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Inspiration – Words of Hope and Encouragement in Times of Trouble!

Inspiration – Words of Hope and Encouragement in Times of Trouble!

Hope and Encouragement is on the Way

Inspirational Hope in Times of TroubleHope and encouragement is available in times of trouble.

If you are in an emotionally, physically, or financially difficult spot…

…do not become discouraged.

Throughout history, during very troubling times, God provided words of hope and encouragement.

 God is For Us

“’For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

We must understand a very important truth, if we are going to overcome trials and reach our full potential: God is for us. He is not against us.

Even if our current situation is due to discipline or judgment for our own disobedience, God still provides us with a promise of victory and deliverance. God never leaves His people hopeless, even when they drift in their love for Him.

Do Not Fear

Right now, your faith may be confronted with a terrifying unknown. You may be facing a fearful situation and feel hopeless; as if you will barely survive.

But hear this: God does not want us to be afraid of the future. Jesus often said “Do not be afraid” and “Peace be with you” in order to give comfort and show understanding.

Faith Check-up

In times of trouble it is good to evaluate and adjust our faith, and rediscover a deep need for the Lord. We see God often use trials to position us for greater blessing.

You may not understand how God will deliver you, but you can be sure that He will. Take courage and believe that He will calm the raging storm surrounding you, and you will witness the clouds breaking apart.

Eternal Hope

The Lord always has our best in mind; even while we experience great disappointment. God’s desire is for us to see Him as our only source of salvation and blessing. In the book of Revelation, God gives to each believer a message of eternal hope. It reminds us to not be afraid and describes God’s eternal triumph.

“The Lord will come again, and in the coming of the Lord lies the great hope of the believer, his great stimulus to overcome evil.” – Charles Spurgeon

Wisdom and Hope for Today

Through the Word of God we get the wisdom and direction we need to face any and every situation; today and in the future.

So, go ahead now and do your part. Ask the Lord for help and to reveal His will and plan for your life. Commit yourself fully to Him. Walk in obedience to His Word no matter what the cost. If you take this approach, God will provide for you in ways that go far beyond human understanding. Have hope and be encouraged: God is with us.

May your hope be in God and your life full of growing prosperity!

God bless you,
Brenda

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A Beautiful Thing and Priceless Experience!

A Beautiful Thing and Priceless Experience!

Surprise Blessings: You Gotta Lov’m!

I have to tell you about an unexpected surprise blessing I experienced recently…

Early this month, I had a stretch of being a full-time nanny for a little over a week.

It was for a really great family I’d also worked part-time for last school year  – and they asked me if I could help them out some again. The dad is an author of several books and in full-time ministry. So he had some speaking engagements that was going to take him out of town.

All their children are extremely talented and gifted. It’s always fun to spend time with them just to have some of their energy and creativity wash off on me.

We Chose LifeWell the youngest, is a 2yr old little girl who was born with spina bifida.

(Her parents have a very encouraging and heartfelt story of their daughter’s birth and life. Her father wrote a book on their experience and why they chose life and did not take the doctors offer to terminate the pregnancy.)

A little more background…last school year when I was there the little girl had a cast on almost the whole time. It went from her chest down to her toes! So obviously she was very limited in her activity and unable to get around and play.

I would think having a little more than half your body in a cast might dampen your spirit? It would mine!

But No: Not this little girl! She always had the sweetest smile and the ability to light up a room.

It was so humbling for me to know her and spend time with her (and still is). I had such a difficult year last year and was battling a number of challenges…

but every time I would go to their house, and see this little girl in her cast, and she’d still have the sweetest smile and happiest spirit…I would have to instantly reconsider what I was allowing myself to stress over and be unhappy over.

Okay, well fast forward to this month…

She now has most the surgeries complete on her hips, legs and knees. So no more cast. She has freedom to get around and it is amazing how well she does! She has leg braces to help her while she’s learning to walk.

The other thing she is learning to do is talk. She would say “ma” & “da” along with a number of other sounds and jabbering, but not really on demand words yet.

Well – I was blessed to have her start saying some words on demand while I was with her this month!

We just had a fun time during the week playing and being silly. I also got to hear more of the sounds and jabberings she was doing and I would copy her all the time. I would also act like her baby doll was talking and copying my words – and she thought that was pretty funny…

Anyway, the one day I was trying to get her to say “up” it sounded like she did. And then later in the day I was almost positive she started to say another word.

The next morning when getting her out of the crib I asked her to say “up” and this time she for sure did! And later she put her finger to her mouth and said “li” for light when she wanted to flip the light switch.

The BEST PART was getting her up after her nap time. She said “up” and then sat back down in her crib and started laughing…

and she kept laughing…

and would open her mouth like she was going to say “up” but couldn’t even talk because she was laughing so hard. That kind of deep belly laugh that makes your stomach hurt. 🙂 🙂 🙂

It was just the Most Beautiful, Precious thing!

For a good 3-5 minutes we just kept laughing. We were looking at each other through the crib bars and we would lean toward each other and open our mouths like we were going to say “up” and then bust out laughing again, unable to say a word…

And I can’t say for sure why she was laughing so hard, but I really think it was from a new level of understanding of the power she had to be able to speak and control what she was saying.

I wish I could describe the situation better, but it was one of those “you had to be there” times.

I’ll never forget it – I feel privileged to have been there that week and it was such a beautiful experience and blessing for me! Thanks for letting me share it with you.

And I thank God that He is helping this little girl grow and develop by leaps and bounds! If you would pray for her also it would be appreciated, as she still has some upcoming surgeries… Thank you.

Cheers,
Brenda

P.S. You can read this family’s story of facing the reality of having a child with spina bifida and choosing life.  “We Chose Life: Why You Should Too” by Anthony Horvath is available now at Amazon.

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Self-Esteem – How Can Meditation and Affirmations Increase Your Confidence?

Self-Esteem – How Can Meditation and Affirmations Increase Your Confidence?

Boldy Affirm the Power of Who You Are In Him!

Self-esteem is a powerful driving force in our lives. Are you a victim of low self-confidence? Do you avoid taking on responsibilities and asserting your individuality? Do you shrink from everything that draws attention to yourself and have no faith in your abilities?

Self-Esteem Biblical Meditation Affirmations If this describes you, then you’ll want to begin immediately putting the power of meditation and affirmations to work in your life.

Persistently meditating and confessing positive affirmations over yourself will result in strengthening your weak qualities, building character, and making your life more favorable and noble.

The truth is, as a child of God you should be victory minded. 🙂

You should give great importance to building up your confidence and self-esteem. A lack of confidence in yourself is a poor reflection on the Creator who pronounced everything He made as good.

Lack of faith in yourself is nothing but lack of faith in Him.

Meditation and affirmations should be a daily routine. Think and speak what you desire to be. When you confess what God says about you, you will begin to see a new self-image.

It’s only a matter of time until what you think about and how you see yourself on the inside is what your life will look like on the outside. If you will get the image of God’s Word in you, you will raise your self-esteem.

The following strong, positive affirmations are very suggestive and will help get you started in boosting your personal image by meditating and confessing them daily:

  • I am a child of God and I am made in His image and likeness.
  • I prosper in God’s good plan for my life.
  • I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
  • I have a spirit of power, and love, and a sound mind.
  • I have the mind of Christ.
  • I have the ability to do what my Creator sent me here to do.
  • I wait on the Lord and He renews my strength.

Truth be told: There’s no limit to the confidence you can build with powerful affirmations and meditation. Let the spirit of you, the real you, constantly affirm the power of who you are in Him. You are somebody special. God has a purpose and plan for your life, just waiting to unfold. Dare to boldly confess who you are and boost your self-esteem.

May your positive meditations and affirmations bring you growing prosperity!

God bless you –
Cheers,
Brenda

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Spiritual Warfare Venting and My Experience

A Little Spiritual Warfare Venting and Rambling for today…

What the Enemy Intends for Bad – God Will Work for Good!

First, I want to apologize to you for the website being down for almost three days.

My web host provider had some unexpected issues over the weekend that took my site down and it just went live again mid-day today!  I’m thankful God answered my prayer and the site is back up without errors.

It definitely gave me practice with patience, overcoming frustration, etc.!

Sword of the SpiritIt also had me thinking about spiritual warfare and reflecting back on things in life. You know, I’m finally getting old enough, and wise enough, to realize things aren’t just coincidence. And that the enemy of this world is up to more than we realize

I started thinking about my site going down and how it not only was in the group that went down, but it was the last one to get back up and running. I’ve had many other sites over the years, either personally or that I’ve managed for others. Never have I experienced this type of down time.

Yet none of the other sites were related to spiritual matters and encouraging people to keep God first in life.

As I reflected back, it is clear that the times in my life that I’ve had the most attacks and trials were either times that I clearly chose to walk away from God, and do my own thing, or times when I decided to step out in a significant way for the Lord.

When I chose to do my own thing in the past, and disobey God, it is understandable that I was going to have to face the consequences of those wrong choices.

However, it used to appear like bad timing when trouble would bombard me during the times I was trying to do the right thing.

For instance, when I purposed to start attending church regularly – BAMM – attacks! When I bought a new Bible and study materials to get into the Word – BAMM – attacks! When I got myself and my girls involved in a good church and started volunteering – BAMM – attacks!

Earlier this year, when I decided to finally move forward and put this site up, I was at first constantly amazed at how so many details easily fell into place and worked out. I thank God often for the provision and ability He continues to give me to be able to do this.

Yet there is, once again, clearly this battle going on at the same time…

On one hand, I know God is helping me and guiding me and adjusting me as I go. However, on the other hand, I am again battling attacks. I seem to have gotten a whole whammy of them since I started this site. Physical attacks against my health, mental attacks against my thoughts, and also attacks against my finances and relationships.

They left me doubting if I should be doing this and I did and continue to keep praying for wisdom and guidance. Everything in me keeps saying move forward.

Well anyway – today I started to get mad, thinking about the enemy attacking me (and I also know of a few others personally under attack for stepping out in a significant way to serve God). I feel like battle on!

God is on my side, how can I lose? What the devil intends for bad, my God will work to good!

I serve a really Good God, and a really Big God! And He has helped me overcome the attacks of the enemy. My health and thought life is better … and my relationships are better … and God gave me some ideas and the energy lately to start implementing them that will improve my finances.

Plus on top of it all, with each attack the enemy has thrown at me… I’ve not only come through, but I’ve come through stronger, wiser, and learning how to use the Word of God to lessen the impact of the attacks. I’ve experienced to a greater degree the importance of not living with doubt and fear, but remaining confident and living by faith.

I refuse to let the enemy steal my joy!

My main web site (and others) went down for almost three days – and No – I was not happy about it, but the funny thing is – I didn’t get emotionally upset. I knew that God was going to take care of things and I was able to maintain a peace in the midst of this little storm of life.

I did get mad at the devil though and it has spurred me to write a few articles on spiritual warfare.

Okay – I’m done venting and rambling on… and I’ll end now with this:

“The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” 
– Hebrews 4:12

“The Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.”
– 2 Thessalonians 3:3

“Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.”
– 2 Corinthians 2:14

“May the God of peace make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
– Hebrews 13:21

May you walk close to God and your life be filled with growing prosperity!

God bless you & keep you –
Brenda

P.S. I’d love to hear your thoughts, comments, or suggestions on the subject…

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Self-Esteem – How Can You Jump Start Your Image by Expressing the Good in Others?

Self-Esteem – How Can You Jump Start Your Image by Expressing the Good in Others?

Express the Positive Qualities of Others and Jump Start Your Own Self-Confidence!

Self-esteem and the image you carry of yourself plays a vital role in your personal success. Do you move through life feeling worthless as if nothing you do is good enough, or that you’ll never amount to anything? Obviously, those are not encouraging thoughts and feelings to make you successful.

Which just goes to prove; we should give great importance to increasing our confidence and self-esteem.

There are a multitude of things which assist our personal self image. Keeping our minds in a positive condition; keeping ourselves physically healthy; maintaining a cheerful, happy mental attitude by Self-Esteem Encouragementkeeping our minds free from worry and anxiety, all of these things are great aids to our self-confidence.

Another trick to give your own image a boost is to take notice and express the good in others. Learning to see and acknowledge the positive qualities in others is excellent practice for learning to acknowledge your own positive qualities.

And don’t forget, you reap what you sow.  As you are generous in your compliments to others, others will be generous in their compliments to you. A great self-esteem booster!

Planting seeds of confidence in others is like planting seeds of self-confidence in you. It is also an act of love. And when you learn to love and appreciate the good in those around you, you’ll find it easier to love and appreciate the good in yourself. This also helps drop barriers and resistance that may be hindering your self-esteem. 

So be generous in your encouragement to others. A generous man will prosper and he who refreshes others will he himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) Again, a reminder that what goes around, comes around and it is better to give than to receive.

The bottom line: Begin to see others the way God sees them, and you’ll begin to see yourself the way God sees you. You are a child of God and He did not create you for failure. You have the ability to do what the Almighty Creator sent you here to do. Now go encourage someone else and enjoy a boost to your own self-esteem.

May your confidence increase and your life be filled with growing prosperity!

God bless you –
Cheers,
Brenda

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Lifehouse Everything Drama Video

Lifehouse Everything Drama Video

If You Are Battling to Hang on – Don’t Quit!
There is a God Who Wants to Help!

I know this video skit is popular and you may have already watched it, but it is worth viewing again…

We have an enemy in this world. We are not ignorant of that. But just remember we have help available.

I encourage you … whatever battle you are going through – Don’t Give Up! Keep fighting!

Cry out to The Living God and He will help. Ask His forgiveness. There is nothing anyone has done that the blood Jesus paid on the cross can’t wash away and make as white as snow. Put your trust in Jesus. In Him is the power to overcome and be victorious!

POWER TO OVERCOME:

“Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpants and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”  — Luke 10:19

ANGELS ONASSIGNMENT:

“Bless the Lord, you His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word.” — Psalm 103:20

A PROSPEROUS FUTURE:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

God loves you! 🙂 And Jesus too!

God bless you,
Brenda

P.S. The enemy tried to take my life, but The Living God pulled me out of the pit and makes me stand victorious! That is why I know He can do the same for you . . . and I know He will do for my daughters who I see the enemy attacking . . . don’t fight your battles alone, keep crying out to The Living God for help!

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Do You Want to Stop Fear and Boost Your Self-Esteem?

Do You Want to Stop Fear and Boost Your Self-Esteem?

Discover How to Put a Stop to Fear and Bring Out the Real You with a Boost to Your Self-Confidence!

Self-esteem is such a powerful, driving force in our lives. The image we have of ourselves; be it good or bad, is going to keep us in failure or move us to success. Another powerful force to take note of is fear. It is a negative one that will rob us of our confidence.

How can you even begin to be confident when fear makes you anxious, stressed, worried, depressed, and unsure of yourself?

Fear is a great handicap that hinders your self-esteem because it only allows you to see the negative side of things. It will paralyze you from moving forward.

Jesus even told us over and over not to be afraid. He helped reveal to us that fear will produce what we fear.

Are you with me? Do you understand the importance of putting a stop to fear? You need to learn to nip fear in the bud daily. Become conscious of fearful thoughts quickly!

Fear drives Failure and Faith drives Confidence.

Faith and Confidence for SuccessVictory over fear is required if you want to boost your self-esteem. Mastery of the thoughts and the words you speak will help give you victory. Memorize some positive affirmations to use as replacements for fearful thoughts that try to attack your mind.

Put a stop to the cycle of fear by standing on the Word of God and replacing fear with faith. Faith is evidence of your trust in God. God’s Word frees you from fear.

Some Affirmation Examples to Help Replace Fear with Faith and Confidence:

  • God has not given me the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind.
    (2 Timothy 1:7)
  • The peace of God keeps my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:7)
  • My confidence is in the Lord and I will not be afraid. (Proverbs 3:25-26)

No doubt about it; there is no limit to what you can do in holding fast to self-confident and courageous thoughts. We fail only when we lose faith in our God given ability to abound in life. It is through faith we touch the very source of life and gain the strength to live successful. Replace the fear in your life with faith filled words and give a big boost to your self-esteem.

May your confidence soar higher and your life abound with growing prosperity!

God bless you,
Brenda

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Chris Tomlin – I Will Rise – Music Video

Chris Tomlin – “I Will Rise” Christian Music Video

Our Victory is in Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ
There is an anchor for our soul and we can say that it is well because Jesus has overcome!

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57

This is a beautiful song that helps us keep an eternal perspective. Everytime it comes on I have to stop what I’m doing and take time to give God some thanks & praise.

Enjoy & be blessed!
Brenda

P.S. “I Will Rise” from the “Hello Love” album and other Chris Tomlin songs are available in digital and physical versions at Amazon.

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