February 18, 2009

In this blog you will find some “thoughts” from the past year. I hope they encourage you.

Excerpt from Eric’s blog 1-24-2008:

When we are faced with the unexpected, the scripture speaks to us if we will let it… Trusting God in every trial of life is the only way to see beyond the impossibility into His deliverance. Trusting Jesus means to place absolute faith in His word and His every promise. Faith is never passive, but always active and will go to any extreme to get to Jesus when there is no other escape from the predicament. Trusting in God is a place of safety no matter what storm rages around you. Faith is the only way to see the impossible become possible. Isn’t it comforting to know we have a God that rewards our faith and trust in Him? Let’s be active believers!

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From 2-1-08 blog:  Eric wants to send this message to all of you

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.  NKJV Philippians 1:3-8

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How can I keep from singing Your praise ? How can I ever say enough, How amazing is Your love.
How can I keep from shouting Your name?  I know I am loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing.

I will lift my eyes In the darkest night for I know my Savior lives.  And I will walk with You Knowing You see me through, and sing the songs You give.

I can sing in the troubled times, Sing when I win.  I can sing when I lose my step, And I fall down again.
I can sing ’cause You pick me up, Sing ’cause You’re there.  I can sing ’cause You hear me, Lord  when I call to You in prayer.   I can sing with my last breath, sing for I know that I’ll sing with the angels, and the saints around the throne.

Chris Tomlin “How Can I Keep From Singing”
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Excerpt from 2-23-08 blog:

We are doing our best to rejoice with Eric for what he has attained. He has what we are all aiming for – everlasting life in the presence of Jesus. How can we be sad about that? One friend said to us this weekend, “When we know heaven awaits a Believer, why would we ever want to pray for anyone to be healed?!” We never want anyone to go at a young age, but as our daughter said Friday, 100 years together wouldn’t be enough.

But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!”
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord is thinking about me right now.
You are my helper and my savior.
Do not delay, O my God. (Psalm 40 NLT)

No matter what your situation, the Lord is thinking about you right now! You are not forgotten. Be filled with joy and gladness and shout in the face of adversity, “The LORD is great!” God is never delayed, His timing is the right timing. He is your helper and savior. Blessed be His name forever!!!! How can I keep from singing His praise…How amazing is His love! Soak in that thought and rejoice.

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Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass,
it’s about learning to dance in the rain.

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Excerpt from 3-1-08 blog:

However, I also have moments where I can smile at certain memories or laugh at an event from the past. I had 28 good years with a husband who loved me very much and who loved his children with all his heart. He loved being a pastor and truly cared about the people God had placed around him. My husband left a legacy of love to a family and church who are very grateful for it. Bill Bush told me after the Celebration Service that he has probably been in 800-1,000 churches and he has never been in one where there was a greater love relationship between a pastor and his congregation. We who were shepherded by him are a blessed group indeed.

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2 Corinthians 4:8-9: We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. (NLT) Paul reminds us, ..I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. (Philippians 4:13 NLT)

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“Death is the worst life can throw at us, and we still win even at that!”
Pastor Aaron Hines

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“The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. We are uncertain of the next step but we are certain of God.”  Oswald Chambers

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Can’t Take Away by “Mikeschair”

All around all of us, fear has come and so we must ask ourselves In who we trust
What we have here Is not enough, so let it ring In freedom sing

You can take away Everything that I’ve been holding, You can take away the sun.
You can take away the very air that I’ve been breathing, but you can’t take away my God

Waves will come and winds will blow but it’s not here I’ve found my hope.
My beating heart My very soul is held by one who won’t let go,
And so I’ll cling To You my King.

A hope that can’t be lost, a love that can’t be bought,
You can’t take away my God.
Nothing high or low , nothing you can control,
You can’t take away my God.

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Ps 27:13-14
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living,
Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

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Thou Shalt Not Sweat It!
Eric

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