Jewel of Inspiration: The Joy Of The Lord Is Our Strength!

Sometimes we experience moments, days, or seasons that try to sap & drain our joy & strength.  I declare these words and scriptures over my life and yours today!

If our faith gets beat up & worn we gradually begin to lose our vibrant joy
and then before long our strength weakens and our hope begins to fade.

Many times it happens so quickly & subtly in a variety of ways 

that we don't even notice it. until somebody recognizes it.

To help get out of a funk I encourage myself and others to get your praise on!

Crank up some of your favorite music -spend time reading a strengthening 

word from the Bible and be aware of your many blessings and magnify 

that instead of allowing whatever situation

 or whoever'scomments to drain & rob you!

Music and specifically Praise Music always lift my spirits and change my attitude 

and focus and it has the power to change the atmosphere around me!

Renewing your heart and mind by magnifying the good in your life

 and singing with grateful joy is so healing!

When we struggle or suffer let us help, remind & encourage one another to drop what chains us and in celebration & gratitude share our testimony and remembrance 

of how the Lord was our source, our support and our strength to overcome!! 

In the midst of praise & testimony He has the power to lift burdens, give strength

 and instruction to press through the hard days! 

Praise Him alone or join together and sing for the joy of 

what He has done and is yet to do!

Here are mighty scriptures to proclaim over you life.

Insert your name and your loved ones names in them - put on some worship music

 and celebrate with a grateful heart!

A psalm. For giving grateful praise. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Psalm 100:1

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

He says, "I removed the burden from their shoulders;

 their hands were set free from the basket. 

Psalm 81:1, 6

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. 

My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him!

Psalm 28:7

Nehemiah said, "Go, and enjoy good food and sweet drinks.  Send some to people 

who have none, because today is a holy day to the Lord. 

Don't be sad, because the joy of the Lord is your strength! Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send some of their food to others, and to celebrate with great joy.  They finally understood what they had been taught.

Nehemiah 8:10,12

 "Holy joy will be oil to the wheels of our obedience"  ~Matthew Henry

"Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life.

The quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be okay and

 the determined choice to praise God in all things."

~ Kay Warren

Be Inspired!

Pinky Vern

A Good Friday

When I think of all that the Lord Jesus Christ has healed me of -
I think of this day.

I consider the work at Calvary.
I give thanks for all that was
fulfilled and settled that day at the cross.
Jesus was wounded that we might be healed.
Our Sicknesses
Our Sorrows
Our Pains
Our Lives
 All Healed By The Blood of Christ.
It doesn't mean we will not have pain, sickness or sorrows.
It does mean we do not carry them or go through them alone.
It means we are loved.

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement (punishment -NIV) for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5


Every time I read that verse my heart is overwhelmed knowing
that the punishment for my peace was upon Him.
Even now tears flow and I am moved with gratitude for the peace I have experienced
and the healing He has provided through His afflictions on the cross.

Are you in need of some peace,hope & healing today?

God has made a way for forgiveness, peace, hope & healing to come.
It was accomplished and finished on the cross and that was enough to
Save & Heal all of us!!

Pray this prayer and trust Him today and make this the best Friday Ever!!

Dear Lord,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner and believe that you died on the cross for my sins.
I confess You as my personal Lord & Savior and Thank You for dying on the Cross for me!
Today I repent of my sins and struggles.
I give to you the wounds and heartaches that I have carried on my own and pray you would 

bring healing into my life.
Amen.

"Because our God’s acquainted with grief, He is intimately acquainted with us, 
with our thorns hidden and driven deep. We don’t cry alone."~ Ann Voskamp
www.aholyexperience.com

Click here to listen to a beautiful version of At The Cross.


Be Inspired By The Cross,

Pinky Vern

I Will Remember

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of the inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:18-19 NIV

Have you ever messed up?
Made mistakes?
Forgotten Something?

I Have.
More thank I care to admit and more than others know.
But I Know.
And sometimes my knowing turns to remembering.
Remembering the times I failed.
The times I ...
Failed as a Human Being.
Failed as a Student.
Failed as an Employee.
Failed as a Volunteer.
Failed as a Daughter
Failed as a Sister.
Failed as an Aunt.
Failed as a Friend.
Failed as a Wife.
Failed as a Mother.
F- A- I- L-E-D

Sometimes the video memory plays at full blast, the stinging pain, and the shameful guilt stare at me.
And then something stirs in me and I remember something else.
I remember what the Word says that the Blood of Christ has done for me and it is then that
I remind my heart & mind of these things.

I remind myself that I am Forgiven and Made New.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28
In case you did not know - on the cross Christ died for you and for me so that we could be forgiven and free from the haunting video memory that plays all of our failures in our heads.
When we believe in Him and repent of our sins - He forgives and forgets.
Read the scripture at the top of the page and visualize your failures and seek complete
forgiveness from Christ.
Invite Him to help you forgive yourself, and to forgive others.
Read it again and give thanks to Him for what He accomplished on the Cross!
Now you have authority and confidence knowing that all of it is forgiven and gone...hurled into the depths of the sea...with a sign that says NO FISHING ALLOWED!
Put your poles down.

Next

I remind myself that His Mercies are new every morning for me! 
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail.  
They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of what I have experienced from Him and His mercy towards me - I am being changed and strengthened.  I am even growing in extending mercy to myself and to others.
That is some powerful stuff right there!
I encourage you to ponder that one a bit.
His Mercies Never Come To An End!
No matter what you did.
No matter what you said.
No matter what you thought.
No matter what!
This is one grateful girl!!


I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and I will not remember your sins.
Isaiah 43:25
Nothing Can Change That!  

No accusation.
No awful memory.
No report.
No write up.
No rumor.
Nothing!!

Now go about your day and the days ahead remembering and reminding yourself that
When God Forgives He Does So Completely - Not Partially!
 Rejoice sweet friends - we have been forgiven...fully forgiven!
I Will Remember & Magnify the Faithfulness and Forgiveness of Christ and
 Never Forget What He Accomplished For Me At The Cross!
(You can make this your declaration and prayer too!)

Be Inspired,

Pinky Vern