by Grethe Stanley | Jan 18, 2020 | encouragement
I really do not believe in making New Years resolutions, because they are doomed to fail. However I do believe in setting my self a new challenge at the beginning of a New Year.
This year as I sat and talked to my Heavenly Father about what He would like me to challenge my self with in 2020. I had no sooner asked Him and immediately came these words into my mind “speak only words of LIFE“. I knew in my heart that this was the Holy Spirit speaking to me.
So with God’s help I am going to do my very best this year to speak only words that bring life and encouragement to others.
Proverbs 15:4 (NLT) Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 16:24 (NLT) Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 18:4 (NLT) Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.
Will you join me in this challenge?
Dear Lord Jesus, Would you help me and any other person who reads this and takes up the challenge with me. Lord convict me by the power of Your Holy Spirit, if I speak words that are not life giving I ask in Jesus Name. AMEN
by Grethe Stanley | Jan 9, 2020 | encouragement
This mornings devotion from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young is worth sharing. It really spoke to me and I hope that my readers will be encouraged by it also.
I AM WITH YOU AND FOR YOU. When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My Will, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop you. You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your goal, but don’t be discouraged, never give up!
With My help, you can overcome any obstacle. Do not expect an easy path as you journey hand in hand with Me, but do remember that I, your very-present Helper, am omnipotent.
Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come. One of the main ways I assert My sovereignty is in the timing of events. If you want to stay close to Me and do things My way, ask Me to show you the path forward moment by moment. Istead of dashing headlong toward your goal, let Me set the pace. Slow down, and enjoy the journey in My Presence.
Romans 8:31 (NIV) What , then, shall. we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Luke 1:37 (NIV) For no word from God will ever fail.
by Grethe Stanley | Jan 6, 2020 | encouragement
I will not fear because the Word of God says “FEAR NOT” . He says that He will never leave me or forsake me. No matter where I am or what I am going through His Love surrounds me. No weapon that is formed against me will prosper. I am safe and secure under the Shadow of the All Mighty God, my Father. If God is for me who can be against me. What can mere man do to me. When I am weary, He will cause me to lay down in green pastures. I never have to face any situation or person on my own, because the Holy Spirit lives in me. Nothings happens in my life that God is not aware of. He knows my comings and my goings. His love endures forever. Therefor I will not be concerned about what I shall eat, drink or wear because My father provides all that I need. This year I choose to trust in the Lord with all my heart and I will not lean on my own understanding therefore I can trust Him to lead me and guide me throughout the whole of 2020.
The above is an entry that I found in my journal that I wrote a while ago, and I thought it is a good word to speak out over our lives at the beginning of this year. God’s Word is absolute TRUTH. The devil is powerless against the Word of GOD
Isaiah 43:1 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.”
God actually commands us not to fear, or worry. The phrase “FEAR NOT is used at least 80 times in the Bible, most likely because He know the devil uses fear to decrease our hope and limit our victories.
Hebrews 13:5 keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.
Isaiah 54:17 no weapon forged against you will prevail and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me, declares the Lord.
Psalm 91:1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Romans 8: 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Psalm 18:3 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Psalm 121:8 The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.
Psalm 118:1 Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!
Matthew 6: 25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.
by Grethe Stanley | Oct 1, 2019 | encouragement
We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Do you see with eternal eyes or are you seeing only with your natural eyes? It is an important question that we need to ask ourselves frequently; because otherwise we get bogged down by our circumstances and what is going on around us.
Our life here on earth is but a crumb when it is measured against eternity; we spend a lot of time being anxious about the here and now, especially things we cannot change. Fix your eyes today on the eternal one, your Father in Heaven, who knows everything about you and is totally aware of your circumstances. Being thankful is a great weapon to combat that feeling of being overwhelmed by the here and now.
by Grethe Stanley | Sep 24, 2019 | encouragement
I want to remind you today that you are never alone. It might feel like you are and you may not understand what is going on in your life or around you, but I promise you, you never walk alone. How can I be so sure of that? it says so in the Bible in the book of Jeremiah 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
And when you feel like you cannot take another step, He will carry you. Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age and grey hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Even if you feel like it is too hard to pray, the Holy Spirit will beseech the Father on your behalf. Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to prayer, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
by Grethe Stanley | Sep 9, 2019 | encouragement
Habakuk 3:17 -19 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls.
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.
That was a scripture that became very real to us during the time when we were fighting for our business.
When we lost everything we paraphrased this scripture to something like this.
Though we lost the business and the Salary is no more, and there are no cars in the garage, The bank account is empty; yet will we rejoice in the Lord. We will put our trust in the Lord and He will enable us to go on.
Sometimes the worst outcome can become the best thing that ever happened to you. When we lost the business as devastating as it was, we had already made a decision in our hearts that if the worst were to happen, we would still rejoice in the Lord and put our total trust in God. And as we look back over our lives now, we can see clearly that God had it all worked out.
So dear friends if you are going through some tough circumstances be like Habakuk, make a decision to say, “Yet will I rejoice in the Lord”.
