RENEW, REBUILD & RESTORE our HOPE in 2021

One month has already gone by in 2021 and once again (I think) I have not shared my One Word for 2021, although I a lotm fairly certain of my verse in the Bible that contains that One Word ... however there are various words in that Scripture verse that it could be, such as "Hope", which I've heard or been told, many are leaning towards "Hope" in 2021 (understandably, after 2020). Yet HOPE already has been one of my One Words in previous years, which does not mean that it could not be again. As with my One Word that had been PROMISE for 2020, I still have plenty that could keep me focused on God's Promises for an eternity and I probably will in many ways, continue to seek His Promises on any given topic. The same may be true with the repitition of any of the One Words that I had in previous years, like "HOPE" but I don't think that's the One for me, for 2021. It could be though, so I'm not ruling it out completely. Like I mentioned, it is in my verse! But I'm still not revealing my verse or my One Word ... from many words & His Word. 

Another word that is in my verse for 2021 is RENEW, which seems like that might be a really good One Word also. Starting this month of February, over at YouVersion (bible.com), there is a 21 day challenge that I usually have done in other years. In fact, the reason that I decided to do a blog post today, is/was to share this and a reading plan that I did back in 2019 with the word RENEW, even if it isn't my One Word. I have decided that it is one that would be good to share here on aMazing Grace, especially since it is connected to my One Word - actually it's the action word (verb) to my One Word. However, the reading plan has a couple other words, related to RENEW ... which I believe will be helpful to me once again, as this plan was back in 2019. I have not chosen this for my plan again over at YouVersion because there are so many other new ones to choose from but I have been setting myself & time aside (doing a fast somewhat) so  I can Seek God more diligently & hunger after Him better to meet me in this season of restoration & renewal, being rebuilt in my faith in so many aspects already in 2021 but perhaps mainly because of 2020. I think 2020 was a year of having a 20/20 vision for many of us that refocused & challenged us, stretching us to the maximum & still requiring more from us, & in us, & through us. So it only seems fit that these 21 days should be in prayer & fasting, refocusing on God, His Word, His Way, His Will.

Let's Run Forward in 2021, perhaps with this reading plan, in part, or along with another one you already have chosen and let's

RENEW, REBUILD & RESTORE                          in 2021

Of course, there are many other good plans at YouVersion and studies available right now, with so much available now online.

This one, not only goes well with my One Word, but also with a Faith Gateway and Chrystal Evans Hurst's 28 day Prayer Journey plan that I've already started, as well as the one that Max Lucado has on his new book,*Begin Again... with Bible Gateway as a reading club. I had already begun 2021 with First 5 in the book of Ephesians, so truthfully this was plenty for me to focus & fill up my daily faith journey putting Jesus first & center in my life. 

"Jesus, as I start this 21 day challenge & continue with others, help me to do it from a heart that wishes to know You better, rather than just for what You can do for me. I want to finish this journey more in love with You than when I started. Amen."

*By the way, the rest of the title of Max Lucado's "Begin Again..." book is "... Your HOPE and RENEWAL Start Today".  

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Day 1 of 21

days in prayer from

RENEW, REBUILD & RESTORE

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that Your Holy Spirt and Your glory will fill our hearts as we set out these next 21 days in prayer. Help me to be open to hear from You and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice in my life. Lead us and guide us as we will be renewed, rebuilt and restored through our prayers. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Please join me and others in prayer & this reading challenge to RUN FORWARD for the next 21 days, however you choose with God, the Father, Son & Holy Spirit! The Church and our Country really need us to RETURN to JESUS in 2021. Fix our eyes on Him & may our Words & Hearts follow Jesus only. RELY on JESUS, REST in Him and READ His WORD, not the words of others. Let's SEEK Him alone, for our Salvation is found in Him. Be REFRESHED! 

{I hope to be back with at least a Prayer each day!}

A Very Happy & Blessed Birthday

to my special sister & friend

in Christ

💚

THANKS GIVING THANKS CHALLENGE 2017 VERSES

2017 is closing quickly on us as we are already into the 5th day of November!

and

as is tradition usually

in blog land

(probably Facebook now)

I join in a

GRATITUDE CHALLENGE

I found a new one

this year from a blogger

(that I think does it on FB too)

with verses reflecting on how 

the daily verse helps us remain faithful

so I'm joining in late with her

30 Days of Thanksgiving

especially because Mrs. C 

(the blog author of Food, Faith, Fatigue)

A Lifestyle Blog on Beating Burnout

appealed to me when she began

with

...Philippians 4:4-7...

{which is also one of the books I am studying with YouVersion and LGG}
for  DAY 1

" 4 Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One!  5 Let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. 6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life,  7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. " The Passion Translation (TPT)

In previous years, I have shared scriptures as well 

but let's look at these afresh and give our gratitude to God

Day 2 Colossians 3:16-17
Day 3 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Day 4 Psalm 100:3-4
Day 5 Psalm 118:28-29
"...I will bring You praise. For You are the God of my life and I lift You high,  exalting You to the highest place.
So let’s keep on giving our thanks to God, for He is so good!
His constant, tender love lasts forever!"
{as soon as I published this blog post challenge, I noticed the above blogger was no longer continuing to post daily so I am posting enough Thanksgiving Verses to keep us going with being THANKFUL and GIVING THANKS}

1 Chronicles 16:8

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

1 Chronicles 16:34

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

1 Chronicles 16:35

Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.

Psalm 7:17

I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

Psalm 9:1

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 26:6-7

I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.

Psalm 50:23

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

Psalm 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 95:2

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 107:22

And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

Psalm 116:17

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

Psalm 147:7

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!

Isaiah 12:1

You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.

Jeremiah 30:19

Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.

Jeremiah 33:11

Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’

Daniel 2:23

To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

Amos 4:5

Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel!” declares the Lord GOD.

Jonah 2:9

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

1 Corinthians 1:4

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

2 Corinthians 4:15

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 9:11

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ephesians 5:4

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:6

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Colossians 2:7

rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

1 Timothy 4:4

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

Revelation 11:17

We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

Revelation 7:12

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

*****

Psalm 103:2-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 136:1-3

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

James 1:16-18

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

{I will try to just keep adding on this page the verses but you can always just follow the link to Mrs. C's blog or FB, where she makes beautiful images with the verses and her own added special insights on her posts. I have not decided if I will write as she does yet, although that is the purpose of applying the verses and giving thanks to God every day, not just on Thanksgiving Day.} 
Thank you Mrs. C for your Thanksgiving Challenge for 2017! you were off to a good start and intention, I pray you are able to continue soon.

"... Your life might be hard right now. Things might not be going to plan. But you can still give thanks.  “Our lives don’t have to be perfect for us to be grateful. (That won’t happen this side of eternity.) The truth is gratitude is a choice; a choice that honors God, transforms our countenance, and brings us into His presence.” ... Julie Gillies Crosswalk.com writer Julie K. Gillies prays:  “Lord, I want to cultivate a grateful heart. Please help me, Lord, and open my eyes so that I can see all that I have to be thankful for. Enable me to recognize Your hand of blessing in my day to day life. Help me to express gratitude to You daily, for that is Your will (Ephesians 5:19-20).  “God help me to do all things without complaining (Philippians 2:14), so that I don’t grieve Your Holy Spirit. By Your power I desire to be thankful in all circumstances, for this is Your will for those of us who belong to Christ Jesus    (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  “Lord help me to devote myself to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart (Colossians 4:2). May my heart overflow with gratitude to You, God, for You are good. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.”

Other resource links:  A Thanksgiving Prayer and Prayers of Gratitude by Cindi McMenamin
Julie Gillies more resources available through Julie "Hot Mess to Blessed" {which will also go with what I'm sharing Mon.too} Crosswalk and iBelieve Daily Prayer
I thank God for YOU!

"GIRL MEETS CHANGE ... Truths to Carry You Through Life's Transitions"

"GIRL MEETS CHANGE ... Truths to Carry You Through Life's Transitions"
by Kristen Strong

Book Description: "Whether chosen and celebrated--like going off to college or welcoming your first baby--or unexpected and anxiety-inducing--like losing a job or grappling with a broken trust--all change brings stress. Kristen Strong knows about change--especially the kind you didn't choose or expect. What she's fought hard to learn over the years is that change is not something to be feared but something to be received as a blessing from a God who, more often than not, works through change, not in spite of it. Strong has learned to see change not as a grievance but as a grace.' In this hope-filled book, she shows women how when we follow God's will, we receive blessings of contentment, purpose, and renewed strength. She encourages women to see change not as the end of their story but as the scenery for this part of life's journey. And she offers practical advice for coping with change in every part of life. Anyone who has struggled to adjust to life's transitions will welcome this warm and personal perspective. "

"... Every woman needs this inspiring and insightful message."~Holley Gerth
For 3 weeks in the month of January, "Girl Meets Change" by Kristen Strong  inspired, challenged and (in)couraged me  through this author, along with Crystal Stine  and other fabulous guests, in preparing my heart and being more aware of how to handle CHANGES with a new perspective ones that I have faced and ones that I may continue to face as we all do throughout our life journeys.
This 2016 Change Challenge really encouraged me "to accept the things I cannot change" that will happen and get a copy of this book {through the publisher via Net Galley, which means I don't get to keep it, just read it and review it} (not my personal preference to review books, but it helps me determine if I want to purchase the book, before I do)
Looking at the cover of the book and reading the title alone, would not have persuaded me that this book was for me, however the contents most certainly do and the many highlights and notes. I do like the cover of all the seasons; it's the title with the word "girl" that might not have appealed to me because I don't think of myself as a "girl" still. But when Kristen explained, in her country "girl" charm, I was more apt to accept the term instead of woman. I guess I thought it was meant more for the younger generations. I could not have been more wrong. Just as on her blog, "Chasing Blue Skies", Kristen writes encouragement to anyone needing it, from the spiritually mature or the newbie still trying to figure things out (as we all are) with "... Truths to Carry You Through Life's Transitions" (the rest of the title of this book). 
Kristen is authentic as they come and helpful in a way that each of us can relate to and connect. She takes the time in each chapter to teach us through Biblical characters and real life women that have faced "changes" and how each one copes or handles the change. She illustrates through personal experiences and shows us how to be honest and deal with the loss, the why, the unexpected, the difficult, etc. without being pretentious at all. Kristen is real. 
I appreciate the sweet way in which she retold Biblical stories that I'm familiar with in such a way to understand her insight and point; a"faith embrace" from Abraham, to Esther, to Joseph, to Ruth and Naomi ... and others (and if you aren't familiar with them, she does such an excellent job of telling their story and giving the Scripture references so you will know them and get it) also the real life women from today that she shares plus herself and her daughter "Faith", because Kristen gets "change" and all the ways that it impacts us. You will feel like you're sitting down and talking with a real friend. My favorite part, besides closing each chapter with a beautiful prayer, was actually the section "How to Be a Friend to the One Going through Change" in the chapter "Because We All Need Friends in Low Places" in the 3rd Part of this book.
Kristen's "Girl Meets Change" is divided into 3 definitive parts or as I see them, as steps:
Part One - Acknowledge: The Change and the Loss Part Two - Accept: God is Believable Part Three - Adapt:A Heart that Thrives   ... with 3 or 4 chapters in each part. Kristen includes an Appendix after her Epilogue on "Bible Truths that Never Change". Her Conclusion "Changed by Change" is true for each one of us that embrace each change, and have a heart change about change. Kristen offers valuable lessons from her own life and others that have faced "changes".

My best takeaways from "Girl Meets Change" personally are: Being honest with God, we give ourselves permission to feel the change and the impact, and get through the change rather than get over it (paraphrased) and "we want to use this change as a vehicle to travel our own little mission fields" as faith embracers. "God brings change to one so she may change many" ... "Change always brings God's invitation to believe His familiar promises." How I have found this and so much more of what Kristen reminds us of, to be true in the CHANGES I face.


"We must know how to ask the right questions during change

so we are most aware of God's purposes."
Kristen sums all this up as she concludes with what God says to us:

..."This new change comes with My same promise of blessing. Accept that this change is a grace not a grievance. Let your heart rest at home in Me, thriving in the knowledge that I'm always looking out for your next best thing." (see below)

And then these as her last profound words:
"Change is a helper - believe it. Change is a gift - receive it. Change is a restorer - live it."
Kristen has so many gems that I've highlighted or quoted from her book. I've shared many here on my blog in images that she designed and I've tried to capture as many as I can to help you as her book has helped me see change differently and with courage.

This still stands out the most: 

"...Change is an absolute provision of God's Grace.  Change isn't something to be feared or dreaded. It's just the next step, His next best thing for you."

I confidently would recommend "GIRL MEETS CHANGE ... Truths to Carry You Through Life's Transitions" to any woman dealing with changes in life (from the simple to complex ones) to find encouragement in a wonderful mentor who understands - Kristen Strong and shares from a heart open to change. 

 

Disclosure of material connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Net galley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

[This book review is long overdue and I apologize for my lateness and doing it so long after the 2016 Change Challenge (kinda out of order). Circumstances and life changes got in my way. For this reason, I have placed it back in order with my previous posts closer to when this event finished and before I "fasted comments" because it desires feedback.]