THE LORD IS GOOD!

For you, O Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will sing joyfully at the works of Your hands. O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep! A brutish man does not recognize, neither does the fool understand this. (Psalms 92:4-6)

RITE OF PASSAGE

Do you know the legend of the American Indian youth's rite of passage? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. 

Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. 

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man. 

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. 

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you; don't be distressed, for I am your God. I give you strength, I give you help, I support you with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

Do everything in love

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, act like a man, be strong. Your every action must be done with love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) #Evonika❤ღ❤️

GALATIANS 5:19-21

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 NASB)

BLESSED

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. (Jeremiah 17:7) #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

PSALM 55:22-23

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. But You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You. (Psalms 55:22-23)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

FRIDAY HUMOR

DOCTORS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS

The following quotes were allegedly taken from actual medical records as dictated by physicians:

~ By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped and he was feeling better.

~ On the second day, the knee was better and on the third day it had completely disappeared.

~ The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me in 1983.

~ Patient was released to outpatient department without dressing. 

~ Discharge status: Alive but without permission.

~ The patient refused an autopsy.

~ The patient has no past history of suicides.

~ The patient expired on the floor uneventfully.

~ The patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.

~ She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.

~ The patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch. 

~ She is numb from the toes down.

~ The skin was moist and dry. 

~ When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room. 

THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE

You always have hope, because you always have prayer. #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his loving kindness from me. (Psalms 66:20)

PROVERBS 12:18

There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals. (Proverbs 12:18)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

THE NATIVITY OF THE MESSIAH

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25 HCSB)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry CHRISTmas everyone! May the love of Christ cover you & make you whole all the days of your lives! GOD bless you! -Erika #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

PSALM 96:11-13

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound. Let the fields and everything in them exult. Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord, for He is coming — for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with His faithfulness. (Psalms 96:11-13)

1 JOHN 4:8,20-21

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:8, 20-21)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

BEING A BLESSING

It's great to be blessed,but what's even greater is to be a blessing to others.  Only in Christ is this possible! #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

JOHN 5:22-23

The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. (John 5:22-23)

I BELIEVE IN CHRIST

'I believe n Christianity as I believe the sun has risen.Not only because I can see it but because by it I can see everything else." -CS Lewis #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

THE ONLY TRUE HELP OUT OF THE PIT

A man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out...

~ A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there."

~ An objective person walked by and said, "It's logical that someone would fall down there."

~ A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into pits."

~ A mathematician calculated how deep the pit was.

~ A news reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit.

~ An IRS agent asked if he was paying taxes on the pit.

~ A self-pitying person said, "You haven't seen anything until you've seen my pit."

~ A fire-and-brimstone preacher said, "You deserve your pit."

~ A psychologist noted, "Your mother and father are to blame for your being in that pit."

~ A self-esteem therapist said, "Believe in yourself and you can get out of that pit."

~ An optimist said, "Things could be worse."

~ A pessimist claimed, "Things WILL get worse."

Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.

JAMES 5:7-9

Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. Brothers, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! (James 5:7-9 HCSB)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

PHILIPPIANS 4:12-13

I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13 HCSB)

MATTHEW 1:21-23

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:21-23)

Proverbs 4:27

Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil. (Proverbs 4:27)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

HAVING A RIGHT FOCUS

When it comes to having a right focus, it not only involves turning away from what is worthless, but also turning to what is worthy. 

#Evonika💗🌹💗

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. (Proverbs 4:23-26 HCSB)

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 HCSB)

PSALM 63:6-7

When I think of You as I lie on my bed, I meditate on You during the night watches because You are my helper; I will rejoice in the shadow of Your wings. (Psalms 63:6-7)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

ALL THINGS FOR HIS GLORY

If the life of a Christian is to be pleasing to GOD, it must be properly adjusted to Him in all things. #Evonika    

  He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him for the administration of the days of fulfillment — to bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him. We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory. (Ephesians 1:9-12)

RESILIENCE

WEDNESDAY HUMOR

A motorist was caught by a speed camera going 10 mph over the limit.

He received in the mail a ticket for $40 and a photo of his car.

Instead of payment, he sent the police department a photograph of $40.

In return, the police department sent another picture - of handcuffs.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Love at first sight is nice, but it might be wise to take a second look.

ONE OR THE OTHER

People will live either to serve themselves or to seek to serve and please GID. It will be one or the other because no man can serve two masters 

“No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money. (Matthew 6:24 HCSB)

ONE OR THE OTHER

People will live either to serve themselves or to seek to serve and please GID. It will be one or the other because no man can serve two masters 

“No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money. (Matthew 6:24, 26 HCSB)

JOHN 3:17-21

For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.” (John 3:17-21)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

REDEEM THE TIME

Are you going along with the time, or redeeming the time? 

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 KJVA) #Evonika💗 

2 Timothy 1:6-7

Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. (2 Timothy 1:6-7)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

A LIVELY HOPE

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3 KJVA)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

DISCIPLESHIP

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Faith

So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

GOD MADE ME

“The Lord made me at the beginning of His creation, before His works of long ago. I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began. I was born when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water. (Proverbs 8:22-24 HCSB)

MORE FRIDAY HUMOR

Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: "Slim, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?"

Slim says, "I feel just like a newborn baby."

"Really!? Like a newborn baby!?"

"Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants."

FRIDAY HUMOR

A man who had been stranded on a deserted island for two years was at last found.  The media accompanied the rescue team, and when they arrived that saw that the man had built three huts. When asked what the huts represented, the man explained. 

"Well, this hut is my home.  And that hut over there is where I go to church."   

The reporters seemed moved by the revelation that he had a place of worship. But then one asked, "What is that hut over there?"

"That's where I *used* to go to church!

JOHN 3:8

The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8 #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

What Are You Promoting?

Hosea 14:2

Take words of repentance with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him: "Forgive all our sin and accept what is good, so that we may repay You with praise from our lips. -Hosea 14:2 #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Psalm 82:8

Rise up, God, judge the earth, for all the nations belong to You. (Psalms 82:8 HCSB)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Scrutiny has its sidekick…

Scrutiny has its sidekick…drama. Oftentimes, people who have the harshest criticisms about other people's personalities and character, are the most vocal and eager about presenting idealistic qualities about themselves. They're the type of people who profess they don't like drama, and that they have 'haters', but they're also the usual culprits who initiate slander and conflict at the expense of another's reputation.They're the people who want others to speak up, so they can further their malicious agenda to scrutinize every gesture, word, and deed of their targets. They're the people who seek to stealthily tell others who know or are familiar with their target, the imaginary, cruel things that were done to them, in order to establish a sense of credibility for themselves and against their target(s). In the church, it's usually the pastor they seek to tell their story to. They'll often tell the pastor that their target is jealous of them or their relationship(s), and then the pastor will use the target as a subject for their sermons or bible studies…without getting the target's side of the story or confronting them privately as the bible instructs. 

And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican. (Matthew 18:15-17 )

Then, there's the cryptic social media poster, who will go quote mining and post cryptic statuses about being hurt, having haters, and people being jealous of them…all for attention's sake, and to further their aggressive and slanderous agenda. With all of that said, it is obvious that people who do such things, all on the premise of spitefulness and insecurity…they are the drama initiators and conspirators. It is unwise to associate with people who make it their business to accuse others and start trouble.

A person of perversity will spread dissent, and he who whispers separates a close friend. (Proverbs 16:28 LEB)

Along with false accusations, smear campaigns, and bitter rants customized to murder the reputations of others…comes the the sidekick of their scrutiny, drama. All the while people who profess to despise it, they continue to add fuel to the fire(s) they started, by initiating and entertaining judgmental actions , thoughts, and remarks against others. Beware of the one who magnifies ,their personal image in comparison to others, because along with their prideful public declarations designed to promote a veneer of truth covering selfish motives , they have an intense private agenda they desire to keep hidden by lying about others having an agenda against them and others. Remember, scrutiny of another person is designed as a distraction to keep your attention off of the scrutinizer's selfish motives. Scrutiny has its sidekick…drama.

Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see whether the vine hath budded, And its blossom is open, And the pomegranates are in flower: There will I give thee my love. (Song of Solomon 7:12 ASV)#Evonika🌹💗🌹