9 Things You Should Remember & Be Encouraged By About God Day-by-Day.

Hello Friend!  

Here are 9 of the many things you should remember and be encouraged by about God day-by-day.
 

Check out this video here: https://youtu.be/nPxR_DlgRfQ

He is The Only Way!

John 14:6

He Loves you!

Ephesians 3:18-19, Psalm 5:11-12, John 3:16

He is Faithful! 

Hebrews 10:23 and Deuteronomy 31:6

He is for you!

Romans 8:31

He is Good!

Psalm 119:68

He is your deliverer!

Psalm 34:4

He is your sustainer!

Psalm 54:4

He always hears you! 

1 John 5:14-15

He is with you always!

Matthew 28:20 and Joshua 1:9

May you be lifted up!

Please pass this encouragement on to others.

You're in my prayers!

Your Brother and Servant in Christ,

Randolph Koch

 

Connect with A Shepherd's Heart: https://linktr.ee/ashepherdsheart (Instagram, Facebook, Web, YouVersion, and Telegram)

Seasons Of Change.

I was walking this morning and enjoying the beautiful fall leaves when I started to hear God speaking to me through them. 

He showed me that the most beautiful leaves are the ones that are changing and blemished. How cool is that?

I started to think about all of us and how God changes us as we grow in Him and work toward the day of perfection and I guess I’ve always thought about the beginning and the ending but not the middle. The part that is CHANGING. 

Changing is hard. It’s work. It’s leaving old things and clinging to the new. It’s dark and ugly sometimes but as I looked at the leaves I began to see that the dark spots just made them more beautiful. It wasn’t the perfectly changed leaves that I felt God pointing out to me – it was the ones with blemishes that were the most colorful and beautiful. 

We don’t have to be beautiful or perfect to be seen and loved by God. He sees perfection in us because He sees us through Christ. 

I think my walk away today was simply to revel in the beauty of the change and not let myself be discouraged by the blemishes life and choices may have left in me – that’s beauty to God because it means I’m growing and changing and that’s beauty to others because it means I’m human and relatable. 

We all have things we go through that are hard. Some things happen TO us and some things happen BECAUSE of us – our choices. But what if we’re willing to share those things with others and let them see the beauty they are becoming in us as we change and grow? 

What if instead of dwelling on them and staying where we are, we decided to use them as a catalyst for even more growth? Just something to think about. Romans 12:2 ESV

In Christ,

Angela Koch

Picture of fall leaves by Angela Koch

We're blessed to have Angela Koch as a guest contributor to A Shepherd's Heart. Angela is the wife of Randolph Koch, Founder and Servant-Shepherd of A Shepherd's Heart. She hails from the Pacific Northwest in the USA where she actively and passionately lives life on purpose for The Lord as she uses her many gifts, talents, and skills to bless others. We prayerfully look forward to further guest posts from Angela in the future.

Connect with A Shepherd's Heart: https://linktr.ee/ashepherdsheart (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Website, YouVersion, Telegram, Whatsapp, and More).

5 Affirmations From God's Word.

My Friend,

Everyday, and especially in these uncertain and tumultuous times, may you seek The Lord all the more for truth, wisdom, affirmation, encouragement, identity, and more!

Here are 5 Affirmations from God's Word for you and coinciding scriptures for you to read, study, and take to heart.

Let's pray for one another in Jesus name.

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Randolph Koch

Here are some recent post via my YouTube Channel:

• https://youtu.be/8QZFXpqHUJE
• https://youtu.be/wgI23bF4r0Y
• https://youtu.be/35UoOxSZxxo
• https://youtu.be/nB0lfX7AN1k
• https://youtu.be/4ThGJAELw_4

Connect with A Shepherd's Heart: https://linktr.ee/ashepherdsheart (Instagram, Facebook, Web, YouVersion)

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Fundraiser:

If you'd are able to help in a friend helping a friend endeavor, please help A Shepherd's Heart if you are able. Any amount $1 on up is a big help!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-ashepherdsheart

Or, if you'd rather not help through gofundme, you can share directly via Venmo: ashepherdsheart or Cash App: ashepherdsheart

or you can use your favorite app to send to giving@ashepherdsheart.org.

Thanks and many blessings!

The A Shepherd's Heart Team

Are You In A Season Of Waiting?

My Friend,

Sometimes waiting isn't our strong suit. OK, so maybe that's an understatement. :-)

Waiting seems even harder sometimes when we're waiting on an answer from God but we forget that sometimes "wait" is the answer He's give us at that time.

It doesn't mean we'll have to wait forever, but, we may have to wait for a while until His perfect timing arrives according to His perfect plan and will for you and I.

Let me simply encourage you that while you wait, may you wait on Him, seek to grow deeper in Him, and learn to trust Him more.

Many mighty men of God had to learn about waiting and it's a lesson, this side of heaven, that we'll continually be learning too. I pray for each of us that The Holy Spirit helps us learn to trust God even more...while we wait.

Let me encourage you to be in constant prayer my friend and then Read, Study and Take to heart Psalm 27:14, 2 Peter 3:9, Exodus 14:14, Isaiah 30:18, and 2 Peter 3:8 for starters.

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Randolph Koch

P.S. Here's a recent encouragement video message:

• Who Are You Putting Your Trust In? https://youtu.be/B-X2XiAGvfU
  

Please help A Shepherd's Heart if you are able. Any amount $1 on up is a big help! https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-ashepherdsheart

Here's one place that lists where you can connect with A Shepherd's Heart:

https://linktr.ee/ashepherdsheart

No Matter Who Leads A Nation, God Is Still On The Throne.

"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you." -Psalm 9:10 ESV

My Friend,

Who are you putting your trust in?

It's inauguration day in the USA and there are many who will either be happy, sad, or somewhere in between.

I simply want to encourage you today with a reminder (no matter where you live) that politicians, no matter where you land politically, are not The Savior, only Jesus is.

Politicians can only provide temporary supposed solutions to peace, provision, unity, hope and more while Jesus is your true refuge and is The Only One Who can provide true peace, provision, unity, hope and more.

For everyone reading this today, let me encourage you in that no matter what nation you live in, if you are a follower of Christ, one of the greatest things you can devote yourself to is praying for your leadership state, local, and national. It doesn't matter if they are in Christ or not, you can pray for them and God hears the prayers of His people.

Put your trust and hope in The Lord and not in any politician or other human.

If you're anxious or worried today, let me encourage you to turn from that and instead, turn to The Lord in prayer and through abiding in His Word. Put your trust in The Lord.

Read, study, and take to heart Luke 12:25-31 and Psalm 9:10.

Praying for you and praying for our leaders...may we all turn To The Lord in all and for all things.

Your Brother and Servant In Christ,

Randolph Koch

P.S. Please pass on this encouragement to others who may be encouraged that God hears their prayers.

Here's one place that lists where you can connect with A Shepherd's Heart:

https://linktr.ee/ashepherdsheart

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You Will Be And Are Accountable To God.

Read and Study: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

My Friend,

Who or what do you live for and who or what do you embrace and promote?

We live in a broken world, and yet I have to admit that I find it absolutely shocking to see what's going on in our world today at times.

People calling good bad and bad good. People promoting and embracing the most heinous things. Their behavior is horrible and yet they are deemed "good" and "moral" in the eyes of this world.

This is even true sometimes of those who call themselves followers of Christ. They promote some of the most ungodly and vile things and people. Some even claim that Jesus would as well?!

My Pastor recently reminded me that we will be accountable to God for what we embrace or promote.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Then ask yourself:

-Do you embrace that which is unbiblical and ungodly?

--Do you care more about the world than God?

-Do you live more for the world than God?

-Do you love the world more than you love God?

We need to care more about people's eternal well being, their very souls, and eternal destination than that which is momentarily popular.

If you're a follower of Christ then you and I need to stand on biblical principles with Jesus as our foundation. We need to stop playing games. The world is not our foundation but Jesus is.

Furthermore, the world does not and should not dictate our behavior and morals, but God's Word should as it's full of principles for life and godliness.

Friend... I challenge you to seek to live for Him, His kingdom, His glory and your eternal future and not for this world, it's ways, and this little temporal "kingdom".

I challenge you to love people in Jesus name but to not embrace or promote that which goes against God and His Word. If you choose to do so anyway, just remember that you will stand before God one day and you will be accountable.

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Randolph Koch

P.S. Please share this encouragement with others and please also pray and give if possible to our first ever fundraiser. https://www.gofundme.com/f/Please-Help-AShepherdsHeart

Finding Strength & Hope In Forgiveness

Read and Study Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 ESV; Romans 10:9‭-‬10 ESV; Psalm 103:12 ESV; and Psalm 139:14 ESV

To the people who care about you, you are not a nuisance or a waste of time. 

Don't let doubts discourage you from living a full life. Time is short and you can't change or take back regrets, but you can control where you focus your energy now clear into the future. 

Realizing this empowers you to feel in control of your journey. Anxiety and fear numbs, but forgiveness brings a visceral freshness unparalleled by anything that could be conjured in an impaired mind.

Dig deep, push back, fight the lies, forgive yourself, and be strengthened. YOU are worth the time and energy even if it's a challenge to believe it.

For my fellow believers Proverbs 3:5-6 is a great launching point to maintain a healthy idea of what is truth vs a lie by "not leaning on your own understanding." V5. It says the Lord "will make your path straight" V6. That straight path is hard to find without the forgiveness given on the cross. 

When you confess and become saved (Roman's 10:9-10) you are forgiven in the deepest way possible. As far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12)! Now we have to decide if we want to accept that God's free gift of grace and forgiveness is enough. 

He is the only one who constantly says you're worth the time when you believe a lie. He is the only one who will continually wash you white as snow all the while not leaving or forsaking you even when the accuser roams. You are a child of God and therefore loved, cared for, forgiven, and wonderfully + fearfully made (Psalm 139:14).

Hold on to hope my friends!!

God Bless 

- Noah

Picture of a view of The Pacific Ocean From Otter Crest By Noah Koch

We're blessed to have Noah Koch as a guest contributor to A Shepherd's Heart. He hails from the Pacific Northwest in the USA where he actively and passionately lives life on purpose for The Lord. He's very creative and talented as a communicator, photographer, musician, and writer. He has a true servant's heart. We prayerfully look forward to further guest posts from Noah in the future.

Please prayerfully consider helping this ministry through a gift of any size via our first ever fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Please-Help-AShepherdsHeart

Focus On Jesus, Not The Storm.

Hello Friend,

It was during a storm that Peter saw someone walking from the shore over the crashing waves to the boat he was in. 

Once He recognized that it was Jesus, he said, "Lord, if it’s you,” “tell me to come to you on the water.” Then Jesus said. "come." and then Peter stepped out of the boat. 

Note, he was the only one who had faith enough to step out of the boat.

Once he started walking toward Jesus, Peter made one error though, he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked instead on his circumstances. Then he started to sink into the water and of course Jesus saved him.

We're kind of like Peter sometimes because even though we know what we should do, instead of fixing our eyes on Jesus, we fix our eyes on our circumstances and then our troubles get worse in the process. 

My friend, We need to fix our eyes on Jesus as much as possible and not the storms of life.

Read, Study, and pray about Matthew 14:22-33.

Then ask yourself, am I willing to step out in faith, keeping my eyes on Jesus no matter my circumstances?

Let's pray for one another that we will keep our eyes on Jesus.

Your Brother and Servant in Christ, 

Randolph Koch 

P.S. Please prayerfully help me with my first ever fundraiser for my little ministry which I've extended for 1 additional month as I'm trying to raise just enough for some basic resources to serve you with.

Please share this small fundraiser with your church family and friends. Please help A Shepherd's Heart meet the goal of it's first ever fundraiser. 

Here's the link to the main fundraiser site: www.fundly.com/a-shepherd-s-heart-2020-fundraiser

Or here are 3 other options to help in this friends helping a friend fundraiser:

1. You can use Cash App and send your gift to user name $ashepherdsheart or if you haven't used Cash App before, if you use this link https://cash.app/app/GHCJWXG we'll both receive $5! :-)

2. Use PayPal sending to giving@ashepherdsheart.org.

3. Use PayPal's Venmo app by sending to @ashepherdsheart

You're continued prayers and sharing this fundraiser with friends and family would be greatly appreciated!

#faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #Jesus #Bible #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #HolySpirit #encourage #encouragement #Christian #Christianity #Christfollower #ashepherdsheart #ReShare #livelifeonpurpose #keepyoureyesonJesus

Who Loves Ya, Baby?

Read John 3:16-21, Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:19-21, 2 Corinthians 12:9

I remember as a young child there was a TV show called, "Kojak" which was about a NYC Police Detective and his famous line was, "Who Loves Ya, Baby?". It's kind of comical to look back on but honestly, it's a valid question that from our heart of hearts, we may ask. "Who Loves Me?"

I'm here to tell you that God loves you!

Despite your sin and many imperfections, God sent Jesus to die on your behalf because of His great love for you.

Even on your worst day, He still loves you! 

There's never a day where God ceases to love you. His love is for you will never change or end!

You and I need to remember and never take His great, perfect, sacrificial, and eternal love for us for granted.

Let me encourage you that no matter what you think, feel, or have been told, or what kind of crummy day you might have, you are loved with an everlasting love by God as expressed through the indescribable gift of His son Jesus.

Last but not least, God's Word clearly shows you His love from cover to cover so next time you need a reminder, open the Word of God and be reminded of "Who Truly Loves Ya, Baby"! :-):-)

Your Brother and Servant in Christ,

Randolph Koch

Jesus Will Calm Your Storms.

Read: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 24

I received this beautiful reminder recently from my pastor: "The same waves that are over your head, are the same waves that are under Jesus' feet." -Pastor Brett Meador

You'll recall the story when Jesus walked on the water toward the disciples and Peter asked to join Him. Jesus told him to come and Peter with faith got out of the boat. He got part way to Jesus and then took his eyes off of Jesus and started to sink in the water. He cried out to Jesus, and Jesus saved him and the made it to the boat. (See Matthew 14:22-33)

Then there was another time that Jesus calmed the storm. (See Mark 4:35-41)

I'm also reminder of how He was victorious over death as He died as payment for our sin and rose on the third day in victory over death. (See Luke 24)

Jesus is your all in all my friend and whenever you feel afraid or overwhelmed, remember that the same Jesus that overcame death and paid the penalty for our sin, the same Jesus that calmed the storm, the same Jesus that walked on water over the crashing waves, is more than able to help you overcome what you face. He will calm, quiet, and overcome the storms and navigate and overcome the crashing waves of your life.

Put your trust in Him and as you feel like the waves are crashing over you or the storms of life are overwhelming you, remember that the waves are under Jesus' feet and so are the storms as they are subject to Him.

Your Brother and Servant In Christ,

Randolph Koch

He Holds All Things Together

It's with humor and truth that I share this post using tacos as a means to remind you, that you are loved by The One who never falls apart! And, because of His great love and His sufficiency, You don't have to try and hold everything together!

He holds all things together...and you don't!

And I don't care if it's on a weekly "Taco Tuesday" but you're more important than tacos. :-)

There may be times or seasons where you feel like everything is falling apart or you're falling apart. Let me reminder you that you don't have to keep it all together all the time or feel that you have to because the reality is that you know, are loved by, and have a personal relationship with The One Who does hold all things together.

He keeps everything together. He is your strength. He is your hope. He's The One Who will put all the pieces together if your life is in pieces or your heart, mind, and emotions feel like they are in pieces.

Even on your worst day, He still loves you. Even while you were His enemy, He loved you and Jesus died for you. (See Romans 5:8)

God will always love you, even through the roughest of seasons, that won't ever change so lean into Him instead of yourself and He will see you through!

Read Colossians 1:17 and Hebrews 1:3a for encouragement from God's Word.

P.S. Don't forget that you're loved by the body of Christ too and we're supposed to bear one another's burdens. See Galatians 6:2.
Your Brother and Servant In Christ,

Randolph Koch

Give Your Anxiety To The Lord.

We all may have experienced times where our circumstances, worries, or troubles, including the things that are often out of our control, weigh us down.

Instead of dwelling and abiding in The Lord and His Word, we allow ourselves to dwell in all of the before mentioned. 

We dwell on the could of, should of, would of scenarios as if we can fix or take back whatever it was or is all by ourselves.

We allow ourselves to go down the path of anxiety, depression, and more which may include or or result in stress, sleepless nights, weak strength, our joy is often diminished or gone at that moment, and we can also experience other physical side effects and more.

Now, don't get me wrong as there are real medical issues at times but often we hurl ourselves down a path we shouldn't go down or need to quickly back out of. However, it's often a path of our own making if we're honest.

Let's stop the sleepless nights and ulcer inducing behavior and instead, try our very best to give it to The Lord in prayer, seek the counsel and encouragement of His Word, as well as the counsel and encouragement of the godly people God has placed in our lives. 

God is our strength, so, to be blunt, we need to start living like He really is!

Read Matthew 6:34 and 1 Peter 5:7 for starters for encouragement from God's Word.

I'm praying for you and please pray for me as well that we might grow more in giving our anxiety to Him more automatically as we should not be carrying it first place. 

Your Brother and Servant In Christ,

Randolph Koch

Choosing To Live Significantly

Dear Friend,

I continue to meet people even within the church who struggle with identity, significance, and purpose. So, I wanted to republish this article from several years ago with hopes it will bring encouragement to whomever reads it. I've also included a link to another post at the end which is a reminder of who you are Christ. 

Your Brother and Servant,

Randolph Koch

"Choosing To Live Significantly" By Randolph Koch

Read: John 15:5, John 15:16, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Ephesians 2:6, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 3:12, Philippians 4:13

On some level, we all want to be significant. We want to feel valued which in and of itself, there’s nothing wrong with that as long as we don't pursue it or live it out in an unhealthy way.

With this, we can often struggle with feeling insignificant or unworthy, and more. You may struggle with feeling insignificant at times as well. You are not alone...the world is full of people searching for significance and struggling with the very same things.

Unfortunately, some confuse significance with fame or popularity which it is not. They identify their worth by what they do or accomplish. In addition, some want to seek fame …the next viral video or YouTube. Some feed on how many “likes” or followers they receive on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram.

Some will also try to bring you down and make you feel that you aren’t important, worthy or worth something…but as for you...hold onto God's truth and don't believe the lies spoken to you or that you speak to yourself!

You have to shift your focus off these temporal things to God's eternal Word and specifically what He says about you and how He defines you!

You are significant… No matter what, I want you to know here and now that in Christ, The One Who gave you life in the first place and defines you…He says you are significant!

So much so that He took up the cross for you so that you might be forgiven and have salvation in Him. He loved you that much!

Again, here are some scripture encouragements (of the many and same as above) about who you are in Christ: John 15:5, John 15:16, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Ephesians 2:6, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 3:12, Philippians 4:13

Please note that NONE of these passages say anything about God operating without a specific purpose in regard to you nor do we see here that you have no worth or significance! ...Quite to the contrary…Again…You became worthy and significant through Christ!

You may feel insignificant at times but you can choose to live significantly by living the way God has commanded you to live!

God the Father sees you and says…There’s my child whom I love with a sacrificial, perfect and eternal love whom I sacrificed my Son Jesus for!

Choose to live significantly for Him my friend because you are secure, accepted and significant in Christ! Don't ever forget your worth! God gives you significance...so live it out!

In Christ Alone,

Randolph Koch

P.S. Please share this post with others to encourage them and please see the following link for further study about who you really are in Christ.  https://www.ashepherdsheart.org/2012/03/who-you-are-in-christ.html