I have been reminded again recently of the importance of filling ourselves daily with God’s Word.

The enemy only speaks fear and lies to God’s children. To silence his voice I need to fill myself with God’s Word. Fill myself so much that it is only God’s Word that is at the forefront of my thinking.

Where the enemy speaks fear and lies, God speaks faith and truth.

This weekend is the Jubilee weekend. Another meaning of Jubilee is freedom…

If you are struggling in anxious thinking today, remember it is God’s truth that sets us free.

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free

In a world where we are bombarded with voices, let us choose to intentionally listen to the voice that really matters.

The Lord has been speaking to me about courage recently.

In Joshua 1:9 (AMP) it says:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

What is it about His presence that has such a powerful effect?

I have been thinking about some of the heroes of faith and reflecting on times when I have managed to have courage and I believe the key to courage is God's love.

When we know our Father in heaven loves us, that His loving presence is with us always, encouraging us and taking us by the hand; we can live a life full of courage and we can do remarkable things.

So be encouraged today, for you ARE the one He loves and YOU CAN do remarkable things. Have a listen to the song in this link as you read the words below:

https://youtu.be/agfsathhWlQ

- it takes courage to refuse to give up, when you are exhausted and have tried so many times.

- it takes courage to continue with what is right, in the face of persecution or mistreatment.

- it takes courage to keep moving forward and trusting, when you are filled with pain.

- it takes courage to forgive and walk away, rather than having the last word.

- it takes courage to stand by your values, in a world that would mould you it's own way.

- and most importantly, it takes courage to believe God when He says He loves you. To let His love do it's beautiful work in your life like nothing and noone else can.

Psalm 23 v 6 AMP

"Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the LORD."

I was reading a devotional that had some quotes that blew me away about the love of God. A love first demonstrated in the ultimate sacrifice and then it continues on and on as the Psalmist says in the verse above.

"When a shepherd leads the sheep, there are always guard dogs at the back, nipping at the sheep to keep them moving in the right direction"

"The Bible says that the guard dogs in your life are goodness and mercy. God gives you the things you don’t deserve — that is his goodness. And, he doesn’t give you the things you do deserve that’s his mercy."

Jesus is the shepherd and we are the sheep, oh how he loves us, to guide with goodness and mercy.

A love that doesn't leave, constant in everything, didn't stop at saving us but interested in the small and minute things of our lives SELAH.

I hope you feel the love and warm hug, that God is continually giving us in all the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Hope you are also blessed with the song and encouraged that He loves you yesterday, today, tomorrow and forevermore.

*Dependable*

Thank You for saving me

Thank You for loving me

Too much to leave

You're not just the God who saves

But You are the One that remains the same

Every high and low, You'll stay always

I can count on You

Your Love is not temporary

Up and down, in and out

When it starts, it won't stop

Your love will keep going

On and on and on

You are dependable, God

Thank You for saving me

Thank You for loving me (Too much)

Too much to leave

You're not just the God who saves (So much)

But You are the One that remains the same (Every)

Every high and low, You'll stay always (Always)

I can count on You

Oh, You are not Ordinary

Here today, then far away

You'll be there, when they're not

Your love just keeps going (Going)

Without end, limitless

You are dependable, God

It's more than OK to make a mistake!

In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus tells a parable about a master who entrusted three servants with a set amount of money. The first two servants went off, traded and invested what they had been given, making the master a big profit. The third one however "went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money."

When the master find put about this he is furious with the servant and has him cast out. Why? The master got his money back, maybe a bit dirty, but he did get it back. He didn't technically lose anything. The reason he was so mad with the servant was that they didn't even try due to a fear of failure.

It can be like that with us and trying something new, learning to do something or following what God tells us to do. The what it's set in...

What if I get it wrong? What if I look silly? What if I fail?

These what if's can then stop us from moving forward, and make us bury our dreams, our victories and our potentials.

But here is a what if for us. What if we instead say...

So what if I get it wrong! So what if I look silly! So what if I fail!

So why is this important? Well, God wants us to get out there and push ourselves, he want us to try. Joseph Conrad said "If you don't make mistakes, you don't make anything." If we can get comfortable putting ourselves out there for God even though we might make a mistake, the sky is the limit to what we could achieve!

Finally when we make mistakes we learn. Thomas Edison supposedly said on making the light bulb "I never once failed in making a light bulb. I just found 99 ways to not make one." This is true from riding a bike to sharing a testimony. I can learn from when I don't quite get it right, to help me get it right next time.