YAHWEH, Lord.

Gaylyn Williams composes this blog daily on the Names of God. I urge you to read her posts on a daily basis for encouragement. Knowing Who God is, not who we think He is will give us a clearer perspective on life. The following is a link to her blog for today.

Daily Name of God. Thank you, Gaylyn.

A comment and a prayer.

He who Is, always has been, never a has been and never was wasn’t, always shall be is ruler of my life. It is His glory we see each and every day. Our lives are to be a reflection of His glory.

Oh YAHWEH, Master, open our eyes to see Your glory this day. In the midst of the trials, the pain shine Your presence, Your promises, Your praises in our hearts. Mash us, melt us and mold us into a material that will reflect that glory to all around. And should none see because of blindness or location then allow us to shine Your glory back to You. For You are the one we praise, the one we glorify, honor and worship.

In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, AMEN!

Can I run every situation through this filter?

(Php 4:4) Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
(Php 4:5) Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
(Php 4:6) Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
(Php 4:7) Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
(Php 4:8) And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. 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.

Vs. 4 No matter what, my joy can remain in the Lord, because He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Vs. 5 Through Christ, I can treat others with the love I would want to be treated with regardless how they treat me. Jesus asked the Father to forgive the men who nailed Him to the cross and were gambling over His clothes. Luke 23:34

Vs. 6 I can carry every burden to God through Christ with thanksgiving. He has done marvelous things for me. I can trust He who is faithful with every burden.

Vs. 7 Then I will experience His peace as I live in Jesus Christ.

Vs. 8 So when trials come, when someone is unkind, rude, thoughtless or hateful I can run their actions through the filter in this verse.
A. What is the truth of this situation? Who am I in Christ?
B. How can I best Honor my Savior and love this individual as I love myself?
C. What is the right thing to do, the godly thing?
D. How can I show the pure love of Jesus Christ?
E. What would bring beauty to this situation?
F. What, in God's sight, is the admirable thing to do?
G. How can I bring praise to God through and in this situation?

And if, by the power of Jesus Christ I start each day with the mindset of verse 8 it will be easier and eventually second nature to run each situation through this filter. I think I shall find it necessary to reset this mind of mine several times each day.

May you and I glorify our King and Savior, Jesus Christ, with our minds. May they be renewed by the power of His word.
(Rom 12:1) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.
(Rom 12:2) Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
(Eph 4:23) Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Love in Christ,
Brother Steve

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