Friday, September 25, 2009

Shake it off

As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. (Acts 28:3-5 NLT)

Prayer: LORD, when bad things happen in my life, help me have
courage to shake them off and move on. People may not understand,
and may even make critical judgments as to why those things
happened. But all that really matters is that You know why, and that
I'm all right with You. You can enable me to survive anything. In
Jesus' name, Amen.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Thought for today

No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Fear Not, For I Am With You Always

Fear Not, For I Am With You Always by Max Lucado

"This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

"This is the day" includes every day. Divorce days, final-exam days, surgery days, tax days. Sending-your-firstborn-off-to-college days. God made this day, ordained this hard hour, designed the details of this wrenching moment. He isn't on holiday. He still holds the conductor's baton, sits in the cockpit, and occupies the universe's only throne. Each day emerges from God's drawing room. Including this one.

What I Have

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Bring them here to me," he said. (Matthew 14:15-18 NIV)

Prayer: LORD, what I have seems so little compared to the needs around me. Give me wisdom to recognize what I have that You can use, courage to place it in Your hands, and faith to trust You to make it enough, regardless of what it looks like. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Anything is Possible

So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. "How long has this been happening?" Jesus asked the boy's father. He replied, "Since he was very small. The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can." "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." The father instantly replied, "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!" (Mark 9:20-24 NLT)

Prayer: LORD, I may say I believe, but my actions, thoughts, and words sometime say otherwise. If You said that "Anything is possible...", then it is. Help me not to doubt! When faced with impossible circumstances, give me faith not despair, but trust that in You, "Anything is possible". I want to think, speak, and act my faith in You. In Jesus' name, Amen

Some things I have learned:

1. There is always something to hope for.

2. It is never too late to change.

3. In God, nothing is lost.

A Forgiving God

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. (Psa 86:5-7 NIV)

Prayer: LORD, I am grateful that no matter where I have been or what I have done, You will never reject me. Help me trust Your love for me and never hesitate to call upon You. Thank You for accepting me, loving me unconditionally, and always hearing my cry. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Trust

Don't trust anyone--not your best friend or even your wife! For the son despises his father. The daughter defies her mother. The daughter-in-law defies her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household. As for me, I look to the LORD for his help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. (Micah 7:5-7 NLT)

Prayer: LORD, when everyone else is untrustworthy, I am grateful that You are always faithful. When I can depend on no one else, I can depend on You, Your integrity, and Your limitless unconditional love. Thank You for always hearing me, even when I don't feel You have heard me. You will answer me and I will wait for You. Just give me faith to trust and continuing waiting when the time between asking and the answer is long in coming. In Jesus' name, Amen.

On Trial

And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. (Acts 26:6 NIV)

Prayer: LORD, I may never have to stand before a human judge because of my hope in You. But I do feel on trial when I am forced into a position of choosing between my relationship with You and what others expect or demand. When I face such trials, give me strength to stand strong and not compromise my faith, testimony, and hope in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.