Some days are harder than others. I went looking for encouragement at Pastor John Piper's website, desiringGod.org and this was the first thing I found - totally appropriate for my day. I hope you will enjoy it too...
Spiritual Depression in the Psalms :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Friday, February 5, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Praise to the Lord the Almighty
Praise to the Lord the Almighty the King of Creation,
O my soul praise Him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near.
Praise Him in glad adoration!
Praise to the Lord who o'er all things so wonderously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings,
Yea, so gently sustaineth,
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e're have been
granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord who doth prosper thy work and defend thee.
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee,
Ponder anew what the almighty can do,
if with His love He befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him,
All that hath life and breath come now with praises before Him,
Let the 'amen' sound from His people again,
Gladly for e'er we adore Him.
O my soul praise Him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near.
Praise Him in glad adoration!
Praise to the Lord who o'er all things so wonderously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings,
Yea, so gently sustaineth,
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e're have been
granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord who doth prosper thy work and defend thee.
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee,
Ponder anew what the almighty can do,
if with His love He befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him,
All that hath life and breath come now with praises before Him,
Let the 'amen' sound from His people again,
Gladly for e'er we adore Him.
Monday, January 11, 2010
More Emails that encourage my heart
Jennifer, I was reading John 9 this morning and when I read Jesus' words about healing the man born blind ("Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life"), I thought of you immediately. It amazes me to my CORE how God has already used this trail in your life to bring you closer to him, how He has strengthened your relationships with your boys, with your husband, how you all have been brought to your knees before the Lord in reverence and worship, how your faith has been strengthened. I am amazed. And humbled. God's name is SURELY glorified!!!!!! You have a beautiful heart. You treasure our God above all things. He is certainly honoring that. ("But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere THE FRAGRANCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM." - 2 Cor :14).
You are my precious friend, I am praying for you today. Other Scriptures that are on my heart for you are:
"Be joyful in hope patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:12
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of POWER." - 1 Cor. 4:20
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ... Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." - 2 Cor. 1:3, 4, 9
LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Melissa
Jennifer,
We've all been praying for you this morning. His mercies are new every morning, and continue to be!
Just relax and enjoy your anesthesia today. After so much worry over the past week, you finally get to sleep peacefully and get this over with! Have a scripture in mind as you drift off. You will feel like you only slept for two seconds before some very annoyng person is bugging you to wake up.
And just to say it again...people don't die during surgery for "easy-to-get-to" brain tumors. It just doesn't happen. You are healthy (even healthier than you were 6 months ago--aren't you glad you did all that hard work getting so fit?!), strong, and have nothing to fear. Just try to relax and let all the medical people do their job. You will do great!
Susan (My nurse friend)
From Diana -
Dearest Jennifer,
Since your Mom e-mailed me at the beginning of the week you and Jeff have constantly been on my mind. I wish I could reach out and give you a hug and kiss......but then I wouldn't be able to do that without crying.....
I love you so much and am so sorry that you are going through this. I have been reading your blog... You are putting into words what all of us have been carrying in our hearts for you....your fears, questions, concerns are what any young Christian wife and mother would naturally feel. But your ability to express them have amazed me. It is obvious that you have become a woman of God with incredible depth.
And so what can I say to you....I learned a long time ago, as I know you have too....that there are just some things we live through that are so hard that words of comfort are hard to find. When this occurs I have clung on to the words of Paul in Romans 8:26-27. Paul shares with us....."and in the same way the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For when we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how to pray, (when the pain is so raw) the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who
who knows all hearts, knows, of course, what the Spirit is saying as he pleads for us.."
From Lisa:
Hey Jennifer, I tried to post to your blog but could not do it. I was so amazed at how strong you seemed yesterday at church. I could see that you were leaning and trusting God during this trial. I am sure that at times you feel as if you need to fall to the ground and cry. I love your sense of humor through it all! I love Isaiah 40 when I need to be comforted... especially vs. 11 "He tends hi flock like a shepherd:He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart;he gently leads those that have young. ..." and of course I also always love IS 40: 28-31. I have prayed for peace and comfort for you this day. I have prayed that God would make himself so present to you today that you would feel as if he is holding you and carrying you. It was good to see you and give you a hug yesterday. You will be the center of my prayers today. Love in Him, Lisa
You are my precious friend, I am praying for you today. Other Scriptures that are on my heart for you are:
"Be joyful in hope patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:12
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of POWER." - 1 Cor. 4:20
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ... Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." - 2 Cor. 1:3, 4, 9
LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Melissa
Jennifer,
We've all been praying for you this morning. His mercies are new every morning, and continue to be!
Just relax and enjoy your anesthesia today. After so much worry over the past week, you finally get to sleep peacefully and get this over with! Have a scripture in mind as you drift off. You will feel like you only slept for two seconds before some very annoyng person is bugging you to wake up.
And just to say it again...people don't die during surgery for "easy-to-get-to" brain tumors. It just doesn't happen. You are healthy (even healthier than you were 6 months ago--aren't you glad you did all that hard work getting so fit?!), strong, and have nothing to fear. Just try to relax and let all the medical people do their job. You will do great!
Susan (My nurse friend)
From Diana -
Dearest Jennifer,
Since your Mom e-mailed me at the beginning of the week you and Jeff have constantly been on my mind. I wish I could reach out and give you a hug and kiss......but then I wouldn't be able to do that without crying.....
I love you so much and am so sorry that you are going through this. I have been reading your blog... You are putting into words what all of us have been carrying in our hearts for you....your fears, questions, concerns are what any young Christian wife and mother would naturally feel. But your ability to express them have amazed me. It is obvious that you have become a woman of God with incredible depth.
And so what can I say to you....I learned a long time ago, as I know you have too....that there are just some things we live through that are so hard that words of comfort are hard to find. When this occurs I have clung on to the words of Paul in Romans 8:26-27. Paul shares with us....."and in the same way the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For when we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how to pray, (when the pain is so raw) the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who
who knows all hearts, knows, of course, what the Spirit is saying as he pleads for us.."
From Lisa:
Hey Jennifer, I tried to post to your blog but could not do it. I was so amazed at how strong you seemed yesterday at church. I could see that you were leaning and trusting God during this trial. I am sure that at times you feel as if you need to fall to the ground and cry. I love your sense of humor through it all! I love Isaiah 40 when I need to be comforted... especially vs. 11 "He tends hi flock like a shepherd:He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart;he gently leads those that have young. ..." and of course I also always love IS 40: 28-31. I have prayed for peace and comfort for you this day. I have prayed that God would make himself so present to you today that you would feel as if he is holding you and carrying you. It was good to see you and give you a hug yesterday. You will be the center of my prayers today. Love in Him, Lisa
From Cousin Jancie and Great Grandma Molzen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Jenny, After trying to use your blog, and wanting to get a message to you, here it comes via. e-mail...I am truly sorry these trials are coming your way now. There are events in our life journey that we are not to understand...After reading som
e of the wonderful response's on your blog, I am blessed to know what great faith and love you have for the Lord....Actually, I always knew that, as it shine's in and thro you....My special word for you is in a hymn, Gr-grandma Molzen used to sing when I was a little girl. It is a simple song called Under His Wings, and I want to you to pack this along in your suit-case and take it with you tomorrow....Under His wings I am safely abiding; Though the night deepens and tempests are wild, Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me; He has redeemed me, and I am His child. Under His wings, under His wings, Who from His love can sever? Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abiding forever. I will be singing or humming this tomorrow as I pray for you throught out the day and I think you gr-grandma will be also..... Now may Peace and Blessing abide with you, Much Love, Janice
How blessed I am to have a heritage of faith.
Hi Jenny, After trying to use your blog, and wanting to get a message to you, here it comes via. e-mail...I am truly sorry these trials are coming your way now. There are events in our life journey that we are not to understand...After reading som
e of the wonderful response's on your blog, I am blessed to know what great faith and love you have for the Lord....Actually, I always knew that, as it shine's in and thro you....My special word for you is in a hymn, Gr-grandma Molzen used to sing when I was a little girl. It is a simple song called Under His Wings, and I want to you to pack this along in your suit-case and take it with you tomorrow....Under His wings I am safely abiding; Though the night deepens and tempests are wild, Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me; He has redeemed me, and I am His child. Under His wings, under His wings, Who from His love can sever? Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abiding forever. I will be singing or humming this tomorrow as I pray for you throught out the day and I think you gr-grandma will be also..... Now may Peace and Blessing abide with you, Much Love, Janice
How blessed I am to have a heritage of faith.
What the Lord spoke into my friends heart
I woke up (actually, I'm not sure I ever slept last night) I tossed and turned and I think I kept Jeff up all night too. So I woke up discouraged. In my email box was a message from a precious friend, I simply must post for all to be blessed by. This is from Stephanie...
Jen,
My heart is so full with love for you and Jeff. I cannot express in words just what you both mean to us. Time and distance has not dimished our love for you. We are committed to praying you both through this time of great need. Because of your great love for music - and the talent the Lord has given you in that area, I cannot help but think of the story in 2 Chronicles 20. I’ll try to give you a summary but you might enjoy reading it for your self. Jehoshaphat is afraid and is facing an enemy. He set his face to seek the Lord. He even proclaimed a fast throughout the land, for everyone to seek the Lord. His words in v 6; “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might., so that none is able to withstand you.” Then he reminds God of how he provided in the past, and then says, “IF disaster comes upon us, … we will stand before this house and before you and cry out to you in our affliction and you will hear and save!….We are powerless against this enemy that is coming against us. We do not know what to do but our eyes are on YOU.”
Then the Sprit of the Lord comes upon a Levite. He gives them a word from the Lord, “Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed at this great enemy, for the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s. … You will not need to fight this battle. Stand firm, hold your position and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf… Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow, go out and face them, and the Lord will be with you.”
And they all fell down before the Lord and worshiped Him. So they all rose the next morning and went out to battle. But I find it so interesting that the first people sent to battle are the SINGERS. They went out first, singing, “Give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love endures forever!” “When they began to SING, the Lord set an ambush against their enemy and they were saved!!!
So SING my friend, SING to the Lord who is the only one who is all powerful, who is all wise and all sufficient. SING with joy to your Creator. SING of His loving-kindness and faithfulness in all times. SING in sorrow when you are brokenhearted. SING to Him expecting Him to answer and move in a mighty way on your behalf. Pour out your heart to Him in song.
Piper has a great sermon on this passage by the way. It is called something like “Ambushing Satan with Song” and you can listen to it on the Desiring God website.
All I have to offer you that is of any worth at all are the precious promises in the Word of our Savior. Some of the following scriptures have been very encouraging to me during difficult times. I pray they will minister to you.
“I sought the Lord and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. ……When the righteous cry for help the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. …The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit…. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, bur the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones not one of them is broken.” Psalm 34
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” Isaiah 43:1-2
“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13 - 14
“Even to my old age and grey hair, You are He. You are the One who will sustain me. You made me and You will carry me, You will sustain me and You will rescue me. .. I will remember the former things those of long ago, You are God, and there is no other, You are God and there is none like You” Isaiah 46:4, 9
“Who can straighten what you have made crooked? When times are good, I am to be happy; but when times are bad, consider: YOU have made the one as well as the other.” Ecc 7:13 - 14
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with Your right hand you save me. You oh Lord will fulfill Your purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever, do not abandon the works of your hand” Psalm 138:7 - 8
“I cry to you Lord in my trouble. Save me from my distress” Psalm 107:13
“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone Oh Lord make me dwell in safety”
“Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you and you shall glorify me!” Psalm 50:15
“Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it all together. You hem me in , behind and before and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it; Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?….If I say, ‘surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night” even the darkness is not dark to you, the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… your eyes saw my unformed substance, in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet, there were none of them.’ from Psalm 139
God is our refuge and strength , a very present help in times of trouble. So, I will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging,…. I will be still and know you are God. You Lord Almighty are with me You are my fortress. Ps 46
You O God will never leave Jennifer, you will never forsake her. You are the only absolute guarantee she has in all of life. Help her to cling to YOU as the one thing she can never lose. Help Jen to comprehend what it means to consider it all JOY when she faces this trial, knowing that you are working in her to deepen her faith and develop perseverance that she might be complete and lack nothing. Help her know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are working all things together for her good and for your ultimate glory. Restore to her the joy of her salvation and grant her a willing spirit to sustain her. Lord, during this suffering let it be said that it served to advance the gospel. Make Jen’s Savior clear to all who are around her. Because of this would you cause others to be encouraged and cause her to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly. Would you use this to draw people to You Jesus. Lord, do great things for her. Fill her with joy. What she sows in tears, cause her to reap in joy, bringing others with her (Ps 126). O God help her to be willing to believe you , even in the middle of this terrible pain, knowing You will fill her with joy again and will bring forth a harvest from her life and her suffering will not be in vain. Fill her with your peace in your sovereignty and faithfulness. Be more real to her than you have ever been. Do the same in Jeff’s life dear Lord Jesus. We love them, grieve with them, rejoice with them, miss them and entrust them to your loving hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jen,
My heart is so full with love for you and Jeff. I cannot express in words just what you both mean to us. Time and distance has not dimished our love for you. We are committed to praying you both through this time of great need. Because of your great love for music - and the talent the Lord has given you in that area, I cannot help but think of the story in 2 Chronicles 20. I’ll try to give you a summary but you might enjoy reading it for your self. Jehoshaphat is afraid and is facing an enemy. He set his face to seek the Lord. He even proclaimed a fast throughout the land, for everyone to seek the Lord. His words in v 6; “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might., so that none is able to withstand you.” Then he reminds God of how he provided in the past, and then says, “IF disaster comes upon us, … we will stand before this house and before you and cry out to you in our affliction and you will hear and save!….We are powerless against this enemy that is coming against us. We do not know what to do but our eyes are on YOU.”
Then the Sprit of the Lord comes upon a Levite. He gives them a word from the Lord, “Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed at this great enemy, for the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s. … You will not need to fight this battle. Stand firm, hold your position and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf… Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow, go out and face them, and the Lord will be with you.”
And they all fell down before the Lord and worshiped Him. So they all rose the next morning and went out to battle. But I find it so interesting that the first people sent to battle are the SINGERS. They went out first, singing, “Give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love endures forever!” “When they began to SING, the Lord set an ambush against their enemy and they were saved!!!
So SING my friend, SING to the Lord who is the only one who is all powerful, who is all wise and all sufficient. SING with joy to your Creator. SING of His loving-kindness and faithfulness in all times. SING in sorrow when you are brokenhearted. SING to Him expecting Him to answer and move in a mighty way on your behalf. Pour out your heart to Him in song.
Piper has a great sermon on this passage by the way. It is called something like “Ambushing Satan with Song” and you can listen to it on the Desiring God website.
All I have to offer you that is of any worth at all are the precious promises in the Word of our Savior. Some of the following scriptures have been very encouraging to me during difficult times. I pray they will minister to you.
“I sought the Lord and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. ……When the righteous cry for help the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. …The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit…. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, bur the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones not one of them is broken.” Psalm 34
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” Isaiah 43:1-2
“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13 - 14
“Even to my old age and grey hair, You are He. You are the One who will sustain me. You made me and You will carry me, You will sustain me and You will rescue me. .. I will remember the former things those of long ago, You are God, and there is no other, You are God and there is none like You” Isaiah 46:4, 9
“Who can straighten what you have made crooked? When times are good, I am to be happy; but when times are bad, consider: YOU have made the one as well as the other.” Ecc 7:13 - 14
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with Your right hand you save me. You oh Lord will fulfill Your purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever, do not abandon the works of your hand” Psalm 138:7 - 8
“I cry to you Lord in my trouble. Save me from my distress” Psalm 107:13
“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone Oh Lord make me dwell in safety”
“Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you and you shall glorify me!” Psalm 50:15
“Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it all together. You hem me in , behind and before and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it; Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?….If I say, ‘surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night” even the darkness is not dark to you, the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… your eyes saw my unformed substance, in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet, there were none of them.’ from Psalm 139
God is our refuge and strength , a very present help in times of trouble. So, I will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging,…. I will be still and know you are God. You Lord Almighty are with me You are my fortress. Ps 46
You O God will never leave Jennifer, you will never forsake her. You are the only absolute guarantee she has in all of life. Help her to cling to YOU as the one thing she can never lose. Help Jen to comprehend what it means to consider it all JOY when she faces this trial, knowing that you are working in her to deepen her faith and develop perseverance that she might be complete and lack nothing. Help her know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are working all things together for her good and for your ultimate glory. Restore to her the joy of her salvation and grant her a willing spirit to sustain her. Lord, during this suffering let it be said that it served to advance the gospel. Make Jen’s Savior clear to all who are around her. Because of this would you cause others to be encouraged and cause her to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly. Would you use this to draw people to You Jesus. Lord, do great things for her. Fill her with joy. What she sows in tears, cause her to reap in joy, bringing others with her (Ps 126). O God help her to be willing to believe you , even in the middle of this terrible pain, knowing You will fill her with joy again and will bring forth a harvest from her life and her suffering will not be in vain. Fill her with your peace in your sovereignty and faithfulness. Be more real to her than you have ever been. Do the same in Jeff’s life dear Lord Jesus. We love them, grieve with them, rejoice with them, miss them and entrust them to your loving hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Anyone have a favorite?
Today is a hard day for me. I am contemplating potential bad outcomes of surgery and what I need to say to my family before I go in. I am always encouraged by the scriptures and hymns that God brings to other people's minds to bless me with. Does anyone have any they would like to share? Please post in my comments section to encourage others as well!
Thanks and love to you all!
Thanks and love to you all!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
This is my brain on blog
Sorry. That was a tacky title. It makes me feel better, though. So, here it is... probably more than you wanted to know. The brain surgeon said that this is growing from the dura, which is apparently, the kind of tumor you want to have if you have to have one. (Love it when they say things like that.) It's easier to remove and the prognosis is usually pretty good, generally benign. I don't have a date yet for surgery, but it should be next week, hopefully - the sooner the better and the less I have to wait and worry. I like the doctor - he seems like a nice guy. If you are a medical type person and would like to read more about what this is.... check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meningioma
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