A SHORT LETTER
… a short letter … to encourage you and tell you how kind God
really is, so that you will keep on having faith in Him (1 Pet 5:12)
A SHORT LETTER
With this month's letter I want to share with you some short,
inspirational stories and quotes, scriptures and poems, which I hope will
encourage you, and help you to realize that God is good, that He is in
control and that He can make a difference in your life!
LET GOD TAKE THE DRIVER'S SEAT - HE WANTS TO BE
YOUR GUIDE
Jesus said: "Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead.
You're not in the driver's seat--I am" (Luke 9:23 MSG)
Always let Him lead you, and He will clear the road for you to follow.
(Prov 3:6 CEV)
GUIDANCE
"When I think about the word guidance, I kept seeing
"dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing
God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person relaxes and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
Back to the word guidance. When I see "G," I think of God, followed by "U" and "I." God, "U" and "I" dance. God, you and I dance.
This is what guidance means to me. As I lower my head, I become willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I become willing to let God lead."
THE LORD IS YOUR SHEPHERD - THAT'S ALL YOU NEED
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - that's relationship!
I SHALL NOT BE IN WANT - that's supply!
HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES - that's rest!
HE LEADS ME BESIDE QUIET WATERS - that's refreshment!
HE RESTORES MY SOUL - that's healing!
HE GUIDES ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - that's guidance!
FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE - that's purpose!
EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH - that's testing!
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL - that's protection!
FOR YOU ARE WITH ME - that's faithfulness!
YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF THEY COMFORT ME - that's discipline!
YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES - that's hope!
YOU ANNOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL - that's consecration!
MY CUP OVERFLOWS - that's abundance!
SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE
DAYS OF MY LIFE - that's blessing!
AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD - that's security!
FOR EVER - that's eternity!
THE LORD IS NEAR …
He is near to those who call to Him, who call to Him with sincerity. (Ps
145:18 GNB)
Remember …
There's always a rainbow, wherever a cloud appears,
There's always tomorrow,
although you have doubts and fears.
Someone is there to listen,
if only you'll stop and pray. Someone is close beside you,
to help you on your way.
So if you are one of those people who find life is hard to bear,
Just stretch out your hand in the darkness -
you'll find God waiting there!
Say a quiet yes to God and He'll be there in no time. (James 4:8 MSG)
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD
Jesus said, "The things that are impossible for people to do are
possible for God to do." (Luke 18:27 GW)
Only God can turn
A mess into a message
A test into a testimony
A trial into a triumph
A victim into a victory
TROUBLES VANISH, HEARTS ARE MENDED
All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be
forgotten. (Isa 65:17 MSG)
Whatever your cross
Whatever your pain
There will always be
Sunshine after the rain
Perhaps you may stumble
Perhaps even fall
But God is always ready
To answer your call
He knows every heartache
Sees every tear
A word from His lips
Can calm every fear
Your sorrows may linger throughout the night
But suddenly vanish
At dawn's early light
The Saviour is waiting
Somewhere above
To give you his grace
And send you his love
Whatever your cross
Whatever your pain
God always sends
rainbows after the rain
Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning. (Ps 30:5 GNB)
You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them. (Ps 56:8 CEV)
WHEN YOU ARE WEAK, THE LORD IS STRONG
My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.
(2Cor 12:9 GNB)
When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!
He is everything for everybody everywhere, every
time, and every way.
He is God, He is faithful.
I am His, and He is mine!
The LORD is my protector; He is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with Him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; He defends me and keeps me safe. (Ps 18:2 GNB)
HE IS ALWAYS WITH YOU
…. for He Himself has said, I will be with you at all times. (Heb 13:5
BBE)
Where is God when it hurts?
He is there beside you
Waiting for you
Holding your hand
He will never let go
Forever, wherever you go
He is always with you
Holding your hand
When you feel alone, look at the spaces between your fingers and remember that in those spaces, even if you can't see, are God's fingers locked with yours, for ever!
I am the LORD your God. I am holding your hand, so
don't be afraid. I am here to help you.
(Isa 41:13 CEV)
ONE LINERS
Tough times never last, but tough people do.
Positive thinking will not always change our circumstances, but it will
always change us.
The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel
influences the way you act.
Laughter is like changing a baby's diaper -- it doesn't permanently solve
any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for a while.
Your life is not over when you have experienced failure. Your life is over
when you give up and loose hope.
Our way leads to a hopeless end,
God's way leads to an endless hope
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything, they
just make the most of everything that comes their way.
A BLESSING
May the peace of Christ enfold you
May the love of Christ possess you
May the Spirit of Christ direct you
May the joy of Christ be in you
And may you at all times experience the abiding presence of the living Christ in your heart