Thoughts for Life: ONWARD AND UPWARD

ONWARD AND UPWARD

By Diana Derringer

"Our family loves to visit Yellowstone National Park. We always watch the Old Faithful geyser erupt. Several times a day, Old Faithful moves onward and upward.

This wonder of nature reminds us of the importance of our own faithfulness.

Onward and upward means to keep moving forward.

We work toward:

Improvement
Progress
Success

Onward and upward often means steady rather than sudden growth.

Old Faithful begins with a sputter but then grows higher and higher. We don’t have to start fast either. However, we do want to keep going and growing.

Onward and upward encourages us not to give up.

We all face difficulties and disappointments. Yet, we advance one step at a time. Failure teaches us what does not work. To reach our goals, we keep on keeping on.

This challenge applies to every age and circumstance.

Youth graduating from school
Adults seeking the right job
Retirees beginning a new stage in life

As long as we live, we have meaning and purpose. May we always seek to find and fulfill them to the best of our abilities.

Our greatest advancement occurs when we step from this life into the next.

If we follow Jesus’ plan for our lives, we find the best now and through eternity. Let’s keep moving onward and upward.

“In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13 NIV).

Thanks to Joy S. Taylor for the suggestion.

The post Onward and Upward appeared first on Diana Derringer.

My weekly advice from the book, Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo by Elaine W. Miller: (pg/2)

"Instead of "why me," perhaps we should ask, what now? If this [cancer] is God's plan set apart for His purpose, how then shall we live the remaining years, months, days, and hours of our lives to know and fulfill that purpose? Being angry at God, bitter at the world, wallowing in self sorrow, worrying about the future does no one any good, especially the cancer patient."

Let's pray-

Father, help us keep moving forward by the improvements we make, the progress and the success we achieve in our personal spiritual lives. In the process, we're encouraged to not give up, but face difficulties and disappointments, regardless of any failures along the way that didn't work.

This challenge applies to every age and circumstance; for the youth graduating from school, adults seeking the right job or retirees beginning a new stage in life. As long as we live, help our lives have meaning and purpose. May we seek You daily, to find and fulfill Your will for us, and how to use our abilities best.

The greatest advancement happens when we step from this life into eternity. Jesus has a plan for our individual lives, to find the best now and then. Help us keep moving onward and upward in Jesus' name. Amen.

#131 Testimony- Billy Graham's digital resource on prayer

1801-1805 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1801- Matt. 26:13a "This gospel shall be preached in the whole world."

1802- Pro. 25:21 "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he

be thirsty, give him water to drink."

1803- Zech, 13:9b "They shall call on my name, and I will hear them."

1804- Jer. 26:5a "Hearken to the words of my servants the prophets."

1805- Jer. 5:5b "They have known the way of the LORD."

#131 Hymn- There Is a Balm In Gilead

The first Africans on American shores arrived in chains. Their hellish voyage aboard slave ships was only the beginning of their sorrows. The oppression of bondage, the whips and shackles, their loss of dignity. . . . it all combined to kill both body and spirit.

But the souls of the slaves found release through singing, and a unique form of music evolved called the "Negro Spiritual." Often the slaves were allowed to sing while working. If, for example, they were hauling a fallen tree, they would combine muscles and voices, using the musical rhythms for a 'heave-ho" effect. With swaying bodies, they would stand, eyes half-closed, singing, "Go Down, Moses," "Roll, Jordan, Roll," "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," and the classic "There Is a Balm in Gilead" based on Jeremiah 8:22.

Some encouraging words-

"The God who created you is the same God who is a covenant-keeping and promise-filling God. Just as the Lord showed Himself faithful to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He is more than able to bring about His plan for your life You can trust Him to keep His Word to you." (Quote from pg. 69 of THE STUDY BIBLE FOR WOMEN).

Church Notes: FAN THE FLAME

We're to be worshippers, filled with the Holy Ghost!

God's plan is for spontaneous worship with personal songs of His goodness.

We're to praise Him, regardless of what's taking place, trusting Him to guide us.

We have purpose, as we're to be God's hands.

Tears change everything when we're given prophetic words that encourage us with new energy and vision.

The Word of the Lord gives us breakthrough!

God wants to break the chains that hold us back from doing His will.

There may be generational chains that have bound us. He can liberate us from them!

The end result is a breaking out into new territory to advance Christ's Kingdom!

The changes begin within our bellies.

We're to get out of our settled places and take the first step and obey what the Lord directs.

There are moments in history when the people of God are called to more than quiet faith. Moments when heaven is inviting us to rise, stand firm, and advance into the promises God has already declared.

Upcoming posts:

4/4- GOD BLESSES WHEN YOU UNITE IN PRAYER- Wesley L. Duewel

11th- NO MORE DEBT- Jennifer Benson Schuldt

18th- JOINED BY JESUS- XOCHITL Dixon