Tag: Delight in God

Hitting the Refresh Button On Our Discouragement

Are you feeling discouraged?

Are the challenges in your life overwhelming at times?

I believe hitting the Refresh button on our troubled souls can help.

We should focus on God’s promises and reflect on the evidence of His grace and blessings in our lives.

The truth of God’s word can help us shut out worldly distractions and discouragement.

The key? We must remember who we are in Christ.

Always, always, always, even when it pours. when it rains it pours

When It Rains

I remember a difficult time in my life several years ago. I had recently become a Christian, and it seemed like a lot of things were going wrong, all at once. The difficulties piled on, one right after the other.

My recovery from a terrible accident felt like it was taking forever. Keeping up with my job responsibilities was difficult. The heavy cast on my damaged leg was a constant reminder of the accident and the effect it had on my family.

I just felt…broken.

Isn’t it interesting how the devil attacks when we’re at our most vulnerable?

One evening my husband and I went to a Wednesday worship service at our church.

The praise music was great. It lifted my spirits to sing out loud with fellow believers.

I stood in line to receive the Lord’s Supper. When it was my turn, the deacon placed the wafer in my outstretched hands and said, “Remember, you are God’s masterpiece.”

I’ve never forgotten his words. It was the right encouragement and the precious reminder that I needed to hear at that moment.

“Remember, you are God’s Masterpiece.”

The Master Designer thought enough of me and my potential to send me into the world.

He thinks enough of you, too.

It’s up to us, along with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to delight in God and shine His light to the whole world.

You are God's Masterpiece

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A God-Sized Hug

Losing a Best Friend

It’s been a tough few days for us.

If you’ve ever had to put a dog down, one of your best friends, then you know how it feels.

Losing a best friendYou feel like you’ve been hit by a mack truck. The heartbreak lingers for a long, long time.

It happened just recently to my husband and I. Misty, one of our beloved family pets, had an enlarged tumor and wasn’t responding well to a last-ditch treatment. We tried everything to help her over the last few months. At 11 1/2 years old, we agreed with the vet that putting her through a painful surgery and risky recovery wasn’t a safe option. The day before we put her down, I had whispered to her to tell us when it was her time.

We woke up the next morning to find her suffering, and we just knew.

That horrible Saturday of her death, my husband and I were both in tears as we held her and talked to her during those final shots. It was excruciating to be there, but we wouldn’t have been anywhere else.

It Hurts to Lose a Best Friend

Our dogs are cherished family members to us. All it takes is a painful time like this to remind us that life is short and we should cherish our loved ones, whether they be human or a doted-on furry friend.

A God-sized hugMisty was full of personality. From her picture you can see what a beauty she was. Her coat was mostly white, but she had some patches of dark grey fur. After she was groomed, she would look like a big cotton ball.

Even though she’s gone, I see little reminders of our girl every day. A little tumbleweed of white fur comes out from behind a dresser when I’m vacuuming. Her pink collar and leash are still in our garage every time I go outside to get in my car. I see those and sigh. Memories of her stomping her feet demanding her dinner and chasing the other dogs in the backyard come flooding back.

A God-Sized Hug

I must tell you about something incredible that happened when we got home from that tear-jerking trip to the vet. This is one of so many examples of why I delight in God.

Call it coincidence if you want. For me though, it was grace.

My husband and I got home that awful morning and were comforting our other dogs. I heard the familiar notification sound that I had a new text on my phone. I went to check it. It was a sweet text from a friend of mine in Fort Worth saying that she was thinking about me AND that God had put me on her heart.

Wow.  🙂

Less than an hour later, a dear friend from Virginia texted me. Same thing – she said that God had put me on her heart so she texted me right after that.

What an extraordinary God we have.

25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. – Numbers 6:25-26, KJV, Public Domain.

Praising Him all the day long!

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Praying for Your Spouse

Hey, good-looking!married couple

That means you. 🙂

Sit down for a sec while I ask you an important question that all married couples need to ask themselves.

(p.s. This has nothing to do with who fell in love with whom, first! It’s funny the answers you get when you ask couples that question.)

No, the real question is …

Did you know that you should pray for your spouse every day?

I would love to be able to say that I do, but my honest answer is “sometimes I forget.”

Every day?

I’m lucky if I can remember where my reading glasses are.

I know that praying for my spouse is what God wants me (and you for yours) to do.

Even when they’re being a stinker?

Yes, even when they’re being stinker.  🙂

Praying for your spouse can happen almost anywhere. You can pray while you’re in bed at night, on your lunch hour, or in the car. How about in the bathtub?

Sure. Why not?

I am going to make a conscious effort to pray for my husband every day from now on.

Appreciate your spouse

Ideas About What to Pray

Here’s a little guideline:

  • Your spouse’s relationship with the Father.
  • That he/she will make wise decisions during the day.
  • That he/she will keep the faith and avoid temptations.
  • Pray that he/she will have a good day at their jobs.
  • Pray also that you will be a better listener and partner to your spouse.

Please commit to praying for your spouse. It’s the right thing to do.

After all, your spouse is a gift from God.

Delight in God and Delight in Your Spouse

Praying for your spouse

When’s the last time you told your spouse how much you appreciate him or her? Just a simple and heartfelt expression like, “I’m blessed to have you in my life.”

Then, if you really want to put some icing on the cake, why not add,

“You SURE ARE good-looking!”

Trust me.

It works.

You’re welcome.  🙂

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Creation’s Splendor and Delight In God

Creation’s Splendor and Take Delight In The Lord

God’s gracious gift, beauty unparalleled.

We don’t worship creation itself, of course, but we can and should thank God for this beautiful gift.

God Created Creatures of the Sea and Every Living Thing

Have you ever seen a Mandarinfish? It was new to me until one day when I was doing an internet search on amazing animals, I saw a photo.

Here’s a picture if you’ve never seen one. Look at that little guy. Those colors are gorgeous! Only the Master Creator can design a beautiful creature like that.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Synchiropus_splendidus.jpg/256px-Synchiropus_splendidus.jpg

Photo courtesy of: By Gdiggers (Own work),© 14 July 2012, “Green mandarin in a reef aquarium”,  [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Synchiropus_splendidus.jpg

Thank You God for the Splendor of Your Works!

Creation's splendor and delight in God

It’s sometimes hard to put into words my appreciation for the magnificence of God’s palette of brilliant colors, but I wanted to share a lovely poem that comes close to doing that. It’s from a fellow Christian writer and it’s called “When I Look Around.” I hope it blesses you as much as it did me.

 

When I Look Around
By Deborah Ann Belka

Lord, when I look all around,
I see all You have made
I see the beauty in the sunrise
and the splendor when it fades.

I see the majestic mountain peaks,
the hills brilliant, golden tops
I see the stars sparkle ever brightly
in a sky that never seems to stop.

Lord, when I look all around,
I see all the things You have done
I see everything I’m blessed with
and I am grateful for every one.

I see a warm and cozy home,
filled with all the love I need
I see the bounty on my full plate
and a Bible I can always read.

Lord, when I look all around,
I see the mercy You have given
I see the cross on Mount Calvary
and I’m thankful I am forgiven.

I see a world who doesn’t believe,
in the glory of Your grace
I see millions of lost people
who refuse to seek Your face.

Lord, when I look all around,
I see Your glorious splendor
and I pray more hearts to Your love
will truly yield and surrender!

~~~~~~~~~~~

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life”

King James Version
by Public Domain

Copyright 2016
Deborah Ann Belka
bdebby@hotmail.com
http://www.hiswingsshadow.com
 http://poetrybydeborahann.wordpress.com/
TO GOD BE THE GLORY! Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITER

# # #

 

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Delight In God With Cana’s Voice

Delight In God With Cana’s Voice – Christian Recording Artists 

What happens when three award-winning Christian vocalists decide to combine their talents into an impressive powerhouse trio – you get Cana’s Voice!

I’ve mentioned this before, but I love all types of Christian Music. When I hear great musicians perform, I can’t wait to add their music to my iPod.

Cana's Voice Sounds of Joy tourThis past Saturday, my husband and I attended the “Sounds of Joy” tour at our church. Cana’s Voice, piano virtuoso Stan Whitmire, and talented vocalist/comedian Mark Lowry delighted the crowd with their passionate performances.

I could have easily renamed the concert “An Evening of Joy”.

Talk about uplifting. I walked out of church singing.

Captivating Harmonies

I’d never heard Cana’s Voice before. Each individual member of Cana’s Voice – Taranda Greene, Doug Anderson of Ernie Haass and Signature Sound, and Jody McBrayer formerly of Avalon, are talented artists in their own right. I could list all of the awards and nominations they’ve won as recording artists since they started sharing their voices with the world, but this blog post would then be very, very long. 🙂

I was thrilled when they sang one of my all-time favorites, “Jesus Never Fails.” I’ve sung it in choirs before and this heavenly song gives me goosebumps every time.

Close your eyes and listen. Let the beautiful harmonies and words sink into your soul. I’m sure you’ll be blessed by it as much as I am.

Have you ever sung a song in church and found yourself shedding a few tears because it’s so powerful and beautiful? I have.

It’s no wonder that TaRanda wiped away some tears while singing this song. I felt it too just being in the audience. When you simply let go and lose yourself in a love song to God, something amazing happens. Let the words of praise and lovely melodies fill every part of you and you can experience a lot of peace.

I was able to buy the limited pre-release of the Cana’s Voice CD at the concert. There are seven songs on the CD. It will be available in music retail outlets in late May of this year. I have a feeling it will be a success. How could it not?

For more information about the “Sounds of Joy” tour with Cana’s Voice, you can click their social media here:  

Website: http://canasvoice.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Canas-Voice-1544640015826556/

Twitter: @canasvoice

Be blessed this week, delight in our amazing God, and may you keep His songs in your heart.

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