Encouragement Where You Are

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Greetings sisters!
I pray this day you are standing strong in the Lord where He has called you.  Brother Jim and I continue to remind ourselves that our Father is over all, knowing where every believer is whether they are alone in their area or with others.  It's all in His will so it should be good with us, the situation He has us in.  As we travel and see the vast darkness and emptiness of truth, it does two things.  

 #1 It emboldens us because we see scripture coming true, here are just a few.

 Hatred and persecution...
 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15:18-20)

A falling away...
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. (1 Thessalonians 2:3)

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 8:18)

Lack of love...
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Matthew 23:12)

Many false teachers:
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:11)

And every day we endure we are one day closer to our redemption.  Amen.

#2 Unfortunately is our flesh can rise up, discouragement after discouragement and if we are not strong on the forefront and put it in its place, it can get a stronghold and try to drag us down.

I'm thankful to say that this year we have overcome to the point where #2 is rare and #1 is our focus and encouragement, regardless of what people do with the precious word of God that they are given.  

Let that be encouragement for you as well.  Keep pressing on and over time the Lord will sustain and strengthen you.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 
(1 Corinthians 16:13)

These next 2 pictures made me think of this subject.  The sunset was brilliant (pictures never capture the total beauty)....



And a little while later it was even better...



If we believers continue to press on patiently, day by day, we will be stronger and ready for more of what the Lord will bring into our lives.  This is part of enduring.  Enduring through our flesh fighting back and over time the victory is of the Lord, if we are diligently seeking Him.   

This sunset changed over a matter of time...so it will be with our faith and life.

The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10) not our circumstances. Whether we are with a body of believers or alone, married or single, have children or barren, healthy or sickly, our joy comes from the Lord.  He knows our circumstances and where He has us is where He wants us, for today.  
And maybe tomorrow.  
And maybe the next year or many years.  
Whatever is the Lord's will is good, let us be content in that until the day He changes it.

I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.
(Psalm 104:33-34)

Last night we had another chilly night, but the water jugs didn't freeze as bad as the night before!  It's a good thing that we're toughened up from enduring Wisconsin winters. Quite honestly we'd rather have colder weather than hot, so it suits us and we like a challenge.
As I was typing this, brother Jim sent me this picture:-)


We saw this in the store and I passed by because it's a bit pricier than I pay, I didn't know he got a picture :-)  That would make a lot of stir fry for sure!  I wonder if they have a gigantic red pepper and huge barrel of rice too:-)

Have a joyous evening sisters.
God be praised!

Love in Christ,
Sister Deb

The biblical gospel...