Terri's Wellspring

It Starts Now!

2 09 2011

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NASB

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Everything I have yet to experience starts now. The dreams, accomplishments, the places I want to see, the languages I want to learn, the quilt I want to make and the better health I want to create in my life. It is sometimes hard to see the start of a new day as a place of beginning for what will take the rest of my days but new mercies come with the dawn. A renewed spirit comes with a rested mind. A new start comes with a decision to do so, making a conscious effort to focus on the things that matter.

So we begin again, reminded of the dreams of my heart for my life and my family. Recognizing the power of God’s blessing and favor in guiding my steps along the journey; Being assured that the Holy Spirit will guide me toward greater love, compassion and more of His kindness to those around me; Having the full confidence and faith knowing that He is perfecting, that which concerns me.

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Categories : PURPOSE, Uncategorized

Lovingkindness

1 09 2011

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 he 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.

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Categories : LOVE, Uncategorized

Great Expectations

31 08 2011

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6 NLT

We woke up this morning with another day stretched out ahead of us. As a child of God, I am in great anticipation of the day and the blessings that it will bring. I expect that God will keep every promise to His children. He will provide for every need. He will be with me always. He will provide peace for my mind. He will continue to guide my steps. He will provide protection. He provides deliverance and healing. And He even knows the desire of my heart.

Just imagine if we approached each day with a sense of great expectation of what God will do. How He is working things out on our behalf. How he will provide wisdom and direction through His Holy Spirit. It gives us a new perspective on what the day will bring. This day is filled with promise and blessing and I am thankful.

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Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT

I am fearfully and wonderfully made

30 08 2011

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psalm 139:14

DearFather-

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank You for the remarkable design and creation of my body. I believe that You desire good health for me. I thank You for the Holy Spirit guiding me to make good decisions about what I eat, how to exercise and rest. I will be diligent in taking good care of Your precious gift of my mental and physical health. Today, I will continue my life journey in the health and wellness You desire for me. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Amen

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Categories : PRAISE, Uncategorized

Seeking HIS Kingdom

29 08 2011

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. ” Matthew 6:33

I am so thankful for the blessing of this day and time in our lives. We have so much to thank God for – life, health and strength to name a few. Many of us have felt the intensity of this season, with unexpected developments and disappointments. Daily we have been called to flex our faith muscles to new strengths despite our perceived uncertainty of the outcome. We are challenged to line up our faith, our thinking and our beliefs with God’s word. Each day we should strengthen our “knowing” that our God is in control, His righteousness is His will for our lives and that He provides for our needs. As we seek Him, He guides our steps and He is clearing the path before us. Despite the doubt that others may feel, our outcome is certain with Victory through Jesus Christ. Continue to trust Him, as we do His will.

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Categories : GUIDANCE, Uncategorized

Giving Thanks

26 08 2011

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” I Chronicles 16:34

As a blessed people, it may be easy to take some things for granted. This week I am reminded of God’s mercy toward us. We have watched and some felt the very earth move under our feet. Despite an unprecedented earthquake felt along the eastern seaboard, no one was hurt and relatively small damage to property. We are so thankful for this blessing.

In a matter of hours the same area will face Hurricane Irene. Our prayers are for safety, mercy and protection for all that may be impacted. While this may be a time for petition before God, it is always a good time for thanks and gratitude. We are thankful for God’s creation of the Earth and all it provides for us. We are thankful to God that even during these challenging times the safest place for each of us is in your will. We are so thankful for His goodness and also for His faithful love toward us. We do give thanks!

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Categories : REFUGE, Uncategorized

Important Words to Say

24 08 2011

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT

I recently spent a day at a Hospice ministry. It was a place of dignity and love despite the fact that residents there were near the end of their life here on earth. It was peaceful, caring and made to look like home. I was struck by volunteers and staff who worked diligently to make sure that the residents were cared for and comfortable. The hospice nurse visited with us and shared that our family member was actively dying. She explained that anybody wishing to see her should come now and that there were 5 important things to say to someone who is passing:

I love you
I am sorry for whatever you need to apologize for
I forgive you for whatever you need to forgive
Thank you for what you are grateful for
I’ll never forget the impact you have made on my life.

After the nurse had completed her visit, I pondered these 5 things. While they were specific instructions to share with people who were dying, I know they have value for our relationships in everyday life. What if we made it a practice to say these things as a way of living:

Making sure that the ones that we love know it with our words and actions.
Saying that we are sorry for the things as soon as we recognize the need to
Forgiving others in our hearts and minds for hurts and misunderstandings
Expressing our gratitude for the things that we are thankful big and small.
Letting people know what they mean to us.

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Categories : LOVE

The Joy of the LORD

23 08 2011

Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10b

A new day brings with it new opportunities for a whole new set of experiences. Occasionally, I have finished a day that was full of the unexpected. Something happened that may have resulted in a series of events that I could not have even imagined. This is the nature of life and living.

Setting “the stage” or “our mindset” for each day can provide the strength or the endurance needed to make it through whatever the day brings. If we approach each day with praises on our lips for our Faithful Father, thanksgiving in our hearts for His goodness and rejoicing in our spirit for His peace and His love, it will help us to endure. It will help us to respond to the day’s events in faith and in love. It will remind us that Jesus is faithful to be with us each step of the way. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

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Categories : JOY, Uncategorized

Jesus Prayed for Us

22 08 2011

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

I love to think about the fact that Jesus prays for us. He has talked to His father on our behalf. Even though the enemy may have plans to destroy us. Jesus has prayed that our faith will not fail. What a source of encouragement that He has prayed for the success of our strength, our endurance and our faith.

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Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, Uncategorized

Strength for Today

5 08 2011

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Today is a precious gift. No matter how the day ends, we will never be able to relive or recapture the time available to us on this day. I have a lot of things and maybe an unreasonable amount of tasks that I hope to accomplish today. So I want to put first things first. I am so thankful for the opportunity of today that I am asking God for wisdom, clarity of direction and strength to accomplish what is needed according to His plan for my life. I don’t want to squander time with distractions and toiling. I am asking our faithful Father to provide laser focus on His will and His ways for me. I will honor God in my thinking and my actions, with full confidence that He is able to activate the gifts in me to advance His plans for my life today.