Encouragement From Timeless Messages

This week, I received news of the tragic loss of a close family friend who was the victim of senseless violence in my hometown of Oakland, California. As you read this, I hope that you will join me in a prayer of comfort for his family. The following is a collection of a scripture, video dramatizing a scripture, and a hymn. Although I may not know what you have encountered this week or what season of life you are in, I pray that you will be blessed and encouraged by the timeless messages offered below and continue to hold on to the hand of the "One" who will never leave you.    

Scripture

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Psalm 3:3 (New Living Translation)

Pursue Wisdom

--> Pursuit Intro HD from PC3 on Vimeo.



Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Jennie Wilson and Franklin L. Eiland

Verse 1:

Time is filled with swift transition,

Naught of earth unmoved can stand,

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God’s unchanging hand. 

Chorus:

Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand,

Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand;

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God’s unchanging hand. 

Verse 2:

Trust in Him who will not leave you 

Whatsoever years may bring 

If by earthly friends forsaken 

Still more closely to Him cling

For additional lyrics, http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Hold_to_Gods_Unchanging_Hand/

To sing along:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJv1-QC3lg

Thankful...Divine Intervention in Darkness

A few nights ago, I was driving the back roads in an unfamiliar area and I ended up on a long stretch of a dark road with no gas station in sight.  As I pulled over to the side of the road with the dashboard reading "0 miles to go", I started anxiously wondering whether I should go forward not knowing where the next gas station was for there were no lights ahead in the darkness.  Or, should I turnaround, go back down the road  behind me and most assuredly run out of gas.  I decided to drive ahead because sitting there on the side of the road was wasting gas.  

A quarter of a mile ahead I came to a fire station. I pulled in the driveway right behind a fire truck that was returning from a call.  One of the firemen got out of the truck and came over to the car to see what was wrong.  I told him that I was not from around there and that I was about to run out of gas.  He looked up and said that there was a gas station 1/2 mile down the road and, "If you run out of gas before you get there, I'll push you myself".  Thank you God!  For me, that was divine intervention.  Even though I made it to the gas station without running out of gas, the fireman's friendly face, smile, and offer of help was the reassurance I needed at that time.  

The message in this for me:  "Go forward!  I am with you even in unfamiliar and dark territory."  

I hope this blesses someone.  Have a great day!

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Photo credit:  http://rampantgames.com/blog/2005_06_01_rampantgames_archive.html

2011 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday, January 17, 2011

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character -- that is the goal of true education."

"The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people."

The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
in Washington, D.C. under construction

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."

Question for discussion:     

Do the way we live our lives honor the dream, work, and sacrifice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the countless others who paved the path on which we walk today?

Honoring Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. | Facebook/Social Media Challenge:

Please post on your social media (i.e., facebook, twitter, etc.) status a special quote by Dr. King to celebrate the King Holiday. Keep his words and the dream alive. Please forward and re-post this message.

For more information on the National Memorial being built in Washington, D.C., http://www.mlkmemorial.org/

Shine People!

Arise people, for the Light has come.  Jesus is the Light of the world.  

In prayer:     Jesus, please shine your light in our hearts and illuminate us to shine our lights to dispel darkness in our world.  In Jesus Name, Amen.  Shine People!

Jesus' words to his followers: 

 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."  
Matthew 5:14-16 Message Bible

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?earch=Matthew+5%3A16&version=MSG