Regardless of your emotions, rejoice over the fact that you have feelings to process through.
Regardless of your budget, sing praises that you have a creative mind and hope that can/will bring forth wisdom for wealth,(remembering that wealth is more than just money).
Regardless of who you have around you to love, who isn't there to love you as you desire or who doesn't love you, recognize and celebrate the love of life that is flowing through your core being and the warm blood that is flowing through your veins fresh and anew right at this very moment.
Regardless of the outlook of the circumstances and situations around you, shout for joy that you are connected to the Supreme, Sovereign One Who loves you beyond measure and Who has absolutely EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL. ("In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever." {Psalm 138:3,8)
(NOTE:Original meaning of the word perfect as stated above: Perfect = Gamar (gah-mar) Strong's #1584: to end, finish, accomplish, perfect; to come to an end, cease; to perform, fulfill. This verb occurs five times in the Old Testament. Three times it refers to something or someone being cut off or brought to an end (7:9; 12:1; 77:8). Twice it refers to the completing, finishing, and perfecting of God's work in one's life (57:2; 138:8). These two references are Old Testament parallels to Philippians 1:6. The idea is that God begins to work out His purposes in the life of His servant and continues His work until it is absolutely and completely done.) - Source: The Spirit Filled Life Bible, Jay w. Hayford, Litt.D General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publisher)
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14
A Time to Think
It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.—Charles Dickens.
A Time to Act
Radiate the glow of Christmastime.
A Time to Pray
Lord, give me a spirit that unabashedly celebrates You and the joy of living.
(inspiration from GuidePost - Daily Scripture & Reflection Newsletter)
Notes from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson Publisher:
Dec 17
"...As you rest quietly in My Presence, My Light within you grows brighter and brighter. Facing the emptiness inside of you is simply the prelude to being filled with My fullness..."
(used with permission, as brief quotation)
Share your praise testimonies with me via email at prayer@elegantdoves.org
Be IN Courage.
Merry Christmas & Blessed Holidays.
With Love, in His Glory Light,
Linda Michelle
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Linda Michelle's Co-Author book Power to Change Virtual Summit Interview 16 November at 4pm (est)
Be inspired by my interview on the vital importance of rest as I share information about my new co-author book Power to Change this Wednesday, 16 November, 2011 at 4 PM (est).Call in to the THRIVE Virtual Speaker Summit at 415.671.4335. The code is 183758# The interview is about 30 minutes long.
Your success in business and life is largely determined how you well manage and navigate change, especially rapid and traumatic change. More than ever before, the world needs men and women who can step up to the challenge of embracing change and using it for life enhancement.
"Your well being is a prerequisite for the well being of those around you."
Linda Michelle Trainer - Using Rest As a Strategic Power Move, POWER to CHANGE
For more information see the attached flyer. Dial in, listen to the interview, get a copy of the book - Today
http://www.elegantdoves.org/index.php/en/online-store
and implement this simply and rewarding strategy into your life. Do this for yourself, first. Those around you will reap the benefits.
Be IN courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
Linda Michelle
Your success in business and life is largely determined how you well manage and navigate change, especially rapid and traumatic change. More than ever before, the world needs men and women who can step up to the challenge of embracing change and using it for life enhancement.
"Your well being is a prerequisite for the well being of those around you."
Linda Michelle Trainer - Using Rest As a Strategic Power Move, POWER to CHANGE
For more information see the attached flyer. Dial in, listen to the interview, get a copy of the book - Today
http://www.elegantdoves.org/index.php/en/online-store
and implement this simply and rewarding strategy into your life. Do this for yourself, first. Those around you will reap the benefits.
Be IN courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
Linda Michelle
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Making Yourself A Priority
Stay tuned for more information about my NEW BOOK being released within the next few weeks called "Power to Change: Top experts share their power secrets" (Thrive Publishing). Here is an excerpt that I trust will not only encourage you on your personal journey, but I trust it will wet your appetite for more.
"Making Yourself a Priority"
"When traveling on an airplane, as a passenger you are instructed to put on your oxygen mask first before helping others. Your well-being is a prerequisite for the well being of those around you. The same is true in your everyday life. Taking time to step aside and get still and quiet enables you to hear your inner wisdom. You will be better equipped to make quality decisions about your next course of action. Some of the solutions to the issues you face can be found by listening to that small, still inner voice. During a time of rest, you will be able to hear your thoughts. You can recognize your own voice, even if it has been muffled by the chaos around you."
Please take the encouragement I share above and make time for yourself. You are the only YOU you/we have.
To read more powerful Power to Change secrets, please order a copy of my new book POWER TO CHANGE. Simply email me and I will share more information. My email address is lindamichelle@elegantdoves.org Thank you so very much for your prayers and support. Thank you for making the investment in yourself so that you can share with me and the world around you what God has deposited into you for us, as only you can share.
Be IN courage!!
United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle
"Making Yourself a Priority"
"When traveling on an airplane, as a passenger you are instructed to put on your oxygen mask first before helping others. Your well-being is a prerequisite for the well being of those around you. The same is true in your everyday life. Taking time to step aside and get still and quiet enables you to hear your inner wisdom. You will be better equipped to make quality decisions about your next course of action. Some of the solutions to the issues you face can be found by listening to that small, still inner voice. During a time of rest, you will be able to hear your thoughts. You can recognize your own voice, even if it has been muffled by the chaos around you."
Please take the encouragement I share above and make time for yourself. You are the only YOU you/we have.
To read more powerful Power to Change secrets, please order a copy of my new book POWER TO CHANGE. Simply email me and I will share more information. My email address is lindamichelle@elegantdoves.org Thank you so very much for your prayers and support. Thank you for making the investment in yourself so that you can share with me and the world around you what God has deposited into you for us, as only you can share.
Be IN courage!!
United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Be Strong and of Good Courage; Do not be Afraid nor Dismayed...
In light of the earthquake on the east coast yesterday, today's devotion from Sarah Young's Jesus Calling is a word in due season.
August 24
I AM ALL AROUND YOU, hovering over you even as you seek My Face. I am nearer than you dare believe, closer than the air you breathe. If My children could only recognize My Presence, they would never feel lonely again. I know every thought before you think it, every word before you speak it. My Presence impinges on your innermost being. Can you see the absurdity of trying to hide anything from Me? You can easily deceive other people, and even yourself; but I read you like an open, large-print book.
Deep within themselves, most people have some awareness of My imminent Presence. Many people run from Me and vehemently deny My existence, because My closeness terrifies them. But My own children have nothing to fear, for I have cleansed them by My blood and clothed them in My righteousness. Be blessed by My intimate nearness. Since I live in you, let Me also live through you, shining My Light into the darkness."
End Quote - Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by Sarah Young
In addition check out Rick Renner's on line video devotion Refuel With Rick: - Make Up Your Mind To Live Fearlessly And Peacefully in These Last Days! August 24 http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/refuel-with-rick/
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Be IN Courage.
August 24
I AM ALL AROUND YOU, hovering over you even as you seek My Face. I am nearer than you dare believe, closer than the air you breathe. If My children could only recognize My Presence, they would never feel lonely again. I know every thought before you think it, every word before you speak it. My Presence impinges on your innermost being. Can you see the absurdity of trying to hide anything from Me? You can easily deceive other people, and even yourself; but I read you like an open, large-print book.
Deep within themselves, most people have some awareness of My imminent Presence. Many people run from Me and vehemently deny My existence, because My closeness terrifies them. But My own children have nothing to fear, for I have cleansed them by My blood and clothed them in My righteousness. Be blessed by My intimate nearness. Since I live in you, let Me also live through you, shining My Light into the darkness."
End Quote - Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by Sarah Young
In addition check out Rick Renner's on line video devotion Refuel With Rick: - Make Up Your Mind To Live Fearlessly And Peacefully in These Last Days! August 24 http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/refuel-with-rick/
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Be IN Courage.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
His Grace IS Sufficient
From one of my favorite devotional book, I pray this encourages you today:
"And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me." ~ 2 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV
2 Corinthians 12:9
The Message (MSG)
(verses 7-10)
"Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"....Never turn God's facts into hopes, or prayers, but simply use them as realities, and you will find them powerful as you believe them."
~ Prebendary H.W. Webb Peploe
"He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He added His mercies,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again."
~ Annie Johnson Flint
From Steams In the Desert - Volume 1
Be IN courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle
"And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me." ~ 2 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV
2 Corinthians 12:9
The Message (MSG)
(verses 7-10)
"Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"....Never turn God's facts into hopes, or prayers, but simply use them as realities, and you will find them powerful as you believe them."
~ Prebendary H.W. Webb Peploe
"He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He added His mercies,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again."
~ Annie Johnson Flint
From Steams In the Desert - Volume 1
Be IN courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle
Monday, July 25, 2011
Fear Not.
"The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him, and all the upright in heart shall glory." Psalm 64:10
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
and whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
which spread out its roots by the river;
and will not fear when heat comes;
but its leaf will be green,
and will not be anxious in the year of drought,
nor will cease from yielding fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8
"The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
and with my song I will praise Him." Psalm 28:7
"There's a stampede of fear out there. Let's not get caught in it. Let's be among those who stay calm. Let's recognize danger but not be overwhelmed. Acknowledge threats but refuse to be defined by them. Let others breathe the polluted air of anxiety, not us. Let's be numbered among those who hear a different voice, God's.
Enough of these shouts of despair, wails of doom. Why pay heed to the doomsayers on Wall Street or the purveyor of gloom in the newspaper? We will incline our ears elsewhere: upward. We will turn to our Maker, and because we do, we will fear less."
~ Fearless; Fear Not - For I Am With You Always Promise Book by Max Lucado
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified
Be IN courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
Linda Michelle
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
and whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
which spread out its roots by the river;
and will not fear when heat comes;
but its leaf will be green,
and will not be anxious in the year of drought,
nor will cease from yielding fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8
"The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
and with my song I will praise Him." Psalm 28:7
"There's a stampede of fear out there. Let's not get caught in it. Let's be among those who stay calm. Let's recognize danger but not be overwhelmed. Acknowledge threats but refuse to be defined by them. Let others breathe the polluted air of anxiety, not us. Let's be numbered among those who hear a different voice, God's.
Enough of these shouts of despair, wails of doom. Why pay heed to the doomsayers on Wall Street or the purveyor of gloom in the newspaper? We will incline our ears elsewhere: upward. We will turn to our Maker, and because we do, we will fear less."
~ Fearless; Fear Not - For I Am With You Always Promise Book by Max Lucado
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified
Be IN courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
Linda Michelle
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Join us at our next Empowering Workshop
RISING WOMEN of K.I.M Presents
A workshop for every women & girl…
Rahab (A horrible Life Redeemed-Joshua 2:1)
"Abuse & Incest Workshop"
Linda Michelle Trainer ~
Elegant Doves International Inc.
Do you know the signs? & Is there recovery for those who’ve experienced it?
Date: Saturday, July 23, 2011
Time:1-3pm
Location: Kingdom Investment Ministry
Pastor James Murphy, Jr.
2219 Idlewood Road Tucker, GA 30084
*Incest/sexual abuse disclosure
*Healing & Prevention
*Courage in fulfilling God's will & purpose
*Hope & healing in marriage
*One's value & worth in God's view
A workshop for every women & girl…
Rahab (A horrible Life Redeemed-Joshua 2:1)
"Abuse & Incest Workshop"
Linda Michelle Trainer ~
Elegant Doves International Inc.
Do you know the signs? & Is there recovery for those who’ve experienced it?
Date: Saturday, July 23, 2011
Time:1-3pm
Location: Kingdom Investment Ministry
Pastor James Murphy, Jr.
2219 Idlewood Road Tucker, GA 30084
*Incest/sexual abuse disclosure
*Healing & Prevention
*Courage in fulfilling God's will & purpose
*Hope & healing in marriage
*One's value & worth in God's view
Saturday, May 28, 2011
You are Worthy
This timeless message from Bishop TD Jakes rings true through the Holy Spirit as much today as it did when He first wrote it in "The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord".
Receive this Rhema Word for yourself today.
"...It is dangerous for all to know your worth and you not know it yourself. If you do not know what you have, you will not know when you lose it. It is only when one is aware of a treasure that it is treated with respect and kept away from villains and opportunists. Do you know your own worth, O woman of virtue? Your knowing it is not boasting. It is affirming yourself so that you will have virtue to assist others. It is almost impossible to give out to others what has not been deposited..."
(End Quote).
T.D Jakes, The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord." Page 77
Look in the mirror and recognize who you really are and affirm your worth and value= precious and priceless, through the blood of Jesus Christ.
"...In quietness and in (trusting) confidence shall be your strength."
Isaiah 30:15 (Amplified version)
Be IN courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle
Receive this Rhema Word for yourself today.
"...It is dangerous for all to know your worth and you not know it yourself. If you do not know what you have, you will not know when you lose it. It is only when one is aware of a treasure that it is treated with respect and kept away from villains and opportunists. Do you know your own worth, O woman of virtue? Your knowing it is not boasting. It is affirming yourself so that you will have virtue to assist others. It is almost impossible to give out to others what has not been deposited..."
(End Quote).
T.D Jakes, The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord." Page 77
Look in the mirror and recognize who you really are and affirm your worth and value= precious and priceless, through the blood of Jesus Christ.
"...In quietness and in (trusting) confidence shall be your strength."
Isaiah 30:15 (Amplified version)
Be IN courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle
Thursday, May 12, 2011
4 Things to Remember
God makes all things new.
1. Jesus loves you more than you can imagine, and His forgiveness never ends."
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
2. God has a special plan for your life and wants you to succeed.
"Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart's desires." Psalm 37:4
3. Jesus wants to move mountains in your life and can change impossible circumstances in a moment's time.
"For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals His thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the helgihts of the earth." Amos 4:13
4. God desires to reveal His love in new ways to others through you.
"But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression through us." 1 John 4:12
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I LOVE YOU with and everlasting Love. The human mind cannot comprehend My constancy. Your emotions flicker and falter in the face of varying circumstances, and you tend to project your fickle feelings onto Me. Thus, you do not benefit fully from My unfailing Love.
You need to look beyond the flux of circumstances and discover Me gazing lovingly back at you. This awarness of My Presence strengthens you, as you receive and respond to My Love. I am the same yesterday, today and forever! Let My love flow into you continually. Your need for Me is as constant as the outflow of My Love to you."
Jeremiah 31:3; Exodus 15:13; Hebrews 13:8
Be IN courage!
Complied with love,
Linda Michelle
1. Jesus loves you more than you can imagine, and His forgiveness never ends."
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
2. God has a special plan for your life and wants you to succeed.
"Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart's desires." Psalm 37:4
3. Jesus wants to move mountains in your life and can change impossible circumstances in a moment's time.
"For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals His thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the helgihts of the earth." Amos 4:13
4. God desires to reveal His love in new ways to others through you.
"But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression through us." 1 John 4:12
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I LOVE YOU with and everlasting Love. The human mind cannot comprehend My constancy. Your emotions flicker and falter in the face of varying circumstances, and you tend to project your fickle feelings onto Me. Thus, you do not benefit fully from My unfailing Love.
You need to look beyond the flux of circumstances and discover Me gazing lovingly back at you. This awarness of My Presence strengthens you, as you receive and respond to My Love. I am the same yesterday, today and forever! Let My love flow into you continually. Your need for Me is as constant as the outflow of My Love to you."
Jeremiah 31:3; Exodus 15:13; Hebrews 13:8
Be IN courage!
Complied with love,
Linda Michelle
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Join our 8 Week Women's Incest Recovery Tele-Class Tuesday Evenings
"The pain of understanding and healing is far less than the pain of denial and despair". It takes far less time and energy to deal, head on with circumstances and situations, than it does to put them off and allowing them to linger. Matters of the heart and soul are no different. NOW is the acceptable time.
Join me for our 8 week women's Incest Recovery Tele-class. Every Tuesday evening, April 19 - June 7, from 8pm until 10pm (EST), from the privacy and comfort of your own home or office, via private conference call phone line, you can begin the process of moving from your pain, confusion and/or frustration surrounding your issues with incest onto wholeness, healing and restored joy.
We will be using several "tools" to help facilitate our understanding along our journey further into healing and wholeness, with Joyce Meyer's "Beauty for Ashes" as our foundational focus.
The cost of $25 includes all materials. Scholarships are available, so there is no excuse to hold you back from this opportunity. NONE. Fear is not an excuse. FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. Know this, "If there is HOPE in the future, there is POWER in the present.
Be IN courage, for real. I am taking the journey with you. It is NOW time to go to your destiny.
Register today. Log onto www.elegantdoves.org or email me at info@elegantdoves.org, or call me at 770.310.6434.
Please print this page and share with your friends, sisters, nieces, cousins, church members and co-workers and ask them to share with their friends, sisters, nieces,cousins, church members and co-workers - anyone and everyone you care about.
Studies have found that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday and only 1 in 10 will tell. This means there are MORE THAN 42 MILLION adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the US.
This just may be the encouragement and gentle "nudge" they need to finally take that step towards their victory over this issue, once and for all. And you may just be the vessel God has have waiting on to work through. Now is the acceptable time.
"Fear not (there is nothing to fear), for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God." Isaiah 41:10 (amplified version)
With blessings and joy,
Linda Michelle
Join me for our 8 week women's Incest Recovery Tele-class. Every Tuesday evening, April 19 - June 7, from 8pm until 10pm (EST), from the privacy and comfort of your own home or office, via private conference call phone line, you can begin the process of moving from your pain, confusion and/or frustration surrounding your issues with incest onto wholeness, healing and restored joy.
We will be using several "tools" to help facilitate our understanding along our journey further into healing and wholeness, with Joyce Meyer's "Beauty for Ashes" as our foundational focus.
The cost of $25 includes all materials. Scholarships are available, so there is no excuse to hold you back from this opportunity. NONE. Fear is not an excuse. FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. Know this, "If there is HOPE in the future, there is POWER in the present.
Be IN courage, for real. I am taking the journey with you. It is NOW time to go to your destiny.
Register today. Log onto www.elegantdoves.org or email me at info@elegantdoves.org, or call me at 770.310.6434.
Please print this page and share with your friends, sisters, nieces, cousins, church members and co-workers and ask them to share with their friends, sisters, nieces,cousins, church members and co-workers - anyone and everyone you care about.
Studies have found that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday and only 1 in 10 will tell. This means there are MORE THAN 42 MILLION adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the US.
This just may be the encouragement and gentle "nudge" they need to finally take that step towards their victory over this issue, once and for all. And you may just be the vessel God has have waiting on to work through. Now is the acceptable time.
"Fear not (there is nothing to fear), for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God." Isaiah 41:10 (amplified version)
With blessings and joy,
Linda Michelle
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Why Art Thou Cast Down, O My Soul?
This encouragement comes from one of my favorite devotionals, "Day by Day, A Daily Praise Offering; Heavenly truths as given by the Holy Spirit to Gwen R. Shaw" (End-Time Handmaidens, Inc, Jasper, ARK)
Be shifted back to courage as you read and apply this to your life:
March 26
Why Art Thou Cast Down, O My Soul
Scripture Reading - Psalm 43:5
"Why are thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." (Psalm 43:5)
"It is good to ask this same question. Why is your soul cast down? Have you taken your eyes off Me, your Lord? Do you think that I have stopped leading you with My light and truth?
Why are you disquieted within your soul? Have you lost your faith and hope in Me? Have you lost that unique, simple, child-like trust that you used to have? Why are you disquieted within your soul? Do you think that I don't love you as much as I did? Do you think that I am not the same mighty, powerful God that I was to you in the days gone by?
Why are you cast down, dear soul? It is only because you have allowed your heart to become troubled and entangled too much with the things of this world. Your mind has dwelt on the negative. The doubts of others and their wrong doings have oppressed you. Forget about them. Think about My greatness. Count the blessings I have given you in the past. I have never failed you and I never shall. I shall always be with you. I shall always protect you, lead you and guide you.
And you shall go to My alter and you shall make sweet music unto Me. And you shall praise Me, because I, alone, am your exceeding joy, and if it is true that I am your exceeding joy, then why is your soul disquieted within you?
Let Me fulfill every need of your life. And then you shall be full of joy and you shall praise Me, and I will be the health and the glory of your countenance, and your God.
Be IN courage,
With love,
Linda Mihcelle
Be shifted back to courage as you read and apply this to your life:
March 26
Why Art Thou Cast Down, O My Soul
Scripture Reading - Psalm 43:5
"Why are thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." (Psalm 43:5)
"It is good to ask this same question. Why is your soul cast down? Have you taken your eyes off Me, your Lord? Do you think that I have stopped leading you with My light and truth?
Why are you disquieted within your soul? Have you lost your faith and hope in Me? Have you lost that unique, simple, child-like trust that you used to have? Why are you disquieted within your soul? Do you think that I don't love you as much as I did? Do you think that I am not the same mighty, powerful God that I was to you in the days gone by?
Why are you cast down, dear soul? It is only because you have allowed your heart to become troubled and entangled too much with the things of this world. Your mind has dwelt on the negative. The doubts of others and their wrong doings have oppressed you. Forget about them. Think about My greatness. Count the blessings I have given you in the past. I have never failed you and I never shall. I shall always be with you. I shall always protect you, lead you and guide you.
And you shall go to My alter and you shall make sweet music unto Me. And you shall praise Me, because I, alone, am your exceeding joy, and if it is true that I am your exceeding joy, then why is your soul disquieted within you?
Let Me fulfill every need of your life. And then you shall be full of joy and you shall praise Me, and I will be the health and the glory of your countenance, and your God.
Be IN courage,
With love,
Linda Mihcelle
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
A Reflection on Faith
Faith without works is dead. And dead faith don't work!
1 Kings 11:9
God was furious with Solomon for abandoning the God of Israel, the God who had twice appeared to him and had so clearly commanded him not to fool around with other gods. Solomon faithlessly disobeyed God's orders.
Hebrews 11 (The Message)
Faith in What We Don't See
1-2 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see...
4 By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain....
5-6 By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely...
7 By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land... As a result, Noah became intimate with God.
8-10 By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home... Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.
11-12 By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.
17-19 By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God...
20 By an act of faith, Isaac reached into the future as he blessed Jacob and Esau.
21 By an act of faith, Jacob on his deathbed blessed each of Joseph's sons in turn, blessing them with God's blessing, not his own—as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff.
22 By an act of faith, Joseph, while dying, prophesied the exodus of Israel, and made arrangements for his own burial.
23 By an act of faith, Moses' parents hid him away for three months after his birth...
24-28 By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house...
29 By an act of faith, Israel walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. The Egyptians tried it and drowned.
30 By faith, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days, and the walls fell flat.
31 By an act of faith, Rahab, the Jericho harlot, welcomed the spies and escaped the destruction that came on those who refused to trust God.
32-38 I could go on and on, but I've run out of time. There are so many more— Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets....Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn't deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.
39-40 Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours."
ACT ON YOUR FAITH...
Faith is opposite of fear:
FEAR -
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
FAITH -
Fantastic
Adventures
In
The
Here (and NOW)!!
Act on your faith, that which God has called you to do.
Be IN Courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
Linda Michelle
1 Kings 11:9
God was furious with Solomon for abandoning the God of Israel, the God who had twice appeared to him and had so clearly commanded him not to fool around with other gods. Solomon faithlessly disobeyed God's orders.
Hebrews 11 (The Message)
Faith in What We Don't See
1-2 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see...
4 By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain....
5-6 By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely...
7 By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land... As a result, Noah became intimate with God.
8-10 By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home... Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.
11-12 By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.
17-19 By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God...
20 By an act of faith, Isaac reached into the future as he blessed Jacob and Esau.
21 By an act of faith, Jacob on his deathbed blessed each of Joseph's sons in turn, blessing them with God's blessing, not his own—as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff.
22 By an act of faith, Joseph, while dying, prophesied the exodus of Israel, and made arrangements for his own burial.
23 By an act of faith, Moses' parents hid him away for three months after his birth...
24-28 By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house...
29 By an act of faith, Israel walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. The Egyptians tried it and drowned.
30 By faith, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days, and the walls fell flat.
31 By an act of faith, Rahab, the Jericho harlot, welcomed the spies and escaped the destruction that came on those who refused to trust God.
32-38 I could go on and on, but I've run out of time. There are so many more— Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets....Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn't deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.
39-40 Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours."
ACT ON YOUR FAITH...
Faith is opposite of fear:
FEAR -
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
FAITH -
Fantastic
Adventures
In
The
Here (and NOW)!!
Act on your faith, that which God has called you to do.
Be IN Courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
Linda Michelle
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Encouragement for Pressing Through the Hard Places
The Poem "Don't Quit" has a line that says "... When care is pressing you down a bit, rest, if you must, but don't you quit." Sometimes that's easier said than done, especially when you the "pressing" is heavy on your shoulders and on your mind.
A devotion I read today, served to give me added hope and strength. The amazing "God-thing" about it all is that a dear friend called me shortly after I read it and through the tears of her heaviness she began to praise God as I shared this same massage of hope. I pray you too will be inspired.
From Steams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman
March 1
Consider what God has done; Who can straighten what He has made crooked? (Ecclesiastes 7:13)
God often seems to place His Children in places of deep difficulty, leading them into a corner from which there is no escape. He creates situations that human judgment, even if consulted, would never allow. Yet the cloudiness of the circumstances itself is used by Him to guide us to the other side. Perhaps this is where you find yourself even now.
Your situation is filled with uncertainty and is very serious, but it is perfectly right. The reason behind it will more than justify Him who brought you here, for it is a platform from which God will display His almighty grace and power.
He not only will deliver you but in doing so will impart a lesson that you will never forget. And in days to come, you will return to the truth of it through singing. You will be unable to ever thank God enough for doing exactly what He has done.
selected
We may wait till He explains,
because we know that Jesus reigns.
It puzzles me; but, Lord, You understandest,
and will one day explain this crooked thing.
Meanwhile, I know that it has worked out Your best -
Its very crookedness taught me to cling.
You have fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked,
To keep my wand'ring eyes fixed on You,
to make me what I was not, humble, patient;
to draw my heart from earthly love to You.
So I will thank and praise You, for this puzzle,
and trust where I cannot understand.
Rejoicing You do hold me worth such testing,
I cling the closer in Your guiding hand. - F.E.M.I.
(end quote)
The last portion of the Don't Quit Poem reads:
"Success is failure turned inside out,
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're har'dest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit."
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God..." Ephesians 6:10
"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible)
"He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NIV
Be IN courage.
With love,
Linda Michelle
A devotion I read today, served to give me added hope and strength. The amazing "God-thing" about it all is that a dear friend called me shortly after I read it and through the tears of her heaviness she began to praise God as I shared this same massage of hope. I pray you too will be inspired.
From Steams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman
March 1
Consider what God has done; Who can straighten what He has made crooked? (Ecclesiastes 7:13)
God often seems to place His Children in places of deep difficulty, leading them into a corner from which there is no escape. He creates situations that human judgment, even if consulted, would never allow. Yet the cloudiness of the circumstances itself is used by Him to guide us to the other side. Perhaps this is where you find yourself even now.
Your situation is filled with uncertainty and is very serious, but it is perfectly right. The reason behind it will more than justify Him who brought you here, for it is a platform from which God will display His almighty grace and power.
He not only will deliver you but in doing so will impart a lesson that you will never forget. And in days to come, you will return to the truth of it through singing. You will be unable to ever thank God enough for doing exactly what He has done.
selected
We may wait till He explains,
because we know that Jesus reigns.
It puzzles me; but, Lord, You understandest,
and will one day explain this crooked thing.
Meanwhile, I know that it has worked out Your best -
Its very crookedness taught me to cling.
You have fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked,
To keep my wand'ring eyes fixed on You,
to make me what I was not, humble, patient;
to draw my heart from earthly love to You.
So I will thank and praise You, for this puzzle,
and trust where I cannot understand.
Rejoicing You do hold me worth such testing,
I cling the closer in Your guiding hand. - F.E.M.I.
(end quote)
The last portion of the Don't Quit Poem reads:
"Success is failure turned inside out,
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're har'dest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit."
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God..." Ephesians 6:10
"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible)
"He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NIV
Be IN courage.
With love,
Linda Michelle
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Do We Have as Much Sense as a Goose?
Be encouraged by this inspiration that an anointed sister shared with me today.
This spring when you see geese heading back north for the summer flying along in a "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing what scientists have discovered about why they fly that way. It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following.
By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
BASIC TRUTH #1
PEOPLE WHO SHARE A COMMON DIRECTION AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY CAN GET WHERE THEY ARE GOING QUICKER AND EASIER BECAUSE THEY ARE TRAVELING ON THE THRUST OF ONE ANOTHER.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back in formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.
BASIC TRUTH #2
IF WE HAVE AS MUCH SENSE AS A GOOSE, WE WILL STAY IN FORMATION WITH THOSE WHO ARE HEADED THE SAME WAY WE ARE GOING.
When the lead goose get tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.
BASIC TRUTH #3
IT PAYS TO TAKE TURNS DOING HARD JOBS...WITH PEOPLE, OR WITH GEESE FLYING NORTH.
The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
BASIC TRUTH #4
WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHAT WE SAY WHEN WE HONK FROM BEHIND.
Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshot and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is either able to fly or until it is dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group.
FINAL TRUTH
IF WE HAVE THE SENSE OF A GOOSE WE WILL STAND BY EACH OTHER LIKE THAT.
(end quote)
Be IN courage!!
With love,
Linda Michelle
This spring when you see geese heading back north for the summer flying along in a "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing what scientists have discovered about why they fly that way. It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following.
By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
BASIC TRUTH #1
PEOPLE WHO SHARE A COMMON DIRECTION AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY CAN GET WHERE THEY ARE GOING QUICKER AND EASIER BECAUSE THEY ARE TRAVELING ON THE THRUST OF ONE ANOTHER.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back in formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.
BASIC TRUTH #2
IF WE HAVE AS MUCH SENSE AS A GOOSE, WE WILL STAY IN FORMATION WITH THOSE WHO ARE HEADED THE SAME WAY WE ARE GOING.
When the lead goose get tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.
BASIC TRUTH #3
IT PAYS TO TAKE TURNS DOING HARD JOBS...WITH PEOPLE, OR WITH GEESE FLYING NORTH.
The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
BASIC TRUTH #4
WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHAT WE SAY WHEN WE HONK FROM BEHIND.
Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshot and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is either able to fly or until it is dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group.
FINAL TRUTH
IF WE HAVE THE SENSE OF A GOOSE WE WILL STAND BY EACH OTHER LIKE THAT.
(end quote)
Be IN courage!!
With love,
Linda Michelle
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Quoted Wisdom
"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1882-1945)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
— Maya Angelou
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in (your) weakness".
Jesus as quoted by Paul
2 Corinthians 12:9
Be IN courage!
With love,
Linda Michelle
Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1882-1945)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
— Maya Angelou
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in (your) weakness".
Jesus as quoted by Paul
2 Corinthians 12:9
Be IN courage!
With love,
Linda Michelle
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Grandma's Hands
My cousin shared this email with me, and I share with you, praying it will touch your heart and inspire your soul as it has mine.
Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.
When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.
Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,' she said in a clear voice strong.
'I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,' I explained to her.
'Have you ever looked at your hands,' she asked. 'I mean really looked at your hands?'
I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.
Grandma smiled and related this story:
'Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.
'They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.
They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war..
'They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.
They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.
'They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.
They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.
'These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.
But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of God.'
I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.
I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face. (End Quote)
"Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have held firm him who was falling, and you have strenghtened the feeble knees. But now it is come upon you, and you faint and are grieved; it touches you and you are troubled and dismayed. Is not your (reverent) fear of God your confidence and the integrity and uprightness of your ways your hope?" (Job 4:3-6)
"For You, O Lord, are my Lamp; the Lord lightens my darkness. For by You I run through a troop; by my God I leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him. For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free. He makes my feet like the hinds'(firm and able); He sets me secure and confident upon the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; and Your condescension and gentleness have made me great. You have enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet have not slipped. ...The Lord lives; blessed be my Rock, and exalted be God, the Rock of my salvation." (2 Samuel 22:29-37,47)
Be IN courage!
United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle
Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.
When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.
Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,' she said in a clear voice strong.
'I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,' I explained to her.
'Have you ever looked at your hands,' she asked. 'I mean really looked at your hands?'
I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.
Grandma smiled and related this story:
'Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.
'They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.
They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war..
'They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.
They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.
'They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.
They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.
'These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.
But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of God.'
I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.
I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face. (End Quote)
"Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have held firm him who was falling, and you have strenghtened the feeble knees. But now it is come upon you, and you faint and are grieved; it touches you and you are troubled and dismayed. Is not your (reverent) fear of God your confidence and the integrity and uprightness of your ways your hope?" (Job 4:3-6)
"For You, O Lord, are my Lamp; the Lord lightens my darkness. For by You I run through a troop; by my God I leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him. For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free. He makes my feet like the hinds'(firm and able); He sets me secure and confident upon the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; and Your condescension and gentleness have made me great. You have enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet have not slipped. ...The Lord lives; blessed be my Rock, and exalted be God, the Rock of my salvation." (2 Samuel 22:29-37,47)
Be IN courage!
United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Wait in Order to Gain Strength and Wisdom
Wait: 1. To remain inactive or stay in one spot until something anticipated occurs.
2. To remain or be in readiness or expectation.
In this New Year it will benefit us greatly if we learn to wait more. Wait in the presence of God, at His feet, so that we can not only be refreshed in our strength and spirit, but so that we have time to catch our breath and assess where we are on our journey in life. How comforting it is just to sit and relax in the company of golden silence and peace. There is much to do this year as we move further into our purpose and the things that God has ordained for our lives. In order not to "miss a beat" wait more. You will be encouraged by the ease of your movement afterwards (Acts 17:28)
Gain insight and courage from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. And wait...the best is yet to come.
January 4th.
WHY CANNOT I FOLLOW THEE NOW?
"Peter said unto Him, Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now?" John 13:37
There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it in, but wait. The blank space may come in order to teach you what sanctification means, or it may come after sanctification to teach you what service means. Never run before God's guidance. If there is the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt - don't.
In the beginning you may see clearly what God's will is - the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, something you feel distinctly before God is His will for you to do, never do it on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will end in making difficulties that will take years of time to put right. Wait for God's time to bring it round and He will do it without any heartbreak or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.
Peter did not wait on God, he forecast in his mind where the test would come, and the test came where he did not expect it. "I will lay down my life for Thy sake." Peter's declaration was honest but ignorant. "Jesus answered him ...The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied Me thrice." This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself, of what he was capable. Natural devotion may be all very well to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His fascination, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will always deny Jesus somewhere or other.
Be IN courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle
2. To remain or be in readiness or expectation.
In this New Year it will benefit us greatly if we learn to wait more. Wait in the presence of God, at His feet, so that we can not only be refreshed in our strength and spirit, but so that we have time to catch our breath and assess where we are on our journey in life. How comforting it is just to sit and relax in the company of golden silence and peace. There is much to do this year as we move further into our purpose and the things that God has ordained for our lives. In order not to "miss a beat" wait more. You will be encouraged by the ease of your movement afterwards (Acts 17:28)
Gain insight and courage from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. And wait...the best is yet to come.
January 4th.
WHY CANNOT I FOLLOW THEE NOW?
"Peter said unto Him, Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now?" John 13:37
There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it in, but wait. The blank space may come in order to teach you what sanctification means, or it may come after sanctification to teach you what service means. Never run before God's guidance. If there is the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt - don't.
In the beginning you may see clearly what God's will is - the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, something you feel distinctly before God is His will for you to do, never do it on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will end in making difficulties that will take years of time to put right. Wait for God's time to bring it round and He will do it without any heartbreak or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.
Peter did not wait on God, he forecast in his mind where the test would come, and the test came where he did not expect it. "I will lay down my life for Thy sake." Peter's declaration was honest but ignorant. "Jesus answered him ...The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied Me thrice." This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself, of what he was capable. Natural devotion may be all very well to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His fascination, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will always deny Jesus somewhere or other.
Be IN courage.
United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle
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