Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Seek Him With A Grateful Heart

     If you find yourself reading this blog today, you may either love Jesus or are seeking Jesus. If you seek Him you will find Him.
                                                                                               
Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6

     Seek and find Him. He will change your life. He transforms the wounded heart. He will lavish you with love. He will forgive you and lift you up. Come to Him with a grateful heart. Jesus changes everything.

Father,
We are grateful for so much. Most of all we thank You for Your Son, Jesus, for His sacrifice, for His unending love and for His transforming power to guide us through life into heaven. Remind us to be grateful, not only on Thanksgiving, but every single day of our lives.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Happy Thanksgiving! See you on Tuesday, Decembe

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Gratitude in Forgiveness

     I am grateful for the forgiveness of Jesus. He has forgiven us, as believers, from past, present and future sins. They are nailed to the cross, each one of them. What a gift! My small, but extended family has a history of disagreements, misunderstandings, unresolved issues, confusion and even hostility.

     Maybe your family gets together with the proverbial “elephant in the room.”  We are hosting a get-together this year and, with much prayer, I believe everyone will be there. I have asked that we place the past in the past, understand we have all make mistakes and move on in forgiveness.

     We’ll see how it goes. Without Christ it is difficult to let our hurts and worries rest with Him. It may be impossible to resolve and let go of past deep hurts without Him. My deepest and most abiding prayer is for everyone to meet Jesus and to accept Him as Savior. He is the answer. And my prayer for all of us, including you and your family, is for peace-filled, tummy-filled, gatherings this season.

Father,
I ask for Your deep love to saturate all of our family gatherings this year. I pray Your Holy Spiritwill invade our homes and that many would look to You. When we understand Your forgiveness and Your love for us, we can extend it to others, even those who have hurt us.
In Jesus name,

Amen

Monday, November 23, 2015

Friendly Gratitude

     I pray you have some close friends, those you trust, those that build you up and don’t leave at the first sign of trouble, those that make you laugh and hold you accountable. Let’s take a peek at just what the Bible says about friendship and let’s be grateful.

A friend loves at all times…Proverbs 17:17a

     The Bibles values friendship. Do you have friends you love no matter what? We all make mistakes and say the wrong things. We all suffer through so much. A good friend doesn’t necessarily have all of the right answers. Often it is just a listening ear, a hug, an understanding heart with no judgment. They bring the fragrance of life.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Proverbs 27:9

Father,
Give us good friends to love and to love us back. Give us friends with wisdom and with heartfelt advice. This week as we bring our thankfulness to You, we thank you for good friends.
In Jesus name,
Amen


Friday, November 20, 2015

Evil vs. Good

     The Bible tells us, in the last days evil will be called good and good evil. God is pure and holy, blameless and true. Our culture is filled with evil, but our culture calls it good. If it feels good do it. Lust, sexual immorality, brawls and violence, shootings and anger, drugs and porn, all permeate our society. None of it is pleasing to our God.

     The Bible tells us what to think about. If we spend more time in the world than with our God, which voices will speak the loudest? Listen to these words, first about what will be happening before Jesus returns.

But mark this; there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God-having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

     Quite a list, isn’t it? We want to believe things will get better. Tolerate everything and let everyone do their own thing. The Bible is clear. Evil has to run its course. The times will get worse before Jesus returns. But, never forget, light shines brightest in the darkness. And think on these things.

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Philippians 4:8

     Focus on Jesus and let him transform your life into something admirable. He changes everything.
Lord,
Keep us from becoming frightened or filled with doubt. You knew the end of the story before you created the earth and man. Change our hearts and our minds so that they may be filled with what pleases You and not the world around us. Help us to be pure, lovely and admirable in Your sight.
Amen


Thursday, November 19, 2015

Pray, Go, Tell

     Never underestimate the power of prayer. We have a hunger to save lost souls. The Bible is clear. There is a heaven and a hell. Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone in Scripture. Our souls will live forever in one place or the other and the choice is ours.  Jesus tells us not to be afraid, even of death.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Matthew 10:28

     Pray for others. Look for ways to share your faith. Watch for opportunities Jesus places in your life. God maneuvers the right people to fill in for Him at just the right time. He might choose you and use you today. You have a testimony. You have a story. It is yours to share.

Jesus,
Give us a chance to save others from hell. You are the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through You. Those are Your Words. Give us courage in these dark days.

Amen

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Confess and Believe

     Have you confessed the hope you have in Christ? Here is a promise for you and me.

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

     Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart. So simple and we make it so complicated. Open your heart and seek Him. He is standing at the door of your heart. If someone you know wants to receive Christ, ask them to pray after you:

Dear Jesus,
I believe in my heart that you came to earth, you died for our sins, you were buried and rose again from the dead. Forgive me, Lord, for anything I have done against You. I receive you now as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life so I may follow You.
Amen


     That’s all it takes and can you imagine the wonder of helping someone get to heaven? What a privilege. What an honor to bring glory to God. Amen!

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Good News

     What is the Gospel message? If someone asked you how to receive Jesus would you know what to say? We know it is a gift. We know He died for us. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians there is a clear message for us to share.

By this Gospel you are saved if you hold firmly to the words I preached to you. Otherwise you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance-that Christ died for us according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.  1 Corinthians 15:2-4

    Believe that Jesus is Lord of all, that He sacrificed Himself on a cross for our sins, that He was buried and rose again. That’s it. Ask Him for forgiveness, turn from your sins and accept His free gift. It is hard to believe many will turn away this offer. Jesus suffered for you and for me. He suffered more than any of us. He moved from glory to be one of us.

Share the good news. He does not want to lose one.

Jesus,
Your good news brings tidings of great joy. We want to sprinkle seeds of hope to others. Let that be our greatest desire until we reach heaven.
Amen


Monday, November 16, 2015

Grace and Truth

     Being a Christian should make others want to be a Christian. Pounding others with rules or what they are doing wrong only pushes people away. Giving the message of Christ with only grace may leave out truth. Is there a balance?
                                                                                                   
God is Spirit and His worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. John 4:24

     Let the Holy Spirit guide you on how and when to speak up about Jesus. Some will listen and be open to truth. Others will not.

And I will ask the Father and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him for He lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17

     Lean on God’s wisdom. He will guide you. Show the love and joy of Jesus. Shine with His light. Someone may ask you about the joy within you and the Spirit of truth will give you the words. Some will hear.

Father,
Take away fear and discouragement. You put people in our lives for a reason. Let our lives count for You. Show us how to share Your grace and Your truth.
In Jesus name,

Amen

Friday, November 13, 2015

Open Our Hearts

      True believers in Jesus Christ have an eternal bond. My prayer sisters and Bible study group are closely united. We dig into God’s Word together, we pray for each other, and we mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15)

     Open your heart to other Christians and welcome their love for you. It is a deep and powerful feeling to know that others are truly praying for you. They bring joy and encouragement.

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. Philemon 1:7

Jesus,
Remind us that we are here to serve one another. Give us the strength we need to bring joy and encouragement to others and the strength to receive it when we are in need.

Amen

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Open Our Hearts

                                                                                         
     Be thankful. Begin each day with an open and grateful heart. Jesus loves you and He is beside you and within you right now. He is with you and within you tonight, tomorrow, next month, next year, into your old age and as you step into His eternal glory.

     With truth like that how can we help but have grateful hearts? When life gets tough, focus on Jesus. When the next step hurts, lean on Jesus. If you are scared, trust Jesus. If you are weak, rely on the strength of Jesus. If your heart is burdened, give it to Jesus. When you lie on your death bed, look into His eyes and get ready to meet Him face-to-face.

     Face today with an eternal heart, fixed on Jesus and be thankful.

Jesus,
Your sacrifice gives us access to You. We come to You with everything on our hearts and minds today. We give everything over to Your sovereign might and power. Give us thankful hearts today and tomorrow.
In Jesus name,
Amen


Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Open Our Hearts

     Maybe you can make a difference today. Maybe it’s you God has placed in the life of that difficult person. Maybe it is your kind words that can change a mood or change a life. Maybe Jesus chose you. As our hearts are open to His love, it begins to show in our actions, words and deeds.

     Maybe you will have just a bit more patience than the person behind you. Maybe you will be a bit slower to anger than the other person. Maybe you will speak the words that one person has been waiting to hear. Maybe the Gospel is on the tip of your tongue.

     Maybe it’s you.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?”  And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8

Jesus,
Here we are. Send us! Use us! Let it be us that represent You wherever we go. Let Your Holy Spirit flow through our lives as we use words of love, encouragement and kindness. It is us.

Amen

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Open Our Hearts

   Rather than finding our greatest desires to be set on riches or power, let our greatest desire be to love and honor God and to pray the same for our friends and family. Here are two more verses fo pray over others. Pray they might be saved. Pray that the eyes of their hearts may be opened to Jesus. Eternity is at stake.

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. Romans 10:1

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people. Ephesians 1:18

Father,
We live on for eternity, all of us, either in hell or in heaven. Let our desire be to share the truth of Jesus. He does not want to lose even one and neither do we. Hear our prayers for our loved ones today. Keep us bold and courageous in talking about You to others.
In Jesus name,

Amen

Monday, November 9, 2015

Open Our Hearts

     Jesus offers us eternity. It is a free gift, ours for the taking. Whether we understand it or not, something will be missing from our lives until we accept Jesus. He satisfies our spiritual hunger and thirst. He opens our eyes to see the truth. He opens our ears to hear His Word. And best of all, He turns our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

     Are you praying for someone to accept Jesus? Never give up on that prayer. God’s timing is perfect. He knows the very moment our stony hearts will be open to hear His Word of grace. He will send the right person, at the right moment, in the best setting. In the meantime, pray.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Jesus,
You do not want to lost one soul. Open the eyes of the hearts of those we love. We will continue to pray for them.

Amen

Friday, November 6, 2015

Eternity Bound

     Jesus is the missing piece for everyone. The earth is not our true home. Our true home will be with Him. Author Randy Alcorn puts it this way: “We think that what we want is money, sex, drugs, alcohol, a new job, a raise, a doctorate, a spouse, a large-screen television, a new car or a vacation. What we really want is the Person we were made for, Jesus, and the place we were made for, Heaven. Nothing less can satisfy us.”

     Jesus is preparing a place made just for you. It will fit like a glove, match your greatest desire, and fulfill your every longing. In the meantime, seek His presence above all else. Spend good time with Him. Turn off the TV. Close the newspaper. Shut out the distractions and open His Word to you. He has the words to eternal life.

“In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:2-3

     If you are unsettled, uneasy, anxious or dissatisfied, remember you are away from home.

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” C.S. Lewis

Father,
Your Son is preparing a place for us in our true home. Help us to focus on the things You want us to focus on, to give to the people you put in front of us, to listen to You above the spinning globe. You are coming to bring us home.
Amen


Thursday, November 5, 2015

Eternity Bound

     A pastor once said something like this: “Only when you lose your fear of death, can you really live.” Are you afraid to die? Many of us are fearful of the process of dying, if not what happens after we leave this earth. Knowing we are in the hands of Jesus through this life right into the next brings about inner peace and strength. Knowing the brevity of our lives when compared to eternity gives us hope and perspective.

For we walk by faith and not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:7-8

     Did you notice? When we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord. Jesus made a promise to the thief next to Him on the cross. The thief asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Here is the Lord’s reply.

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise. Luke 23;42

     Angels may escort us. (see Luke 18) Heaven waits for us. Our loved ones and Jesus will greet us. Absent from the body, present with the Lord, immediately in the presence of paradise. Death has lost its sting. (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Jesus,
Thank You for the promise of paradise. Death no longer holds us in fear. We will be with You in a resurrected body that will never fade away. Take away our fear of death. It has no hold over us because of Your death and resurrection.

Amen

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Eterntiy Bound

     Even in the church we have misconceptions about heaven. Maybe you imagine heaven as a place of endless boredom as we sway on a cloud, playing a harp. Or a worship service with no end, where we sing songs and bow down all day long. Oh yes, there will be magnificent worship in heaven. We will be face-to-face with our God!

     But all of the longings of our earthly life will be realized in a perfected heaven and earth. Somehow our seminaries fail to focus on the new earth. The heavens and the fallen earth as we know them will be destroyed.

By the same Word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly. 2 Peter 3 7

     And our Creator will make a new perfected earth and a new heaven. It is beyond our imagination, but we will have much to do and see in our resurrected bodies. The adventures will never end as we move about freely from the mountainous beauty to the bounty of the forests. Our true home awaits.

But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

Father,
We do know your judgment is coming soon upon the earth and the ungodly. Keep our focus on Jesus as we wait for the promise of a new heaven and a new earth.
In Jesus name,
Amen


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Eternity Bound

     Because of our eternal destiny based on our faith in Christ, we can live lives of patience, perseverance and hope. There is suffering that seems to have no end. There are trials on a daily basis. There is separation from our loved ones at their earthly death. And yet…God has destined us for a purpose through it all. Make Him your greatest desire today and hold onto faith.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

     So many great men and women of faith have gone before us. Many of their stories are in the Bible or in the pages of books. Many have been martyred for their faith in Christ. We have loved ones in heaven. Their witness bears testimony to Jesus and they give us courage.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

     Let’s make this short life count. When all is said and done, what we have done for Jesus will last. Love with His heart, laugh with His great delight in you. Persevere through the most difficult of days with hope for eternity. It is right around the corner.

Jesus,
Build up our courage, our perseverance and our joy in loving You. You have marked out our paths before we were born. Let us walk out that path hand in hand with You.
Amen



Monday, November 2, 2015

Eternity Bound

     Eternity is in our hearts. God placed a longing for and a knowledge of eternal life within each one of us.
                                                                                      
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. Ecclesiastes 3:11

     He created your spirit to live forever. He wants each of us to live with Him, but because of sin on the earth He can’t reach us. He is a perfect, just and holy God. He cannot look at sin.

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Habakkuk 1:13a

     God Himself had to take the punishment for the fall of man. Jesus fulfilled the punishment for all sin, as the perfect sacrifice. Now God the Father, when we have Jesus as Savior, sees us through the righteousness of Christ.

     Remind yourself, not only of the man Jesus, the humble and kind servant of all, willing to sacrifice Himself for us. Think of Him as He has always been; Lord of Lords, King of Kings, the Beginning and the End. Thank your God. You are heaven bound because of our glorious Messiah!

Father,
Whether we want to admit it or not, eternity is in our hearts. We pray for those that do not know You. Help us to spread the gift of good news that brings great joy. The Gospel of our salvation is for everyone.
In Jesus Almighty name,
Amen