by Toby Mac
Sometimes we need to thank God for what didn't happen
I started this blog soon after the death of my beautiful 17-year-old son, Hayden, as a way to deal with my grief. I titled it "Dear Hayden" because at first I wrote as if I was writing to him. My use of the word "dear" ended up being twofold: "used as an affectionate or friendly form of address" and "regarded with deep affection; cherished by someone." Many posts are saved quotes, song lyrics, Bible verses, poems, etc. with credit given to the actual authors as much as possible. Enjoy~
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Young fruits
Pastor Matt shared this idea with the youth group today:
It is true that God sometimes arrests the youth in his thoughtless career for no purpose so ostensible as to fit him for an early grave, and it is a beautiful expression of His love when He thus calls the pious young from the conflicts and storms of earth to their heavenly home. These flowers of hope bloom sweetly in the heavenly paradise. Death is the messenger of heavenly love, sent down by the great Husbandman to His garden below to gather these young fruits of righteousness and transplant them in purer skies. It is but another lily gathered when the youthful Christian dies.
Yet we are to remember that this is not the ordinary procedure of a wise providence. God more usually spares the pious young as living exemplifications of the truth and grace which He has caused them to hope. They occupy spheres of responsibility and usefulness which cannot be occupied by the ungodly.
Definitions:
thoughtless: without consideration of the possible consequences
ostensible: stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so
arrest: stop or check (progress or a process)
It is true that God sometimes arrests the youth in his thoughtless career for no purpose so ostensible as to fit him for an early grave, and it is a beautiful expression of His love when He thus calls the pious young from the conflicts and storms of earth to their heavenly home. These flowers of hope bloom sweetly in the heavenly paradise. Death is the messenger of heavenly love, sent down by the great Husbandman to His garden below to gather these young fruits of righteousness and transplant them in purer skies. It is but another lily gathered when the youthful Christian dies.
Yet we are to remember that this is not the ordinary procedure of a wise providence. God more usually spares the pious young as living exemplifications of the truth and grace which He has caused them to hope. They occupy spheres of responsibility and usefulness which cannot be occupied by the ungodly.
Definitions:
thoughtless: without consideration of the possible consequences
ostensible: stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so
arrest: stop or check (progress or a process)
Slow you down
by Toby Mac
Sometimes God will
slow you down so
that the trouble
ahead of you will pass
before you get there.
Your delay could
mean your protection.
Sometimes God will
slow you down so
that the trouble
ahead of you will pass
before you get there.
Your delay could
mean your protection.
Who is God
Who Is God To You?
He is my HEALER (Psalm 103:3)
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
He is my REDEEMER (Isaiah 59:20)
"The Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,"
Says the Lord.
He is my DELIVERER (Psalm 70:5)
But I am poor and needy;
Make haste to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.
He is my STRENGTH (Psalm 43:2)
For You are the God of my strength;
Why do you cast me off?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
He is my SHELTER (Joel 3:16)
The Lord will also roar from Zion,
And utter His voice from Jerusalem;
The heavens and earth will shake;
But the Lord will be a shelter for His people,
And the strength of the children of Israel.
He is my FRIEND (John 15:15)
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant
does not know what his master is doing; but I
have called you friends, for all things that I heard
from My Father I have made known to you.
He is my ADVOCATE (1 John 2:1)
The Test of Knowing Christ
My little children, these things I write to you,
so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we
have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous.
He is my RESTORER (Psalm 23:3)
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
He is my EVERLASTING FATHER (Isaiah 9:6)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He is LOVE (1 John 4:16)
And we have known and believed the love that
God has for us. God is love, and he who abides
in love abides in God, and God in him.
He is my MEDIATOR (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
For there is one God and one Mediator between
God and man, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave
Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due
time.
He is my STRONGHOLD (Nahum 1:7)
The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.
He is the BREAD OF LIFE (John 6:35)
And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life,
He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he
who believes in Me shall never thirst.
He is my HIDING PLACE (Psalm 32:7)
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of
deliverance. Selah
He is the EVERLASTING LIGHT (Isaiah 60:20)
Your sun shall no longer go down,
Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
For the Lord will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended.
He is a STRONG TOWER (Proverbs 18:10)
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
He is my RESTING PLACE (Jeremiah 50:6)
"My people have been lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray;
They have turned away on the mountains.
They have gone from mountain to hill;
They have forgotten their resting place.
He is the SPIRIT OF TRUTH (John 16:13)
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has
come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will
not speak on His own authority; but whatever He
hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to
come.
He is my REFUGE FROM THE STORM (Isaiah 25:4)
For You have been a strength to the poor,
A strength to the needy in his distress,
A refuge from the storm,
A shade from the heat;
For the blast of the terrible ones is as a
storm against the wall.
He is ETERNAL LIFE (1 John 5:20)
And we know that the Son of God has come
and has given us an understanding, that we may
know Him who is true;and we are in Him who is
true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God
and eternal life.
He is the LORD WHO PROVIDES (Genesis 22:14)
And Abraham called the name of the place,
The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day,
"In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided."
He is the LORD OF PEACE (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Benediction
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you
peace always in every way. The Lord be with you
all.
He is the LIVING WATER (John 4:10)
Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew
the gift of God, and who it is who says to you,
'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him,
and He would have given you living water."
He is my SHIELD (Psalm 144:2)
My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take
refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.
He is my HUSBAND (Isaiah 54:5)
For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of
Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth.
He is my HELPER (Hebrews 13:6)
So we may boldly say:
"The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"
He is my WONDERFUL COUNSELOR (Isaiah 9:6)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He is the LORD WHO HEALS (Exodus 15:26)
and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of
the Lord your God and do what is right in His
sight, give ear to His commandments and keep
all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on
you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I
am the Lord who heals you."
He is my HOPE (Psalm 71:5)
For you are my hope, O Lord God;
You are my trust from my youth.
He is the GOD OF COMFORT (Romans 15:5)
Now may the God of patience and comfort
grant you to be like-minded toward on another,
according to Christ Jesus,
He is my HEALER (Psalm 103:3)
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
He is my REDEEMER (Isaiah 59:20)
"The Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,"
Says the Lord.
He is my DELIVERER (Psalm 70:5)
But I am poor and needy;
Make haste to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.
He is my STRENGTH (Psalm 43:2)
For You are the God of my strength;
Why do you cast me off?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
He is my SHELTER (Joel 3:16)
The Lord will also roar from Zion,
And utter His voice from Jerusalem;
The heavens and earth will shake;
But the Lord will be a shelter for His people,
And the strength of the children of Israel.
He is my FRIEND (John 15:15)
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant
does not know what his master is doing; but I
have called you friends, for all things that I heard
from My Father I have made known to you.
He is my ADVOCATE (1 John 2:1)
The Test of Knowing Christ
My little children, these things I write to you,
so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we
have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous.
He is my RESTORER (Psalm 23:3)
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
He is my EVERLASTING FATHER (Isaiah 9:6)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He is LOVE (1 John 4:16)
And we have known and believed the love that
God has for us. God is love, and he who abides
in love abides in God, and God in him.
He is my MEDIATOR (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
For there is one God and one Mediator between
God and man, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave
Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due
time.
He is my STRONGHOLD (Nahum 1:7)
The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.
He is the BREAD OF LIFE (John 6:35)
And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life,
He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he
who believes in Me shall never thirst.
He is my HIDING PLACE (Psalm 32:7)
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of
deliverance. Selah
He is the EVERLASTING LIGHT (Isaiah 60:20)
Your sun shall no longer go down,
Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
For the Lord will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended.
He is a STRONG TOWER (Proverbs 18:10)
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
He is my RESTING PLACE (Jeremiah 50:6)
"My people have been lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray;
They have turned away on the mountains.
They have gone from mountain to hill;
They have forgotten their resting place.
He is the SPIRIT OF TRUTH (John 16:13)
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has
come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will
not speak on His own authority; but whatever He
hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to
come.
He is my REFUGE FROM THE STORM (Isaiah 25:4)
For You have been a strength to the poor,
A strength to the needy in his distress,
A refuge from the storm,
A shade from the heat;
For the blast of the terrible ones is as a
storm against the wall.
He is ETERNAL LIFE (1 John 5:20)
And we know that the Son of God has come
and has given us an understanding, that we may
know Him who is true;and we are in Him who is
true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God
and eternal life.
He is the LORD WHO PROVIDES (Genesis 22:14)
And Abraham called the name of the place,
The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day,
"In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided."
He is the LORD OF PEACE (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Benediction
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you
peace always in every way. The Lord be with you
all.
He is the LIVING WATER (John 4:10)
Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew
the gift of God, and who it is who says to you,
'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him,
and He would have given you living water."
He is my SHIELD (Psalm 144:2)
My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take
refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.
He is my HUSBAND (Isaiah 54:5)
For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of
Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth.
He is my HELPER (Hebrews 13:6)
So we may boldly say:
"The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"
He is my WONDERFUL COUNSELOR (Isaiah 9:6)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He is the LORD WHO HEALS (Exodus 15:26)
and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of
the Lord your God and do what is right in His
sight, give ear to His commandments and keep
all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on
you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I
am the Lord who heals you."
He is my HOPE (Psalm 71:5)
For you are my hope, O Lord God;
You are my trust from my youth.
He is the GOD OF COMFORT (Romans 15:5)
Now may the God of patience and comfort
grant you to be like-minded toward on another,
according to Christ Jesus,
Friday, June 28, 2019
Doesn't call you
If a man doesn't call you it's because he doesn't want to call you. If he doesn't invite you to go out it's because he doesn't want to see you. If he treats you like s... it's because he doesn't care. If he lets you go, it's because he doesn't want to be with you. When a man says, "I'm not ready, but you are the love of my life and the only one I want, but now is not the right time," it's simply because he doesn't want you. Don't keep playing his confusing games. Don't justify him. When a man wants to be with a woman, he stays with her without lies, excuses, and complications. Stop being genuine and naive, and stop justifying his every excuse and complication and put yourself first. You DO NOT need someone that doesn't know what they want, you DO NOT need someone who doesn't see your worth. You deserve a man that knows your worth and fights for you everyday. Stop breaking your own heart for someone who probably won't even be as good as you expect and give yourself an opportunity to be happy and be with someone who truly wants to be with you.
Your diet
Your diet is not only what you eat.
It's what you watch,
what you listen to,
what you read, the people
you hang around.
Be mindful of the things
you put into your body
emotionally, spiritually,
and physically.
It's what you watch,
what you listen to,
what you read, the people
you hang around.
Be mindful of the things
you put into your body
emotionally, spiritually,
and physically.
If I react
I'm slowly learning
that even if I react, it won't change
anything, it won't make people suddenly
love and respect me, it won't magically
change their minds. Sometimes it's better
to just let things be, let people go, don't fight
for closure, don't ask for explanations,
don't chase answers and don't expect
people to understand where you're coming
from. I'm slowly learning that life is better
lived when you don't center it on
what's happening around you, and center it on
what's happening inside you instead. Work
on yourself and your inner peace.
One day
One day you're gonna
come across a man who will
worship the ground you walk on.
Do not stop until you find that man.
He will love and cherish every inch
of you (personality, body, mind, etc.)
And he will do everything in his
power not to lose you. Don't settle
for half-a.. men.
Great things
The devil is hitting
you hard right now because he
knows God is about to use you
to do great things. He doesn't
bother you when you're living
in sin, He bothers you when
you're trying to escape.
Criticized anyway
by Eleanor Roosevelt
Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway.
Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway.
Very valuable
The enemy wouldn't
be attacking you if
something very
valuable wasn't
inside of you. Thieves
don't break into
empty houses.
Slight chance
If there's ever a slight
chance at getting something
that will make you happy,
risk it.
Life's too short and happiness
is too rare.
In reality
Starting to love this lady...
by Gretchen Baskerville
Many pastors say, God wants loving marriages; Satan wants divorce.
But in reality -
God wants loving marriages. Satan wants cruel marriages.
To the girl
From Flying Free
by Jen Hindley
-to the girl-
You sang before you talked,
Danced before you walked.
You dreamed before you knew you shouldn't,
Tried before they said you couldn't.
You believed before doubt crept in,
Hoped before reality set in.
You gave before it hurt,
Loved before your heart burst.
You buried that girl
with stars in her eyes.
Laid her to rest,
hopes and dreams by her side.
Rise up, dear girl,
That's not how it ends.
Rise up, dear girl,
You will sing again.
by Jen Hindley
-to the girl-
You sang before you talked,
Danced before you walked.
You dreamed before you knew you shouldn't,
Tried before they said you couldn't.
You believed before doubt crept in,
Hoped before reality set in.
You gave before it hurt,
Loved before your heart burst.
You buried that girl
with stars in her eyes.
Laid her to rest,
hopes and dreams by her side.
Rise up, dear girl,
That's not how it ends.
Rise up, dear girl,
You will sing again.
Thursday, June 27, 2019
High standards
by Gretchen Baskerville
People with high standards and sensitive consciences, tend to be self-critical and question their own motives. They doubt themselves.
Selfish people do the opposite. Or as the saying goes-
"Good people tend to think they are evil, while the evil often think they are good."
People with high standards and sensitive consciences, tend to be self-critical and question their own motives. They doubt themselves.
Selfish people do the opposite. Or as the saying goes-
"Good people tend to think they are evil, while the evil often think they are good."
Already at work
This has come up at some good times lately...
You're in bed right now
and you're wondering how to deal with a
situation that seems out of your hands.
God says be
still I'm already at work.
Irony of grief
Grief
The irony of grief is
that the person you
need to talk to about
how you feel is the
person who is no
longer here.
Great love
Grief is the last act
of love we have to give to
those we loved. Where
there is deep grief, there
was great love.
That's love
When you give and
expect a return, that's
an investment. When you
give and don't
expect anything back.
That's love.
More serenity
This is good...
The OTHER Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to stop beating myself for not doing things perfectly, the courage to forgive myself because I'm working on doing better, and the wisdom to know that you already love me just the way that I am.
The OTHER Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to stop beating myself for not doing things perfectly, the courage to forgive myself because I'm working on doing better, and the wisdom to know that you already love me just the way that I am.
Our understanding
So true...
When the Bible says, "Do not lean on your own understanding," the Bible is being serious. Your heart is deceitful, your emotions fluctuate, your understanding does not see the overall big picture. God never lies. God never changes. God knows all. Trust Him.
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Half-hearted
Quote by C.S. Lewis, part of Sunday sermon by Pastor Ty
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
Held on too long
by Charlotte Freeman
Maybe we held on
a little too long to the people who
didn't deserve us because we had
more good in our heart than they
did. Maybe we saw them for how
they could have been if they had
a heart like ours. But they didn't
and maybe never will. Hearts like
ours are special; they should be
treasured, not broken.
Mindset
It's all about mindset.
From the moment
you wake up,
to the moment
you rest your
head at night.
Everything is
up to you.
Your emotions,
your thoughts,
your perceptions,
your reactions.
Every moment.
Gratitude
On daily calendar by Max Lucado
Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread.
It does to anxiety what the morning sun does to valley mist.
It burns it up.
Start over
I know I've recorded this several times, but worth repeating
Start over, my darling.
Be brave enough to find the
life you want and courageous
enough to chase it. Then start
over and love yourself the
way you were always
meant to.
-Madalyn Beck
A difference
by P.T. Barnum (as quoted by Hugh Jackman IN PERSON)
No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.
No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
A holy response
from Flying Free
Divorce is never a sin in and of itself. It's simply a response or acknowledgment of a relational sin. The sin that precipitates the divorce is abandonment, adultery or abuse.
One spouse could choose to do the abandoning, abusing or affair and seek a divorce. But still, the divorce isn't the sin, it's the acts of abandonment, abuse or adultery.
One spouse could be abandoned, abused or cheated on and seek a divorce. Again, the divorce isn't the sin, it's the acts of abandonment, abuse and adultery.
It is holy to walk away from intentional, unrepentant sin or to let the other person choosing sin to walk away. "Hate what is evil, cling to what is good." (Romans 12:12)
Abandonment, adultery and abuse is the evil, not the divorce.
Safety, freedom, humility, kindness and love is the good, not the marriage.
Support the person who is "hating what is evil and clinging to what is good."
Divorce is always grievous because it means the relationship has ended without restoration and peace. But it is also holy because it means a toxic relationship has ended.
Some things are just grievous and holy at the same time. If God could handle that tension (Isaiah 50:1, Jeremiah 3:8) so can we.
Verses:
Isaiah 50:1
The Servant, Israel's Hope
Thus says the Lord:
"Where is the certificate of your mother's divorce,
Whom I have put away?
Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you?
For your iniquities you have sold yourselves,
And for your transgressions your mother has been put away.
Jeremiah 3:8
Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.
Divorce is never a sin in and of itself. It's simply a response or acknowledgment of a relational sin. The sin that precipitates the divorce is abandonment, adultery or abuse.
One spouse could choose to do the abandoning, abusing or affair and seek a divorce. But still, the divorce isn't the sin, it's the acts of abandonment, abuse or adultery.
One spouse could be abandoned, abused or cheated on and seek a divorce. Again, the divorce isn't the sin, it's the acts of abandonment, abuse and adultery.
It is holy to walk away from intentional, unrepentant sin or to let the other person choosing sin to walk away. "Hate what is evil, cling to what is good." (Romans 12:12)
Abandonment, adultery and abuse is the evil, not the divorce.
Safety, freedom, humility, kindness and love is the good, not the marriage.
Support the person who is "hating what is evil and clinging to what is good."
Divorce is always grievous because it means the relationship has ended without restoration and peace. But it is also holy because it means a toxic relationship has ended.
Some things are just grievous and holy at the same time. If God could handle that tension (Isaiah 50:1, Jeremiah 3:8) so can we.
Verses:
Isaiah 50:1
The Servant, Israel's Hope
Thus says the Lord:
"Where is the certificate of your mother's divorce,
Whom I have put away?
Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you?
For your iniquities you have sold yourselves,
And for your transgressions your mother has been put away.
Jeremiah 3:8
Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
God's love
by Toby Mac
You cannot
make God
stop loving
you because
God's love
isn't based
on who you
are but on
who He is.
Never forget
Never forget:
How far you've come. Everything you
have gotten through. All the times you
have pushed or even when you felt you
couldn't. All the mornings you got out of
bed no matter how hard it was. All the
times you wanted to give up but you got
through another day. Never forget how
much strength you have learned and
developed along the way.
Assassination
by Maya Angelou
Some people don't have the courage
to just walk up to you and pull the trigger.
If somebody just walked up and said "Boom!" - well, there
you go. Bye.
But when a person commits these little murders,
and then you catch him or her at it,
he or she might say, "Oh, I didn't mean it."
But make no mistake: It is an assassination attempt.
Some people don't have the courage
to just walk up to you and pull the trigger.
If somebody just walked up and said "Boom!" - well, there
you go. Bye.
But when a person commits these little murders,
and then you catch him or her at it,
he or she might say, "Oh, I didn't mean it."
But make no mistake: It is an assassination attempt.
Hate boundaries
The moment you put a stop to people taking advantage of you and disrespecting you, is when they define you as difficult, selfish or crazy. Manipulators hate boundaries.
Don't respect you
If you repeatedly
have to tell someone the exact
same thing about how you feel
and nothing changes, they
don't respect you.
Not love
It's not love that you're
afraid of. It's the fear
that everyone else is
just like the last person
who destroyed you.
Worth it
Apply for that job.
Date that person.
Buy that plane ticket.
Move to that city.
Do all the things
that scare you,
because they're
WORTH IT.
Faithful and true
I heard a loud voice from the throne
say, "God lives with humans! God will
make His home with them, and they
will be His people. God Himself will be
with them and be their God. He will
wipe every tear from their eyes. There
won't be any more death. There won't
be any grief, crying, or pain, because
the first things have disappeared."
The one sitting on the throne said,
"I am making everything new."
He said, "Write this:
'These words are faithful and true.'"
Revelation 21:3-5
Never touched
from Flying Free
He hit her with false promises
He hit her with accusations
He hit her with solitude
He hit her with manipulation
He hit her with control
He hit her with shame
He hit her with slander
He hit her with games
He hit her with silence
He hit her with the past
He hit her with criticism
He hit her with the masks
He hit her with abandonment
He hit her with betrayal
He hit her with contempt
And yet, he never touched her
He hit her with false promises
He hit her with accusations
He hit her with solitude
He hit her with manipulation
He hit her with control
He hit her with shame
He hit her with slander
He hit her with games
He hit her with silence
He hit her with the past
He hit her with criticism
He hit her with the masks
He hit her with abandonment
He hit her with betrayal
He hit her with contempt
And yet, he never touched her
One decision away
Overheard someone say.
"You're always one decision away from a totally different life"
Let that sink in...
"You're always one decision away from a totally different life"
Let that sink in...
My Redeemer Liveth
Sometimes the KJV is nice...
For I know that my Redeemer liveth,
and that He shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth: and
though after my skin worms destroy
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see
God: Whom I shall see for myself, and
mine eyes shall behold, and not
another; though my reins be
consumed within me.
Job 19:25-27
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Be still
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
Psalm 46:10
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
Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Friday, June 7, 2019
Uncomfortable
God will let you walk into uncomfortable situations where all you can do is rely on Him. Don't be anxious. He's about to show you He is faithful.
Before the mountains
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
Psalm 90: 2,4
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God.
For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night.
Psalm 90: 2,4
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God.
For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night.
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Somebody good
If you have somebody
good you better put your pride
to the side and give it your all.
There aren't too many good ones
available these days.
Anger
by Justin Holcomb
Anger is not a sin.
It's actually a really good
response to being sinned
against. Justice and holiness
is who God is. God is
angrier than you are.
Best quote
Best quote I've heard today:
"As a parent, it's my priority to help you get into Heaven, not Harvard."
"As a parent, it's my priority to help you get into Heaven, not Harvard."
Keep going
Keep going. No matter how stuck you feel. No matter how bad things are right now. No matter how many days you've spent crying. No matter how hopeless and depressed you feel. No matter how many days you've spent wishing things were different. I promise you won't feel this way forever.
Keep going.
Keep going.
Carry you to
by Toby Mac
You see what I carried you through? Wait until you see where I carry you to.
You see what I carried you through? Wait until you see where I carry you to.
Way out
from Megan D. Cox
DIVORCE IS
The agonizingly painful, yet
sometimes very necessary, way out
of abuse.
Start over
Start over, my darling.
Be brave enough to find the
life you want and courageous
enough to chase it. Then start
over and love yourself the
way you were always
meant to.
-Madalyn Bock
Nice
It is nice to be told
you're beautiful or hot
or whatever,
but I'd love to hear
someone say that I
make things easier, that
they're happy I exist,
they don't know what to
do without me, I'm
strong, that they hope
we never lose each
other, that they're
proud of me, that I have
something to offer.
Compliments don't
always have to be about
appearance.
you're beautiful or hot
or whatever,
but I'd love to hear
someone say that I
make things easier, that
they're happy I exist,
they don't know what to
do without me, I'm
strong, that they hope
we never lose each
other, that they're
proud of me, that I have
something to offer.
Compliments don't
always have to be about
appearance.
Don't forget
You are a strong
woman who has overcome
battles most can't even
imagine.
Don't forget that.
Didn't love her
You didn't love her
You just didn't want to be alone.
Or maybe, she was just good
for your ego, or maybe she made
you feel better about your miserable
life, but you didn't love her.
Because you don't destroy people you love.
Showing
I think a guy fighting for his relationship and showing his feelings is more attractive than someone who acts like they couldn't care less.
His time
A rich man buying you something means nothing,
but a busy man giving you his time means everything.
but a busy man giving you his time means everything.
Mentally abused
Pretty sure I've seen this before, but worth repeating...
Someone who has been mentally abused will:
-Constantly apologize
-Hide their feelings in fear of upsetting you
-Break down during small disagreements thinking it will explode
-Need a lot of reassurance
Someone who has been mentally abused will:
-Constantly apologize
-Hide their feelings in fear of upsetting you
-Break down during small disagreements thinking it will explode
-Need a lot of reassurance
All my heart
I don't have an amazing figure or a flat stomach. I'm far from being considered a model, but I'm me. I eat food. I have curves. I have more fat than I should. I have scars because I have a history. Some people love me, some like me, some hate me. I have done good. I have done bad. I love my pj's and I go without makeup and sometimes I don't get my hair done. I'm random and sometimes I say crazy things. I don't pretend to be someone I'm not. I won't change. And if I love you, I do it with all my heart.
Okay
Divorce is okay.
Breaking up is okay. Starting over
is okay. Moving on is okay. Being
alone is okay. What is not okay is
staying somewhere you are not
valued and appreciated.
Rose again
by Nausicaa Twila
She fell.
She crashed.
She broke.
She cried.
She crawled.
She hurt.
She surrendered.
And then...
She rose again.
She fell.
She crashed.
She broke.
She cried.
She crawled.
She hurt.
She surrendered.
And then...
She rose again.
Never dreamed
by Toby Mac
If God can remove
something you never
dreamed of losing,
trust that He can
replace it with
something you never
dreamed of having.
Hardest battle
Your hardest battle
is between what you know
in your head and what you
feel in your heart.
No matter
When two people
really care about each other,
they will always look for a
way to make it work, no
matter how hard it is.
Not your type
Sometimes
the ones that aren't your type
are the ones that change your
life and treat you right.
More psychology
Psychology says:
Go with the choice
that scares you the most,
because that's going
to help you grow.
Be her peace
It's beautiful how a woman can be in mental turmoil, yet still work, nurture her family and be giving to others. Don't burden her with lies and inconsistency. Be her peace so she can focus on healing.
Pretended
It hurts when
you realize you were never
really as important to
someone as they pretended
you were.
Hard pill
Do you want to know a hard pill to swallow? It's your fault if you get hurt by holding on to someone who has shown you time and time again that they're not good for you.
Monday, June 3, 2019
Dangerous
I know I have this written down from before, but bears repeating
She is dangerous when she is hurt. She can easily destroy everything around her, but she doesn't. Instead she destroys herself.
She is dangerous when she is hurt. She can easily destroy everything around her, but she doesn't. Instead she destroys herself.
Psychology
Psychology says:
When you are ignored
by a person whose
attention means the most
to you, the reaction in your
brain will be similar to
physical pain.
When you are ignored
by a person whose
attention means the most
to you, the reaction in your
brain will be similar to
physical pain.
Your potential
You're over here doubting yourself while so many people are intimidated by your potential.
Healthy boundaries
As you set healthy boundaries for yourself, you will lose some people in your life, but you'll also attract newer, healthier friendships with others who have their own healthy boundaries and respect yours. Pruning is hard, but critical for emotional health.