GUIDANCE | Terri's Wellspring

Kindness

10 03 2015

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

The hustle and bustle of my day is usually full of interactions with people who come from all walks of life. Sometimes we encounter people who may be hard to understand or difficult to get along with. Our first response may be to shorten the interaction because it is uncomfortable or it may be that we just don’t want to be bothered. But as believers we are called to represent Christ and to consider what Jesus would do in that situation. So many people are stretched in their finances, in their emotions and just stressed out. You hear it in their voices, see it in their faces and we see it on the news where people just mentally snap and do the unthinkable. I believe we are compelled to show God’s love in the midst of it all. We should be motivated to be caring and kind in our interactions with one another. The cost is usually free, it may take a little bit more time but a little kindness can go a long way toward making a difference.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-24 NLT

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Tags: Galations 5:22-24, Jeremiah 31:3, Kindness
Categories : GUIDANCE

Always

9 03 2015

Always ….

be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.

Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing.

Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9

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Tags: Always, Philippians 4:4-9
Categories : GUIDANCE

Welcome

18 02 2015

I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. Ephesians 3:17

The Holy Spirit is welcome in my heart and mind today. I welcome the Lord into who I am, my schedule, my priorities and what I am seeking to achieve. My heart is open to His leading for guided words and for each of my actions. I am hopeful today to be an instrument of encouragement and light for each person I encounter. I welcome the chance to talk about His goodness and to demonstrate His love. I welcome Jesus into my heart and mind today.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Ephesians 3:14-17 NLT

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Tags: Ephesians 3:14-17, Welcome
Categories : GUIDANCE

God at Work in Me

3 02 2015

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6

I am a work in progress. I am on a journey that compels me to grow and mature in Him. I continue to learn more about love, kindness and compassion. His work in me reveals the corners of my heart where I need to replace my ways with His ways. The Holy Spirit nudges me into new places of peace and understanding. I am grateful for God’s grace and mercy that allows me to live in relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and the ultimate example for how to love and pray for one another. His Word is the ultimate guide for our living. I have much work to do but I am thankful that I am not where I’ve been. His work is continuing in me.

The Word is working mightily in me

No matter what the circumstances what I feel or see

The Word is working mightily in me

David Ingles – Songwriter

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Tags: God at Work in Me, Phillipians 1:6
Categories : GUIDANCE

Be Ye Holy

26 01 2015

But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” I Peter 1:15-16 NLT

One description of Holiness defines it as dedicating ourselves wholly to God. My walk with the Lord is an opportunity to reflect on His will and His way that makes my life and living distinct from the world. This dedication is something that I can strive for each day. I can seek to have a better understanding of what I should do and have the wisdom to do it. God’s Word is an open letter to each of us with a description of the higher ground that we should reach for in our lives. I am so thankful for the Gift of His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit that empowers believers to make our walk personal and gives us the strength to walk according to His will. Holiness is surprisingly not a denomination, the ability to dance and shout but truly committing ourselves to God. I know that may sound difficult or create mental images of living like a monk on a hill but we can live a “holy” life right here in our homes, among our families and friends within our communities. It is a necessary dedication for the abundant life that we seek through Jesus Christ.

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” You call out to God for help and he helps – he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living. I Peter 1:15-17MSG

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Tags: Be Ye Holy, I Peter 1:15-17
Categories : GUIDANCE

Surrounded

16 01 2015

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,

for I am trusting you.

Show me where to walk,

for I give myself to you. Psalm 143:8 NLT

We can set the atmosphere for our daily living. I feel like I am at my best when I take the time to set the stage for my day. A good start begins with a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for another day; just taking a few moments before anything else to invite the Holy Spirit into my day. Taking a brief time of thanksgiving and stillness in God to reflect on His goodness and His power makes all the difference. My office and my car are places of peace where I listen to uplifting messages or encouraging music. Inspirational notes and pictures of loved ones adorn my desk that keeps a smile on my face. They are visual reminders of God’s blessings to me. Throughout the day, I can keep soft music or something edifying playing in the background. I want to surround myself with peace and reminders of Him.

I am thankful for this time and this place in my life. I am thankful for the opportunity to surround my life with reminders of His love, mercy and goodness to me. I praise God for another day. I bless His Holy name for a day ahead filled with love, peace and joy that flows from Him.

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103: 1-2

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Tags: Psalm 103:1-2, Psalm 143:8, Surrounded
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE

Level Ground

15 01 2015

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

lead me on level ground.

Psalm 143:10

One description of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. I guess many of us have done things that are “insane” based on that premise. For instance, I know that being undisciplined about exercise and good food choices will not lead to reaching a healthy weight but yet I get on the scale every day in hopes that the way I ate yesterday will have no effect on the reading on the scale. That is just one example of many, where my actions don’t line up with my goals. So again, I have some work to do.

Many of us try to lead our lives without God. We seek to fill the hole in our hearts and minds through a myriad of things that never completes our lives. We seek a place on level ground where we can experience fulfilling peace and joy. It is a God-size hole that can be only be filled by Him. He brings about deliverance, peace and healing through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our attempts to live without Him don’t get us where we need to be, yet we try it over and over expecting a different result each time.

Trying something new requires courage and faith. Stepping toward the Father and committing your journey forward in Him and through Him requires boldness and strength. But wherever you are in your faith journey, today is a good day to come closer. It is a good day to try living with the Lord. He is the way to fill the void that you have been missing. He is the way to reach level ground.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

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Tags: Jeremiah 29:11, Level Ground, Psalm 143:10
Categories : FAITH, GUIDANCE

Listening Time

14 01 2015

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.

Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

Psalm 143:8 NLT

In order to reach any goal requires focus and attention. Many of us are starting the New Year with a special time of prayer and fasting to draw closer to the Lord. This is a perfect time of year to spend dedicated time in prayer, meditation and reading God’s word to connect with our Heavenly Father. Being closer to the Lord is our goal. We want to be focused on His leading and His direction for our lives. We want to hear His voice about who we are and what we are becoming. The creator knows and He has plans for us. He has a purpose for our lives that exceeds our personal dreams. He is looking for an open heart and a yielded spirit to Him. During this time of seeking, we will have to tune out the many distractions that interfere with quiet time, devotion time and this time of listening for God’s voice. He is speaking. Let us do the work to hear God clearly.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

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Tags: Jeremiah 29:11, Listening Time, Psalms 143:8
Categories : GUIDANCE

Moving Forward in Him

13 01 2015

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14

I’m moving forward is my affirmation for this year. I am moving, I am pressing and I am making progress toward who God is calling me to be and what God is calling me to do. I am focused on what is ahead. I am not stuck in the past. I am not nursing old wounds. I am walking in forgiveness. I am healed in my mind body and soul. I am moving forward in Him.

My heart and my will are committed to doing the work to make it ahead; the daily prayer, reading His bible, and heeding the Holy Spirit throughout the day. I am not hindered by the distractions of the world. I am not wasting precious time. I am moving forward in Him.

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. Philippians 3:12-14

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Tags: Moving Forward in Him, Philippians 3:14
Categories : GUIDANCE

Liberty in Him

12 01 2015

Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. II Corinthians 3:16-18 MSG

We all desire to be free. Free from the dark and negative things that we experience in life. Our hearts and minds seek liberty from the bondage of sin and the intensity of brokenness. We seek to be free from the anxiety, depression and bitterness that keep us from free thinking and living. Seemingly captive, we feel like we are moving through a maze with no exits. I am so thankful that liberty is available to us. We can experience freedom, liberty and peace through Jesus Christ. We can take a step toward Him, presenting our heart, mind and soul to Him, just as we are. No special preparation is needed. He knows all about where we are, what we are feeling and what we need. In a focused place on Him, we can open our hearts in prayer and conversation with the Savior. We can talk to Him about what we are feeling and our desire to be free from sin and any other hindrance in our lives. We can tell Him about how sorry we are for past sin and our desire to live in close relationship with Him. We can accept Him in our hearts as Lord and Savior. In relationship with Him, in prayer, reading His Word and seeking to be closer in Worship, liberty is available to us. Change is available to us. A new life in freedom is available to us.

Dear Jesus:

We thank you for today. We thank you for this opportunity to acknowledge where we are today. We are in need of you. We need you in our hearts and minds. We need you in our lives. Lord, we acknowledge that we are a sinner. Lord, we recognize we are living in a state of brokenness where anxiety, depression and even bitterness may reside in our minds. We are so thankful for the gift of salvation and deliverance that is available today. We ask you to come into our hearts and provide the healing needed in our hearts, minds and souls. We accept you as Lord and Savior. We thank you for the gift of your love. We thank you for the gift of liberty in you. In the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Tags: II Corinthians 3:16-18, Liberty in Him
Categories : GUIDANCE

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