Friday, January 18, 2013

Be Encouraged, Be Strong!

Good morning!

Joy, at Doodlebug, touched my heart this morning with her Faithful Friday post, Running the Radical Race.  My Emily is around her age, 15.  I know that Emily sometimes struggles with being so different from the other kids in her youth group at church. 
As I told Joy, I think growing up homeschooled, by parents who are serious about helping you to be set apart for God, makes you different.  You probably always will be...unless, you decide to turn away from your upbringing and from the Lord's will for you.  I don't think it can happen accidentally.   You make the decision to be worldly one choice at a time.

It's the same way for us, ladies.  We too can become entangled easily in the lure of fashion, the Jones' most recent purchase, the commonly approved television violence and pornography, the soap operas and love stories that build discontentment with our husbands, the list goes on and on and on.  But we make the decision to be worldly one choice at a time, too.

I encourage you, young or old, be strong in the Lord! 

There is a billboard in our area that reads, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray I will heal their land."  I think that this does a great disservice to the readers.  It leaves out the most important part.  Repentance.  The true quote reads:

2 Chronicles 7:14
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Ladies, let's do this.  Let's ask the Lord to reveal our hearts to us.  Reveal our sins and wicked ways.  Then, let's turn in repentance to the Lord.  Then, let us repent on behalf of our country and beseech the Lord for forgiveness and healing for our land... healing for our homes... healing for our relationships... healing for our hearts.

You can do this.  You can be the woman of God that He wants you to be.    Read the Bible. Trust Him to speak to you and to keep you safe.  If what you hear and what you read don't agree, believe His Word!  Fear not!  He is with you.  Be not dismayed.  He is your God.

Blessings to you dear ones,
Laura Lane
Harvest Lane Cottage
Mom to Teen for the Lord
~~~~~
May I suggest?


3 comments:

  1. Laura,

    I like the way you put that....that we choose to be worldly one choice at a time. I've never stated it that way, but that's exactly it. We begin to become numb and accepting of the world's ways the more we allow it into our mind and spirit (and homes). That's what we are constantly on guard about and much of what Joy was speaking of. I appreciate what you said. And I noticed right away what was left out of that quote. I pray that verse so much!

    Blessings to you!
    Tammy

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  2. Well said. :) We constantly have to have God's help in guarding ourselves--our hearts and minds.

    2 Chronicles 7:14 is a great verse for our country (as long as you include all of it). :)

    Great post! Thank you for participating in Faithful Fridays! :)

    God bless,
    Joy :)

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  3. Very well put Laura! One choice at a time is how it goes, it is easier that way isn't it? Very challenging, thanks:-)

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Laura Lane
5 Year Cancer Survivor