news! He is the answer to the issues of life! Praise God!! Psalm 121 says “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Oh how I love that message! We must focus on Jesus. We must praise and worship His Holy Name and we must trust Him in the midst of the trials and tribulations of life, the disasters, the shaking and the rumbling taking place within our boundaries and beyond. Our God is on His throne of Grace and He cares about you!! Read His Word! I would suggest you begin reading in John. I have so much more to share and I will as often as Father gives me utterance.

Karen

Legacy

2011-02-19T15:03:00.000-08:00

During the night I experienced some thoughts in my dreams about my dad whose birthday would have been today. The word that the Lord gave me was Legacy. I have a legacy from both my mom and dad that is a part of the woman I am and where the Lord has taken me in my life. After I awakened I began reflecting on just what legacy means. The definition of legacy is something from the past (something that is handed down or remains from a previous generation or time). What legacy do I have? I know that I have physical characteristics from both of my parents and I also know that I have emotional characteristics from them as well. Now where does my spiritual legacy come from? Also from those in my past who loved the Lord Jesus with all their heart, mind and soul. I can name many in my family line who that describes but I can also name those who did not walk with the Lord yet I still have a legacy from them. I know that my grandmother prayed for me daily. I know that my mom took me to church as a child and I know that my Heavenly Father loves me. My parents loved me and I loved them. Both of them have gone on to glory now but I still walk in the legacy of their lives. I know, because Father has told me, that my dad received Jesus in his last few weeks of life. I celebrate that new life that he found. I also know that my mom knew Jesus and she and my dad are rejoicing in heaven together. Yes, I do have a legacy of love, faith, physical characteristics of both parents and of perseverance, trust and dependence on my Heavenly Father through His Son Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. I love knowing that I have a legacy to pass on to my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I honor my dad today for the life that he gave me 64 years ago tomorrow. What is your Legacy?

Together

2011-02-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

It has been several years since I created a new blog. Just this past week as Charley and I talked about all the poems and messages I have written over the years, he mentioned why not create a new blog just for your poems and messages. We already have two blogs. One shares what the Lord is doing in our lives on a daily basis through the ministry and the other one shares all that the Lord has spoken to us over the years. This new one will share about the special gifts of poems and encouraging words Father has also given me since I was a teen. If it sounds like a lot of writing you are so right but what special blessings these poems and messages have been for living life to its fullest under the blessing and covering of the Lord Jesus. So sit back and enjoy some tidbits of Father's life flow into me, His precious daughter.

Every minute of every day,

I am with You, You are with me.

I cannot go to the right or left,

That I am not with You and You are not with me.

Your hand holds me tight,

My hand holds even tighter.

Your love fills my heart,

My love for You fills my life.

You have given all for me,

I give it all to You, Blessed Jesus.

Karen (1/14/94)