The Joy List

We all experience discouragement in our lives, whether it is in our work environment, home, or even friendships.  Recently a friend and I were discussing how one day I felt discouraged and she was fine, and then the next day she felt discouraged and I was fine.  We brainstormed and talked about what we could do in the classroom to make it more successful, and as I was leaving I turned around and said, “Take joy in the little things”

She said that was a good idea, and she suggested finding 5 positive things, for every one negative.  As I started to name off the positives, more came to mind and by the end of the time we were focused on everything positive that had happened in the classroom and not the events that we felt were negative.

That got me to thinking about writing my “joy list” not only for my job, but for everything in life.  We experience many trials, but God also gives us wonderful things that we can be thankful for, and rejoice in. When we focus on God’s big or little blessings; we will find that we are experiencing a more joyful life and discouragement will lose its hold on our lives.

So dear friends, I encourage you to write your “Joy list” and remember all the blessings that you have received from God.  Maybe you will find that you have so  much more to be thankful for than you realized!

Philippians 4:4 “rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice!”

 James 1: 2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” 

Lord Jesus, Help us to find joy in You, and in the little things, when we feel overwhelmed in the hard places in our life.  Help us to fix our eyes on You, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before You, endure the cross, despising the shame.   Amen

 

Defeated or Conqueror?

Which are you?  God’s word says we are “more than conquerors through Christ Jesus our Lord”.  Are we going to allow the enemy’s lies to suck us down into a pit, or will we stand on the solid ground of Christ our Rock, and His truth?

Often, we do not realize the battle that wages war against our thoughts and feelings.  The enemy frequently comes in with his subtle whispering lies, which must be cut off before they become a tangle mass of weeds in our thought life, strangling our spiritual lives also.

Satan knows when our “Spiritual Armor” has a hole in it and he knows exactly where to thrust his fiery darts.  It is important to make sure that we are fully prepared for the battle by being clothed in God’s armor of truth, righteousness, good news of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer.

In my life, the enemy starts attacking me in the area of truth, then it moves to righteousness and faith and if it is not stopped, I find myself naked and wounded, feeling like a failure and defeated.

Satan usually attacks me in the area of being a good wife, mom, worker, friend and Christian.  His attack can sound like this. “You are such a failure as a wife.  There you are making mistakes again, you disappointed your husband; you will never get it right.”  In the area with children, it can sound like this: “You are not showing them enough love or attention and today you were impatient with that little boy over there. Really, are you a good example of Christ?”

The barbs of the enemy can go on and on.  I am sure you have heard accusations against you also.  Satan is called the accuser of the brethren and he always comes to kill, steal and destroy.  He is wily and always throws in some truth with his attack and often we don’t stop his barbs at the beginning with our shield of faith and Christ righteousness. If we do not quickly confess our sins or weaknesses and apply the truth and righteousness of Christ to our life (His righteousness cleanses us and changes our hearts), we will be defeated and can fall into a spiritual slump.

As God’s word says “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin.”  The Lord is faithful to forgive our errors, our sin, and when we come before Him, admitting our faults and weaknesses; His grace covers us fully.

Instead of remaining in that place of defeat; we can stand strong in the truth of God’s word which cuts off the lies of the devil. We then find ourselves depending on Christ’s righteousness to change and protect our heart instead of depending on our own ability to do “everything” right. He is the One that gives us courage to lift up our shield of faith, which enables us to ward off the devil’s barbs that now fall harmless to the ground.  Finally we are able to continue forward on our journey of life, confident in our salvation and excited about sharing the good news of Christ to others. 

Yes, we are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus our Lord!  He has overcome the world and He has defeated the enemy!

Ephesians 6: 10-18

“Finally be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.  Put of the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.  And take the Helmet of Salvation, and sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”

Lord Jesus, when we err and sin and feel like a failure, may we run to You immediately and put on your armor; Your righteousness, which cleanses us from all unrighteousness.  Lord may we realize that we need not to stay in a place of defeat, but we can run to you right away and be more than a conqueror through You.  Amen

 

“Submit yourself therefore to God and resist the devil and he will flee.” James 4:7

Being able to resist the devil, means we must first humble ourselves and submit our thoughts and lives to the Lord.  Whenever we surrender unto the Lord, we will be triumphant!

triss curtis

 

11 scriptures and words of encouragement and exhortation

Recently a friend sent me a letter, asking me to be involved in a chain-letter asking people to send scriptures to one person and then to have ten other friends send scriptures to someone else.  Instead of putting the "pressure" on ten other people to choose a scripture to send to someone they don't know plus figure out ten other people who want to be involved, I decided to send 11 scriptures to 2 people who are involved in the chain letter.  Then I decided maybe more people would like to be encouraged by scriptures that encouraged me. 

The Word of God, promises us that His word will accomplish all He desires it to.  I pray that the Word of God will speak to your hearts and may the comments encourage and challenge you also.

love,

triss

1.       Hebrews 13:8

 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

The character of God never changes and His power to change lives is the same today as it has always been.

2.       John 6:68

“Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.’”

There is no other place to go for life than to Jesus.

3.       No man comes to the Father except through me.

 Salvation is through One man, the God man; Son of God and Son of man, our Lord Jesus Christ.

4.       Psalm 107:8-9

“Out of the depths of my heart I cry to you.  I desire to see the living God.”

Are our hearts crying out in desperation for the presence of the living God?  He desires to answer that prayer.

5.       Isaiah 42:9-10

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.  Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing His praise from the end of the earth!  You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it.  You island and those who dwell on them.

God desires to continually do a new work in our hearts and lives.  Let us praise Him for all He has done and all He will do!

6.       Isaiah 41:10

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Remember when life’s struggles start to overwhelm us, we have a God that can and will deliver us from all anxiety; just look to Him to be your strength.

7.       Romans 14:8-9

“for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”

Are we allowing Christ to be Lord of all the areas of our live or only part of it?  Let us surrender all we are to Jesus, so He will truly be Lord of everything in our lives.

8.       Galatians 5:1

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

Who or what is controlling your life?  If it is not Christ, then you are not experiencing the freedom that God desires for your life.

9.       Isaiah 12:2

“Behold God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song and He has become my salvation.”

Lord, may we realize how strong you are to save and may our hearts and all that we are, burst forth in praise to you.  Amen

10.    James 4:7

“Submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

To resist the devil effectively, we must first submit to God.

Colossians 2:6-10

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed and overflowing with gratitude.  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the traditions of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.  For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.”

Remember where you have come from and who you believe in, don’t allow man’s vain thoughts sway you from following Christ and His direction for your life.  He is the one who completes you and He is Ruler over all.