[StillStanding]

You're Not Alone
by Jon Walker

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith …” Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

What do you do when you feel like giving up? Everyone has that moment where they’ve been struggling with something – maybe a health issue, a broken relationship, financial problems, or depression – and they start to wonder if they have the strength to keep going because they just can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.

If you find yourself at that point today, I want to share some encouragement with you from Hebrews 12 and give you a powerful reason to keep on keeping on.

Hebrews 11 is the “faith chapter” that tells us about great people of the faith – Abraham, Moses, David and many others. They’re stories are sources of encouragement in and of themselves. But a phrase that starts off the first verse of the next chapter is what I want to focus on. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith …”

What Paul is saying is that you don’t want to give up because heaven is watching and cheering for you. That’s encouraging news!

You have an audience. Nothing you do is private. Nothing you have ever done has been hidden from heaven. God sees it all. As Job says, “He sees everything I do, and every step I take” (Job 31:4 LB). And Jesus tells us, “Every hair on your head has been counted” (Luke 12:7 GW). God knows every detail of your life. He watches every breath you take; there are no secrets in your life.

And it’s not just God who’s watching. Abraham, Jacob, Moses and all the other saints are there as well.

How is this encouraging? When you start to get discouraged, remember that people who have gone through much worse circumstances than you are watching to see how well you’re enduring.

When you feel like giving up, remember that people are watching you and offering you encouragement through their life stories of faith.

[StillStanding]

A quick one from Michele Weiner-Davis:

If talking about things has gotten you nowhere fast, stop talking and start acting.

[faithful with Love]

Ohh I like that... I need to do that...l
You know I was watching the church channel the other night... in revealations 17 it say.. the angel said She is an adulterss, fornacation, and rides the beast....
there was more to it but I was like omg, are these ow/om being lead by Satan himself, sucking, twisting the morals, vaules of our beloved spouse... The church channel referred to her as the anitchrist.. Ummm.... just caught my attention on that one.

[StillStanding]

Another one from MWD:

It's crucial to remember that no matter what you are feeling, you have a choice as to how you respond.

[LifeGoesOn]

I love this thread! Thanks SS!

[StillStanding]

This is taken from a remembrance of Amy Winehouse written by Russell Brand, but I think this part will resonate with LBSes...

http://www.russellbrand.tv/2011/07/for-amy/

When you love someone who suffers from the disease of addiction you await the phone call. There will be a phone call. The sincere hope is that the call will be from the addict themselves, telling you they’ve had enough, that they’re ready to stop, ready to try something new. Of course though, you fear the other call, the sad nocturnal chime from a friend or relative telling you it’s too late, she’s gone.

(emphasis mine) Frustratingly it’s not a call you can ever make it must be received. It is impossible to intervene.

[StillStanding]

Risk Your Life and Get More Than Your Dreams
by Jon Walker

Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag. Luke 19:26 (MSG)

Jesus once told the story of a master who asked three servants to handle his money while he was away. He gave each of them a sum of money, and when he returned, the first servant told the master he’d doubled the money through investments, and the second said he’d made fifty percent profit for the master.

But the third servant, in essence, said he’d been afraid the master would punish him for making mistakes so he hid the money in the cellar until the master returned.

The master rewarded the first two servants, saying those who handle small matters well will be given greater responsibility. But he rebuked the third servant, saying, “Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag” (Luke 19:26 MSG).

We move forward in faith when we take risks, not just any kind of risk, but ones that are specifically directed by God. These God-nudges push us beyond living life by sight so that we will live life by faith.

As Pastor Rick teaches, when we do not live by faith, we live faithlessly. Any decision independent of God is a faithless decision. Jesus expressed his faith when he said: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19 NIV).

(Jon Walker is managing editor of the Daily Hope devotionals and author of Costly Grace.)

[StillStanding]

This sounds familiar...

Relationships are like see-saws: the more 1 person does something, the less the other 1 will do. If you're a fix-it addict, try backing off.

http://twitter.com/DivorceBusting/statuses/101355900807290880

[Dontgiveup]

Stillstanding

Hope you don't mind.....got this message and thought your this thread would be an appropriate place for it.

Pastor Rick Warren said, "God wants to turn your test into a testimony; your mess into a message."

[StillStanding]

I don't mind at all. I started this thread because I wanted a place to post these kinds of things without them getting lost in my threads. I don't mind the occasional hijack.

http://www.hitchedmag.com/article.php?id=1221