Pizza Notes of Encouragement for the young and older. Order up 3 slices please:

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We need comfort food today.

Pizza notes are nuggets of truth from God’s Word to help nourish the young, old, and older soul with a energizing hope and everlasting good news.

#1) Pizza Note of Encouragement for Today:

Let’s get healthy in our thinking. We know that bad eating habits will ruin health and vitality of young and old alike, but bad thinking habits do the same.

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When tempted to dwell on bad reports, hurts of others, etc.,

let’s focus on good things. God asks us to do this in Philippians 4:8,

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,  . . . noble, . . . just, . . . pure, lovely, . . .

if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

God wants the best for us. If we have trouble thinking of a good theme, He urges us to taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8-10).

Cast all your cares on Him, 1 Peter 5:7. He’s God, we’re not. Then, look up.

God sets His glory in the heavens and we witness it with sunrise and glorious sunset: In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
    It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course
Psalm 19:4,5.

The heavens speak.

The oceans roar.

The mountains boldly stand.

The Bible tells us, as well, that through the praises of children, He establishes strength: From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger Psalm 8:2.

We need to not only believe in the Lord, we were created to worship Him.

Praises to God from the lips of children and infants will silence the enemies of God.

Praises to God, from all the ages in between, . . . changes things, most of all, our outlook, countenance, and hope.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul
.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple
Psalm 19:7

The decrees of the Lord . . . are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold
Psalm 19:9,10.

Taste and see, God cares for each of us. What’s our response?

 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds
Psalm 9:1.

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Pizza Note #2
When loss leaves a child without appetite, there is a song, a lullaby, that stirs waters inside: “Jesus loves me this I know . . . “

God loves. He’s a giver. But we live in a broken world.

The enemy of God wants me to think that God only takes away. But that’s not true.

The Bible reminds us that God gave to me, (and every human being on this earth), His only Son, Jesus.
He took my burden of sin, (and the sins of the entire world), upon Himself, and nailed them to the cross.

I believe, that “whosoever believes in Him” never dies.

Let’s believe God greater today, even in heartache, and sing a beloved song: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life John 3:16.

God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him John 3:17.

#2) Pizza Note of good news: God’s eye is on you, and me, and everyone.

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We can’t see Him, but He sees us.
He’s spirit. God doesn’t have a body. He’s everywhere, all at the same time. The Bible tells us so.
In Psalm 139, the Bible reminds us that He knows when we sit down, stand, sleep, and He hears our thoughts and our words before we speak them.
God sees and God knows . . . everything. He’s Omniscient.


I hope this Pizza Note makes us hungry to read Psalm 139. Take a few minutes to read aloud and let God’s Word speak.

I didn’t know God when I was young, but I believed in Him because of the natural beauty around me. But I wanted to know Him more. As time went on, I realized I could know Him by reading His Word.
The Bible tells us that His eyes watch us grow before we’re born. He knows everything about us.
God is love. His thoughts towards us are precious.
God can have a one-on-one with me and you, and anyone who seeks Him in spirit and truth Psalm 139.

God isn’t who we make Him to be, He is Who He is.

He’s Holy. He’s righteous in all His ways.
We aren’t. God knows we need help, (He sees and hears everything!) He sent His Son Jesus because He knows we need forgiveness and healing.
Perhaps the prayer at the end will become our morning and evening portion:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139:22-24.

The complete Psalm 139:

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
 For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.
Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

 I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.

 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Author: Toni Rypkema

I'm a believer in Jesus. Because of this, I am married to a wonderful husband and the mom of a large family. For those who have battled cancer, or any other tragedy or disease, you might understand, I had a choice to get better or bitter. I chose to give thanks to Jesus for my every breath. For that reason alone, wanting to proclaim His goodness, do I write - Toni