Terri's Wellspring

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

Gratitude

9 01 2015

Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

Psalms 107:21-22

I am so thankful for another day. The blessing of health, life and strength are available to me and I am so thankful. I woke up with energy and the ability to get ready for the day. My heart is filled with gratitude. I am so thankful that I can see God’s handiwork in me and in my life. He is so merciful. I am thankful for His goodness, His mercy and His grace that continues to encircle my life. I can see God working in my heart and mind and He continues to perfect that which concerns me. It is a day to be grateful. It is day to return these blessings by blessing my Savior’s name. I bless Him with praise and with the fruit of my hands. I dedicate today to Him with a heart full of gratitude. I am thankful.

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. I Thessalonians 5:18

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Tags: gratitude, I Thessalonians 5:18, Psalms 107:21-22
Categories : GRATITUDE

Believe Jesus

8 01 2015

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16

We can put our full Faith in God. He is the creator of the Universe and took the time to create each one of us. Our existence is a testimony of His ability to create complex organisms and systems that result in our bodies. His gift of His Son Jesus Christ is the ultimate gift of love to the World. Our lives and our living are our testimony of our response to God. Do we recognize Him as God? Do we accept His Word that His Son Jesus Christ is our Savior? Do we accept and believe Jesus in our hearts today? These are important questions for establishing, building and living in faith. We may believe in Jesus but we are called to believe in Him, trust in Him and believe who He says He is. We are called to believe in His Word. We are compelled to do His will each day. Our belief, trust and faith in Jesus Christ can be demonstrated by our words and actions every day. We can put our full faith in Jesus Christ and accept Him in our hearts and living today.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

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Tags: Believe Jesus, John 3:16, Matthew 16:15-16
Categories : Uncategorized

More of You

7 01 2015

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. John 3:30

I want my life to reflect more of Jesus Christ. I need more of His love, His peace, His compassion, His mercy to be evident in who I am, my living and my witness. He is the Holy One, who gave His life for our sins. He walked this earth as a living example of God’s love. His Holy Word is available to us to read and learn more about living according to His will. As His children, we should reflect His image. Our actions should resemble Him. Our words, our attitudes, our way of living should reflect the Savior. I have some work to do and maybe you do too. I am thankful for another opportunity to keep pressing toward His will and His purpose for our lives.

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Tags: More of You
Categories : GUIDANCE

Launching Time

5 01 2015

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! II Corinthians 5:17

New beginnings start with a new year, a new week and each new day. We can wake up and thank God that He has allowed us to see another day. The Lord is good and He has a purpose and assignment for each of us. It is our responsibility to seek His face to align our goals with His will for our lives. His plans far exceed what we can imagine. His plan includes walking in purpose, achieving His eternal assignments and the experience of love, peace and joy. We may be a great distance from where we want to be in many aspects of our lives. Our relationships, finances, health and spiritual condition may be in disarray and seemingly in an irreparable state. We can thank God now that He is the eternal change agent in our lives that can transform each situation, when we turn it over to Him. We can release our families, marriages, finances, employment and each concern of our hearts over to Him. He is able. As we launch this day, this week and this year. Let us step out on faith toward Him; seeking His will for lives in Him, through Him and for His glory.

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Tags: Launching Time
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT

His Wisdom

3 01 2015

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

I need His wisdom every day. He is able to guide my steps and to help me to make good decisions. We can thank the Lord for His direction and His leading to keep us on the right path. On our journey we can encounter detours, snares and traps that are designed to harm us but our God is able to keep us from falling. What I think is imperfect and lacking but when I put my will in Jesus’ hands it is transformed into something vibrant and productive. He provides wisdom willingly and openly to those who will ask for it and receive it with and open heart. We thank Him in advance for His goodness and His mercy toward us for guided steps and wisdom for the path ahead.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

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Tags: Hebrews 12:1, His Wisdom, James 1:5
Categories : Uncategorized

Strong Start

1 01 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.” Joshua 1:6-8
Launching a new year we want to start out strong. We want our initial days to set a firm foundation to allow us to thrive in the year ahead. In our heart, mind and soul, we want to be strong in our faith and in our determination to walk in His purpose for our lives. The passage for today is a reminder of the Lord’s instructions to Joshua as he moves into leadership of God’s people. Joshua is called to be both strong and courageous. I believe each of us is called to be strong and courageous in our walk with the Lord. Strong in our faith and confident in the God that we serve. We can place our trust fully in Him to lead us, to guide us and to provide strength when we need it. Even when our strength falls short, His strength is perfected in our weakness. Courage requires healthy doses of confidence to walk were the Lord is leading and to stand flat-footed in the face of adversity. We can stand strong when we are careful to obey God’s Word and to stay focused on His path for us ahead. Detours to the left or to the right create havoc in our lives. We are proclaiming strength and courage today to walk in His purpose. We are proclaiming clear focus on His leading and His Word. We will be strong and courageous in 2015.

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Tags: Strong Start
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT