Merry Christmas!

 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:11-14

Let's never forget the hope of Christmas.

Let's hold on to the joy of this season.

Let's thank God for the gift he has given us.

Merry Christmas!

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Living for Him

Living for God. This should be our goal in life. Not to do what people expect or want from us, but to live for God. To be different than the world. To be a light.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:24

We can trust God no matter what we face, and we can know that living for him is the right choice, even when things are difficult.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

We need to live for him in all that we do. We need to be strong and courageous and bold for him. We need to make the right decisions to help others, to do good, and to keep spreading God's light and love always.

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

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Every Day Is A Blessing

Every day is a blessing. Every moment is a gift. 

God is good every day. God is with us every day.

                              

We can trust God every day.

We can praise God every day. We should thank him for each day we are given.

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

From The Rising Of The Sun To The Place Where It Sets... A Few Inspiring Verses

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Stand Strong

Stand strong. Even when everyone is against you. Even when you are afraid. Even when doing the right thing goes against what everyone is telling you to do.

Stand strong. Even when the world has gone crazy. Even when you feel lost and confused. Even when you can't see what is to come.

Stand strong. Trust in God. He will not let you down.

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

God Is Good - A Few Bible Verses

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:1

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

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 43:5

God is good.
God is with us.
God loves us.
God will help us through any and all of the challenges we face.
We can trust him.

We can praise him.

God is good.

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

A Few Encouraging Songs

What are some of your favorite encouraging songs?


By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Psalm 70

Hasten, O God, to save me;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.
May those who want to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
turn back because of their shame.
But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”
But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.

Psalm 70:1-5 (NIV)

The Psalms are filled with comfort. It is great to read them when you are feeling down, or anytime.

I have many favorite verses in the Psalms. What are some of your favorite verses? What are your favorite Psalms?


By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

God's Grace Is Big Enough For You

God's grace is big enough for you. When you stumble and break promises, God still loves you. He loves sinners and those who have made mistakes. He knows every fault, every bad thing you have done in your life. He knows that you are far from perfect. He doesn't expect perfection from you, but he covers you in his perfect love.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9a

God's grace isn't only given to those who "do good" and live righteous lives. Jesus chose to sit with sinners and be friends with those others shunned. He came to earth to die for the unrighteous.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

You are not too far from God. Nothing can put too great of a distance between you and God.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

When you sin, he sees you. He doesn't want you to stray from him. He is hurt by the wrongdoings that you have done. But he offers his grace to cover them if you come to him.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Romans 6:1-2

It is up to you. You need to be willing to put aside your mistakes and your sins enough to let him in. To ask God to cover them.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

Jesus died on the cross to save you. His love and grace are big enough for you.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

7 Bible Verses That Are Encouraging Now And Always

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Pray Always

Pray when times are difficult. 

Pray when you can’t find any words to say. 

Pray when you feel lost. Pray when you are sad. Pray when you can’t decipher your emotions. Pray when you just want to cry. 

Pray when you’re afraid. Pray when you lose someone. Pray when you find someone.

Pray when you feel like nothing makes sense. Pray when you need direction. Pray when you are hurting. Pray when you see others hurting.

Pray when you need to know that you are not alone. Pray when you mess up. Pray when you fail. 
Pray when it is difficult to talk to God.

Pray when you are grateful. Pray when good things happen. 

Pray when you need to change. Pray when you are afraid of change. Pray constantly. Pray continually. Pray without stopping.

In prayer, we feel God’s presence. He is always with us, and we can call out to him no matter where we are or what is going on in our lives. We can talk to him when we are in any kind of situation. 

We can ask God for anything that we need and know that he will take care of us. We can pray to him when we are feeling any kind of emotion.

Pray continually.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Don't Wait For Tomorrow

We are not promised a long life on earth. Many will die before old age from a variety of sicknesses, diseases, and injuries. We never know when one day could be our last.

We need to appreciate every moment. We can't wait for tomorrow, but we need to be wise about how we use our time today.

We need to rejoice in each day we are given because it is a blessing from God.

We can't let fear rule our lives.

We can't focus on the negative.

We need to know that God is in control.

We need to know that this world is only temporary - both the good and the bad.

We need to know that good things are still ahead for those who love God. This world is not the end of life, but heaven will be even better.

But until we get to heaven, we need to make the most of this life. We need to be bold and brave in each moment we are given. We need to love others. We need to appreciate each day.

Don't wait for tomorrow, but know that today may be all that you have left on earth. Love those around you, be kind, and appreciate each moment.


By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

God Has A Plan

God has a plan for our lives.

God is good, and he loves us.

We can trust him no matter what. When things get scary, he is still there.

We can praise him because he is good all the time.

God has a plan for us, and he will never let us down.

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

If God Is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31

We need to be bold in our faith and stand up for what we believe in even at times like these -  and especially in times like these.

We need to be a light in the world and share God's love. We need to have faith over fear.

God is good, and he will never leave us or forsake us. He is our rock and fortress and deliverer, and we don't have to be afraid because we know he is in control.

I pray we will all feel God's presence now during this time more than ever.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-39

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

9 Encouraging Bible Verses

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken