GUIDANCE | Terri's Wellspring

Love one Another

16 11 2015

Treat one another justly.
Love your neighbors.
Be compassionate with each other.
Don’t take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor.
Don’t plot and scheme against one another-that’s evil. Zechariah 7:10

As toddlers, we begin to learn the lessons of living with others. Parents instruct us to “be nice” and “to share”. We later learn more complex terms like “love” and “compassion”. As adults, the lessons continue as we endeavor to live with others on a micro and macro level. Yet, as a people we struggle to get it right, even though the Bible is full of guidance about how to treat one another.
Love is God’s platform for His relationship with us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son”. Love is also His commandment to us in our approach to one another. Still, love, fair treatment, empathy and compassion are elusive in our society today. It must grieve God’s heart that we are so casual in how we treat one another. But each day is an opportunity to turn it around. We can adopt a higher level of commitment to love, to fairness and justice, to show compassion and to make sure the vulnerable are cared for. If we do this in love and concern for one another it will provide a salve to a hurting world.

This my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. John 15:12

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Tags: love one another, Zechariah 7:10
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE

Got Wisdom?

10 11 2015

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. James 1:5-6

I need wisdom for my life. The big and small decisions of everyday living need an infusion of the Holy Spirit to keep me moving according to God’s will. I need the Lord’s help with the who, what, when and where choices throughout the day. I am thankful that the Lord will freely provide the direction and leading when we ask. God will point you toward the next step. He will provide the right words. He is faithful to keep you moving forward and keep you from falling. I am so thankful for His wisdom which is high and above my thinking. We thank God for the provision of wisdom today.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

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Tags: Got Wisdom, Isaiah 55:8-9, James 1:5-6
Categories : GUIDANCE

Pray

5 11 2015

I am so thankful that we can talk with our Heavenly Father at any point in time. He is available to listen and

to guide our lives into His given purpose.

We should always pray.

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Tags: Ephesians 6:18, Pray
Categories : GUIDANCE

Fear Not

3 11 2015

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7

The Spirit of Fear is not of Him. Fear is a strong emotion that we have experienced at one time or another. It emanates from a perceived threat and changes our thinking, our behavior and even how our body works. It can be a strong immobilizing factor if we don’t recognize its source. This passage reminds us that it is not of God. As His children, we are compelled to put our trust in the Lord, to have faith and to reject fear. His promises to us are contrary to the fear that we may have concerning our safety, our health, our finances, our lives. We must put our faith in God.

He gives us Power and Love. As His children, he provides power and love to overcome the challenges of daily living. He gives us the strength to face whatever is ahead. His power is gives us the strength to stand tall in the face of adversity. In the most difficult situations, we must continue to respond in love. Even when uncertainty is on the rise, we can live strong and with love. We must put our faith in God.

He gives us a Sound Mind. We are thankful to God that we are able to keep sound thinking, sound decision making as He guides our steps. Even when we are challenged on every side, we will discipline our thinking not to embrace fear that is not based on His Word. We will keep our faith in God. He is well able and our faith is in Him.

We are thanking God for His power and love and a sound mind. We will not fear. Our trust is in the Lord.

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Tags: Fear Not, II Timothy 1:7
Categories : FAITH, GUIDANCE

In Need of a Savior

27 10 2015

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus is the Savior of our souls. He came to provide forgiveness and redemption for you and for me. When I open my heart and mind, Jesus can enter my life. I can welcome Him in to forgive my sins and to fill in the spiritual gaps in my living. He can heal the broken places. He can make me whole. An open heart and invitation to welcome Him in can start a whole new journey. It is a journey of faith that is filled with possibility. It can change what was thought to be hopeless into a reality. We are all in need of a Savior. Welcome Him into your heart today.

Dear Jesus –

I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I welcome you into my heart. I thank you for dying for my sins. I ask for your forgiveness. I will trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do your will.

In your name,

Amen.

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Tags: In Need of a Savior, John 10:10
Categories : GUIDANCE

It’s Ahead

22 10 2015

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. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Philippians 3:13-15

My goal is ahead. It is in front of me and not in what happened last year, last week or even yesterday. My goal is in front. I have to keep pressing. Even when I am tired, He is faithful to renew my strength. When my vision becomes murky about what is important, He provides clarity. When I am not sure about next steps, He is faithful to direct my path. So I keep pressing. I will do my part to be faithful to His calling. I will keep my heart encouraged and focused. I will keep striving for the goal ahead.

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. Philippians 3:15-16 MSG

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Tags: It's Ahead, Philippians 3:13-15
Categories : GUIDANCE

Kind, Compassionate and Forgiving

12 10 2015

And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 AMP

The “one another” instructions in the Bible are powerful. They often refer to our relational world of how we are to connect to each other. We know examples – love one another, pray for one another, encourage one another. Our passage today is a reminder of our need to be kind, compassionate and forgiving of one another. At first glance, when we read these instructions we may be quick to give ourselves a pass recalling all of the past ‘”nice” things we have done. On learning more about this scripture and what God desires of us, I realize I have more work to do. Being kind is more than a smiling face. It reflects a giving spirit and a desire to be useful and helpful to one another. Demonstrating loving-hearted compassion shows our genuine concern about each other situations. Forgiving one another freely and quickly for big and small things as our Heavenly Father does for us. Kindness, compassion and forgiveness are outward expressions of who we are as God’s children. They reflect who He is and as His children we should carry His identity and His likeness in our care for one another. Carefully considering how we respond to one another and seeking to demonstrate His example puts our relationships on higher ground. More kindness, more compassion and more forgiveness in the world are reflections that will shine bright in a hurting world.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

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Tags: Ephessians 4:31-32, Kind Compassionate and Forgiving
Categories : GUIDANCE

Teach Us

6 10 2015

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Tags: Psalm 90:12, Teach us
Categories : GUIDANCE

Pressing Onward

11 09 2015

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

It is time to move forward in what God is calling us to do. He has put it on your heart. He has given you the vision of the road ahead and it is moving day. You may have unpacked all of your things, expecting an extended stay where you are but it is time to move onward. He is calling us to move forward in our purpose. We can’t wallow in procrastination. We should not be swept up in the emotion of past disappointment and the spirit of fear is not of God. It is time to move forward. You may have wanted a full itinerary of the journey but we are required to step out on faith. We are pressing onward in wisdom and listening for His leading. He is careful to direct our path to make the next steps forward.

Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6 Msg.

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Tags: Philippians 3:14, Pressing Onward, Proverbs 2:5-6
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE

Walk and Run On!

8 09 2015

In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master,

I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel.

I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands.

I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere.

And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily,

pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love,

alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction,

so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.

You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,

who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all.

Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.

Ephesians 4:1-6 MSG

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Tags: Ephesians 4:1-6, Walk and run On!
Categories : GUIDANCE

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