mini-message - December 7, 2010

Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and
die. The wind blows, and we are gone-- as though we had never been
here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear
him. His salvation extends to the children's children of those who
are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! (Psa 103:15-18 NLT)

Prayer: LORD, as quickly as time seems to pass here, help me take
comfort that You have a purpose for me in it. Help me not wallow in
regret over time wasted or opportunities missed, but trust that You
love me and can use me - even my failures - in the "big" (eternal)
picture. This time is brief, but eternity awaits with You. In Jesus'
name, Amen.

mini-message - Monday November 29

7 Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,
for he speaks peace to his faithful people.
But let them not return to their foolish ways.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
so our land will be filled with his glory. (Psa 85:7-9 NLT)

Prayer: LORD, when You answer prayer, solve a problem, or meet a
need, I have a responsibility to change what got me in trouble in
the first place. Help me do whatever I need to do to change my
behavior, circumstances, or environment so the problem will not
return because of my negligence or failure. In Jesus' name, Amen.

mini-message

Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good
or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their
stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He
stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the
Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they
might kill Jesus. (Mark 3:4-6 NIV)

Prayer: LORD, some people are going to have bad attitudes no matter
what I do. Help me not be so vexed by them that I am distracted from
doing what You have for me to do. Give me courage and strength to do
it, knowing that my relationship with You does not depend on anyone
else's opinion. I want Your approval, whether anyone else agrees or
not. In Jesus' name, Amen.

mini-message June 21

And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. (2 Cor 6:18-7:1)

Prayer: LORD, putting away things that can contaminate my life and hinder our relationship begins with a choice. I know You forgive my sins, but I want to be clean in my body and spirit because I love You. Help me recognize the things that should not be in my life and give me strength and courage to get them out, whatever it takes. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Guilt

Guilt is a major weapon of Satan when one tries to walk closer with the Lord. If you ask God to forgive you of your sins and you do this in sincerity then he puts them as far away "as the east is from the west".

1 Lord, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel.
2 You forgave the guilt of your people— yes, you covered all their sins.
3 You held back your fury. You kept back your blazing anger.
4 Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more. (Psa 85:1-4 NLT)

Prayer: LORD, I cannot undo what I have done in the past, but I can determine what I will do in the future. I am grateful that You do not hold my past against me. Help me not hold it against myself. Give me courage to look forward with You and keep the past behind me where it belongs. In Jesus' name, Amen.

mini-message

Lord, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel. You forgave the guilt of your people— yes, you covered all their sins. You held back your fury. You kept back your blazing anger. Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more. (Psa 85:1-4 NLT)

Prayer: LORD, I cannot undo what I have done in the past, but I can determine what I will do in the future. I am grateful that You do not hold my past against me. Help me not hold it against myself. Give me courage to look forward with You and keep the past behind me where it belongs. In Jesus' name, Amen.

mini-message from March 2

"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:32-33 NIV)

Prayer: LORD, when I feel alone, help me remember that even though the feelings are real, the reality is that I am not alone and never will be. Give me strength to look beyond what I feel and rest in Your promise that You will never leave me. Thank You that even though it is not easy, it is possible to have peace in difficult times as I trust in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

This is How it Feels to be Led

This mini-message is the words to a song by FFH. You can hear the song and see video on main blog page as Song of the Week:

So this is what if feels like to walk the wilderness and this is what if feels like to come undone

So this is what if feels like to loose my confidence unsure of anything or anyone

So this is what if feels like to walk the desert sand and this is what if feels like to hear my name and to be scared to death cause I'm all alone but feel love and peace just the same

And this may not be the road I would choose for me but it still feels right somehow

And I have never felt you as close to me as I do right now So this is what if feels like to be led

So this is what if feels like to have it fall apart to be totally unglued and find out if I accept my brokenness I get more of me, I get all of you

If this is what if feels like to be on shaky ground Careful of every step I take Realizing as I stop to look around I look around and see everything a different way

and this may not be the road I would choose for me but it still feels right somehow cause I have never felt you as close to me as I do right now

So this is what if feels like to be led and this is what if feels like to be led

So this is what if feels like to just walk away from everything I thought kept me safe to depend just on you for every meal and find it's better this way oh it's better this way

And this may not be the road I would choose for me but it still feels right somehow

And I have never felt you as close to me as I do right now like i do right now

And this may not be the road I would choose for me but it still feels right somehow

And I have never felt you as close to me as I do right now

And this is what if feels like to be led
And this is what if feels like to be led
And this is what if feels like

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. (Jer 18:1-4 NIV)

Prayer: LORD, in the new year, help me see and hear Your messages in the simpler things of life. I believe I often miss You while I am looking for something spectacular. Help me put aside my expectations and recognize what You say however You choose to communicate it to me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

You may have heard the old saying, "For want of a nail, the shoe is lost; for want of a shoe, the horse is lost; for want of a horse, the king is lost; and for want of a king, the kingdom is lost." It is a clever way of saying that little things matter. Little things lead to larger things--often with disastrous consequences.

We see the first example of this in Genesis 3:6. First, Eve "saw" the forbidden fruit. No transgression yet. Then she "desired." Still no transgression--but a step closer. Finally, she "took and ate." Transgression.

The "look" seemed harmless. It was a small thing, but it led to "eating." Are there things in your life that you are "looking" at? They seem harmless now, but they lead to larger things. Spare yourself--give them up now. "For want of a nail . . . the kingdom is lost."

Look back and thank God.
Look forward and trust God.
Look around and serve God.
Look within and find God!

As for myself, I do not care if I am judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I know of no wrong I have done, but this does not make me right before the Lord. The Lord is the One who judges me. 1 Cor 4:3-4

Interesting and strong words that Paul is writing to the church at Corinth. I read this whole chapter before sending this mini-message. How often do we let what others think of us drive our lives but hardly ever focus on what God thinks about us, not just on Sunday but 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It is almost impossible for us not to care what others think of us but if we really focused our lives on what God thinks of us we might be surprised that a lot of folks would be influenced by our lives. But in the long run, what counts is what God thinks!! Hayward

Prayer: LORD, so much of what I do is influenced by what others think, even when I am trying not to let it happen. Help me not be so concerned about what others think, but be more aware of what You think about me. I want my conscience to be clear with You and live in such a way that I am in right standing in our relationship, because that is what matters most! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Remember

When you feel unlovable, unworthy and unclean, when you think that no one can heal you:
Remember, Friend,
God Can.
When you think that you are unforgivable for your guilt and your shame:
Remember, Friend,
God Can.
When you think that all is hidden and no one can see within:
Remember, Friend,
God Can.
And when you have reached the bottom and you think that no one can hear:
Remember, my dear Friend,
God Can.
And when you think that no one can love the real person deep inside of you:
Remember, my dear Friend,
God Does.

What does God thik of us?

As for myself, I do not care if I am judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I know of no wrong I have done, but this does not make me right before the Lord. The Lord is the One who judges me. 1 Cor 4:3-4

Interesting and strong words that Paul is writing to the church at Corinth. I read this whole chapter before sending this mini-message. How often do we let what others think of us drive our lives but hardly ever focus on what God thinks about us, not just on Sunday but 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It is almost impossible for us not to care what others think of us but if we really focused our lives on what God thinks odf us we might be surprised that a lot of folks would be influenced by our lives. But in the long run, what counts is what God thinks!! Hayward

Prayer: LORD, so much of what I do is influenced by what others think, even when I am trying not to let it happen. Help me not be so concerned about what others think, but be more aware of what You think about me. I want my conscience to be clear with You and live in such a way that I am in right standing in our relationship, because that is what matters most! In Jesus' name, Amen.