The Fulfilled Cup

“Life apart from God is meaningless, but life with God at the center is full. It’s satisfying. It’s purposeful. It makes all the difference.”

“Right where I Am, God is.

All that I need I already have because the fullness of God

is right where I Am and ever shall it be so.”

 — Anonymous

“The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need…
   …My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.”

— Psalm 23:1,5b-6 (NLT)

 

The Truth About Forever

Everyone thinks that forever is simply the exaggeration of life here in this world. If forever is simply stated that way, how then should we live our lives?  Better yet,  ask ourselves, what is truly the truth about forever?

 

“Life can be long or short, it all depends on how you choose to live it. It’s like forever, always changing. for any of us our forever could end in an hour, or a hundred years from now. You can never know for sure, so you’d better make every second count. What you have to decide is how you want your life to be. If your forever was ending tomorrow, is this how you’d want to have spent it?”                                                                                           

                                                                                                                   —Sarah Dessen

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 

Is anything worth more than your soul?”

—Matthew 16:26 (NLT)

 

Our Desires is Our Undoing

One of the worst things that could ever happen to a man

is when God gives him over to his desires.

There are only two kinds of people in the end:

those who say to God, “Thy will be done,”

and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.”

— C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

 

Never Think Twice About Coming Home

Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself

but just this power of always trying again.

— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Commitment to God is not just working to be a holy man,

not just laboriously living life by His book.

Commitment to God is also tirelessly running back to His arms despite guilt or sorrow when one fails Him.

 

Useless

“The highest form of vanity is love of fame.”

—George Santayana

…and it’s utterly useless.

 

Praying: a platform to impress others?

“Prayer is a private act of devotion, not a public demonstration of piety.” – Charles Swindoll

“Pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

– Matthew 6:6

Connect to our Father with words from our hearts privately,

not with those uncompassionate and excessive words repeated publicly. 

 

Only YOU.

“Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren’t satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other.” 

― Ann Voskamp

May we find satisfaction only in God. For in Him, we have everything we need and could ever imagine.

 

No Reservations…

“Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.” – Elton Trueblood

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

“Perfect trust is resting all one’s weight on something else, not on self. It’s like resting on crutches to hold you up when you twist an ankle. You lean on them as your strength.” – Charles Swindoll

Don’t reserve your trust in the Lord. Remember, you are trusting GOD.

 

Peace in God

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. – Jesus-

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  

                                                                                                            –  John 16:33

 

For What We Do Not Know

“On the basis of what he knew, he was able to trust God for what he didn’t know.”

-Ravi Zacharias-

 

“[But] we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him.”

Romans 8:28a

 

What Could Stand Against?

and if our God is for us then who could ever stop us,

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

~ 1 Peter 3:13-15 ~

and if our God is with us then what could stand against?

 

No Matter What We Say

What’s beautiful about God is that

even if people win in an argument and prove to a Christian that He doesn’t exist,

still He exists.

 

Did You Mean It?

God is not asking Christians to pray more.

He’s urging us to pray more earnestly.

 

Through It All

You are forever in my life
You see me through the seasons
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness

And I look to You
And I wait on You

I’ll sing to You Lord
A hymn of love
For Your faithfulness to me
I’m carried in everlasting arms
You’ll never let me go
Through it all

Friend, if you’re struggling right now, if you’re fed up with everything, or if you feel so lonely as if the whole world has walked out on you, know this—God’s hand will always be on your shoulder no matter what.

What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

—Psalm 8:4 (ESV)

He WILL ALWAYS love you. He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you. Even before you were born, He already had His great plans laid out for you.

If there is a song of love in your heart right now, sing it to Him. Let Him know that you love Him too.

Know this, before the whole world even knew you and even after the whole world is through with you, He will definitely see you…through it all.

 

All For You

Thank you, God for everything…
The big things and the small,
For “every good gift comes from God,”
The Giver of them all.

And all too often we accept
Without any thanks or praise,
The gifts God sends as blessings
Each day in many ways.

And so at this Thanksgiving time,
We offer up a prayer,
To thank You, God, for giving us
A lot more than our share.

First, thank You for the little things
That often come our way,
The things we take for granted,
But don’t mention when we pray.

The unexpected courtesy,
The thoughtful, kindly deed,
A hand reached out to help us
In the time of sudden need.

Oh, make us more aware, dear God,
Of little daily graces
That come to us with “sweet surprise”
From never-dreamed-of places.
 
Then, thank You for the “miracles”
We are much too blind to see,
And give us new awareness
Of our many gifts from Thee.

And help us to remember
That the key to life and living,
Is to make each prayer a prayer of thanks
And every day Thanksgiving.

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
    but to your name goes all the glory
    for your unfailing love and faithfulness.”

—Psalm 115:1 (NLT)