Words to live by

Some of the words that helped me and encouraged me and inspired me throughout the week. I wrote in my journal during the sermon, so the most of these are not exactly direct quotes, nor do I know who said them all... or any of them.

• First, I find it very fitting to put these lyrics hear. I swear this was the most sang, whistled, hummed song the entire trip (despite the fact that we never actually sang it as a whole).

"Bless the lord oh my soul Oh my soul Worship his holy name Sing like never before Oh my soul I worship you holy name
The sun comes up Its a new day dawning Its time to sing your song again What ever may pass and whatever lies before me Let me be singing when the evening comes
Bless the lord oh my soul Oh my soul Worship his holy name Sing like never before Oh my soul I worshhip your holy name
You're rich in love and you're slow to anger Your name is great and your heart is kind For all your goodness i will keep on singing 10,000 reasons for my heart to find
Bless the lord oh my soul Oh my soul
Worship his holy name Sing like never before Oh my soul I worship your holy name
And on that day when my strength is failing The end draws near and my time has come Soon my soul sing your praise un-ending 10,000 years and there forever more
Bless the lord oh my soul Oh my soul Worship his holy name Sing like never before Oh my soul I worship your holy name
Bless the lord oh my soul Oh my soul Worship his holy name Sing like never before Oh my soul I worship your holy name (repeat 3x)
Sing like never before Oh my soul I worship your holy name (repeat 3x)"

∞ Genesis 8:22
∞ James 1:2
∞ Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

• We all go through different seasons of life. Full, abundant, dry, unknowing. We will have ups and downs. Seasons always change. Even when we don't know the reasons why, or what will come next, or even what is happening now, all the different seasons are important. (We got thru dry spells to prepare us for where God calls us to go).

• Have joy in all things! We are tested and have trials. God allows us to walk thru seasons to make sure it is devotion, not emotion. To make sure that He can throw us into the deep end and we can swim.

• God acts out of who He is, not how He feels.

• The leaves fall off trees to focus on the roots. Shake leaves off (what people say, think, etc.) and get down to the roots and tend to them! Where am I planted??

• Stop seeking acceptance from those around me. God has already accepted me fully-- just as I am!

∞ Psalm 92:12-14
∞ Psalm 1:2

• As things happen in life, make sure it is God's Will. Consider Christ, the body of Christ, the church, and pray first and foremost.

• Plant a seed within me, Oh Lord! Let it bloom and blossom within, here and at home and the surrounding areas!

∞ Psalm 98

• Lead me, Lord! Be my strength when I am weak. Be my words when I am speechless. Be everything I long to be and everything I am not. I need you in good times and in bad!

∞ 2 Peter 3

∞ Jeremiah 29:11

• Fear is the most crippling thing.

• There is power within me.

∞ Acts 2:17

• Have the faith to spread the Gospel, power and love! Crush the fear bug!

• God doesn't want people to be sick. We are the vessel to heal people.

∞ 1 Timothy 1:5

∞ John 13

• Serving is the full extent of God's love.
• Serving doesn't always fit. It isn't always convenient. Be prepared for inconvenience. (We are born selfish, and serving goes against the grain of who we are. Serving is the renewing of the mind. We need to practice. We are the game changers).
• Serving is a mandate. (There are two bowls mentioned. One that Jesus uses to walk the feet of others, the other one that is used to wash hands [like washing hands of  particular situation]). 

• Complaining is okay. It is a good stress relief. But only complain when you are going to do something about it, going to change it!