January 31, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Coaches vs. Canter Suits & Sneakers
From college and high school basketball, an important event that happened last weekend:
It's the weekend when some well-dressed -- and some not so well-dressed -- college basketball coaches wear sneakers to show their support for the American Cancer Society.
The seventh annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend is an initiative of the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches that has coaches, their teams and local communities trying to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $60 million since 1993 to help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer information and education, advocate for public health policies that benefit communities, and deliver services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the NCAA official website
It's the weekend when some well-dressed -- and some not so well-dressed -- college basketball coaches wear sneakers to show their support for the American Cancer Society.
The seventh annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend is an initiative of the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches that has coaches, their teams and local communities trying to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $60 million since 1993 to help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer information and education, advocate for public health policies that benefit communities, and deliver services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the NCAA official website
Encouraging Words-The Lord Will Provide For Us...Through Us
From Wisdom From the Psalms
Psalm 12:5
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord.
Something is terribly wrong in our world. Some of God's children are ill-fed, homeless, diseased, and abused. Many people do not know the comforts of a home, nor the security of a free state. Who will care for these lowly children of God?
The Bible says that the Lord will rise up in behalf of these people, but it also says that He will do so through His servants and followers. That means that God will provide for His poorer children through the grace of His richer ones. We are called to give from our blessed abundance, that others less fortunate might live. This is not an option for Christians, but a basic mandate upon which our faith is built. We are the hands, the feet, the eyes, and the voice of the Lord. Let us serve Him well.
Prayer: Use me as You will, O Lord. Make me an instrument of Thy glory and will. Send the power of Your Spirit into the world through me. Amen.
Psalm 12:5
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord.
Something is terribly wrong in our world. Some of God's children are ill-fed, homeless, diseased, and abused. Many people do not know the comforts of a home, nor the security of a free state. Who will care for these lowly children of God?
The Bible says that the Lord will rise up in behalf of these people, but it also says that He will do so through His servants and followers. That means that God will provide for His poorer children through the grace of His richer ones. We are called to give from our blessed abundance, that others less fortunate might live. This is not an option for Christians, but a basic mandate upon which our faith is built. We are the hands, the feet, the eyes, and the voice of the Lord. Let us serve Him well.
Prayer: Use me as You will, O Lord. Make me an instrument of Thy glory and will. Send the power of Your Spirit into the world through me. Amen.
1/31 Daily Encouragement from Scripture and History
Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Today In History (from History.com)
Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1921, actress Carol Channing
In 1923, writer Norman Mailer
January 30, 2011
Welcome to Affirming Sunday Worship!
If you don't have a welcoming church near you, or you just can't make yourself step into one, we're bringing worship to you. We have listed below links to open and affirming churches that feature live worship music and/or services that have been previously recorded. We hope you are blessed and take time out of your busy schedule to enter into the Lord's day.
If one of the live feeds we post isn't working (stuff happens, especially during the winter) we hope you will take time to check out a different live broadcast or peruse our selection of pre-recorded services listed below.
If you know of a service we should add to our list, please send an e-mail at encouragementforliving@gmail.com and share it with us.
The list follows the jump:
If one of the live feeds we post isn't working (stuff happens, especially during the winter) we hope you will take time to check out a different live broadcast or peruse our selection of pre-recorded services listed below.
If you know of a service we should add to our list, please send an e-mail at encouragementforliving@gmail.com and share it with us.
The list follows the jump:
1/30 Daily Encouragement from Scripture & History
Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Today In History (from History.com)
In 1933, the Lone Ranger radio program debuts
Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1882, President Franklin Roosevelt
In 1930, actor Gene Hackman
In 1974, actor Christian Bale
January 29, 2011
Encouraging Words-Finding Intimacy With God
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:1-8 (NIV)
I wrote last week about the importance of investing time in our relationship with the Lord, and this week I want to follow up with thoughts I gleaned from a teaching I ran across that spoke to the idea of intimacy with God.
There are numerous references in the Bible about our relationship with the Heavenly Father being like that of a bride to a bridegroom. Anybody can fall in love with their spouse, but not everybody gains true intimacy. I know how blessed I am to have that with Brenda, and I hunger for it with my Lord. Here are five points that David illustrated in the text from Psalm 63 about achieving intimacy with God.
Yearning for God. Remember how good it feels when we are parched with thirst to get that ice cold cup of water and feel it rolling down our throats? The water David wrote about in verse 1 is the same water that Jesus told the Samaritan woman about (John chapter 4). The water that we drink and never thirst again, can be had only by intimacy with the Lord. We need to come thirsty, then remember that thirst every day so we don't grow complacent and let our closeness with God slip away.
Awakened Spiritual Senses. Part of achieving intimacy in a spousal relationship is seeing, feeling, and holding your spouse close against you. We can't do that with the Lord, but as we move closer to Him we can sense Him, feel His presence, be aware of Him. David "sees" God in verse 2 and feels His power and glory more so as a result. That awareness helps us develop a stronger bond with the person of God. He moves beyond a concept and feels more like a person, one we can be close to in a spiritual way.
New Values and Priorities. In verses 3 and 4, David shows how God's love is better than anything in his life, and can't stop praising and glorifying Him. When we have those special moments of intimacy with our spouse, don't we move into a place that we can't stop telling them how wonderful we think they are? That same place can exist in our relationship with the Lord. The closer we are to Him, the more He reveals of Himself, and the more amazing we realize He is.
Satisfaction and Fulfillment. Saturday morning is usually the time when Brenda and I can leisurely move into our day and spend some quality quiet time together. Sometimes I hold her and feel that life just can't get any better than it is at that moment. As wonderful as that time is, there's a level of intimacy with God that David writes about in verses 5 and 6 that actually is better. As much as your spouse may love you, God loves you more--that's what He does. When we allow ourselves to bask in the glow of that love and let it just flow through us and over us--wow!
Trust and Dependence. A key part of intimacy is trust, which can take several different forms between people and all of them are important. David shows in verses 7-8 that he is not shy about clinging to the Lord and declaring His dependency on Him. Why? Because David trusted Him. I trust Brenda with my life, but I trust God more because, well, He's God and Brenda is a (very slightly) imperfect human. There are those who preach a message that God is just waiting to strike you down because of your sins, but the truth, the truth that Jesus taught and lived on Earth, is completely different. He won't turn on us when we make ourselves vulnerable. I pray that knowledge breaks down any barriers between you and intimacy with our Lord.
My life is hardly a perfect example of these points, but of course neither was David's. Neither is yours, I bet, but that's okay. Wherever you're at in your walk with the Lord, you can take steps to move closer to Him and develop a sense of intimacy that will bless your socks off and change your life. I encourage you to start today and prayerfully consider how you can do that. If you come to the Father and seek, He will show you how.
You can depend on Him.
Psalm 63:1-8 (NIV)
I wrote last week about the importance of investing time in our relationship with the Lord, and this week I want to follow up with thoughts I gleaned from a teaching I ran across that spoke to the idea of intimacy with God.
There are numerous references in the Bible about our relationship with the Heavenly Father being like that of a bride to a bridegroom. Anybody can fall in love with their spouse, but not everybody gains true intimacy. I know how blessed I am to have that with Brenda, and I hunger for it with my Lord. Here are five points that David illustrated in the text from Psalm 63 about achieving intimacy with God.
Yearning for God. Remember how good it feels when we are parched with thirst to get that ice cold cup of water and feel it rolling down our throats? The water David wrote about in verse 1 is the same water that Jesus told the Samaritan woman about (John chapter 4). The water that we drink and never thirst again, can be had only by intimacy with the Lord. We need to come thirsty, then remember that thirst every day so we don't grow complacent and let our closeness with God slip away.
Awakened Spiritual Senses. Part of achieving intimacy in a spousal relationship is seeing, feeling, and holding your spouse close against you. We can't do that with the Lord, but as we move closer to Him we can sense Him, feel His presence, be aware of Him. David "sees" God in verse 2 and feels His power and glory more so as a result. That awareness helps us develop a stronger bond with the person of God. He moves beyond a concept and feels more like a person, one we can be close to in a spiritual way.
New Values and Priorities. In verses 3 and 4, David shows how God's love is better than anything in his life, and can't stop praising and glorifying Him. When we have those special moments of intimacy with our spouse, don't we move into a place that we can't stop telling them how wonderful we think they are? That same place can exist in our relationship with the Lord. The closer we are to Him, the more He reveals of Himself, and the more amazing we realize He is.
Satisfaction and Fulfillment. Saturday morning is usually the time when Brenda and I can leisurely move into our day and spend some quality quiet time together. Sometimes I hold her and feel that life just can't get any better than it is at that moment. As wonderful as that time is, there's a level of intimacy with God that David writes about in verses 5 and 6 that actually is better. As much as your spouse may love you, God loves you more--that's what He does. When we allow ourselves to bask in the glow of that love and let it just flow through us and over us--wow!
Trust and Dependence. A key part of intimacy is trust, which can take several different forms between people and all of them are important. David shows in verses 7-8 that he is not shy about clinging to the Lord and declaring His dependency on Him. Why? Because David trusted Him. I trust Brenda with my life, but I trust God more because, well, He's God and Brenda is a (very slightly) imperfect human. There are those who preach a message that God is just waiting to strike you down because of your sins, but the truth, the truth that Jesus taught and lived on Earth, is completely different. He won't turn on us when we make ourselves vulnerable. I pray that knowledge breaks down any barriers between you and intimacy with our Lord.
My life is hardly a perfect example of these points, but of course neither was David's. Neither is yours, I bet, but that's okay. Wherever you're at in your walk with the Lord, you can take steps to move closer to Him and develop a sense of intimacy that will bless your socks off and change your life. I encourage you to start today and prayerfully consider how you can do that. If you come to the Father and seek, He will show you how.
You can depend on Him.
1/29 Daily Encouragement From Scripture and History
Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Today In History (from History.com)
In 1845, Edgar Allen Poe's poem, "The Raven"
In 1861, Kansas joined the Union
Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1945, actor Tom Selleck
In 1954, Oprah Winfrey
In 1960, gold medal diver Greg Louganis
January 28, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Oklahoma's Carter Wins Wooden Citizenship Cup
Oklahoma safety Quinton Carter has been named the recipient of the seventh annual Wooden Citizenship Cup. The award is presented annually by the Atlanta-based Athletes For a Better World.
he Las Vegas native has served the SOUL Organization, Norman Kindercare, the Oklahoma City Marathon, the University Center for Student Advancement and the OU Black Graduate Student Association.
The Wooden Cup is named in honor of John Wooden, the late UCLA basketball coaching legend. The cup recognizes those athletes whose character represents the highest and best in sport, and who make the greatest difference in the lives of others.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Big !2 Conference official website.
he Las Vegas native has served the SOUL Organization, Norman Kindercare, the Oklahoma City Marathon, the University Center for Student Advancement and the OU Black Graduate Student Association.
The Wooden Cup is named in honor of John Wooden, the late UCLA basketball coaching legend. The cup recognizes those athletes whose character represents the highest and best in sport, and who make the greatest difference in the lives of others.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Big !2 Conference official website.
Encouraging Words-"Get Low"
From Our Daily Journey
Evangelist D. L. Moody once said, “When a man thinks he has a good deal of strength, and is self-confident, you may look for his downfall. It may be years before it comes to light, but it is already commenced.” This was definitely true of King Uzziah.
Everything seemed to be going so well in the monarch’s life. He lived in covenant obedience to the Lord and he sought God’s guidance during most of his reign. As long as he asked God for guidance and help, God gave him great success. His success was evidenced by his many accomplishments (2 Chronicles 26:2,7-15). In fact, Uzziah’s life could be considered a human success story—until he became blinded by his power and success, which caused him to be filled with pride.
Uzziah’s pride was evidenced in several ways: He challenged God’s holiness by trespassing into the temple and presuming upon a position he would never be able to have (2 Chronicles 26:6); he viewed God’s power as nice but not absolutely necessary for his leadership and life (2 Chronicles 26:5,16); when confronted with his pride, he refused godly correction and counsel; he refused to repent, and he ignored—instead of feared—the consequences of his sin (2 Chronicles 26:18-19). Uzziah’s pride motivated him to glorify himself and contend for God’s supremacy. What a tragic ending to a promising life.
The story of Uzziah teaches us several important lessons on how to break the pride cycle and start the humility cycle in our lives: View God’s help as absolutely necessary, remember the Source of all our blessings, thank God regularly for those blessings, and accept godly and worthwhile counsel.
May we choose, as William Penn says, a “low and level dwelling!” For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
Evangelist D. L. Moody once said, “When a man thinks he has a good deal of strength, and is self-confident, you may look for his downfall. It may be years before it comes to light, but it is already commenced.” This was definitely true of King Uzziah.
Everything seemed to be going so well in the monarch’s life. He lived in covenant obedience to the Lord and he sought God’s guidance during most of his reign. As long as he asked God for guidance and help, God gave him great success. His success was evidenced by his many accomplishments (2 Chronicles 26:2,7-15). In fact, Uzziah’s life could be considered a human success story—until he became blinded by his power and success, which caused him to be filled with pride.
Uzziah’s pride was evidenced in several ways: He challenged God’s holiness by trespassing into the temple and presuming upon a position he would never be able to have (2 Chronicles 26:6); he viewed God’s power as nice but not absolutely necessary for his leadership and life (2 Chronicles 26:5,16); when confronted with his pride, he refused godly correction and counsel; he refused to repent, and he ignored—instead of feared—the consequences of his sin (2 Chronicles 26:18-19). Uzziah’s pride motivated him to glorify himself and contend for God’s supremacy. What a tragic ending to a promising life.
The story of Uzziah teaches us several important lessons on how to break the pride cycle and start the humility cycle in our lives: View God’s help as absolutely necessary, remember the Source of all our blessings, thank God regularly for those blessings, and accept godly and worthwhile counsel.
May we choose, as William Penn says, a “low and level dwelling!” For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
1/28 Encouragement From Scripture and History
Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Today In History (from History.com)
In 1916, President Wilson nominated Louis Brandeis to become the first Jewish judge on the Supreme Court
Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
in 1933, writer Susan Sontag
In 1936, actor Alan Alda
In 1968, singer Sarah McLachlan
January 27, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-U of Akron students make most of service opportunities
At this time last year, Jenna Buffa had no experience with a paintbrush, hammer or any type of saw — but you should see her now.
She was among the 110 students who helped to rebuild several homes in the Gulf Coast communities of Acadiana and Calcasieu during the University’s alternative spring break in 2010. Since the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, UA has annually organized a trip for students who want to assist in the region’s relief efforts
.
“I was hesitant to sign up at first, because I knew nothing about construction,” recalls Buffa, a speech language pathology major who will graduate in May. “But I went for it and it turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done. I helped rebuild a home for a family, and I learned how lucky I am to have all that I have.”
Click here to read the rest of the story from the U of Akron's official web site.
She was among the 110 students who helped to rebuild several homes in the Gulf Coast communities of Acadiana and Calcasieu during the University’s alternative spring break in 2010. Since the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, UA has annually organized a trip for students who want to assist in the region’s relief efforts
.
“I was hesitant to sign up at first, because I knew nothing about construction,” recalls Buffa, a speech language pathology major who will graduate in May. “But I went for it and it turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done. I helped rebuild a home for a family, and I learned how lucky I am to have all that I have.”
Click here to read the rest of the story from the U of Akron's official web site.
Encouraging Words-'His Work, His Way"
From Today God Is First
"So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law" (Mal 2:9).
My work, My way - When you and I live in this world without Christ we live a life just as Esau lived his life. Esau despised his birthright and failed to enter into a relationship with God that allowed him to fulfill his destiny. In essence, Esau fulfilled his work, his way. His life represented the carnal life of the flesh.
His work, my way - When you and I become born-again by the Spirit of God, we begin to focus our attention on living for Christ. We realize it is His work we are doing but it takes time before we learn what it means to do His work, His way.
My work, His way - As the Holy Spirit does His work in us, we learn to walk with God. We learn what it means to see our work as His work and we desire to do it His way. The Israelites were guilty of not knowing His ways and were unable to move into the Promised Land because of not understanding how to do Their work, His ways.
His work, His way - When we begin to walk with God we begin to realize that all that we do is His work and He calls us to do it His way. When we begin to walk with God in this manner we begin to see the Kingdom of God manifested in our working lives. We begin to experience His power and learn what it means to do His work, His way.
In order to experience God in this way, each of us must give our working lives to the Lord and ask him to teach us His way. Moses asked God: "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you" (Ex 33:12). Moses realized He needed God to teach him His ways in order for him to prosper in His relationship with God.
What best describes your life today? Your work, your way; Your work, His way; His work, your way; or His work, His way? Pray that you learn to do His work, His way.
"So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law" (Mal 2:9).
My work, My way - When you and I live in this world without Christ we live a life just as Esau lived his life. Esau despised his birthright and failed to enter into a relationship with God that allowed him to fulfill his destiny. In essence, Esau fulfilled his work, his way. His life represented the carnal life of the flesh.
His work, my way - When you and I become born-again by the Spirit of God, we begin to focus our attention on living for Christ. We realize it is His work we are doing but it takes time before we learn what it means to do His work, His way.
My work, His way - As the Holy Spirit does His work in us, we learn to walk with God. We learn what it means to see our work as His work and we desire to do it His way. The Israelites were guilty of not knowing His ways and were unable to move into the Promised Land because of not understanding how to do Their work, His ways.
His work, His way - When we begin to walk with God we begin to realize that all that we do is His work and He calls us to do it His way. When we begin to walk with God in this manner we begin to see the Kingdom of God manifested in our working lives. We begin to experience His power and learn what it means to do His work, His way.
In order to experience God in this way, each of us must give our working lives to the Lord and ask him to teach us His way. Moses asked God: "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you" (Ex 33:12). Moses realized He needed God to teach him His ways in order for him to prosper in His relationship with God.
What best describes your life today? Your work, your way; Your work, His way; His work, your way; or His work, His way? Pray that you learn to do His work, His way.
1/27 Daily Encouragement From Scripture & History
Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Today In History (from History.com)
Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1756, composer Wolfgang Mozart
In 1948, dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov
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