The LORD Builds us Up!

-meme

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 Joshua 1:9   

..."Be strong and courageous! 

Do not tremble or be dismayed, 

for the Lord your God is with you 

wherever you go.”

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The Lovingkindness of the LORD

-Alister Begg 

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Psalm 89:1, 5

"I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever;

To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.

The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;

Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones."

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We are like those who dream...

-in the boondocks of Iowa

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 Psalm 126

"When the Lord brought back 

the captive ones of Zion,


We were like those who dream.


Then our mouth was filled with laughter


And our tongue with joyful shouting;


Then they said among the nations,


“The Lord has done great things for them.”


The Lord has done great things for us;


We are glad.

Restore our captivity, O Lord,


As the streams in the South.


Those who sow in tears 

shall reap with joyful shouting.


He who goes to and fro weeping, 

carrying his bag of seed,


Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, 

bringing his sheaves with him."

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Mama Bears Must Firmly Hold Their Confidence in God's Faithfulness

Job 13:13-15

...“Be silent before me so that I may speak;

Then let come on me what may.

“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth

And put my life in my hands?

“Though He slay me,

I will hope in Him."...

2 Timothy 1:12

..."For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."... 

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I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea

       Come drifting home with broken masts and sails;

       I will believe the Hand that never fails,

From seeming evil works to good for me.

       And though I weep because those sails are 

         tattered,

       Still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered:

             “I trust in Thee.”

I will not doubt, though all my prayers return

        Unanswered from the still, white realm above;

        I will believe it is an all-wise love

That has refused these things for which I yearn;

        And though at times I cannot keep from 

           grieving,

        Yet the pure passion of my fixed believing

              Undimmed will burn.

I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,

         And troubles swarm like bees about a hive.

         I will believe the heights for which I strive

Are only reached by anguish and by pain;

         And though I groan and writhe beneath my 

           crosses,

         Yet I will see through my severest losses

               The greater gain.

I will not doubt. Well anchored in this faith,

          Like some staunch ship, my soul braves every 

            gale;

          So strong its courage that it will not fail

To face the mighty unknown sea of death.

           Oh, may I cry, though body leaves the spirit,

           “I do not doubt,” so listening worlds may 

               hear it,

                   With my last breath.

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An old seaman once said, “In fierce storms we must do one thing, for there is only one way to survive; we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.”  And this, dear Christian, is what you must do.

Sometimes, like Paul, you cannot see the sun or the stars to help you navigate when the storm is bearing down on you. This is when you can do only one thing, for there’s only one way. 

Reason cannot help you, past experiences will shed no light, and even prayer will bring no consolation. Only one course remains: you must put your soul in one position and keep it there.

You must anchor yourself steadfastly upon the Lord. And then, come what may—-whether wind, waves, rough seas, thunder, lightning, jagged rocks, or roaring breakers—- you must lash yourself to the helm, firmly holding your confidence in God’s faithfulness, His covenant promises, and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus.

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—Richard Fuller,4/1, Streams in the Desert

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