“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst, the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” Philippians 4:8 (The Message)
I woke up this morning grateful for all the good I see God doing in and around me. This past weekend Beth spoke at Women of Faith here in Houston and on Friday night, we as a staff worked the product table. It was kind of a rush because women are hungry for truth and that alone is thrilling! Having never worked the product table here at LPM, I was really encouraged by the ladies (of ALL different ages), who came to the table having never heard of So Long, Insecurity or even Beth herself! They had so many questions; to be able to introduce her to them through her resources, and to offer them something you yourself really believe in as well…easy.
All that to say, when there was a lull at the table while the worship and teaching was going on, I had the privilege of going in to hear Kari Jobe lead my new favorite song, Forever. (Go search “Forever (Live)” on iTunes by Kari Jobe and be blown away. You’re welcome.) While we were singing, my coworker Sherry looked over and whispered to me, “After being at Passion last weekend with thousands of college students, and now being in this room with thousands of women, it is mind blowing.” And it really is. How do we get to be witnesses to such extravagance? I have thought about that so much these past few days. The fact that two weekends in a row I got to hear thousands proclaim the name of Jesus, sing His name loud and proud, and study His word. That, my friends, is good.
Here’s a little glimpse into Friday night.
On the flip side, I also know and see the awful happening all around us, the heartbreaks, the evil, the ugly so I’m not naive enough to think or believe that we all live in a happy-go-lucky bubble. But for the time I got to experience His goodness, I’m going to receive that and dwell on that.
Since we are called to witness to Jesus Christ and what He’s done for us despite our sinful selves, can we just bear witness today on the blog? Can we take a day to proclaim the good things He’s done? The good things we see going on around us? Like Philippians so beautifully paints, can we fill our minds and meditate on “things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst, the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”?
In the comments, let’s encourage one another today! Write down one good thing you’ve witnessed recently. One good thing the Lord has done in you, through you, through your family or friends, corporately or privately. Jesus isn’t just good because of the good things He does for us, that’s not only why we praise Him, but we have full permission to praise Him for those things regardless. And He deserves the praise anyway!
So, let’s make it easy and just testify today! Testify to His goodness, His mercy, His grace, His redeeming love, His power, His Spirit! Whatever it is, we want to testify with you!
Side Note: Our dear Beth who I know y’all miss hearing from is trying, by God’s grace, to finish writing her new Bible study by the end of this week! It’s been an eighteen month journey that is coming to an end, so now is the time to persevere. Along with writing, we’ve had Tuesday night Bible study and Passion and Women of Faith, which is why she’s been quieter as of late. So, know that she sends her hello! You would not waste a prayer on her right now. That lady pours herself out in the name of Jesus more than anyone I know.
We love y’all dearly. Let’s hear your praises!
I praise God for His faithfulness to me, for His transforming work in my life. On my own, I am proud, fearful, pessimistic and controlling. He is helping me to change, little by little. His Word and His Holy Spirit are changing me!
Lately my personal Bible study, my Sunday school prep, and my pastor’s sermons- all unconnected- have been hammering home similar points. I always think that is just FUN!
I was diagnosed on Christmas Eve 2012 with Stage 4 Breast Cancer at age 38. Immediately I had time with Him and He gave me peace and told me I would be fine. On January 22, 2014 I heard the words “COMPLETE REMISSION” God keeps his promises.
Amen, Heather! You are a miracle!
First, I am so thankful for God’s plan of redemption through His only Son, Jesus Christ.
I am thanking the LORD for answered prayers, His patience with me (and all of us), His forgiveness, His transformation of my heart, His new mercies every morning, His Spirit who moves me, His conviction, His breath of new life, His lovingkindness, His power to create and His Sovereignty.
God has most recently answered a prayer regarding helping my 25 yr. old son to find his way back on the right path.
I am so grateful to Him for my parents still being here to enjoy at 87.
God is healing my sister and bringing her new life after many years of depression.
I am thanking God for His peace that pours over me most of the time and how He always lets me know He is with me.
I love you God, my Savior Jesus and The Holy Spirit! I will need you always.
Praying the Holy Spirit gives a glorious bow for Beth to wrap up her new study with this weekend. Be encouraged!
I have seen my husband and I come to the same place considering adoption ☺ We have talked about it for years and are ready to walk down this road in faith.
I saw so many women attend the IF:Gathering and desire to do what God is calling them to, whatever that may be.
I am in awe of the new things The Lord is doing in our midst-Passion did something new with their conference(s) this year, then the IF:Gathering, Linger conference and the Women of Faith conference this past weekend are all new. I so do not want to push God into a box-I’m ready to see Him do His thing in our generation!
Walking in His Grace,
Audrey
A friend accidentally pocket-dialed me today. Although we have not kept in touch much since moving away twenty years ago, she told me how her prodigal daughter has at long last returned to her Savior after a very long and hard road. My daughter is currently a prodigal and denies The One she dedicated herself to with all sincerity many years ago. Hearing my friend’s account and praise of what God has done was exactly what this momma’s broken heart needed to hear! Our God does not give up on us, but loves us even more than our sweet mothers love us! The especially good news is He is able to get past all of the scars, crud and filth and let our heart be healed and once more beat for Him! My eyes are on Him as I try to patiently wait for that day when He gets through to my beloved daughter and friend and heals her. Oh, how deeply thankful and grateful I am for Jesus our Savior!!!
My daughter is astranged from our Lord and Savior and also from me. She is 42 and has 4 girls, the oldest is 20… We used to have a wonderful Godly relationship then just over night she decided she had to distance herself from me then 5 years ago she cut off all communication with me. No phone, e-mail, text, etc. with her or the girls. I know they miss me but they have no choice in the matter. I’ve come to a place now that I have put her in Gods’ hands and when He is ready, I’ll be waiting with open arms for her as He is waiting for her. I grieved for 5 years but nothing happened so now I have a “peace that passess all understanding”. I thought it would would never happen, keep the faith because God is faithful and his loveingkindess never leaves us. I’ll be praying for you.
Elaine, Littleton, CO
Romans 12:9 (NIV)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9
I am thankful for Jesus giving me new strength and grace each morning to be able to care for my family and home. Jesus’s awesome love and power is my lifeline.
My husband had knee replacement surgery in October – his recovery has been a miracle It’s like he is a new person. So thakful for the healing and transformation.
Sara
I am sending glory and honor to the One whom deserves all praise!! For my Heavenly Father knoweth me right well~~ I am astounded by the Lords embrace~~allowing me to be of a sound mind and spirit for He alone only is worthy of complete praise,,,adoration and edification!! You see,,God has been working with me upon something that is mountain moving and magnificent!! He is showing me alot and I mean ALOT of what his Word is saying when he speaks that He delights in us~~ I see firsthand and foremost the active moving hand of God in my life and all around me..it started with realizing that every time I saw a white,,soft gray seagull fly over head,,,that immediately I was able to know the Holy Spirit was softening me,,,comforting me,,leading me ,,,and sustaining me right then,,right there. So after awhile I did something with His Word,,,I asked and often that HE would prove himself to me,,make it tangible,,real,,flesh and bone,,that I can see,,hear,,taste,,smell ,,feel and know Him~~ so I sought and sought this request with true humility and hope,,,with zero expectaions,,( that is the key here) and then it began to “RAIN”~~ I was able to SEE the hand of God all around me ,,the time I took to get up early and watch the sunrise near the water where I live,,,I watched and watched,,,and I was able to have a vision of really detecting the enormous might and power it takes Him to make the sun rise each and every day~~I sat there watching it come up,,,,I could practially see the heat waves comming across the horizon,,,I began to really take in this miracle of more then a miracle,,,He gave me a idea of a minds eye to watch and see it quaking and how far beyond this earth,,far,,far,,far,, beyond our own minds,,,,to see,,know,,just how much of His POWER he takes to use to make the sun rise within HIS own hands,,,,it was like seeing Him have the sun right in His hand,,holding it up,,,bringing it up,,,M-O-V-I-N-G it,,,I SAW that power,,I SAW that POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just a 3 minute revelation into His ability to see the absolute splendor of just how much unearthly power HE has within the grasp of His hand..THAT is the kind of proof I did not expect,,,HE PROVED HIMSELF to me!!! and since that very time,,everywhere I am sensitive to realizing,,seeing,,acknowleding His Spirit radiating right before me,,,I am so so silenced of HIS GLORY,,AMEN,,AMEN,,and IN the AMEN!! Xos Susie Sterkel xo
So grateful for the time that Beth spends studying and preparing the word for us. I have had the privilege of facilitating some of her studies and have read many of her books! I am so grateful for all that I have learnt thru her teaching. She has initiated habits that keep me accountable for my time with Him and the truth Holy Spirit keeps revealing is breathtaking and inspirational. Thank you Beth!! Praying for you this week and so looking forward to hearing you speak (first time in person!!!!!) at the Hillsong Colour Conference here in Australia mid March!!
I am thankful to have 1,000 of sweet sisters who will read this and pray for the healing of my grandson.
I am thankful to see our believers in our little corner of the world, in our small town, in our even smaller church loving on their neighbors. We have been challenged and are longing to mirror the early church in Acts- loving each other, sharing all things, and most of all loving/sharing our Jesus! God is good and He will bring the good works he has begun in us to completion- may we be willing to persevere!
*Prayers for Beth as she is finishing up the newest study*
Hello my fellow Siestas! Miss Beth, I have been praying for you every time God puts you on my heart, stay strong, you have a multitude of Siestas, praying you through the last mile, you can do it!!! Hebrews 10:36 “You need to persevere, so that when you have done the will of God, you will be richly blessed.” I wanted you to know that when I was at SSMT 2014 I bought your Deuteronomy Study and tomorrow, we will begin our adventure with God and with you, I am BEYOND excited. Some of the women in my small group have NEVER done a Bible study before and I thought to myself this is perfect, the first Bible study I ever did was Breaking Free. That study ignited my soul to get to know our Lord and Savior and also helped me to climb out of my “pit of despair” and break the chains of fear and sadness that were bound so tightly to my mind and soul. I hope this little message encourages you, you deserve to be encouraged because you have certainly encouraged me and it is only right to do the same for you. Hugs, Andrea
As I have been preparing for Lent and my walk with Jesus, I praise God for the gift of His Son to me, to us! He is our Savior and Redeemer, our Way, our Truth and our Life! He is my Peace, my Love, my Joy, my Faithful Companion! My Hope! My Everything! Praise Jesus! My trust is in You!
God gave me courage to share the gospel this week! He is changing my agenda from being concerned with my own comforts & security to being concerned with things of eternal significance, things that will bring Him glory. God poured himself out for me, holding nothing back. I want to pour my life out for Him! *For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. -Matthew 16:25*
After witnessing the grief experienced by a young friend last week at losing his 5-day old infant and wishing I could take his grief away and carry it for him myself, I was reminded anew that while we are powerless to do such a thing. But Christ Jesus is all powerful and did that very thing for me. He has such compassion on us, he took our brokeness on himself and nailed it to the cross. Praise His Holy Name!!!
I took my niece to a Casting Crowns concert last weekend. While there, she decided to sponsor a World Vision child. There’s a bit more to the story, but let me assure you, it was a HUGE blessing to see God’s hand at work!
I’m amazed at the love and grace our Father shows upon us when we are going thru a time that we are never prepared for.
Recently a friend of mine passed away after a strong and courageous battle against cancer. She beat it 5 years ago. She was a woman that always shared Jesus with whoever she spoke with,and after speaking with her you knew where her strength came from. She touched so many lives in her last 26 days on the earth, and God allowed her family to have a long good-bye and cherish those precious hours and days with her. I know she is dancing in Heaven with her daughter Bailey. In her 26 days left in her earthly body, she lead many people to Christ and several people came back to him through her. Thank you Father for your tender mercies.
Ms. Lindsee…We need a new post girl!…(smiling)
Yes ma’am! Done and done. : )
Thank you, Lord, for all you’ve done in my life this past year. You have shown Your presence when the house I’ve grown up in burned. You’ve shown Your patience in all the times I’ve felt so mad and been full of self-pity even when no one else could see it. Thank you for all the work you’ve done in my youth group, with one of my friends getting saved, my youth pastor going to be a chaplain, and just for all the things You’ve taught our youth group. Thank you for bringing us closer together. Thank you for Your mercy and grace witch You have continually shown me. Thank you, Lord, and praise be to Your Name!!!
I am praising God that, after a frustrating search for a trail that was not covered in mud or snow, our family “stumbled upon” a perfectly dry one that unexpectedly led to a beautiful waterfall. Now that’s God…my plans, my maps, all dead ends….His leading, by ways unknown to us…perfection.
My wife has been suffering from thyroid cancer which was confirmed to be stage four, the doctor told me there was little he could do since she wasn’t responding to treatment but a friend of mine came to our rescue by ordering this hemp oil from RICK which he said has been helping some patient fight against cancer of various types so we decided to give it a chance, so far my wife is improving perfectly very well and presently she can walk around the house all by herself. I felt its necessary i let others who are suffering from this acute disease that once you have a good hemp oil it can really give one a sound second chance of living. by chance if you happen to be in need of this hemp oil you can contact RICK who supplied I and my wife with this email: [email protected]