Encouraging Thoughts

"Listen, listen to the trembling of His
voice, and the sound that comes from His
mouth.  He lets it loose under all the Heavens,
and His lightning to the ends of the earth.
After it a voice roars.  He thunders with the voice of His excellency, and He does
not hold them back when His voice is
heard.
El thunders wondrously with His voice;
doing great deeds, which we do not understand.
For He says to the snow, "Be on the earth,"
also to the gentle rain and the heavy
rain of His strength.
He seals up the hand of every man,
for all men to know His work.
Then the beast goes into its lair, and
they stay in their dens.
From the room of the south comes the
whirlwind, and cold from the scattering
winds of the north.
By the breath of El ice is given, and the
expanse of water becomes solid.
He also loads the thick clouds with
moisture; He scatters His bright clouds.
And they swirl about, being turned by
His guidance, to do whatever He commands them
on the face of the earthly world."

Job 37:2 - 12

Always Asking

Here is an excerpt from a daily devotional by Sarah Young called Jesus Calling:

"If you live your life too safely, you will never know the thrill of seeing Me work through you.  When I gave you My Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural abillity and strength.  That's why it is so wrong to measure your energy level against the challenges ahead of you.  The issue is not your strength but Mine, which is limitless."

I feel this is exactly the concept God presented me with last night.  He helped me to realize that I was thinking so much about myself - my attitude, my accomplishments, my words and actions, that I was forgetting His strength and His grace.  I felt overwhelmed when I tried to compare myself to His standard.  I wasn't measuring up one bit.  He said, "I'm not asking you to muster up strength, I'm asking you to fall into My strong arms.  I'm not asking that you measure up, I'm asking that you accept My forgiveness.  I'm asking that you love Me, that you bask in My presence.  I'm asking that you come to Me and fall at My feet."
     When He said that His burden was light, that was what He really meant.

                                    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5bGOnx-YCs&feature=fvst

I'm Here

If He is taking care of us, then we can be free to focus on Him. 
Often times I forget this almost completely.
I think that if I try hard enough,
Or work long enough,
I can make it.
I forget that my Shepherd is leading me,
Making me to lie down. 
I focus on the path itself, and lose sight of Him.
I forget that He's there, holding my hand
And saying, "Don't be afraid.  I'm here."

                                     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDnKcAiXlOk



"For You Yourself light my lamp; Yahweh my Elohim makes my darkness light.  For with You I run against a band, and with my Elohim I leap over a wall.  The El -- His way is perfect; The Word of Yahewh is proven; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.  For who is Eloah, besides Yahweh?  And who is a rock, except our Elohim?  It is El who girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect, making my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places, teaching my hands for battle, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.  And You give me the shielf of Your deliverance; And Your right hand supports me, and You lowliness makes me great.  You enlarge my step under me; And my feet shall not slip."

Psalm 18:28 - 36