Making a Difference One Person At a Time One Day At a Time
I love the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs! Common sense items that any one of us can actually use in our lives should we choose to implement them.
Here are some nuggets of wisdom that I hope will encourage you on your life’s journey.
What is your favorite nugget of Wisdom from Proverbs?
Charles Spurgeon said “Wherever you are, whatever your case, God will be with you.”
Have you ever simply just wrapped your heart in that thought?
Wherever I am…. God IS with me. No doubt about it.
When I’m on the mountain, He is there enjoying the fact that my heart is soaring!
When I’m walking through the valley, He is there…often carrying me because I lack the strength to simply go on.
When I’m burdened down with pain, questions and the fears that so easily paralyzes us, HE is there longing that we’d hand over every single weight that we try to carry.
When I’m praying for my children, for the courage for them to do His will, He is there, with HIS mighty arms wrapped around me.
When I’m looking forward to the ordinary joys of life, He is there basking in the delight that I’m sharing with Him.
When I’m faithfully serving the Lord, willingly following His direction for my life, He is there to guide and direct.
When I’m being stubborn and kicking against His will simply because of the unknown, He is there….patiently waiting for my childlike tantrum to end.
I remember my son preaching a few years back, reminding us that we should be so close to the Lord, that all we have to do is turn to Him….. simply t u r n.
Never, ever ever forget as you pray for your friend, child or family member that is away from the Lord, that He is also there with them too.
We may never understand why they have been away from God for so long, or why God just didn’t step in and immediately bring them right back, but one thing we can count on, is our Lord is always there for us.
Where are you right now? What is your heart facing?
Trust God
Be Encouraged
KNOW God is there with you right now!
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I love digging into the book of Psalms in the Bible. Full of raw emotion that every single one of us can relate to at any given time.
There is great praise and rejoicing there as well as great comfort for those times that life just beats you up on a daily basis.
Dear Christian, I hope that these 31 Verses will bring comfort to your heart. I purposely did not type out the verses for you. Take time to look them up, print them out and post them where you can be encouraged from them on a daily basis.
31 Psalms of Comfort
What is your favorite Psalm of Comfort?
Encourage others and leave it in the comments below.
Prayer for the discouraged
Father, please allow your discouraged child to wake up with a new determination and resolve that much like Abraham that he/she will have to courage to simply GO.
We don’t know the destination, but we know that you are with them every step of the way.
Thank you that your promise to meet all of our needs still ring true today.
Thank you that you are there…. In the midst of the unclear.
We love you and continue to trust you in Jesus name, Amen.
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Verses to encourage:
Are you or someone you know going through a time of discouragement? It happens to us all.
How do you comfort someone who is struggling on a daily basis?
How do you encourage someone who feels like God isn’t listening? What do you tell them?
My flesh and my heart ? faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Psalms 73:26 pic.twitter.com/97xwn0apHZ
— Marie Wikle (@spreadingJOY) July 10, 2016
To the Heart that is weary, look to the cross and know that you are not walking this journey alone
To the One that feels unloved, unwanted and invisible, look to the cross and know that you are worth dying for
To the Soul that feels God could never choose you because of all of the horrible things you’ve done, look to the cross and know that God doesn’t see our sins as big and small. To God, sin is sin, regardless of what it is and He choose to love us regardless of our sins.
To the Heart that is broken with grief, look to the cross and know that God knows that pain and cares. He will mend that broken heart for you. Give Him all of the pieces.
To the Orphan who feels all alone, look to the cross and know that you are an heir to the Throne and your big Brother is none other than Jesus Christ Himself
To the Widow or Widower who feel they have nothing left to give this world, look to the cross knowing that now you have access to the THRONE of Grace and can boldly go before the throne for those around you
To the One fighting chronic illness, look to the Cross and know that you are loved by the Great Physician and giver of Grace.
To the Poor and needy, look to the Cross and know that God knows and will provide for you, just like He knew we’d need a Savior
To the Discouraged, look to the Cross and know that doing God’s will isn’t always easy, but it is always right
To the Wife who longs to feel the life of a child move within her and give birth to that precious child, look to the cross and know that Miracles still happen
Oh Dear Christian look to the Cross! Don’t let fear and the unknown of the future keep you from trusting the Lord in all things! Focus on the gift of the cross, the miracle of Calvary and how God chooses to love us even in our sins.
God loves us just the way we are but He loves us too much to leave us this way!
Keep your eyes on the Cross, keep your mind and heart in the Word of God and keep your faith in Christ as you make your way towards your home in heaven.
To the Heart that is weary, look to the cross & know you are not walking this journey alone https://t.co/W0zwFQ1lgy pic.twitter.com/aZF7Fv12Ur
— Marie Wikle (@spreadingJOY) July 13, 2016
What are you looking to the cross for dear Christian?
What are you praying for? Trusting Christ for?
What are you letting get in the way of your focus?
The Bridegroom’s Voice by Author Kimberly McCarthy
This is a devotional journal that will take you through several weeks of heart searching, thought provoking words as if they came from the Bridegroom Himself. It is a personal journey with Jesus.
I love this devotional because it’s very interactive! There is a letter from the Bridegroom to His Bride on various topics as well as a section of the Bridebroom’s Word written on your heart. This section provides you with verses to think on and ponder over each day. Then there is a section where you can journal the things you are meditating on or respond to the verses that have been pointed out for the particular topic.
I’ve know Kim through Social Media for many years now and she is steadfast in her faith and proudly proclaims the Love of Christ in her Online Ministry.
You’ll be challenged through various topics in this devotional and your heart will grow closer to the Bridegroom as you realize that you truly ARE the Bride of Christ! And HE Loves you! He loves you just the way you are but loves you too much to leave you where you are.
You can expect to grow your faith, grow your love of the Lord and the Love of HIS word. Don’t you want an intimate relationship with the Lord?
You can expect to be encouraged as you read and realize you are not alone in things you face. I love how one of the weeks devotions deals with “Stuff” YES – stuff. You read that right!
As a Bride of Christ myself, I love encouraging others in their walk with the Lord, so I’ve decided to give away 2 copies of this devotional. All you have to do to enter to win is tell me how long you’ve been a Christian (A Bride of Christ.)
Do you think of yourself as the Bride of Christ? Are you excited to see your Groom each day or do you need to fall in love again?
Guys…what about you? I know you are usually the Groom, but where Christ is concerned Y O U are His Bride and He loves you deeply.
Thank you to Kim for providing me a copy free of charge to review. I’m not required to give a positive review but I encourage you to get a copy and immerse your heart into the scriptures as The Bride of Christ.
Follow Kim on Twitter at @Kmac4Him
Check out her website http://thebridegroomscafe.com
When we sing praises to the Lord, we are using one of the greatest weapons ever.
Our hearts can be heavy for any number of reasons, but while we are praising the Lord, the heaviness lifts, the hurts ease and our soul focuses on just how awesome and mighty the Lord is.
When we focus on just how amazing God’s love is and the gift of the cross, it’s easy to remember that “God has THIS” ….regardless of what “this” is. He will see you through.
We can always have a heart of praise. We can keep music and verses in our hearts so that when we can’t sit with the Bible or have access to music, the praise will still be available.
Consider this: When your heart is the heaviest, your hurts are the deepest, the tears sting worse than ever….THAT is the time when your praise should be the loudest.
Yes, I understand we may have to force ourselves to do this, but in that moment – that instant when we want to just ignore the entire world, we need to surround our hearts with praise.
Lay your hurts down and praise God anyway, knowing your tears are precious to the Lord.
Lay your doubts down and go confidently forward for the Lord, because as long as you are in the middle of God’s will for your life, that is the most perfect place for you.
Lay your fears down and focus on an almighty God that adores you.
Lay your “what if’s” down and claim the hundreds of rock solid promises that are in the Bible for YOU.
Your weapon of praise won’t fix your problems or even remove them from your life, but it will remind you of just how amazing God is and all of the blessings, mercies and grace He pours out on our lives each day!
Take time to praise the Lord today! If you must, whisper through the tears a prayer of gratitude and love.
YOU, my dear sweet brother & sister in the Lord, are LOVED by the KING!! We have hope in the Lord and are free of the chains and guilt of sin.
I love the lyrics in this song – “How Can I Keep from Singing” by Chris Tomlin
I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And I fall down again
I can sing ’cause You pick me up
Sing ’cause You’re there
I can sing ’cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I’ll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. ~ Albert Schweitzer
Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it. ~ A. W. Tozer
To be always in a thankful state of heart before God is not to be considered a high plane of spirituality but rather the normal attitude of one who believes that “all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to his purpose.” ~ William Law
Let the Journey Begin – Finding God’s Best for your Life
By Author Max Lucado
This is a devotionals with bite sized reminders of God’s perfect love for us. He wants us to experience His best and all too often we focus on things we can’t change or understand, instead of clinging to and focusing on our FATHER.
These easy to read reminders pack a punch! Don’t let the fact that each devotion is just a page or so long make you think that it’s not worth your time because it is. It is full of wisdom and scripture to back it up. Lucado grabbed my complete attention with the very first line.
“Occupy yourself with the nature of God, not the size of your biceps….”
We can all think of something to put after “not the……”
There is a section for you to take time to personally reflect on your goals, prayers, scripture and more.
Are you embarking on a new journey? Have you had to take a detour? Are you leaving one chapter behind (high school) and stepping out into another chapter (college?) Are you a newlywed? New Mom or Dad? LOVING your current Journey? This book is for you and your journey.
Where is your journey taking you?
Where do you want your journey to take you?
Are you taking the time to look for God’s best for you each day?
Some Favorite quotes:
I’m partnering with Family Christian to give away a $10 Appreciation Certificate. You can use it online or in the store. To be entered to win, leave a comment about how you plan to Occupy yourself with the nature of God. I’ll announce the winner on June 1st.
As a Family Christian Blogger, I received this book in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a positive review and all of my JOYful opinions are my own.
You can stay in the KNOW with all the happenings at Family Christian here:
http://twitter.com/familychristian
https://www.facebook.com/FamilyChristian?fref=ts
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Our conversation went something like this:
the Mr. : What are you guys going to preview?
Me: Something convicting
the Mr. : Why do you say that?
Me: Well the Title is War Room and while I don’t know anything else about it, I figure it is on prayer and no one’s prayer life is what it ought to be.
the Mr. : Laughs, true. Have a great time….
Just the title made me think about my prayer life. During the darkest valleys and times of facing the impossible, we were schooched in close to the Lord. Yes, I still pray daily and yes it is still intentional but will it ever be what it needs to be? No. Should that stop me from trying? No.
War Room will be out in theaters August 28, 2015. I suggest you round up every one you know and make it a group event. Take your church, your Sunday School Class, your Small Group, your teens and your children. Youth Leaders, after you watch it, have a few weeks discussing what you saw and how we can literally implement what Ms. Clara was teaching.
We all need a plan while we are battling our enemy. We all need to KNOW beyond doubt who our enemy is.
Here is a summary about the movie:
From the award-winning creators of Fireproof and Courageouscomes WAR ROOM, a compelling drama with humor and heart that explores the power that prayer can have on marriages, parenting, careers, friendships, and every other area of our lives.
Tony and Elizabeth Jordan have it all—great jobs, a beautiful daughter, and their dream house. But appearances can be deceiving. Tony and Elizabeth Jordan’s world is actually crumbling under the strain of a failing marriage. While Tony basks in his professional success and flirts with temptation, Elizabeth resigns herself to increasing bitterness. But their lives take an unexpected turn when Elizabeth meets her newest client, Miss Clara, and is challenged to establish a “war room” and a battle plan of prayer for her family. As Elizabeth tries to fight for her family, Tony’s hidden struggles come to light. Tony must decide if he will make amends to his family and prove Miss Clara’s wisdom that victories don’t come by accident.
Opening nationwide in theaters August 28 and filled with more of the authentic characters loved by millions in previous Kendrick Brothers’ films, WAR ROOM is a vivid reminder that prayer is a powerful weapon.
Mark your calendars and support this film.
Go ahead and set a date for a Youth Group outing.
Go ahead and make a date with your Spouse/children and see it.
I feel that this movie shows where we are in America as Christians and where we need to be https://t.co/jlijg9zUi1 #WarRoom #nuggetsofJOY
— Marie Wikle (@spreadingJOY) February 2, 2016
Will you prepare?
I love hearing people take time to just praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy. I love listening to people talk about where they were and where God has brought them to. I think that time of praise and worship in this fashion is very encouraging and contagious in that it will inspire others to think about all that God has blessed them with.
I KNOW that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and am so thankful for that.
The thing that I love the most about people giving praises to the Lord is when they keep God in the present tense! When they say God IS….
I’m not taking anything away from us when we say God has been, because I do it too, but sometimes I think in the midst of our tears, our heartache and heart break we forgot that God still IS.
Today I want to take a moment just to remind our hearts that God IS….
God IS good
God IS faithful
God IS merciful
God IS gracious
God IS just
God IS loving
God IS kind
God IS giving
God IS all knowing
God IS dependable
God IS orderly
God IS forgiving
God IS infinite
God IS Holy
God IS sovereign
God IS wise
God IS comfort
God IS our Father
God IS….
Your turn. Right here, right now in your present circumstances – What IS God to you?
Will you take a moment to encourage everyone who is hurting, who is missing a prodigal, who is grieving over a loved one that has moved on, who is discouraged from being beat up by the world by telling us who God IS to you?
Are you the artsy type? Journal something and take a photo and tweet it to me and I’ll embed it here so that others can be encouraged by it.
Christian is your heart hurting? Remember GOD IS
Is the stress of a financial burden weighing you down? Remember GOD IS
Do you wonder if your prodigal will ever return? Remember GOD IS
Right here, right now what IS God to you? http://t.co/tNjtt3RzUe #GodIs #nuggetsofJOY pic.twitter.com/gIUk02sMeM
— Marie Wikle (@spreadingJOY) March 17, 2015
Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock
When we think of this verse, we tend to think of someone that is being convicted of their need of salvation. As Christians, we use this to tell others that Jesus loves them and wants to be with them.
While this is true, it is also true that as a Christian, God is standing at the door and knocking for our attention…..still.
He knocks because:
so He knocks…reminding us that we are important to Him
Jesus died for you
Jesus loves you
Jesus waits for you…knocking
Christian, Jesus stands at the door…waiting on YOU
Will you make Him wait or do you walk daily with Him?
What makes your heart smile about the thought of Jesus knocking at our hearts door?
For me, it’s the fact that even though we are like a single solitary grain of sand – each one, each single grain is precious to Him.
You are Precious in His Sight!
I’m honored to be able to partner with Thomas Nelson Publishing and offer you 3 copies of Jesus Calling 10th Anniversary Edition.
Experience peace in the presence of the Savior.
A rich relationship with Jesus is so much more than presenting Him with a list of requests. It includes listening—through reading the Bible and receiving His love for you. The #1 bestselling 365-day devotional Jesus Calling® is written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to you—words of encouragement, comfort, and reassurance of His unending love.
In this special 10th-anniversary edition, Sarah Young shares her own prayer journal with you—including over 100 additional scriptures personally selected by the author. This beautiful keepsake edition, celebrating 10 years of Jesus Calling touching lives all over the world, also includes a beautiful redesign of high-quality bonded leather cover that allows for personalization. Sarah’s writings are personal reflections based on Jesus’ own words of hope, guidance, and peace within Scripture. As you experience the devotions and the fresh look at Scripture, you will look forward to your time with Him. Experience a deeper relationship with the Lord as you savor the presence of the One who will never leave you.
About the author:
Sarah Young is quietly leading millions on a journey of intimacy with Christ. She has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Christianity Today and has sold over 12 million books worldwide. Jesus Today received the 2013 ECPA Christian Book of the Year award. Sarah and her husband lived overseas for decades, counseling and planting churches in Japan and Australia. They currently live in the US.
You can purchase the book from Thomas Nelson here: http://bit.ly/Jesus_Calling10th
Here is an excerpt from this week:
October 8
I LOV E YOU WITH an everlasting Love. The human mind cannot comprehend My constancy. Your emotions flicker and falter in the face of varying circumstances, and you tend to project your fickle feelings onto Me. Thus, you do not benefit fully from My unfailing Love.
You need to look beyond the flux of circumstances and discover Me gazing lovingly back at you. This awareness of My Presence strengthens you, as you receive and respond to My Love. I am the same yesterday, today, and forever! Let My Love flow into you continually. Your need for Me is as constant as the outflow of My Love to you.
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. -Jeremiah 31:3
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. -Exodus 15:13
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. -Hebrews 13:8
Here is how you Enter to Win:
limited to US, AU, Canada, UK only and thank you
Ps 46:10 BE STILL…and know that I AM God
Sometimes when everything is going great – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still HE speaks
Sometimes the tears flow daily – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still He Speaks
Sometimes the laughter fills our hearts – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still He speaks
Sometimes discouragement steals our joy – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still He speaks
Sometimes anger robs us of our compassion – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still HE speaks
Sometimes hatred blinds our way – we forget to listen to the Lord – Still HE speaks
Sometimes daily activities keeps us to busy and we forget to listen to the Lord – Still HE speaks
Sometimes weariness causes us pull away and we forget to listen to the Lord – Still He speaks
Sometimes…..we forget to listen to the Lord – STILL HE Speaks
Will you hear?
Will you trust?
Will you listen?
Still… He speaks
