Archives

Today’s Encouraging Thought…

Aug10

Stand still and see the Lord Himself fight your battles…just as He has promised. Don’t let tomorrow’s challenges discourage you, but fearlessly trust HIM! You are not alone, your loving God goes before you, He defends you and is with you as you face the day!

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Please enjoy “Your Love Defends Me” by Matt Maher…

Today’s Encouraging Thought…

Aug5

No matter where we’ve been, what we’ve done or what we’ve become, we can always go home. The LORD is waiting, running toward us with outstretched arms, ready to celebrate. He says “Come to the table…take your place beside the Savior…”

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Please enjoy this music video, Come to the Table, by Sidewalk Prophets (quoted above)…

Today’s Encouraging Thought…

Apr14

Whatever the struggle – relational, financial, physical, etc. – we can put our full trust in our Faithful Victor! As we pray, rest, watch and wait with the utmost confidence in Him, we will see the Lord is our sure victory! Grace wins every time!

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This song inspired the last sentence of Today’s Encouraging Thought… Here is Matthew West with Grace Wins. Enjoy!

Today’s Encouraging Thought…

Mar17

The same miracle working God who has delivered us time and time again will not only sustain us through every challenge and battle, but will also give us renewed joy in the jungle of life! He is faithful, He is good all our days! Just a reminder!

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I hope you can take the time to listen to the meaningful lyrics of “Even If” by MercyMe…

Today’s Encouraging Thought…

Jan31

God wants us to be cross-conscious, to see Jesus who willingly died for us on the cross because He loves us so much. This is where God demonstrated His deep mercy and amazing grace!!

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This song has been around for a while, but the words still speak the beautiful truth of Jesus’ sacrifice for our souls. I hope you enjoy “Above All” by Michael W. Smith…

 

Don’t Ever Let Anyone Dull Your Sparkle!

Jan23

This past weekend I enjoyed a wonderful artsy-craftsy convention in Phoenix, AZ with a very artistic friend of mine. During our stay, we just had to visit a couple of Cracker Barrel Restaurants and Gift Shops because there are none in So Cal! Since this amazing comfort food has quite a draw, there was also a bit of a wait, so we decided to shop before we ate instead of after…when I just happened upon this little plaque! I loved it so much, I bought two – one for me, one for my friend.

7F206E27-9086-40FE-9215-DD65DF244ACFDistributed by CBOCS Distruibution, Inc.

So much truth to be found in these few words… “Don’t ever let anyone dull your sparkle.” When Jesus comes into our hearts and lives, we have His life in us…ready, willing and able to shine the Light and Love of God to a world in need. As a couple of song writers put it, “God put a million, million doors in the world for his love to walk through, one of those doors is you.” *

Of course, if you’ve been waking with the Lord for any length of time, you know this comes with challenges because He and we have a very real enemy…an enemy that will use anyone and anything to take our minds, hearts and actions away from “Sparkling with the Love of Jesus!”

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: —1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ (KJV)

In my experience, he tends to use whatever means the most to us, whatever we are most passionate about…our spouse, our kids, our job, our boss, our closest co-worker, our health, our ministry, our past and/or present sins, you name it. The best I can figure is that because our souls are completely saved by God’s grace and out of the enemy’s reach (that battle lost), he will use anything to get us down, discouraged, disheartened and depressed to render us useless for the cause of Christ. Simply put, he can’t have our souls, so he goes for our minds. Our souls are secure, we are already seated (at rest) in Christ Jesus.

…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. —Romans‬ ‭3:24‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, —‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:6‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

Yes, our souls are saved, seated and at rest, so all the enemy can do is upset the apple cart by waging war with our minds, this earthly house, and his tactics are grossly inferior tools in his wicked, deceptive hands! But oh, how he can run amok at times! Thankfully, he is NOT, by ANY stretch of the imagination, more powerful than HE who is in us, nor is he the final authority! Hallelujah, we have an Advocate Who IS the Final Authority over ALL these things!

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” —1 John‬ ‭2:1 (KJV)

May our weary, battle-ridden minds always remember to lay it all down at the foot of the cross and cry out for HELP to our Most Faithful God! He is the One Who saved us by His grace when we first trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ! And He hears us and strengthens us to go forward in unruffled trust as Jesus did.

…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” —‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1b-2‬ ‭(KJV‬‬)

If you have a Mama Bear or Papa Bear that rises up inside of you on behalf of those you love, you can know He does as well! His Papa Bear goes to battle in Heavenly Realms where the real war for our minds and sparkle wages! From His heart of love, mercy and grace…a LOVE that died for our very souls…He shines forth victorious because HIS LOVE truly does conquer all…over and over again!!

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:57‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

So next time that wicked enemy endeavors to mess with your mind and dull your sparkle…regardless of what he uses…cry out to Jesus, the very LOVER OF YOUR SOUL! HE won’t ever let anyone or anything dull your SPARKLE! HE is the victory and will shine through you and me in and out of the every battle of this life.

So…before the battle, SPARKLE! In the battle, SPARKLE! After the battle, SPARKLE. And wherever you are, whatever you are doing right now, today…by all means, SPARKLE!!!

Please enjoy this music video “With Every Act of Love” (*quoted above), by Jason Gray…

New International Version (NIV) © 2011-2016 BIBLICA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE
King James Version (KJV) ©Crown Copyright in UK
All other ©Celebrate His Love, 2018

Today’s Encouraging Thought…

Jan15

If we can share God’s Word though we are afraid, live whole lives though we are broken inside, walk in strength though we are weak and love others sincerely though we ourselves don’t always feel lovable, then oh yes, JESUS IS STILL AMAZING!

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It has been a while, but I did post this video once before…and now I just can’t help myself, it is SO good! So here it is again: “What Life Would Be Like” by Big Daddy Weave. Enjoy!

Today’s Encouraging Thought…

Dec25

Today’s encouraging thought… He is all this and so much more…from the cradle to the cross, rising again, living in our hearts and ever-present in our lives!! What a Savior, what a Lord, what a King!!! Merry Christmas!

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This is such an all-encompassing Christmas song… I do hope many will take the time to listen and watch “How Many Kings” sung by Downhere… Enjoy!

P.S. I am not what you’d call a weepy woman, but this one moved me to tears… When my heart melts, my eyes do leak. We are so blessed to have and know ‘THIS’ ONE AND ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!!! ❤️✝️🎁

Today’s Encouraging Thought…

Oct17

Everything the Lord pulls us through increases our trust in His faithfulness, wonders, praiseworthy deeds and the dynamite power of His love so we can tell the next generation….and the next…and the next…etc.!

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God’s love truly is dynamite powerful!! Please enjoy this beautiful worship song, “The Power of Your Love” by Hillsong…

Today’s Encouraging Thought…

Sep19

The One who made the lame walk and the blind see still works miracles, and He can fix whatever cripples you and me.

Note: I just love the joy on this girls face… Life may have crippled her legs but not her heart. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Prov. 4:23 Oh, to really get this down to the core! Let’s pray it through for each other!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 In the love of Jesus… 💕✝️💕

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The words to this song take me deeper… “What Life Would Be Like” by Big Daddy Weave… Enjoy!

Today’s Encouraging Thought…

Jun18

Children find refuge in the arms of their Daddy’s…especially when their Daddy’s find their security in the LORD. Happy Father’s Day!

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Ultimately, we all need Him to be our refuge… there is no greater security than to rest under the feathers of our Giant, Amazing, Magnificent, Loving God.

I hope you enjoy the heartfelt lyrics and beautiful pictures in today’s video offering. It’s an oldie but a goodie… You Are MY Refuge by the Maranatha Praise Band:

It’s About the Cross

Apr16

This song says it all… Happy Easter!!!

It’s About The Cross – The Ball Brothers

It’s not just about the manger where the baby lay
It’s not all about the angels who sang for him that day
It’s not just about the shepherds or the bright and shining star
It’s not all about the wisemen who travelled from afar

It’s about the cross
It’s about my sin
It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It’s about the stone that was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It’s about the cross
It’s about the cross

It’s not just about the good things in this life I’ve done
Its not all about the treasures or the trophies that I’ve won
Its not about the righteousness that I find within
Its all about His precious blood that saved me from my sin

Repeat

The beginning of the story is wonderful and great
But it’s the ending that can save you
and that’s why we celebrate

It’s about the cross
It’s about my sin
It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It’s about God’s Son nailed to a tree
It’s about every drop of blood that flowed from
Him when it should have been me
It’s about the stone that was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
So that you and I could have real life someday
It’s about the cross It’s about the cross
It’s about the cross It’s about the cross

 

Hallelujah for the Cross

Apr15

Recently I’ve read a few articles about Easter Saturday, and when something crosses my path more than once it is cause for pause. Easter Saturday…a dismal day in the life of the grieving apostles who had no idea they would soon be so amazed on Sunday…even though Jesus had told them He would rise again. And would we have been any different?

Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”  ~Luke‬ ‭24:6-7‬

Before the reminder, I’m pretty sure they were not singing ‘Hallelujah for the Cross’ that Saturday. And, I must admit, it is an odd day for us in the twenty-first century as well, even though we know about Sunday. But if anyone felt the full depth and thrust of that Saturday long ago, it was Jesus Himself. I’ve heard a few opinions addressing what Jesus did during that time, but for simplicity sake let’s just say it was the day in between…in between death and life.

What is in between? For us it is nothing, we are either fully alive or fully dead. However, we can be living and feel dead inside. Maybe you’re there today…only, as with the apostles, instead of feeling like one day, it seems like an eternity. A dream has died…you’ve lost your job, your family is falling apart, you’re falling apart, you’ve lost a loved one, your health is failing, you’ve fallen back into an addiction , your house is in foreclosure, the lease is up on your car, you have a wayward child, or maybe, just maybe you are lonelier than you’ve ever been in your whole life. Easter Saturday touches us all.

But then, oh yes then…we must not forget Easter Sunday! The stone rolled away, the grave clothes lay flat, the tomb is empty…our Savior is alive! This fact, and this fact alone, is what gets us through every Easter Saturday in our lives. Because He lives, we can put every broken dream into His most capable hands. We can trust Him with every person, problem and situation…our jobs, families, deepest grief, health, addictions, finances, possessions, wayward children, and yes, even our own loneliness.

When my dad – my earthly hero, my Superman – died, that Easter Saturday lasted quite a while…until one day when the God-side of the plan arose and shined forth. Through my very emptiness, The Father of all time revealed Himself to me in a whole new light. I had a wonderful earthly dad, and his loss left a huge void, but God is an AMAZING Father!!! And I have to say this…HE is a way better Dad than my earthly father could ever be. He has used the grief, the void, the emptiness to draw me closer to Himself…closer to Jesus…than ever before! And of course, it is that first Easter Sunday that offers us the hope of seeing our loved ones again, so I hold on to hope, I hold on to Jesus. Where else can I go?

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ ~John‬ ‭6:68‬

As with Simon Peter, I have no need to look any further because the cross was not the end, nor was Easter Saturday…not then, not now. Easter Sunday is a REALITY! And we can truly thank and praise God for the cross, the tomb and Easter Saturday because we know what happened on Easter Sunday! In light of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Living Savior, we can confidently say (and sing) “Hallelujah for the Cross!”

I hope you enjoy today’s video offering… Hallelujah for the Cross by the Newsboys…

Hallelujah for the Cross by The Newsboys (Lyrics)

Up to the hill of Calvary
My Savior went courageously
and there he bled and died for me
Hallelujah for the cross

And on that day the world was changed
A final, perfect lamb was slain
Let earth and heaven now proclaim
Hallelujah for the cross

[Chorus:]
Hallelujah for the war He fought
Love has won, death has lost
Hallelujah for the souls He bought
Hallelujah for the cross

What good I’ve done could never save
My debt too great for deeds to pay
But God, my Savior, made a way
Hallelujah for the cross

A slave to sin, my life was bound
But all my chains fell to the ground
When Jesus’ blood came flowing down
Hallelujah for the cross

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, hallelujah
And when I breathe my final breath
I’ll have no need to fear that rest
This hope will guide me into death
Hallelujah for the cross

[Chorus x2]
Hallelujah for the cross
Hallelujah for the cross

http://www.metrolyrics.com/hallelujah-for-the-cross-lyrics-newsboys.html

All Scripture quoted from NIV® Copyright 2000 by Biblica, Inc.®

©Celebrate His Love, 2017

Because He Lives (Amen)

Apr11

When did Mercy call your name? The stories vary as much as do our place of birth and our height and weight…but no worries, I won’t go there! There are several pictures in the New Testament where Jesus called people by name… I think of Zacchaeus, a short man who climbed a tree to see Jesus, and as Jesus passed by He called him by name.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  ~Luke‬ ‭19:5‬

Zacchaeus knew he did not deserve such a visit, he was the chief tax collector, a sinner and judged harshly by religious leaders of that day. But Jesus sought him out and salvation came to him and his house. Mercy had called his name!

Then there is the woman caught in adultery. We don’t know her name but Mercy met her in the very midst of her sin and shame. It was a set-up, the Pharisees brought her to the temple courts where Jesus was teaching and said they had caught her in the very act of adultery. They had stones in the their hands, ready to kill her.

The law stated that both the man and the woman caught in adultery were to be stoned… Where was the man? The Pharisees weren’t concerned about the woman, they just wanted to trap Jesus. But Jesus was not concerned about their trap…He was only concerned for the woman.

He then stooped down and wrote something on the ground, He did it twice. We have no idea what He wrote, but we do know that every accuser dropped his stone and walked away. Then Mercy called her name, He only used her formal name, Woman, but it was the tone of Mercy that mattered most.

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”  ~John‬ ‭8:10-11‬

This woman could truly say, “I’m alive, I’m alive because He lives!” …and so can you and I! Amen?

I hope you enjoy today’s music video…


Because He Lives (Amen) – MATT MAHER

I believe in the Son
I believe in the risen One
I believe I overcome
By the power of His blood

Amen, Amen
I’m alive, I’m alive
Because He lives
Amen, Amen
Let my song join the one that never ends
Because He lives

I was dead in the grave
I was covered in sin and shame
I heard mercy call my name
He rolled the stone away

Amen, Amen
I’m alive, I’m alive
Because He lives
Amen, Amen
Let my song join the one that never ends

Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
Every fear is gone
I know He holds my life my future in His hands

Amen, Amen
I’m alive, I’m alive
Because He lives
Amen, Amen
Let my song join the one that never ends

Amen, Amen
I’m alive, I’m alive
Because He lives
Amen, Amen
Let my song join the one that never ends
Because He lives
Because He lives

SONGWRITERS
MATT MAHER, JASON INGRAM, ED CASH, CHRIS TOMLIN, DANIEL CARSON, BILL GAITHER, GLORIA GAITHER

PUBLISHED BY
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., ESSENTIAL MUSIC PUBLISHING, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP

Song Discussions is protected by U.S. Patent 9401941. Other patents pending.

Luke 19:5; John 8:10-11 – NIV® Copyright 2000 by Biblica, Inc.®

©Celebrate His Love, 2017

Forever

Apr10

Palm Sunday, the subtle reminder that Easter Sunday – better referred to as Resurrection Day – is next week. Yesterday a lot of Christians commemorated Palm Sunday, the day of Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. Some handed out palm leaves…I even saw one little guy on his way home from church toying with some palms formed into the shape of an elaborately woven cross. Elaborate, a good word to describe what happened that day…

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” ~John‬ ‭12:12-13‬

It was an elaborate display of passion and worship, and yet, less than a week later the same crowd passionately yelled “Crucify Him!” So what changed? We know it was not Jesus. So it had to be the hearts of the people. Jesus brought change, a new way of thinking…a ministry of love, compassion, grace and mercy that the keepers of the law did not exercise, nor understand.

If we think that living a moral life, doing what is right by our own standards, and loving people every day is going to earn us peace in this life and a place in heaven, we will be sorely disappointed… Not because there is anything wrong with any of that – believe me, those are all GREAT things – but we are fallible, we will never do it right 100% of the time. We (yes I!) mess up! And sometimes, to be frankly honest, I can do it BIG…a slip of the tongue, or should I say attitude? Insecurity? The old self? Oh my! 😱

Bottom line, we need a Savior, a Perfect, Flawless Sacrifice to take our place. We need someone who was successful at living the perfect life when our lives fail. We need mercy! We need grace! We need Jesus!

He came to take our place on the cross of suffering, the suffering we so deserved, knowing we could never ever accomplish perfection in ourselves. No matter how hard we try, no matter how hard we work, salvation always has been and always will be a free gift offered from the hand of the Father…the ultimate sacrifice of His One and Only Son.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  ~Romans‬ ‭6:23‬

As we get closer to the day we most commonly refer to as Easter Sunday, AND as we ponder the cross and the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior, AND as we contemplate all Jesus came to do for us, I plan to post a few songs that minister to my heart. Music has always had a powerful affect on my Christian walk and worship, and I sincerely hope these song choices will bless you as well.

Forever, sung by Kari Jobe, stood in the forefront today as I was pondering not only the short-lived worship the people of Jerusalem offered our Savior, but also my own weakness, and often short-lived spurts of righteousness. How thankful I am today that the love, faithfulness and righteousness of Jesus stands in deep and powerful contrast to our sin. And it was for this reason He came and overcame…for you and me…FOREVER!

KARI JOBE
Forever Lyrics
New! Tap highlighted lyrics to add Meanings, Special Memories, and Misheard Lyrics…
Play “Forever”
on Amazon Music
The moon and stars they wept
The morning sun was dead
The Savior of the world was fallen
His body on the cross
His blood poured out for us
The weight of every curse upon him

One final breath He gave
As Heaven looked away
The Son of God was laid in darkness
A battle in the grave
The war on death was waged
The power of hell forever broken

The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting
Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated

Forever, He is glorified
Forever, He is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive
He is alive

The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting
Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated

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Forever, He is glorified
Forever, He is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive
He is alive
Forever, forever

You have overcome
Your resurrected King
You have overcome the grave
You have overcome

We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
The Lamb has overcome

We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
The Lamb has overcome

We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
The Lamb has overcome

We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
The Lamb has overcome

We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
The Lamb has overcome

We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
The Lamb has overcome

Forever, He is glorified
Forever, He is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive
He is alive (Forever)

Forever, He is glorified
Forever, He is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive
He is alive

SONGWRITERS
ORLANDO JOHNSON, WRITER(S) UNKNOWN

PUBLISHED BY
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP

Song Discussions is protected by U.S. Patent 9401941. Other patents pending.
Terms of Use

John 12:12-13; Romans 6:23 ~ NIV® Copyright 2000 by Biblica, Inc.®

©Celebrate His Love, 2017

Even If

Feb27

Music speaks to our souls so deeply and this particular song brings John 6 to mind.

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

But without missing a beat, Simon Peter answered him…

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.

‭As you may or may not know, even with this strong resolve, Simon Peter slipped up a time or two, even to the point of denying three times that he knew Jesus at all. But Jesus didn’t leave him there, and later showered him with grace asking him if he, Peter, loved Him three times.

Peter answered each time with even greater conviction than before…

You know that I love you.

Jesus gave Peter a total do-over… I can’t tell you how many He has given me… and Peter went on to live out that love never denying his Lord ever again, even when it meant his own death. I have to think that on that day he may have said again,

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.

Oh Lord, give me, give each of us, that strong resolve to love You, serve You and trust You to the very end… Even if!

‭John 6:66-69, John 21 NIV® Copyright 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®