"Therefore we do not lose heart..."

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2 Corinthians 4:16-18

..."Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."...

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Our Safety in the LORD

 -Max Lucado, Just in Case You Ever Feel Alone

With Eve Tharlet Art work

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"God knows everything about you.

He knew you'd have happy days,

and He knew you'd be sad.

So He gave us each other, 

and I'm so very glad.

God put us together.

He made us a home.

I hope you'll always know that...

Just in case you feel alone."

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Psalm 46:1-3

"God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, 

though the earth should change

And though the mountains slip 

into the heart of the sea;

Though its waters roar and foam,

Though the mountains quake 

at its swelling pride."

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Sorrows upon Sorrows...and yet I will live for You, O LORD

Romans 8:18

 ..."For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. "...

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"God is still God and His faith Shall Not fail us"

 ~Yellowstone FB

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"The dawn is not distant

nor is the night starless; 

love is eternal!

God is still God, 

and His faith shall not fail us:

Christ is eternal!"

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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"Be Still, and Wait; and See"

~Mountain Blue Bird, Yellowstone FB

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She waited for the call that never came;

searched every mail for a letter, 

or a note, 

or card, 

that bore his name;

and on her knees at night, 

and on her feet all day,

she stormed Heaven’s gate in his behalf;

she pled for him in Heaven’s high court.

“Be still, and wait; and see”—

the word God gave; 

then she knew that He would do 

in and 

for and 

with him,

that which she never could.

So doubts ignored

she went about her chores with joy—

knowing, 

though spurned,

His word was true.

The prodigal had not returned, 

but God was God,

and there was work to do. 

-Prodigals and Those Who Love Them, by Ruth Bell Graham.

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My Unexpected Joy

This world is full of woes...

Ecclesiastes 8:11

..."When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong."...

No matter who you are there are sorrows and troubles in your life or around you. 

The difference in each person is if they trust the LORD with Jesus as their Savior. Believers see life here differently; we see it in God's perspective.

The BIGGEST difference ever.

John 11:33

..."These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. 

In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Those of us who trust in Jesus with their lives have just as many, maybe more sorrows, heart aches...but we remember the LORD to whom we belong, and if we falter we eventually remember and cry out to the One and Only who can help us through our sorrows.

1 Peter:12-13

..."Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."...

Some day we will be with the LORD.

John 1:18 

..."No one has ever seen God.
The One and Only Son—
the One who is at the Father’s side—
He has revealed Him."...

This will be our triumph because of Jesus and it will be all Joy!

Until this certain time we can certainly find His Joy even among our many and saddest sorrows. 

Among our sadnesses in this world we can find...

Unexpected Joy!

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"They will suddenly be ashamed"

"Oh, Grief hath changed me 

since you saw me last"

 

-Shakespeare

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Psalms 6

"O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,


Nor chasten me in Your wrath.


Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am pining away;


Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed.


And my soul is greatly dismayed;


But You, O Lord—how long?

Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;


Save me because of Your lovingkindness.


For there is no mention of You in death;


In Sheol who will give You thanks?

I am weary with my sighing;


Every night I make my bed swim,


I dissolve my couch with my tears.


My eye has wasted away with grief;


It has become old because of all my adversaries.

Depart from me, all you who do iniquity,


For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.


The Lord has heard my supplication,


The Lord receives my prayer.


All my enemies will be ashamed 

and greatly dismayed;


They shall turn back, 

they will suddenly be ashamed."

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He is a shield about me and He lifts my head!

I have known many Christian women who have had traumas, heartaches, and agonies in their lives and yet they choose to find JOY in life because of the LORD. 

On the other hand I have known many Christian women who -with traumas or without traumas- can barely find any joys in life.

I have lived in sadnesses, known traumas, and agonies. I am nothing special. I can be sad, very sad, but I choose to rise to the reality of the LORD who loves us and glorify Him by living in JOYS - even if crying, I can live in His JOY. He lifts my head everytime!

Let Him lift your head also!

Psalm 3

O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!


Many are rising up against me.


Many are saying of my soul,


“There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah.

But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,


My glory, and the One who lifts my head.


I was crying to the Lord with my voice,


And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.


I lay down and slept;


I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.


I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people


Who have set themselves against me round about.

Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!


For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;


You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.


Salvation belongs to the Lord;


Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.

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The Bing, Bang, Bumps of Life

Life is full of joys!

It can also be full of Bumps, Bings, Bangs, and Clunks!

There are many ways to deal with life's struggles and sorrows. 

The best way is to cry out to the LORD, seek His face, read His Word, know His peace.

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1 Peter 1

...3 "Blessed be the God and Father 

of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

who according to His great mercy 

has caused us to be born again to a living hope 

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 

from the dead, to obtain an inheritance 

which is imperishable and undefiled and 

will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 

who are protected by the power of God 

through faith for a salvation 

ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In this you greatly rejoice, even though 

now for a little while, if necessary, 

you have been distressed by various trials,

so that the proof of your faith, being more 

precious than gold which is perishable, 

even though tested by fire, may be found 

to result in praise and glory and honor at the 

revelation of Jesus Christ; and though 

you have not seen Him, you love Him, 

and though you do not see Him now, 

but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy 

inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining 

as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."...

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Philippians 4

...4 "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer 

and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be 

made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, 

whatever is true, 

whatever is honorable, 

whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, 

whatever is lovely, 

whatever is of good repute,

if there is any excellence 

and if anything worthy of praise, 

dwell on these things.

The things you have learned and received and heard 

and seen in me, practice these things, 

and the God of peace will be with you."...

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Rest for your souls

 

"Not-a-Schulz"

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 Matthew 20:20-21

...“A battered reed He will not break off,

And a smoldering wick He will not put out,

Until He leads justice to victory.

“And in His name the Gentiles will hope.”

Matthew 11:28-30

... “Come to Me, all who are weary 

and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

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There is a whole lot of love out there...

Someday...

Revelations 21

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

And He who sits on the throne said, 

“Behold, I am making all things new.” 

And He *said, 

“Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Then He said to me, 

“It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son."...

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People let us down: Expectations and Dealing with our Hearts.

 In this series of comics Mr. Schulz had Peppermint Patty needing a place to stay while her father was on a trip. 

Marcie offered her home right away, but Peppermint Patty completely ignored Marcie's invitation and instead pursued Charlie Brown for his home. 

Meanwhile, she also ignored Charlie Brown's insistence that his family had no place for a visitor.

What she experienced was not what she had expected. Great disappointments upon disappointments mounted.

Finally when her father is back home she complains to Marice who then explains why she really can't complain about her stay.

In Real Life

We all tend to have great expectations in our lives.  "Things" should be this way and when they are not, we are disappointed. 

Disappointments upon disappointments mount. Grumblings, anger, sadnesses, depressions....

Hebrews 13:1-14

"Let love of the brothers and sisters continue.

Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 

“I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” 

so that we confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.

Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.

Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood. So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come."...

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