The MPC Podcast: Recent Episodes
Memorial Presbyterian Church
“At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three In the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘ Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ (which means, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?).” ~ Mark 15:33-34 NIV
Scarred, broken, brutalized, and scorned, He watched from the cross alone. With an agonized gaze, He looked upon the vicious mockery of ignorance that was born out of an illusion of lustful power, as they stood crazed by their crime, but their plight touched Him still. With lifted head in the midst of hurtling shouts of ridicule and contempt, he shouted “Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani”. God turned His back on His Son who voluntarily became sin when He embraced God’s will and not His own. The earth fractured, the sun refused to shine, and time stood still as sobs were silenced, tears froze; minds were bewildered; hearts were assaulted: what has happened here? Blood mixed with water streamed down a pierced side moved a complicit infidel to become a converted believer amid the chaos and fear.
The death of hope mourned the living for three days while defeat lay wrapped in cloths too insubstantial to hold the power of life. Up from the grave He arose carrying the keys of death; riding on the wings of eternity, He ascended to the heavens to sit on the right hand of God Almighty, to judge the quick and the dead. Jesus, the One who came to save His people, all people, from the power of sin and death rose as the bright morning Star, our Horn of salvation who redeems the lost, our Deliver who comforts the downtrodden, the Bread of Life who feeds the hungry, the Vine who offers the water that forever satisfies.
Oh, King of glory, the victim turned Victor, the scorned turned Savior, the abused turned Abba, the ridiculed turned Redeemer, the resurrected One is the Divine; we worship You. Amen and Amen.
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I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27 NIV
A soft breeze. A gentle touch. A warm embrace. A heartfelt “I love you.” All of these give us a sense of peace, calm and comfort. Peace is something that can’t be overstated. It helps us to navigate through difficult waters. It sustains us through trying circumstances. It steadies us during times of loss and despair. And it surrounds us when living life on life’s terms becomes unsettling. It’s so good to know that, in times of turmoil and seasons of upheaval, the source of lasting peace, Jehovah-Shalom, is right there to dispense a measure of something that we can’t fully comprehend but we willingly embrace. So today, I invite you to enter into the cocoon of peace our loving Lord has prepared for each of you.
Let us pray:
God of all peace, we thank you for the space that You have provided for Your people – a space of tranquility in the midst of turbulence, calm in the face of confusion and stillness in the eye of the storm. Remind us, during times of trouble, that You are our peace and that we can resort to You at any time. This we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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“They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” ~ Luke 19:44 NIV
Lenten lesson: Be Still
In a world filled with so many things competing for our attention: X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The latest posts, call us from a place of stillness, where we can “recognize the time of God’s coming”.
In our focus Scripture above the writer points to a punishment, “a dashing to the ground” and “no stone being left one on another” for failure to recognize. A remedy for this busyness is setting aside quiet reflection upon God’s word and prayer. In this place, we pull away from all the distractions of our day to spend time reading, reflecting, and listening for the move of God. In this Lenten season, we can become so focused on attending services, making sure we get right our “Lenten sacrifice” that we fail to just be still with God.
”He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV).
Let us pray:
Dear Lord during this holy season let us choose to be still so that we don’t miss you moving in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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7 I will give honor and thanks to the Lord, Who has told me what to do. Yes, even at night my mind teaches me. 8 I have placed the Lord always in front of me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved. 9 And so my heart is glad. My soul is full of joy. My body also will rest without fear. 10 For You will not give me over to the grave. And You will not allow Your Holy One to return to dust. 11 You will show me the way of life. Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever.
Psalm 16:7-11 New Life Version
In this sacred Lenten journey, we focus to be connected to the very heart of God, the essence of true soul wellness. More than a brand or ideal, it is the reality of abiding in Christ Jesus our Lord. Though connecting with Him deeply may not come naturally, we can take intentional steps to return to His loving embrace when we stray. For He is ever near, patiently waiting wrap His arms around us and give us His peace that surpasses understanding. When our hearts grow tired and we lose our connect, we need redirect ourselves to the One who endured the cross to redeem us. He did this in order that we experience abundant, everlasting life in Him. Let us linger in sweet communion with our Savior, that His joy may become our strength for the journey ahead.
Let us pray:
Most Heavenly and Gracious Father, we feel the longing in our souls for deeper intimacy with You. Draw us close. Help us to know that we are under Your wings. Help us to focus our spiritual senses to Your still, small voice, that we may clearly hear You. In the chaos of this life, remind us to return to the One who calms the raging storms with a word. Give us the discipline and the delight in studying Your Word, that we may know You more. We surrender again to Your loving authority over every area of our lives. Thank You for paving the way to restored relationship through Christ's finished work on the cross. Lead us in the everlasting way, that we may experience fullness of joy in Your presence, this day and for all eternity. In the name of our Risen King we pray, Amen.
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And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. ~ 1 Kings 17:1-4 (KJV)
Have you ever found yourself in a space where you noticed you were in a dry season – a period of time where joy and happiness began to fade. A time where peace was now becoming scarce or a time where provision became challenging. Unfortunately, these patterns are a part of life but thank God they are temporary! Oftentimes, such situations lead us to a greater level of prayer or deliberately spending more time with God. Usually, that increase in prayer and time with God allows us to become more sensitive to His voice or to His intervening in our situations. He often gives us instructions just as He did to Elijah in the passage above. God’s instructions always lead us to a place where we are safe in Him – a place of provision, of healing, of peace, of joy or whatever we’re in need of. It is through our relationship with God that we are able to create that place called “There.” Today, there’s no brook called Cherith for us to run to but our place called “There’” can be in our car, in our kitchen, at our desks, during our morning walk or any place we take time to seek His face and the plans He has for us.
Let us pray:
Gracious and eternal Father, we look to You today and we thank You for being our God. Thank you for creating us and for loving us. As we navigate through life, we ask that Your Holy Spirit will continue to direct us in all of our ways. Lord, when life presents its challenges, teach us to trust You. Teach us to seek You for direction wherever we are (physically, spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically). Help us to find that place that we meet you and talk with you daily; that we may have a place called “There” where we can have an encounter with You. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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Truly my soul finds rest in God: my salvation comes from Him.
Psalm 62:1
As a new elder at Memorial Presbyterian Church, there are so many things to learn about the responsibilities of the role and how to best serve the church, the congregation and the community at large. There is always more that needs to be done as we listen, engage and respond to needs of this faith community.
In order to do more, there are times you actually need to do less to avoid spreading yourself too thin and risk being less effective because you are too busy to focus on the highest and most urgent priorities. Our faith and our devotion are the most important priorities. God wants and needs us to be in the Word and steadfast in deepening our faith.
Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld: have faith in His prophets and you will be successful. 2 Chronicles 20:20
Let us pray:
Thank you, God. You are a good God and have allowed us to draw nearer to you, oh Lord. You have provided us Holy scripture to allow us to understand what You would have us do. Romans 5:1 tells us, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” All honor and glory goes to you, oh Lord. Thank you for all that you have done for us and all that you will continue to do to lead and guide us. We honor you and magnify your name. Amen.
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“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” ~ Zechariah 9:9 NIV
It is in our human nature to expect the best gifts to come in large, and expensive packages. The Jews in Biblical times were awaiting the Messiah to arrive, but they expected him to come riding into town on a majestic horse, wearing heavy armor, and “looking like the king who has come to reign.” However, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey – one of the simplest animals during that era. Horses were seen as a sign of prestige. Why would Jesus want to make his triumphant entry on a donkey?
Our Lenten theme, “Doing Less, Becoming More” ties with this verse from the book of Zechariah, which foretold how “our” king would enter Jerusalem. This is the beauty of Jesus! He could have chosen any animal to come riding in, but he chose to come in on a donkey, the lowliest of animals. This symbolizes how Jesus can and will use what society sees as insignificant to make the biggest impact. As you go through this Lenten season, as you look at yourself, and think that you might not be doing enough, or you are messing up, or things just aren’t falling right for you, remember that Jesus “chose” you. Yes, you! With all your imperfections, and flaws. He “sees” you, just as he saw the donkey that others would simply have passed on. We are valuable to him. That is the reason he died for us on the cross.
Let us pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for choosing me, for seeing me despite all of my flaws, all of my imperfections, and for loving me still. I pray that, during this season, you help me to keep my mind fixed on remembering that You’re not looking for me to be perfect, but simply remembering who You are and what You did for me on the cross. Thank you, lord, for Your loving mercy, kindness, and your grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:6 NIV
Have you ever been on a boat, a ferry or a ship and felt contrary winds, disturbing waves or uneasy waters? Well, this could be an unsettling experience to any of us. But that is a similar feeling we have when we doubt. Many of us have taken the first step and asked the Lord for a particular thing. But we fold doubt into the request and send our mind on an uncertain journey, complete with unnecessary turbulence and unwarranted confusion. My sisters and brothers, I challenge you, on your Lenten journey and after, to trust the Lord who has our tomorrows in His hand, believe even when you can’t see and depend on the captain of the ship we find ourselves on to safely get us to our destination.
Let us pray:
Dear God, help me to receive the guidance and love of the Holy Spirit. Strengthen my faith to be able to quiet my waves of self-inflicting injuries that whip my soul with the winds of my own fear. Allow the Word of God to calm my sea of insecurities. Strengthen me with your power to grow in faith and calm the sea of my soul. I thank you, Father, in advance for what You are already doing in my life and hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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“Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:13 (NRSV)
When we are faced with challenges, we must remember where our strength lies. Our Lord provides us with protection from dangers seen and unseen. So we must continually speak with Him. Time with our heavenly father will strengthen our faith so that when the challenges come, we are prepared and do not crumble under their weight.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we come to you asking for your guidance and protection as we go forward. We pray that you will order our steps and shield us from harm and danger. I ask that You will always have Your hedge of protection around us as we navigate our day-to-day living. This we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 15:9 KJV
No matter your education, occupation or socioeconomic status, everyone needs love.
From the nicest to the meanest person, we all want and need to be loved. Many may not acknowledge or accept that fact. They may scream loudly, "l don't need anyone and l don't need to be loved" but underneath they do.
In today's meditation, we’re reminded of just how much we are loved. Jesus compares His love for us to how much The Father loved Him.
"As He has loved Me, so have l loved you.” What a comforting thought. As you go through your day, as you face life's challenges, as you encounter negative attitudes remember that you are loved and that this love is forever.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the way you love me. I am grateful that l will never be without it. Ours is a "forever relationship" and I appreciate your continuous presence in my life. Help me to be present for others. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV
I chose to fast from some of my favorite carbs for Lent. Sometimes, I intensely crave them, and I'm tempted to break my fast. Then I remind myself of Jesus's ultimate sacrifice in love for me and I'm encouraged to stick with it. In addition to eating less carbs, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to be more obedient to Jesus’s command to love others, as He loves me. Truth be told, I'm not always obedient to His command to love everyone. Jesus blesses me with His sacrificial, unconditional love, even though I am unworthy and at times unlovable. And He commands me, as His disciple, to show the same kind of love to everyone, even those who are not easy to love. Ouch!! Loving everyone is not an option if I want to be known as a disciple of Jesus. I am to give to others, the same love, mercy, and grace, that I receive from God. Living out this command is a challenge. However, it can be achieved with the help of the Holy Spirit. I will strive to be more obedient to God’s command to love others by praying for the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to help me show unconditional love, mercy, and extra grace to everyone.
Let us pray:
Dear Abba Father, to You be all glory, honor, and praise. Thank you for your great mercy, grace, and love. Keep us mindful of your amazing unconditional love demonstrated for us through Your Son and our Savior Jesus, and His sacrifice on the cross. Thank you, Jesus. Empower us through Your Holy Spirit to love others unconditionally, as You love us. Help us to grow and increase our love for others, especially our enemies. In Your awesome name, Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Our Lenten theme is, “Doing Less, Becoming More.” The scripture above is from a letter written by Paul telling the Ephesian Church that God’s purpose is doing more than we can imagine. It’s not for our worldly success but for his glory.
During this Lenten season and beyond, we must challenge ourselves to do more, and trust more in God, pray more, dream more and set more goals and expect Him to go above and beyond our wildest dream. We should stop focusing on circumstances or obstacles around us that might be blocking our paths. Remember “He who is in me is greater than he would is in the world” and if something is in His will, it will be done.
Let us pray:
Dear Father, I want to thank you for all you have done. Father God, I ask that You help us break our limitations and help us to see the unimaginable, unthinkable power You have instilled in us. Give us the strength to understand that we are more because of You.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen
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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
Thought:
In life when facing trials and tribulations, it’s easier for some of us to give up or walk away. I’ll be the first to tell you, that I’m quick to walk away from a situation where I feel conflict or constant upset. But just as quick as I walk away, I feel regret because I gave up, simply put I lost faith that this too shall pass.
You see in James 1:2-4, James says “Whenever” YOU face trials, not “IF” you face trials. So, in other words, we’re going to face trials, sometimes daily. In fact, some of us are enduring trials right now but we must do what James says and “Count it all joy!” When our world is in disarray, and those closest to us are suffering and in pain, one cannot begin to fathom how to see joy amid it all. True joy doesn’t derive from our circumstances, but rather from our trust and relationship with Jesus Christ. James isn’t saying that we must pretend there’s no pain in the trial. But what he is saying is that we should practice patience in action and look for the positives in the situation and most importantly PUSH THROUGH!
Recently, I challenged my 3rd-5th grade scholars to create a self-affirmation to motivate them when facing academic challenges, and when I read James 1:2-4, all I could hear the Holy Spirit say is that “God’s word never comes back void”. In our session, my scholars came up with Push Through, Persevere, and Never Back Down! So, my dear brothers and sisters, I challenge every one of you to PUSH through those trials, PERSEVERE in your circumstances, and NEVER back down from situations. You MUST have faith that God can and will carry you through it all, pray fervently, and praise God in advance for what He’s about to bring you through!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You that Your grace is sufficient for every trial and difficulty that we will face in our lives. May we be ready and willing to patiently learn the lessons that You would teach us in each situation in life, knowing that we are being perfected in the process. Help us to learn to patiently endure with joyful thanks. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
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Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT
As a young person, showing kindness toward another person seemed very easy. Becoming a part of the world’s version of growth by developing the mindset of “I’m better than” and sharing negative gossip about another person’s character is not of God. Once I was exposed to the actions of the world, it became a little difficult to show kindness to those that were unkind towards me.
During this season of Lent, reflecting on our theme, Doing Less, Becoming More, I’m reminded not to repay negative with negative. I’m required to be my brother’s & sister’s keeper and show kindness. We’re all going through something and running an errand for someone who is unable to get out of the house or allowing a person to go ahead of me in the checkout line, or simply saying have a good day seems easy enough. The reactions to these gestures have been remarkably interesting, almost shocking. I never know if my act of kindness is the only version of Christ a stranger, family member or friend will experience for the day, but God said to do this, so I do it.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing back to mind the ways of my youth, like having a compassionate heart and patience with others. You never said this walk would be easy, however by intentionally being committed to doing less complaining and negative thinking allows a reset, with Your continued guidance, to be more like You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen
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But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
When I was growing up, my parents had a very special friend who would always promise to take my sisters and I to the amusement park. We would get dressed and wait for him by the window. Unfortunately, most times he never showed up. Although he had good intentions, as children the feeling of disappointment surfaced every time. As children of God, we know that life's journey will bring us moments of disappointments. Sometimes, these moments leave us disheartened and questioning our faith. The good news is that during these moments, we can hold on to the unshakable conviction that our God is sovereign and he has a plan and purpose for our lives. We can also take comfort in the fact that whatever He has for us will be worth the wait!
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for being a sovereign God. A God who not only knows all things but who loves us with an everlasting love. Thank you for being with us and loving us during our moments of victories and our moments of disappointments. Help us to wait on you so our strength can be renewed and we can soar as eagles. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Mark 1:35
When I was a child, television was black and white. There were six channels. At the end of the broadcast day, at 12:00 a.m., you saw the American Flag and heard the National Anthem. Shortly after that, the screen turned to static. Broadcasting didn't resume until 6:00 a.m., yet now we have programming 24 hours a day seven days a week. Hundreds of channels and streaming content is available online to individuals of all ages. We have to make a conscious decision to turn off electronic devices and tune in to God's Word. Jesus took time to find a quiet place to commune with His Father. By drawing near to God, He will come near to us. May we seek him early each day before our busy day begins.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, Thank you for your son's sacrifice for our sins. May we be ever mindful of it and help us to live lives that are pleasing in your sight. Protect us as we travel today and may we return home safely. Give us a word to share with someone who doesn't know you today. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)
As we watch television, read social media fact and fiction information, talk to family and friends we often feel anxious, afraid, worried and stressed. So many wars, so much poverty, health issues, so much conflict in our country and our neighborhoods. It’s frightening. We sometimes forget to look to the only One who can calm our worried minds and hearts, the One whose mighty hand we are under.
Friends, we can feel secure because our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally. Regardless of what is happening in the world, in our country or in our personal lives, we must strive to do less worrying and become more dependent on God.
Let us pray:
Holy and precious Father, we thank you for never leaving or forsaking us. When we are going through stress, hardship and grief, please help us to remember that You hold the universe in Your hands. You will get us through. We trust you Lord and we thank you.
Amen.
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“In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3
We’re constantly being challenged in life whether it is financially, mentally, or physically. On life’s journey, we’re not created to walk alone. God sent His son Jesus, in the form of human flesh to die for the sins of mankind. He has sent the Holy Spirit to guide us on all of life’s journey. Every day, we should make time from our busy schedule, go into our closet or find a quiet place and talk to God about our concerns and ask for continual guidance. He has promised to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. All we need to do is ask and have faith because He is able.
Let us pray:
Father God, I humbly come before you to ask that you walk with me in this life. I pray for your hedge of protection as I navigate my day-to-day living. You will always be my constant companion who will not leave me nor forsake me. I will wait patiently to hear from you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen
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When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. Luke 5:4-7
As an avid fisherman myself, I love this scripture. I can imagine myself in the boat with Simon and Jesus. Please give me grace so that I can use my imagination to paint a picture of what I’d be experiencing at that moment. My story begins – Well, you know I’m just a hired hand on this boat. Just an ordinary oarsman that Simon hired to row the boat to the fishing grounds. I really don’t know this man, Jesus, other than he’s a friend of Simon’s and his teaching that I just heard stirred my heart, but you know I fish these waters every day except on the sabbath and there ain’t no fish to be had today. I wanted to tell Jesus this but he was talking to Simon and I better mind my place, but I was thinking it. Besides, I’m tired because I was rowing all over this lake all night long. Then Simon tells me and the other oarsmen to row out to the deep water…AGAIN! Doesn’t this Jesus know we’ve fished these waters for years and the fish just aren’t biting today? Nevertheless, Simon listens to Jesus and we headed out to deep water. Okay, I say to my tired self, what a waste of time. When we finally make it to the deep water, and we let down our nets, You wouldn’t believe what happened! In mere minutes, our nets were bursting with so much fish that we started to sink! How could this be? How did He know? Who is this man named Jesus? Then Simon yells to his brother and the other boats on shore – “we need help, our nets are breaking!”
From that day forward, I joined the crowd that followed Jesus. I’m now glad to just be in the number to hear Jesus speak. I witnessed ‘A Nevertheless Faith’, in Simon, and witnessed that Jesus honored this type of faith, which gives me strength to this very day.
Let us pray:
Dear Heavenly Father we pray that even if we don’t understand the things that are happening around us, or to us, or to our friends and families, that You will grant us that mustard seed faith to trust in You and say “ Nevertheless, Lord,“ we will do what You say to do. Help us, Lord, to not allow our pride or “know it all” attitude to get in the way of your blessings in our lives. Grant us, Lord, a changed mind, a willing heart and open ears to hear your voice and follow your directions. It’s in the matchless, majestic and mighty name of Jesus, we do pray, Amen!
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All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
Some of our earliest memories are “don’t touch that,” “stop,” “leave that alone,” “don’t hit,” etc. These warnings and admonitions are spoken by our loved ones who are there to protect and guide us. They help us develop a sense of safety and of what is right and wrong. As we grow older, we learn to rely on their teachings and find comfort and support in following their instruction. However, somewhere during adolescence and early adulthood, many of us start to believe we know it all and we no longer need their guidance. We think “I got this,” and frankly, we often resent the advice given from others, and we barrel headfirst into disastrous situations.
Unfortunately, some of us continue along this path for many years and sometimes decades, often turning from one thing to the next seeking answers and advice. We wonder why our decisions aren’t yielding the desired results and why our lives are in turmoil. Finally, we ask, what do I do now?
The answer is Jesus. When we turn to Jesus and earnestly seek and study the Word of God, we become better equipped to run the race of life. I challenge you to listen to God’s voice as it is shared in Holy Scripture.
Let us pray:
Dear God, please help me to lean not on my own thoughts and ideas but to diligently seek and study your Word daily for guidance and direction and serve in spirit and in truth. In Jesus’s name, I pray, Amen.
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“looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
TITUS 2:13
THOUGHT
So many predictions of the end of the world have come and gone. These predictions are unsettling and often fill people with fear. Yet the Bible does refer to a time called "the day of the LORD" when He will return. It will happen but only God knows when.
It's a day that Jesus’s followers can look forward to. Considering that time to come, the apostle Peter tells us how the believer can live with joyful purpose (2 Peter 3:10-18). We can look upward by living Christ-honoring lives. We can look inward by making every effort to be found at peace with God. And we can look outward by being on guard, so we aren't carried away by the wrong influence of others.
How do we do this? By "growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." When we grow in character through His written Word, we begin to relate more closely to Jesus, the Living Word. The Holy Spirit take God's Word and guides us in the way to live.
The day of the Lord shouldn't be a fearful day for Jesus's followers. Our King will return to make all things right and to rule forever. We wait for that time with great anticipation. It is our "blessed hope."
Let us pray:
Jesus, thank you for your guidance as I interact with others during this 40-day Lenten season and beyond. Help me to recognize their needs and concerns. Even when I'm with others, I ask to be attuned to You and to Your guidance – to know when to listen and when to speak.
Your grace is sufficient for me when I am afraid to share or don't have the perfect words to say. Especially in my weakness, You have room to work through me, so I thank You for going before me in every interaction, empowering me to carry out the good work which You have planned for me in advance.
May you be glorified in and through each of us as we serve you, our King! May we gladly yield to Your rule in our lives now as we look forward to the day when You reign for all eternity.
In Jesus’s name, we pray, Amen!!!
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”For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” 1 John 3:12-15 NIV
A Thought:
In today’s current time, we are bombarded with stories of people, ideologies and governments that commit unkind acts against others. The lesson of loving one another must continue to be taught to the younger generations. There is strength in being righteous. It is not an easy path because all parties around you will not be excepting of deeds done in the light. The sacrifices of the father must always be taught to all believers and non-believers, especially the young.
Let us pray:
Gracious and Merciful Father,
You have blessed us with the ability to exercise free will. May Your word be the catalyst to clear and righteous thinking and action. The path of our daily walk can be filled with pitfalls of evil disguised as the easy road to the things that we may desire. Guide us with your eternal light Lord so that we may make the right decisions on this road we call Life on Earth. In YOUR name we pray, Amen.
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For where jealousy and sinful ambition exist there will be disorder and every vile practice. James 3:16
Peas and carrots . Pancakes and jelly. Grandmas and hugs. The list of go-together is long and sadly not all is warm and fuzzy as the few listed here. Jealousy and selfish desires just naturally go with all kinds of bad things. Can’t have one without the other.
None of us wants these things. I don’t know of anyone who wakes up and says, ”Today is the day I’m going to be jealous and try to hurt everyone who has something I want”. NO, these things creep into our lives slowly, but if you are not careful, they take over. They become who you are whether you want to admit it or not.
But don’t be fooled. These character traits are not what GOD desires and expects of us. When these things are present in your life, there are some things that won’t be….that cannot be. You can’t have the peace and contentment of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit cannot reside with these things.
What negative and sinful thoughts and feelings are you harboring? How are they affecting your relationships? Your job? Your intimacy with God? Ask God to lessen these things and increase them with joy and contentment.
Let us pray:
Eternal Father open me to be more like you and less of self during this lent season in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10a NKJV.
Recently, a hot water heater tank leaked in my basement. It made such a mess. I had to call the insurance company and get things cleaned out. Finally, I was able to have my basement remodeled. It looked lovely. I enjoyed admiring the new fixtures, including the freshly painted walls and flooring.
The boiler and water heater are in a room off to one side in the basement. The boiler room was not part of the remodeling. As I was putting away some things in the boiler room, I was struck by how much clutter and filth there was. The dust seemed a mile high. I said to myself, "I don't like this part of the basement." So I tidied it, dusted, washed, and removed some old stuff.
As I was cleaning this unsightly part of my basement, the Lord brought this verse to my mind – "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." I started thinking about how I have some clean areas of my life that I let everyone see -- I come to church, get dressed up, smile, help out, and give financially to God's work.
But when I come down to it, I believe that parts of my heart are probably just as dirty and dusty as my basement's boiler room. These include feelings of resentment, holding grudges, jealousy, and disobedience. It takes time with God to identify the areas in my heart that need cleaning. God gently exposes those things to me gradually as I study the Bible, meditate on His Word, and pray. God uses the power of the Holy Spirit to cleanse and remove those "dirty" elements of my heart as I confess my sins to Him.
Let us pray: Thank you, O God, for the power of your Holy Spirit that convicts, cleanses, and restores. I confess my sins to you. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. In Jesus’s name, I pray, Amen.
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“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.
Exodus 23:1-2 NKJV
God insists on honesty, irrespective of who it may be. One should not be partial or show favoritism or by any means pervert the court of justice by taking sides with the majority or speaking falsely against someone. It is better for us to stand alone than to take part in such practices. The Scripture reminds us that our Heavenly Father is not pleased with such behavior. Standing with God is always better than following the crowd.
Let us pray:
Dear God, we thank you that You love us and we ask You to forgive us of our sins. Help us to understand your will and ways so that we will represent you in a better way. Grant us your peace and teach us to respect humanity by treating everyone equally just like You do. In your name, we pray, Amen.
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God didn’t give us a spirit that makes us weak and fearful. He gave us a spirit that gives us power and love. It helps us control ourselves. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIRV
Often when we think of Jesus, we don’t always acknowledge all the characteristics of His humanness in our thoughts. He, our Lord and Savior purposely, willingly, took on human form so that we would know that He could relate to every aspect and facet that we journey through in this life.
We think of the physicality of Jesus during this time of Lent because Jesus is being harmed and physically bruised by the nails in His hands and feet or the piercing of His side. We celebrate the blood streaming down because we know that this blood was the atonement for our sins. However, do we think about the psychological challenges that Jesus was facing? Those challenges are not far from the mental challenges we face daily.
One of the aspects that we encounter is our emotions. Emotions are the open awareness of psychological and physiological outcomes of expressions towards events and experiences that life has to offer.
I believe Jesus experienced a barrage of emotions during the final days of His earthly experience. Just the thought of the coming days and weeks of an impending end to His walk on earth, His thoughts had to be daunting. Jesus saw and heard the schemes that people were plotting against Him. Can you imagine knowing that people, friends, and foes, are speaking ill of you? How many emotions can you conjure in your heart at just the thought of such an awful experience?
Can you imagine knowing that in days you are going to die? The cascade of emotions would be overwhelming. While the physical pain Jesus felt was taking place, imagine how emotionally battered He was seeing people that He loved watching Him endure such pain. Remember, Jesus was human so I am imagining a wellspring of emotions that plagued Him during those difficult days.
But God…Our loving Father has not made us weak and He does not want us to fear because He is God. We are His children and we can call on Him for power and love to help control every emotion that we’re going through in every situation. Our Father has prepared us even for the most difficult days that we can have. When life is taking us through twists, and turns, and trauma is building all around us we have an egress. It is choosing to accept the presence of God in our life, living with His word hidden in our hearts, and truly loving God, ourselves, and the people in our lives.
Let us pray:
Father God, help us to acknowledge our most vulnerable moments when life has broken us down to the point when even our mental wellness is challenged. Be our strength, God, and help us to find rest in you. Father, help us to be aware and kind to those who don’t know You and find it difficult to be present in the reality of their lives. Give us all peace and take us to a place where we can acknowledge You as Lord and Savior of our lives. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
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Scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
In a world full of uncertainty, it's hard to know how to feel about the future. While we all hope for brighter days ahead, many times the present seems to speak of only impending darkness. When the world around us causes us to lose hope, that's when we must look to the words of
the One who knows the future and has it in his hands.
The words of Jeremiah 29:11 were not only words of comfort and confidence from the prophet to the captive Israelites, they are also God's message for us today: "I know the plans I have for you " declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
God knows the future and wants us to trust him for the journey ahead. No matter how bleak the circumstances, God promises "hope and a future."
Let us pray:
Holy and Merciful Father, we thank You for the blessings of this day. We ask forgiveness for
those times we've fallen short of your will for our lives. As we prepare spiritually for this season of Lent, I pray that You are a presence of peace, healing, hope, and grace in our lives. Help us to keep our focus on You, realizing that You are the source of our living hope. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen
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“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” ~ Hebrews 11:6 KJV
Thought:
Faith is a gift! The scripture tells us that everyone has been given a measure of faith and that faith grows as we hear the word of God. That’s why we have to make time every day to read and study His word because you’re feeding your faith. If we want to please God, we must have faith in Him and acknowledge that He exists. The more you feed your faith, the more you know Him and understand His goodness.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us faith so we can be pleasing to You. Thank you for filling our hearts and minds with Your truth. Transform us into your image and let everything we do bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 (CEB)
As I’ve meditated on our church’s Lenten theme: Doing Less, Becoming More, I said, “Lord, this seems simple enough, yet how do I do this? I have so many things to do, my plate is full.” Then my answers came: Pause…be still. Be intentional with your prayer and devotional time. Be humble. Be kind. Bless others and give love.
My desire is to be in alignment with where the Lord would have me to
be.
May you be blessed and inspired on your spiritual journey during this
Lenten season.
Prayer:
Lord, please provide us with wisdom and guidance as we seek to
decrease so that you may increase. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
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”Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.“
Micah 7:18 NIV
There is no one whom compares to God. God will break the power of sin so it will not rule over us. He shows us mercy, although we repeatedly fall short from his grace. Even in his displeasure, he does not hold onto his vexation endlessly. For this, we are forgiven and for this, we are grateful.
Let us pray:
Father God,
We pray and repent from all of our iniquities. We ask you to remove any thing in our spirit that is not edifying or in accordance to your Holy Word. We come to you humbled and thankful, asking for your forgiveness and mercy. Graciously we bow at your awesomeness. Teach us to become more like you – forgiving spirits and full of grace towards others.
Thank you for your love and kindness.
In the name of Jesus. Amen
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He Must Become Greater; I Must Become Less ~ John 3:30
Thought: Five Ways to Make Christ Greater:
-
Have An Understanding of Who He Is
-
Forgive As We Have Been Forgiven
-
Love As We Are Loved
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Become Students of The Word
-
Live A Life of Prayer Marlowe, 2016
Prayer: Dear Lord, Please Forgive Us for The Times We Tend to Make Ourselves Greater Than Who We Really Are. May We Remember the Increase That Is Needed in Our Life, Is Your Son, Jesus Christ Who Will Lift Us Up, As We Lift Him Up. In His Name, We Pray, Amen
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“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Thought:
Often when we encounter challenges we run from the Lord. But it’s during these times that we need to pray without ceasing. Prayer is a conversation with God that involves speaking and listening. Be sure to listen more than you speak. Don’t allow your obstacles to prevent you from praying and giving thanks. We must pray more and expect more.
Let us pray,
Just as I am Lord, I come to you. You know my hurts, pains, problems, and needs; I lay them down before you. You promise to prosper and not to harm. I thank you in advance for what you are about to do in my life. I am expecting a breakthrough. I am expecting more in 2024. Thank you for this and all things, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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Scripture: The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. Mark 10:45
Thoughts:
As we start this season of Lent, let’s start with “Thank You.” According to the dictionary, “thank you” is a polite expression used when acknowledging a gift, service, or compliment, or accepting or refusing an offer. During this time as we rededicate, affirm, repent, fast and pray, let us remember to say, “Thank you.” It’s because of God’s gift to mankind, Jesus, that our sins have been forgiven. Thank you, Lord!
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for
you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV
THANK YOU
T - Testify of the goodness of God
H - He alone is worthy of all the praise
A - Able, to do all things but fail
N - Never, leave or forsake us
K - kindness,
Y - Yet, He loves us still
O - Oh give thanks to the Lord for he is good
U - Ultimate sacrifice Jesus
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is worthy to be praised. Psalm 113:3 KJV
Prayer:
Father God, thank you for your loving kindness that’s better than life.
Lord, help us to be disciples of your word as we draw closer to you during this season of sacrifice. May we be renewed, transformed and our hearts filled with gratitude, that it is because of Jesus that our sins have been forgiven. Thank you, Lord. Help us Abba, to be obedient to your will, and your way. In the mighty and matchless name of Jesus who is our Savior, and Redeemer, Amen.
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Hebrews 4:9-11 for anyone who enters GOD’S rest also rests from their works, just as GOD did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither, in all that he does, he prospers.
Have you ever become sluggish, tire very quickly, short tempered, preoccupied with everyone and everything that you forget your priorities such as: early rising moments spent with GOD, pausing throughout the day to breathe, give thanx, smile, read and meditate on scripture to speak and share it with another? These are indicators that we need peaceful rest in HIM to be restored, revived, thankful, energized, focused and so much more. In our busyness we cannot properly hear the voice of GOD in our spiritual growth and direction. Each season is about letting go, continuing to build up and inclusion of newness. Doing this brings refreshing strength, clarity in HIS wisdom and direction, peace, increase joy, humility and our souls being restored.
Prayer
GOD, you are our eternal hope in trials as well as celebration. Because you love us so much that you sent/gave/blessed us with your son Jesus to save us. Thank you for each day given to rest, bless and honor you. We release all our concerns, worries and strongholds to you allowing growth on our spiritual journey. We know that prayer changes everything which allows us to do less so that we become more in your service. We will flourish because of your water nourishing us in each season to rise, revive and thrive. In Jesus Precious Name, Amen.
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“God had finished the work He had been doing. So on the seventh day, He rested from all His work.” (Genesis 2:1)
“Come with me to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31b)
As Christians, we wake up in the morning thanking God for a new day and presenting our prayers and petitions to the Lord. At night we pray for a peaceful rest and for the privilege of a new morning. What happens between these two points of time? - Business or busyness.
Most of us have a calendar of specific tasks to accomplish, appointments to keep each day, whether in the business world or at home. This helps us to maintain order in our lives. But we can become so busy that life becomes strenuous . When the disciples returned from the task Jesus assigned them, to go out to the villages and preach repentance, cast out demons and heal the sick, many peoples followed them around. Jesus called the Twelve away. “Come with me to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31b). Rest helps us to recharge our bodies and give us time to think. We can use our rest time to meditate, pray, find answers in the Bible, memorize passages, to walk and admire nature, to connect with family.
At the age of twelve, Jesus responded to His earthly parents, when he was told that they were anxiously searching for Him: “…Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2 KJV) . Let us be about the Lord’s business instead of much busyness.
Let us pray,
Heavenly Father, help me to set aside busyness and to stop and rest in Your presence. Help me to devote more time to Your word. Help me to make it my business to live according to your ways, allowing the Fruit of the Spirt to grow in my heart. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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''Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
Our hectic, busy lives often leave us feeling tired, anxious, and unfulfilled. We find ourselves trying to meet time deadlines, satisfy others or just trying to get through the day. At the end of the day, we look back and wonder where the time went and what did we really accomplish. We were doing things but were sometimes left feeling that we didn't do enough. We pondered the past, worried about the future, and let the present slip through our fingers.
One strategy that is available to us, is the practice of Mindfulness: a meditative tool that allows us to focus just on today. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said: " Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.” In order for us to have more satisfying lives that provide us with the opportunity to grow spiritually, to live peacefully and to love genuinely, we need to REST, RELAX, REPLENISH AND RELEASE. In other words, we need to let go and let God have His way in our lives and He will bless us exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think. " God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Let us pray:
Dear God, help me to become more: more loving, more generous and more productive by focusing my energies and time in being present and talking to you in prayer. When I spend less time in wasteful activities, I can become a stronger, more useful member of your Kingdom. I ask this in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen
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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
Sometimes it seems like we have very little to work with. There is so much to do at home and at work and our resources are stretched thin. There is so much at work and then one of your best staff members resigns. There is so much at home with family responsibilities and maintaining our home. Then there are the unexpected repairs and work that has to be done. There never seems to be enough time or resources to accomplish what needs to be done. During these times when we seem to have so little, we just have to trust God for more. This is when we spend more time in God's word. This is when we spend more time in prayer. This is when we spend more time praising Him. God is able to do immeasurably more, or, infinitely more as the Bible says in the New Living Translation. We know that God will show up with more than we could even ask for or imagine. There is no limit to how God can answer our prayers because he is able to do more than we ask, dream or comprehend. Even though we are expecting more our prayers can't even conceive God's more. Our limited imaginations and prayers cannot limit the richness of God’s gifts. When we recognize how God has blessed us with so much more we can only be in awe of His goodness and glory.
Lord God, I know that you are a God of more. I know you are able to give me more than I can ever ask or imagine. I thank you in advance for what is to come. I trust that you will replace what has been taken away. Thank you for your goodness and grace towards me. I give you all the glory. In Jesus name, Amen!
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41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)
Our Lenten theme, “Doing Less, Becoming More,” reminds me of Mary and Martha, the sisters who invited Jesus into their home. Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made—the cleaning, the cooking, the table-setting, I imagine. Mary, on the other hand, was sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to what he said. Exasperated, Martha came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” But Jesus answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,” but only one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen what is best.
In this Lenten season, let’s choose what is best. Let’s put away busyness, or other things that cause us to worry or be upset, or that distract us from being our best selves. Let’s lay aside our self-righteous efforts to please God by our own works, which only lead to frustration. Like Mary, let’s take time to sit at Jesus’ feet, spending time with him, hearing his words, seeing his face, and basking in his love. We’ll receive more: more peace, more love, more joy, more grace. We’ll become more—more like Jesus!
My Prayer:
Dear Father, help me to spend time sitting at Jesus’ feet during this Lenten season, so I might receive more, and be more. In His name I pray. Amen
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For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (AMPC)
You cannot trust unless you believe you are loved. To grow in God and be changed, you must trust Him. Often, He will lead you in ways you cannot understand. During those times, you must have a tight grip on His love for you. The apostle Paul was convinced that nothing would ever be able to separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. You need to have that same absolute assurance of God’s undying love for you.
Accept God’s love for you and make that love the basis for your love for others. Receive His affirmation, knowing that you are changing and becoming everything He desires you to be.
Prayer of the Day: Father, help me trust in Your unending love for me, as I continue to grow in my faith. Show me how to use Your love as an example of how to show my love for other people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Scripture:
“The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever!” Isaiah 40:8
Thought:
This is one of my favorite verses in the bible because although it’s a short verse, it carries a lot of power. The Prophet Isaiah was tasked with delivering a message of hope and comfort to God’s people while being held in captivity in Babylon. As we all know, grass and flowers tend to dry up, shrink, wilt, lose their freshness, brilliance of color and vitality.
In a similar fashion, the human experience is like grass that withers and flowers that fade. The travails of life can beat down one’s spirit and self-esteem leaving you feeling defeated, depressed, and devoid of life. Problems on the job or in the home can zap one’s energy and zest for life making you feel shriveled up, discouraged, and disappointed.
The Prophet Isaiah was given the assignment of providing hope to Israel, letting them know that despite their captivity in Babylon, that the Great Shepherd of Israel and God of all creation would comfort and save his people. Great historical leaders and great empires like Babylon are here today and gone tomorrow.
Amid the fragility and instability of the human experience, there is only one thing that remains forever and stands the test of time. That is God’s Word. People, places, and things are transient, temporary, and fleeting. The Word of our God is permanent, eternal, and undying.
The Word of God is powerful, reliable, and unswerving. God is a promise keeper! “Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything He had spoken came true!” (Joshua 21:45).
Let’s rejoice and take comfort in our collective faith that is based on the solid rock of God’s unfailing Word that stands forever!
Prayer:
Father God, we thank you for your unfailing love. We thank you for your goodness, graciousness, and everlasting mercy. We pray that we can be reflection of your love now and forever more. In Jesus’ name we pray.
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Scripture:
"The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV.
Thought:
Why does God make us wait?
We know that God gives us the opportunity to place our faith and trust in Him, to be grateful for His provision, and to recognize His divine plan. God wants us to remain in a state of faith, trusting Him and relying on Him. We know He is faithful, and He will fulfill His promises in His perfect timing, just like He did with Joseph.
Prayer:
Lord God, please grant us patience, and guide us toward what you have planned for our lives. Allow us to understand that when we surrender to you, our efforts will not be in vain, and the glory will be yours. Amen.
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Scripture:
“Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:24-25, New Living Translation.
Thought:
I recently had an encounter with someone I had newly met who had observed my random act of kindness and was very much aware of my generosity. That person shared with me that I wasn’t going to get a thank you note or a Christmas card from those that I had given to. I didn’t get upset because one part of me was grateful for her courage and honesty to warn me. And that she even cared. However, I didn’t and I haven’t shared my personal story because sometimes we don’t know other peoples’ stories and their truths.
There was a time when I was divorced, working two jobs, and barely making ends meet. I felt that time would never end. I prayed a lot and promised God that when He blessed me that I would bless others. I also promised God that I would be in a church every Sunday and that I would support that church and participate in some church activities. That was over 50 years ago. I was 28 years old back then and since that time I have seen fully and became aware of God being good to me. Therefore, I want to keep my promise to God. There are people who mean well but don’t understand your calling. Therefore, they can discourage you, which ends up with them not doing anything and neither are you. And nothing gets done.
I love Charles Stanley and I have listened to him since 1983 until he recently passed away. One of his encouragements was to “obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.” I heard and I know that when God places something on my heart, I must comply. Like in encouraging someone or to give at a particular time. Because I desire with all my heart to be a follower of Jesus and not a fan, I choose to be obedient. God has rewarded me in so many ways; I am truly grateful to Him which is why I do what I do as I feel obedience is better than sacrifice.
God, you are a promise keeper. You have enabled and strengthen me to keep my promises to you - be it small or otherwise. For your Word tells me that you always bless obedience and nothing good would you withhold from those that walk uprightly before You. I am a witness to this. (Joel 2: 25 – “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.)”
Let us Pray:
Father God, it is my prayer that you make yourself known to us and that we may be willing to surrender to your calling. The Bible says that we will be known as Christians by our love. May it be so for each of us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12, NLT
We often get upset when someone’s not treating us right or lets us down, when a relationship disappoints us, or when incorrect assumptions are made about us or our motives. We all face situations where things don’t go as planned, and it’s easy to become frustrated when circumstances just don’t seem to be improving. But much of what we face in life is a test. We don’t really know what’s in us until we’re put under pressure. It’s easy to have a good attitude when people are being good to us and doors are opening. But how about when it’s just the opposite?
Before Jesus was crucified, Peter told Him, “I will lay down my life for You.” Peter’s heart was right, and that statement was easy to make at the Passover meal in an atmosphere of faith. But when the heat was turned up and Peter was confronted about being Jesus’ disciple during His trial, Peter denied he knew Jesus three times. Pressure usually brings to light weaknesses in our character. If we’re willing to change, to make adjustments, to start passing those tests, God will trust us with MORE of His favor, as He did Peter. God doesn’t give up on us when we fail.
Following Christ is a marathon with hardships, obstacles, and unexpected turns. As a follower of Jesus, giving up is not who we are; God equips us to finish strong. Even when we don’t see it or feel it, He’s working….working things out for our good. 2 Corinthians 11:22-28 describes all the apostle Paul endured for Christ, yet he did not quit. Why? Because of His awareness that God was with Him. Like Paul, we must keep on keeping on. The awareness of His presence will take us through things that nothing else will. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!
If we believe that what God says is true and that He is true to His word, then we know there is MORE in store if we endure. Our season of preparation will lead to promotion. So, let’s press on, for we are guaranteed victory, joy, and eternity with Him.
Father, thank You that You are using the pressure of challenges and temptations to make us stronger and grow us up. Thank You that every test of our faith is preparing us to overcome and persevere, to go higher and increase. We believe that if we endure, we will be rewarded. On this Lenten journey, help us to remain faithful, to trust and obey, and to stand on Your word. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
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Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ~ Matthew 4:1
Lent is an interesting season – one of self-denial, penitence, prayer and reflection. I often wondered why we, as Christ’s followers, needed to fast for 40 days. Is this merely a ritual that we’ve become accustomed to observing or is there any significance to this discipline? Well, if we look at the life of Jesus, he fasted for 40 days after being baptized by his cousin John the Baptist and before he began his earthly ministry. He refused to eat things that would typically sustain his human form because he was preparing for another level of service. Jesus, the Godman, was doing less and becoming more. I challenge each of you who’ve begun this journey of doing less to understand a few things:
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Saying no to something that gives you pleasure (like food) has tangible and intangible benefits
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Your period of restricting yourself is not a forever proposition. This too shall pass
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After it’s over, like Jesus, you’ll be tested in the areas of passion, power and praise
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When you pass these tests, angels will be dispatched to minister to you
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The test prepares us for other levels of service
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The Lord is always with you
So, family, take full advantage of this time of testing, understanding that when you pass the test of doing less, God has more in store for your life!
Let us pray:
Gracious God, we thank You for this season of doing less. We ask that You would be present for every one of these Lenten days. Remind us that, after our testing, our more is on the way. Give us the wherewithal to handle our more, to walk in our more and to enjoy the more You have in store. This we pray, in Jesus’s name, Amen.
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17 To Adam he said, “because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you will return.“ ~ Genesis 3:17-19 NIV
Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent reminds us that we are from dust and return to dust. It also reminds us, that we will die and face the consequences of sin. Lent is an invitation to reflect, repent, and renew our commitment to living a life of faith.
As we look back on our Christian journey, we may notice that there have been hills and valleys. Nevertheless, we know that true repentance brings about forgiveness. Our receiving of ashes is a sign of penance.
Ashes have a place of prominence throughout the Old Testament. Ashes were used by Job, Daniel, Jeremiah, and the king of Nineveh to denote penance. The Lenten season is supposed to encourage spiritual growth and deeper faith. For some it means giving something up for the entire forty-day period, while others engage in acts of giving and service.
What does it take for your faith life to be renewed? Only you and the Lord know.
Lenten Prayer
Heavenly Father, guide us through the season of reflection, repentance and renewal. Lord, you know that we are in the midst of dangers seen and unseen. We cannot face them in our weakness. Grant us strength and grant us protection. Support us in all danger, and carry us through all temptations. We offer this prayer in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Our meditation for today comes from Psalm 63:1-3 NRSV.
O God, you are my God; I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
David pens this prayer while on the run from Saul in the wilderness of Judah. Judah means praise the Lord and David is running for his life while landing in a place with a name to remind him to give God praise in all circumstances. But what is particularly striking is this longing for the presence of God that is described as physical longings - thirsting and fainting. Yet there is a memory of worship, a recalling of the presence of God and His loyal love that encourages the heart of the fugitive, the man on the run to the point that he moves from being in a place of praise to actually offering God a praise. As we are in this final week of Lent, Passion week, let us seek to lean into Christ so that we too may be a praise unto God.
Heavenly and loving God, may we seek your presence with greater intensity, may we long to draw closer to your bleeding side and May we always remember that your love is loyal and faithful. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
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“Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “if you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Matthew 4:1-3 NIV
It was not until AFTERthe fast, that Jesus was tempted by Satan, when Jesus might have been His mostvulnerable. It was then, that the power of the Lord was most apparent. It was then, that the REAL work began. Jesus’ ministry started in earnest AFTER His victory over these snares that had been set by the devil.
We must be careful not to let our guard down AFTER we end our period of fasting and prayer. The devil continues to prowl in search of our vulnerabilities. We cannot become complacent when we pass through these trials, we must remain strong and resolute because when our fast is over…. the REAL work begins.
Dear Lord, help us to remain strong and faithful to our pledge to you. We know that we need to persevere during our time of fasting, but help us to continue to be strong, after, our fast when our guard may be down. Lord, protect us and provide us with the strength of character you modeled to us through the scriptures. We ask this in the name of your son, Jesus our Lord, Amen.
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“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 NIV
The world grovels at the feet of people who are high achievers in finance, or those from the music theater, or movie industries, or from sports or dance; you name it. We laud praise and honor on the “flavor of the month.” We prostrate ourselves at the altars of the glamorous, the beautiful, the influencers.
A new acronym has entered our jargon: G.O.A.T., the Greatest Of All Times, which identifies people who have excelled in their fields, like Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback in the NFL; Pele, the greatest soccer player of all time; LeBron James, the greatest NBA player (now that he has surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for career scoring record, he surpasses Michael Jordan; for some that is still a “maybe”); Serena, greatest female professional tennis player; just her first name is enough for people to know who she is. We have Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy as the greatest female and male screen legends. In dance we have Anna Pavlova, a ballerina, and Michael Jackson as the all-time greatest dancers. In the world of finance and money, we have Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Gates.
But at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that the REAL G.O.A.T is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. A man who is the living Word, the Logos, very God from very God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light. His sacrifice, not just the bloodied dying on a cross but the separation from His Father, “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?” has given me, you, and all humankind the redemption that only His death and resurrection could achieve. Only God could pay the penalty that the righteous, just God of the Hebrew people demanded, the very God whose name is so precious and sacred that He is YHWH, the Elohim of our salvation, the bright and morning star, the Yes and Amen, the Alpha and Omega, the One True God, King of kings and Lord of Lords, the mighty Counselor, the Prince of my peace and your peace, the Lamb of God. The great I AM.
Pray with me:
Lord, You are the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Abide with us this day; capture our hearts and imaginations so that during this Lenten season, all we see is You and who we truly are in You. In Your precious, forgiving, loving, restoring, redemptive Name, Jesus the Christ. Huzzah! So Be It.
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When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30(NIV)
This scripture is the conclusion of the account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, what we now refer to as Good Friday. However, when you read the story there doesn't seem to be anything good here: Jesus carrying the cross on the journey to the crucifixion, the mocking on the way, the beating, being pierced by a crown of thorns and His ultimate death. We can only imagine the grief and horror of those that had been close to Jesus - His family members, His disciples, His friends. Even though the scriptures had prophesied AND Jesus taught that He would rise again, it was a very dark day, with sadness and anguish. People had lost hope because they believed that Jesus would be their Redeemer and become their Earthly king, freeing them from oppression of the Roman government. His death left many with feelings of hopelessness and despair.
We as believers now call that fateful Friday Good Friday but that's only because we know how the story unfolded. When Jesus said "It is finished", His earthly ministry had come to an end but it certainly was not the end of the story. The prophecies were being fulfilled. The full story is Jesus suffering, death AND resurrection! When Sunday came the gift of Salvation was made available to us all. This was a gift not just for the moment or the season, but for eternity and for us all who would believe!
Now thinking back to what those moments on Friday must have been like and the responses of the people all around. I also think about today when we are going through things, our deepest darkest hours of grief, times of challenge, times of conflict.
Sometimes it might be difficult to call a day “good” because of what we can see in front of us.
It might be difficult to recognize:
…that later (maybe three days, maybe more or maybe less) that something good is coming
…that God is working out a bigger plan that we can't see in that moment.
When we remember that on Resurrection Sunday the goodness, and the prophecy, and the promises of Jesus were being fulfilled, then we are reminded that God is continually working out his plan for our lives. We can in those moments (in those Friday moments) remember that Sunday is coming. Deliverance is coming. Resurrection is coming. Salvation is coming!
Lord help us to always remember that your plan is always at work and still at work even when we have confusion, despair, or just not enough information about what's coming next. Help us to remember that your plan is always at work even when we feel uncomfortable, sad or grieved. Help us to remember that your plan is at work and bring us to a place of peace knowing that you are in control and you're working it out for the good of us, those that love you Lord. We thank you, we praise you.
In Jesus name, Amen
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Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation also called Afib at 23 years old which is sometime ago. Afib is an irregular heartbeat. I don’t have it all the time. It happened more frequently when I was younger. Before last year -2022, the last episode was in 2015. When that happened – long story, short – I ended up in the hospital for a week and was cardioverted. Basically, I describe cardioversion as the way they shock dead people. Doctors don’t describe it that way, but…
When I had another Afib episode last year, I decided I didn’t want to be shocked again or be in the hospital for a week. My new cardiologist was on board. She had a drug that could get me back into sinus rhythm, which is a regular rhythm. To make this happen, I needed to spend sometime in the hospital and they would watch me to see if the drug actually worked.
I got to the hospital relatively early. I was hoping that it would be quick. The nurse practitioner told me I’d be out before lunch. Of course, that didn’t happen and I had a great hospital lunch. (I also have jokes.) What I was doing was just lying in the hospital bed waiting. I was checked pretty regularly. My doctor came by a few times too. On her second or third visit she seemed a little disappointed, but not really surprised that it wasn’t working. I gathered that the usual protocol was to try this pill and when it didn’t work roll the patient into the area where cardioversions take place.
The next check on my blood pressure gave a result of 85/40. Clearly, I don’t suffer from white coat syndrome. Hospitals and doctors don’t raise my blood pressure. My normal blood pressure runs from 90/60 – 110/70. This extra low blood pressure is one of the reasons I ended up in the hospital for a week in 2015. After the Nurse Practitioner left from checking on me, I could see my heart rate was bouncing all over the place. 97, 114, 78, 123. This is actually unusual for me. When I’m in afib, my heart rate is typically a regular irregular of less than 60 bpm.
The only thing for me to do was wait, think…and pray. I remembered Dr. Khaalida Forbes speaking at a Healthy Churches 2030 conference a few years ago. She said something about letting God heal you the way He wants. She was really talking about mental health and how some of us don’t get the help that we need and is available. You know that sometimes we ask God for something and tell Him how to do it too. Not our job. In this moment, I knew this applied to me. I wanted to be healed, my way. I just wanted the pill to fix it. In that next moment I decided that whatever way I needed to be healed, I would take it. If I had to have a cardioversion or any other process or procedure, I would be ok. I’d be healed. Then I prayed that God heal me whatever way He wanted. Almost instantly, I felt my heart go back to a normal rhythm. I looked at the monitor to see if I was just kidding myself. I wasn’t. I saw a pretty steady 64.
I just laid there for a little while and waited for the Nurse Practitioner to come back. She was talking as she walked toward my bed. I could hear in her voice that she wasn’t expecting success. When she finally got close enough to look at the monitor, she said excitedly, “You’re in sinus rhythm.” “I know,” I replied rather coolly. Next she said, “You better praise God.” .
I’m still praising Him.
Btw, my blood pressure was 90/60 on that next check and I was free to go home.
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But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)
Acknowledging weakness is viewed negatively by the world. I was always taught and told to be strong and independent, not to show weakness. However, scripture says‘…God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.’ (1Corinthians 1:20 NLT). God allows trials, temptations, and afflictions, or ‘thorns’ in our lives to strengthen our faith in Him. As we go through our weaknesses, the Lord is waiting for us to seek Him and rely on His divine strength and power, not our own.
The apostle Paul pleaded with Jesus three times to take away his troubling affliction, the thorn in his flesh. Jesus did not remove his thorn. Instead, He told Paul “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9a). In response to Jesus’s words, Paul said he would gladly boast about his weaknesses so Christ’s power would rest on him. Paul trusted the sufficiency of the Lord’s grace and experienced Christ’s perfect power. Through boasting about his weaknesses, Paul gave Jesus, the source of his abiding strength, all the glory and not himself. Paul knew it was because of the power he had through Jesus’s grace that even in weakness, he was strong.
Jesus said “…Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT). Like Paul we can also experience Christ’s all sufficient power and give the Lord the glory by boasting about our weakness. We can break free from fear of weakness due to life’s struggles, temptations, trials, or any ‘thorn’. We don’t have to do it alone, in our inadequate strength. Our weakness becomes the place where we experience Christ’s power. So, acknowledge your weakness, turn it over to the Lord and trust in His divine grace and power. The Lord may not remove your thorn, but He has promised, “...Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”So, we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV)
Abba Father, when we are faced with the thorns of life, help us to seek you as our ultimate source of strength and power. Help us to break free from fear of our weaknesses and see them as opportunities to experience your perfect power and glorify Your name. Thank you for always being with us and for being our strength. To You and you alone be all glory, honor, and praise. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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“…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”
Ephesians 1:4
Before the trees full of leaves swaying in the breeze
Before the wind blowing and swirling in the air
Before the clouds billowy and white
Before the sun flaming bright
Before the grass growing plentiful and green
Before the oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams
Before the birds singing their songs and dreams
Before the ground expansive and strong
Before the flowers unfolding their soft and delicate beauty
Before the stars illuminating in the sky
Before the light of day and the night so deep
Before the water filled with every creature powerful and unique
Before the plants and seeds to nourish and feed
Before the animals walked the earth to roam and lead
Before the foundation of it all, we were all woven together in the Spirit of the Lord.
He imagined what our face, hair, hands, feet, arms, legs, and total being would be.
We were all created in his love before anyone created could see.
What we should see when we look at one another is an amazing sister and caring brother.
God made all of us for His purpose and plan.
All living together throughout the world on every land.
Dear Lord,
We are reminded thankful that you are love and created us before the world began. We choose your way, your will, and your plan. We choose to live together in your love sent from heaven from your heart above.
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"Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand." Isaiah 41: 10
In this world, there will be trials and tribulations. Burdens of illness, burdens of financial hardship, burdens of Marital problems, burdens of grief and so on. Burdens small or large but one of the ones that affects us the most is the burden of FEAR, specifically fear of the unknown. In this passage, our God tells us not to be afraid or worry. He is our Sovereign Father and when there is a need, He will help us, strengthen us and uphold us with His Righteous Right Hand. For this love affair to be complete, we must read His word, believe in His word and pray consistently.
Lord, Your finished work on Calvary by faith has awarded us the freedom, knowing that we can come before your throne at any time without FEAR but with boldness and humility. Even our Savior was afraid of the unknown on the cross but He gave it all to His Father who was with him to the end. Heavenly Father, give us the grace to know that we are not alone. We have a loving Father who is always ready to carry our burdens if we allow Him to. In Jesus’ Mighty name l have prayed. AMEN AND AMEN.
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Rejoice in hope; Be patient in tribulation; Be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12 ESV
Do you feel defeated and helpless? Are the trials of this life, beating you down...
such as trials with unexpected failing health, sudden loss of a love one, lack of finances to meet your needs, disobedient children, and the list can go on and on? But there is good news. Our consistent prayer and daily scripture readings, in the presence of God, can strengthen and uplift our downtrodden and crushed spirits and give us a spirit of hope and victory, rather than hopelessness and defeat.
Consistent prayer with God and daily scripture readings allow us to see the heart of Jesus. God has a divine purpose for those who love him. He wants His children to be victorious over the trials of this life. The scripture tells us to cast all our burdens upon the Lord, for He cares for us. Consistent prayer with God allows us to build a strong and intimate relationship with him. This is where we meet him early morning or at any time of the day, to lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus.
Please join me in a few affirmations:
Affirmation #1: I will acknowledge my faith and trust in God. I am sure of this: God is with me always, even unto the end of the earth.
Affirmation #2: I will praise the Lord for the help of my countenance when my soul is downcast, because I trust He will help me to have victory over defeat in my life.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, our service is committed to you. Heal our broken hearts and rescue our crushed spirit from the cares of this world. Show us how to overcome defeat and be victorious through Christ Jesus. IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE PRAY, AMEN.
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But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 NIV
Surviving chaos is a burden that many of us live with today. When you turn on the news, you see the direction the world is headed. A war in Ukraine, earthquakes in Turkey, shootings in schools, men convicted of murdering their families and unyielding racial social unrest. As witnesses to the pressures of the world, we not only carry the burden of caring for the well-being of ourselves but for our loved ones as well. We struggle to imagine a day when peace will prevail and we will be free from hurt, pain and calamity.
In Micah chapter 7, we see a similar type of chaos unfolding around the prophet, as the Israelites are surrounded by dishonor, evil and confusion. The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes... (Micah 7:2-3) Nevertheless, Micah, a man of God, leaned into his faith, and was assured that if he waited on the Lord that his desires to be delivered would be heard. Micah teaches us a valuable lesson in how to Break free from the burden of surviving chaos. Put your hope in the Lord. Wait for him and he will hear you. It is the same blueprint that Christ would come to use as he followed the path to salvation. As we reflect on Christ’s journey to the cross, may we be encouraged to break free from the burden of surviving chaos, by laying our burdens at the feet of God and trusting that God will hear and answer.
LORD, you are our hope, our joy and our peace. You love us and have called us to release our burdens to you. As we go through our burden of survival, help us to remember that You will never leave nor forsake us. And even in our pain, if we put our hope in You, that You will NEVER fail. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:3-6 NLT
Have you felt alone, lost, confused, unwanted, depleted, annoyed with others or self, experiencing financial hardship, loss of life, sickness, loss of job, self-confidence, feeling JUST stuck? Fear Not ‼️ REST IN HIM 👆🏾
GOD reminds us to trust HIM and do good and continue on our journey in spite of obstacles. HE is El Roi – the GOD who sees us, knows us and got us.
What is the spiritual meaning of trust?
Having faith is having trust. You have to trust with your entire being that God has your back that he will help you and take care of you. He knows what is best, but to truly embrace what He has planned for you, you have to fully trust. Our trust is not foolish, for our God is both faithful and good.
The enemy wants us to stop praying because it seems as if nothing is happening or taking place in our lives especially for complete healing of infirmities, mental illness, diseases and sickness.
BUT, don’t stop‼️ Trust HIM ‼️ Keep pressing through. Be vigilant and focus on and in seeking HIS face.
Brothers and Sisters, let us call on HIM at all times and release our thanksgiving with a grateful heart. HE forgives our sins - intentional and unintentional, our laziness, those crunchy moments with others and self, our unwillingness at times to let go and allow HIM to lead and grow us, when we are slow to make time to sit in HIS presence and listen, replacing our Bible study time with the tv, shopping or, social media, when we can go to the club, pub, picnics, our school homecoming, or choosing bedside Baptist over attending our church service on time and in person or YouTube. Please forgive us GOD.
Resting in HIM allows us to quiet ourselves before GOD and revives our mind, body, and spirit.
Resting in HIM is when we recuperate, rejuvenate, and re-center ourselves so we can better serve HIM and HIS very own.
Again, I encourage all of us to begin and for others to continue to Trust HIS word and process. Trust that HE will make all things new.
Father, we humble ourselves before you to thank you for your greatness, loving kindness, favor, protection, discipline, direction, blessing of life and calling us into your assignments each day. Thank you for calling and equipping us, allowing us to reflect and pause to share our concerns and ask you questions. Your constant presence gives us strength, life and assurance which is needed for renewal, repentance and revival. Even in the midst of challenges and hardships, You, dear GOD, are there to whisper, embrace, direct and carry us through. You have turned our sadness into gladness and unspeakable joy, those cloudy thoughts into clarity and great faith. We honor and love you richly. Have your way in us and through us. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen
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When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
Job 34:29a
When we look around us, we find so much trouble. Trouble in our bodies where we, who have been healthy our entire lives, are now experiencing aches and pains that we don’t recognize. Trouble in our homes in which spouses are at war with one another, parents can’t seem to stay on the same page as children and in-laws have become outlaws. Then we turn on the radio or watch our televisions or open our newspapers and we find trouble in our communities where the constant refrain has become, “Things like that have never happened in our neighborhoods” but the increase in gun availability, illegal substances and lack of resources have caused spikes in violence, unusual behavior and upticks in crime. Then we hear about trouble in our government where politicians are lacking civility, inciting violence and speaking without thinking. Yes, we can find trouble in so many areas of our lives. And that may be bad news to some of us. But I’m so glad that we have a Lord who liberally dispenses peace in the midst of our storms, calm in the middle of our tornadoes and quiet in the center of our noise. And even when trouble seems to be in every corner of our lives, God makes sure to place us in the eye of the storm so that if we just depend on Him, that trouble, though present, won’t cause us to lose focus or be completely overwhelmed.
Let us pray:
Gracious Lord, we bring the trouble in our lives to You. We ask You to address all of these challenges and grant us Your peace that transcends all human understanding. Thank you for giving us quiet in the midst of the white noise and making us able to keep our eyes on You, in Jesus’s name, we pray, Amen!
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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:1 NKJV
Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12) and he is the Word that is a lamp to our feet (Psalms 119:105) guiding us in the path and purpose for our lives. He is the Son of God who makes a way where there seems there is none (Matthew 7:7-8). When we think Jesus is not near to us the Word of God tells us Jesus has always been there from the beginning and he is the remedy for our lives.
Our Lord Jesus is our answer for everything. Jesus was the remedy for the woman at the well, he was the remedy for those that were blind, he was the remedy for the woman with the issue of blood, he was the remedy to feed the five thousand who were hungry, and he was the remedy for those who were lost and needed to be found. Whether we are looking for a remedy for our marriage, our finances, or an illness we are dealing with – Jesus is the remedy. Whatever we are facing Jesus is the one that is near to listen and will never leave us to ourselves (Hebrews 13:5).
We can call on Jesus and there is no 24-hour hotline, voicemails to leave, call-back numbers to give, and referrals to use. All we need to give is our heart, sharing it all with Jesus.
Dear Lord,
You are everything and when someone is looking for someone to help - before we reach for anything or call someone on the phone – we can say a prayer, read your precious Word, and get ready knowing in our hearts you have heard, and are answering the call because you are Jesus, Lord of our life and our remedy. Thank you for being there for us always, in Jesus’s name we do pray, AMEN!
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“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 62:5-6
This scripture resonates with me because I am in the season of waiting. I am waiting and learning to silence my anxiety, babbling, and impatience. I am learning to be still, and I am asking the Holy Spirit to help me to be silent and wait for the voice of God. He is the rock and my ultimate Fortress. I know that if I am obedient to his will and I align my will to His will, my life’s purpose will be fulfilled. I am in a season of waiting! I am waiting and wanting to fulfil God’s purpose. If you find yourself waiting also, remember who God is and you too will be steady during this challenging season.
Let us pray:
Holy Spirit, guide me! Help me to silence my desire to speak more than to listen. Help to demolish my own agenda and pursue God’s plan. Help me to be silent, to be still and be connected to my Savior. This I pray, in the name of my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
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“I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.” John 17: 23 CSB
Kevon drove up to the school and parked in front of the building so he could quickly run to the door and pick-up his 6-year-old nephew, Dennison, by 3pm. His brother had sent him at the last minute since he was stuck in a meeting and wouldn’t be able to get his son. Kevon told him, “No problem,” since he hadn't spent time with his nephew in a while and it would give him a chance to find out how school was going with the boy.
The dismissal attendant released the child to his uncle once he identified himself, on schedule. But imagine her surprise when she made her way to her car 45-minutes later and was asked by the man if she could give his car a jump because it wouldn't start. Sitting in the backseat was Dennison. “Hi!,” the child exclaimed. How could she say no to the uncle of the little boy who’d been at school all day and was anxiously waiting to get home. “Do you have cables,” she asked? “I do,” Kevon replied.
The woman pulled her vehicle alongside the stalled car, close enough for the cables to reach from her battery to his. A school custodian had been watching nearby and eventually came over to help. “Do you have heavier cables?” he asked Kevon. The uncle said he did not. “Well, then they will have to do,” the custodian said matter-of-factly. After raising both hoods, a connection was made from her power source to the opposite end of the cables attached to his battery. She started her car, giving it a little gas to increase the flow of electricity going through the cables. After some adjustment of the connections, a complete circuit was formed and the weakened battery in Kevon’s car started up. Grateful, the man thanked both the lady and the custodian for their help and drove off with his nephew happily in tow.
Similarly, when Jesus went to the garden in Gethsemane, he went to connect to His power source, the Heavenly Father. Although he took along Peter and two other disciples, his primary purpose was one thing: to connect to the power source He would need to withstand what was about to happen to the human side of Him. And what would be Jesus’s jumper cables? The same as ours – Prayer. Three times Jesus went back to His disciples and asked them to watch his back and pray, while He went to pray to His father in heaven. Jesus understood that not only would He need the power from His father to endure the suffering to come, but that He needed to make that connection with the Father for us; so that when we pray to God, Jesus would be our “jumper cables” through which the eternal connection would be made. And, we would be “in the Father” because Jesus was in us, making the connection one… a completed circuit through which all life on earth and in heaven is given.
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"Everything is permissible for me," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me," but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV
A few weeks ago, I was thinking about what thing in my life I would like to abstain from during the Lenten Season. I look forward to Lent as an opportunity to work on removing things that might hinder my walk with God. I eventually decided I would give up sugar. I settled into the idea, knowing that giving up sugar would be hard enough to do, making it a sacrificial act. But also knowing that it would be good start to a developing a healthier lifestyle.
“I can do this, I thought. Then it struck me: My morning tea with no honey?!! How can I possibly go 40 days with no honey? I mean after all, I had already swapped my daily cup of hot delicious coffee for this healthier tea! But I had purposed this in my heart, and settled into my days with no sugar.
This Lenten Season has made me think about how we have so much, and how easy it is to become bound by those things. We have beautiful cars, homes and TVs with 200 sports channels. We can travel from coast to coast of the US in a just few hours. We carry the information of the world in our hands every day, in our cell phones. We live lives our ancestors could not even dream, as they prayed and hoped for a better life.
While none of these are harmful in themselves, how much more important is it to have God’s Love? How much more beneficial is it to walk closely with Our Lord? How soul satisfying it is to be able to commune with Him and to be able to hear from Him There is no job, no car, no vacation spot or cup of honey sweetened tea that is sweeter than the love of God.
Enjoy the gifts from God, for He wants you to have abundance. But do not let any one thing become greater in your life than Him. Take time to hear from God, read the Word, spend time in his presence praying and worshipping. Give thanks continually. Any good thing you have is a gift from God. Just be careful not to allow these gifts to become a barrier between you and the promise of eternal life with Him
Let’s go to the Lord:
Heavenly Father, you are so good to us-even better than we deserve. Thank you for your grace and your mercy. Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to turn to you and not let the things of the world become louder than your voice, Oh Lord. Help us to keep our walk with you strong. We need you paramount in our lives -now more than ever. Help us to make you first. We ask these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
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But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him and His righteousness, and with their children’s children. Psalm 103:17 NIV
Many years ago, during a Women’s League Ministry meeting, we were asked to name our favorite book and verse in the Bible. At the time I didn’t have a favorite Bible chapter or verse. I had just joined MPC and started attending Bible study and Sunday School. I don’t know why I chose that Psalm, but I remember I had read a verse in Psalm 103, and verse 17 stood out. My children were younger at the time and they were always on my heart and on my mind. I was always anxious about their whereabouts, and as I was going through the MPC Museum, I saw this Psalm and verse 17 stood out in my memory. “But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness, and with their children’s children.” I looked up this Psalm and started reading and praying this Psalm. Verse 1 opened my heart and mind for prayer. Praising the Lord is what I want to do every day, and I understand that is what God created us to do. Verse 8 tells us, “The Lord works justice for the down trodden, and oppressed,” AND reminds me that God looks out for people of color and the marginalized. His compassion, grace, and abundant love is what I have experienced and know in my heart, this is the God I serve. I don’t fear God, but revere, respect and admire Him. Verse 17 tells me God’s love will outlast my time and my children’s time on this earth. That is why I praise my God!
Father God, I come to you today thanking you for the gift of this day. This scripture has strengthened my faith and opened my eyes to the blessings of the Lord. I’m grateful that You care for those who others look down on and thankful for everything You have blessed me throughout my life. I pray that others will discover this psalm and it will minister to their lives as it ministered to mine. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen
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I called upon the Lord in distress, the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Psalm 118:5-6
God answers our distress call with freedom. When we are desperate, or in a place where we see no light or just lost our direction, that is when God steps in. He will move us to a large space and show us that there is more to life than the limited choices that we see due to the “blinders of desperation” that are blocking our view. We must remember what God did for David, when he delivered him from all his troubles, and then placed him on the throne of Israel and gave him rest from all his enemies.
Our Father who art in Heaven, thank you for being our refuge and strength in the time of trouble. Father God, help us to remember that you do hear and answer our prayers, in your time and not ours. I pray that we remain in the constancy of your Grace. I will look back and thank you God and I will look forward and trust you God. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Psalm 55:22 NIV
I remember as a child watching the cartoon Tooter Turtle. The main character was a turtle named Tooter that would go into the woods to visit his friend’s house, Mr. Wizard the lizard. Mr. Wizard could send Tooter anywhere in time and space. On this one occasion, Tooter had seen a movie about pilots in WWI and Tooter thought he could be an Ace pilot too, so he could shoot down the Red Baron. Mr. Wizard warned him this could be dangerous and wasn’t “child’s play” but Tooter insisted so he sent him. Tooter was doing okay until he ran into the Red Baron. The Baron shot Tooter’s plane from under him and he had no parachute – because pilots didn’t have them yet. As Tooter was tumbling to earth headed for certain destruction, he called out to Mr. Wizard saying, “SAVE ME” and Mr. Wizard did and brought Tooter safely home. Every week, Tooter would be on a new adventure and the Wizard would have to save him every time and bring him back home.
I marvel sometimes how much I am like Tooter. I think we all have some Tooter tendencies. Not heeding warnings, wanting to do things our way, biting off more than we can chew, and getting into situations and troubles that only God can get us out of. Does this sound familiar?
Sometimes the chains we need to break free from are of our own doing. It’s a constant battle between my flesh and my spirit. My spirit doesn’t always win. “The things I don’t want to do, that I do.” But thanks be to our Lord and Savior that He has chosen us to be His children and that we have accepted this call. For as a child of God, we have an inheritance bought by the blood of Jesus. Part of that inheritance is our ability to talk to our Father at any time and bring our cares and concerns to Him and He hears our cry. We might not always get the answer we want, but He always answers.
Thank you, Lord, for always answering our prayers, supplications and petitions and always being there for us. Sometimes we wander off the path you have desired for us. Sometimes we have a “good idea” but not a “God Idea” and we follow our own desires. Help us, Lord, to listen and obey your voice. We know your voice because we are your sheep. Please help us to remember to bring everything to You in prayer. Help us to hear You in our decision making, so that we may break free from the shackles that bind us. For this, we give you all the praise, honor and glory, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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Do not grieve, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10b
Consider it pure JOY, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds James 1:2
When I think of the word “joy,” I smile, remembering the gift of a newborn healthy child, squeals of laughter when I played games with my young children, good times at the park and getting together with family and friends. Joy is synonymous with good times.
Word came to Nehemiah that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the gates were burned to the ground. He prayed to God that King Artaxerses would give him permission to go and rebuild the walls and gates. Permission granted. However, those who opposed the rebuilding sabotaged the work in every way. They plotted to stir up trouble among the workers. The Jews complained that they were being overworked and were being forced to borrow money at high interest rates to live and pay taxes in order to rebuild the walls.
The apostle James said consider it “joy” when you face trials of many kinds. Remember Stephen? The Bible says he was “a man full of God’s grace and power and did wonders and miraculous signs among the people.” He was stoned to death for his faith in Jesus Christ. Remember Paul? At first, he was zealous in persecuting Christians; then Jesus called him to take the gospel to the Gentiles. He was persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, threatened in every way.
What Joy is there in persecution, opposition, ridicule, war, wrongful imprisonment or beatings?
There is no joy in these actions. The joy is in the mercy of God who Himself provided a sacrifice for our wrongdoings, His Son, Jesus the Christ, who willingly gave His life for all who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior.
Nehemiah prayed to God throughout this ordeal asking God to “remember him with favor”, and God did. The project was completed. The people celebrated with sacrifices, offerings and reading the law. Stephen died, but the believers were scattered all over, taking the gospel message wherever they went. Paul was ridiculed, beaten, shackled and placed in prison, but he persevered in his mission, to take the gospel message to the Gentiles. The end result, “JOY” for all who received the message.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your son Jesus Christ. I pray that your Holy Spirit will be in my mind and in my understanding and that the words that I speak will not cause pain. Give me joy in the midst of every situation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen
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“ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” James 1:1-5
When we as Christians feel burdened and encumbered, and at times, simply overwhelmed, we often feel as if we want to give up, … throw in the towel, and wonder what good is any of my continued efforts achieving? When I’m in this space, this is what I suggest:
Turn to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the promises that God has made to me, and that His plans for me are not to “harm me, but to prosper me and to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). So whenever I feel as if I can’t go on, I meditate on the promises of God, and that no matter what I’m going through, I will keep a smile on my face because I know I’m already spoken for, and that whatever is currently burdening me, through God’s grace and my perseverance, I will break free and fully realize my maturity in Christ, being complete and not lacking anything.
Almighty Father, my preserver and benefactor, I heartily thank thee for the manifold blessings you bestow upon my life daily. If it be your will, continue to sustain me and increase my faith. Keep me steadfast in the face of all adversity. Remind me not to be anxious about anything, but bring everything through prayer, petition and with joyful thanksgiving to You. And no matter what burdens life brings my way, I know that I am already free from potential harm, because You told me of the plans that You have for me. Thank You for guarding my heart and mind forever. I thank You for setting me free. I know I’m free indeed. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT
In facing the daily storms in this world of humanity, we are sometimes distracted from our God. The storms of grief, finances and health are the temporary distractions that others are facing as well. The adversary’s goal is to cause us to become stuck, so our faith and our strength given to us by God is weakened. Each of our storms are reasons to refocus on breaking free from the adversary. The Word reminds us to give our storms over to God, while staying alert and praising God so that He gets the glory on the other side of the storm.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the wisdom to know the challenges that I face daily are temporary, even when they seem permanent. You remind me that you are covering me and there will be glory on the other side of this storm. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NIV
“Why am I going through these situations? Why do I keep hurting? When will this pain go away?” Sometimes it can feel like we’re alone in this thing called life. We try to live the right way; we go to church and still we face troubles and heartache. It’s easy to ask, “where is God?” It’s easy to feel that he doesn’t care about what we are going through. But it’s during those hard times that God is there the most. God cares about our hurts and pains. He cares about the troubles we go through. Keep in mind that God took on the form of a man so that he could feel all that we feel – pain and all. As we go through the Lenten season, let’s remember that because God cares so much for us, He was willing to take on all of our sins. Let’s remember that He cried out to the Father in pain and agony for us. So, when you’re feeling down, when you feel that you can’t take anymore heartache and the load is too much, let’s cast all of that anxiety, worry and pain onto Him, because He is there and he does care.
Lord God, thank you for loving us so much. Thank you for your mercy, your grace, your loving kindness. Thank you for being our rock when we are not strong. Lord God, help us to remember how much you love us. Help us to remember what you did for us on the cross. Thank you for taking our sins, our burdens, our pain and our hurt on the cross with you. We thank you, merciful father, and ask you for strength as we go through this season. Help us to remember, Lord God, that You’re always in control even when everything is out of control. We love you; we give you all the honor and praise, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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Come to me , all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
In the spring of 2019, I woke up with a fever. I hadn't been feeling well for a few days prior to that. Instead of going to the doctor, I took a fever reducer and went to work. By mid-morning, my fever was back and I was ordered bythe nurse at my job to leave work and NOT return until I felt better. I went to the doctor and ended up having an Upper Respiratory Infection. I was given several prescriptions and was told by my doctor....to just rest. I waited until my body in complete shutdown mode to find rest.
The great news is we don't have to wait. During this Lenten season, may we find rest, peace and comfort in HIS word- through prayer, meditation,fasting- however we are lead and guided by The Holy Spirit.
Dear Lord, when we find ourselves weary and heavy ladened on this life journey, please give us your peace and comfort and help us to find rest in your everlasting arms. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen!
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“Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.“ Psalms 55:22
Many people read self-help books when they feel overly burdened. But the Word of God informs us of ways we can relieve and release ourselves of things that weigh us down. Here are some effective strategies we can use to break free from our burdens:
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Throw your burdens on Jesus
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Ask Him for comfort and compassion for you and your family
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Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, lovely, and admirable.
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Set boundaries around self-care
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Let Go and Let God
But you O Lord are shield around my glory, who holds my head high. Thank you for being my protector and defender. There are many days my head is down because I am so burdened. But you are the lifter of my head. You help me look up and beyond my worries and when I cried you answered. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for helping me break free from my burdens, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Isaiah 58:11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
This is a promise from God! It is so reassuring to know that our God is always there to guide us!
We need continual direction from God so we should always seek him so we don’t miss our way or go off course. When we don’t understand something, we should first go to the Lord for wisdom. God is the only one that has all of the answers. He is the only one that can satisfy us. We may look for different things that give us satisfaction – money, a job, people but none of those things will last. We could be waiting on something – healing in our body, a spouse or that next promotion or job. These things can be a burden to us. So, in those rough times when it seems as if we are in a drought, we need to pray and have faith in God so we can break free from these burdens. He will give us what we need. He is our strength! Jesus Christ is the unending fountain of water that we can drink from and never be thirsty again. He will surely sustain us and give us water to drink. Seek him and we will be like a watered garden – healthy and satisfied as only God can satisfy us.
Lord, I thank you that you are always there to guide me. When I don’t know which way to go, I can look to You for direction. You are the only wise God. You are the lifter of my head. When I feel weak, you strengthen me. Thank you, Lord, for helping me with every decision, big and small. Thank you for continually guiding us in the way we should go, and teaching us all things, through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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“However, this kind does not go out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17: 21
The boy was epileptic and suffering greatly, often falling into the fire and often into the water. His father brought him to Jesus’ disciples, but they could not cure him. Then Jesus came. He rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was cured from that very hour.
The disciples came to Jesus and asked why they could not cure the boy. He rebuked them for their lack of faith, but added “However, this kind does not go out but by prayer and fasting.”
We’re facing some “this kind” of conditions and challenges in this season. Sickness abounds. Many are facing financial hardships and other personal struggles. War and political, economic and social turmoil have disturbed our peace.
The Lenten season calls us to prayer and fasting, so that our faith may be increased and our spirits strengthened and renewed. We fast and pray that we might receive power from on high to defeat the enemies of our soul.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, grant us that faith that moves mountains and, as we fast and pray, strengthen and renew us so that we can defeat every enemy that we face, even the demons from hell. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5
Pastor: God is good
Congregation: All the time
Pastor: And all the time
Congregation: God is good.
If you’ve been in church for any period of time, you are very familiar with this call and response. We have been conditioned to respond automatically. Of course, God is good. You hear it all the time. But do you respond affirmatively because it is expected or is your response based on your intimate understanding of who God is and His favor and grace upon your life?
God has already abundantly blessed us. We should not take for granted the everyday blessings we receive; the breath we take over 20,000 times a day, the food and shelter he provides, the safety of our family and friends. These are all things we don’t give a second thought to most days. Add to that the “big” things; the job that you got even though you were the least experienced and credentialed of all the candidates, the healing that you had been praying about for years, the financial blessing that only God could have orchestrated. All of these reflect God’s goodness in our lives time and time again.
God wants to do good things for His children. As a loving father, He enjoys blessing us as any loving parent would. We all love showering gifts on our children. Matthew 7:11 tells us “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him”. The Message version ends by saying “So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?”
God also wants us to ask Him for the things we want AND expect Him to give them to us. The preceding verse to Matthew 7:11, verse 7 & 8 tells us “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” We have not because we ask not. Are we afraid to ask God for what we want? Do we worry that we are asking for too much or it’s too big? Or do we feel we are not deserving of what we want? All of these things are just not true. Do not let the devil fill your head with these lies. There is nothing too big for God. Do you know that anything you want is small compared to our God? If He can part the Red Sea so His children can walk on dry land, feed the five thousand with five loaves and two fish and calm a storm with his words, He can certainly answer our prayers.
Are you trusting God enough to allow Him to be good to you? Whether it is a BIG ask or a routine, everyday item, bring all your requests to God. He is waiting to bless you.
God, you are a good, good Father. Do not let my lack of trust block my blessings. I know you have wonderful, amazing things in store for those who trust in you. You are just waiting for me to ask. So, Father, I humbly ask for your favor and blessings on my life and may I use those blessings to bless others. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!
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“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
The Lenten season is a time of fasting and reflection on Jesus’s sacrifice. We should also take time to be still, resting in His presence and the knowledge of who He is – our omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God. During Lent, let’s break free from busyness and spend quality time alone with the Lord.
Stillness isn’t easy to find in life’s busyness, so we must be intentional. Schedule time as you would with other priorities to focus solely on the Lord. It is in our stillness in God’s presence that we come to know Him intimately and grow in our relationship with Him. I have learned that when I devote time to being still in God’s presence, I reap considerable benefits…peace, joy, strength when I feel weak and weary, encouragement, direction, and guidance. After spending time with God, my heart feels lighter and my day always goes better.
Be still in His presence and reap the benefits. Commit to spending at least 15 minutes every day with the Lord; read scripture, pray and be still to hear His voice. Open your heart and mind by focusing on Jesus and being in awe of who He is. When we know God intimately, we can cease striving because we know that He is our strength, refuge, provider, healer, deliverer, and all that we need. We can find freedom from all our struggles, burdens, and cares as we trust and rest in Him.
Abba Father, help me to be intentional and commit to spending quality time alone with You each day. Lord, help me to be still in Your presence and know that you are Almighty God. I stand in awe and reverence of who You are. Give me the grace and strength to “stand empty” before you, relying on you, casting my worries, burdens, and fears on you, trusting you. To You be all glory, honor, and praise. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
This verse speaks to me because recently, I lost an uncle who was dear to my heart. He was more like a brother than an uncle. Probably because we were close in age. I reflect on the last time my uncle was in New York. I asked him if there was anything he needed. His response was no. He already had what he wanted and that was to see his sister (my mom). A few days later, before he left New York, he expressed the desire to see a baseball game. I told him that the next time he visited I would take him to a Yankee or Mets Game. Sadly, this never happened.
My uncle transitioned on November 30th of last year. My mother visited my uncle shortly before his transition. During her visit, his energy picked up and he was able to do some things for himself such as brushing his teeth and sitting up in bed. My uncle requested that his family come to the yard for a huge family gathering. He was able to dance with his wife and to see the love everyone had for him. My uncle expressed the importance of FAMILY. I am eternally grateful that my mother was able to see him prior to his passing.
Lord, even in the trials and tribulations of life, I give you thanks for your blessings. Thank you for the lessons learned during these stressful times. I will praise your Holy name in every situation. Lord, I thank you for the gift of family and the bond that family represents.
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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3-4
Have you ever had a thought of why God chose to bless you? At some point in our lives, God has shown us favor at major milestones in our lives. Those blessings cannot be mistaken as acts of man. Sometimes, the origin of the blessing cannot be explained by conventional thought. You may even realize that you haven’t even asked for it but God chose to give you His provisions.
Theologians in some circles identify the believer as being in the enviable position for receiving God’s provisions (favor) – as being an extension of His grace. The Four Blessings of God according to the scholars are: Divine Prosperity, Divine Health, Fruitfulness and Long Life. Blessings within the Bible have been documented from the beginning. The book of Genesis (1:28) “Be fertile and increase, fill the earth and master it.” This was one of the first blessings of God on behalf of man and so it was. We must remember that, as part of God’s creation, we are positioned to receive the gift of God’s blessing. So get ready, God’s best is on its way to YOU!
Gracious and merciful Father,
Thank you for the extension of your grace over our life. Your divine kindness mercy and goodness IS our Blessing. You have given us deliverance from the grasp of sin through the ministry of Jesus Christ. All praises, honor and glory go to you. May our deeds thoughts and actions be acceptable in your sight.
In your precious name we pray, AMEN.
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"Now therefore," says the Lord, Turn to me with all your heart, with fasting with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and he relents from doing harm. Who knows if he will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him – A grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?” Joel 2:12-14 (NKJV)
The writer of this scripture is telling us turn from our wicked ways and give our whole heart to the Lord through prayer and fasting, He indicated that God is not so concerned with our outer appearance but more so with the condition of our hearts. The Lord wants us to come to him with pure and clean hearts. The prophet Joel is saying we need to return to our God because He is gracious, merciful, kind and not easily angered and in so doing He might just leave us with a blessing.
Let us pray:
Merciful Father I come before you with thanksgiving and repentance in my heart. I asked dear God that you forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Restore in us a clean and pure heart. Help us father to share Your goodness and love with all whom we come in contact with. This I ask in the mighty and precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen
Submitted by Deacon Carmen Campbell
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"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
A few days ago, I attended a program honoring a deceased friend. During the program, a soloist sang one of my friend’s favorite songs, “You Are My Strength,” by William Murphy. The song, while comprised of a very few words, speaks to the power, strength, and grace we receive from God - his ability to revive us, to lift us up! Like the song, the soloist’s rendition was simple yet powerful and enticed many in the audience to join in. This experience transformed the event into a moving testimony of the presence of God in one’s life.
Oftentimes, we sing songs depicting God’s words and assurances to give us the strength to persevere through life. King David gave us many to choose from. (See the Book of Psalms.) My friend endured many challenges during her lifetime, but her joy-filled spirit empowered her to break free of her burdens and live a life full of God’s goodness and favor.
Let us pray:
Dear God,
Thank you for my friend’s life and the example she set for us. Please help us to nurture our faith and trust in you. Help us to focus on sharing your goodness and fulfilling our purpose in life, not on the hardships and burdens we may carry. Let us find joy, hope, rejuvenation, and strength in your presence.
You are my strength, strength like no other. Strength like no other reaches to me. [x4]
In the fullness of Your grace, in the power of Your name, you lift me up, you lift me up. [x2]
You are my strength, strength like no other. Strength like no other reaches to me. [x2]
In the fullness of Your grace, in the power of Your name, you lift me up, you lift me up. [x3]
You are my strength, strength like no other. Strength like no other reaches to me.
(By William Murphy)
Amen.
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“I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The Lord gave, and now he has taken away. May his name be praised.” Job 1:21
When you hit a setback it’s okay to tell God you’re mad, sad, or depressed. It’s okay to express all your feelings to God, but don’t get bitter. Bitterness is saying you don’t trust God when trouble comes. It’s like a poison that will tear your life apart if you let it. Job experienced all types of problems. He lost his family, his fortune and his health. But instead of becoming bitter, he focused on God’s goodness. Job knew that God was still in control even though everything seemed to be falling apart. When setbacks come, and they certainly will, you must focus on the fact that God has the big picture in mind. Many things will change in your life. A perfect life is not promised to anyone.
No matter what setbacks you face, remember that God will never stop loving you. He has a plan for you that is good, and He cares about all of your life. When everything falls apart, don’t get bitter, find reasons to praise God. It’s not easy, but He is worthy.
Let us pray:
Dear Father,
Your holy word tells me to pray without ceasing. In all things large and small, at all times, happy or sad let me seek your wisdom and your strength in prayer. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
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“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God Psalm 42:5; Psalm 43:5
Let’s face it, this earthly world is not a very pleasant place these days. There are wars and rumors of wars, pandemics, epidemics, death, sickness, injustice, hunger…a myriad of seemingly insurmountable issues. However, we as believers must not be concerned nor become overwhelmed by all the minutia associated with this earthly life. We should place our hope in our Creator who is faithful, holy and righteous and can do anything but fail. There is no reason for us to be downcast and/or disturbed. When we trust in our Father who is sovereign over all things in heaven and on earth, there is nothing to fear. Our hope in Him and the heavenly life that is promised is reason to give Him praise. Therefore, when we become down and distressed, let’s remember His awesome power and faithfulness that never fails. Let’s praise him at all times. Hallelujah…
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, as we struggle to traverse the difficulties and burdens of this earthly life and become distressed and afraid, remind us that our hope is in You. Sometimes we forget that you are ever-present with us at all times. May your loving kindness and compassion that are new every morning remind us to give you ceaseless thanks and praise. When we praise you, Father, our strength is renewed, we are reminded of what you have already done and encouraged to pray and not worry. To Your Glory, in Jesus’ Name, Amen
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Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~Roman 12: 2 NIV
Do you feel that it’s too great of a sacrifice to yield all to Christ? Ask yourself what has Christ given for me? The Son of God gave all, His life for our redemption. He desires to bring us through his grace and invites us to give ourselves to him that He may work His will in us. Every moment of our lives we have been blessed to partake of Jesus’s sacrifice. In giving ourselves to God, we must break free from all that separate and hinder us from serving him. In everything you do, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.
Let us pray:
Lord, you are the chain breaker. Break whatever is hindering us from you lord and draw us into a closer walk with so that that we may dwell in your presence like never before. This we pray in Jesus’s name, Amen.
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Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight. “O Lord my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 ESV
Life’s opportunities and creativity increase or decrease based on your ability to harness your imagination. Imagination is the natural product of meditation. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination is endless. Think of imagination as a door that opens to a world of possibilities. Intentions and actions are the keys that unlock that door. With imagination there are possibilities, but commitment brings success.
Let us pray:
Holy Father let the Holy Spirit inspire my imagination day by day. Let me have prophetic dreams and visions that are pleasing in your sight. I know that with you nothing is impossible. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” He answered, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my Lord,” I replied. So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.“What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” Zechariah 4:4-7 (NIV)
We all face obstacles that can cause us to shrink back, rather than push forward. We each have mountains that we have to climb. They can be overwhelming and daunting. These mountains can be of sickness, depression, financial woes, grief, and personal relationships. But the Lord promised us not only will he help us climb these mountains but overcome them as well, and in the midst of our pain, we can have confidence in knowing that the battle is already won.
An important part of facing our mountains is using our faith to speak to our mountains. Because if you don't have enough faith to move your mouth and speak God's Word, you won't have enough faith to move your mountain. The word tells us, "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ" (Romans 10:17 NIV). Something amazing begins to take place when you speak God's word over any situation in your life. You become focused and renewed in the Spirit. God has given us the power and authority over our lives, so we can't live our lives thinking we will be defeated. This power and authority give us the right to command our mountains to move with our faith.
Remember you need strength to climb this mountain, but it's not physical or mental strength, it is the strength God gives to us. It's not by might or power, but by the Spirit of the only wise God.
I encourage you to speak to your mountains. Climb them in faith knowing that the Lord takes every step with you and will see you through to the other side of that mountain. When you do that your mountain then becomes a place of learning, renewed prayer, strength, and healing.
Lord, today I will let go of any fear, guilt, pain, and challenges in my life and place them in Your hands. Allow my faith to grow stronger in Your teachings and Your Word so that You can reveal Your Spirit to me. Let this be a season that makes my faith in You stronger. Lord, help me to declare that my mountains will be moved in the mighty name of Jesus. I place my trust fully in You knowing that all things are possible through You. In Jesus' name, I pray Amen.
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16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:16-24
This passage reminds us that there is a constant battle going on inside of us. We have a part of us that wants to be led by the Holy Spirit and serve God. Then, we have our flesh or our physical body that’s in the world and vulnerable to temptation. Praying and fasting can help us resist the desires of the flesh. Through prayer, we can share our struggles and weaknesses with God and ask for His help. Fasting pushes us to set aside our own desires and submit to God. Lent is a great opportunity for us to focus on feeding the desires of the Spirit, instead of the desires of the flesh.
Lord, forgive us for when we put our own desires ahead of your calling for our lives. Give us the strength to turn away from temptation and submit to your will. Show us how to be led by the Holy Spirit in every area of our lives. We ask for all of these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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But God demonstrates His own love towards us, In that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8 NKJV
We are imperfect people loved by a perfect God. Yes, we are sinners saved by grace. Sometimes we forget that we are imperfect, that our accomplishments are not of our own merit. We sometimes forget that we have a Savior and his name is JESUS. That God so loved the world that he sacrificed His only son Jesus to save the whole of humanity. So, the next time you think you are greater than or judgmental of others, or have an unforgiving heart, remember that God loves us despite our imperfections. God’s love is greater, forgiving, unmatched, gracious, eternal, unconditional, unchanging, never failing, and complete. That’s the awe of God’s love.
Challenge: I challenge each of us during this Lenten season to spread the love of God.
L - Listen
O - Obey
V - Value
E - Embrace
Let us pray:
Thank you, Father God, for your awesome love that’s better than life. Help us to embrace that love You’ve extended to each of us and show that love to all we encounter. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
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The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth.
Proverbs 12:22, NLT
What is truth? You would think that with easy access to information and expert opinions, we would know the truth, but the opposite is true. We have trouble recognizing real news from fake news and the reality is we’re living in an age when a lot of people believe that truth doesn't matter. They believe there is no such thing as objective truth; you can have your truth, and I can have mine.
But God surely cares about truth and commands us to tell the truth. In the Ten Commandments, we are told not to bear false witness against our neighbor (Exodus 20:16) and that we should not lie to one another (Leviticus 19:11). Jesus embodies the truth; He is the truth. To believe in Christ is to be firmly fixed on knowing the truth, sticking with it, living it out, and teaching it. The truth always matters to God, and it ought to matter to us.
Jesus came to us full of grace and truth (John 1:14). He described himself by saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). And Paul wrote to the Ephesians that the message of truth is the gospel of our salvation (Ephesians 1:13). If we know His foundational truth, the Word, and trust Him, we’ll grow in separating the truth from the lies around us. And as Scripture fills our mind, our ‘monitoring system’ is sharpened. Then our thoughts and actions are filtered through the grid of God’s standard for right and wrong. The truth is that the truth always matters!
Father, we want to delight you by being truth-tellers. We know that it’s only with the power of the Holy Spirit that we can speak the truth and live consistently by it in all areas of our lives. On this Lenten journey help us to abide in You, recognize Your leading, discern Your voice and understand Your direction. Our desire is to be led by Your Spirit of Truth. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen
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“An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what He would say. ‘Teacher’, he asked, ‘what must I do to have eternal life?’” Jesus answered, ‘What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?’ The man replied, ‘The Scriptures say, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’ Jesus said, ‘You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.’ But the man wanted to show that he knew what he was talking about. So, he asked Jesus, ‘Who are my neighbors?’” Luke 10:25-29 CEV
He probably was testing Jesus, doubting Jesus knew what He was talking about because Jesus was from that unremarkable and insignificant town of Nazareth. The people of Nazareth, in fact all Galileans, had a low reputation among the elite, the educated, the higher class. Even Nathanael asked Philip: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” That was until he met the man named Jesus. Wanting to challenge Jesus because he wanted to be justified in his own beliefs, the law expert asked who is one’s neighbors, believing as some did that only righteous people were one’s neighbors not sinners or Samaritans, or non-Jews. Because if one is a sinner, then the person can’t be a “neighbor” of a righteous person. But Jesus obliterates his small-minded, prejudicial, and hateful view of who is righteous or who is a neighbor.
Who is our neighbor? To whom do we give our time and talent, our resources, our love, and compassion? We are to go beyond the walls of our church and seek those who need our help without expecting anything in return. We are to look beyond the familiar and comfortable and stretch ourselves to embrace those who are unapproachable, to love the unlovely, to welcome the reprobate, the unlikeable; we are to serve the unappreciative, the hateful, the ones who throw our kindness back in our faces. Those are our neighbors, too.
In 1 Peter 4: 10 Peter speaks of the manifold grace of God that He has bestowed on all of us. And we are to do the same. Just a little grace goes a long way in establishing the kingdom of God. Each of us has grace to give to those we know and to those who are “strangers.”
God tells us His grace is enough for us because His power is made perfect in our weakness. If God gives us grace, as His body, we are privileged and obligated to extend grace to each other and to others outside our intimate circles.
I just need a little grace, as I offer you grace.
Lord, we dedicate this day and our lives to You, to Your service. All that we have is from You; all that we give and receive is by Your bounty and Your grace. We thank You for loving us and giving us of Your Holy Spirit so that we may graciously carry out the mandate Jesus left us to do Your work while it is still day. Amen.
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“Because he loved me says the Lord, I will rescue him, I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him, with long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 91:14-16
Many years ago, I had a longing to move from my current home. It was a constant tugging on my heart because I sustained an injury at work; I couldn’t work anymore. Therefore, I wasn’t in a position to insist upon this move with my husband. Nonetheless, this constant nagging was like a persistent itch that wouldn’t cease or go away.
One day when I was reading my Bible, I came upon Psalm 91. I read it in its entirety, but verses 14, 15 and 16 really spoke to my heart. In reading these verses, I immediately recognized that God was directly speaking to my heart. He was assuring me in my heart that I was at the right place and at the right location to receive His blessings. Over the years I have seen that this was the right place for me. Because my husband got older, the taxes are affordable, and the house was suitable for just the two of us. And while I look at the original cost of purchasing this house, if I were to sell it now, I would make a nice profit. And since we are getter older, we are going to need those funds in the future when we do sell the house.
I thank God for the peace of where I have been living for the past 40 years. I have had a peace of mind here; I don’t have to worry about paying exorbitant out of pocket expenses. This is particularly important as we are senior citizens and living on a fixed income.
I would encourage all believers to pray about your situations, trust God and recognize His voice when He speaks to your heart. For great is His faithfulness.
Let us pray:
Gracious God, I thank you for the peace You give in every situation. Help us to rest in the calm of Your voice and follow where You lead. In Jesus’ name we do pray, Amen.
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"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
~ Romans 12:1
Today marks a wonderful and challenging time on our church calendar. Ash Wednesday begins the season we call Lent, a time of self-denial, self-reflection and penitence. During Lent, we follow the example of Jesus and fast from specific things – foods, activities, routines, etc. But why do we abstain from these things that give us so much enjoyment? Because we’re taking the time to intentionally connect with our Creator. The Lord has been so wonderful to us and allowed us to enjoy the bounty He has provided. During the next 40 days, I’m encouraging each of you to say “No” to some of the things that give you pleasure and “Yes” to a deeper connection with God, “Yes” to purposeful periods of prayer, “Yes” to bountiful blessings from the Lord and “Yes” to breaking free of those burdens that had you bound. While we are all different, we all have access to the same Jesus. He’s able to hear and answer your prayer at the same time He’s hearing and answering my prayer. I challenge you to walk this Lenten journey with me as we break free from burdens. I’m certain that, as we submit to this process, the Lord will meet us right where we are and transform us into who we need to be. Let’s trust Him and watch Him perform mightily in our minds, bodies, homes, communities and His church. Let us pray:
Good and Gracious Lord, we come to you in humility and confidence, asking you to be with us as we begin this Lenten walk. Give us strength to say “No” and ears to listen to Your still small voice and arms to embrace what You tell us and feet to walk in Your light and hearts to love You more dearly. This we pray, in Jesus’s name, Amen.
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