Thank you all so much for following “Today’s Encouraging Thought!” It is a blessing to hear ‘your’ encouraging feedback and I am truly more blessed by you than you can imagine. In light of the verse below, I believe the Lord is inviting me to take a little time off from ‘daily posts’ to rest in Him, reflect on all He has done and listen for what is next. If that is something that resonates with you, I invite you to take a break and visit a quiet place as well. Either way, I will see you back here in a few weeks. Have a blessed January.

P.S. I should also mention that this was not an easy decision, and I do believe it is important to ‘not’ fall off the face of the planet as far as communication goes, so I will continue to use “Messenger” and email! :):) I will miss you all!

Only the Lord knows His plan and He has promised to give us a future and a hope! We are to simply look to Him, listen to Him and follow His lead. I can’t think of a better way to begin and live out this New Year! I pray this will be so for you today and always!🙏🏻💖

There is no better feeling than to end one year and begin another with a heart that is resting and settled, united with the Father through His Son Jesus Christ…the One who makes our sins white as snow! Thank You, Lord!!!

God says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Me.” He responds to our faith…not simply what He can do for us, but who we believe He is. As we prepare our hearts to enter 2019, this is a great time to ponder and affirm who God is to us…with faith!

Our own sin, failures and mistakes can weigh us down and render us useless, but Jesus came to redeem us…to set us free from the weight of our sin and shame. When we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us and, yes, to break every chain!!!

A few bits of Christmas-wrap, tissue paper and ribbons are the visible reminders of a long-anticipated, joyful Christmas Day celebration…and with it, we have the comfort and joy of knowing the ‘True Gift of Christmas’ is with us yesterday, today and forever!

The angel delivered the most amazing gift to Mary, wrapped in a promise, and she willingly believed and trusted that the Lord would unwrap and fulfill it. Thus, she was called blessed, and surely she was as she kissed the cheek of her infant Son and Savior!

Mary’s faith was strong because of Who she put her faith in – the God of the Universe, the Father of all Creation! She believed the Angel’s promise and God miraculously empowered her to conceive, carry and bare His precious Son, the Savior of the world!

Sweet as it was, Jesus came for more than this blessed birth, He came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. God’s perfect Son lived a perfect life and gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Precious Lamb of God, how eternally grateful we are!

Good news can be wonderfully surprising and, surely, it was all that and more for the shepherds when they heard of our Savior’s birth from a host of ANGELS! Yes, Jesus is still the Good News to all who welcome Him into their hearts and lives.

All of God’s promises are fulfilled in and through His Precious Son Jesus. His Word held true then, it is true now and it will hold true forevermore. Praise God He came to be with us now, to the very end of the age and throughout all eternity! Hallelujah to the King!

“Wonderful Couselor, the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God is He; Saving me and keeping me for all eternity. How can I help but give Him all my heart, live for Him alway? He is the Mighty God, the KING OF KINGS! Christ Jesus is His Name!” Ruth E. Turnwall, C.E.F.

Mary was chosen to carry the promised Messiah….and even as she faced the trials of unwed motherhood, she knew it was  a great privilege. Thus, she rejoiced and glorified the Lord regardless of the repercussions! Yes, with God, nothing is impossible, even this!

God created the rising of the sun to come packed full of the promises of a new day, as does every promise He spoken to us in His Word. Mary was called blessed because she believed, and we who believe will be too!

The wise men gave us a wonderful example of the true Spirit of Christmas. Before they presented their gifts they presented themselves to the newborn King. We quickly forget the things wrapped in pretty packages, but we never forget the presence of loved ones!

Some have counted that the Bible says not to fear 365 times, one for each day of the year. Sometimes we need to remember this 365 times a day! The angel’s announcement may have made it one of those days for Mary…And we know how wonderful that turned out!

The One who came to bring peace on earth and goodwill to all men knows when our minds and lives reel out of control, and He will give us peace that passes all understanding even in the midst of chaos. Simply focus and trust…you have a Helper!

This season pulses with racing hearts rushing to the next event, waiting in long lines and sitting in traffic jams. And so it was amidst the chaos of tax collecting in Bethleham…there was no room for the Savior but room was made, and may it be so with us!

Do you know that God lavishly loves you? Give yourself the gift of His love this Christmas! He is patiently waiting for you to see and know it. Bathe in it, wear it, inhabit it as a beloved son or daughter of the Most High God! His love for YOU endures forever!

Sometimes this joyous season can also be one of the most difficult times of year, especially after the loss of a loved one. But even in this, our Savior promises to comfort and bless us… Ah yes, He is the Promised One, Emmanuel, God with us!

Christmas is a time for new decorations, new ugly Christmas sweaters, new recipes and new traditions! And the ‘Ancient of Days’ came to make all things new in our hearts and lives…His love, grace, mercy and faithfulness are beautiful and new very morning!

Passing love on to one another all began with the Father’s love for His Son Jesus, who passed it on to us. Love is the greatest gift we can give anytime of year, but this season brings on new meaning as we celebrate the Love of God coming down in human form.

El Roi, the God Who Sees, was with Hagar – a used, abused, rejected handmade – and so He is with us in our trials…and blessings! He compassionately sees and, yes, He is with us…to comfort, strengthen, guide, protect, forgive and LOVE us! He sees!

As the angel announced to Joseph, Jesus would be called Emmanuel, God With Us. He is the Living Word, the walking, talking, living image of the Most High God…as is His Holy Spirit that lives within us. He IS God With Us, and will be forevermore!

It’s been said that laughter is the sweetest music that ever greeted the human ear. God’s children laughed and talked so joyfully that it brought Him glory! How incredible would it be if we – especially during this Christmas season – laughed contagiously!!?!

He is Wonderful in all He sacrificed for our salvation, our Couselor to guide our lives, our Mighty God who is powerful beyond our imagination, our Everlasting Father for all eternity and the Prince of Peace who redeems our souls and restores our lives.

Someone once said, “Attutude is every thing, pick a good one!” And we certainly can choose to be grateful or grumpy…or during this season, we can choose humbug or hallelujah! 🙂 How much better to lift our souls in joyous praise to the Lord…and who knows, it might just be contagious!

We can approach the Throne of Grace expectantly every morning. It is there that we will find love, compassion, grace, mercy and help flowing from the very heart of God! Each day, His faithfulness is as new, crisp and fresh as a long walk after a good rain!

Rest may be the farthest thing from our minds during this busy season, but it is singnificant to our attitudes, energy and productivity. As we rest in the Lord, in His Word and in communion with Him, He restores it all! Rest!

Thank God He doesn’t love us because we do everything right, He loves us because we are His children. We receive God’s amazing love, grace and mercy by faith in His Son, and since we can’t earn His Gift of love and affection, we can’t lose it either!

God is working His purposes and His grace in daily lives. From before the beginning of time itself, nothing has ever or will ever surprise our eternal all-knowing, ever-present, all-powerful God. He knew all about today yesterday, and He was already here!

To see it is to believe it…a lake as smooth as glass, a mountain higher than the clouds, Niagra Falls or the Grand Canyon. It is much the same with our Savior, as we explore His Word, His Story…. Once we truly see HIM, we believe!

The world calls us to insecurity, judgment and fear, but God calls us to know Him…to know He loves us and that He is the Protector of our bodies, souls and spirits, the Keeper of our mercy, peace and love in abundance! And that is security!

Dear Followers, I am so thankful for you! On this day and every day, ‘Thank You’ is the not-so-secret password into God’s presence. We enter the very courts of His heart as we speak praise to Him, worship Him and sincerely thank Him! Happy Thanksgiving!!

The Lord has done great things and He is worthy of all glory, honor and praise. It is an awesome privilege to worship Him with thanksgiving, and to make His glorious Name and His wondrous deeds known among the nations, beginning right where we are!

We have so much to be thankful for even in the midst of pain, rejection, failure or loneliness…. We have a Heavenly Father who is head-over-heals in love with us just as we are and hides us under the shelter of His everlasting arms. We are safe in HIM!

GOD is faithful, God IS faithful, God is FAITHFUL! When the pain, need or desire is so great, we have to remind ourselves of this truth! Regardless of how long it may be taking for that prayer to be answered or that dream to come true, HE IS FAITHFUL!!!

God’s love is everlasting and His mecies never cease. Even the sheer delight of smelling the turkey roasting and tasting the blend of spices in the dressing are blessings from Him. We have so much to be thankful for…best of all , hearts to know HIM!

Our names are engraved on the palm of His hand, written on His heart, and ‘we’ are blessed to have His Word in our hands and to carry it within our own hearts. What a gift, to have this kind of relationship with the God of the Universe through His Son!

God our Savior not only rescues us from our sin, but continues to redeem us every day! As the Lover of Our Souls, He continualy guides us in His truth, gives hope to our hurting hearts, restores strength to our bodies and revitalizes our spirits…as we hold onto Him!

“Who am I that you are mindful of me, That you hear me, when I call? Is it true that you are thinking of me? How you love me, it’s amazing (Who am I Lord). I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God, He calls me friend!” —Israel Houghton

Mercy is not getting what we do deserve. How grateful we can be for God’s extravagant love, His boundless grace and His compassionate mercy toward His beloved sons and daughters who cry out to Him for help.

It never ceases to amaze…how putting a new worship song to our God on our playlist – and ultimately in our hearts – can change the way we look at Him, ourselves and others, and how ‘that’ affects how others see God through us! All because of worship! Wow!

God is no respecter of people. As soon as we welcome His Son into our lives, HE welcomes us into HIS family, the abundant life now and the eternal home HE has prepared for us in heaven. Everyone is welcome at God’s table of love, grace and mercy!

Our Father wants to be our Joy and Cheerful Delight even in the midst of our struggles. By faith, we can trust and choose joy in Jesus Name by giving ourselves permission to be happy and thankful in the now, knowing He will make all things beautiful in His time!

Often times, loving one another can be downright difficult! But we have a constant example, the Lover of our souls. And as we look to the LORD, all He has done for us and how He loves us unconditionally, we won’t have to try because His love will simply flow.

God sees our attitude while we wait. He knows we are waiting and what we are waiting for, and He simply asks that during that time we find our rest and hope in Him…that we don’t grow weary or lose heart, but that we trust and strengthen ourselve in Him alone!

God’s Word is packed full of promises, and the most vital promise to apply before all the others is this…. Call on the Name of Jesus Christ to save us from our sin and shame and we won’t maybe or kind of be saved, we will be saved! Grace and mercy reign!

God desires nothing more than to meet with us face to face, and He is always there…everywhere. It is our choice to accept the sheer privilege of opening the line of communication with Him and walking in His presence throughout the day!

Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world… Our Lord is the Final Authority, the Vindicator of every accusation brought against us, the Defender from every foe we will ever face, the Victor in every battle we encounter! Our Lord is for us!

When we see our deep need and come to the Lord with our emptiness, thirst and helplessness, it is then that we find His richest blessings! He fills our emptiness, quenches our thirst and helps us in every way as no other ever could or can!

Who else overwhelms and amazes people, and of whom can we say, “He has done everything well?” Everything? There is only One, the Lord Himself!

As much as we each desire to love and be loved, trust and be trusted, life teaches us that the Lord is the only One that is truly infallibly righteous, perfect and faithful in all His ways and in everything He does…and He is more than enough!

Confidence in God’s love for us is as vital on the peaks of victory as it is in the valleys of despair. We have either felt the power of His hand in the past, are clinging to Him in the present or will in the future. His loving hand ever envelops our own!

We are sheltered by His love, He is with us through every twist, turn, up and down. “He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, That shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depths of His love, And covers me there with His hand…” —Frances J. Crosby

God is the perfect, complete answer to every one of our deepest needs. When this truth is rooted deeply within the chasms of our hearts and minds, we will walk it, talk it and breathe it through every part of our lives. He is the whole answer to everything!!

Corporate worship is an outpouring of personal worship – something we can do every day and in any place – brought together for the glory of God and the fellowship of believers! Though meant for Him, it is amazing how much it lifts and blesses us too!

The Lord’s comfort and compassion in our lives is something worth shouting, rejoicing and singing about. As the heavens sparkle with joy, the earth rejoices with creation itself and mountains sing at the blowing of the wind…all to the glory of God!

Faith is like driving a car. If we look back to where we’ve been, we may end up in a ditch, or worse! But as we keep our eyes on the road ahead, holding onto God’s promises, we will arrive at the destination He has mapped out for us. He is faithful and His way is sure!

When Deception and Dismay lurk in the shadows, we can trust Grace and Mercy – our lifelong, faithful Companions – to dwell with us in the house, follow us wherever we go, and protect us from the enemy’s threats everyday of our lives and forevermore!

God binds His love and faithfulness to our hearts through the covenant He signed upon our hearts with the blood of His Son. Once we enter into agreement with Him that we need a Savior, His love and faithfulness will never leave us…NEVER!

No matter how long or challenging the journey through this life may seem, and regardless of the detours we may take at times…our Lord, the Great Covenant Keeper, is ever true to His Word and keeps His promises for those who seek Him!!

King David celebrated the presence of the Lord God Almighty with unbridled worship, playing to an Audience of One! Jesus is ‘God with us’ every minute of every day, and that is reason enough to celebrate Him. Ahhh, to do so with unbridled worship and praise!!

God said of His Word, “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Yes, hearts that are bathed in the water of His Word will certainly flourish like a saturated garden at winte’s end!

Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains! Without it, we cannot believe that we have a Father God in heaven who loves us, or His Son who sacrificially died for our sin, or His Holy Spirit who is ever with us. Yes, a little bit of faith is HUGE!

God’s thoughts…who can know them all? No one, but we can all learn some, and continue learning. Like an open jar, as opposed to a closed one, opening our minds and hearts to His thoughts allows us to grow and overflow with His knowledge and beauty!

What a way to begin the day…taking our eyes off of our weakness, failures and problems and focusing on God’s strength, love and protection! Praise and worship to our Lord and Savior is infused with power to lift our very souls as high as the sun rises in the sky!

Battling unbelief is nothing to be ashamed of, nor is it anything new. Even those who met the Savior face-to-face struggled to believe. As with wisdom, we can ask for help to believe…like the man who said, “Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief.”

We can remind the enemy of his ultimate failure because God’s ultimate victory over sin, death and the grave was won at the empty tomb! So whatever the enemy attempts to do in our lives is under the Final Authority of our Risen Savior, who is our Victory!!