How wonderful to know that the thoughts God has toward us are for peace and to give us a future and a hope (Jer 29:11). Jeremiah also tells us that the man who trusts in God is blessed (Jer 17:7): “he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (Jer 17:8; KJV).

Read Psalm 23 today and be encouraged. In that psalm God covers all the bases. It says he provides all of our needs from peace of mind and tranquility to protection; He leads us in righteousness and his anointing is on us. God is with us the Psalmist says; his goodness and mercy and we will live in his house for ever. Wow, can’t it get any better?

Well, in Ephesians 3:19-21 we are told that we can know Christ’s love and be filled with all of God’s fullness. In verses 20-21 Paul says that: “now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen”. Double Wow.

Are you blessed today? Then you really should give him thanks and praise, no matter what is going on around you. Be encouraged today

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Please recommend our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training” to others. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. ASK US FOR A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, using the contact us page on our website; click here: www.onthewayinlove.com    

When you look in a mirror do you see yourself the same way that God sees you? I imagine most people are taken up with their grey hairs, receding hair line, bad hair day, spare tires etc. etc. We tend to compare ourselves to others and often focus on our faults and weaknesses.

Despite all that, in God's eyes we are his workmanship, his work of art and his poem. God sees us in Christ (1 Cor 1:30; Gal 3:27), righteous (2 Cor 5:21), forgiven (Col 1:14) and as his children (1 John 3:20).  

In Psalm 8:5 (and Heb 2:7) (KJV) it says that God has crowned us: “with glory and honor”. The Hebrew word for glory is chabod and its meaning includes: splendor, magnificence glory, dignity, honor, and excellence. The Hebrew for honor is hadar which means an ornament of splendor and magnificent decoration. Also, in Isaiah. 61:10 it says we are clothed with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness. This is how God sees us, so next time you look in the mirror remember that you are God’s work of art and his child, no matter what the mirror is telling you.

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Please recommend our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training” to others. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. ASK US FOR A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, using the contact us page on our website; click here: www.onthewayinlove.com    

Could you please help us to get our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training” (published by West Bow Press and authored by Norman and Jean Rawlings), into the hands of those to whom it would be a blessing?

The book is being used as a discipleship tool but we also hear from Christians at all points in their walk with God that they have found our book to be an invaluable resource. “On the Way: Basic Christian training”, is helping Christians to grow into all God wants them to be and have. Packed with the word and useful explanation, it contains the following chapters: Salvation and Water Baptism; The Holy Spirit; Going on with God; The Bible, God’s Word to Us; Faith; Prayer; Healing; Love; Forgiveness; Hearing from God; The Church and Giving; Evangelism.

The soft bound edition is just $16 (Canadian), with a hard cover version and E book available. At our website: www.onthewayinlove.com , is more information on our book, including how and where to purchase. Please feel free to request a free copy of a chapter from our book using the online contact form at our website. To purchase the book, ask at any book retailer. Our book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online.  The book is also available from the publisher: www.westbowpress.com  and directly from Norman and Jean at normanrawlings@sasktel.net 

Please pass this on to pastors and friends. Thanks so much for your help.

“Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord” (KJV; Ps 124:7-8a). “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:1b-2a).

As children of God we have been removed from the kingdom of satan and conveyed into the kingdom of God (Col 1:13). We have escaped from the fowlers snare but satan still tries to ensnare us with sin (1 Peter 5:8).

Matthew tells us that if we seek God’s kingdom first all the blessings of God will be ours (Matt 6:33). How do we lay aside those sins that hold us back, how do we pant and thirst after God (Ps 42:1-2), seeking his kingdom? Well, John’s gospel tells us that God’s word (Jesus) is truth and the truth will make us free (John 8:32).

Receiving the freedom and blessings we have in Christ is no more complicated than spending time in his word and believing the truth can work in our lives and bring freedom and blessings. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection” (Phil 3:10). So: “rest in the Lord” today, in his word and: “wait patiently for him” (Ps 37:7), cast your cares on him (1 Peter 5:7) and allow him to work in your life.

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Psalm 92:12-14 (KJV) is very encouraging: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing”.

According to these verses we are going to flourish. We will have long, useful and fruitful lives. Not only that but we will grow old gracefully and still be fruitful, loving and contented in old age. Now that is a promise. However, all this is dependent on something, which is found in verse 13. It says "planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish....". Does that mean we have to live in church all week? I don't think so. What this means is that we need to be in the presence of God as much as possible and then all these wonderful promises will be manifested in our lives. Being in God's presence doesn't mean you have to spend all day on your knees; you can be mindful of his nearness while you are at work, shopping, doing chores or whatever. We can fellowship with God wherever we are and whatever we are doing. We can flourish as God promises every day.

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A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com