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Tag Archives: believe

Ponder It

25 Tuesday Jan 2022

Posted by encouragingem in Faith

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believe, encouragement, God, hope, Jesus, peace, promise, trust, truth

I recall many moments a sweet friend would give me an encouraging word and tell me to “ponder it.” She would always use that word…ponder. I had to look it up because it’s not a word I had ever used. The definition is to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply. Honestly, I was hesitant because quiet is not my style. Being an external processor I talk things out. My friend on the other hand is the epitome of quiet. She would say very little, but when she spoke you listened. Was I not suppose to talk about the things God has told me?

I’ve come to learn what she meant. What quiet looks like on the inside. How to process in the quietness of Gods presence. How to take what the Lord spoke and let it simmer in my heart like soup cooking over a low flame. Allowing time for the full flavor of it to get down deep where my heart becomes convinced. Considering the words before I speak them knowing how powerful they are. That both life and death are an option by what I speak to myself. Guarding the door of my heart carefully as to not let thieves come in and rob me of the truth.

I’ve come to learn there is a time for everything. A time to speak and a time to listen. I pray you hear me today and consider what the Lord has spoke to you. Keep the words close. Don’t allow others to bring their thoughts before you have your own. Don’t let the dream or vision get cloudy or muddied by opinions. Hold close to your heart what the Lord said and consider it a secret until the appointed time. Just like Mary and my friend Beth, believe in Him who has promised and it will come to pass. ❤️

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Comfort and Joy

24 Friday Dec 2021

Posted by encouragingem in Faith

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believe, encouragement, faith, God, grace, hope, Jesus, love, peace

The other day I woke up singing “oh tidings of comfort and joy” and for some reason it hasn’t left my heart as it’s still singing in me. I was sure there was a reason so I started to dig a little deeper.

“Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” Jeremiah 31:13 NIV

The verse speaks of what God will give us in place of something else. He is so good at that. He offers us what only he can give for what has impaired our hope. Our joy. Our healing. Our restoration. Our peace. Our mourning and sorrow can be felt by Him. Our pain is his pain. Our sorrow is his sorrow. He knows all to well the ache of the human heart in times of suffering. He promises to deliver and comfort us from the hand of things stronger than us. Anxiety. Grief. Disappointment. Pain and even death. God is the only one who could do a trade like that. This is what the angel spoke of “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. You and I are apart of “all” people.

He will give us comfort AND joy. I wrestled with this because of the grief in my heart lately. I desperately needed something and he saw fit to bring me both. The song in my heart confirmed it. He was saying “I will do this for you. I see, hear, and know you. My hands are stronger than the ones that threaten and consume you. I am Immanuel, God with you. Your comforter. Your Father. Your peace. Your joy.”

I don’t know where your heart is today, but I do know Gods heart towards you. It’s full of love, grace, mercy, comfort, and joy. He’s more than enough to fill the empty and broken places in you. This Christmas is more than the tangible gifts, it’s about the intangible that will heal and bless your soul. What a gift!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Peace over you and yours,

Emilie ❤️

One Day at a Time

20 Wednesday Mar 2019

Posted by encouragingem in Daily Truth, Encouraging, Faith, Hope

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believe, faith, hope, trust

The other day my alarm went off and panic set in. I was afraid of what the day would bring. Am I enough to handle it, whatever it is? As I laid there I felt this reassuring tug and the words “you got through Mike’s cancer, you can get through this.”

We try to tackle life all at once. We want the blue prints. The plan. And when we don’t have it we go bonkers with anxiety, stress and frustration.

As days go by and situations develop in ways we didn’t see coming we need more grace to live one day at a time. The unknowns of life. The anxiety of what needs to be done. The fear of ifs. The torment of how. Only Jesus can bring relief, peace, and help.

The enemy wants and needs you to believe that YOU have to figure it all out….today…right now. That my friends is a lie! Gods word says…So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. {Matthew 6:34} God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. {Psalm 46:1}

We may not have it all figured out and guess what we don’t need to. Can we be ok with that? Can we trust that Jesus has gone before us and will lead us into victory? Can we believe that his heart is for us even in all things?

My hope today is that yes, we can! We can be trusting, hopeful, and confident that we are not alone or without help. We can rest that one day at a time the Lord will equip us. Lead us. Protect us. We are in good hands friends.

Praying for y’all ❤️

Emilie

Let Go 

10 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by encouragingem in Daily Truth, Encouraging, Faith, Hope, Jesus, Prayer, Self Reflection

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answered prayer, believe, faith, hope, Jesus, Letting go

I recall a time when I was ok with the idea of being single forever. My track record of finding “Mr. So Not Perfect” was flawless. I was resolved that I could be single and be just fine. Really, I was good. I didn’t tear up watching chick flicks, it was allergies. My heart didn’t long for a relationship, that was heartburn. Nope, not going to that wedding, I have to wash my hair that day. Truth was my defenses were up and I didn’t want to go through what I went through before. My past was a reminder of all that could, would, and did go wrong.  So, I shut my heart up and nearly killed my hope. 

Are you stuck in a past defeat or situation that has left you hopeless for the future? Believing that nothing is going to change? If God, right now, answered your prayers could you believe and receive it, or would you be looking back and not notice all that is right in front of you? 

Well, I’m here to encourage you that it’s not to late to begin to look forward with hope and expectations of good. Our seasons of life will change and when they do we must be willing to let go of the past and embrace the new. If not, we risk forfeiting the blessings and the joy that comes with them. 

God will turn our situations around and when he does I’m gonna be ready!! I choose to empty my heart of painful memories, disappointments, and fears and be open to receive all the good he has for me. Yesterday is gone. Today is a new day, with new mercies. New grace. New blessings. New relationships. New jobs. New opportunities. New doors. New visions. New dreams. We can’t go back. There is nothing we can do about yesterday other than let it go. 

When I am tempted to lose my hope I will remember that I have been married for 18 years to a handsome, funny, brilliant, loving, and perfect guy for me. I would’ve settled for just handsome and loving but God is too good to let us settle for less than his best for us. My husband is a reminder to me that when I let go of yesterday and believe that God answers prayer and is true to his word…I get more than I ever asked for. Dare to believe God. Let go and get ready. I promise you, you won’t regret it! 

Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us.            

Ephesians 3:20 {AMP}

Get Ready! 

22 Friday Apr 2016

Posted by encouragingem in Daily Truth, Encouraging, Faith, Hope, Jesus, Prayer, Self Reflection

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believe, blessing, faith, favor, God, hope, winds of change

  
I pray a fresh wind would come and move you into the zone of favor and blessing. The challenging parts of life are necessary. They help us grow. If times were always good and easy we would never be forced to dig deeper, trust God, and move out of comfort and into character building. I don’t know what your last season {or current} has been like. If it has been anything like mine, it’s been dry, quiet, frustrating, and lots of growing pains. Good news…we are coming out!!! What lies behind you pales in comparison to what’s in front of you. Don’t stop! Keep going!! God has promised to finish what he started and you’re going to be on the receiving end for persevering! My friends, get ready, get ready, get ready, the wind is about to blow!! 

Prisoner 12/1/15 

01 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by encouragingem in Daily Truth, Encouraging, Faith, Hope, Jesus, Self Reflection

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believe, Emmanuel, faith, hope, Jesus, peace

  

I woke up this morning and I felt such a heaviness of sorrow. I had a bad dream and it almost ruined my day. I hate that! Immediately flashbacks of the past went scrambling through my mind and now the tears came flooding in. Not a great way to start the day out. 

As I layed there and gathered mysef I began to think of how grateful I am to be where I am today. Full of hope. Full of peace. Things were not always this way. I would have stayed there in a prison of fear. I would have allowed my thoughts and emotions to keep me bound. It seems like a lifetime ago that I was so wounded. I’ve learned to express my hurts and emotions to Jesus and not allow them to control me. Once I’ve exchanged turmoil for peace I can face the day with expectation of good. In my mind it’s not such a fair gift exchange but it is the way Jesus works. 

You see, once we get a taste of the goodness of God we are forever changed. He is no longer just a name on a page or stories in a book. We no longer cling to lies because truth has proven itself true. When doubt threathens to swallow us whole, his voice rescues us. When our past comes back to haunt us, he reminds us of who we are in him. We have been captured in a love so real, so strong, that it won’t let us go…ever! 

This love, again, reached out to me this morning reminding me that in all his splendor and glory, he has always been Emmanuel, God with me. Through every moment of my life. Good. Bad. Rich. Poor. Sickness and in health. I am bound by his faithfulness to me and he won’t ever let me go…never! 

No Broken Promises 

14 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by encouragingem in Daily Truth, Encouraging, Faith, Hope

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believe, faith, faithful, hope, Jesus, morning prayer, promise

  

Today will not be the day the Lord breaks his promise to you. Neither will tomorrow or the day after. He is unchanging and every word he has said is true. Every promise he has given will come to pass. Every ache you feel at this present moment is serving a far greater purpose. Your promise with process is nothing but an inheritance to be spent unwisely and wasted. Wait for it. Dwell there in that dry place. Even though it seems like nothing is growing there…you are! I pray Lord that everyone reading this will be infused with new hope and enduring faith. I pray that you, Lord,  remind them today of how faithful you are. Show them your goodness in their desert. Provide for every need. Illuminate their way. Strengthen them. It is not your intention that they die there. You will see them through this because of your promise!! Help us to believe again today! In Jesus name…Amen!! 

11 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by encouragingem in Daily Truth, Encouraging, Faith, Hope

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armor, believe, Jesus, liar, the devil is a liar, truth

  
If you knew someone to be a liar would you continue to believe a word they said? Sadly, we do it everyday, all day. The bible says the enemy {satan} is the father of lies. His sole purpose is to get us to believe every whisper he says in our ear; you’re not good enough, nothing will ever change, no one loves you, you can’t do that, quit so you don’t look like a fool. These are all lies!!! His primary cause is to draw us away from the truth of Gods word that says; We are overcomers, We are the righteousness of God, We are created for a purpose, Jesus loves us, We can do all things through Christ. We are told to put on the belt of truth because a belt secures our clothing and holds our weapons. It’s crucial that we believe and hold onto the truth of Gods word for our everyday life. For without it we are running into battle unequipped and looking like a fool with our pants on the ground. Honestly, nobody has time for that!! Lord may we discern your voice today above the lies and confusion. Open our ears to know your voice and may every lie of the devil be extinguished in Jesus name…Amen!!! 

Brave and Courageous

07 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by encouragingem in Daily Truth, Encouraging, Faith, Hope

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believe, brave, courage, hope, Jesus, psalm 31:24, strong

It’s Friday y’all; another week almost over. I’m not sure what you’ve be waiting and hoping for, but if you’re like me there are a few promises and dreams that have yet to come to pass. There is no easy way to wait after you’ve done all you could do. Waiting has to be the hardest thing to do when all hell seems to be breaking loose all around you. How do you hope when there is no shred of evidence that anything good is coming around the corner? The bible says to TAKE courage {Psalm 31:24}. Courage is the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. When we take courage we become courageous. You are convinced that what God tells you is true. You obey his word. You count on it. This takes courage!! To believe! To trust! To go forward! To pursue! The Lord calls us out when he gives a word that has yet to happen. He dares us to believe him. He draws us out beyond our borders of trust. We only intend to go as far as we can see but God intends to take us deeper where we can’t see. Walking out on his promise is our faith in action. Can we believe a little longer? Do we have enough hope for one more day? Are we courageous enough? Lord, I pray that courage would overtake us as we take another step closer towards you. You promised to never leaver or forsake us. You said that you are for us. You said that victory is ours. You said that your hope doesn’t disappoint. Lord, I stand with my brothers and sisters and believe with them that you will do what you’ve said. That you are our way maker. We believe! We trust! We are your courageous people!! In Jeus name…Amen!

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