sentence tuesday

No matter how dark and hopeless a situation might seem, never stop praying.

-Billy Graham

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like a tree

Matheson Hammocks Park 

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The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92:12-15

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Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

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Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear^[a] when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:5-10 

to: ALL // from: Paul

{photo credit}
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But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:

“He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.”

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Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Lyrical Friday - 10,000 Reasons

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn; shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord. Psalm 98:1-8 

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Happy Friday! 

What is a blessing?

Here are a few words that describe a blessing: approval, adoption, acceptance, espousal, support, backing, patronage, championship, backup, admiration, appreciation, reward, reinforcement, boon, good fortune, mercy, thanksgiving, grace, orison, petition, prayer,  benison. Are these not words that describe our relationship with the Lord? Has He not shown is approval of us? He has adopted us as sons and daughters. He has accepted us into His family, His works and Heaven. Espousal, reward, good fortune, mercy and grace are just at the surface of all the benefits He gives us. He is our patronage, backup, support, prayer and petition. We are made champions, victorious and more than conquers in Him. Are we not blessed? It is only right that we would bless Him and His holy name. 

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At times, blessing His name comes easy and rolls off our lips. But there will be dark times, where we can not even mutter a word, much less bless the Lord. I know the feeling. I have experienced that it is only in blessing the Lord that our battle will be won. We may not see immediate deliverance to our present troubles nor may our gloom be lifted right away but hope, strength and joy will arise in the midst of craziness. So continue blessing the Lord. Bless the Lord in your home, in your car, with a friend, in your congregation and anywhere else you may be found. No matter how far off you may be from the Lord, praise Him there. If your heart has hardened and you can't find it in you to bless His name, reach out to someone to cry out to God for you and with you. The Lord has been good, it may be that a change of perspective is what you need. Bless the Lord as you count your blessings. 

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10,000 Reasons, Matt Redman 

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The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
⁴⁷ It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. Psalm 18:46-49
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Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. Psalm 28:6-7
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Blessed be the Lord, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes”; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You. Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:21-24
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I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3
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By this I know that You are well pleased with me, because my enemy does not triumph over me. As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before Your face forever. blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen. Psalm 41:11-13
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Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. Psalm 68:19, 26
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Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen. Psalm 89:52
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Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:1-6
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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: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:1-6
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Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Psalm 103:20-22
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Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind, Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. Psalm 104:1-4
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Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord! Psalm 106:46-47
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The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord! Psalm 115:16-17
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Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Psalm 124:6-7 
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Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. Psalm 134:1-2 
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Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle— My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. Psalm 144:1-2
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*Read and meditate on Psalm 104

Kony 2012 // Make Kony Famous

We take 30 minutes to watch a sitcom, 60 minutes to watch a TV special and over 90 minutes to watch a movie. Please watch the next 29 minutes. 

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www.kony2012.com

sentence tuesday

No teaching can replace the inward power of the Holy Spirit.

-Jim Cymbala

{photo credit}

Single and waiting for Mr.Perfect

Does your singleness feel like a game of hide-and-seek? "Come out, come out, wherever you are" is becoming more of a command than a silly script from a children's game. Have you searched high and low, near and far with no luck? Are you tired of waiting and Mr.Perfect is nowhere to be found? Can I get a witness?!

Let's first look at the qualities of Mr.Perfect: He should already come with built-in features such as love, romance, intimacy, adventure, humor and desire. Other qualities that Mr.Perfect will possess are gentleness, kindness, friendliness, approachable, graceful yet warrior-like, honest, and faithful. Now I ask you, upon reading this amazing list of qualities, can Mr. Perfect truly exist all in one person? Or is it OK to settle our hearts with an almost Mr.Perfect? I'm here to tell you that Mr.Perfect does exist. 

It may just be that you are looking for Him in all the wrong places. 

If you want good pizza, you don't go to McDonalds.

If you want running shoes, you don't go to the local supermarket. 

If you want to watch a live baseball game, you go to the stadium.

If you want a beautiful dress, you go to a boutique. 

If you want a hair cut, you go to a beauty salon. 

You catch my drift. 

If Mr.Perfect is who you are searching for, stop looking at the world and fix your eyes upon Jesus. Take notice, if I was to describe Him, you would jump on the wagon: "Single male, 33 years old, Christian, loves God, man of prayer, teacher of the Word, friendly, family oriented, loves children, loves adventure, traveling, carpenter, doctor, cook, fisherman, and all around good guy, self sacrificing and saving himself for his bride." Granted, the list describing Jesus is massive but based on these, any single woman in a right state of mind would yell out, "Hubba! Hubba! Bring it on." 

Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame;
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.
⁵ For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth.
⁶ For the Lord has called you
Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Like a youthful wife when you were refused,”
Says your God.

Isaiah 54:4-5

My beloved sisters, Mr.Perfect is not in hiding, nor is He too high or too low from your reach, nor too far but He is near. He is a thought away and a prayer away. He has known you before you were even conceived or even known in your mother's womb. He knew you by name. He knew what color hair you would have, how far apart your eyes would be, how long (or short) your legs were to be and even how fast your heart would beat. He knew that you would laugh, that you would also cry. He knew that you would long for love and intimacy. But He also knew that you would be a sinner and because you are not perfect as He is, a right relationship would be wrong and impossible. And so He did what no man would ever do and what no man could ever do, what only a perfect man should do; He took on your sin, your debt, and your punishment and removed it from you as far as the east is from the west. And because He is God, He has made you new. Because of His righteousness, you can now enter into relationship with Him. Mr.Perfect, the Gentlemen of all gentlemen, has initiated a pursuance of your heart... How will you respond?

My challenge to you, date Mr.Perfect! Yes, it is possible to do. Prayer is how we talk to Him, and His Word is how He speaks to us. He has proved His great love to us on the cross and daily as He loads us with benefits and blessings. We prove our love to Him through obedience, worship and serving others. The amazing thing is that we don't have to hide a good thing when we find it, and our relationship with Jesus is a good thing that is to be shared. And like any relationship, not everyone will approve but the best way to prove them wrong is by building a strong relationship that makes you a better person at the same time. So let's get working! You may be single in status, but I'll tell you what, betrothed in heart to the most amazing Mr.Perfect. And one day, you will See Him face to face and hear Him say: You are Mine and I am yours.

Off on a date with Mr.Perfect,
The Single Lily


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