Impossible...

Jeremiah 32:17 NIV
"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."

Thank you Lord for all that you do in my life. May the words of my mouth and the deeds of my hands bring glory and honor to you.

Hold Firmly...

Hebrews 3:6 NIV
"But Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory."

Christ is declared as the faithful Son of God over God's house, the church. Faithful; being obedient to God, being available for us, being our leader and our mentor, being all that we need. And all I need to do to recieve all that Christ offers me is to hold firmly; to be steady and true, in my confidence in Christ and His glory; in His radiance in this earth, His victory over death and sin, and in His ability to make me a new man. My hope is in Christ and Him alone. To you my Lord and my God be the glory. Amen.

Hold Firmly...

Titus 1:9 NIV
"He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."

I must know scripture so that when the time is right I may use it to encourage and to refute. Lord help me to continue in my Bible readings and journaling and my prayer life. As Oswald said today "Prayer does not equip us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work." Lord to You be the glory.

His Firstfruits...

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 NIV
"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

We are called God's "firstfruits"; just as our tithe to God is our firstfruit. How important we are to God, to be His firstfruit offering, to be set apart, to share in Gods glory. And this wil only happen through "our" Gospel of Truth, through the word of God as it appears in the Bible. This is why I need to continually be in the Word, so I may hear His calling for me, to know His will for my life.

Lord help me to live my life to make You proud, to honor Your choosing of me as Your firstfruits. To You my Lord and my Savior be the Glory.

Revealed to Others...

1 Thessalonians 4:10-12, 18 NIV
"And in fact, you do love all of God's family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

Love people more and more, live a quiet life, encourage each other; these are some awesome points of wisdom. If I live this way, God says I will win the respect of others; and this might be the very thing that brings them into Gods kingdom. And my encouragement to other people, other believers and friends could possibly lift them up in their time of need, making a small difference in their outlook and attitude.

Lord, that I may be your servant, showing your love, being your encourager, and living an honorable, quiet life. Lord that you may revealed to others in my daily life. To you my Lord and my King be the glory.

Reassurance of God...

The Lord is faithful and will establish me and guard me from satan. The Lord will direct me toward His love and the patience of Christ. He will give me peace and His grace will be with me.  2 Thessalonians 3:3,5,16,18

Stand Strong...

Lord, that I may bring honor and glory to Your Name through the things I do and say. That I may continually be growing my faith and my relationship with You. That I may always be obedient to You and be able to live up to Your expectations of my life by living out each of Your purposes. That I may always be demonstrating Your love through kind words and acts to other people, always remembering them in my prayers. To You my Lord and my God be the glory.

A prayer written during my Small Group study on 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Be Devoted To One Another...

Romans 12:9-10 NIV
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."

This is difficult to do, to honor others above myself is tough. Too often I find myself in prayers for me, leaving little room for other people. "Quit praying about yourself and spend your life for the sake of others as a bondservant of Jesus. That is the true meaning of broken bread and poured out wine." - Oswald Chambers, Utmost (7/15). Jesus wants me to pray for and serve other people. That is being a humble servant of my Lord Jesus Christ. My Love must be sincere, not done out of obligation, but as a true sense of desire for other people and for my Lord.

Help me Lord to sincerely love others above myself. To truely live out of desire to express Your love. That I may be devoted to my family, my friends, and other people in prayer and in service. To humbly put them above me in my actions and in my available time. To You my Lord be the glory.

No One But You...

Lord, that I may live a "life of salvation" in preparation for Your anticipated return. That I may live in ever deepening relationship with You, that I may serve other people with the talents and life You have given me, that I may continually express Jesus and His grace to other people. That my life might be a complete expression of worship and devotion to You my Lord, my Savior, my God.

Lord, that You will provide protection of my "life of salvation" when I put on the spiritual breastplate of faith and love which covers my spiritual vital organs of character and soul against the attacks of temptation leading to sin. And when I put on the helmet of hope in salvation may it protect my eyes leading to my vision of You God, my tongue to speak love, and my mind to be in continual, deepening relationship with You my Lord (see 1 Thessalonians 5:8). "In all the world there is no one but You, dear God; there is no one but You." (Oswald 7-11).

To You my Lord and my Savior  be all the glory.

...from my reflective prayer in the Small Group study of Thessalonians.

Abound in Love....

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 (SG Bible study)

Lord, protect me from the lust of the flesh and from sexual immorality. Help me to "abound in love" for my wife and to reflect on Prov 5:18,19 - "rejoice with the wife of your youth"

Help me Lord to "abound in love" for other people. To be kind, to listen to them, and to pray for them. To invite Your Spirit to my work place to help me execute this.

That I Lord may honor You in all that I say and all that I do. To You my Lord be the glory and the honor.

On Your Behalf...

1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
Lord, thank you for this revelation from Paul's life. Help me to realize that the difficulties I face in life will benefit my character and I will grow as a result of enduring them. Help me to remember that you are always present to help me and to strengthen me.

Lord people are always watching me, please help me to remember this and to deal with my difficulties in a way that will glorify you and be a good witness to then on your behalf.

Motives in Ministry...

When opposition comes, just as Paul did, I must trust in the power of God and stay obedient to His calling. See 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-20.

Lord, help me to REFINE myself to be more accountable to You and Your guidance to me. Help me to deny my pride and to be more submissive to Your Truth. Help me to release my need to control people and things in my life that I cannot and should not control.

Lord, I want to be fully confident in Your power so that my commitment to Your Truth will be increasingly reflected in my life.

To You my Lord and my Savior be the glory in everything I say and everything I do.

My All...

Acts 21:13 NIV
"Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

To be ready to be bound and to die for the Lord Jesus. This is truely the greatest sacrifice I can give my lord. But to die might not mean to stop life, it might mean to live life, to give everything to Jesus, my time, my money, my affection, my all. I am far from being prepared to be bound for my Lord let alone to die for him. Yet to be his disciple I must. I must put everything I consider dear aside and give my all to Jesus.

My Lord, on this wonderful Sunday in the beauty of your nature, I commit to you my all. Help me to prepare to be bound for you, to be ready to die for You, to give you my all in all. Lord to you be all the glory.

To Overcome...

Acts 20:29 NIV
"I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock."

How often do I hear a good message in church or during quiet time only to set it aside in the hours thereafter. As Paul says,"after I leave savage wolves come" when I am vulnerable, I must be vigilant, I must stand strong in the world, in the face of savage wolves. Satan is lurking, he is looking for the opportunity to wreck me. But if I dwell in the nugget of truth that I recieve daily, I will be able to overcome.

Lord I need your help in the face of temptation. I need your help to keep your word strong in my heart. Spirit reign in me, flow your strength into me, so that I can be your man. To stand strong against Satan's wolves. "I can overcome anything through Him who gives me strength." To your my Lord be the glory.

Me and My House...

Acts 16:30-31 NIV
He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."

It's a simple formula, believe in the Lord and you will be saved, you and your family. Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, this passage might be considered complete, and I might be inclined to move on. But, salvation has three parts: 1) Gods complete forgiveness of all my sins, 2) life eternal with God in heaven, and 3) living a life of Gods purpose. The first two are gifts that I receive when I (and my family) become believers; the last is something that I (and my family) work out because of my gratitude and my love for Jesus as my Savior. I must continue my salvation each day I am alive; me and my household. To love God (worship) and people (fellowship), to serve and help others, to grow in my relationship to God (maturity), and to tell others of their opportunity with Jesus in the center of their life; me and my household. I must not only do this myself, I must, as the priest of my home, encourage my family to do the same.

Lord thank you for this nugget, thank you for reminding me of this special message that I would have missed if I did not write it down. Lord help me to implement a life of salvation for you, to live out your purposes for your kingdom; help me to do what you want me to do and to help my family to do the same. Through my modeling, and mentoring a purpose driven life, let my family see and develop a desire to do this as well. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." To you my Lord and my Savior be the glory.

House of Mourning...

Ecclesiastes 7:2 NIV
"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart."

From the movie "The Secret of Jonathan Sperry". Too many people die without knowing Jesus. When I am in "a house of feasting", I become insensitive to the spiritual needs of people. I get caught up in the folly of the moment; and the real need goes unnoticed. But when I go to "a house of morning" the only thing present is spiritual need; and I am reminded of what the Lord expects of me, which is to tell others of a destiny that could be theirs through Jesus Christ.

Lord I thank you for this reminder, through the movie and through my scripture reading today. I pray Lord that you will give me the courage and wisdom to speak for you. To be boldly subtle in telling of the destiny that awaits everyone through Jesus Christ. To use the movie as a possible "icebreaker", and to encourage others to speak of you as well. To you Jesus, my Lord and my Savior, be the glory.

To Be Content...

Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 NIV
I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

This is a good lesson for me. Help me to be content with what I have. Don't give me more than I need so that I fall into the trap of wanting more and missing the opportunity to enjoy what you have given me. Help me to be content. To you my Lord be the glory.

To See Others...

Acts 15:8-9, 11 NIV
"God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.  ...it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

There is no difference in Gods eyes, all who believe are saved, all who believe are equal, brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus. Sometimes it's hard to view others with equally, the poor, the sick, those that are different; especially when we view them from a distance. But when we get up close, we realize they are people just as we are, they have emotions and loves just as we do, and they may be brothers and sisters in Christ, just a we are. This is why we need to go for Jesus, to help the needy, to experience those that are different from us. God will change us when we do.

Lord, help me to honor you by honoring those that you but in my path. To see others as your children, as my brothers and sisters, or potential brothers and sisters in you.Lord, may my heart be changed fully for you, and may your kingdom be changed in some small way because of what you do through me. To you my Lord and my Savior be they glory.

Relationships...

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 NIV
"And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Fools fold their hands
and ruin themselves. Better one handful with tranquillity
than two handfuls with toil
and chasing after the wind."

Achievement can create a prideful nature, and envy can drive us to do crazy things. To put our time in the wrong area. To prioritize the wrong things. Things are not what are important. To chase after the wind. Relationships are what God sees as important. My relationship with God and with people, that is what counts and will last. When I'm envious, I am not at peace; I'm stressed because I'm trying to get something that I either don't need or that is beyond my ability. And when I do, I toil long and hard, as if chasing after the wind. But God says I must be tranquil, to be at peace, to love Him and to love people. And when I do, life will seem easier and it will be more satisfying.

Lord, help me to avoid the pitfall of envy, of achievement that leads to pride. Help me to avoid the danger of wanting too much. Help me to give my time the right perspective. To do the things that matter most to you. Lord, that I can love you and love people as you love. To deepen my relationship with you, and to develop my relationship with the people that matter most in my life. To seek out people that need your help Lord, and to provide your hands to them. To you my Lord and Savior be the glory.

Effective Speech...

Acts 14:1, 27 NIV
"At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.

On arriving there (in Antioch), they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles."

They spoke so effectively that a great many believed. Then they reported all that God had done through them. These are great words of encouragement to the ministry God expects of me. To be effective in speaking the good news of Jesus Christ does not require great knowledge or courage because God is working through me. Just speak what I know and let God do the great work. In Gods time, He will bring those I speak to into his kingdom. My job is to speak, Gods Spirit will give me the right words, and he will create the open hearts. And this God provided effective speech will also work in my day to day life. When I take God with me and let him guide my words, all will be right, all will be good.

Lord give me the courage to speak for you. To speak about Jesus to others. Let these words flow in natural conversation, let these words be appealing to those who hear. Protect me from persecution and ridicule, let those hearts that you put in front of me be open to recieve your word. And let me do this in a humble, authentic way. This for your glory my Lord and my God.

Everything for Good...

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

God uses everything for good, we may not see it in the present, but everything is made beautiful in it's time. "Consider it pure joy" when you are in the trial (James 1), because God is using it to make you better.

We do not always see what God has or is doing, "no one can fathom", but God has "set eternity on the human heart" whereby we know our destiny is with him in heaven. And everyone has this available to them, we just have to tell them.

Lord help me to live my life in a way that honors you and the things that you have done. To you Lord be the glory.

My Children...

Proverbs 29:15, 17, 21 NIV
"A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother. Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent."

I must recognize the needs of my kids and I must correct them through loving discipline. I must guide them and encourage them to contribute to their keep. When I do so out of love and with the help of the the Lord, they will grow into peaceful, delightful, servants of the Lord.

Lord, I thank you for my kids and for the wisdom you have provided me in bringing them up. I continue to need your help in the proper way to raise them. Guide me Lord so that I do the right thing, help my kids to learn your wisdom and to grow into godly, peaceful, delightful, servants that love you Lord and follow your way. To you my Lord and my God be the glory.

My Heart...

Acts 8:21 NIV
"You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God."

Simon the sorcerer tried to buy "the gift of God" with money, and Peter chastized him because his heart was not right. When my heart is not right God does not want me to serve in ministry. When I am proud, when I have selfish motives, when I take the glory for accomplishments, when I am focused on me, my heart is not right and I might do more harm than good.

Lord that I may be right with you. That I am humble, and caring for others, that I am loving and trusting in you Lord. Help me to make my heart right with you Lord. Help me to be what you want me to be and to do your work as you would have me do it.  To you Lord be the glory.

To See Gods Glory...

Acts 7:55 NIV
"But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

Stephen was full of Gods Spirit and he was able to see Gods glory and Jesus. Gods glory is around me all the time, I just need to recognize it. Everyday God is at work in me through the Holy Spirit. God grants me successes, he helps me to do the right thing, he gives me wisdom and discernment, he helps me when I'm in trouble, Gods glory is there, I just need to"see" it. And when I do, I must return the glory to him by giving him all the credit.

There is nothing that I can do without you Lord. You deserve everything. Thank you for your patience with me. Thank you Lord for giving me the chance, for trusting in me to do what you need done. May I see your glory and embrace it and realize that it was you who did it not me. That I may see your glory and return it all to you.

Face of an Angel...

Acts 6:10 NIV
"But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke."

The Bible says Stephen was a man "full of God's grace and power" and he  "performed great wonders and signs among the people." The religious leaders of the day tried to argue with Stephen. But they could not because the Spirit of God filled Stephen and gave him the wisdom of God.

Stephen was a "man of full of faith and the Holy Spirit". His power and his wisdom was not his own and he recognized that it came from God through the Holy Spirit. He was full of Gods grace and full of Gods power.

Stephen so exuded the Spirit of God that even his enemies saw it. "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." Acts 6:15. God's blessing was on Stephen because he filled himself with faith in Christ and God's Spirit. And as a result, Stephen had God's power and God's wisdom, and nothing could stand against.

Lord, that I might be full of your Spirit. To be bold for you, to speak with your wisdom, to be able to stand strong in the face of opposition. May I reflect your Spirit Lord so that others may see you, may see your "face of an angel" in the things I do and say. To you my Lord and my God be all the glory forever.

The Stone...

Acts 4:11-12, 31 NIV
"Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

Jesus is the stone rejected and crucified, becoming the cornerstone of the church. The stone that brings salvation to all who accept it. And God's plan for their salvation is through me, through believers who are willing to speak boldly for Christ.

Lord that I may be filed with your Spirit, that I may witness for you, that I may love for your purpose. Help me to see the opportunities you have put in front of me. To you my Lord, my God be the glory.

For the Glory of God...

Proverbs 25:2 NIV
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."

God wants me to keep certain matters to myself, things that may be hurtful to others, things that may drive people away from God, things that may hurt the Kingdom, things that result from my prideful nature, these matters I must conceal. And if I do keep these matters concealed, it glorifies God. But I must continue to witness for Christ, to reveal what he has done and is doing in my life. I must reveal my testimony to others for the Glory of the Lord.

Lord, help me to keep my pride in check, help me to conceal things that build me up and to reveal things that build Christ up through natural easy going talk, let my words be comfortable for others, let my words make sense and be understandable. So that you my Lord receive the glory. Use me Lord for your purpose.

His Presence...

Acts 2:28 NIV
"You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'"

Peter preached this in the first sermon after pentecost. They had just received the Holy Spirit and were speaking in everyones own language. Here, Peter quotes from Psalm 16:8, a truely amazing promise of what God will do if I am faithful to him.

When my relationship is right with God, I will know where he wants me to go and what he wants me to do. And when my relationship is right with him, I will delight in his presence, and really want to be with him in quiet time and in prayer, I hear and see him in people, experiences and my surroundings. But the only way these promises will happen for me is if I spend time with my Lord, quality time, to get to know him.

Lord that I may know you so well that I know your will and am willing to act on your desires and purposes, to affect your kingdom in some small way. Help me Lord to keep you as my priority. To you my Lord be the glory.

That You May Believe...

John 20:8, 27, 29, 31 NIV
"Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

Then he (Jesus) said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

What an incredible progression of belief... the disciples and women saw the risen Jesus and believed, Thomas touched the risen Lord and believed, Jesus blessed those who believe without seeing, and Gods words are written for us to believe and have life in his name.

Each of these had to happen for my salvation. Amazing. The Lord is risen today and is taking me with him. I am risen with him. Without seeing I believe, I know though my faith in his word that He is mine and I am his. Amazing! Lord I thank you for your grace leading to my salvation. Help me to continue strong in your word, to know you, and to remain in you. To you my God be the glory.

Finish Strong...

John 19:30 NIV
"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

It is finished. Jesus was true to his entire mission, he never gave up, always focused on his purpose - to atone for my sins. He was God in the flesh, he could accomplish anything, yet he called on God to help him through prayer. He modeled sinless perfection through his holiness, his words provided wisdom and guidance, and his acts showed true love and leadership through service and humility; and his ultimate gift was himself on this good Friday so that I may receive life eternal.

Lord, you have blessed me in so many ways, I am so very grateful. Help me to see you in all my daily activities; to remember your passion for me. And while your work was finished on the cross, the work you gave me to do is not. Help me to see this work, give me the strength to accomplish this work, and the perseverance to complete it. To finish strong, just as you finished strong. To you my Lord be the glory.

Family...

John 19:26-27 NIV
"When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."

Jesus thought and cared for his family while on the cross. And John obeyed Jesus' direction. But why did Jesus choose John to care for his mother Mary? Jesus had several other brothers, one of which (James) became the leader of the early church, certainly they were trustworthy. And John had so much to do after Jesus was gone, being one of the twelve. John and Mary both followed Jesus' direction; John took Mary into his house and May left her house to live in John's house.

I too must care for my family and follow Jesus' lead. Help me Lord to care for my family, to make my time for them a priority, especially in one on one get togethers. To love and cherish them in good times and in bad times. To you Lord be the glory.

When Dry...

Luke 23:31 NIV
"For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

Jesus said this as they lead him to the cross. God was among them in the flesh, what could be greener than that? What could be more obivious than Gods peace, truth, love available to all, and all contained in one complete package called Jesus Christ. Yet most people did not see it, if fact they were so blinded they killed him. Jesus said weep for yourselves for a time is coming when it with be dry, when it will require great faith to accept God. What will they do when it is dry? And what will it take for me to persevere when it is dry?

Lord may you and your kingdom continue to grow. May your  works continue to bring green to this dry and needy world. May I help water in some small way. Give me eyes for what you what me to see and willing hands and feet for where you want me to go and what you want me to do. To make a small difference for you Lord. To you my God be the glory.

Ready...

God called to him . . . . And he said, ’Here I am’ - Exodus 3:4

"Readiness means having a right relationship to God and having the knowledge of where we are. Jesus Christ expects to do with us just as His Father did with Him. He can put us wherever He wants, in pleasant duties or in menial ones, because our union with Him is the same as His union with the Father. “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” John 17:22. Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready - he is ready. Think of the time we waste trying to get ready once God has called! The burning bush is a symbol of everything that surrounds the person who is ready, and it is on fire with the presence of God Himself." - Oswald Chambers, Utmost for His Highest, Apr18, excerpt.

Lord that my relationship may be right with you, through my quiet time and prayer life. Help me to spend this time getting ready for what you are planning for me to do for you. To you my Lord be the glory.

What You Do...

John 21:25 NIV
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."

Jesus did many miraculous things while he was on earth and after he rose; so many that John said the world could not hold the written books. Incredible! The entire world could not hold this.

To me the world is a massive place, but even the things Jesus did for the short time while on earth could not hold them. Imagine how many things he has done since then. And how many things he continues to do today. In just my life alone he does so many wonderful things, many of which I don't even recognize.

Lord you are amazing! I thank you for the things you do in my life. You guide me, you mature me, you strengthen me, you give me wisdom and understanding, you show me love and grace, and provide me with your peace. Lord may I have eyes for what you do in my life, and may what you do in me be used to further your kingdom and your plans in some small way. To you Lord be the glory.

The Side of Truth...

John 18:37 NIV
"...the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Jesus is truth, this is what he testified to throughout his ministry. No one can get to the Father, to life eternal, without belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior. And everyone who is on the side of the truth, who believes in Jesus, will listen to his word, to his truth.

But I must do more than just listen, I must do what it says. Lord help me to see your truth, help me to accept it for my life, help me to apply it to my walk. And I know if I do, my walk will be pure, it will be honoring to you Lord. To you Lord be the glory.

Jesus' Peace...

John 20:21 NIV
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

Jesus' peace, who could ask for more! Peace from the Holy, Risen Jesus. Lord, I accept your peace, may it be your light for me and those that are around me. I joyfully go for you Jesus, guide me with your peace.

Rise! Let Us Go...

Mark 14:36, 41-42 NIV
"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Rise! Let us go! Jesus confronted his enemy and his trial head on, no complaining, no grumbling, just prayer, confirming Gods will, then forward assault. Confronting the enemy head on. Not easy to do, great courage and great love; total passion for his mission.

It is easy for me to stay comfortable, to be safe, but that is not what Jesus wants me to do. He wants me to confront my enemy, trial and burden. But the good news is I dont have to do it alone, Christ is there with me, helping me all the way. Jesus says "my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matt 11: 30. But a yoke is for two, Jesus on one side, me on the other. Then my problem is made easy. And I have to want it, to take thes yoke. And when I do, nothing can defeat me.  "No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God living within the human spirit; it creates inner invincibility" Oswald Chambers.

Lord help me to face my problems head on, lighten my trials, help me to remember that you are there to lighten my load, all I need to do is reach out for your yoke. To you Lord be all the glory.

For People...

Proverbs 22:4 NIV
"Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life."

The Lord respects humility, and this verse promises that those who are humble will be rewarded with riches, honor, and life. Maybe not in this life here on earth, but for certain in Gods kingdom, and with Gods riches.

Help me Lord to be less prideful, less selfish; help me to think more of people and their needs and less of myself. To show humility in all I do and in all I say. Help me to have your heart Lord for people. To you Lord be the glory.

Do The Right Thing...

Proverbs 21:2-3, 13, 21 NIV
"A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor."

God wants me to do the right thing. To have his heart for those in need. To love those that are poor. And my love must be demonstrated by my action. I cannot just talk about it but must put it into action.

Lord give me your wisdom. Help me to know your heart, help me to help the poor; to do the right thing. To you Lord be the  glory.

His Name...

John 17:11 NIV
"...Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one."

Jesus prayed for the protection of believers through the power of the Fathers name. His name provides our protection. Protection from danger and evil caused by satan,  surrounding me in a fallen world, protection from my sinful nature. But not just the name of the Father, the name of Jesus, the name given by the Father. The name of Jesus protects me. When I call on the name of Jesus, I can be confident that protection is mine. Whatever I need, whenever I need it, I just call on the name Jesus.

And when I depend on Jesus Christ for my protection, I will be "in" him, just as he is in the Father. We are made complete through this, complete in Christ, complete in the Father. Safe and secure, nothing to fear, just the love of Christ as I am with him and I am in him.

Lord help me to apply your name to my everyday life, to remember to come to you for help. May this be so. To you Lord almighty be the glory.

Love Is Security...

Proverbs 20:28 NIV
"Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure."

This passage speaks to what is important - Love. It is not wealth, it is not power, or control, or things that are owned; it is love and faithfulness that matter. They matter in my home, in my work place, and in my network of friends. Love from people and faithfulness are what protect and secure me and keep me safe.

But people will not show me their love and faithfulness unless I have given mine to them. I must love the people I care about and I must be faithful to the people that I love. And when I do, when I really show them true love, I too will be loved. I must have a humble nature, I must not think of myself as a"king" as this passage describes, but as a servant, showing humility to those people that I need to love.

Lord help me to accomplish this, help me to demonstrate the love of Christ to those people that matter to me. For you Lord, your kingdom, and your glory; may it be so.

Overcome the World...

John 16:33 NIV
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

There is no reason for me to worry about my worldly problems; I am in Christ and He has overcome the world and it's problems. Thank you Lord for this promise; thank you Lord for turning my problems into hope; into knowing that I have a life with you. To you my Lord be all glory honor and praise.

Remain In Me...

John 15:5, 7 NIV
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

What an incredible promise! My job is to remain in Christ (to know and understand him through the bible and through payer), and if I do remain in him, I will bear much fruit (success in things I do and say for his kingdom), and my wishes (that are of Gods will) will be done for me. Lord may you be glorified in what I do, say and think. Remain in me Lord, may your Spirit fill me with your truth and your love.

Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life

John 14:6-7, 10, 12 NIV
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

Jesus says that if I believe in him, I will be able to do greater things than the works he did. Maybe not the miracles that Jesus did, but I certainly have many opportunities to do the great work of witnessing Christ to people thereby helping them to see Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Lord, give me the eyes to see you in every opportunity, the heart to feel for those people that you bring before me, and the strength to boldly proclaim you in those situations. To you Lord be the glory.

Solid Words...

Matthew 26:33 NIV
Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."

Peter makes a bold statement here of his commitment to Jesus, something he was not ready to accomplish. He was just not as ready to do what his words claimed he would do. Just a few hours later, Peter would come under pressure about his involvement with Jesus and he would fall into self protection mode and deny that he even knew Jesus. This was the fire that changed Peter. Later, Jesus would reinstate him and Peter would witness tirelessly for Jesus.

Lord that I can have the courage to stand strong for you, to let my words be solid and that I can speak boldly for you. Let my yes be yes and my no be no.

Sift as Wheat...

Luke 22:31-32 NIV
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
To be sifted as wheat is to be tempted, to see what faith remains as wheat and what is blown off like chaff. Satan has asked permission to try Peter and the disciples here to see if their faith would fail them; just as he did with Job.
But Jesus, showing great love by calling Peter twice, prayed that his faith would not fail during the trial. And while Peter did deny Jesus three times, he did repent and used this to strengthen those around him, becoming a leader of the early church.
Lord that I may stand strong in the face of my temptations. That I may come out stronger in every trial. But I need your help Lord, I cannot do it alone. Be with me Lord, pray for me as you did for Peter, strengthen me so that I may turn back and use the victory to strengthen my family and my friends. All glory be yours Lord.

What's in a Name....

Proverbs 18:10 NIV
"The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

Jesus!
I need to "run" to the name of Jesus more often. To call on your name as my strong tower. My Protector. Whenever. Whatever. Nothing is stronger than the name of Jesus. Nothing is more blessed than the name of Jesus.  I need your help Jesus. I need your blessings Jesus. Guide me. Protect me. Comfort me. Always Jesus! Forever Jesus!
Jesus!

Wash Their Feet...

John 13:14-15 NIV
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

Lord, you have set a very high standard for me to follow, to wash the feet of my friends and the people around me; and not just my friends, but, even as you washed the feet of your betrayer, I too am to wash those of my enemies. Lord, help me to act when I have the opportunity to serve those around me, whether they are friends or not, help me to see their need and to do as you would. Help me to not feel that any act of service is below me, but to do what is needed. To those who need it. To show your love.

My Life...

John 12:25-26 NIV
"Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."

Lord,  that my life may be yours; that I might honor you fully with my words and my actions. Help me to serve you completely; to be where you are Lord; that everything I do is for you and your kingdom. Lord, when I fall, help me up; help keep me strong in my convictions and my service to you. I cannot do this without you Lord, I need your help  your guidance, and your wisdom. May I be fully in your will.

You Did for Me...

Matthew 25:34,37-40 NIV

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

Lord, I pray that I may lead this kind of life, to help those that you love. To serve your people, to be kind, to be generous, to be loving, to care just as you care. That I may know your mind about the people you want me to care for. Thank you Lord for helping me to see your truth. All glory to you Lord.

Blessed by You

Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.

Lord this is my prayer, that I am willing to commit to You everything that I am doing. Make Your plan my plan, make Your way my way. So that all that I do is blessed by You.