by Hazel Straub
A well-spoken word at just the right moment
is like golden apples in settings of silver.
To an attentive ear, constructive criticism from a truly wise person
is like an earring or jewelry made of fine gold.
(Proverbs 25:11-12 Voice)
Posted in Faith | Tags: Christianity, encouragement, faith, God, golden apple, inspiration, life, lifestyle, listening, obedience, speech, spoken word, victorious
by Hazel Straub
Yahweh wants his children to consult him before making any plans or doing anything. His desire is to have unbroken fellowship with his children. When we rebel and disobey it grieves the heart of God. Turn from your sin and cry for his mercy, he hears and answers. If your heart expects and longs for his companionship, you will find it.
And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! (Isaiah 30:18 AMP)
Posted in Lifestyle | Tags: Christianity, encouragement, faith, God, Gods love, life, lifestyle, relationship, Religion and Spirituality, victorious
by Hazel Straub
Today, I choose a new life of pre-forgiveness, before anyone offends, the choice is “already forgiven.” No offense will lodge in me because the prewash spray of forgiveness has already been chosen for application to others. God’s love, mercy and forgiveness cover me, so I choose to extend its coverage to others, including myself. It washes all the hurt, anger and desire to retaliate away.
Jesus, on the cross, said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) This forgiveness brought you and me into the kingdom of God. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, while being stoned to death, asked that those participating would be forgiven and not have this held against them. Saul of Tarsus’ transformation, from a terrorist to a mighty believer in Jesus, known as Paul, was the answer to this prayer. Love mixed with mercy and forgiveness has great power, changing not only our lives, as we release others but also others who we choose to forgive and release.
© Crown of Glory International Ministries. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission, from this blog’s author and/or owner, is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Crown of Glory International Ministries, http://pureglory.net
Posted in Love | Tags: Christ, Christian, Christianity, encouragement, faith, Forgiveness, God, Gods love, inspiration, Jesus, life, Lord, love, mercy, Paul the Apostle, Relationships
by Hazel Straub
Today, I unconditionally surrender to you, Yahweh, with a deep call, for your deliverance.
God, I’m crying out, desperate for your help and intervention, as I’m dependent on you.
Because of your mercies, I’m not consumed and your loving compassion never fails.
God, you alone make the impossible, possible, calm the raging storm and are my refuge
I will praise Yahweh at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the Yahweh;
let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Yahweh’s greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to Yahweh, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
In my desperation I prayed, and Yahweh listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
For the angel of Yahweh is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.(Psalm 34:1-7 NLT)
© Crown of Glory International Ministries. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission, from this blog’s author and/or owner, is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Crown of Glory International Ministries, http://pureglory.net
Related articles
by Hazel Straub
Raising praise to Yahweh, changes how we view our circumstances. We give our concerns to him in prayer and his peace, wholeness and completeness saturates and permeates us. The Prince of Peace reigns within and gives us rest, in the midst of turmoil swirling around us.
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG)
Posted in prayer | Tags: Christ, Christianity, encouragement, faith, Gods love, inspiration, Jesus, life, lifestyle, peace, Prayer, Prince of Peace, relationship, worry, Yahweh
by Hazel Straub
How often could we avoid trouble in our lives, if we first listen, lead with our ears and keep the lips zipped? Full surrender to God, our gardener, allows him to make us into an oasis of life. Listening to him requires action and obedience.
“Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow-up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God–the free life!–even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. (James 1:19-25 MSG)
by Hazel Straub
Those in right standing with Yahweh live blessed because they fear, honor and trust him. Cherishing the teaching and commandments of the Lord, they are generous and lavish gifts on the poor. The blessings pour out of their lives, as they live an honored and beautiful life.
Psalm 112:1-10 (MSG)
Hallelujah!
Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God,
Who cherish and relish his commandments,
Their children robust on the earth,
And the homes of the upright—how blessed!
Their houses brim with wealth
And a generosity that never runs dry.
Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people—
God’s grace and mercy and justice!
The good person is generous and lends lavishly;
No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,
But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.
Unfazed by rumor and gossip,
Heart ready, trusting in God,
Spirit firm, unperturbed,
Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,
They lavish gifts on the poor—
A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.
An honored life! A beautiful life!
Someone wicked takes one look and rages,
Blusters away but ends up speechless.
There’s nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing.
Posted in Faith | Tags: believe, blessing, Christianity, encouragement, faith, favor, God, Gods love, inspiration, life, lifestyle, Lord, relationship, righteousness, trust, Yahweh
by Hazel Straub
Yahweh, God who exists in your present, says, “Child you are mine. No need for fearfulness. Even though you will pass through flood waters, you will not drown, because I AM with you. Neither will you burn or smell of smoke, when go through fiery trials. No matter what the difficulty, I, Yahweh, dwells with you and saves you from disaster.”
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:2-3 MSG)
Posted in Faith | Tags: believe, Bible, Christianity, encouragement, faith, God, Gods love, hope, inspiration, life, lifestyle, relationship, trust, victorious, Yahweh
by Hazel Straub
If you keep your focus on Yeshua, your circumstances will not distract you. He is your security and when you build your life on him, although the winds of adversity may swirl around you, they will not blow you off course, defeat or destroy you. He is your anchor in uncertain times and nothing can defeat you.
Matthew 7:24-27 (MSG)
“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
“But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”
Posted in Faith | Tags: adversity, Christianity, encouragement, faith, foundation, God, inspiration, life, lifestyle, relationship, Rock, Storm, victorious, Yeshua
