"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul." Psalm 23:2,3a
Sometimes God has to make me do things. I'm sure that's not a surprise to any of us. There are commands and principles that are clearly defined in His Word. One of those things is the concept of a Sabbath. God modeled this - He rested on the 7th day. When I don't willingly obey, sometimes out of sheer love for me, "He makes me." What a patient loving heavenly Father. He knows my soul needs restoration and sometimes I'm too stubborn to slow down on my own. Thank you Lord, for "making me" lie down in green pastures.
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"Life is complicated, but God gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us for messy situations just like this one."
- Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick
"Our children are loaned, not given to us, by God. We do our best to raise them to fear and love the Lord, but eventually we have to give them back to Him. How they respond to God is not a total reflection on us. We do our best to be faithful, but we can't make their commitment to God for them."
- A Seattle based Pastor
"Were a man's wound is, that is where his genius will be. Wherever the wound appears in our pshche, that is extactly where we will give our major gift to the community."
- Robert Bly
"Give me one pure and holy passion. Give me one magnificent obsession. Give me one glorious ambition for my life, to know and follow hard after You." - Mark Altrogge
"I am discovering that prayer is not a magical lamp that I rub and get three wishes from God, but it is an intimate conversation - yelling out my dependance on Him. God is good and purposes good in our lives in and through our pain. Jesus' Good News is for broken lives, for those who have no one else to put them back together again." - Gene Bourland
"I know God won't give me more than I can handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much." - Mother Theresa
"Spiritual voltage can be generated by the tension of seeing deep needs, getting beyond our own troubles, and becoming part of the solutions." - DannyMorris
"Look fear in the face...you gain strength, courage, and confidence...you must do the thing you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt
"Life is not just a few years to spend in self-indulgence and career advancement. It is a privilege, a responsibility, a stewardship to be lived according to a much higher calling."
- Elizabeth Dole
Christlike responses to a hostile world.
When you need to forgive and don't know how.
You're Not Alone When Your Child's on Drugs
Private conversations
Hope and support for those who have suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth or tubal pregnancy.
Creating harmony as you build a new home life.
Is God enough in the midst of your deepest pain?
An honorable way to deal with the impossible people in your life.
Overcoming the Hurt and Pain of Problem Children
No matter what our age, our parents' approval affects the way we view ourselves - and how we act with those we love most.
acrylic on canvas
SOUL ARTIST
WELCOME TO RISING HOPE
The heart of this blog is to offer the hope and compassion found in Christ through times of difficulty, uncertainty and trouble. Even though I am a "soul artist", "Rising Hope" is a name that makes a lot more sense. Thank you for viewing my blog.
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Helpful Links
- Hydesville Community Church
- Celebrate Recovery at Hydesville Church
- HCC Celebrate Recovery Blog
- Life Group Bible Studies
- Life Group Coach - for those leading Life Groups
- Counseling - Hydesville Church
- HCC Celebrate Recovery - facebook
- Hydesville Church Life Group Finder
- Mentor Connection - R.I.S.E. Women's Ministries
- Hydesville Church - facebook
- R.I.S.E. Women's Ministries - facebook
- Josh and Adrienne - Campus Crusade
- Face Book and Your Marriage
Favorite Quotes
"It's normal to hurt...it's possible to hope." - Jerome
"God knows that you can stand that trial; He would not give it to you if you could not. It is His trust in you that explains the trials of life, how ever bitter they may be. God knows our strength, and He measures it to the last inch; and a trial was never given to any man that was greater than that man's strength, through God, to bear it."
- Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, Streams in the Desert
- Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick
"Our children are loaned, not given to us, by God. We do our best to raise them to fear and love the Lord, but eventually we have to give them back to Him. How they respond to God is not a total reflection on us. We do our best to be faithful, but we can't make their commitment to God for them."
- A Seattle based Pastor
"Were a man's wound is, that is where his genius will be. Wherever the wound appears in our pshche, that is extactly where we will give our major gift to the community."
- Robert Bly
"Give me one pure and holy passion. Give me one magnificent obsession. Give me one glorious ambition for my life, to know and follow hard after You." - Mark Altrogge
"I am discovering that prayer is not a magical lamp that I rub and get three wishes from God, but it is an intimate conversation - yelling out my dependance on Him. God is good and purposes good in our lives in and through our pain. Jesus' Good News is for broken lives, for those who have no one else to put them back together again." - Gene Bourland
"I know God won't give me more than I can handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much." - Mother Theresa
"Spiritual voltage can be generated by the tension of seeing deep needs, getting beyond our own troubles, and becoming part of the solutions." - DannyMorris
"Look fear in the face...you gain strength, courage, and confidence...you must do the thing you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt
"Life is not just a few years to spend in self-indulgence and career advancement. It is a privilege, a responsibility, a stewardship to be lived according to a much higher calling."
- Elizabeth Dole
Helpful Books
I have found these counseling resources to be encouraging and insightful.
Uncommon Graces by John Vawter
Christlike responses to a hostile world.
The Art of Forgiving by Lewis Smedes
When you need to forgive and don't know how.
Hit By a Ton of Bricks by Dr. John Vawter
You're Not Alone When Your Child's on Drugs
God's Front Door by Jill Briscoe
Private conversations
Empty Arms by Pam Vredevelt
Hope and support for those who have suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth or tubal pregnancy.
Blended Families by Maxine Marsolini
Creating harmony as you build a new home life.
Let Me Grieve But Not Forever by Verdell Davis
Is God enough in the midst of your deepest pain?
Fool-Proofing Your Life by Jan Silvious
An honorable way to deal with the impossible people in your life.
Parents in Pain by John White
Overcoming the Hurt and Pain of Problem Children
The Blessing
No matter what our age, our parents' approval affects the way we view ourselves - and how we act with those we love most.
Helpful Links to Difficult Life Issues
Helpful Books - Deeper Issues
New Light on Depression by David B. Biebel D. Min. & Harold G. Koenig, M.D. - Help, hope and answers for the depressed and those who love them.
Justin, Heavens Baby by Sharon Marshall -Sharon's journey of suffering with her hydrocephalic infant and finding strength to trust God through the trials of your own life.
The Selfish Brain by Robert L. Dupont, M.D. - A secular reference book for understanding and learning from addiction.
Addictions - A Banquet in the Grave by Edward T. Welch - Can we not escape our addictions? Following Jesus, we have "immense hope that God can give power so that we are no longer mastered by the addiction."
Mercy for Eating Disorders by Nancy Alcorn - Hope to individuals and their families who are being affected by eating disorders.
Mom, Dad...I'm Pregnant by Jayne E. Schooler - When your daughter or son faces an unplanned pregnancy.
Unfaithful by Gary and Mona Shriver - Rebuilding Trust After Infidelity.
Living With Your Husbands Secret Wars by Marsha Means - "Hope and direction for those whose secret wars have yet to be discovered and whose battles have yet to be won."
Tragedy to Triumph by Reuel Nygaard - A father's struggle with grief, anger and his Christian faith following the suicide of his young adult son.
About Me
family 1993
acrylic on canvas
SoulArtist.blogspot.com
I'm one of the directors on staff at Hydesville Community Church. Everything here, though, is my personal opinion and has not recieved prior approval.
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