Encouraging Words-The Best Investment You'll Ever Make

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15 (NIV)

When we talk and hear about "investors," we usually think in financial terms, typically of someone either participating in the stock market or who is a business owner. That's all well and good, but we are ALL investors. We invest in relationships. We invest in our spouses, family, kids, friends and sometimes other people who are part of our lives. Most of all, we need to invest in Jesus. I'm going to share an example of how I invest in an important relationship, and then how the lessons I have learned there can be effectively applied to our relationship with Jesus.

One of the most significant relationships in our everyday lives is with our boss at work. Let's face it, a bad relationship with that important person can have a really nasty impact on the other parts of our lives. If we wake up every day dreading going to work and facing that person, then have constant conflict with them during the day, it's a lot more difficult to come home and be a good spouse, parent, friend, and child of God.

I've suffered through those types of relationships in the past, but the one I have with my current boss is much different. We share common goals that we feel passionately about, and we both approach our work and relationship with integrity. That's very important, but there are some critical differences that I have to manage, to invest time and effort into, to emphasize our commonality and minimize the impact of our differences.

My boss is a type A++ personality and, quite frankly, can really get on my nerves when he gets cranked up. I am also capable of getting on people's nerves (just ask anyone I've met), but I do it more quietly, in a lower gear. He's also a gun-loving right-wing Republican redneck from West Virginia (his words, not mine). I'm pretty much at the other end of the spectrum from any of that. There are three main steps I've used to help our relationship work effectively.

1) I decided I had to make an effort. It wasn't up to him to treat me right. I had to decide to be the calm one when he went off on a rant. I had to go to him with suggestions and ideas, not wait for him to come to me.

2) I studied my boss. I learned what approaches worked well with him and what didn't. I learned that on the rare occasion that I messed up, he wasn't interested in me beating myself up. He wanted a solution, and he wanted me to present it. I learned that when I took a problem to him and invested the time in fact-finding and developing ideas of how to solve it, he would listen and usually agree with those ideas. I learned that if I brought something to him and he had already made up his mind, nothing short of God Himself would usually change it. I learned that he wanted to be hands-off and for me to handle details. I also learned his attention to detail could be beyond excruciating, and for him to be dissatisfied with the results of a project and go in himself was something to be avoided if humanly possible.

3) I take advantage of opportunities. When my boss offers to take me out to lunch, I go, even if I don't particularly feel like it, because that one-on-one time away from the office strengthens our bond, our sense of partnership. When his wife passed away, I was able to use my experience as a widower to offer comfort and speak into his life. Over time, we've shared a lot about our lives and believe we can count on each other. There is now a level of trust that keeps me from being on the defensive with him, that helps us feel we can count on each other.

I share that with you because as I was driving home today breaking that down, I was thinking how I could apply that to the most important relationship in my life, the one with Jesus.

Well, first it's up to me to make an effort. I often have this picture in my mind of His hand reaching down to me from heaven, waiting for me to reach back. I need to care enough about our relationship to extend myself to meet His outreached hand, even if it's just talking over my day with Him on the drive home--that's a start. I need to invest in Him, not just thinking about what He can do or what I think He should be doing in my life and address what I can be doing for my Lord.

Second, I need to study Him. Wouldn't it be great if everyone we met handed us a book that shared some of the most important and intimate information about themselves? Would we take time to read it? God did just that for us! It's not just what other people said about Him either, although that is important, it has direct quotes from our Lord! Some people have never heard His voice but they can sure read plenty that He has said. Sure, we have to invest some time and effort to study the Bible, but how can you develop a relationship with anyone if you don't get to know them?

Finally, I need to take advantage of opportunities to draw closer to Him. Going above and beyond, investing in things like participating in special ministry events, gathering for worship, either at church or at home, or carving out quiet time in a special place where it's just me and Jesus, one-on-one. Do you feel you can count on Jesus? Have you given Him reason to think He can count on you? If He's putting opportunities to serve Him on your plate, He has a level of trust in you that will only grow the more you show Him you are willing to invest in His work. Just think of that, God trusting little old you with an important assignment in His kingdom. I don't know how it gets more rewarding or fulfilling than that.

In the financial world, investors look at ROI, Return on Investment. I have received a good return on the investment I've made in the relationship with my boss, and encourage you to look at making a larger investment with important people in your lives. Even better, though, is the return I receive for investing in my Lord. We don't have to wait for heaven to get all the good stuff, He'll give a taste of it to us here on Earth as a reward.

We just need to invest our most important resource--ourselves.

1/22 Daily Encouragement From Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Exodus 4-6, Matthew 14:22-36
Listen to  Exodus 4  Exodus 5  Exodus 6  Matthew 14

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1840, British colonists reached New Zealand for the first time
In 1973, George Foreman defeated Joe Frazier to win the heavyweight boxing championship

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1931, singer Sam Cooke
In 1934, the "Galloping Gourmet' Graham Kerr
In 1959, actress Linda Blair

Just For Fun-Looney Tunes "High Diving Hare"

PM Encouraging Words-"Believe In God"

From Daily In Christ

Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him

The life of Wilma Rudolph, the great Olympic sprinter, is a remarkable story of faith. Wilma was born with health problems that left her crippled. "Will I ever be able to run and play like the other children?" Wilma asked her parents.

"Honey, you have to believe in God and never give up hope," they responded. "If you believe, God will make it happen." Taking her parents' counsel, she painfully struggled to walk. By the time she was 12, to the delight and surprise of many, Wilma no longer needed her braces. She went on to play basketball on her championship high school team and win three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics.

When you hear inspiring stories of faith like Wilma Rudolph's, do you sometimes wonder, "What could I accomplish if I took God at His Word?" Faith is the foundational principle of the Christian life. Believing who God is, what He says, what He has done, and what He will do defines the kingdom of God.

Furthermore, faith is the essence of the Christian's day-to-day activity. Paul wrote: "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Colossians 2:6). How did you receive Christ? By faith. How then are you to walk in Him? By faith. In Scripture, walking refers to the way you conduct your everyday life. Victorious Christian living and spiritual maturity are determined by our belief in God.

We tend to think of faith as some kind of mystical quality which belongs only in the realm of the spiritual. But everybody walks by faith. It is the most basic operating principle of life. The question is, in what or in whom do you believe? We are challenged to believe in God and take His Word seriously.

Encouraging Music-"Thy Word" by Amy Grant

AM Encouraging Words-"A Believer's Peace"

From Daily Disciples

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things where with one may edify another. Romans 14:19

Today, believers and unbelievers alike are looking for peace. But how do we follow after the things of peace? Since everyone is longing and searching for peace, let's first define the difference between the peace of the unbeliever with the peace of the believer.

The unbeliever is looking for peace in the outer circumstances of their lives. "If only the world was a peaceful place to be, if only we had a leader that would establish peace, if only everyone else would be kind to one another….then we would have peace" are the hopes and thoughts of the unbelievers. So, they look for leaders who could bring this kind of peace to their environment. We all agree with this kind of thinking to some extent. Wouldn't we all be happy with world peace and conflict free circumstances? But Jesus tells us that in this world you will have tribulation and the Bible teaches that the only leader who will bring world peace is the spirit of the antichrist. World peace cannot last under his reign for Satan is the master of division, destruction, disaster and death.

A believer's peace is different. Jesus said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you." The kind of peace Jesus gives is peace of heart. Christians should have great peace knowing that they are unconditionally loved and that God has a purpose for them. There is great peace seeing prayers answered and understanding the things of God. As a believer begins to meditate upon the things of God, the peace they receive in their hearts starts training their minds to think differently. We start hearing praise songs going through our minds and thanking God for His lovingkindness and goodness towards us. Finally, this peace of Christ is lived out through the believers' behaviors. Their attitude is not negative and they smile for no reason. They are focused but not self centered. And their behavior starts reflecting a trust in God that all things will work together for good because they love God and know God loves them. A believer understands that it is not about conflict-free circumstances that bring peace but about Jesus who brings peace in the midst of all kinds of circumstances. So, we follow after the things of peace leading us to follow the Author of perfect peace Himself.

1/21 Daily Encouragement From Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Exodus 1-3, Matthew 14:1-21
Listen to Exodus1  Exodus 2  Exodus 3  Matthew 14

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1957, country singer Patsy Cline first gained attention with a national TV appearance
In 1976, the first flight of the Concorde
In 2009, Toyota passes GM as the planet's biggest car maker

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1884, Roger Baldwin, co-founder of the ACLU
In 1905, fashion designer Christian Dior
In 1941, opera singer Placido Domingo

Just For Fun-Carol Burnett Show, "Went With the Wind, Part 2 of 2"

PM Encouraging Words-"True to His Word"

From The Active Word

The LORD has sworn in truth to David…"I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body." Psalms 132:11 (NKJV)

When God makes a promise, He keeps it. It doesn't matter how improbable, how incredible, or how incomprehensible it may seem…when He gives His word on something, He's true to it without fail.

Case in point, here in Psalm 132:11, a promise the Lord made to David is referenced. The promise God made was that the "fruit" of David's body (his descendants), would always sit upon the throne (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

Stop and consider that for a moment. From a human standpoint, it seems improbable, incredible, and even incomprehensible. How does a descendant become a king forever? At the most, a man might rule and reign for a few decades. But forever? No way!

That is, unless that king is more than a mere mortal. And He was, because we know this promise was fulfilled by Jesus, who was both the Son of David and the Son of God. His kingship went beyond the bounds of Israel and is extended over the entire universe. And not only that, but He overcame the grave, and death has no hold on Him, making Him an Eternal King!

The point is that God keeps His word even when we can't understand how He's going to keep it. He's the Creator, and as such He's creative enough to fulfill the promises that we can't comprehend. We're not called to understand how He is going to do it but only that He is doing to do it. Period!

God kept an improbable, incredible, incomprehensible promise to David…and He will do the same for us because He is always true to His word.

Encouraging Music-"The Lost Get Found" by Britt Nicole

AM Encouraging Words-"Meager Offerings"

From Harvest Daily Devotion

And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.—John 6:11

It was a meager offering when the young boy brought his lunch of five loaves and two fish to Jesus. Even Andrew said, "But what are they among so many?" (John 6:9). But Jesus took it, blessed it, and multiplied it—and thousands were impacted.

God can take your meager offering and do a lot with a little. A. W. Tozer said, "The world is waiting to hear an authentic voice, a voice from God—not an echo of what others are doing and saying, but an authentic voice." What the world needs to see today is an authentic Christian, not a perfect voice, not a flawless person (because there is no such individual), but authenticity. That is what people need to see.

John Wesley said, "Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth."

Imagine what would happen if just 100 believers took this to heart. What if 200 did? How about 400? How about 500? What about 800? What about 1,000? What about 2,000 or more? What would happen in our cities? What would happen in our states? What would happen in the United States? What would happen in the world? A lot.

Sure, all of us are flawed. All of us fall short. None of us are qualified in and of ourselves. But God can do His work through imperfect people. In fact, it seems as though He goes out of His way to find imperfect people to work through. What God is looking for today is not ability as much as availability. Are you willing to be someone who will shake your world?

1/20 Daily Encouragement From Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 49-50, Matthew:13:31-58
Listen to  Genesis 49  Genesis 50  Matthew 13

Today In History (from History.com),
In 1945, FDR was innaugurated for the fourth time
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy was innaugurated
In 1981, the Iran hostage crisis ended

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1896, comedian George Burns
In 1920, sci-fi author Issac Asimov
In 1930, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon

Just For Fun-Carol Burnet Shot, "Went With the Wind, Part 1 of 2"

PM Encouraging Words-"Call It Good"

From Our Daily Bread

Can we really know whether to label life’s circumstances as good or bad?

For instance, your car breaks down right before you are to take a family road trip. But when you take the car to the shop, the mechanic says, “Good thing you didn’t take this out on the road. It could have caught fire.” Is that bad because of the inconvenience, or good because of God’s protection?

Or perhaps your child decides to pursue interests that aren’t all that interesting to you. You wanted her to play basketball and run track in high school. But she wanted to sing and play the oboe. You feel frustrated, but she excels and ends up with a music scholarship. Is that bad because your dreams weren’t fulfilled, or good because God directed her in ways you could not have predicted?

Sometimes it’s hard to see how God is working. His mysteries don’t always reveal their secrets to us, and our journey is often redirected by uncontrollable detours. Perhaps God is showing us a better route.

To make sure we benefit from what might seem bad, we must recognize and trust God’s “unfailing love” (Ps. 13:5 NIV). In the end, we’ll be able to say, “I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me” (v.6 NIV).

The circumstances in our lives
Seem random and unplanned;
But someday we will surely see
The order of God’s hand. —Sper

Encouraging Music-"If We've Ever Needed You" by Casting Crowns

AM Encouraging Words-"The Forgotten Side of Success"

From Charles Swindoll's Day by Day Devotional

Maybe we should confess that one reason we find it so hard to set selfishness aside and adopt the spirit of a servant is that we're driven by dreams of success. We want to be winners.

Face it; we live in a success-saturated society. Right next to the books applauding our selfishness are dozens of bestsellers telling us how we can be more successful. Dozens of books and magazines every year, along with scores of DVDs and hundreds of seminars, offer new ideas and new motivation techniques that have the promise of prosperity. Success is big business. No wonder thinking like servants is so hard.

Curiously, however, few ever address what most folks want (but seldom find) in their pursuit of success: contentment, fulfillment, satisfaction, and relief. On the contrary, the roads that are supposed to lead to success are not only rocky; they're maddening. As the Executive's Digest once reported, "The trouble with success is that the formula is the same as the one for a nervous breakdown."

And what formula is that? Work longer hours, push ahead, let nothing hinder your quest—not your marriage or family, not your convictions or conscience, not your health or friends. Be aggressive and, if necessary, mean, as you press toward the top. You gotta be smart, slick, and sly if success is the bottom line of your agenda. It's the same old fortune-fame-power-pleasure line we've been fed for decades.

At the risk of sounding ultra-simplistic, I'd like to offer some counsel that stands 180 degrees in contrast to all the above. My suggestions will never appear in the Wall Street Journal or as part of the Harvard Business School curriculum, but they do represent a philosophy supported in Scripture.

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:5-7)

These verses address three crucial realms related to true success: authority, attitude, and anxiety. And the best part of all is this: following God's directives will bring the one benefit not found in the world's empty promises—a deep sense of lasting satisfaction.

It's what we could call the forgotten side of success. And I would add that it is the success that will come to those who wish to develop the heart of a servant.

1/19 Daily Encouragement From Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 46-48, Matthew 13:1-30
Listen to  Genesis 46  Genesis 47  Genesis 48  Matthew 13

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1966, Indira Gandhi becomes Prime Minister of India
In 1974, Notre Dame ends UCLA's record 88-game college basketball winning streak
In 2007, the first McDonald's drive-through opens in Beijing

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1809, Edgar Allan Poe
In 1935, actress Tippi Hedren 
In 1946, singer Dolly Parton

Just For Fun-NBA Bloopers

Encouraging Music-"You Are God Alone" by Phillips, Craig, and Dean

PM Encouraging Words-"In Tune"

From Encouragement For Today

"I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music."
Psalm 101:1 (ESV)


God seems to do an incredible amount of things for people, almost like a personal valet. "I found the perfect pair of shoes on sale," someone once told me. "It's like God knew I needed that little boost." Or the time that God helped another person find their glasses. They prayed and "poof" they found them.

This sometimes makes me question. How is it that people give God credit for helping them find shoes on sale, or that really great parking spot, and yet other people suffer? Loved ones get hit with disease. Financial problems cause sleepless nights. A hurricane hits Haiti as they struggle to overcome the effects of a devastating earthquake.

Maybe you too have pondered such things. Maybe it's caused you to question how much God loves His creation.

God is deeply interested in and intimately involved with us according to verses such as this one: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).

The fact that God allows you to find that perfect-for-you little blessing one day, and come down with the flu the next doesn't negate His love for you. God's song plays strong and consistent over you, regardless of the good times or the hard times. His individual notes dance around us, inviting us to find Him, and then to find our part in His song.

Living in harmony with God, and finding our note in His song can compel us to look for ways to reach out to others who are needing to hear Him sing over them in their suffering. I also believe it can help us live in joy despite our circumstances. And I believe living out those notes will lead us to live lives of peace, even when times are not peaceful.

Today, let's close our eyes and open our hearts as we listen for our God singing over us. And let's take the time, eyes still closed, to imagine what it would look like for us to live in tune with Him.

AM Encouraging Words-"Who's Holding All the Cards"

From Strength For The Journey

“Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz.” Ruth 2:1

To borrow a poker phrase, some people seem to hold all the cards. They are dealt a winning hand while the rest of us do the best with what few resources we may have. And with a “winner takes all” frame of mind, many of these high-profile, prosperous people manipulate and maneuver their wealth and power to pursue their own interests and advance their own cause. We all know the type.

In the story of Ruth, Boaz holds all the cards. He enters the scene as a man of great wealth and power. Yet I am struck by several aspects of his life that set him apart from the typical guy who holds all the cards.
I love the fact that he willingly aligns his resources with God’s heart for the poor and needy. God outlined in Levitical law that those who didn’t have the resources to survive could be “gleaners”—gathering grain that intentionally was left at the edge of the fields during harvest time. Boaz lived in a time when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. After a devastating famine, he could easily have ignored God’s heart for the poor in order to secure an abundant harvest for himself. But unlike other wealthy landowners, he still welcomed gleaners in his field. It was a tangible display of God’s love for the needy.

God also provided ways in which foreigners could be welcomed in Israel. Again, Boaz aligned himself with God’s heart—even for a Moabite from enemy territory. He could have cast Ruth aside when he learned she was not a Jew. Instead, he opened his heart to her. Sometimes we don’t want other “kinds” of people to move into our neighborhood, but God is actually delighted when they do. It’s an opportunity for us to do what Boaz did—open our hearts to “different” people who could use a tangible expression of God’s love and grace in their lives.

Not only did Boaz use his wealth for the benefit of those in need and welcome a foreigner to his field, he also desired to see God’s blessing poured out on her (Ruth 2:12) and then proceeded to be the instrument of God’s blessing in her life (Ruth 2:14). He became the answer to her prayers.

Boaz was also abundantly generous in his care for Ruth. Once again he put his treasures where God’s heart is. It is the character of God to be a generous God “able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).

So when was the last time you planned to cooperate with God and be the answer to someone’s prayers? You may think, Easy for Boaz—he had all the cards! But we all have some cards. Whether big or small, there’s always something we can do to bring the heart of God to a needy life that crosses our path.

Besides, God is the One who really holds all the cards. He shares His resources with us not for us to consume them all ourselves, but to share them for His glory and the good of others. So life is not about holding all the cards. From God’s point of view, it’s what you do with your cards. Use them as God would to bless others who cross your path.

1/18 Daily Encouragement From Scripture and History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 43-45, Matthew 12:24-50
Listen to  Genesis 43  Genesis 44  Genesis 45  Matthew 12

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1778, English explorer James Cook discovered the Hawaiian islands
In 1958, Willie O'Ree of the Boston Bruins became the first black player in the National Hockey League
In 1975, "Mandy" became Barry Manilow's first #1 hit

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1913, actor Danny Kaye
In 1928, Winnie the Pooh creator A. A. Milne
In 1955, actor Kevin Costner

Just For Fun-Funny Animal Clips

PM Encouraging Words-"Faith"

From New Life

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Matthew 17:20

Desperate to find a home, an orphan girl in India asked a missionary teacher from a nearby village for help. The missionary had no money or room for the girl but promised she'd pray and ask God for his help. She told the girl to do the same.

That evening, the teacher received a letter from an American friend, containing enough money to provide for the orphan girl. She summoned a messenger the following morning and asked him to go to the neighboring village—a day's walk from her home—to find the girl.

To the teacher's surprise, the messenger returned with the girl in half the expected time. When asked how she traveled so quickly, the girl reminded the teacher, "We both prayed to God for help…I thought I might as well start walking."

Faith is active. Thinking and praying are necessary elements, but the true test of our faith is when like the little girl, we start walking.

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." - Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Encouraging Music-"I Have Found" by Kim Walker

AM Encouraging Words-"Living For a Cause Greater Than Yourself"

From Today God Is First

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked (Ps 82:3-4).

God raises up leaders to take on causes that are much greater than themselves.

However, these causes are often first birthed as a result of a personal crisis or conviction; then this leads to a larger cause.

Martin Luther King had a personal conviction that racial discrimination was wrong. He sought to change this through preaching and nonviolent demonstrations. It wasn't long before this became the conviction of others and it became a movement larger than any one person.

William Wilberforce was a political statesman in England. He came to Christ when he was twenty-eight years old. He began to have personal convictions about slavery in England and he committed his life to the goal of destroying slavery. He finally achieved his goal after fifty years of work. His work also resulted in sixty-four world changing initiatives before he died.

William Wallace was burdened about the persecution his country received from the wicked English king named Edward the Longshanks. Born in 1272, Wallace grew up under the persecution from the wicked king. When he was older, he led a rebellion against England that resulted in the freedom for the nation of Scotland. The popular movie, Braveheart, was the story of William Wallace.

My own ministry to those in the workplace first began as a personal crisis. This developed later into a call to serve believers in the marketplace.

Has God allowed a crisis in your life? God often raises leaders and begins movements as a result of a personal crisis in a leader's life.

1/17 Daily Encouragement From Scripture and History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 41-42, Matthew 12:1-23
Listen to  Genesis 41  Genesis 42  Matthew 12

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1916, the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) if formed
In 1953, the Corvette is unveiled
In 1966, NBC television greenlights "The Monkees"

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1706, Benjamin Franklin
In 1922, actress Betty White
In 1942, heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali

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:

1/16 Daily Encouragement From Scripture and History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 39-40, Matthew 11
Listen to Genesis 39  Genesis 40  Matthew 11

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1938, Benny Goodman played "the most important jazz concert in history" at Carnegie Hall
In 1969, an agreement was reached to open the Vietnam War peace talks
In 1970, Curt Flood sued Major League Baseball, starting the process that ended in free agency

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1950, dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen
In 1974, model Kate Moss
In 1980, baseball star Albert Pujols

Just For Fun-LOL Cats

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Encouraging Words-Be a Peacemaker

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:9 (NIV)


Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:18 (NIV)

Guess I'm not being very subtle about my message this week, am I? Good, because I don't want to be--this is burning too strongly in my heart for that right now.

That burning started last Saturday afternoon, when I first saw the news reports of the tragic shootings in Tuscon, Arizona. Six people are dead as a result, including a nine-year old girl, and a congresswoman is among other victims with at best an uncertain future.

Brenda can testify to how strongly this affected me. For a good portion of the balance of Saturday, I was like a caged tiger, fighting both the anger welling up inside of me and the frustration of feeling that I couldn't do anything to help.

After I calmed down or just got tired, I'm not sure which it actually was, I had reached a point where the Lord could guide me and show that not only could I indeed help the situation, but everyone reading this could make a positive impact.

Although there is no direct evidence of anything in the Tuscon shootings except the unbalanced mental condition of the alleged shooter, I can't shake the belief that the level of discourse in our society had some influence and was an important factor in causing this tragedy. More and more people in public service, including the target of this act, Congresswoman Giffords, had been speaking out about the potential danger of the angry, at times visceral, political discourse in the United States. More and more references to violence as a solution, either implied or explicitly stated, have made their way into the increasingly angry and antagonistic public debates.

Unfortunately, the clearest result of this incident so far is the finger-pointing between left and right, trying to assign blame and gain political advantage while six funerals are being held in Arizona and many other lives have been unalterably changed for the worse.

Where is God in this? Sadly, He has been used as both a justification and a target of blame. He is neither.

God is love. God is peace. Blessed are the peacemakers, it's just hard to find them right now.

They're out there, though, and some of them are reading this message. Some of you already love the Lord enough to take a stand not for right or left but for God! You don't cherry pick quotes from scripture to push a political or social agenda, you try to live a life that stands up to and displays God's word, shows His love, and promotes His peace.

If you are already there, you are blessed. Jesus said so in the Sermon on the Mount, and his earthly half-brother James reinforced it. If you are reading this and thinking I'm just "out there," talking in platitudes that aren't grounded in reality, I offer this thought; what if the next person considering some horrendously violent act is in your life right now? Perhaps he's a co-worker, she's the person preparing your order at McDonald's, he's a casual friend, or maybe she even lives in your own house. What if they see an alternative to darkness, anger, hostility, hopelessness in your life? What if you shine a light into their lives with some encouragement at work, a smile across the counter, an ear to listen, an open heart to love them?

Sometimes we skim over the possibility of small victories seeking the bigger, flashier victory, especially those of us who have a role in God's ministry. I have fought this myself, wanting so much to be a published author on a book tour, doing media appearances and signing books for my adoring fans. I can forget the impact the right words at the right time can make in a person's life until I get a note from someone I've never met who tells me how something I posted on my blog has touched their lives. Those are the moments that the bright lights don't matter because that person is real, and the Lord has given me the opportunity to speak into their lives.

Virtually all of us have the chance to touch someone's life every day, usually in a very subtle way. Just because we don't see any major impact of that contact doesn't mean there isn't one. That's where we have to trust James--if we sow peace, there WILL be a harvest of righteousness. We just need to remember for us to be us and let God be God. We can sow a seed, but he's the one who will find a way to make it grow. He will do it in ways that will lead someone to know and embrace love and peace and not sow discord.

Remember, Jesus didn't go around debating and shouting people down. He reached out to them, displaying peace and showing love. He had His moments of anger, like when He tossed the money changers out of the temple, but even then he didn't argue: he taught, then He let people chose their own paths.

We can be peacemakers to the people in our lives by choosing that path, then encouraging others to follow it by displaying the fruit in our own lives. If we make peace look attractive, look cool, Jesus taught us that we would be blessed, and James taught that their would be a "harvest of righteousness."

You and I can't by ourselves change the world, but we can all be peacemakers and together make it better.

Encouraging Music-"We Fall Down" by Kutless

Just For Fun-Looney Tunes "Beanstalk Bunny"

Encouraging Words;"The Secret of Contentment"

From Encouragement for Today:

…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances"
Philippians 4:11b (NIV) 

Have you ever noticed how overextending yourself tends to bring unwanted pressure into your life? I think we tend to busy ourselves in order to gain more, find acceptance among peers, land a better position, and gain riches of all kinds. Perhaps we live under the illusion that having such riches is what makes a person complete, content, and deliriously happy. Yet, when we discover that's not the case, we're left feeling empty and discontent.

Contentment and security are not found in career titles or in the kind of car we own. The logo on our car only tells others what kind of car we drive — not who we are. True satisfaction, in its purest form, is found in the wealth of who God is and the riches He graciously lavishes upon us.

Recently God's been showing me that when I constantly want more than He has given me, it reflects a heart that is discontent. What I'm saying to God is, "I'm not satisfied with what You have provided for me. I want more." In wanting more, I place undo pressure on myself in an attempt to get what God hasn't provided. Naturally, anxiety is the result when I focus on things other than God and His will for my life.

The pressure to have more and do more can lead us down paths we never intended. In our attempt to fill the vacuum of our empty souls, we discover that external luxury is only a cheap substitution for spiritual wholeness. As our key verse points out, Paul knew the secret of finding contentment. "…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

Take note that Paul wrote these words in a high stress situation as he sat in jail awaiting a verdict for a crime he didn't commit. I don't know if I could find contentment if I were in his sandals. I would probably strum my wooden cage with a rock singing pitifully, "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. Nobody knows my sorrow." Finding contentment doesn't mean we have to like our current situation, but it may require an appreciation for it. Let me explain.

Paul learned that the fruit of contentment is developed when we are thankful for what God has provided whether we like it or not. That's because peace isn't the absence of pressure. It's the presence of God and our attitude toward His provision in the midst of our stress. By expressing gratitude, Paul experienced richness of being, not having.

I realize you may be in a hard place right now and you're longing for freedom. Maybe you're in a job that feels like a dead end; perhaps you have two of them! It may be that you live in a space too small for your family and you hate it. You're not where you planned or hoped to be and you certainly don't like it.

The truth is, we don't have to like where we are or what we have, but if we will choose to thank God for His provisions regardless of our feelings toward them, we'll experience the same contentment Paul encountered.

We must understand that being thankful doesn't mean that God will eventually remove us from our situation. He may; He may not. Rather, being appreciative sets us free from the desire to have and lets us rest in the riches of contentment. And when we reach a place of contentment, we don't need earthly riches galore. God becomes our greatest treasure. In Him, we have everything we need.

Encouraging Music-"Holy" by Nicole Norderman

AM Encouraging Words-"When I Am Weak"

From Reflections

2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV:  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Our greatest weakness is not that which causes us to fail, but the pride that keeps us from admitting it. Like it or not—we are weak. We would like to think that we are strong and can independently handle the things of our lives. Even work we do in service to the Lord often raises pride in us as we try to glorify God, but without help from any others—this so that people will see what we alone have done in His name. But let us see ourselves as we are, and personal regard is of little consequence. The work of God becomes more important than self-esteem, and we learn to unashamedly lean on Him and others in our weakness. As we humbly accept our imperfections, pride loses its power to inhibit us from walking strongly in Christ. And then we discover first hand what Paul expressed, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

1/15 Daily Encouragement From Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 36-38, Matthew 10:21-42
Listen to  Genesis 36  Genesis 37  Genesis 38  Matthew 10

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1831, the classic novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is completed
In 1967, the Green Bay Packers win the first Super Bowl
In 1972, Don McLean hit #1 with "American Pie"

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1909, jazz drum soloist Gene Krupa
In 1913, actor Lloyd Bridges
In 1928, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

1/14 Encouragement From Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 33-35, Matthew 10:1-20)
Listen to  Genesis 33  Genesis 34  Genesis 35  Matthew 10

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1784, the Treaty of Paris was ratified, officially ending the Revolutionary war
In 1943, FDR became the first American President to fly in an airplane on official business
In 1973, the Miami Dolphins became the only undefeated Super Bowl champion

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1875, Nobel Peace Price recipient Albet Schweitzer
In 1941, actress Faye Dunaway
In 1963, producer Steven Soderbergh

Just For Fun-Letterman's Top 10 "Surprises from the 2010 Census

Encouraging Words-"Redeeming the Past

From New Life Daily Devotion:

We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.

We all come to God with a past. In turning our lives over to him, we need to give him our past with all its losses and shame. We need to hand over every moment of disgrace, every tear we've ever cried, every word we wish we could take back, all the broken promises, the loneliness, all the dreams that died, the dashed hopes, the broken relationships, our successes and failures, all of our yesterdays and the scars they've left in our lives.

Under Old Testament law, if someone lost freedom, property, or spouse because of a disaster or a debt, the next of kin was looked to as a "redeemer." If property had been lost because of an inability to pay, the redeemer would pay for it and return it to the original owner. If a woman lost her husband, the redeemer would marry her, providing her with protection and love. God tells us, "Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don't be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood. For your Creator will be your husband; the LORD of Heaven's Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer. . . . For the LORD has called you back from your grief " (Isaiah 54:4-6).

God is our redeemer, the restorer of our losses. We need to make him Lord of all, even of the days and dreams in our past. When we give God our past, he can make up for all that we've lost. He can rid us of the shame. He can fill the empty places in our hearts.

We sell ourselves into slavery; God removes our shame and buys us back.

Encouraging Music-"Days of Elijah" by Twila Paris

1/13 Encouragement From Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 31-32, Matthew 9:18-38
Listen to  Genesis 31  Genesis 32  Matthew 9

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1898, French writer Emile Zola's editorial "J'accuse" is printed
In 1966, President Johnson appointed the first African-American to the cabinet
In 1972, President Nixon announced additional troop withdrawals from Vietnam

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1884, the "Last of the Red Hot Mamas," Sophie Tucker
In 1961, actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus
In 1977, actor Orlando Bloom

Affirmation and Life Application from Scripture-The Right Place at the Right Time

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9 (NIV) from BibleGateway

Affirmation-These words were spoken as part of God’s “pep talk” to Joshua shortly after Moses had passed away.  Joshua was stepping into a new role, being commissioned as the new leader of the Israelites.  The Lord was clearly seeking to give Joshua a basis for courage, promising His presence everywhere Joshua went, just as He now does for believers.  As I studied this part of the Bible, I was struck with a point that John Maxwell made in his leadership bible.  God has this funny way of putting the right person in the right spot at the right time.  Moses had been well suited for the Israelites’ journey through the desert.  He obviously wasn’t much of a navigator wandering around for 40 years, but he was a patient leader who dealt with a LOT of complaining.  Now on the cusp of the Promised Land, it was time for action, and Joshua was an accomplished, in-your-face military leader.  He probably wouldn’t have had the patience to lead Israel in earlier days, and Moses was not a military leader.  They both wound up leading during the time that maximized the gifts the Lord gave them.  So it can be with you, as the Lord leads you into the right position at the right time to utilize the gifts He gave you to help others and glorify Him.

Application-Seek to understand your gifts, your skill set that God equipped you with, and ask Him, if He hasn’t already, to lead you toward a situation where you can apply them to their full use, not for your glory but for His.

Just For Fun-A halfcourt buzzer-beater in a high school basketball game--backwards

Encouraging Words-"Orphan No More"

From A Word With You:

"China's Lost Girls" - that's what they called the National Geographic special that described China's "one child per family" law that has led to the abandonment of countless baby girls. But the special went on to describe the growing number of American families who want one of those little girls, who otherwise would spend her whole life in an orphanage. That came to life recently when some close friends started down that year-long process of bringing together an abandoned little girl with an American family. Finally, that long wait was over, and they were on a plane to China. When they got to their hotel room, there was an empty crib. It wasn't empty the next night. No, they were taken to the adoption center where this precious little girl they were adopting was placed in their arms, and that night she fell asleep in her new father's arms. As the family welcomed them at the airport back home, this girl, who only days before had belonged nowhere, was - and always would be - enveloped in love.

I couldn't help but see myself in what has happened with that little orphan. I had two loving parents, so I was blessed not to be an orphan physically. But I have been a spiritual orphan without the love that my soul was made for; without the love of the God the Bible calls our "Heavenly Father." We are, in the Bible's words, "created by Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16). But, again in God's words in His book, "Your iniquities (that's every wrong thing you've ever done) have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you" (Isaiah 59:2).

Because we're missing the Father we were created for, we really are spiritual orphans. And we've been feeling it all our lives, whether we know the reason or not. Maybe one of these words would describe some of your emotional autobiography: abandoned, rejected, excluded, betrayed, abused, lonely. Maybe a true sense of belonging has eluded you all these years even though you've done a lot of things in hopes that you would belong. We make a lot of mistakes for love. And no matter how close our family or friends may be, there's still that unexplainable loneliness deep down inside. It's cosmic loneliness. We're lonely for God. Maybe we're even pretty religious but we're still missing the only love relationship that can satisfy the heart of a spiritual orphan.

My friends went a long way to bring a little girl into their family. God went a long way to bring you into His - all the way from His heaven to hell on a cross. That's where God's Son absorbed all the guilt and all the punishment for every wrong thing you have ever done, so it would never have to keep you from your Heavenly Father again. So, in John 14:18, our word for today from the Word of God, Jesus makes this awesome promise: "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." And He has today - where you are right now.

Whatever you're in the middle of, Jesus has come to you today to bring you into His family. But He won't force His love on you. You need to choose it, which means recognizing that you really are in trouble with God because of your sin, and reaching out to Jesus as the only One who can rescue you from that trouble. Because He's the only One who died for your sin, and then He came back three days later to prove He can give you life that never ends.

This could be your day to finally belong to the very God who made you and who made you for a relationship with Him. It starts when you tell Jesus with all your heart, "I'm Yours." If you want that; if you'd like to get more information about beginning that relationship and being sure you belong to Him, I hope you'll go visit our website where so many other people have. I think you'll find some practical help there in being sure that you belong to Jesus. Now, that website is YoursForLife.net. I hope you'll check it out your very first opportunity today. I hope it will encourage you.

The Father's arms are open and they're waiting for you. He loves you. He wants you. Come to Him. You'll be an orphan no more.

Encouraging Music-"The Heart of Worship" by Michael W. Smith

Affirmation and Life Application From Scripture-Draw Strength From Humility

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV) from BibleGateway

Affirmation-Sometimes we forget just how mighty God’s might hand really is.  It was the “might hand of God” that deliver the Jews from Egypt and gave them safe passage to the Promised Land.  It was the mighty hand of God working through Jesus that raised Lazarus from the dead.  Despite that evidence, however, we still get bogged down with our problems and let anxiety settle in.

Internationally renowned priest and author Henri Nouwen wrote "Our lives are not problems to be solved but journeys to be taken with Jesus as our friend and guide.  Giving in to anxiety actually shows a lack of trust in God, and is even a form of pride, acting as if we’re the only ones who can resolve our concerns.  We are most richly blessed by the Lord only after we humble ourselves by casting our cares upon Him, putting them in His mighty hand.  What is really more powerful, our circumstances or our God?

By approaching God with humility, acknowledging He is the source of all answers in our life, we become strong because we look beyond our individual strength and draw it from Him.  We then become confident because God, a much greater power than we are, is in charge of directing our path out of whatever mess we’re in and toward the peace and joy, even through difficult circumstances, that He has planned for us.

Application-What are you worried about right now?  Ask yourself why you have not succeeded to resolve the situation, then turn to the Lord and ask Him for answers and direction.  It might not be immediate, but the answers will come.

1/12 Daily Encouragement from Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 29-30, Matthew 9:1-17
Listen to  Genesis 29  Genesis 30  Matthew 9

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1928, Pianist Vladamir Horowitz made his American debut at Carnegie Hall
In 1932, Ophelia Wyatt Caraway became the first woman elected to the U. S. Senate
In 1969, Joe Namath led the New York Jets to a stunning upset win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III


Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1876, novelist Jack London
In 1958, journalist Christiane Amanpour
In 1964, Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com

Just For Fun-Bill Cosby, "Toss of the Coin"

Encouraging Words-"Reflected In His Eyes"

From Reflections:

1 Corinthians 13:12, NIV: Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

There is a mirror at the end of my hallway that seems to reflect a thinner image of the person looking at it. Each time I walk through the hallway toward it, it sure seems to make me feel just a little better about how I look. But, that wonderful illusion was a bit dashed as I caught my reflection in the window of our family minivan, which cast a somewhat less flattering view of a shorter, broader me. Regardless of how such things can make a person feel, little can ever be gained by evaluating one’s self through distorted reflections. There are many things in this world that distort the true representation of who we are. They can cause us to overlook our faults, or find faults in ourselves where none exist. Only in the eyes of God will we see ourselves for who we truly are. And only by spending adequate time with Him will we get close enough to Him to see how we are reflected in His eyes.

Encouraging Music-"From the Inside Out (Everlasting)" by Hillsong United

Affirmation and Life Application From Scripture-Cool your pipes

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. Psalm 37:8-9 (NIV) from BibleGateway

Affirmation-I really liked the way The Message bible translation put today’s text:

 Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes—it only makes things worse.   Before long the crooks will be bankrupt; God-investors will soon own the store.

I’ve seen and been directly involved in situations far too often when fire is met with return fire and all that leads to is a bigger flame that becomes much more difficult to extinguish.  Leadership expert and former pastor John Maxwell addressed that in The Maxwell Leadership Bible.

Maxwell is the author of “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,” one of them being the Law of Intuition.  He uses this text to support two of his key points.  First, don’t get angry at opponents because it won’t bring the best results.  Boy, this is so true—how well do you think when you’re angry?  My IQ at that point is somewhere below moron.  Walking away and gathering perspective avoids making emotionally driven decisions and absolutely brings more constructive results.

Maxwell’s second point is even more important; trust the Lord to guide and use your decisions.  We remember that first part more often than the second.  What we do goes beyond the immediate and impacts other people and events—it’s a tiny piece of the overall mosaic God is weaving in our world.  When we aren’t acting out of anger, God can reap more positive benefit from our lives instead of having to do damage control of the consequences of emotional, knee-jerk reactions.

Application-Whenever possible, remove yourself from a person or situation that has pushed your buttons until you can reset and consider a constructive, not a destructive, response.

1/11 Daily Encouragement from Scripture and History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 27-28, Matthew 8:18-34
Listen to  Genesis 27  Genesis 28  Matthew 8

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1908, President Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon a national monument
In 1935, Amelia Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California
In 1973, the American League adopted the designated hitter rule


Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1755, Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury in the U. S.
In 1946, singer Naomi Judd
In 1971, singer Mary J. Blige

Just For Fun-Funny Animals & a Skateboarding Dog

Introducing a new feature on the blog, ending the day with a laugh or two.

Encouraging Words-"Never Disappointed"

From Strength For The Journey:

As an avid baseball fan, my favorite team is the Chicago Cubs. The interesting thing about being a Cubs fan is that the team has a way of letting us down. They have not won a World Series since 1908. And while they often have great promise at the beginning of the season, they usually disappoint their loyal fans in the end. One die-hard fan had it right when he said, “If they didn’t disappoint us, they wouldn’t be our Cubs!”

Thankfully, God is not like the Cubs! You can count on Him. He will not disappoint you in the end. He always keeps His promises, and His Word provides comfort, hope, and wise advice that never fails.

When King Solomon dedicated the temple, he attested to the fact that God had not let His people down: “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise” (1 Kings 8:56).

Thousands of years later, those words still ring true. And better yet, we are heirs of the greatest fulfilled promise of all time—Jesus! The longer you know Him, the more compelling He becomes.

So if you are looking for someone who won’t disappoint you, look no further. Jesus never fails!

Encouraging Music-"In Christ Alone" by Michael English

Affirmation & Life Application From Scripture-It takes courage to be meek

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Matthew 5:5 (NIV) from BibleGateway

Affirmation-I believe the word meek has a bad reputation, especially in regards to its use by Jesus in “The Sermon on the Mount.”  The English Standard Version of the Bible defines meek as gentle, not asserting oneself over others to further one’s own agenda in their own strength.  They will inherit the earth because they will trust God to direct the outcome of events.  Friends, in today’s polarized American society, it takes courage to be meek in that way!  As the intensity of rhetoric in public forums, be they television, radio, or the Internet, increases, rigidity and intransigence are rewarded, even admired.  Claiming your views as the moral high ground, especially when you can tie God into it, and condemning anyone who disagrees with you, earns you book deals, television shows, and a wider public forum from which to pontificate and claim to have the answers to society’s ills.  

This is not God’s way!  We don’t have the answers, He does!  As Lee Strobel writes in “The Case for Christ” Bible, Jesus points to those with humility in their soul, who derive their confidence & strength from God alone, as those who will inherit the Earth.  When it becomes about us, ultimately we lose, and today’s pundits who invariably slip into that are dragging people down with them.

Application-Make God’s word your primary source of guidance, be it in business, politics, or any area of your life.  If someone promotes an idea contrary to biblical teaching, don’t fall into the trap of putting their words ahead of God’s.

1/10 Encouragement from Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 25-26, Matthew 8:-17
Listen to  Genesis 25  Genesis 26  Matthew 8


Today In History (from History.com)
In 1901, a gusher in Texas signaled the start of the U. S. oil industry
In 1941, FDR introduced the lend-lease program, helping Britain beat back Hitler
In 1982, Dwight Clark makes "The Catch" that leads the S. F. 49ers to their first Super Bowl

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1924, jazz drummer Max Roach
In 1945, singer Rod Stewart
In 1948, boxer/grill-meister George Foreman

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:

1/9 Daily Encouragement from Scripture and History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 23-24, Matthew 7
Listen to  Genesis 23  Genesis 24  Matthew 7

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1768, the first modern circus was staged in London
In 1776, Thomas Paine published "Common Sense" which influenced the move toward U. S. independence
In 1976, filming began on the first "Rocky" movie

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1913, Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the U. S.
In 1941, folk singer Joan Baez
In 1967, musician Dave Matthews

Love must, and will, win out!

Hate has reared it's ugly head in Arizona. Those of us who love God and acknowledge how much He loves us know that hate must not win! The way to beat it, though, is not with reciprocal hate, angry rhetoric, or violent revenge. Christ showed us that the way to ultimate victory is through love. As I try to beat down the anger I'm feeling right now, I encourage all of us to not give in to those feelings and live in love. It's not about right vs. left in the political arena. It's about hate vs. love. Love must, and it ultimately will, rule the day because God won the ultimate victory and will allow His followers to share in it. Please pray for Congresswoman Giffords, her family, and all of the other families who will either lose loved ones or have their lives unalterably changed by this despicable act of violence.

Encouraging Words-"Travel Light"

Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. Matthew 10:9-11 (NIV)


Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Happy New Year everyone! When I sought out the Lord for a word to share with you this week, he gave me two of them (isn’t that just like God, always overdelivering?)—Travel Light. He then showed me how those words tied in with the end of one year and the beginning of another.

When a year ends, we often talk about “leaving it behind.” I believe this is what the Lord wants us to do with our pain, our failures, our shortcomings, our disappointments, anything that would be an added weight for us to emotionally carry into the new year. We can't renew our minds, as Paul writes in Romans, if we are focused on the past. We can't fully embrace the new if we can't let go of the old.

On Tuesday at work, I had a bad afternoon--a couple of major issues came up and showed weaknesses in our internal control systems. In order to effectively move forward with addressing those problems on Wednesday, I had to let go of the feeling of defeat from Tuesday and seek the Lord's wisdom from lessons learned to start charting the course for victory. Continuing to travel weighed down with the burden of previous shortcomings only slows or stops us completely from making progress and applying the wisdom gleaned from experience in our jobs, relationships, and our lives in general.

While we're looking forward, we need to acknowledge we don't know what is coming. When Jesus was instructing His disciples on how to take ministry on the road, he directed them to travel light. In those days, you couldn't exactly pack up a U-Haul with your wardrobe, accessories, makeup, gadgets, etc. Traveling with much more than the clothes on your back would drastically slow you up and mean that you could not cover nearly as much territory.

If we are constantly battling with memories and scars from our past, that's going to distract us from what is ahead and divert our strength from moving closer to God's will for ourselves and helping others do the same. Jesus wanted His disciples unburdened with anything not absolutely necessary for survival so they could move in to a town quickly, and them move out just as quickly and head toward the next one. Most of our lives are filled with multitasking, and we have to be pretty nimble to keep up with all of the demands. We'll be in better position to do that if we are traveling light.

I found a song that I believe gives a good illustration of this word, so I'm sharing some of the lyrics and a link to the You Tube video.

Excerpt of lyrics to "Traveling Light" performed by Joel Hansen and Sara Groves

Well I was doubling over the load on my shoulders
Was a weight I carried with me everyday
Crossing miles of frustrations and rivers a raging
Picking up stones I found along the way
I staggered and I stumbled down
Pathways of trouble
I was hauling those souvenirs of misery
And with each step taken my back was breaking
'Til I found the One who took it all from me

Down by the riverside
(Down by the riverside)
I laid my burdens down,
Now I'm traveling light
My spirit lifted high
(I found my freedom now)
I found my freedom now
And I'm traveling light

You can also watch the video here:



I hope you are blessed and encouraged by this song and that the Lord has spoken to you through this note in a way that shows you how to enter 2011 traveling light and wind up flying high as the year unfolds.

We've already suffered a loss in 2011, as Pastor Linda Harris was called up to heaven on Wednesday. Many of us had the opportunity to be touched by her life, especially her wisdom and sweet spirit. Please join me in praising God for the wonderful blessing Linda was and prayer for her partner, Janice LaCount, as she moves through this period of mourning and transition.

Encouraging Music-"Praise Is Rising (Hosanna)" by Bentron Brown

1/8 Daily Encouragement from Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 20-22, Matthew 6:19-34
Listen to  Genesis 20  Genesis 21  Genesis 22  Matthew 6

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1946, Elvis Presley received his first guitar
In 1962, the Mona Lisa was exhibited in the U. S. for the first time
In 2000, the Music City Miracle rocked the NFL playoffs

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1935, Elvis Presley
In 1942, physicist Stephen Hawking
In 1949, chef Wolfgang Puck

Encouraging Words-"Lion of Judah"

From Our Daily Bread:

The lounging lions in Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve looked harmless. They rolled on their backs in low-lying bushes. They rubbed their faces on branches as if trying to comb their magnificent manes. They drank leisurely from a stream. They strode slowly across dry, scrubby terrain as if they had all the time in the world. The only time I saw their teeth was when one of them yawned.

Their serene appearance is deceiving, however. The reason they can be so relaxed is that they have nothing to fear—no shortage of food and no natural predators. The lions look lazy and listless, but they are the strongest and fiercest of all. One roar sends all other animals running for their lives.

Sometimes it seems as if God is lounging. When we don’t see Him at work, we conclude that He’s not doing anything. We hear people mock God and deny His existence, and we anxiously wonder why He doesn’t defend Himself. But God “will not be afraid of their voice nor be disturbed by their noise” (Isa. 31:4). He has nothing to fear. One roar from Him, and His detractors will scatter like rodents.

If you wonder why God isn’t anxious when you are, it’s because He has everything under control. He knows that Jesus, the Lion of Judah, will triumph.

Encouraging Music-"Come, Now Is the Time to Worship" by Brian Doerksen

1/7 Daily Encouragement from Scripture & History

Daily Scripture (from BibleGateway.com)
Read Genesis 18-19, Matthew 6:1-18
Listen to  Genesis 18  Genesis 19  Matthew 6

Today In History (from History.com)
In 1789, the first U. S. Presidential election was held
In 1927, basketball's Harlem Globetrotters played their first game
In 1947, 'Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer" was the #1 song in the U. S.

Born On This Day (from Biography.com)
In 1800, Millard Filmore, 13th President of the U. S.
In 1957, news anchor Katie Couric
in 1964, actor Nicolas Cage

Encouraging Words-"The Beauty of God"

From Our Daily Journey:

The One sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow.
Revelation 4:3 (NLT)

Novelist D. H. Lawrence believed the human soul needed beauty more than bread, and for good reason. There is a reason why we bring flowers to the depressed, take the weary on scenic drives, and choose the restaurant table with the view of the lake. Beauty refreshes, encourages, and inspires us. The reason can be found in its source. As we gaze on that setting sun, that mountain peak, or that orchid leaf, we glimpse something bigger—a reflection of its beautiful Creator.

While no one has seen the invisible God in His fullness (Exodus 33:20; 1 Timothy 1:17), God has chosen to be known. Intriguingly, whenever He has revealed Himself, He has done so using beautiful forms:

• Moses and his tribal leaders climb a mountain. There they see a Being standing on a pavement of lapis lazuli (sapphire), as clear as crystal, as blue as the sky (Exodus 24:9-11).

• Ezekiel has a vision. He sees a throne like lapis lazuli on which a majestic Being is seated as a man, His body the brilliance of a flame, His radiant light emanating into a myriad of colors across the sky (Ezekiel 1:26-28).

• John receives a revelation. He sees a Being with an appearance like the most brilliant of gems—the crystalline white and orange of jasper, the fiery red of carnelian, and rays of emerald green encircling His throne like a rainbow (Revelation 4:1-6).

At the center of our universe sits a beautiful Creator. The earth is full of His glory (Isaiah 6:3) and heaven will be a place where His beauty will radiate at full intensity (Revelation 21:9-21).

One day we will see the invisible God face to face (22:4). In the meantime, His reflection can be traced in the natural beauty around us.

Encouraging Music-"Open the Eyes of My Heart" by John Tesh

Affirmation & Life Application from Scripture-You Are Gifted

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) from Bible Gateway

Affirmation-It is very easy for us to watch someone like Sandi Patty sing or Billy Graham preach and wish we had their gifts.  Well, we don’t and we never will, but that’s okay because Peter reminds us that we have our own gifts to use.  Well, they’re not exactly our gifts, they still belong to the Lord, He’s just letting us use them.  The more we use them for His glory to benefit others, the more we will be blessed and the more blessings we will be passing along to others.  

While others may try to diminish your gifts, God won’t do that.  Peter writes that we use “whatever gift you have received” which tells us (1) we have received a gift from God and (2) we are expected to be a faithful steward of it.  If we have a good voice, we aren’t a failure if we don’t sell a million CDs.  If we use that gift to bless others, even if it’s only a handful of people at a small church, we will be considered faithful, and therefore successful by God, even if our culture doesn’t recognize it that way.

Application-What are you good at?  What gift do you think God gave you?  If you aren’t using it in a way that touches other people’s lives, ask the Lord for the opportunity to do so.  He loves answering that type of prayer.