” … but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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Over the last few months, I’ve thought a lot about what I look at and listen to. For example, television, music, news, talk shows, Facebook, etc. How does it all affect me? How does it influence my thinking and my attitudes?
The Bible says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23 NIV
What does that mean exactly? I decided to dig in.
A wellspring is the source of a spring or abundant supply. OK. Above all else, I should guard my heart because it is a spring of abundant supply of something called “life”. Hmmm. I still didn’t get it, so I dug in more. I found some clues.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” NLT
So, how well I guard my heart determines the course of my life. Well, that’s certainly been true enough (and sometimes in a bad way).
“. . . out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
My mouth reveals what’s in my heart. Can’t argue with that, either.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
Sometimes we think God only looks at our actions, but what he really examines is our heart. Well, that’s certainly something we should think about! That tells me that no matter how many good works I perform, He is still going to look at my heart.
“. . . the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.” (1 Chronicles 28: 9
He knows me better than I know myself.
If I’m going to guard my heart, I must be careful what I allow to influence me. One thing that concerns me is TV, especially the news. Honestly, it doesn’t do anything positive for my attitude. However, I’ve learned that the more I listen to and sing Christian music, the closer I feel to God.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4
“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Psalm 146: 1-2
My heart is the spring that nourishes my life. Is that spring sparkling clean or is it polluted by the things of this world? Well, I guess that depends on how well I guard my heart. Are you guarding your heart?
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“Surrounded then as we are by these serried ranks of witnesses, let us strip off everything that hinders us, as well as the sin which dogs our feet, and let us run the race that we have to run with patience, our eyes fixed on Jesus the source and the goal of our faith. For he himself endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame because of the joy he knew would follow his suffering; and he is now seated at the right hand of God’s throne. Think constantly of him enduring all that sinful men could say against him and you will not lose your purpose or your courage.” Hebrews 12:1-3 PHILLIPS Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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It matters enormously if I alienate anyone from the truth.
C.S. Lewis
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN MAKE THE VALLEY OF TROUBLE A DOOR OF HOPE.”
CATHERINE MARSHALL
Hopelessness is the cruelest emotion. I felt hopeless once. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Hopelessness is like being in a dark hole. You don’t know how to get out and you don’t care.
If you have ever experienced hopelessness, and you’re still around to tell about it, you understand the inextricable need of all human beings to have HOPE.
Simply by our proximity to Jesus, we can bring hope and life to people and places trapped in discouragement and despair.”
Pastor Louie Giglio
What greater motivation could there be for devoting time each day to God alone? My prayer is that because I seek Him, others will see Him and take hold of that hope that anchors my soul.
“We are never without hope, because we are never without Him.”
Sarah Rodriguez Rhodes
Sarah writes about the day, shortly after her husband’s death, when doctors told her there was no hope for the life of her two-week-old baby girl. But Sarah says, “We are never without hope because we are never without Him.” You can read her testimony of God’s faithfulness here. Sarah’s Story
“…Christ Jesus (is) our HOPE…” 1 Timothy 1:1
A Christian’s hope isn’t an escape or wishful thinking, but something that a Christian is meant to do.
C.S. Lewis
“When you go through deep waters I will be with you.” Isaiah 43:2 NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 NIV
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:24-25
“I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future.”
Ralph Abernathy
What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace; knowing that his grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God.
Rick Warren
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45 NIV Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails…” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a NIV Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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Real Christian Women 