My Food

Jesus Tells about the Spiritual Harvest

Jesus said:

My food is to do what God wants! He is the one who sent me, and I must finish the work that he gave me to do. You may say that there are still four months until harvest time. But I tell you to look, and you will see that the fields are ripe and ready to harvest. Even now the harvest workers are receiving their reward by gathering a harvest that brings eternal life. Then everyone who planted the seed and everyone who harvests the crop will celebrate together. So the saying proves true, "Some plant the seed, and others harvest the crop." I am sending you to harvest crops in fields where others have done all the hard work. John 4:34-38

The "food" about which Jesus was speaking was his spiritual nourishment. It includes more than Bible study, prayer, and attending church. Spiritual nourishment also comes from doing God's will and helping to bring his work of salvation to completion. We are nourished not only by what we take in, but also by what we give out for God. In John 17:4, Jesus refers to completing God's work on earth.

I have brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you gave me to do.
John 17:4

A Morning Prayer

A Morning Prayer for healing:

Dear Father,

I thank you for creating me in Your image. I praise You that I am fearfully and wonderful made. I confess that You are God that heals, my Great Physican. I ask You to heal my body from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I pray that You would regenerate every bone, joint, tendon, ligament, tissue, organ, and cell of my body. This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Our praying health experience begins and ends each day with prayers of thanksgiving, prayers for healing, and prayers for petition. Try repeating this prayer daily to experience how the God of the ages will work a miracle in your life. Even if you have never prayed before, God promises that His Word will never return void, but it wil prosper in the thing for which He sends it. We can trust God's promises.

True Love

God's Will - Perfect LOVE

But I don't need to write to you about the Christian love that should be shown among God's people. For God himself has taught you to love one another. Indeed, your love is already strong toward all the Christians in all of Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we beg you to love them more and more. This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs. 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Father,

Don't ever let us disregard you or your Holy Spirit, which you give us. Give us perfect love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let this teaching of yours fill our minds. Let this love among us grow more and more, every day and in every way. May we aspire to live quietly, to mind our own affairs, and to work with our hands or our minds, so that we may be dependent on no one and command the respect of those outside your family. May that respect lead them to listen, to heed, and also to become you rchildren.

In the name of Jesus I ask,
Amen.

God is not interested in our spiritual life. He's interested in our life.
-- John Ortberg

Watch Your Tongue

Then Jesus called to the crowds and said, "Listen to what I say and try to understand. The food that you put into your mouth doesn't make you unclean and unfit to worship God. The bad words that come out of your mouth are what make you unclean. Matthew 15:10-11

Wouldn't it be nice if we could make ourselves pure simply by eating the right things? It is hard to eat the right things. But it's a lot harder for most of us to say and do the right things. We have all sorts of problems with our speech: we say too much, we gossip, we lie, we take the Lord's name in vain, we exaggerate, we distort, we slander, we wound, we curse. The list could go on and on because the tongue can get away from us. Part of the problem is that our mouths often let fly what is unredeemed in our hearts. Another part of the problem is that we don't think about what we are going to say before we speak it. Still another part of the problem is that we do think what we would say to wound, hurt, or get back at someone; then, when we are given the opportunity, we say it. Purity is an ongoing struggle. Jesus is saying don't make it so simple, so external, as just a matter of what you eat.

Father,

Forgive me for wanting a cheap, quick fix to the problems of my heart's purity. I want you to redeem my heart. So I commit today to avoid what can pollute, putrefy, and poison my heart toward you and your children, and I ask for the power of the Spirit to help me with this commmitment.

In Jesus' name I ask.
Amen.

We always thank God that you believed the message we preached. It came from him, and it isn't something made up by humans. You accepted it as God's message, and now he is working in you. 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Jesus Prays For Us

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21

Few things are more precious than knowing that Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, thought to pray for us! So often, we read the words of John 17 and study them as a prayer for his apostles in the upper room. But if we look closely at this passage, we also see that Jesus prays for us, those who believe on him because of the apostles' testimony. He wants us to be one! He wants us to live with the same unity, purpose, and character of God that he did.

If we do not, then how will the people of the world know that God sent his Son? How will they know what to believe? How will they find Jesus as their Savior?

Dear Father,

Forgive us and change us and help us see what is most important in our lives as your disciples. Break down the barriers that divide us into different religious groups and help us find unity around the things, and the One, that matter most.

In Jesus'name I ask.
Amen.

Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God.
-Edwin Keith

Burdens - Help Each Other

HELP EACH OTHER: BEARING EACH OTHERS' BURDENS

My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don't be tempted yourself. You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.

If you think you are better than others, when you really aren't, you are wrong. Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others. We each must carry our own load.

Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said.

You cannot fool God, so don't make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. Don't get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don't give up. We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.
Galatians 6:1-10

My friends, I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you! Amen. Galatians 6:18

Prayer:

Dear Father,

Fill my heart with love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. If someone is overtaken in some wrong deed, help me to assist to bring back that person, in a spirit of gentleness. Let me watch out for myself. Help all of us to bear one another's burdens. Help us not to deceive ourselves, thinking we are something when we are really nothing. Teach each of us to bear our own burdens.

In Jesus name I ask all this and that you will give me a Spirit-filled life.

Amen.

Give me a grateful spirit, a thankful heart. Help me to give thanks in everything. Help me to acknowledge and express the benefits and blessings that I have received from You and others. Protect me from a discontented heart and a murmuring tongue. -Nancy Leigh DeMoss in A Place of Quiet Rest

"One Anothers"

God's Family

There are 58 "One Anothers" in the Bible that teach us how to treat our brothers and sisters in the family of God.

In God's family we are called to love and care for our fellow members.

Love One Another
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11

Encourage One Another
Leet us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. Hebrew 10:25

Serve One Another
Serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13

Pray One For Another
Confess your sin to each other and pray for each other. James 5:16

If we walk in the light, as Gos is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

We understand what real love is when we realize that Christ gave His life for us. That means that we must give our lives for other beleivers.

Giving of yourself and putting others first isn't easy but God asks you do it because he did it first. He loves us even thought we are not perfect and his purpose for you is to do the same. Jesus wants you to love real people, not ideal people because there are no perfect people.

Real fellowship means being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus.

Grace and Freedom

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV

Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. Christ came to set us free - not free to do whatever we want because that would lead us back into slavery to our selfish desires. Rather, thanks to Christ, we are now free and able to do what was impossible before - to live unselfishly.

Grace and freedom are not a license to sin (Jude 4). In fact, sin enslaves us; sin is addictive (John 8:34). As those for whom the old person of sin has died and been buried with Jesus in baptism, we are not to let sin reign over us or become our master because we have been liberated by grace (Rom. 6:1-14). So let's seek the power of the Holy Spirit to cleanse us (Heb. 9:14) and powerfully liberate us from sin (Rom. 8:10-15). Let's use our freedom to bless and build others up. Let's use our freedom to offer our hearts and lives to the work of God!

Prayer:

Holy Father,

Thank you for freeing me from the guilt and power of sin. Please empower and transform me by your Spirit so that I can leave my sinful past behind and live a life of character and blessing in my family, in my work, in your church, and in your world.

In Jesus' name I ask.

Amen

Fix Our Eyes On Jesus

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you." John 17:1 (NIV)

John 17 is one of the most moving chapters in all the Bible. Jesus knows he is going to die. He knows he is spending his last few hours before his death with disciples who do not understand what he is about to do and why he is about to do it. Jesus has two key goals in mind as he prepares himself, and his disciples, for their life ahead without him. He wants them to be one so they can remain strong and influence the world for God. He wants what he does to bring glory to the Father.

While he faces humiliation and abandonment, his desire is to bless others. We are going to face hardship. What will be our goal? No wonder we are reminded to fix our eyes on Jesus and follow his example.

Prayer:

Precious Jesus,

I cannot thank you enough for leaving me a powerful example of how to endure life's heaviest burdens. Please make my life a blessing to others and give me courage to serve and to bless even in times that are hard.

In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.

T.G.I.F.

Thank God I'm Forgiven

Whenever we have ask God to forgive us for sin, we should ask ourselves "have I forgiven the people who have wronged me?"

The key is forgiving others is remembering how much God has forgiven you. Is it difficult for you to forgive someone who has wronged you a little when God has forgiven you so much?

Realizing God's infinite love and forgiveness can help you love and forgive others.

Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. Ephesians 4:32

Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Colossians 3:13

But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel. Have pity on others, just as your Father has pity on you. Jesus said: Don't judge others, and God won't judge you. Don't be hard on others, and God won't be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. Luke 6:35-37

If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

Examine Yourselves

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15, NIV

It's time for self-examination.

Paul's Final Advice:

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test. I hope you recognize that we have passed the test and are approved by God.

We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. We pray this, not to show that our ministry to you has been successful, but because we want you to do right even if we ourselves seem to have failed. Our responsibility is never to oppose the truth, but to stand for the truth at all times. We are glad to be weak, if you are really strong. What we pray for is your restoration to maturity.

I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won't need to deal harshly with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to build you up, not to tear you down.

Paul's Final Greetings

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Rejoice. Change your ways. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Greet each other in Christian love. All the Christians here send you their greetings.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:5-14

Dear Father,

Help me to examine myself, to test myself, to see whether I am holding to my faith. Help me to realize that Jesus Christ is in me. Help me not to do anything wrong, to do nothing against the truth. Help me stand for Christ and for what is right and true. Let my life, my attitude and my actions show constant improvement. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest upon me. May you, the God of love and peace, be near me. May the fellowship of your Holy Spirit surround me.

In Jesus name I ask.
Amen

Jesus Prays For Himself

The Prayer of Jesus

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do. And now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. John 17:1-5

From it, we learned that the world is a tremendous battleground where the forces under Satan's power and those under God's authority are at war. Jesus prayed for his disciples, including those of us who follow up today. He prayed that God would keep his chosen beleivers safe from Satan's power, setting them apart and making them pure and holy, uniting them through his truth.

How do we get eternal life? Jesus tells us clearly here - by knowing God the Father himself through his Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, when we admit our sin and turn away from it, Christ's love lives in us by the Holy Spirit.

Confess your sin..

listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! Nehemiah 1:6

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalm 32:5

But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done. Psalm 38:18

I have sworn by my own name, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to my name." Isaiah 45:23

For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Roman 10:9

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. James 5:16

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 1 John 1:9

Before Jesus came to earth, he was one with God. At this point when his mission on earth was almost finished, Jesus was asking his Father to restore him to his original place of honor and authority. Jesus resurrection and ascension - and Stephen's dying exclamation ( Acts 7:56 ) - attest that Jesus did return to his exalted at the right hand of God.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knee and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60

Stephen saw the glory of God and Jesus the Messiah standing at God's right hand.

Father's Day Prayer

Father's Day Prayer

Fathers are very special people and gifts from God. This is a special prayer for fathers.

God, bless all the fathers in the world. Guide them to be good role models and loving to all their children. Help them to be a father like You are. Give them grace and patience to handle situations in a loving way.

In Jesus name,
Amen.

Thank you for the love you've shown me.
Thank you for setting a good example for me.
Thank you for forgiving me when I did wrong.
Thank you for teaching me the lessons of life.
Thank you for helping me set goals.
Thank you for sharing in my accomplishments.
Thank you for providing for me.
Thank you for making my life easier.
Thank you for being my friend.
Thank you for caring about me.
Thank you for spending time with me.
Thank you for always being there when I need you.
Thank you for everything!

I love you, Dad!

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

In Your Prayer Life

What changes need to be made in your prayer life? How can you make worship a higher priority? Pray from your heart. With reverance.

We can never pray too much if your prayers are honest and sincere. Before you start to pray, make sure you mean what you say. It is not wrong to come to God many times with the same requests - Jesus encourages persistent prayers! But he condemns the shallow repetition of words that are not offered with a sincere heart.

Jesus said to his disciples -

When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.

Notice the order in this prayer. First, Jesus praised God then he made his requests. Praising God first put us in the right frame of mind to tell him about our needs. He made forgiveness the cornerstone of their relationship with God. God has forgiven our sins, we must now forgive those who have wronged us. Persistence in prayer overcomes our insensitivy, not God's. To practice persistence does more to change our hearts and minds than his and it helps us understand and express the intensity of our need. Persistence in prayer helps us recognize God's work.

Pray at home first. Make sure you are spending quality time alone with God daily in your own personal time of worship, prayer and fasting.. Do not allow the Church Prayer Meeting times to be your only time of prayer. Jesus warned us many times about those who love to stand before men and let their prayers be heard. Jesus called them hypocrites.

Enter the prayer room with good thoughts. Words of encouragements. Hope. Faith. Build up each other. Grumbling and complaining can set a bad tone.

Less Talking, More Praying. A prayer gathering is just a time to join together and pray. We have come together in a group to pray. Shared a few God stories filled with thanksgiving and praises. We enter the prayer's room with worship. Thanksgiving and praises. We cannot rush into the room waving our list of requests.

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead. Learn to listen. Learn to ask God to show you what to pray for.

Pray short and sweet. Most recorded prayers of Jesus were very short. If you pray many topics at once, it makes it difficult for others to focus your prayers. That way everyone has a chance to pray along with you.

Simple prayers are fine. Jesus taught us to come to God as little children. God knows our hearts. He wants us to talk to Him as a child would speak to his father.

Pray from your heart. With reverance.

Pray for God's will to be done. Not your will. Stay in His word.

Dear Lord,

I praise you that You are the God who hears and answer our prayers.Thank you that You long to be with us. Thank you for allowing us to come to You in prayer.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen

Only Jesus Knows

My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Matthew 11:27

The New Testament makes strong claims for Jesus. These claims are not just based upon the conclusions of men, but go back to several claims of Jesus. While these claims are most clearly seen in the Gospel of John (the "I Am" statements of Jesus and the emphasis on the Son knowing and doing the Father's will), they occur in the other Gospels as well. In this statement, Jesus is claiming to be the only one to really know the Father and his will. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks as one who has authority, making clear the will of God. As he leaves the earth, he does so with all authority in both the spiritual realm ("in heaven") and in the physical realm ("on earth"). The bottom line for Jesus' followers is what we do in response to Jesus as Lord. What we believe about him and who we believe him to be determine everything of lasting and eternal value in our lives.

Jesus prayed this prayer:

Then Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! Matthew 11:25-26

Dear Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus so I could know you and your will. Your love and kindness in sending him has given me confidence that when I stand before you in judgment, it will be to hear you say, "This is my child, whom I love, and in whom I am well pleased." For this hope, I offer you my praise and my life.

In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.

Nothing Should Limit Our Prayer

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25

Falsely imprisoned, Paul and Silas had been beaten and locked in prison. Under such horrible condition, they managed to praise God in hymns and pray to their Father in Heaven. Under this kind of pressure, their faith caught the attention of the other prisoners who listened to them. We need to be reminded that over the years of Christian witness, some of the most effective times of evangelism happened because Christians remained faithful and joyous people despite persecution and harassment. Nothing should limit our prayer and praise. God will use them to reach the hearts of those in the most difficult of places.

When we praise God we are blessed. In praise, God begins to soften our hearts to show us more about His nature. In prayer, God begins to mold our hearts like His. In prayer He reveals Himself to us.

Spend time praising Him. Praise God for all the blessings He had poured out on you and your Church.

For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song. Zephaniah 3:17

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16

Dear Lord,

I pray that you will make me a loving, respected, and forceful witness for Jesus. I ask this not so that I can boast, but so that others can more fully know your grace and come to Jesus to be saved. Thank you for your daily blessings.

In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.

Blessed Jesus

He is your God, the one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done mighty miracles that you yourselves have seen. Deuteronomy 10:21

BLESSED JESUS
I love this song. It was a joy for me to sing this song, in sign language, for the deaf ministry www.fxcc.org/deaf yesterday morning. I listened to this song
approximately ten times Saturday night with my BOSE headphone on. God Rocks! Jesus died for YOU and ME! This song is on ZOE DESPERATE cd.
http://zoegroup.faithsite.com/

Blessed Jesus, come to me.
Soothe my soul with rays of peace.
As I look to You alone.
Fill me with Your love

Mountains high or valleys low.
You will never let me go.
By Your fountain let me drink.
Fill my thirsty soul.

Glorious, marvelous.
Grace that rescued me.
Holy, worthy is the Lamb.
Who died for me.

Blessed Jesus, come to me.
As I fall down at Your feet.
Let me touch Your nail-scarred hands.
Jesus I would see.

Glorious, marvelous.
Grace that rescued me.
Holy, worthy is the Lamb.
Who died for me.

Holy, worthy,
Holy, worthy,
Holy, worthy,
Holy, worthy,

Holy, worthy,
Is the Lamb who died for me.

Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! His greatness is beyond discovery! Psalms 145:3

I will call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:4

How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Cast All Your Anxiety

Cast all your anxiety on Him!

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

Someone asks you how you're doing. At first, they seem interested but as you begin to share the burdens of your heart, you begin to realize that they are not really listening and are not really interested. They're just being polite. Most people have so many burdens they simply don't know what to do with more.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

In his kindness God called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power is his forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11

God's Thoughts On Loving Moms

Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you. Exodus 20:12

Each of you must show respect for your mother and father, and you must always observe my Sabbath days of rest, for I, the LORD, am your God. Leviticus 19:3

Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are a public disgrace and an embarrassment. Proverbs 19:26

Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 19:19

Honor your father and mother. This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. Ephesians 6:2

The church should care for any widow who has no one else to care for her. 1 Timothy 5:3

Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us. James 1:27

God Wants Us To Come Before Him

God wants us to come before Him in prayer.

"Serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

God wants us to come before Him in prayer. He has promised to hear and respond when we do so.

Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

God of the universe has given us the amazing privilege and authority of cooperation with God in the accomplishment of God's purposes on earth through PRAYER. This is an important principle to remember when we gather to pray.

Jesus promises in Matthew 21:22, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Ask God to give you a heart of prayer. Pray for God to make your church His House of Prayer for all nations. Pray for God to begin drawing everyone at your church closer to God through prayer.

Pray for every member of your church to have a strong faith in God.
Pray for clean heands and pure hearts.
Pray that you would not be double-minded.
Pray for God to provide His perfect peace and strength to His children who are being beaten and tortured in prison because of their faith in Jesus.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

God Offers Comfort To All

GOD OF COMFORT

If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15

All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God's comfort.

I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us. He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many will give thanks to God because so many people's prayers for our safety have been answered. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you his grace and peace.
2 Corinthians 1:2

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. Ephesians 6:22

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace 2 Thessalonians 2:16

Dear God of Comfort,

You are the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Thank you that our suffering is not meaningless, but is for the comfort and salvation of others. Thank you for a hope that cannot be shaken. Jesus has taught to besiege you with constant prayer. Thank you for your Son, Jesus.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Fear Only God

Fear ( RESPECT ) Him

If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15

Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. Deuteronomy 13:4

Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:28-31

No one will be able to stand against you, for the LORD your God will send fear and dread ahead of you, as he promised you, wherever you go in the whole land. Deuteronomy 11:25

Don't fear people. The only thing they can destroy is our physical life. God will judge and he can take from us our eternal life. God has no desire to condemn. His desire is to redeem and save. If he knows each sparrow and each hair on our heads, don't you know that he cares for us! God is not going to let the wicked one snatch us from his love or grace. A wicked person can take our physical lives, but he cannot strip from us our relationship with God. Our faith is in God. Since our lives are glued to Jesus, then our future is glued to the resurrected Lord as well.

Show your fear of God by treating the deaf with respect and by not taking advantage of the blind. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:14

No one will be able to stand against you, for the LORD your God will send fear and dread ahead of you, as he promised you, wherever you go in the whole land.
Deuteronomy 11:25

Mother's Prayer

A MOTHER'S PRAYER

Dear Lord,

It's such a hectic day, with little time to stop and pray. For Life's been anything but calm, since You called me to be a mom. Running errands, matching socks, building dreams with matching blocks, cooking, cleaning and finding shoes and other stuff that children lose. Fitting lids on bottled bugs, wiping tears and giving hugs. A stack of last week's mail to read. So where's the quiet time I need? Yet, when I steal a moment, Lord, just at the sink or ironing board. To ask the blessings of Your grace, I see then, in my small one's face, that You have blessed me all the while and I stop to kiss... That precious smile.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you.

In My Cardio...

Cardio - HEART!

Christ In My Heart.

Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message. And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly believe it—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me—that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles. After that, he was seen by more than five hundred of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by now. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, I saw him, too, long after the others, as though I had been born at the wrong time. For I am the least of all the apostles, and I am not worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted the church of God. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach. The important thing is that you believed what we preached to you.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11

"I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again". John 11:25

Dear Lord,

Thank you that Christ's revelation of himself within my soul as Lord of my life and as the living Spirit of truth and holiness testifies that he is not dead but alive forevermore. Thank you that he lives in my heart. By your grace, and by my faith in what you did, I am what I am. The resurrection is preached and I believe it.

Thank you.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen

Twelve Men

Just 12 Men

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter's brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James's brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the Zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Matthew 10:1-4

What an interesting and amazing group to choose if your goal is to forever change the world. Twelve men who, because of Jesus' life and resurrection and the power of the Spirit, forever changed the history of our planet. We have such a great temptation to offer honor to these men because of the good they did. While we must be grateful of those who were faithful and paid the ultimate price for their discipleship, we must also realize that the glory of their service is found in their Master.

What makes them special is that Jesus called them and gave them authority to do great works to bless others. I wonder what he wants to do with us? I wonder what role he wants us to play in his great work of redemption?

The Need for Workers

He said to his disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields." Matthew 9:37-38

COME-Be-My-Disciple
http://denniscesone.blogspot.com/2005/04/come-be-my-disciple.html

Dear Lord,

Please give me the heart to follow Jesus, the faith to expect his great works to be done through me. Allow me to give Him all the glory for what happens that is good. Thank you, Father, for your love and everlasting grace.

In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.

In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart. -John Bunyan

Friendship

Friendship with the LORD is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant. Psalms 25:14

God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9

http://marklowenstein.blogspot.com/2005/04/friend-that-stays.html
Mark, thanks for your BLOG on Friend-That-Stays!

There is more to friendship than just having fun.
A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17

Friends knows the importance of friendship and the responsibility that goes along with having a friend. Friends aren't just for doing fun things. Friends are there to help when you need them and need help themselves sometimes, too. Jesus teaches to care for others more than you care for yourself and the love and caring that you share with friends.

What kind of friend are you? There is a difference between knowing someone well and being a true friend. The greatest evidence of genuine friendship is loyality ( loving at all time ) and being available to help in times of distress or personal struggles. Too many people are fair-weather friends. They stick around when the friendship helps them and leave when they are not getting anything out of the relationship. Think of your friends and your loyality to them. Be the kind of true friend the Bible encourages.

The more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others. God gives us spiritual gifts to our loves on earth in order to build up, serve, and strengthen fellow Christians.

Examine Yourself

Examine yourself during the Lord's Supper.

And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's. 1 Corinthians 11:1

So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

Paul gave specific instructions on how the Lord's Supper should be observed:

We should take the Lord's Supper thoughtfully because we are proclaiming that Christ died for our sins. We should take it worthly, with due reverence, and respect. We should examine ourselves for any unconfessed sins or resentful attitude. In reality, no one is worthy to take the Lord's Supper. We are sinners saved by grace. That is why Paul wants us to observe the Lord's Supper with respect and thoughtfulness.

Remember, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

When Paul said unworthy manner, he was referring to church members who were rushing into without thinking of it's meaning.

Father, thank you for leaving us a reminder of Jesus's sacrifice, his life-giving grace, and our responsibility to keep his memory and ministry alive as his Body, the Church. Thank you so much for Jesus. Thank you for blessing me with a spiritual meal which reminds me and proclaims again that Jesus died, offering his body and blood as the sacrifice for my sins.

In Jesus name,
Amen.

Remember Jesus! Remember his great sacrifice and his imcomparable love for you!

GOD'S MISSION

God has a MISSION for you in the world. You were made for a MISSION.

Jesus prayed to his Father:

In the same way that You gave Me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.
John 17:18

Through Christ God has made peace between us and Himself and He gave us the work of telling everyone the peace we can have with Him. So we have been sent to speak for Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:19-20

If you want God's blessing and power on your life, you must care about what God cares about most. The biggest concern of God's heart is bringing his lost children back home to Him.

The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me, to tell people the good news about His grace.
Acts 20:24

Our mission on earth is to be ambassadors for God. God loves people so much that he has sent us to represent Him to those who do not know him. This is your mission to the world.

God created you to have a ministry in the church and a mission in the world. Both are urgent! Fulfilling your mission in the world is called Evangelism. Once you become part of God's family it is your mission to tell others the Good News about Jesus.

Through Christ, all the kindness of God has been poured out upon us and now He is sending us out around the world to tell all people everywhere the great things God has done so they too, will beleive and obey Him.
Romans 1:5

Come, Be My Disciple...

Authority

As Jesus was going down the road, he saw Matthew sitting at his tax-collection booth. "Come, be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9

As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax-collection booth. "Come, be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him. Mark 2:14

If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26

I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins." Luke 5:24

Jesus have the authority to forgive sins. He has the authority to command sinners to follow and they follow. They respond with a change of heart and behavior. An example, Matthew the tax collector - tax collectors in Jesus day were renown for using their position for personal gain and were associated with traitors who sold out to the Roman occupiers. He is a great witness that Jesus cares for all and goes in search of all. He is a great reminder that redemptive love allows no cultural and social barriers to love.

Matthew's response is the great reminder that many sinners are looking for a Savior. All they need is someone to show them how to get him.

Prayer:
Dear Father,

Thank you for coming to this world to save sinners. Thank you for your son, Jesus. I thank you for the grace and mercy you've given to me. Please help me be more gracious to others and come closer to your grace and forgiveness.

In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.

Real Friends

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Take heart, son! Your sins are forgiven." "Blasphemy! This man talks like he is God!" some of the teachers of religious law said among themselves. Matthew 9:1-3

Dear brothers and sisters, I love you and long to see you, for you are my joy and the reward for my work. So please stay true to the Lord, my dear friends. Philippians 4:1-9

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. Roman 5:2

Real friends are friends that help us find Jesus and let him minister to our needs and full of obstacles. Like the unnamed friends in this story, we must come to realize that the best thing we can do for a friend is help that friend lead to Jesus. Our faith can make a huge difference in the lives of those closest to us. What's so amazing about Jesus is that he ministers to our real need, not just our apparent need. The key is seeking him, and helping others find him. He'll do the rest, working his will in our lives if we're truly willing to let him take control of our own. Of course, he will work on what we most need, not necessarily what we most want. Unfortunately, there will always be those who will criticize us, along with Jesus, for doing his work. "It doesn't fit the way things are normally done," they would accuse. "Exactly," I imagine Jesus saying, "something needs to be done differently enough to be truly redemptive. That's why I came!"

It is written to Timothy, my true child in the faith. May God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. 1 Timothy 1:2

Prayer:

Dear Father,
I surrender to you all of my life. I confess that there are parts of my life and my heart that I sometimes try to keep hidden from you. But this story of Jesus reminds me that the only person I'm fooling and hurting is myself. Heal what is broken in me. Take a look at it all, and humble me gently and anew me by your salvation grace. I thank you for being present to comfort, protect, lead and empower me to face each situation with confidence. Because you are with me, I know I will have all I need to live victoriously for you until the day I go to share with you in your glory.

In Jesus' name.
Amen.

Praise God for His Holy Spirit

According to the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit, sent by God, is the divine principle of activity in the world. For Christians the Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity, which is three aspects of God, consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit comforts us. Jesus called Him the Comforter.
But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you. John 14:26 How wonderful that God loves us enough to send His Spirit to comfort us.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of wrongdoing. He convicts us of wrongdoing but he does not condemn us for it. There is a great difference. Once leads to restoration and the other leads to defeat. "When He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement." The Spirit will come and show the people of this world the truth about sin and God's justice and the judgment. John 16:8

The Holy Spirit enables us to obey God. It is impossible to obey God in all things without the enablement of the Holy Spirit. "We have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter." But the Law no longer rules over us. We are like dead people, and it cannot have any power over us. Now we can serve God in a new way by obeying his Spirit, and not in the old way by obeying the written Law. Romans 7:6

The Holy Spirit guides us. We cannot get to where we need to go without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak and He will tell you things to come." The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. John 16:13

The Holy Spirit teaches us. What the Holy Spirit teaches us is far beyond what we can learn from man. "The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name. He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you. John 14:26

There is so much to be grateful for which regard to the Holy Spirit and praise to God for GIVING US His Spirit. Praise God everyday for the Holy Spirit's appearance in your life.

Ask yourself, "what would my life be like without the Holy Spirit?"

Jesus,

Thank you for sending me the Comforter and Helper to teach and guide me everyday. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that You enable me to do what I could never do on my own. I praise you for the wisdom, revelation and knowledge that You communicate to me. I love You and the joy You bring into my life.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Worship & Trust

The Lord is pleased with those who worship Him and trust His love. Psalm 147:11

WORSHIP is coming to God and inviting His presence to dwell with you in greater measure than ever before.

When you love God, you want to express it. That is called Worship. Worship is far more than praying or singing in church. You worship when you trust God completely; love Him supremely; obey Him wholeheartedly, thank Him and praise Him continually. Anytime you bring pleasure to God, you are worshipping Him! Worship is the first purpose of your life!

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever. Psalm 138:8

Your most imtimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days when your heart is aching, when you feel rejected, when you are out of choices, when the pain is great, and you turn to God alone. The deepest level of worship is PRAISING God in spite of pain, trusting God during times of trouble and loving God when He seems apart.

Why does God uses our weakness? Because when He does, he gets all the glory. When God uses you in spite of your weakness, it gives people hope. They realize "God could use me too." Your weakness is not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through you.

If God made you to love you and He values you enough to keep you with Him for eternity, what greater importance could you have?

So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us. I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Romans 12:1

But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. John 4:23

Jesus is Lord.

Life Changing PRAYER

Regardless of your age, the rest of your life can be the best of your life if you start living on purpose today.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Roman 8:28

The purpose of my instruction is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

Father,

More than anything else I want to live for you and the five purposes that you created me to fulfill.

I want to become like Jesus in the way I think and feel and act.

I want to use the shape you have given me for a ministry to other beleivers in the Body of Christ.

I want to be used to build the fellowship of your family, the church.

I want my life to bring you pleasure as I live a lifestyle of worship.

I want to fulfill my mission in the world by telling others about your love. Help me to reach one more for Jesus. Help me to pass on the message of your purposes to others.

David...served the purpose of God in his generation. Acts 13:36

God called David "a man after my own heart". He dedicated his life to fulfilling God's purpose on earth. Imagine it chiseled on your tombstone: You served God's purpose in your generation! It's my prayer that people will be able to say that about you.

Dear Lord,

I want to serve your purposes in my generation so that one day I may hear you say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

In Jesus' name,
Amen

MEDITATIONS on the Purpose-Driven Life By Rick Warren

Jesus Emphasize Three Things

So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. Matthew 6:31-33

What's most important to you? Jesus emphasizes all throughout his ministry that three things are of supreme importance:

1) Loving God with all our heart.
2) Loving our neighbor.
3) Seek after God's Kingdom.

If we do those things, everything else will fall into place. The hand of the Creator will be there helping each thing find its proper place. He knows what we need. He has a plan for our lives. He will meet our needs. Does this mean things will be easy or always go well for us? No. But God does assure his Kingdom seekers that we will ultimately get what we seek; we will share with the King in his Kingdom in all of his glory. In seeking after Kingdom values, we will bless those we love, we will have influence on those around us, and we will have all that we really need in life.

Dear Father,

Please help me keep my eyes focused on your Kingdom, my heart centered on you, my mind brighten by your Word, and my spirit empowered and cleansed by your Spirit. Father, please forgive me when I am distracted by things that don't really matter. Please bless me as I make your Kingdom and your righteousness my passion.

In Jesus' name,
Amen

Don't Worry About Everyday LIfe

So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Matthew 6:25-26

What allows you to go to bed at night and not worry about tomorrow? Jesus does not want us overly concerned with things that are not of ultimate value to God. In fact, he wants us to know that we are of ultimate value to our Father, so we can trust him for the basics. We should not be overly troubled with the basic needs of life. This does not mean we are to be irresponsible or freeloaders, it does mean that we should develop our sense of values so that the focus of our life is not on material needs. As God has declared us of ultimate value by sending his Son to redeem us, we commit to pursue what is of ultimate value -- the Father and his Kingdom. When we do that, the necessities will fall into place.

Need evidence? Want proof? Look at the birds which regularly receive God's care and we are worth a whole lot more to him than they are!

Prayer..
Father,
You have poured your blessings into my life so richly. Forgive me when I worry about things that are not important, especially the material things that distract me. I do believe You will provide all I need as I seek your will, your face, and your Kingdom. Pray your name will always be holy!

In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.

Jesus' Model Prayer

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left {the house,} and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Mark 1:35

It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." Luke 11:1

Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Give us our food for today and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
Matthew 6:9-13

This is a short guide for disciples on how to pray. The prayer easily divides into two parts:

First, we recognize the enormous greatness of God, and then we recognize our dependency upon him. God is our Father whom we can approach freely as Father, while at the same time revering his holiness.

The second three acknowledge our need for nourishment, forgiveness, and strength to face the rigors of daily spiritual and physical life.

Bottom line, prayer doesn't need to be fluent, but worshipful of God, repentant before God, and dependent upon God while approaching him with confidence as children of God.

Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him. Colossians 3:17

Dear Lord,

May my life be used in your service to accomplish your will. I trust you to fill my daily needs as I depend upon your mercy and grace to forgive me and empower me to forgive.

In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38

Seeking The Father In PRAYER

Seeking the Father "And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you." Matthew 6:5-6

Jesus is reminding us that God has sent us an invitation to visit with him in prayer. Prayer is about developing a relationship and dependency upon God as Father.

In almost every place you go and visit with Christians, there is a deep, underlying conviction: Our walk with the Lord, our life of discipleship, our power over sin, and our love for God would all be greatly enhanced with more time in prayer. Without realizing it, a culture obsessed with privacy finds its most intimate and private gift, prayer, lived out in public more than in private.
Prayer is about developing a relationship and dependency upon God as Father, not about being seen. To give up that for the approval of the crowd is not only shameful, Jesus says it's damning.

Brothers and sisters, when we get together to pray, do not let it become more of a "gossip/critic arena" rather than a "discipline and solemn time of prayer to God". We should not be looking for something "interesting" instead of a feeling of coming into the "throne room of God" where we can awesomely pray to Him!

Please read Mark Lowenstein's IMMEASURABLE PROPORTIONS.
How often do we kneel before God in prayer for His church? To kneel before God shows your humility before God.
http://marklowenstein.blogspot.com/2005/03/immeasurable-proportions.html

Thank you, Mark!

My House Will Be Called A House of Prayer for All Nations. Isaiah 56:7
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16-18

PRAYER:
Father,
I want to know you and experience your attending presence. Forgive me for the times I have prayed in ways that drew attention to me instead of focusing on my relationship with you. Time in your presence is such a gift! Thank you. Thank you for hearing me. Thank you for giving me such an awesome gift. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who intercedes for me when I pray. Thank you that I can pray with confidence knowing that I will be heard because of the mighty name of Jesus, through whom I pray.

Amen.

Jesus Teaches His Disciples About Prayer

Notice the order in this prayer. First, Jesus praised God, then he made his requests. Praising God first put us in the right frame of mind to tell him about our needs. Too often our prayers are more like shopping lists than conversations.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, " When you pray, say:

"Father, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation." Luke 11:1-4

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he made forgiveness the cornerstone of their relationship with God. God has forgiven our sins. We must now forgive those who have wronged us. To remain unforgiving shows we have not understood that we ourselves deeply need to be forgiven. Think of some people who have wronged you. Have you forgiven them? How will God deal with you if he treats you as you treat others?

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. Mark 11:25

Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Persistence in prayer overcomes our insensitivity, not God's. To practice persistence does more to change our hearts and minds than his and it helps us understand and express the intensity of our needs. Persistence in prayer helps us recognize God's work.

"Ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened." Keep Praying! - Matthew 7:7-8

We cannot bear sin - when it is near us, we feel like a wretchchained to a rotting carcass; we groan to be free of the hatefulthing. -- C. H. Spurgeon

Living In LOVE

Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Amen, Mark Lowenstein. http://marklowenstein.blogspot.com/

Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.

If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Roman 12:9-15

If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen?
1 John 4:20

But anyone who does not love does not know God – for God is love.
1 John 4:8

Live in such a way that God's love can bless you as you wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you.
Jude 1:21

Prayer:
Dear precious Father,

Let my love be genuine for everyone in heaven and on earth. Help me hate what is evil at all times and everywhere. Help me focus onto what is good. May I rejoice in hope and be patient in tribulation. Let me be constant in prayer. May I contribute to the needs of your holy people. Help me be very hospitable. Lord, help me to bless those who persecute me and help me to bless them, not to curse in return.

Jesus is Lord,
Amen

God Is LOVE

Jesus said: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35

Question: If this is not how we are known, when will we start?

Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-11

Question: Is this how we love?

We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:16-21

PRAYER:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all the people ( mom, dad, wife Cindi, daughter Kayla, Fairfax Church of Christ brothers and sisters, Mark Lowenstein - deaf minister at Fairfax, Frederick Church of Christ brothers and sisters, Dirk Albrecht - deaf minister at Frederick, our Heavenly Father, and His only son Jesus) you have bless me with love. Thank you for the blessings you have provided me. They have blessed my life in so many ways, so I'm asking you now to bless their lives with your grace, power, and Spirit.

In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.

Ten Things To Do When You're In A Battle

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
Philo of Alexandria

The devil hates it when we worship the Lord!

I understand more about the weapons God has given us to fight, resist, and defeat the devil. The greatest weapons are God's Word, prayer, praise, and worship. The Word says to submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

God blesses us with His presence when we worship Him and in His presence we are kept safe.

God says to be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that the same suffering are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9

One of the best examples of the power praising God when the enemy comes against us was when King Jephoshaphat found that there were enormous numbers of enemy soldiers gathered against him. He was afraid but he sought God and called his people to fast. He said to God, "In Your hand there is not power and might so that no one is able to withstand You?" 2 Chronicles 20:6

And the Lord spoke to Jephoshaphat one of the greatest promises of the Bible: "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for this battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord who is with you. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you. 2 Chronicles 20:15-18

The battle is not ours, it is the Lord's!

Our eyes are on You, Lord!

1) Stop everything and worship God!

2) Praise Him for already defeating your enemy.

3) Thank Him for fighting the battle for you.

4) Ask God if there is anything He wants you to do that you are not doing.

5) Fast and pray.

6) Declare your dependence upon Him.

7) Recognize that the battle is not yours, but the Lord's.

8) Position yourself in the right place before God.

9) Refuse to have fear.

10) Quiet your soul in worship and watch God save you.

The Lord instructs us to put on the whole armor of God and having done all, to stand strong. Ephesians 6:13

Lord,
I praise You as my Deliverer and thank you that You will deliver me from my enemies. Thank you, Lord, that my enemies will fall and perish at Your presence ( Psalm 9:3 ). And when the battle is over, I will be able to say that this was the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in my eyes. ( Psalm 118:23 )

Jesus is Lord,
Amen.

JESUS Taught Us How To Pray

When Jesus taught us how to pray, He told us to first establish our relationship with God as our heavenly Father, and then praise and exalt His name. He said to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Luke 11:2

And He said, "When you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly". Matthew 6:6

As a child of God, we have privileges that other people don't have. We have become a large part of a large family. We have a special place to live for eternity. We receive many wonderful blessings and gifts. We have amazing inheritance. God says that the thoughts He thinks toward us are "of peace and not of evil" to give us "a future and a hope". Jeremiah 29:11

We love and acknowledge Him as our Father is living by His rules. One of His rules is that we honor Him with worship and praise. That is also the way we come to know Him better. The unconditional love of your heavenly Father is something you need never live without. Your heavenly Father is waiting to hear from you.

I praise and honor You as my Father God and give thanks always for all things, especially Your Father's love. Esphesians 5:20