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Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and ⁶ my God.
My ^c]">[c] soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

Psalm 42: 5

Beautiful & inspiring pictures for you ...

Be encouraged too !

Today, I feel a little down due to some personal circumstances I'm going through. So, I've decided to lift up my soul by searching for as many encouraging christian quotes as possible. If you are also not feeling too good, may the following quotes grant you some peace and assurance that God is in control in your life. Be encouraged too, ok?

1) Faith is often strengthened right at the place of disappointment. ~Rodney McBride

2) I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly God was speaking: "My name is I am." I waited and God continued: "When you live in the past, with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I was. When you live in the future, with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I will be. When you live in this moment, it is not hard. I am here. My name is I AM." ~Helen Mellincost

3)When a mother saw a thunderstorm forming in mid-afternoon, she worried about her seven-year-old daughter who would be walking the three blocks from school to home. Deciding to meet her, the mother saw her walking nonchalantly along, stopping to smile whenever lightning flashed. Seeing her mother, the little girl ran to her, explaining happily, "All the way home, God's been taking my picture!" Fear is often caused by our perspective. ~Anonymous

4) Every evening I turn my troubles over to God - He's going to be up all night anyway. ~Donald J. Morgan

5) It has been well said that no man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourselves so, my friends. If you find yourselves so loaded, at least remember this: it is your own doing, not God's. He begs you to leave the future to Him, and mind the present. ~George Macdonald, The Golden Key Website

6) I believe in getting into hot water; it keeps you clean. ~Gilbert Keith G. K. Chesterton, American Chesterton Society

7) If you feel like you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on! Because God's a God of miracles, and He's holding the other end. ~Pat Hicks

8) God never promises to remove us from our struggles. He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them.
~ Max Lucado, Upwords

9) Jesus didn't save you so you could cruise to heaven in a luxury liner. He wants you to be useful in His kingdom! The moment you got saved, He enrolled you in His school the school of suffering and affliction. ~David Wilkerson, World Challenge,Inc. Online

10) If you haven't got problems perhaps you should get on your knees and ask, "Lord, don't you trust me? ~Les Nixon
Australia's Outback Patrol

11) I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much. ~Mother Teresa
Informational Website

12) God took the worst thing that man could do to his Son, and transformed it into the best thing he could do for man. ~Anonymous

13) One sees great things from the valley, only small things from the peak. ~Gilbert Keith G. K. Chesterton
American Chesterton Society

14) Finding God does not mean building a house in a land of no storms, but building a house that no storm can destroy. ~Anonymous

15) It doesn't matter, really, how great the pressure is; it only matters where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord - then the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to His breast. ~
Anonymous

16) Glance at the problems, but gaze at Jesus. ~Anonymous

17) You may never know that JESUS is all you need, until JESUS is all you have. ~Corrie Ten Boom
Corrie Ten Boom Museum

18) God has a time for everything, a perfect schedule. He is never too soon, never too late. The when of His will is as important as the what and the how. ~Richard C. Halverson, Perspectives

19) Faith is not a feeling. It is not even the feeling that something is going to happen in answer to our prayers . Faith may be easier to exercise when such feelings are present. Nevertheless, feelings of that sort never constitute faith. Faith is a response on our part, the obedient response of our wills to who God is and what He says. ~John White, Biography

20) Many Christians believe in what Christ did for them in the past and will to do for them in the future. But they do not believe He can do anything for them now. ~Zig Ziglar, Website

21) Pray unceasingly. Fight with confidence. Believe God's promises. Take Him at His Word. Wait for His victory. ~
Anonymous

22) The army of Israel looked at Goliath through the eyes of man and said he's too big to beat. David looked at him through the eyes of God and said he's too big to miss. ~Wally Carter

23) The issue of faith is not so much whether we believe in God, but whether we believe the God we believe in. ~
R. C. Sproul, Ligonier Ministries

24) The Christian life isn't difficult - it is impossible. If we don't know that, we will try to do things ourselves. Faith is not necessary when we think we can do it ourselves. Faith comes along when we realize that we cannot do it on our own. ~Joseph Garlingen

25) God is interested in developing your character. At times He lets you proceed, but He will never let you go too far without discipline to bring you back. In your relationship with God, He may let you make a wrong decision. Then the Spirit of God causes you to recognize that it is not God's will. He guides you back to the right path. He will clarify what He wants. He will even take the circumstances of your disobedience and work that together for good (Rom. 8:28) as He corrects you and teaches you His ways. ~Henry Blackaby, Website

I feel better already. How about you? :)

Father's Day Gift

I just received an email from Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies, recommending its CD as a Father's Day gift. She shared on the lyrics of 3 wonderful songs from the CD, which I found really meaningful, to fathers. I intend to get 1 for my hubby to remind him of his high calling as a father to our childre, like how our Father in Heaven is to us.

If you like the CD too, you can get it from www.aboverubies.org. Anyway, here an excerpt of Nancy Campbell's email:

The style is Country and Blue Grass. Three fathers, professional song-writers and singers, sing three songs each which they have written--Charlie Barrett, Bill Benell and Brian Henningson. Charlie Barrett is Pearl's husband who produces all the Above Rubies CDs. I'm listening to one of his songs now called CARRY ME. Here is the first verse and chorus:

Six days shall you labor, I've read in the Book,

And I believe my life should rest in the Lord's hands,

But job demands and traffic jams tend to change my whole outlook,

When I get home I've had all I can stand.

CHORUS:

Then I hear, "Daddy, carry me."

That's when I know I'm where I wanna be,

When I hear, "Daddy, carry me."

And though I'm feeling tired, I find new energy

When I hear, "Daddy, carry me."

I'll give you a few more little excerpts to give you a feel of it. The following words are an excerpt from the title song, RICHEST MAN ON EARTH, also written by Charlie.

Once I asked the Lord above for privilege and wealth,

I thought I knew what makes a happy man,

But for some time I struggled and doubts came creeping in,

And then one night I came to understand.

CHORUS:

And I became the richest man on earth, as I beheld the miracle of birth,

God gave me a precious pearl with big blue eyes and golden curls,

And as I stared down at His handiwork

I knew I was the richest man on earth.

Then I asked the Lord for all the treasure I could hold

So I could give my family all the best

And once again as times grew hard, I felt my faith grow weak,

But once again I learned how I was blessed.

CHORUS:

And I became the richest man on earth, as I beheld the miracle of birth,

I was filled with pride and joy when God gave me a baby boy,

And as I stared down at His handiwork

I knew I was the richest man on earth.

Here are the last three verses of five verses of HIS OWN BACKYARD, written and sung by Bill Benell who does all the mastering of the Above Rubies CDs.

He's looking for a reason

Thinks this world just don't make sense

Thinks somewhere the grass is greener

But he just can't get off the fence

Day by day he keeps on searching

Falls to his knees and prays to God

Finds the answer he's been seeking

Is waiting in his own backyard

Today he left work early

Told the boss he had to leave

For once he'll make some time

Just for his family

He's gonna grill some hot dogs

Play some catch and when he's tired

Might even pitch a tent

And camp out in his own backyard

And now he's found the reason

Everything just makes more sense

Thinks his grass might be the greenest

Now that he is off the fence

Day by day he keeps on praying

Thanking God for being God

And for showing him the way

Back to his own backyard.

The last song is sung by Meadow, Pearl and Charlie's daughter. This is a beautiful song about her growing up too quickly which so many fathers will relate to. Many of you have heard Meadow sing this song at Above Rubies retreats and you have been waiting for the recording. Now it is here. For those who haven't heard it, here are the words:

You are asked me, Where has your little girl gone,

Oh where could your little girl be?

How am I standing here looking so grown

When yesterday I was just three?

I hardly sit on your lap any more,

I'm losing my childish ways,

I know some things may be different now,

But some things will always remain...

CHORUS:

You were my very first word, Daddy!

Your arms are the safest place on earth, Daddy!

I can always run to you and you'll be there,

You were my very first dance, Daddy!

You'd twirl me around and we'd laugh, Daddy!

You were my very first word.

You joke about the coming years

When you'll be chasing the young men away,

You tease I can marry when I'm thirty-two,

And not a minute before that day!

But I've heard you pray God will watch over me,

That He'll keep me and help me stay pure.

So I'll turn to Him when I'm looking for answers

But some things I know for sure...

CHORUS:

You were my very first song, Daddy!

It's a tune that I still like to hum, Daddy!

I can always run to you and you'll be there.

You heard my very first prayer, Daddy!

You showed me the way that God cares, Daddy!

You were my very first word.

Daddy!

Way before Megan came along ...

Well, like many couples, my husband and I had a lot of fun enjoying two persons' world, travelling around the world, dining out as often as we like, watching midnight movies up till the wee hours of the day, basically living a carefree childless life for a number of years after our marriage. It was a good post wedding honeymooning years for us. However, after a few years, one starts to yearn for an extension of oneself and one's lover. So, the desire for a baby grew from hoping to wishing to yearning to seriously praying and I mean seriously, when nothing happens for awhile.

Seeing a fertility specialist was of course the next normal thing to do & instead of hoping to see myself carrying a baby, I found my womb supporting fibroids. It was terrible cos I know that fibroids can reduce the chances of getting pregnant blah and blah and I was really upset then.

But I remember I prayed. In particular, I found the Bible a great inspiration for me, especially Genesis 17:9 - 19, where Abraham laughed when God told him He's going to make Sarah a mother of nations. She was already 90 years of age. Abraham didn't think Sarah can bear him any more children with her age. Well, of course God kept to His word and Isaac was born.

The other story from the Bible that enouraged me a lot was that of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1, where Hannah was blessed with a baby boy, Samuel after she prayed for one after a long time of being childless.

In fact, there are many verses in the Bible that helps us know how we can bear children. Some examples are:

1. "If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, .... I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful andincrease your numbers.." - Leviticus 26: 3, 9

2. "If you pay attention to God's laws ..., He will bless the fruit of your womb, .... none of your men or women will be childless..." - Deuteronmy 7: 13-14

3. "Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord." - Psalm 128: 3-4


I think it took about 6 months of praying before I conceived. Our joy upon hearing the news was beyond description.

Are you also like me then? Hoping and hoping, wishing and wishing, praying and praying for a little one to come along? Why not turn to the Bible for encouragement and help? God will hear your prayers and wipe away your tears, as long as you obey Him and walk in His ways.

Miracle Megan

Three years plus ago, my baby girl was conceived. At the routine blood tests, she was diagnosed to have Down Syndrome. The percentage of this being accurate was over 90%. Her growth was also slow and she was on the small side. Besides these challenges, she had to fight the fibroids in my womb and face the possibility of inheriting alpha thalessemia from me.

We prayed and trusted God based on His promises made to Abraham and his descendants in the Bible and decided against going for further tests. It was a 'scary' 6 months of waiting and trusting in the Lord. Buckets of tears were shed and nights were spent in prayers.

By God's Grace, on 31 Jul 2005, she was born normal and healthy. She is our precious girl, Miracle Megan. She is now 3 years plus old and a very intelligent girl. She is a constant reminder of God's wonderful provision in our life. The story of miracle megan continues, with all the miraculous things she can do at her age. I hope to share more in this blog where possible.

Do you also have a story to share? Do feel free to leave your comments and blog addresses here.