Be Encouraged

That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome." The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath to neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. (Acts 23:11-12 NLT)

Prayer: LORD, when You establish a task or mission in my life, I should not be surprised when opposition comes. It just "goes with the territory". Give me courage to stand strong in faith, trusting that regardless of opposition, Your purpose will be done as long as I remain committed to it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Sermons We See

by Edgar Guest

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.
One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language which to every one is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence,
I say, I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.

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.

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.

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.

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