Songs of encouragement! Scriptures of encouragement!

Ok, just thought that sometimes we could use a place that has several uplifting songs (hey, I'm a music chick!) that we could go to and listen to. Tonight as I was scanning facebook I see a post from a great girl who fights this battle so bravely and encourages everyone along the way, but tonight she just needed someone to encourage her. So I got some scriptures together and found a video on youtube that has helped me so many times. I posted them, and then I did something I rarely do... I went back and reread those scriptures and to my amazement they read like a letter of encouragement from God! Not sure why this amazed me, after all the entire Bible is the words of God put there for us to learn from, find encouragement, and to follow. But anyway, I decided that I'm going to print these scriptures in this order and place them in several places in my home, so that I can see them daily and get my reminder from God that it is going to be WORTH IT!!! So here are those scriptures that I posted to my friend.


Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Romans 5:3-4
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Isn't that just amazing! When we actually take the time to stop and read what God is showing us, then wow! I know I need to be reminded to stop and pay attention to what God's trying to say. Sometimes I just need to shut up long enough to see it! We often get so busy just right out starting with our "prayer lists/requests" and our "Thank you Lord for (fill in the blank)" that we don't take the time to LISTEN! I'm glad I went back and listened tonight!

So starting today, on (if everything goes well, you all know this disease and how things change day to day) every Tuesday night I'll try and post at least one scripture of encouragement and/or one song. Tonight you get both :) So here is the song, It's Gonna Be Worth It sung by Rita Springer. Remember, IT'S GONNA BE WORTH EVERY PAIN, TRIAL, and CONFUSING ! Love and Prayers, Miranda

Never Alone

It's 2:41 am on a Monday morning.  I still haven't fallen asleep, and now I have heartburn like you wouldn't believe and nothing in this house to help it.  I also have a headache but what else is new ya know!  I did have a great online chat with a dear friend.  We didn't chat about the weather, or farmtown, or anything that easy.  We chatted about my dysautonomia.  She sat and listened to me as I once again went through my story, and then she let me get my fears off my chest.  Have you ever had someone try and talk to you and you think in your head, "Oh no, here they go again... I wonder how I can get out of this conversation?"  I have.  I've had that very thought before.  We're human and after all, we get tired of hearing other people's problems or situations sometimes.  But during this time when I have needed someone to talk to, someone who will just listen and let me get all this pain and confusion about why I'm going through this off of my chest, there has been someone there to listen.  Someone there to encourage me, share scriptures that helped through their hard times, send prayer cloths and beautiful cards of inspiration, there has been someone there.  I think back through my life and wonder how many times was someone reaching out to me, and needed me to be that person for them.  Did I find a way out of it, or was I that person in their time of need?  Galations 6:2 says: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  Have I always done that?  After having my friend bear my burden tonight I was reminded that I should be more vigilant of myself and my actions in the future.  Be more aware of my friends, my family, my aquaintances, even the stranger who may need an ear to hear their cries.  I pray that God will continue to speak to my heart, so that my ears and spirit may be sensitive to those around me.  That when they are crying out for someone to help shoulder their burden for a bit, that I hear their cry.  I pray that I not grow numb to them crying out in desperation, but that when their heart is breaking mine feels their pain, so that I might know how best to help shoulder their pain.  I'm thankful for moments like tonight.  For moments when I'm laying here while everyone around me is sleeping, and I look in my facebook chat and I see a friend online.  I'm thankful that when I said hello, she responded.  I'm thankful that she listened and responded with encouragement and understanding.  I'm thankful most of all, because I know when she said she'd be praying for me, I know she meant it.  After all, she was online chatting with me about my frustrations at 2 in the morning!  I'm thankful that God used this dear friend to remind me once again that He hears me.  When I cry out in my spirit, God why have you left me alone? Why have you allowed this to happen and now I'm alone?  He hears my cries and sends another dear friend by even in the wee morning hours and says to me "My child, you are never alone!  I hurt when you hurt and I rejoice when you rejoice!  I am Your Father, and I have heard your cries and seen your tears."  I love it and am thankful when at my lowest times, when I look at my situation and feel helpless and scared and alone, my wonderful Savior reminds me I'm not doing this alone... after all it's when I'm weak, that thru Him I am strong.  It's when I fall on my knees, that I can stand in Him.  I wrote a song several years ago.  The chorus was something like So if I must fall on my knees, just to keep from falling. Then that's what I'm willing to do. Because that's not much compared, to the cross of calvary, that you bore long ago to set me free.

So if this disease is what it takes to keep me falling to my knees, then it's nothing compared to the cross He carried to set me free.  If this disease is what I need right now to remind me and teach me what He wants me to learn, then I know I will make it. Because I know that God will never place more on me than I can carry. And I know that when I feel like I can't even crawl any further, that He will pick me up and remind me that I am never alone, that He is my Father, and if I can't crawl, He will cradle me and carry me.

So thanks to my dear friend who took your time and listened to me, and allowed God to use you to remind me, that I am never alone.