Soul Retreats: Picture This

Memories are precious. Even those stored during bad times contain the lacy crystals of hope and joy, and they remind you of God's tender hand encouraging and delivering you in your time of need. 

Other memories remind you of good times with images you want to keep forever - a loved one's smile, children as they grow, places you've been, and people you've known. 

Take a break from the busyness of your day and immerse yourself in your precious memories... and as you move along your trail of memories, whisper a word of thanksgiving to God for each person and place God has used to decorate your life. 

Laugh and cry, smile and sigh as you wander through. The release of your emotions will help your tension dissipate and restore to you a sense of happiness and well-being. 

As you take your walk down through memory lane, let God show you how, by His grace, you have made a difference and have received a bounty of gifts from his hands. 

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The memory of the righteous will be a blessing. 

Proverbs 10:7

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One generation shall praise thy works to another; and shall declare thy mighty acts. 

O Lord... they shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sign of thy righteousness. 

Psalm 145:4,7

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God has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate.

Psalm 111:4

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Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Remember the wonders he has done,

his miracles and the judgment he pronounced.

Psalm 105:4-5

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I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

Psalm 77:10-11

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A righteous man will be remembered forever. 

Psalm 112:6

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Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalm 30:4

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Jesus said, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

John 14:26

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Soul Retreats: Like a Playful Child

Children are capable of unfettered play because they are comfortable with there dependence on others. They know that someone will be watching out for them, and they accept the fact without question. 

If the responsibilities of your grown-up world keep you running in circles, spinning plates, and trying to hold all the aspects of your life together, visualize yourself as a child at play under the watchful eye of your heavenly Father. Forget your tension. Let worries drain away. Deliberately relax your shoulders, relax your stance, let your limbs hang loose. Know that God, who is more dependable than any earthly parent could ever be, is always looking out for you. So play! Enjoy God's world. 

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As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

PSALM 103:13

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Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples scolded the people. When Jesus noticed this, he was angry and said to his disciples, "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

MARK 10:13-14

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Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

MATTHEW 18:2-3

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Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

PSALM 34:11

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My heart is not proud, O Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

PSALM 131:1-2

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How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 JOHN 3:1

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Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

MARK 10:16

Soul Retreats: Walk It Off

Take God for your bridegroom and friend,and walk with him continually; 

and you will not sin and will learn to love,

and the things you must do will work out prosperously for you. 

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You have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.

PSALM 56:13

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Many nations will come and say,
"Come, let us go up
to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."

MICAH 4:2

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You show me the path of life, O Lord,
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

PSALM 16:11

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Jesus said, "I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life."

JOHN 8:12

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Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

1 JOHN 2:6

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Teach me your way, O Lord;
lead me in a straight path.

PSALM 27:11

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I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.

PROVERBS 4:11-12

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The Lord said, "I will look upon you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you... I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.

LEVITICUS 20:9, 12

Soul Retreats: Words That Inspire

Reading provides a joyous retreat from the frantic busyness of your day. It can take you to exotic faraway places and fill you with a sense of wonder. It can encourage your faith in God and lift your perspective. Reading can rest and relax your soul. 

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My eyers stay open

through the watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promises, O Lord.

PSALM 119:148

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The sayings of the wise are like the sharp sticks that shepherds use to guide sheep, 

and collected proverbs are as lasting as firmly driven nails. 

They have been given by God, the one Shepherd of us all. 

ECCLESIASTES 12:11

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Happy is the one who reads this book, and happy are those who listen to the words of this prophetic message and obey what is written in this book! For the time is near when all these things will happen. 

REVELATION 1:3

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Pleasant words are a honeycomb, 

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 

PROVERBS 16:24

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All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

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The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.

PROVERBS 16:21 

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Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope. 

ROMANS 15:4

Soul Retreats: Soaking In

Water clear, standing near,

Wash our hands and faces clean.

May the Lord, by His Word,

Wash our hearts from every sin.

So let everything we see

Turn our thoughts,

O Lord, to Thee...

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Cleanse me with hyssop,

and I will be clean, O Lord;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 

PSALM 51:7

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As water reflects the face,

so a man's heart reflects the man. 

PROVERBS 27:19

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Let us purify ourselves from everything that makes our body or soul unclean, and let us be completely holy by living in awe of God. 

2 CORINTHIANS 7:1

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Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

HEBREWS 10:22

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Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. 

EPHESIANS 5:25-26

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The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;

according to the cleanses of my hand be has rewarded me. 

PSALM 18:20

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Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:

according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 

PSALM 51:1-2

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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 JOHN 1:9

God's Guiding Presence

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again:
I will obey your righteous regulations.
I have suffered much, O Lord;
restore my life again as you promised.
Lord, accept my offering of praise,
and teach me your regulations.
My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
The wicked have set their traps for me,
but I will not turn from your commandments.
Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart’s delight.
I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end.

PSALM 119:105-112

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O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.

PSALM 139:1-12

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Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20