Encouraging Me Today...

Lily & Val

recitethis.com

Dear Friend, He's always watching...

today is a very GOOD day for our family.

full of hope, joyful anticipation, and extreme gratitude after a long season of waiting.

while i'm singing today because i'm so very happy, i KNOW He's been watching me through each and every season - even through my doubts and fears.

He watches you too, friend.

Dear Friend Enduring a time of Turmoil...

Open your heart (wide open 'like a lake') to the one who created it...

Release all your fears to Him.

~source~

 1 peter 5:7 "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Like a Lake

Sarah Groves ~ 'Like a Lake' Lyrics
so much hurt and preservation like a tendril round my soul so much painful information no clear way on how to hold it when everything in me is tightening curling in around this ache I will lay my heart wide open like the surface of a lake wide open like a lake standing at this waters edge looking in at God's own heart I've no idea where to begin to swallow up the way things are everything in me is drawing in closing in around this pain I will lay my heart wide open like the surface of a lake wide open like a lake bring the wind and bring the thunder bring the rain till I am tried when it's over bring me stillness let my face reflect the sky and all the grace and all the wonder of a peace that I can't fake wide open like a lake everything in me is tightening curling in around this ache I am fighting to stay open I am fighting to stay open open open oh wide open open like a lake

Dear Friend Carrying a Heavy Burden,

you are not alone.

draw near to god and He will draw near to you.

He is near to the brokenhearted.

He is working things out for your GOOD.

He will carry you through...and deliver you from all your fears...

Dear Fellow Busy Mamma,

in the midst of all your plans & to-do's, don't forget to
love well.

~ via ~

your spouse, your littles, your pals -

'Live Today on Purpose'



sincerely,
Heidi

Dear Fellow Night Owls,

i've never been as consistent with an early morning quiet time as I'd like...

 a natural born night owl, i repeatedly find it difficult to turn off the light at a favorable hour to encourage an early awakening.

 however, i KNOW that spending intentional time in the word and in prayer (even just 15 minutes!) can be so influential in producing a mindful approach to my days...

 seeking guidance & peace ~ preparing my mind & heart for whatever may come my way.

 

"My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you..."

~Isaiah 26:9

do you spend time with the Lord regularly in the mornings??

Sincerely,











additional resources:

'I Will Seek You In The Morning'  {a compilation of Scriptures about starting your day with the Lord}

inspiredtoaction.com/resources/hellomornings/

 7 Ways to Wake Up With Motivation

Dear Friend Stuck in the Sea of Uncertainty,

In the midst of a continued uncertain journey ahead, we wait, we hope, we pray...



Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
 
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
 
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
 
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
 
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .
 
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
 
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You 
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .

Dear Worried Friend,

Source: behance.net via Heidi on Pinterest

“Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength, carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” 

―Corrie ten Boom 

Source: ashleykat.com via Ashley on Pinterest

~

"Look at the birds of the air..." 

{maybe 'Three Little Birds' ...  ;)  } and be reminded not to worry .
 

Sincerely, 

Dear Friend In Pursuit of Happiness & Peace,

Source: jarridwilson.tumblr.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Heidi on Pinterest

Acts 17:24-28,

“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”

C.S. Lewis Song {Brook Fraser} lyrics

If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared

[CHORUS]
Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan
as I wait for hope to come for me
Am I lost or just less found?
On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?

Is this a soul that stirs in me,
is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become

[CHORUS]

[BRIDGE]
For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath,
so we better breathe it
And I,
I was made to live,
I was made to love,
I was made to know you

Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming


He's always here waiting & longing for you, my friend...

Sincerely,  

Dear Friend With an Uncertain Road Ahead,

In the midst of uncertain circumstances...

Source: Uploaded by user via Heidi on Pinterest

 

Source: Uploaded by user via Heidi on Pinterest

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

 Isaiah 41:10

Sincerely, 

Dear Grumbling Friend,

Lately I've been feeling ultra prone to grumble and complain.

Be it due to the mounting uncertainties looming in our families not-to-distant future

or simply lamenting about challenging behaviors/interactions from my children - 

I'm just feeling plain BLAH because of it all.   

And, I'm ready to 

SHAKE. IT. OUT. 

Source: quote-book.tumblr.com via Heidi on Pinterest

 

What better time than Easter to declare war on negative thoughts and attitudes that the devil is clearly trying to weigh me down with.   

With the Lords help,  I'm ready to say, "NO" to temptations to 
grumble, complain or wallow in self pity.

Source: Uploaded by user via Heidi on Pinterest

Who's with me?

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,           

in which you shine like stars in the universe."

 - Philippians 2:14-15.

Sincerely, 

Dear Mindful Friend,

“People are just about as happy 

as they make up their minds to be.”

 ~Abraham Lincoln~

Our thoughts are powerful. 

 

Do you ever think about your thoughts? 

The life we lead is created and driven by our thoughts.

Will your thoughts will lead to happiness today?

What will you choose?

proverbs 23:7

"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he"

image credit: MadRoscoe