Terri's Wellspring

Thankful

3 07 2014

Shout to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with joy;
come before him with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
He made us, and we belong to him;
we are his people, the sheep he tends.
Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving
and into his courtyards with songs of praise.
Thank him and praise his name.
The Lord is good. His love is forever,
and his loyalty goes on and on. Psalm 100

I am giving thanks for this time and this place. I am here because of the blessings of the Lord. He has provided this journey for me and I am thankful. I can rejoice with praises in my heart for He is God. I know that the Lord is God. He is our creator and knows our purpose. He knows everything about us including the hair on our heads and even the tears that fall from our eyes. He is God and we belong to Him. We are His people. I am His child. He is God and in Him there is no lack. He provides for His sheep, for every need and is able to even provide for the desires of our hearts. We belong to Him. He leads and guides us. We can put our full trust in Him. We can thank Him for His goodness. Songs of praise and thanksgiving can fill our hearts and come forth through our lives. He is good. He is good and He is great. His love for us never ends and endures forever. We are thankful.

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Tags: Psalm 100, thankful
Categories : Uncategorized

Being Still

2 07 2014

Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
Psalm 46:10

Creating stillness in your life requires some effort. The world is intent on movement, speed and at a minimum a lot of busyness. All kinds of commitments pull on our time, our resources and our thinking. I imagine a place of stillness as a space where we are focused yet relaxed in the current moment of quietness. It is quiet space where your body and mind are at a state of rest, having full confidence in the God we serve. This is a place of peace, a place of trust and faith in our Father.

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Tags: Be Still, Psalm 46:10
Categories : FAITH, Uncategorized

Spread His Peace

1 07 2014

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

Our relationships with one another are precious. Each interaction is an opportunity to build, nurture and create stronger bonds. Careful selection of our words and our actions are an acknowledgement of the love, respect and concern that we have for each other. Our busyness of everyday living may open the door to being too busy for the things that matter most. Extending our love and time with our family members, our loved ones and our sisters and brothers in Christ is essential for creating an atmosphere of peace and unity. Our passage today encourages us to make every effort to maintain unity, using peace as the strong glue that binds us together. Patience, gentleness, forgiveness and love are key ingredients required for our success. We need His peace to reign in our relationships, in our families and our communities. As we start a new day, let us spread His peace in our homes, our neighborhoods and our congregations showing the world that our Savior lives and lives inside of us.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting. Psalm 133:1-3

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Tags: Ephesians 4:2-3, Psalms 133:1-3, Spread His Peace
Categories : PEACE, Uncategorized

Make it Plain

30 06 2014

Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV

Is your vision for your life written down? We live in a world where vision and mission statements are plentiful for corporations, non-profits and programs. These statements represent succinct descriptions of why an entity exists (mission) and the desired outcomes of their existence (vision). They serve as guidance for their activities and what they hope to accomplish. I have been through many strategic planning sessions where companies draft and redraft these statements to get it just right. My task now is to consider what would my written vision statement be? Is it something that is a nebulous idea or is it a concrete image that comes to my mind when I think of my life as a Child of God? Our passage today is a reminder from Habakkuk to write the vision down. It will take time, prayer and maybe even some research in the Word of God about what it says about different aspects of our lives: our marriage, our families, our careers, our money, and our health. It will be important for me to hear God’s response to my prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I am thankful to God about this part of my journey to imagine, to dream about my life through the Word of God.

I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster; plans to give you a future filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

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Tags: Habakkuk 2:2, Jeremiah 29:11, Make it Plain
Categories : GUIDANCE, Uncategorized, Vision

Renewal Comes

27 06 2014

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLV

We thank God for renewed mind and spirit today. Jesus can bring a fresh wind in our hearts and minds that give us a renewed sense of purpose and the energy to move in His direction. It comes with a refreshed mind and eyes that can see with a grateful heart of His goodness, His grace and His mercy. We are so thankful that God is our Heavenly Father that can turn our difficult situations into opportunities to grow and to expand and to become the individuals that He is calling us to be. We may be going through a situation that seems long and arduous but there is an end that will come. The hurt will soften and heal, the answer will become clear and God will provide the grace and mercy for you to be able to move forward. We thank God for being the source of renewal and revival in our lives.

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. Philippians 4:8 NLV

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Tags: Philippians 4:8, Renewal Comes, Romans 12:2
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, REVITALIZATION, Uncategorized

God knows and He Cares

26 06 2014

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. I Peter 5:6-7

We are so blessed to have a God who is omnipresent and all powerful. Our Heavenly Father knows all about what we experience each day. I am doubtful that we can add any knowledge to Him regarding our circumstances. He knows all about what we are experiencing and even the desires of our heart. We can give God praise and gratitude for who He is in our lives. We can demonstrate our confidence in Him concerning His abilities and His love for us. We can stand firmly on His word increasing both our faith and our trust in Him to work it all out on our behalf. We can do our part in working diligently to complete every step that follows His instruction. God knows and He cares for each one of us. We can walk in this promise today and forever more.

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Categories : Uncategorized

Keep Your Hearts and Minds

25 06 2014

Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected .Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

This passage of scripture has blessed me over and over again. During different seasons of my life, the Holy Spirit is gracious enough to remind me where our focus should be in daily living. We are so inundated with things that don’t reflect God, His word or His love. It is a source of discouragement, anxiety and depression if you choose to stay focused on it. Our God provides a perfect place for guiding our thoughts and our actions. It is a place where truth and peace abide for His children. With our focus on Him, we can leave fear behind and walk with His peace in our hearts.

Dear Heavenly Father:
I thank You for this day. I thank You for all the blessings that have allowed me to come to this point in my life. As I move forward, I want to be focused on the truth of your word, which provides guidance and peace for each step in my life. Lord, where I have fallen short I ask for your merciful forgiveness. I am thankful for the promise of peace as I stay focused on You. Have your light and your love to shine bright today every place I go.
In Jesus name, Amen

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Tags: Keep Your Hearts and Minds, Philippians 4:4-9
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, REVITALIZATION, Uncategorized

By Faith

24 06 2014

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.

By faith he lived in the land he had been promised as a stranger. He lived in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were coheirs of the same promise. He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:7-10

Living fearlessly would not be the most accurate description of my life. I have tended to walk lightly taking chances where risks could be calculated and minimized. On some fronts it has served me well but it has also robbed me of some experiences that only come with “walk on water” faith. I think about people in the Bible, who were called to do things that way out of their comfort zone. A young teen named David who faced Goliath. Moses who experienced a speech problem but spoke out on behalf of God’s people and Esther a Queen who risked it all to save her people. These may seem like extreme examples or things that would definitely cause us to be out of our zone. But God calls us to live a life that puts our full trust in Him. Our trust cannot wrapped in our capabilities, our resources or the people we love. It has to be in Him.

What is God is calling us to do today by faith…

“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. Matthew 14:9

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Tags: By Faith, Hebrews 11:7-10, Matthew 14:9
Categories : FAITH, Uncategorized

Help is Here!

18 06 2014

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3

Our Heavenly Father provides countless blessings to us as His children. He is faithful to be with us always and provides help to us along our journey in this life. We give praises with our hands and hearts lifted to God for this powerful blessing that has the ability to provide strength and protection in any situation. We live in a time when change and problems may arise quickly like rising flood waters but we are not consumed. God provides a place of refuge, safety, peace and well-being, even during the storm. We can look to Him for direction, for wisdom and peace concerning whatever we are facing – health, jobs, finances, relationships – listening and obedient to His direction. In our passage today, God is described in the present tense for each of these blessings: God is our refuge. God is our strength. God is a very present help in trouble. He is our Help now and forevermore.

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need Him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in sea storm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Psalm 46:1-3 MSG

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Tags: Help is Here, Psalm 46:1-3
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, Uncategorized

Strong and Able

17 06 2014

Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. III John 1:2

My vision for my health is that I will be strong and able. God created the human body as an amazing organism that supports healthy living, well into our senior years. Our health is a blessing that we can treasure. As God’s children we can strive to be a good steward in reaching and maintaining optimal health. We know more now than at any other era in time about how to support our health through healthy eating, exercise and rest. We know how harmful habits of smoking, overeating and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to disease and sickness. We were created to be an active, strong and able people. Each day we can take steps toward this vision of our lives. We may be in a place where we need healing or direction on how to get there but our God is faithful to answer our prayers. He desires to provide healing for our bodies. He will give us instruction on how to move our health in the right direction. Eating fruits and vegetables is a key for me. A consistent active lifestyle with exercise will keep my body and my mind strong. I am thankful for this time of re-dedication to my best life so that I can work toward being strong and able.

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
Psalm 103:2-5 NLT

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Tags: III John 1:2, Psalm 103:2-5, Strong and Able
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE, Uncategorized