Encouragement

Romans 12:10-13  (NIV)
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

I have treasures! 

I have a treasure box.  In my treasure box I have little notes that God has sent my way.  I keep them and when my heart seems heavy or I begin to have doubts--I take a peek in my treasure box.

What can a word of encouragement or a little note do? I keep my little jewels of affirmation and hope together; notes that you have sent and I have hid for future days when my heart may seem discouraged. 

The Lord uses others to bring encouragement; sometimes even prophetic words that seem unreachable but yet come to pass.

Thank you for your words of kindness over the past years!

Keep sharing your heart with others; it's like a breath of fresh air!

Yes, Your Word oh Lord has sustained me and has breathed life to me.

ENCOURAGEMENT:

An action of giving someone support, confidence, or  hope.

Persuasion to do or to continue something.

God bless you!~Liz

www.lizrod.com

Filthy Rags

All of us have become like one who is unclean,and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

I have a favorite pass-time, drinking coffee.  It's not just any coffee but my favorite is Dunkin' Donuts. 

As I was on my way to church yesterday, I stopped by the drive-thru to get myself a cup.  As I pulled up to the drive-thru window I pulled really close to a "drive-thru" garbage can. 

Now, if you know the voice of the Spirit of God you are aware that he is speaking all the time. So as I reached over to my cup holders to get rid of the old cups and bottles, I heard myself say out loud, "only in America" more like "you got to be kidding".  I mean really, how lazy am I.  Not only did I not get out of the car to purchase my cup of coffee, I did not even get out to get rid of the garbage that had pilled up in  my car.

Okay, I know you are probably wondering what does this have to do Jesus, after all I am a writer inspired by His Word. Follow me.

How long do we hold on to sin; looking for the right time; a convenient time to release it.  We have issues, we have sinned against God but we refuse to let it go.  We convince ourselves that either it was not our fault or that we have to some how work it through in our minds before we can make a confession to the Lord.   We can't enjoy the present moment because it is contaminated by yesterday's sin.  We can't worship, we can't read His Word, we can't, we can't and we can't. We act as if we have the ability to clean ourselves up.

Don't we want to be free?

Like cups that linger in my car until I am ready to discard them, so it is often with our sin.  The Bible teaches us that we are to quickly confess and we will be released. 

If I leave my cups long enough in my car, if somehow they have spilled over; now I have a bigger mess.  I can  no longer just grab my cup and toss it.  NO, now I have to scrub deep into the cup holder because the seepage of my drink has pierced its container and now my cleanup is worse.

Sin can seep into every part of our life if we hold on to it.

The next time you get in your car, look around; any garbage?

Check your heart; what is residing there; has it affected other areas of your life?

Get rid of it; you don't need a drive-thru window to clean your car.

AND  you surely don't have to wait another moment to be free.
Right now we can confess and feel the release come from our God! 

It's in the practical things of life that the spiritual often comes to life.
Let's clean up!  No sooner that I confess my sin, the Lord digs deep leaving no trace of sin if I allow him.

READ THE ENTIRE CHAPTER click here

God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com

My Numbers tell a Story

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit

drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Late this afternoon I had an appointment with a health counselor regarding my blood sugars; I am diabetic. It’s been a few years that I had seen her but at the request of my physician I went.

I have no known issues; this was more like a routine event.

My visit resulted in some very interesting findings; things that we “know” or hear about, but today I experienced it firsthand.

She asks me a few questions and then proceeds to download my blood sugars from my machine. She tells me things look pretty good and that I am well controlled—Glory to God!

I tell her a little about myself, sharing how I serve the Lord.

As she continues to review my numbers; she is looking for patterns and she asks, “what happens on Fridays, whatever it is it must be good”.

I kinda’ chuckled and said, “that’s my Bible Study Night”, why? She proceeded to tell me that medically speaking as she observes my readings from Monday to Friday, that Fridays is the best day based on my chart.

I have always known that serving the Lord is not only a spiritual blessing but this transformation also affects my physical flesh. My body recognizes and anticipates going to the House of God and it feels well.

Our conversation continued.

I am pretty much well rounded emotionally, but there is this one area that causes me stress (I’m still in progress and need to overcome).

My counselor says, “What goes on, on Tuesdays and Thursday during the day”. I almost fell of my chair. I replied, “I go to work”.

This is my area of stress.

Medically speaking she could see my body change as she read my blood sugar numbers.

So I prodded a little more; “tell me counselor, how are my numbers on Monday and Wednesday”? I have been taking Mondays off from work and on Wednesday I operate from my house. She said, “Pretty good; what happens on those days”?

I answered, “Mondays I am off and Wednesdays I work from home”.

My physical body is affected based on my environment. When I am at my office my body declines; when I am home or anticipate going to church my body improves.

Go figure!! A merry heart doeth good like a medicine!

One of my favorite pieces of Scripture is from Psalm 103. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases. Psalm 103:2-3.

O.K. pray from me, I need to fully overcome and make some changes.

I did not think that my body was being affected, but obviously it is. I want my numbers to read as if I lived in the HOUSE OF GOD!!

Praise the Living God, He actually lives inside of me!!

He reminds me, same power that raised Jesus from the grave lives in me! Liz don’t forget!! Glory to God!

God bless you!~Liz