You are always loved!-Encouraging Messages

[Judy Harder]

Roy Lessin
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The Blessing of Shalom

Posted: 04 Apr 2011 10:19 AM PDT

"Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom." Judges 6:24

When we greet someone we usually say "hello" and when we leave we usually say "goodbye." It is a nice social greeting but it really has no deep or profound meaning behind it. In Israel, however, when you greet someone or say goodbye the word is "Shalom." "Shalom" is much more than a casual social greeting— it is a prayer, a blessing, a deep desire, and a benediction. It is a word that is packed with the full blessing of God. In Hebrew the word has many significant meanings throughout the Scriptures. The following blessing is a compilation of those meanings.

May you be whole in body, soul, and spirit as a result of being in harmony with God's will and purpose for your life.
May His peace be your covering, your heart know His fullness,
and by His mighty power may you know victory over every enemy.
May He bring to pass the deepest desires of your heart.
May you know the healing power of His presence,
and the restoration of every broken relationship.
Through His sufficiency, may every need that you face
be met by His limitless resources.
May His covenant promises be fulfilled in your life and in your family.
May He bring you the greatest measure of contentment,
and the deepest satisfaction that your heart can possibly know.

[Judy Harder]

He's Your God, Part 1

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 05:48 AM PDT

He's your God in the sunshine,
He's your God in the rain,
He's your God in the laughter,
He's your God in the pain.

He's your God in the springtime,
He's your God in the fall,
He's your God in the silence,
He's your God in the call.

He's your God in the quiet,
He's your God in the test,
He's your God in the battle,
He's your God in the rest.

He's your God in the heat wave,
He's your God in the chill,
He's your God in the whirlwind,
He's your God in the still.

In light time and dark time
In the valleys and peaks,
He's the God who holds you,
He's the God who keeps.

I will take you by the hand and will keep you. Isaiah 42:6 AMP

[Judy Harder]

He's Your God, Part 2

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 06:24 AM PDT

He's your God in the busy,
He's your God in the slow,
He's your God in the coming,
He's your God in the go.

He's your God in the good time,
He's your God in the tear,
He's your God in the dark cloud,
He's your God in the clear.

He's your God in the harvest,
He's your God in the drought,
He's your God in the silence,
He's your God in the shout.

He's your God in the mountain,
He's your God in the plain,
He's your God in the losing,
He's your God in the gain.

In light time and dark time
In the valleys and peaks,
He's the God who holds you,
He's the God who keeps.

I will take you by the hand and will keep you. Isaiah 42:6 AMP

[Judy Harder]

Believe and Receive

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 08:30 AM PDT

If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established. Isaiah 7:9 NKJV

Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. Hebrews 1:6-7 NKJV

"Believe" is a powerful, active word. It's a word that establishes our trust and moves us to a place of commitment and action. To believe in God is to say that we completely entrust ourselves to His keeping. "Believe" is a two sided coin, on one side is "trust" on the other side is "commitment."

The result of our believing is our receiving. Believers become receivers, that is God's way. Abraham did not believe God because he was justified, but Abraham was justified because He believed God (Romans 4:3). Joy and peace come to us in believing (Romans 15:13). When Jesus spoke to Martha before He raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Jesus said that believing is seeing, and not the other way around.

When we speak what we believe we will speak with conviction, clarity, and confidence. In 2 Corinthians 4:13 we read, "I have believed, and therefore have I spoken." That should be true of each of us. Too often we hear people speaking what they doubt rather than what they believe.

In Psalm 81 God says that if you open your mouth wide, He will fill it with the finest of wheat and with honey out of the rock. We must first open our mouths (by believing) before we can receive God's wheat and honey that will feed our spirits (picture a young bird in the nest crying out for food). You cannot doubt the Word of God and receive the nourishment He wants to give. Although reading, discussing, and studying the Word of God can be good things, our spiritual life and vitality comes to us by believing the Word of God and receiving it with a yielded, trusting heart.

Doubt draws us away from the heart of God, belief draws us near; doubt struggles, belief overcomes; doubt holds back, belief surrenders; doubt says, "I'm not sure," belief says, "I know and am persuaded."; doubt lives in the shadows, belief steps into the light; doubt blocks the flow, belief brings the overflow; doubt holds us back, belief moves us forward; doubt makes us shaky, belief puts us on solid ground; doubt leaves us as spiritual paupers, belief brings us into our spiritual riches in Christ.

[Judy Harder]

Roy Lessin
   
Three things to believe today:

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 06:25 AM PDT

...know Me, believe Me and remain steadfast to Me, and understand that I am He. Isaiah 43:10 AMP

1. Believe what Jesus has said. You cannot know what Jesus has said without knowing the Scriptures. His words are there for you to hear, to believe, to receive, and to obey. His words are true words, good words, living words, whole words, righteous words.

Confess: I believe Jesus' words, they are the foundation of my life.

2. Believe what God can do. Do not place any limits upon God. There is nothing too hard for the Lord, and with God nothing shall be impossible. Believe your life is in His hands and He is taking care of you.

Confess: I believe there is no limit to what God can do and I place no limits on His working in my life.

3. Believe the Holy Spirit's leading. The Holy Spirit is in you and will guide you into all truth. He will reveal to you what you need to know, where you need to be, and when you need to do what He is directing you to do. Don't lean upon your own understanding, but upon the Holy Spirit's guiding. You can always trust His guidance because He always knows what He is doing.

Confess: I believe the Holy Spirit is leading me in the right path and without mistakes.

Meet Me In The Meadow

[Judy Harder]

I Believe (A Confession of Faith) Part 1

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 08:55 AM PDT

I believed, and therefore have I spoken. 2 Corinthians 4:13 KJV

I believe, not just with my mind, my emotions, or my will, but with my heart. I believe to the very depths of who I am. I believe at the core of my being. What I believe is the foundation I stand upon and the rock I build upon. It is my anchor point and keeps me from drifting out to sea in the currents of unbelief.

I believe God is good:

For the LORD is good. Psalm 100:5 NKJV

I believe He is always good. He is good in easy times and hard times, in quiet times and busy times, in smooth times and rugged times. He is good on stormy days and calm days, on smooth waters and rough seas, on high mountains and in deep valleys. I believe God is good to me and He will never do anything bad.

I believe God is just:

And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. Isaiah 45:21 NKJV

I believe God will always do the right thing. I believe His judgments are always righteous. I believe He will never make a mistake, mislead, or be unfair to me in any way or at any time. I believe He corrects me because He loves me; He says "No" because He wills to say "Yes" to something greater and better for me; He convicts me of sin because He wants me to live in the beauty of His holiness.

[Judy Harder]

     

Roy Lessin
   
I Believe (A Confession of Faith) Part 2

18 Apr 2011

I believe God is near:

The LORD is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth. Psalm 145:18 NLT

I believe the Lord is near me, with me, beside me, about me, above me, behind me, ahead of me, at my right hand and my left. I believe that underneath me are His everlasting arms. I believe He is closer than the closest friend, nearer than my very breath—abiding within, joined to my spirit, quickening my body, lighting my heart with His light, filling its chambers with His love.

I believe God can:

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? Psalm 32:27 NKJV

I believe God can take care of me, will take of me, and is taking care of me. I believe He is taking good care of me. I believe He is taking care of me because He cares about me. I believe He can do what no one else can do. I believe all things are possible because nothing is impossible with the Lord. I believe nothing is too big for Him to handle and He cares about the smallest detail. I believe God can give me, by His grace, everything I need to be fully equipped to do His will and serve Him in a way that will be pleasing in His sight.

[Judy Harder]

Roy Lessin
   
I Believe (A Confession of Faith) Part 3

20 Apr 2011

I believe God will guide me:

"In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13 NIV

I believe my life is in God's hands and keeping. I believe He has a plan and purpose for my life and that He is leading me in a path that will fulfill that plan and purpose. I believe it is a good plan, a right plan, and the best plan. I believe there is not a better, higher, or wiser way for me to live or way for me to follow. I believe God knows exactly what He is doing and that He will bring things into my life at the exact time they are needed. I believe He wants me to follow Him with praise on my lips for who He is, with thanks in my heart for what He does, and with obedience in my steps for what He asks me to do.

I believe God is true:

The Lord is the true God and the God of truth (the God Who is Truth). Jeremiah 10:10 AMP

I believe God is the true God. From Him, and Him alone, comes all truth. He is true in His character and nature. He will never speak a lie or live a lie. Every word He speaks is true, every promise He makes is true, every deed He does is true. I believe He is true to me. His love is true love, His kindness is true kindness, His concern is true concern, His comfort is true comfort. I believe God is my true north, my anchor point, my certainty, my confidence. I believe I can walk with my eyes set upon Him, with my faith resting upon Him, and with my heart fixed upon Him, knowing He will not and cannot fail.

[Judy Harder]

Roy Lessin
   
I believe (A Confession of Faith) Part 4

21 Apr 2011

I believe the Gospel

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 NKJV

I believe the Gospel is God's message of salvation through Jesus Christ. I believe there is no greater truth to know, no greater gift to receive, no greater reason to live. The Gospel was not given to be changed, but to change me. I believe the Gospel is God's perfect, flawless, complete plan of redemption, without any need of improvement or tweaking by the mind of man.

I believe the Gospel is God's truth, God's revelation, and God's reality. The Gospel provides a salvation that brings assurance and certainty— it is clear, not confusing; direct, not vague; knowable, not guessable. It does not save partially or temporally, but wholly and to the uttermost. It is only through the Gospel that I can know forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ. I believe the Gospel solves the problem of sin, heals the pain of sin, pays the debt of sin, frees from the judgment of sin, cleanses from the stain of sin, and delivers from the power of sin.

I believe nothing else can redeem me, restore me, renew me, and transform me apart from the Gospel. Nothing else has the power to take me from darkness to light, death to  life, hell to heaven, sin to righteousness, fear to peace, despair to hope, selfishness to love.

I believe the Gospel is the good news, the best news, the only news that can bring me into a right relationship and fellowship with God. Everything that is mine in Christ is mine because of the Gospel.

I believe the Gospel is Jesus—Jesus, God with us, coming to earth from heaven; Jesus living a sinless life and fully pleasing His Father; Jesus giving His life on the Cross as an atonement for sin; Jesus being buried and coming out of the grave; Jesus ascending to heaven; Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father. Jesus, soon to return, coming for His own, coming for me, coming to reign forever and forever.

I believe the Gospel is the manifestation and the demonstration of God's love for me. I believe the Gospel tells me and assures me that I am loved—not incompletely but wholly, not shallowly but deeply, not temporarily but eternally.  I believe that in the cross of Christ I see thorns of love, nails of love, a spear of love, a broken heart of love. It is at the cross I hear the call of love saying, "Come unto Me."

[Judy Harder]

Roy Lessin
   
I Believe (A Confession of Faith) Part 5

25 Apr 2011 06:18 AM PDT

I believe in redemption:

In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:8 KJV

I believe Jesus is my redeemer and He has redeemed me through His shed blood. His redemption means that He has bought me at a great price, the highest price that could be paid for my ransom. I believe that His ransom means that I am no longer in bondage to Satan, stuck in a horrible pit of despair, or a slave to sin.

I believe that my redemption means that I am no longer my own, and that my purpose is to serve Jesus and glorify Him, not unwillingly, but from the heart, as His bondservant. I count it a privilege to serve Him for love's sake.

I believe His ownership of my life brings me great comfort, deep peace, and overflowing joy. His ownership means that I am in His hands, in His care, in His keeping. I believe as my redeemer that He has taken full responsibility for my life because He has purchased it and I have wholly given it into His hands. I believe the hands of my Redeemer are strong hands, creative hands, caring hands, giving hands, healing hands, keeping hands. I rejoice that my life is in His hands— to do His will, to follow His plans, to gladden His heart, to bless His name.