Encouraging Music-"I Am a Friend of God" by Phillips, Craig & Dean

Encouraging Scripture-We don't have to earn God's mercy

Are you ever afraid you aren't good enough to receive God's mercy?  Do you think you have to "step up your game" to earn God's favor?  The good news is that you don't because you can't.  There are no works anyone can do to earn the Lord's mercy, so we're all in the same boat. Thanks to Jesus' sacrifice we are forgiven for falling short and have a path to eternal fellowship with him.

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
Titus 3:5 (NIV) from Bible Gateway

Encouraging Music-"How Great Is Our God" by Chris Tomlin

Encouraging Scripture-We are equipped for battle

God wants us to promote peace, but he didn't make us to be anybody's whipping boys either.  If it feels like we are going into battle unarmed, that's our own fault.  We have the armor of God and the strength provided by His Word and the Holy Spirit, weapons that are greater than any man can use against us!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV) from Bible Gateway

Encouraging Music-"Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood

Encouraging Scripture-Make the choice to trust God

Trust is something that is earned, that we make a decision to give to someone.  Our Lord has certainly earned our trust, but are we really willing to give it to him?  We're better off if we do.  If David hadn't trusted the Lord, he probably doesn't have the courage to take on Goliath with a mere slingshot, and the Old Testament would have been a lot shorter.  What accomplishments are we missing because we haven't made the choice to trust God?

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.What can mortal man do to me?
Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV) from Bible Gateway

Encouraging Music-"Testify to Love" by Avalon

Encouraging Scripture-If God wants it to happen, it will happen!

When we're constantly faced with situations in our life that are out of our control, it is easy to think that no one has any control over the course of events in this world.  Fortunately, our Lord does.  Many things are allowed to happen as the consequence of sin, but God is still the sovreign Lord of this world.  If something is within His will, it will come to pass.  Of course, His timetable may be a bit different than ours.

For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?
Isaiah 14:27 (NIV) from Bible Gateway

Encouraging Music-"His Strength Is Perfect" by Steven Curtis Chapman

Encouraging Scripture-Through Christ, we can all get along

My job has introduced me to a very diverse workplace with people from many cultures all over the world.  Sometimes that makes it difficult to connect because it is hard to find commonality, which I believe is the foundation of any good relationship.  When we share Christ's love, however, there can be no better base on which to build a close and lasting friendship, regardless of where people are from or how they were raised.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:7 (NIV) from Bible Gateway

Encouraging Music-"Let Go" by Dewayne Woods

Encouraging Scripture-Jesus can relate to our problems

I know I've caught myself saying some form of "but nobody understands what I'm going through" and I'll bet you've said that too at some point.  Wrong!  Our Lord and Savior walked the Earth as a flesh-and-blood person and knows what it's like to be hungry and tired.  He knows what temptation feels like.  He knows how to die.  With that understanding, he can relate to anything going on in our lives.

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:17-18 (ESV) from Bible Gateway

Encouraging Music-"Walk on the Water" by Britt Nicole

Encouraging Scripture-Stop and Smell the Roses

I bet you didn't know that phrase came from the Bible.  Well, it did, kind of.  Roses are but one of God's beautiful creations.  I know I've been blessed since I met Brenda by her ability to slow me down enough to soak in some of nature's beauty.  We have plenty of it in Maryland-mountains, beaches, rolling green pastures, etc.  God put all of that here for us to enjoy, so don't miss out like I did for so many years.

Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
Job 37:14 (ESV) from Bible Gateway

Encouraging Music-"Rest In Me" by Todd Vaters

Encouraging Scripture-Wisdom is worth more than gold

You may be shaking your head reading that title, but the Bible tells us that is true.  Wisdom, which we receive from God, points us closer to Him.  Gold/riches often takes our focus away from Him, directing it more toward our worldly possessions.  Don't allow yourself to be judged inferior by the size of your bank account because that's NOT the standard our Lord uses.

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!
Proverbs 16:16 (NIV) from Bible Gateway

Encouraging Music-"You're Not Alone" by Meredith Andrews

Encouraging Scripture-Need to get away? It's okay, so did Jesus

It is so easy to get caught up in the flurry of activity around us, and I'm just as guilty of that as anyone.  Jesus obviously had a lot to do and a relatively short time to do it, yet He took time out to recharge spiritually by spending some alone, quiet time with His Father.  How can we really think we can get away with any less?

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.  
Luke 5:16 (NIV) from Bible Gateway

Encouraging Music-"What Faith Can Do" by Kutless

Encouraging Scripture-Only God can pull us out of the fire

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed Nego in the book of Daniel is, pardon the pun, very cool.  Those three were banished to burn in a furnace, but God honored their faith by protecting them from the flames.  He can do the same thing in our lives, whether they are real flames or we feel ourselves being in other types of fire.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. (NIV)
Daniel 3:17  from Bible Gateway