Life

The other day our 19 month old grandson, Aiden looked at his Mom's pregnant belly and asked, "What's that?"
Last night I got to feel the baby move. How delightful. How precious. How thought provoking... Wasn't it just a short time ago Evelyn lay on the operating table having a C section for the second time? I heard the nurse say, "Blood pressure dropping." Evelyn moaned as she started to pass out. I squeezed her hand and said, "Where's my baby girl?" At that moment the doctor lifted a healthy child from Evelyn's womb, and one of the nurses asked, "How'd you know she was girl, Dad?" (We didn't have any pre-testing done.) Ev's blood pressure stabilized and in a few moments I was holding Stephanie.
The first six months of her little life she cried a lot, but from the day she learned to crawl she became one of the happiest, most delightful children I've ever met.

(NLT)Psalm 127:3-5
Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. [4] Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands. [5] How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

I thank Yahweh for my children. They are a blessing from Him.

What You Meditate You Will Modulate

(NLT)Psalm 145:1-6
I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. [2] I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. [3] Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. [4] Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. [5] I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. [6] Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness.

What is coming forth from your mouth today? (NLT)Luke 6:45
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

What I meditate on, watch on TV, read, dwell on greatly effects my speech and my demeanor.  David declares his intention to meditate on "Your (God's) majestic, glorious splendor and your (God's) wonderful miracles."

Paul tells us, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (NLT)Philippians 4:8

There is nothing nor anyone more worthy of Praise than our great God and King, Yahweh!

After meditating on Him, His goodness, His miracles, joy will fill your soul and His praises will be on you lips. What comes forth from your mouth will be from the abundance of praise, honor and glory to Him that is in your heart.

Focus your heart on Him and your lips will honor Him. On what you meditate you will modulate.

In Christ,
Brother Steve

29 Years

It was 29 years ago today that I first had a date with my lovely Evelyn. Tonight we took a carriage in downtown Kokomo. It was cold, but the memories, laughter, blanket and hot cocoa warmed us. It has been 29 wonderful years.

The journey has not always been easy, but our God, Yahweh has led us to and through much. Sweet Evelyn often says, “If God leads us to it He will lead us through it.” I praise Him that He is still leading us each step of the way.

Psa 25:10  The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep His covenant and obey His demands.

Yahweh, thank You for your unfailing love and faithfulness. You know full well we have not always kept your covenant and yet in Christ You have found us faithful. Thank You for the wonderful gift of Salvation in Christ.

Prayer for Joy

(NLT)Psalm 30:11-12
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, [12] that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Oh Lord God of Heaven, our Creator and King, pour out Your joy on Your people today. Clothe us in pure joy and cause praise to replace our mourning. Spirit of God force our blessings to the front of our thoughts and cause thanksgiving to be on our lips.

We are blessed. May we, this day, proclaim those blessings and the praises of the One who gives them to us. (NLT)James 1:17
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.

Deep depression

Luke 10:17-20 NLT

  17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!"
  18 "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven."

It has been awhile since I last wrote the Daily Encouragement. For the last few weeks I have been battling a deep depression. The sharing of this comes with much hesitation for fear of all the well meaning concern with which it will be met. Please understand, I did not battle this entirely alone. My wife and a few very close friends were privy to my plight.

As I began me ascent from the despair I discovered that several others were in the heat of the same battle. I am convinced that some of you who read this have been there as well. Perhaps this writing today will assist you to win the victory over your own despair.

The passage above points out three things that are important in the daily life of every believer.

1. In Christ Jesus you have authority over the kingdom of darkness and all of it's power.

2. Don't get overly excited about #1. Just know it is true and take that authority, rather matter of factly if you will.

3. Rejoice in this fact... your name is written in the record of Heaven. It is written in the Lambs book of Life. (NLT)Revelation 20:15
And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
So rejoice that you are His child, His precious possession. You need not fear judgment as do those whose names are not written there.

Today, Lift up your head and rejoice you are His. Now, in His Name, the name above every name, trample on some snakes and scorpions... do it like your stepping on ants that have gotten into your house. Don't get overly excited about this part. Just do it because it has to be done or they will torment you. Then go ahead and rejoice some more that you are His. Now that you can get excited about. (NLT)John 1:12-13
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. [13] They are reborn-not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

Marital Status

(NLT)1 Corinthians 7:7
But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. But God gives to some the gift of marriage, and to others the gift of singleness.

Have you ever thought of your marital status as a gift? I'm not addressing divorce right now, though no doubt some may count that as a gift after a bad marriage.

For the married I wish to challenge you to teat your spouse as a gift, a treasured gift. If you would treat your spouse in this manner you will fall in love all over and your spouse will most likely will fall in love with you again.

If you are single Paul teaches you have the freedom to serve Christ unfettered by the responsibilities of marriage. If you are single and have the desire for marriage hold to (NLT)Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
The problem that many single people run into is they start seeking a spouse and find one who is not seeking the Kingdom of God.

Today rejoice in your marital status. Married? Love your spouse like a treasured gift. Single? Love your freedom like a treasured gift. Either way, seek Him, thank Him, live for Him as He leads.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.

Acceptable Sin

(NLT)Proverbs 16:28
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

(NLT)Proverbs 17:4
Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.

(NLT)Proverbs 26:20-22
Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. [21] A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood. [22] Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one's heart.

Helen, a dear old saint who has gone home to her Lord use to say, "My ears are not garbage cans." She didn't like gossip, didn't participate, didn't spread it and didn't listen to it.

What is gossip? It is information about someone, true or false that is used to belittle that person, hurt a relationship or make the gossip teller appear a better person.

A gossip is a troublemaker who plants seeds of strife and thereby separates friends and even family members.

One who listens to gossip is a wrong doer, perhaps a liar who listens intently to slander.

Rumors, gossip, dainty morsals of information sink deep into the heart. They are not easily forgotten. They generate doubt, fear, mistrust and thereby ruin relationships.

Today, refuse to tell or listen to gossip. (NLT)Proverbs 20:19
A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don't hang around with chatterers.
(NLT)Psalm 15:1, 3 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? [3] Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.

And say a prayer for those who have been damaged by this heinous sin that we too often wink at and count as acceptable.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.