Below is an e-mail I sent out to some people in my life that I felt God wanted me to encourage with what He is teaching me. As you read, may you find encouragement as well.
.... what He has encouraged me with over the last several days. Hebrews 3:13-14 says, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."
Paul, in his message on Sunday through God's word, challenged us with 1Thess. 5:16-18 which says "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." The part that has really been speaking to me is verse 17 which says "pray continually". I am coming more and more convinced that prayer is like breathing for me. When I stop, I literally start stressing out and it is like I am gasping for air because I do not have clarity of thought or mind, which I know God says he gives me when I am trusting in Him (Is. 26:3)
As I was driving on Tuesday, I listened to Family Life Today and it was on praying BIG for your children. It was a great program. I am sending you the link and encourage you to take the time and listen to it. http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/FamilyLife_Today/archives.asp?bcd=2010-1-5
The other part was at New Community last night as Julie lead us in the song, "Hosanna". The words..."I see a generation, rising up to take their place with selfless faith. I see a near revival stirring as we pray and seek, we're on our knees, we're on our knee's". Those words again struck a chord within me to continue to pray on behalf of my boys and husband in a great way that they would truly "love the Lord with ALL their heart, and because they love HIM, they desire to serve HIM ALL their days". This is the prayer I pray for them and I do pray BIG for my boys that they would be change agents in the "worlds" that they live in and the people they come in contact with. I pray that God would put a protective hedge about them and also bring other Godly people into their lives that can encourage and walk along side them. This is the generation that God wants to use, can use, will use and I believe is using to reach the world with His Gospel and message of Jesus Christ.
The link to that song is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXCoHxX1OC8
I encourage you to click on this link as well and allow it to minister to you as it did to me.
Again, I pray that you will be encouraged today as you read this and seek God with a whole, pure heart. May each of us be on our knees in prayer seeking how God would desire to order our days in order to bring Him glory.
If any of you missed or are out of town and would like to hear Paul's sermon from Sunday, you can log onto www.thecommunityatlakeridge.com and go to "Media" then click onto "Podcast" you can listen to the sermon right there. The series is going to be really good!! Take the opportunity and be a part of the entire series if you can!!
May your Heart be gladdened today!
--
Darla Swiggart
Romans 15:5-6
.... what He has encouraged me with over the last several days. Hebrews 3:13-14 says, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."
Paul, in his message on Sunday through God's word, challenged us with 1Thess. 5:16-18 which says "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." The part that has really been speaking to me is verse 17 which says "pray continually". I am coming more and more convinced that prayer is like breathing for me. When I stop, I literally start stressing out and it is like I am gasping for air because I do not have clarity of thought or mind, which I know God says he gives me when I am trusting in Him (Is. 26:3)
As I was driving on Tuesday, I listened to Family Life Today and it was on praying BIG for your children. It was a great program. I am sending you the link and encourage you to take the time and listen to it. http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/FamilyLife_Today/archives.asp?bcd=2010-1-5
The other part was at New Community last night as Julie lead us in the song, "Hosanna". The words..."I see a generation, rising up to take their place with selfless faith. I see a near revival stirring as we pray and seek, we're on our knees, we're on our knee's". Those words again struck a chord within me to continue to pray on behalf of my boys and husband in a great way that they would truly "love the Lord with ALL their heart, and because they love HIM, they desire to serve HIM ALL their days". This is the prayer I pray for them and I do pray BIG for my boys that they would be change agents in the "worlds" that they live in and the people they come in contact with. I pray that God would put a protective hedge about them and also bring other Godly people into their lives that can encourage and walk along side them. This is the generation that God wants to use, can use, will use and I believe is using to reach the world with His Gospel and message of Jesus Christ.
The link to that song is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXCoHxX1OC8
I encourage you to click on this link as well and allow it to minister to you as it did to me.
Again, I pray that you will be encouraged today as you read this and seek God with a whole, pure heart. May each of us be on our knees in prayer seeking how God would desire to order our days in order to bring Him glory.
If any of you missed or are out of town and would like to hear Paul's sermon from Sunday, you can log onto www.thecommunityatlakeridge.com and go to "Media" then click onto "Podcast" you can listen to the sermon right there. The series is going to be really good!! Take the opportunity and be a part of the entire series if you can!!
May your Heart be gladdened today!
--
Darla Swiggart
Romans 15:5-6
