Words of Comfort For Your Heart, Soul and Spirit ........

[Lee M]

The God of all comfort ...

When we cry out our great comforter hears our pleas and supplications.

As for me ...

The Lord's done it again ... He has given me a third song in my brokenness.
After praying with supplication to replenish the brokenness in my heart, He
blessed me with the three songs below.

The first song was ... Do Not Fear by Hillsong on 1/16/11.
The second song was ... Angel of the Lord by Miriam Webster on 1/23/11 and now ...
The Third song is ... Eternity (is calling me away) by Misty Edwards on 4/5/11.

Basically, the Lord is telling me "do not fear for the angel of the Lord is around you.
I Am returning soon and calling you away into my glorious kingdom."
(It doesn't matter whether in death or the rapture. It is all the same to me ...
absent from the body, present with the Lord.)

(All three songs can be heard on the Ministering Songs Thread. The first two are
on page 23 and the third song is on page 24)

The Lord has demonstrated His devotion to me through His agape love. And He
has displayed His loyalty through the perfect character of His holiness.

In the midst of heartbreak God seeks to bless those who lose hope. He desires
to encourage us to expectantly wait upon Him. His ear is open to the cry of our
heart and lovingly responds to our needs.

The Lord is compassionate and faithful to subdue all our anxieties and fears.

"When anxiety was great within me, Your
consolation brought me joy" Psalm 94:19

~ Godly blessings come in many forms ~

[Lee M]

A small seed of faith ...

"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry
tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you" Luke 17:6

Learning to cultivate a strong faith in the midst of chaos and confusion.
Sometimes it may be a disaster with critical life and death repercussions.
Nonetheless, a tiny seed of faith is the strength behind the belief.
The impossible becomes possible with a faith-based trust in God.

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not
with God; all things are possible with God" Mark 10:27

He is the only One who can take the crises and turn it into a miracle. As
believers our eyes must be Christ centered with eyes of faith. The more
we mature by the pruning process the better we will be. Finally, we wait
expectantly for the Master's healing touch to deliver us from the trial. All
this gives us the quiet confidence in the God of the impossible.

The result ...

~ no problem is too small that when asked God won't create a solution ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The hopeless become hopeful ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Lee M]

Understanding the "WHY" ...

A three-letter word with many repercussions ...

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing,
but later you will understand" John 13:7

There is nothing more disheartening than to question everything
whenever doubt looms overhead. It seems our prayers go unheard.
Our tears are dispelled in the rain, and our dreams are crushed.
Oftentimes, we feel totally alone in a world full of people.

On the other hand, we can feel lost when confusion disorients
us and fear overtakes us. As a result we are left wondering if
anything will ever change for the better.

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not
perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in
the wasteland" Isaiah 43:19

However, Jesus warned us that in this world we would have many
and great troubles.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome
the world" John 16:33

You don't have to understand it, you just have to trust it and believe it.

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has
seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him"
Isaiah 64:4

He told us he loves us and understands the afflictions dealt us. He also
feels the torment of our pain and sorrow. We are guaranteed every degree
of suffering will not go unnoticed by the Creator of our souls. Therefore,
trust, depend, rely and call upon the name of the Lord to be your helper.
With loving-kindness and grace, he will sustain you and carry you until
your old age.

So be it, wipe your tears away, smile, and worship the King of glory!

~ The question "why" no longer has a sting but a hidden blessing ~

[Lee M]

A word of edification and exhortation ...

Have you ever had ... a wounded heart?

The wounds etched in the heart...can come in all different ways,
shapes, and forms. The inflictor can be a family member, friend,
or a foe. Occasionally, it can even be a stranger who is the culprit.
The extent of the cuts may vary in severity, but they all are hard
to overcome. Those are often the ones you cautiously tuck away
in the secret pages of your heart. You bury them deep enough so
no one can see them except the Lord.

"For I am afflicted and needy, and my heart is wounded within me"
Job 5:18

"Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,....." Proverbs 14:13.
The battle scars may be many and harsh but they do build you up.
Some wounds can heal overtime. Some may leave a permanent scar.
Although the scars can be long lasting, in due season, they will
eventually fade away.

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing"
Job 8:21

We find consolation in knowing God sees and understands the secret
pain of the heart. Our great Comforter is aware of how to attend to
the heartrending hurt of the wounded.

"For I will restore health to you; and heal you of your wounds"
declares the Lord....." Jeremiah 30:17

Therefore, do not be fainthearted in suffering afflictions of any kind.
The heartache can be the magnet for pulling you into a deeper walk
with the Lord. He can use your grief to touch and bless another
persons life.

"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit
themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good"
1 Peter 4:19

I see life's perspective like this ... thorns come with the rose.
Nevertheless, I must stop and appreciate its beauty and take
pleasure in its sweet fragrance. Remember, the crown of thorns
on Jesus' head represents something greater than pain and
suffering.

~ ~ ~ Wounds are symbolic of a strength of Character ~ ~ ~

[Lee M]

A true friend ... is a friend indeed ...

There is one true friend I can speak of, and it is Jesus.
This divine friend holds your heart close to his.

"A friend loves at all times....." Proverbs 17:17

This kind of friend abandons all manners of self-gratification for
the welfare of an individual. It is not selfish or self-centered but
has an open heart. This giving heart has no self-ambition, or any
regard to a flowery tongue for self-promotion. It is a friendship
that freely gives expecting nothing in return. This companionship
fills your soul with joy knowing you are cherished and valued.

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses
of an enemy" Proverbs 27:6

A real friend is honest enough to tell you the truth so you can face
reality. And definitely straightforward to correct you about a matter.
This person is willing to count the cost and walk miles in your shoes.
A friend prefers to cause some pain at the beginning before something
spins out of control. This wonderful friend pulls in the reigns in order
to maneuver you onto level ground.

A loving friend will lift your spirits up when you are down. They fill in
the gap, the space that seems lost to you. They lovingly guide you
back to a safety zone. Regardless if it is mentally, emotionally,
physically or spiritually or all of them combined.

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind
regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely
look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of
others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus..."
Philippians 2:3-5

A concerned friendship is caring with your best interest at heart. It is a
warm love that listens to you with the heart of a servant. You can always
depend upon it because it is sincere and loyal. A true friend demonstrates
compassion sprinkled with acts of kindness and faithfulness. This well-deserved
loyalty conveys the fruit of the spirit in action. True friendship is taking on the
very humble and submissive nature and character of Christ Jesus our Lord.

An authentic Christian friend has an acute sanative ministering spirit.
The giver exhibits a mutual esteem in the flourishing relationship. It
is built upon with open heartedness and goodwill.

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all
may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well"
3 John 1:2

~ Friendship is counted as valuable when you are faithful to character ~

[Lee M]

The power of prayer and petition ...

Prayers are like a gentle spiritual hug from your brothers and
sisters in Christ Jesus. They seem to capture a closeness to
our Lord with a transcendent approach to life on your behalf.

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all
perseverance and supplication for all the saints--"
Ephesians 6:17-18

All the supernatural prayers offered up to our heavenly Father
showers healing and strength to us. In so doing, we remove
the worldly by entering the spiritual realm of holy communion
with the Creator of our souls.

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are
attentive to their prayer,..." 1 Peter 3:12

The Lord hears and answers our prayers according to his perfect
plan for our lives. One thing we can stand secure about is that
his will and his timing is flawless.

"The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment
and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer" 1 Peter 4:7

We can trust in the result of our prayers from the Lord for a
rich fulfillment in him.

Therefore continue to ...
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer"
Romans 12:12

~ Prayers offered as incenses touches the sacred heart of God ~

[Lee M]

A practical and spiritual encouragement ...

When a situation arises are you, one who deflects or reflects? ...

Deflects ..... to turn away or aside; to deviate from a right course
or right line; to swerve; ward off, repel, redirect, sidetrack, avert,
prevent, draw away.

Reflects ..... to think at length or consider seriously; to resolve
matters in the mind; consider, ponder, mull over, contemplate,
chew over, wonder, think about.

"Be still, and know that I am God;..."

As followers of Christ Jesus we cannot be of two minds. We are to
make up our minds and remain faithful and steadfast. Otherwise,
we will not have steady footsteps in our walk of faith with the Lord.

"My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way
without turning aside" Job 23:11

To see without insight is to barely glance. Foresight is seeing vividly
every important detail of God's ways.

To see clearly is to focus astutely. Perception is watching out for
the many profound elements of God's heart.

This reflection can greatly influence how we will react and conduct
our personal lives. It is when we fail to take heed that, everything
falls apart. It takes a strong courage to tackle the trials face on.
Any degree of fear cannot rule and take precedence over courage.

We have a God given gift to endure, persevere and overcome
anything that is thrown at us.

Bearing this in mind we can conquer and gain the victory with
the Lord by our side.

"May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your
plans succeed" Psalm 20:4

God our Father, please help us never to lose sight of WHO You are.
And steer us into being godly vessels of encouragement to your people.
To you alone be the glory, the honor and the praise!. Amen.

~ To deflect is not always a negative when properly applied ~

~ To reflect is to consider wisely with a positive state of mind ~

[Lee M]

A beautiful illustration of a future bounty ...

This verse has been surfacing in my head for several days now.

"Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days
you will find it again" Ecclesiastes 11:1

It reminds me that what I do now in the spirit I will reap later a hundredfold.
Do good, share, encourage others, have an open sympathetic ear, show up
at a widow's home with a warm gift, cook a meal for a sick neighbor, or send
a comforting note to someone who needs to be encouraged, etc.

As long as we do it all in the name of Jesus, we are doing it unto him.

As a child of God you will reap what you sow ... so then ...

"Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether
both will do equally well" Ecclesiastes 11:6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntdaPUN_ ... re=related

[Lee M]

A quiet meditation ...

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

We all long to be in a place where it is peaceful and serene.

It is very important for us to take time to rest. Our weary bodies
need to decompress from the overwhelming tasks of everyday life.
Getting away to a subdued retreat has to have an area that is quiet
with a deep felt stillness.

If we pause and take a moment to reflect, then we allow ourselves
the opportunity to absorb the will and purpose of the Holy Spirit.

Being in the intimate presence of the Lord in our quiet time gives us
great joy. Our souls seem to soak in God's peace in a powerful and
meaningful way. No distractions seem to pull us away. The moment
is something splendid to behold.

Time set apart for the benefit of alone time with the Lord will fulfill you.
Nothing else will matter for a longing heart thirsting the Father's love.

"...Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest..."
Mark 6:31

Although this was meant for Jesus' disciples, it is also a beautiful
invitation from the Lord to us. Don't hesitate to sit at Jesus' feet
and meditate upon the splendor of his beauty and grace. His love
knows no boundaries nor does he withhold it from any of us.

There is nothing more special then when we ...
Bask in the restful quiet sanctuary of his holy presence.
Lean peacefully against him and listen intently to his small still voice.
Breathe in the fragrance of his closeness.
Feel the rhythm of his heartbeat.
Sense his touch of compassion upon our heart.
Know the significance and depth of the moment as he whispers our name.
Cling tightly to the Creator of our soul.
Cherish the quality time spent with our Redeemer and Lord God.

Friends remain receptive and open hearted!
Never let go!
Always keep in mind his faithfulness and loving-kindness.
Under no circumstances forget those treasured quiet moments.

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you"
Psalm 116:7

~ ~ ~ A resting soul is bound to be content and fulfilled ~ ~ ~

[Lee M]

Thoughts of prayer from the heart ...

Lord Jesus, we come to you in humility, submission and yielding ourselves at your feet.

With a fervent and sincere heart, we praise you Lord and worship you as King.

It is a high honor to go before your throne of grace and mercy.

We ask for your forgiveness and cleansing of all our unrighteousness.

We pray for an enduring spirit to help us overcome our sinful nature.

We seek to acknowledge you in all we say and do as your obedient and faithful servants.

We thank you profoundly for everything you have given and done for us in our lifetime.

We dedicate ourselves with the utmost reverence to your Sovereignty.

Our hope is to serve you wholeheartedly all the days allotted to us on this earth.

Lord, please give us vision, so we can have a sense of purposes like no other time.

We desire to speak your words of comfort and encouragement to your people.

Today, they hurt for reasons that most of us will never know or understand.

Touch the cords of their hearts, so they can make sweet melody to you in song.

Heal the wounds of their soul, so they can praise you for your healing hand.

Cover the flesh of their bodies with holiness, so they can bring honor to your glorious name.

Set a guard around the believers in their hour of temptation from the enemy of our souls.

Sanctify us as worthy vessels in carrying the message of hope and love in the sight of men.

Lord, we are longing to be all that you have created us to be. Let us not fail or grieve the
work of your Holy Spirit.

We submit willingly to your authority, rule, reign, and Supremacy over us.

We acknowledge that your devotion to us describes expressions of an expensive undying love.

We cherish the privilege of abiding with you as a child of God.

We seek your face as a blind person sees with a caress.

May this New Year be one, which draws us closer to you so that we may be more like you.

Make the hearts of the lost be pliable so you can mold them into your image.

May the light of your Son shine ever so brightly in us throughout this dark world.

Spread your wings of protection over us and shield us all with the shadow of the Almighty.

Carry us into the promising horizons of the New Year with a determined heart and enduring faith.

We entrust our lives into your capable hands and loving care of you as our gentle Shepherd.

To you alone Almighty God we offer our sacrifice of praise, honor and glory to you our King. Amen.

"Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together" Psalm 34:3

"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving"
Psalm 69:30

With the love of Christ and lots of gentle hugs to all ... Amen!

[Lee M]

Being pure and upright in God's Righteousness ...

It is such an honor ... therefore, contemplate upon this thought ...

Imagine yourself listening to the Lord testifying that you have a
pure and upright heart.

Well, that is exactly how the Lord saw Job, and he said so when
he spoke those words to Satan.

The main point I'm making is how a fallible man can be considered
so admirable. In the eyes of the Lord, he was such a man. The very
nature of Job was to walk righteously before his God. He was a man
of stature and dignified character.

Our human nature, for the most part, gets in the way of a righteous
walk with the Lord. We often allow circumstances to interfere with
our lives thereby causing us to falter. Failing to see things God’s way
sets a pattern of behavior that eventually will affect us negatively.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" Matthew 5:8

The Lord seeks those who are willing to be pure and upright in heart.
He is not looking for perfection for He knows we are far from it.
Nevertheless, by living a life according to his will we honor him by
our act of obedience. We become pure in heart when we keep a
good conscience of mind in order to be clean in his sight. When we
remain moral in our conduct and pursue his example, we become
upright in heart for then we represent Him (Righteousness) as He is
in us.

"The righteous man will be glad in the LORD and will take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will glory" Psalm 64:10

Once we take things into consideration and acknowledge what is required
of us then we free ourselves in righteously obeying the Lord.

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require
of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8

Without getting too deep into Job's story the essential point is to take
steps toward a pure and upright structure of living. Your eyes will see;
your ears will hear; your mouth will speak, and your heart will feel the
very nature of God. The reflection of his image will cause the Lord to
place you in the same category as Job by seeing you as pleasing and
righteous in his sight.

"Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly" Psalm 111:1

~ A pure and upright heart is the Sovereign Lord’s delight and treasure ~

[Lee M]

A whisper of a prayer ...

Dwell in the Lord for He dwells in you ...

A two way relationship set with the utmost closeness of His heart with our heart.

It's a blending of a heartbeat being one ... two hearts beating simultaneously!

Your being is encased in the presence of the Lord the secret place of the Almighty.

You walk on the clouds of joy and peace radiating God's glory.
You dance the dance of the redeemed with a joyous shout.
You sing with the sweet melodies of the angels chorus.

Your heart is content in the holiness of the Lord the sacred place of the Eternal King.

You bow the knees of your heart with reverent awe.
You rest in the tranquil refreshing of His sanctuary.
You abide in the soft rays of His glorious light.

This is perfect love encircled with the embracing arms of Christ.

A paradise realm awaiting us ... nestled in the heavenly horizon.

So be it!

"My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen" 1 Corinthians 16:24

[Lee M]

Are you a body builder? ...

No, not the kind that works out to tone the body.

I'm talking about the kind that is in tune in building
up the body of Christ. This is the area where you
are qualified and equipped to help strengthen the
ones that are weighted down with burdens.

The Lord our God reinforces our inner strength to a
heightened level when we ask for his help. We never
have to step out on our own to accomplish the heavy
lifting of encouraging and comforting others into the
kingdom.

The weaker ones with atrophied faith muscles are often
by-passed. We need to tone our muscles in order to
work out our faith according to God's perfect plan.

Search the church pews and find yourself one weary
soul to bless with your undivided attention.

Taking the time to minister, embrace and strengthening
an individual will undoubtedly multiply a harvest of souls.

Don't let anyone stay out in the cold but welcome them
into the warmth of the assembly.

"So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual
gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church"
1 Corinthians 14:12

[Lee M]

A blessing in the valley ...

There is peace for you in a valley of affliction for the Lord is Lord of all.

You need only to look beyond your struggles and rely on him.

Whole-heartedly trust the One who has given you every breath.

My prayer for each one of you is that you draw closer to the Lord
with a meek heart.
Remember to be continually seeking his face and his will.
Remain at peace with everyone as much as you can.
Take time to rest your weary soul.
Then wait patiently for him for the Lord is at hand.

James 4:8; Psalm 40:8; Psalm 37:11; Romans 12:18;
Psalm 116:7; Psalm 37:7;

Be sure to thank him for his goodness, his faithfulness to you and his love.

"Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always"
Psalm 105:4

[Lee M]

The thought of a comforting rainbow ...

The colors of the promised rainbow are so vibrant with its declaration of beauty.
Every single sunny day I get to see several rainbows dancing around my home.
It makes me happy and puts a smile on my face every time I gaze upon one.

I can only imagine how awesome that first rainbow was to observe. My mind
goes in so many different directions thinking about that fascination. Imagine
witnessing God's hand setting it firmly in the sky to encourage the people.

Whenever I glance up in the sky and see a rainbow overhead it feels like He
is comforting me.

Holy Father, please keep us covered under the protective arc of Your rainbow.
We pray this in the Mighty and Holy name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people
from this time forth and forever" Psalm 125:2