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.