Terri's Wellspring

Fan the Flame

2 06 2015

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. II Timothy 1:6-7 NLT

We were each born with a God-given purpose. We are equipped with unique abilities that give us all the tools and talents needed to accomplish our assignment. During our life’s journey, we explore and nurture our gifts as we accept the call on our lives for God’s service. We are all called to serve. We may not be called to proclaim God’s Word from a pulpit but in our families, our communities and in our interactions with one another we are to demonstrate God’s love in ways that fulfill our purpose. Our hands, our words, our tasks emanate His love, His compassion, His mercy that exemplify His Son, Jesus Christ. What a tremendous gift to the world to use the gift that is inside of you. You have what it takes to accomplish the task and to carry it through. He made you for this task. He has given you the tools and the talents to make it happen. You are empowered, careful not to embrace fear but to walk in confidence of the God we serve. Our passage today reminds us to keep our gifts active, alive and on fire. We are to fan the flames within us to keep our gifts fueled with the air that it needs to grow and to shine bright. We fan the flames today within us to use our gifts for His Glory.

That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. II Timothy 1:5-7 MSG

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Tags: Fan the Flame, II Timothy 1:5-7
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, PURPOSE

June

1 06 2015

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

The sixth month of the year has arrived and we are approaching the half-way point of this year. It’s a good time to review my “to do” list. It is not a literal list but it is probably a good time to get it down on paper. It is late but it is not too late. Hopefully, your list is spelled out and you are checking things off. But I find myself, thinking: What are my goals that I want to accomplish before the year ends? What has the Lord asked me to do? Am I diligent and focused in working toward these goals? I need to write it down and make it plain. I need to wake up each day with a focused and determined to reach my goals. With the Lord’s help, I can make the best use of the seven months ahead.

If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. Proverbs 29:18 MSG

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Tags: June, Proverbs 29:18, Proverbs 3:5-6
Categories : GUIDANCE

Submitted

29 05 2015

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 (Message)

I am submitting my heart and hopes to the Lord. My Heavenly Father loves me and cares for me so I know my heart is in good hands. I submit my dreams and aspirations to the One who has defined my purpose. He leads and guides my steps into a blessed destiny. He is weaving the details of my life into something good and I am grateful. My submission of my life is an act of faith. It is an act of complete trust in our loving God. I am submitting everything to Him.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:26-28 MSG

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Categories : Uncategorized

Wherever you go

28 05 2015

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead

these people to possess all the land

I swore to their ancestors I would give them.

Be strong and very courageous.

Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you.

Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

Study this Book of Instruction continually.

Meditate on it day and night

so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.

Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

This is my command-be strong and courageous!

Do not be afraid or discouraged.

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:6-9

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Tags: Joshua 1:6-9, Wherever you go
Categories : FAITH

Always

27 05 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 4:6-9 NLT

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Tags: Always, Philippians 4:6-9
Categories : Uncategorized

Be Brave and Courageous

26 05 2015

Psalm 27

A psalm of David

The Lord is my light and my salvation-
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.

The one thing I ask of the Lord-
the thing I seek most-
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.

Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.

Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.

Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.

Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

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Tags: Be Strong and Courageous, Psalms 27
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT

Higher Ways

22 05 2015

“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 NLT

The Lord’s ways are higher than my very best thinking. I am thankful that He is full of wisdom and power. He knows everything concerning His children, now and into the future. We can look to Him for direction, the ideas and the strategies to move forward in our destiny. He freely provides wisdom for those who ask for it. He directs the path of those who want to be led. He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith. I am thankful that I don’t have to rely on my thinking alone but that the Lord enhances my decisions with the leading of His Holy Spirit. Today, I am careful to seek His higher ways in my life.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 NLT

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Tags: Higher Ways, Isaiah 55:8-9, James 1:5
Categories : Uncategorized

Blessed

20 05 2015

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

We receive so many blessings each day. The blessing of life, health and strength are precious gifts. The added promise of peace and joy in our minds and soul, as we focus on God is a gift beyond measure. It is amazing to me to know that the Lord can provide peace and joy even when circumstances in our personal lives can be full of uncertainty. We can have faith that whatever arises today that God can provide guidance, comfort and healing. We pray that God will use our blessed life for His glory and in service to His people.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷Then 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. Philippians 4:6 NLT

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Tags: Blessed, Philippians 4:19, Philippians 4:6
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT

This Faith

18 05 2015

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. Hebrews 11:1 MSG

Each day I have to make a conscience decision to trust in God. I have to stand on the firm foundation of faith. My faith is in my Heavenly Father, who empowers my life. My trust is in Him for the details of my life; the big and small specifics of my journey. I am thankful for His love and mercy that surround me. I can stand strong on His Word for whatever the day brings. He is a Healer, a Provider and a Deliverer. My faith and trust is in the Lord. Even when the blessing and outcome are elusive and murky, I choose to trust Him. Even when the wait is long, I choose to trust Him. Even when I don’t understand the circumstance, I choose to trust Him. My faith and trust is in the Lord. My faith in Him makes life worth living.

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Tags: Hebrews 11:1, This Faith
Categories : FAITH

His Amazing Love

15 05 2015

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. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Philippians 3:14-19 NLT

God’s love for us is amazing to me. His love for me is complete and it completes me. It is all encompassing and it is an envelope around my life. It is full of mercy and provides the forgiveness that provides renewed life. It gives me strength and humbles my spirit at the same time. I can put my full trust in the Lord. His love is wide, high and deep. I am so thankful for His amazing love.

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Tags: His Amazing Love, Philippians 3:14-19
Categories : PRAISE