Changing with Faith: Words of Encouragement

By Joyce and Gary Thibo

Encouraging people is a learned skill, and only experience and wisdom can help you build your message of change to share with the world.

We hope our writings will encourage you to reach out to those who dont know the Lord.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512704792

Joyce

Joyce and Gary Thibo started writing Christian encouragement to individuals in the hope that they would be comforted by the words of the Bible. Most of the original writings were to people who were troubled by drugs or family problems. Changing with Faith was written to encourage more Christians to reach out to those in need of the word of God.

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Copyright © 2015 Joyce and Gary Thibo.

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. The Living Bible, TLB, and the The Living Bible logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-0480-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0479-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015911706

WestBow Press rev. date: 8/25/2015

Changing With Faith

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24 NKJV

In a rapidly changing world the one thing that stays the same is God. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Reading people’s writings of Christian encouragement and guidance can place us on the course of real change. The Bible is the foundation of change and God’s word is the bedrock that foundation is built on. Today the ideas of man are so often built on shifting sand. That shifting sand is fame, wealth and power and when shaken these ideas can fall into ruin.

God’s word can build a strong foundation where people can prosper and become a success. To be truly successful you have to obey the word of God. Jesus used the example of the shifting sand but few people today heed His warning. In this changing world all Christians need to focus on the word of God to guide their lives to success. The bedrock of faith in God provides a strong foundation. That foundation is the word of the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Many today want to do more, reaching out to those in need. We can only hope that these writings gave you the encouragement you need. Bible study and prayer are most important, but reaching out to those who do not know the Lord is when real success begins to happen. Many who read this are already on that journey of change, we can only hope you will inspire more people to join in your efforts.

If you took time to read our words of encouragement we thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for blessing us with your interest. We are praying that you will make a meaningful change in the lives of all you meet on your walk with Christ.

Thank you,

Joyce and Gary Thibo

W riting personal messages to people that have suffered with drug and alcohol problems started us writing the message we give today. Christians need to reach out more to all they meet. This sounds simple but many do not talk frankly about their faith in the Lord. Going about our daily tasks we encounter many troubled people that don’t know the Lord. Work is a place where you can share your faith with many troubled souls that need the word of the Lord. Even at church you can reach out to members that are now experiencing problems that you have had in your own life.

Reaching out to youth is very important and helping them cope with problems that you had to work through can be a blessing to them. Many churches in our area have an older membership and if we don’t reach out to the youth, many churches will not survive. To make a better tomorrow, we need to put our focus on the needs of young people today. We need to tell them about the blessing of having the word of God in their life.

Financially sound teaching is also important and we encourage helping individuals with gifts of money and goods. The word of God coupled with a monetary gift can help a person to examine their life. Getting people to think about what God wants in their life is the basis of real change. Putting God first is the most important lesson that can be learned.

After writing hundreds of messages to people that have changed our lives, we would like to share some of our writings that we hope will help you to reach out to those who do not know the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

We hope that you find at least one message that is useful to you on your walk with Jesus.

Lord help all who read this message to reach out to those that don’t know the Lord.

A ny concern to small to be turned into a prayer is to small to be turned into a burden. Corrie Ten Boom

Every day people worry, but like they say if you have time to worry you have time to pray. People that don’t know the blessing of God feel overwhelmed by problems of everyday life. Prayer can clear your mind of problems and fill your heart with determination.

God’s word is like a compass guiding you on the path of life. For those that don’t know the Lord confusion and inaction can cause a myriad of problems. God’s word can calm the most troubled person and your caring and love can help them come to know the Lord.

Worry is not trusting God and that is a sin. Now that’s something to worry about. Many today don’t trust God to handle problems. Ask God to help you not to worry. Trust Him to provide a calm spirit to come into your heart. God will give you the strength to solve the most complex and confusing situations. Ask God to forgive you for worrying and ask Him to take away anything that is distressing you.

Health, finance and family problems can cause us to be anxious. When we worry it is a sign that we are not completely trusting God. Trust God completely to help you to resolve the problems you are facing. Turn to the word of God for wisdom and turn to prayer for guidance. No matter how difficult a problem there is no need to worry. God is there to guide you in all decisions great or small.

Lord, how can I worry with you by my side, thank you for coming into my life and guiding me on Your path.

T he secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net. Psalm 25:14-15 NKJV

Our outward appearance is like the snow hiding a multitude of sins. As I look out on the field next to my home the beauty of the fresh snow makes me forget what is really there. The beautiful snow covered field is really piles of dirt, rocks and rubble left from a failed construction site. Snow covers the worst scenery and makes it look beautiful.

Our lives can be just like that construction site. Troubles of all sorts can distress us as we put on the appearance that nothing is wrong. That’s human nature, putting on a front to keep people from knowing you have problems. For some people the problem their trying to cover up is sin. They may be doing something dishonest or self destructive all the while presenting a Christian image. Just like snow on a field it is hard to see what is underneath.

My mother would look out at our backyard which was really a junkyard and say snow covers a multitude of sins. If your life is filled with the junk of life, the sins of man, ask God to help. Honesty is what God wants. He wants you to put down those things that you know are wrong.

Are you hiding some junk in your life that needs to be removed? Ask God to come into your heart and wash it white as snow.

Show me your ways, Oh Lord; Teach me your paths. Psalms 25:4 NKJV

Lord, make me a green pasture and a straight path for all those who need your word.

W hen I feel hurt or broken hearted