God Is Good All the Time And All the Time God Is Good
Encourage One Another
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Testimony
vICKIE aUBEL
Legacy of Faith
Heavenly Abba Father, I thank you for the many people You have blessed me with who are godly examples of faithful living. I would have to say my Mom is one of the best examples, probably because I know her best. She wasn't perfect, but she knew it and was repentant of her sins. She was a faithful servant of Christ and opened her home to the Good News Club so the kids could have a place to come hear the Gospel.
She was faithful to attend church and Bible Study and studied the Bible on her own at home. I was blessed to see many notes in her Bible and notebooks filled with ponderings and questions.
Her best example of faith in Christ to me though was her passing from this world into the next.
As she lay in her hospital bed, I was able to sit beside her and hold her hand and we sang hymns and reminisced. When I accepted Jesus at 14, Mom had just become a new believer too and we were baptized together. A great memory! And then Mom looked at me so seriously and said, "I see Jesus waiting for me at the top of the stairs and I want to go to Him, but I need to know that you will be ok." I exclaimed, "Go to Him Mom, I'll be fine!" A few hours later she departed this world and stepped into the next. I've never seen anyone so convinced that they have seen Jesus!
For me she's the best example of faith in Jesus that I have ever known! That is her legacy that she passed on to me! A faithful life lived to please God, and her death gave me the best example of how to live my life!
I'm looking forward to seeing you soon Mom!
"What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see!
When I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace.
When He takes me by the hand and leads me through the Promise Land!
What a day, glorious day that will be! "
Thank You, Lord, for Your saving grace and the assurance of eternity with You and all the faithful, loved ones who have gone before us. I love You Lord. In Jesus name, amen.
Testimony
SUNNY COUCH
This Is the Way, Walk in It
“And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left'.” Isaiah 30:21 AMPC
The year was 1992. The teacher was announcing the school of discipleship taking place at the “mission”. I had a desire to take this journey for a while now, but I had my wedding business to tend to, and it was not really prospering to the degree that I felt I could take the time off.
But as I heard the announcement, I simply had this “knowing” in my heart that it was the right time! Things fell into place, as my daughter, Karen, said she would help out with the business, so I could go for the three months. It was a “life changing” experience and I was so blessed!
Another time, I was asked by Kareen if I would come and house-sit while she was gone, to which I said yes, I would. I then asked her where she was going, and she said, Hawaii. Then I kiddingly said, “Well, I want to go! Haha” (I had never really had a strong desire to go, but maybe for the fact I never felt I would be able to afford the trip.)
Kareen then said that another lady had been planning to go but circumstances might not be favorable for her, but she already had her ticket. She asked me if I could wait until maybe the last minute to see if the other lady could go or not! I just said “yes,” though I didn’t really think it would happen in my favor.
The time was still a couple months or more down the road, and I just put it out of my mind until one day, I called her to ask if she knew anything and to let her know that I was still interested, and she had no update so once again I set the idea aside.
Then one day I got a call from Kareen asking if I could be ready to go the next day. (Now, I had learned early on to be ready for the unexpected; ready to go!) It just happened that I had taken care of all the details of “life” that would be necessary; my daughter was ready to step into the business again. My laundry was done, and the bills were paid. So it was just a matter of throwing some clothes in a suitcase and I was ready!
My son brought me some film for my camera, and I was ready for an early morning departure. I was going on Vi’s ticket, (before they required photo ID). I had not met her yet and had no clue how to pronounce her name in case it came up anytime on the flight! Fern taught me how to say it! The trip was my first-time meeting Fern and the trip was planned by her. Thus, started long sweet friendships with all three of these ladies and I had a wonderful, blessed time with these ladies. It was simply a “gift” from the Lord!
The third opportunity was a trip to Israel! At the beginning of the year, I had had this “feeling?” or “knowing” in my heart, that this would be the year I would go to Israel. I was still in a struggling business, financially. Janice K. was working for me at the time.
Again, my daughter had said she would help Janice in the business. It was the day before I needed the money, and in my thinking, I would have to sell a lot of wedding dresses that day! I was outside talking to Karen and letting her know that it didn’t look possible so released her to make other plans.
She went to her car, and I walked into the “shop” and the mail had just been placed on my desk! The top envelope was a familiar looking envelope from the court for back child support. I had received one other check for $15.00 and so figured this would be similar…. But as I opened the envelope I was absolutely astounded, for it was for more than $4000.00. I had never seen that much money at one time! In that instant I literally shouted!
Is that how it went, Janice? How well I remember! So, I signed up for the trip and what a huge blessing to do the “impossible”! With God all things are possible when it is His will!
Those three trips were the “building blocks” in my learning to hear God’s voice leading and directing my steps. They were huge lessons in “hearing” His voice, and the lessons continue to this day. God is constantly teaching us to “believe” Him that He is able to make Himself and His will to be known!
Now, I try to listen for that “voice” inside and thank Him for what He is promising! I believe He delights in showing us His faithfulness to speak and fulfill all His promises.
I also learned that if He cares about things like trips (that seemed unnecessary), how much more does He care about the bigger, more important things regarding “life” here in this present times and seasons we are in where we need to hear His voice more than ever!
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalms 32:8
Lord, I thank You for Your faithfulness to show Your love and kindness to us; to me! May we continue to walk in faith knowing You never will leave us helpless!
To heavy to bear
A Glass of Water
During one lecture, a professor suddenly picked up a glass of water and held it up. He stood there quietly, just holding it, as the students began to glance at each other, waiting for an explanation. Ten minutes passed, and he still didn’t lower his arm.
Finally, he asked: “Tell me, how much do you think this glass weighs?”
The students started guessing: “Maybe a couple of ounces!”
“Four ounces!”
“Five!”
The professor smiled. “Honestly, I don’t know either. To find out, we’d have to weigh it. But that’s not the real question. What happens if I hold this glass for a few minutes?”
“Nothing,” the students replied.
“Right. Now, what if I hold it for an hour?”
“Your arm will start to hurt,” one answered.
“Correct. And what if I try to hold it all day?”
“Your arm would go numb, you’d be in serious pain, maybe even need medical help,” another said as the class laughed.
The professor nodded calmly. “Exactly. But tell me—did the weight of the glass ever change?”
“No,” came the reply.
“So why the pain in the arm? Why the tension in the muscles?”
The room fell silent.
Then he asked: “What should I do to get rid of the pain?”
“Put the glass down,” someone said.
“Exactly!” the professor exclaimed. “Life’s problems work the same way. If you carry them in your head for a few minutes, it’s no big deal. Think about them for too long, and they start to hurt. Dwell on them all day, and they paralyze you—you won’t be able to do anything else.”
He paused, then finished with this: “That’s why it’s so important to put your problems down at the end of each day. Don’t go to bed carrying the weight of them. Rest, recharge, and you’ll wake up ready to face tomorrow with strength and clarity.”
Precious truth
jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
pain
jesus knows your hurt - Song by Dallas Holm
The pain some people bear
No one would believe
The hurt that's sometimes there
Makes it hard to see
That in the darkest hour
There is still a way
Listen to these simple words I say
Jesus knows your hurt
Jesus feels your pain
Jesus knows just how you feel
’Cause He's felt just the same
Jesus knows your need
Better than you do
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Sometimes you feel alone
Does He really care?
Has He left you on your own?
And does He hear your prayer?
Well, He has never left you
Or forsaken you one day
Listen to these simple words I say
Jesus knows your hurt
Jesus feels your pain
Jesus knows just how you feel
’Cause He's felt just the same
Jesus knows your need
Better than you do
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you