e-encouragement

Encouragement. What is it, really? Courage comes from the word heart. So to encourage literally means to build or strengthen the heart. God charges us in His Word to build up others and ourselves in Him, even daily, so that our hearts will be protected and prepared for a life of service to Him.

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1Th 5:11).

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:13).

Recently, I was invited to participate in a new way of encouraging others in the Lord through the use of the Internet. WebTV4Women.tv is a new one-of-a-kind FREE e-community for women, driven by some of the most nationally-recognized leaders in women’s ministry. It is an honor to work with such an incredible group of ladies.

I invite you to join my friend, author and speaker Karol Ladd, for a Fresh Start to your week. This weekly WebTV show is a brief Monday morning webcast, including a devotional by Karol and an additional segment or two by some of her friends – one of which is me! I am so excited to have the opportunity to join her in this new venue, sharing God’s love internationally through the Internet and encouraging others in their spiritual walk.

This week’s Fresh Start show includes my interview with friend, Lynn Nikaidoh, a remarkable woman who has remained steadfast in her faith despite the tragic loss of her stepson. Please take time today for a Fresh Start to your week, and receive strength and encouragement for your soul.

Click here to watch the 3/30 edition of Fresh Start!

A Heaping Portion

When I read or hear the word portion, I naturally think of food. I’m embarrassed to admit, but all too often at mealtime I’m longing for fairly large portions of whatever is on the menu, while simultaneously battling this desire in my mind, knowing that God would probably prefer my portions to be smaller than larger for the sake of His temple!

So when I hear the verse, “The Lord is my portion,” (Lam 3:24) my mind naturally thinks in terms of sustenance and amounts of it. This is not incorrect in theme, but somehow I knew there was more to this truth that my mind had yet to wrap around. Today, God led me to a more complete understanding.

Portion is an English word representing a Hebrew expression with deeper meaning than simply an amount. The Hebrew word for portion is used most often in the Old Testament in conjunction with the acquisition of land or property, and means more than simply a share or a part. It encompasses the ideas of possession, inheritance and award. Try substituting one of these three words for portion the next time you think about what God is to you.

Selah.

The Lord is my possession. He gave Himself for me long ago. But He gave Himself to me in a love relationship when I surrendered my life to Him. As with my earthly husband, I do not own him, but I know that “I am his, and he is mine.” (Sol 2:16) We belong to each other. Like all blood relationships, the Lord is mine in an everlasting kinship.

He is my forever Father. His love overwhelms me.

The Lord is my inheritance. He is my heritage and my legacy. I receive life with Him eternally because He adopted me into His royal family. My birthright is oneness with Him. “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1Co 6:17) He no longer calls me servant, but friend. (John 15:15) His companionship is eternally mine.

He is my forever Friend. His fellowship completes me.

The Lord is my award. Not that I am rewarded for anything I have done, but by His grace I am awarded such a prize as the Lord Himself! By His Spirit, He lives in me. “For we are the temple of the living God.” (2Co 6:16) "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) By His grace, I am reborn with His powerful presence given to live in me.

He is my forever Force. His power enlivens me.

God is much more to me than some measurable amount of momentary sustenance. He is an immeasurable spring of continual satisfaction. The Lord is not merely my daily ration; He is my constant source of abundance. He is a bottomless banquet of everything I need, a never-ending portion for this hungry soul.

Food for Thought: As a believer and receiver of Christ, I am never unloved, alone or powerless. I am always loved, accompanied and powerful.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Ps. 34:8)

Linking Souls to Daisy Chain

By now, most of my friends know that these days I am prayerfully penning more than these occasional entries, with the hope that God might use me to write something of significance to be read by a few more than frequent my little ole’ blog. If not, that’s ok. I love you guys, dearly! But writing books has been a dream of mine for a very long time.

I can still envision my first attempt at writing a book – notebook paper folded in half, hamburger style, turned sideways to form a book, and adorned with those blue notebook paper lines vertically positioned on its pages. It began in Chapter 1 and ended by Chapter 3. Short and sweet, complete with dialogue, third-grade printing and stick figures. It was something about a girl and her mother – my happy little world about that time.

Well, enough of Memory Lane. Today’s entry is not about my book writing, but a new friend's. In my recent journeys, I have had the pleasure of making acquaintance with one, Ms. Mary DeMuth, author of several Christian fiction and non-fiction books. I gladly agreed to participate in a “blog tour” in celebration of her newest release. My review of this captivating novel is below.

Meet Mary and Daisy Chain.

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Defiance, Texas is a real place as far as I'm concerned. I can see the faces of her people, smell the stench of the rendering plant, and hear the voices rising from the church pews. Mary has a way of descriptive writing that breathes life into her characters, making them jump off the page and into your heart.

Mary bravely raises questions of faith in the minds of the characters, including the presence, power and sovereignty of God. She tells an all-too-believable story of secrets and sins in the lives of Christians. Daisy Chain never had a dull moment tempting me to put it down. Much to the contrary, I read this book in two sittings, putting off tasks in order to finish all 300 plus pages.

Like the bestseller, The Shack, the storyline is dark and the journey difficult. But in Mary's work we find biblical truth weaved seamlessly throughout its pages. The believer and nonbeliever alike will enjoy the read, and walk away with both satisfaction and hope.

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Click here to buy Daisy Chain, by Mary DeMuth.

(No, I’m not getting a commission! Ha!)

Visit other bloggers on this tour!