Encouragement

Living Water at Christianity Oasis

John 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Quench your thirsty soul!

The Truth of Alissa Lynne

by Alissa Lynne - Purple Butterfly of Christ

Chapter 9 - Encouragement

This day...

Today is a new day and though troubles will come our way, or things from the past keep creeping up, let us forget about it and move on in the newness of life.

The enemy wants to get you to hold onto those thoughts that do not allow you to move forward, he wants to keep you in your past because as long as you are there, you cannot move forward.

I am thankful this day that God will send a word to us via someone that we know or do not know that will remind us to let go and let God. I know that it seems hard to do that but God is all that we need, we do not need to hold onto that pain, that doubt, that fear, that disbelief, that hurt, that misunderstanding. We need to release it and allow God to give us increase of faith, trust, love, patience, joy, peace, and so much more that He has for us.

I thank God for this day because we can look in the mirror and say NO MORE! I will not allow the enemy to make me think of the negative NO MORE! I will not allow the enemy to fill my head with things that are not of God, NO MORE will I give into my flesh and do things that I know are against God, NO MORE NO MORE NO MORE! I shall stand for Jesus NO MATTER WHAT!

My friends in Christ – we are not alone, we have each other, we have the love of Jesus in our hearts and remember WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERS! There is nothing too hard for God so there is nothing impossible in Jesus! Reach up, look up, and bow down to the Lord and know that He is God and in all things – we shall overcome!

No matter what comes your way, no matter what anyone says, no matter how you feel, no matter what is done to you or for you, or what is not done.

Remember This ...

Jesus is just a call away - when you call on the name of Jesus things happen - trust, believe and have faith that the Lord is with you every single step of the way and that no matter what is going on in your life - God is with you always! Things may look bad but that is just the enemy trying to get you to doubt in the Lord, stand tall and know that God is God no matter what!

We are MORE THAN CONQUERS! Praise the Lord - we are more than that! God bless

Isaiah 12:1-6 And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

I am learning that our joy in Jesus penetrates deep into our heart/soul. I have been blessed to know Jesus as my Lord & Savior – I am blessed to be led by His direction and love. I am blessed with His Holy presence in my life.

He brings joy to my very heart and soul. This joy is deep inside of me; it sits here and grows more and more everyday.

In the joy I have in the Lord, there is peace, love, and faith. There are days when things seem so hard but when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all He has done for me – my heart is full of joy. Jesus renews me with joy that goes deep into my heart and I praise Him always.

I have found that the joy that I have brings such peace to my very being. It may be a shouting joy from time to time, but it is mostly just the joy of knowing that nothing that comes against me will prosper, that no matter what happens in my life – Jesus is there. I am so far from where I could be with the Lord, but I take joy in the fact that each day I am growing closer to Him and closer to Him. My prayer and praise life has changed....sometimes I hear satan trying to convince me that my love for Jesus is fake, and I question things in my life and things I do...but I realized that is satan trying to still my joy...he knows that the Joy of Jesus is deep down in your heart/soul and that the only way it will leave is if we allow it. I have been praising God long enough to know...when the praises go up the blessings come down. Some ministers preach that and make it sound like all your material wishes comes true, well sure in some cases it is material...but there is nothing like the joy, love, peace, faith, kindness of Jesus that comes down that surpasses all things. My pastor preached once on Romans 8:28-39 – so many times we concentrate on verse 28 and that is a great comfort and it soothes my soul...but we need to read past that.

Romans 8:37-39 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

After reading this, the kind of joy that I have is such a blessing to me for I know that it will never go anywhere...nothing can separate me from the love of God! So when things come at you and someone is trying to still the joy you have in your heart/soul...remember that nothing can separate us from God...the only one that can do that is us!!! Even if we were to walk away from Him, His word is true, He will never leave nor forsake us and never walk away from us. So hold on and just let that joy stir inside of you and grow even more...you know what I say...PRAISE HIM!!!!!

Psalm 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Joy by the dictionary definition is: the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying, keen pleasure, elation, a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight, something or someone greatly valued or appreciated, the expression or display of glad feeling, a state of happiness or bliss.

Okay, try this on for size, just my own thoughts – not biblical that I know of...

We have the love of Jesus – He loves us for who we are – we in return start loving Jesus for all He is to us, which starts our belief and Faith in Him, we begin to acquire Peace in Jesus, which brings such Joy to our hearts, spirit, and in turn our lives. Yes I sit around thinking this stuff up...it is part of my "Peace and Quiet" time that I have with Jesus in the mornings or late at night.

I love the joy that Jesus gives us...you know the song...I got Joy Joy Joy Joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart...there is no one like Jesus...think about it...the love, His faithfulness, the peace and now the joy!!!! God is so good to us...I am so thankful to Jesus for all that He gives to me inside of my spirit...sure the material things are nice but nothing beats HIS LOVE, HIS FAITHFULNESS, HIS PEACE AND HIS JOY!!!!!!

I John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Love of God – we have the love of God with us. Everyone who believes and does not believe has the love of God with them. As you read this think about your times before you committed to a relationship with the Lord, now think about your life with a relationship with the Lord. Don't you see the love of God through both phases? God is God and there is none above Him. God has shown us His love before we were saved, why do we think He is going to stop once we are saved. I love the way God shows me the things that He did for me before I started having a relationship with Him. He had a relationship with me from the moment I was conceived; He has a relationship with me before the creation of the world. I think about how I was going through things prior to Jesus and how I go through them now. God sends calmness about the situation and I realize that there is no need to complain, there is no need to fret. He kept me before my commitment to Him as He had a commitment to me already – God is with us and shall never leave us. Remember He was with you before you were even you! God Bless

I John 3:11-14 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

How Do You Praise God Through it All?

Have you ever had a bad day and just call on the name of Jesus? Did any thing happen? Did your mood change at all? If not, where was your heart when you were calling out to the Lord?

Psalm 57

¹ Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
² I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
³ He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
⁴ My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
⁵ Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
⁶ They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
⁷ My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
⁸ Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
⁹ I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
¹⁰ For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
¹¹ Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

We have a tendency to want God to fix things the minute we call on Him, and some times, we do not get that response, as we want it. We will say that He is not listening to us or think that we are not doing it right. Sometimes it is where our hearts are when we call on Him. When we are calling on Him, do we trust Him, as we call on Him or do we want to see evidence of His moving first, before we trust Him? We need to be sincere with Him.

We can call on the Lord and He will be there, but we should have our minds on the Lord before, during, and after we have called on Him. How do we keep our minds on Jesus when so much is coming at us in our every day life? We can pray without ceasing, we can talk to the Lord all day long every day. We are to not stop thinking about the Lord and what He has done for us.

I am learning to reach out to others and talk about the Lord with them. There are people who choose to keep to themselves and that is fine for them, but I have to reach out to feel more. I know that I can call people to talk about the Lord and that in turn encourages my spirit and helps me move forward in the Lord. I know that I can turn on certain songs and start singing them and my mood changes. I know that I can just lay flat on the floor and pray to God until my mood changes.

We have to know our hearts to know what brings us closer to God and then follow it through. In having a relationship with the Lord and calling out to Him by trusting Him and Him alone, you will know what will get you closer to Him. God will direct you and you will be looking to Him more and truly not stress.

We have to work on our relationship with the Lord so that no matter what comes at us, death, hungry, losses of any kind or just plain depression will not "hurt" as much because you know that it will pass and that God is in charge.

I am really thankful to God for all that He does for me and I pray that each of you come to know that despite what life throws at you, that if you find your praise for the Lord, you will come through stronger.

Philippians 4:18-20 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen

We are sometimes guarding ourselves so much that we do not allow God to do for us what He needs to do. I know that God is trying to get me to let go of things that are not of Him. God reminds me of the things that need to be changed. I have to let it go and give it to God. I have the habit of holding onto some baggage that is not good for me and I am thanking God that each day I learning to let go more and more. I have been blessed to see so much of my life before me and still hold my head high, pleased with my life. There was a time that I looked at my life and saw nothing that pleased me about me. Jesus came into my life and the same things that I was not pleased with He showed me that they were actually something to be pleased about and the things that really were not pleasant He is showing me and helping me to realize that I need to get rid of that. I am thankful for God's patience that He has with me. It is amazing that I do not have a high tolerance of patience but He has such patience with me that I am sometimes ashamed of my own behavior so I am learning to be more patience with those around me. I can see God moving in my life and His direction for me. I can feel and see a transition headed my way and I know through prayer I will make it through this transition.

Sometimes when I allow me to do what I should not be doing – which is trying to figure things out for myself – I have learned that is not where God is sending me. I have before tried to figure things out with the Lord and where I am headed – but God had something else in mind and it is always better than what I could imagine. I am not going to guess what is coming; of course, I know there are plenty of options that can happen. I know that God is in charge and will be in charge too. I am a child of God and no weapon formed against me shall prosper and all things work together for my good. I know that no matter what happens that God is in charge and He will work it according to His will – not by my will at all. God is good to me in all aspects of my life I am thankful for what I am blessed with and I am content in what I have and if God feels the need to change something – I am not going to stand in the way for when He does things like that – I am always better off in the end!! Praise God – all blessing flow from Him!

Matthew 6:7-9 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Praises to God at All Times

God is good...God is with us...Praise God because if it was not for Him, I would have ran last night away from His love for me...Thank God for ministering to my soul today through my son...God ministered to me via my son...God ministered to us...God is with us...I pray that I will not be pigheaded and stubborn and always listen to the voice of God...I praise God for ministering to my heart this morning and His continuous guidance in my life and that fact that He loves me and never leaves me...I praise God for being there with me and for never leaving me...I praise God for just being God...I praise God for being with me and never leaving me...I praise God for touching my life and never letting me go....I praise God for all things that He is doing in my life...I praise God for never leaving for being there even when no one else is there...I praise God for comforting me last night when there was no one to do so...I praise God that I am able to go to Him and He is there for me...I praise God for being God and through Him I have strength...I praise God for being God.....I praise God for loving me....I praise God for keeping me...I praise God for all things in my life – the good, the bad, and the downright ugly....God is the King of my life and I praise God that I can hear Him speaking to me even when it gets dark...I praise God for being with me always!!!!

My sisters and brothers....I cannot express this enough...when we are going through something...we have to praise Him...I do not know who it is...but someone reading this needs to understand that God has not left them...that God is there and nothing and no one is worth walking away from Him...He is right there with you...His arms are open wide for you to run to Him...He is there for you...He loves you....Praise Him and allow Him to just minister to your heart!!! Praise God....Thank you Jesus for being here for all of us and for directing our lives! I am thankful to you for all things in my life...even when it gets dark as it did last night...as long as I hold on...the light comes in the morning...praise God...God is so worthy of all praises!!!!! Hallelujah my sisters and brothers, may we continue to pray one for another and walk as Jesus would have us to walk...let's up lift each other and encourage each other to take a stand with the Lord always and to never walk away from the only person who truly loves us unconditionally. I love you all and may I always be a source of encouragement to those in need and that I will always be encouraged by the love of God through each of you! Praise God....time to shout! HALLELUJAH ALL PRAISES TO GOD... Bow down, worship Him...bow down, and give Him all Glory and Honor! If you believe, close your eyes and worship the Lord...give Him the love that He has given you to worship Him...you were created to worship the Lord!!! I have learned that I have to seek God in all things that I do.

HALLELUJAH! BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP HIM! Oh my brothers and sisters, have you ever had Jesus just come down and ministers to your soul and nothing but joy takes over your whole being...you begin to praise Him and worship Him and not care what or who hears you.... God is just so wonderful and so amazing! PRAISE GOD! I love Jesus and He loves me....I pray that God will touch each of you with His spirit and that you feel the true love of God in your heart...when you do trust me...others are going to think you are nuts!!! It is all right...I will be nuts with ya!

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