Encouragement
At our ages (81 and 76) our bodies and our minds have weakened and we sometimes wonder "What's left?"
But The Holy Spirit (and our past experiences) remind us that we can still have a positive attitude in the midst of life's negatives. We still have Faith, Hope and Love!
Most every week, we receive greeting cards from a group of ladies @ Bethel Baptist Church here (where I pastored for 11 yrs.)
Their mission is to keep in touch with the Senior Citizens who are home-bound.
One recent card said:
"May the Lord lift your spirit, encourage your heart, build your faith and brighten your day!" This is what God does....but He begins with the Gift of a Positive Attitude.
Charles Swindall wrote:
"This may shock you, but I believe the single most significant decision that I make each day....is my attitude. It is that single string that keeps me going....
or cripples my progress. It can fuel my fire...or it can assault my hope!"
Attitude is SO important, especially as we age!
I've shared with you before about the health 'challenges' we've faced (and still face).
~La Moyne's 30+ yrs. journey in dealing with Lupus
~her 2 heart attacks in the past 2 yrs.
~her 3 bad falls (w/ the fall last month fracturing her spine)
In 1991, I had cancer of the vocal chords (a scary diagnosis for anyone...
but esp. for a Pastor!)
After 32 radiation treatments, God took care of the cancer, but due to the treatments, my throat was VERY dry which resulted in my having to retire from full time pastoring.
I told La Moyne that I had literally become a 'dry preacher' :(
However God's suffiencies are adequate for our deficiencies!!!
We must claim these Promises!
Here are many of them under the title of "Never Again"....
This is a very positive attitude, plus Scripture to encourage you.
(Please save this in your Bible and use in your daily life)
~ NEVER AGAIN WILL I say I can't......
"for I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me" (Phil.4:13)
~ NEVER AGAIN WILL I confess 'lack'
as "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory (Phil 4:19)
~ NEVER AGAIN WILL I confess 'fear'
for "My God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of a sound mind...
and love" (II Tim. 1:17)
~NEVER AGAIN WILL I doubt (nor lack faith) for
"My God gives to everyone a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)
Don't do the 'measuring'....let God do that!
~NEVER AGAIN WILL I bring up old sins/deeds that I regret, for
"God forgives and He casts all of our sins in His Sea of Forgetfulness and remembers them against us no more!" (Ps. 103:12)
~NEVER AGAIN WILL I doubt that I am saved for
"God's Spirit bears witness with my spirit" that I'm either saved or not".
~NEVER AGAIN WILL I say that I'm bored, for
God's wonders are all around and there are people who love us...
and God gives life more abundantly".
JOY = "Jesus and you with nothing in between"
~NEVER AGAIN WILL I say that I lack strength for
"The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps. 27:1)
~NEVER AGAIN WILL I live a defeated life for
"Thanks be to God Who gives us the Victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ."
(II Cor. 2:14)
~NEVER AGAIN WILL I feel condemnation for
"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh." (Rom. 8:11)
We speak for ourselves as we share the above thoughts as they are SO necessary for each one of us!
I'd like to close with an example of God's Sufficiency.
We met with the Orthopedic Dr. yesterday concerning La Moyne's fractured spine.
After he took an x-ray (to compare with the previous one) he explained the findings to us.
He pointed to a thick line of 'white' where the spine fractured last month and said,
"God grew calcium in that area during the 6 wks. you were in the body brace."
La Moyne replied, "Well, God did His part, now I've got to do mine!"
On the way home from the Doctor's office, we talked about this Scripture:
"I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful....I know that full well." (Psalm 139:14 NIV)
We also talked about how "God's love does not keep us from trials....
but He helps us get through them!"
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1739 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Travis Wiginton or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1739 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.