Day 244: Love's Simple Truth: Love Your Enemies As You Love Yourself!

Day 244: Love's Simple Truth: Love Your Enemies As You Love Yourself!

Read: Matthew 5:43 - 48

“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.” “It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business.” ---- Mahatma Gandhi

How do you react to people who make life difficult for you? Whether they do it just to aggravate you or are oblivious or pretend to be oblivious to the effect their behavior is having on you, how do you react? A sweet "why don't you get lost" smile? A polite, nondescript "we will see about that" nod of the head? A bristling "recipe for revenge, crossing your legs" posture while seated or the quickest "excuse me" in the history of mankind or perhaps a reaction uniquely suited to your own personality? Let's face it, We all encounter people who are hard to live with and even harder to deal with. You know inquiring minds want to know: How do you react toward the “jerks” in your life?

I guess you are familiar with the natural reaction of the human body when confronted by a higher than normal stress level - what science has called "the take flight or stay and fight" response. I do not know how you were raised by your parents but by mine I was encouraged to "take flight". I do not know the sort of schoolyard taunting you endured by someone obviously bigger than you (physically not intellectually) who was itching for you to boost his/her self esteem with punches to your face. The fact is at any point of our lives, we are subjected to the presence of such people and we have to figure out how to be at peace being the "Jew" whose living amongst the "Romans".

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raised the bar for those who followed Him. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,... (43, 44). Do not resist an evil person (OOMPH). Do not try to get even (OOMPH). Turn the other cheek (OOMPH). I can just be the person in the crowd with Jesus, listening to those words, trying to absorb the meaning and application of this teaching, and I will be the one feeling like I have just been repeatedly punched in the gut. Overcome my human nature to swing back? Stand there with a smile and take it? How easy would that be? How easy could that be? How easy should that be for us?

Jesus taught His followers that they should respond differently than the world and counter to their own carnal instincts. You have to admit the teachings of Jesus in this section are impossible to keep unless we are fully energized by the power of the Holy Spirit within. Jesus’ words recorded for us here are among the most unusual He ever uttered. Nevertheless, His words are wise and His way is right. If we will only give them a chance, we will discover how true and – yes, once again – how simple His advice really is.” The questions are in our everyday lives, will we give them a chance? Will we remain in our enemies face long enough to discover this simple truth of love?

Let Us Pray:

Oh God, help us in our lives and in all of our attitudes,
to work out this controlling force of love,
this controlling power that can solve
every problem that we confront in all areas. .....

let us join together in a great fellowship of love
and bow down at the feet of Jesus.
Give us this strong determination.
In the name and spirit of this Christ, we pray. Amen.

From: Loving Your Enemies - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - 1957

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzPukrs6cwg

Carry Your Name - Christy Nockels

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An awesome song by Christy Nockels

Day 243: Biblical Thoughts For Memorial Day 2013

Day 243: Biblical Thoughts For Memorial Day 2013

Read: 2 Timothy 2:1 - 13

'You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.' Did you catch what Paul exhorted Timothy to become - 'a good soldier of the cross'? My father heard "you WILL be a good soldier!" from his Drill Instructors at the old Camp Dix after he was drafted for service on the Korean Peninsula. He could not hear, he could barely see without 'coke bottle' glasses. But he went over anyway as a clerk typist first, then successfully lobbied for front line combat.

Each year on May 30th in America, we observe a day called “Memorial Day.” It is traditionally remembered as the first weekend of the summer, trips to the beaches. It is marked by BBQ, parades, speeches; flags and flowers are placed on the graves of countless servicemen. It was first observed on May 30, 1868, for the purpose of decorating the graves of the Civil War Dead. Now, it remembers all of those who died, those who gave the last full measure of their devotion in the wars our nation has fought. My dad came home from the war - one too many did not! Today, I remember their sacrifice. However, my friends, it is not just the one who carries the gun we should remember.

I think as well, we would all be wise to remember the “good soldiers of Jesus Christ,” who paved the way for you and me in our Christian lives. What are some marks of a good soldier? Let me share a few. He Is A Follower (Mark 8:34). No one can become a good leader who cannot first be a good follower. Following Jesus is no option, it is a command (remember the lyrics to the hymn "Onward Christian Soldier?"), yet why do we take obedience to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit so very lightly in our daily lives. He Is A Fighter (1 Timothy 6:12). He will not cower or retreat in the face of the enemy. He is commanded to fight and he will fight. His fight will be both continuous, unrelenting!

He Is Familiar. First, he's familiar with the strategy of the enemy (2 Corinthians 2:11). Secondly, he is familiar with the skills concerning his weaponry (Ephesians 6:10-18). Thirdly, he is also familiar with the shadows of his friends (Hebrews 10:23-25). He Is Ever Faithful. He remains true even when he must “endure hardship” as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). That expression means, “to take one’s share of rough treatment; to willingly suffer and or to endure affliction together.” It actually means to “suffer hardship in company with” - that good soldier is always true and loyal. Like Christ they understand truest friendship and the deepest meanings of sacrifice (John 15:13)!

Let Us Pray together The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxSDanbYIYo

Band - Onward, Christian soldiers (lyrics)

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Day 242: “How Long, O Naive Ones, Will You Love Being Simple-Minded?" (Proverbs 1:22 NASB)

Day 242: “How Long, O Naive Ones, Will You Love Being Simple-Minded?" (Proverbs 1:22 NASB)

Read: Proverbs 1:20 - 33, 8:1 - 11, 1Corinthians 1:18 - 31 (Trinity Sunday)

(Reader Discretion Is Strongly Advised - Wisdom Speaks, Hard And Direct Language)

On this day, on this day that the Lord hath made, it is not by accident, neither is it by chance that the Lord should call out His people to account for their ministry to teach and preach the word of God to the men and women who are sitting here to day. It is not by accident that you are present in the house of God… It is not by chance that the pushing and pulling that your spirit has felt in the last few days has brought you all to this point, to this place at this time… It is not by chance that the Lord would guide and direct your steps to the book of Proverbs for a hearty God sized serving of His wisdom and knowledge… Does not wisdom sound its call, And understanding lift up her voice?

In this book of proverbs, The wisest of the wise Solomon, guided by the Holy Spirit of God wrote these passages for God's church… The commentary says that in times of peace… That in those quiet times which seem fewer and farther between… In those lonely times… which just seem to be growing more and more frequent every day. In those times when you are all by yourself… when the measure of your existence is in front of you as God holds up a plumb line (Amos 7:7 - 8) against the brick wall that you have built brick by brick. In those times when only you and God know what your life is really like… It is those times, God allows us to learn ourselves and teach others!

In fact the word itself 'Proverb' means, "to be like"… So when we read a proverb, we should know that God is truly trying to speak to you… that God is trying to impart His wisdom upon you… That God is trying to reach your heart and mind and direct your steps… That God is trying to communicate and help you in one of his most direct and uncomplicated ways… That when you read these books… God promises that You will learn something about yourself and those around you… GOD is telling you that there IS a timeless truth that HE MUST impart upon you today… HE must share it with you because you life hasn’t been what you want it to be… Question: will you heed today?

He must share it because you want to be a better father… You want to be a better mother… You want to mend that relationship… You want to be loved by somebody… You want someone to understand what you are going through… You so desperately want somebody to hear and listen to you… You want somebody to help or somebody to help you… You want somebody to hold or hold you when things are not going so well… And GOD through His Holy Spirit says… Come to me… and I will reveal myself to you in a powerful way… Come to me… let the finger of the Holy Spirit teach your heart… Come to me ..."How long O Naive Ones, Will You Love Being Simple-Minded?"

Let Us Pray:

Does not wisdom cry out to Her children from the street corners; “How Long, O Naive Ones, Will You Love Being Simple-Minded?" Wisdom takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the of all Her children's paths meet. She stands alone in the rain, She stands alone, there in the snow, in the cold winter's nights, On a cloudless day, She is seen, stands alone on the street corner beneath the scorching heat of the noon day sun. Yet who of us who calls themselves 'wise' bothers to give her more than a brief glance, a nod of our head, a passing notice? She will vigorously wave the white banner of Jesus Christ, She will freely offer it to us, but we refuse it.

Yet we will pray: "Thank You God our Father for giving us every good and perfect gift from above. We thank You for the Wisdom of the Cross of Jesus Christ. It's wonders and miracles are too numerous to count… We rejoice in Wisdom's Words of truth through which You encourage us to seek the better way. May we seek You out day and night." How Long O' Lord, will Your children remain simple minded and naive of the fullness of what Wisdom offers to each of us through the Cross and Resurrection? When will we, Your children, finally just raise our 'white flags' and surrender to You?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep84rfxqoGM

White Flag-Chris Tomlin (Passion) (Lyrics)

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Be Sure to purchase "White Flag" by Passion (feat. Chris Tomlin) It is from the album "White Flag"

Day 241: And So, Jesus said to 'them': "What Sin Might That Be?"

Day 241: And So, Jesus said to 'them': "What Sin Might That Be?"

Read: Psalm 25

Beloved friends, on my heart and deep within my spirit today is the word 'hope'. Well, I’ve been thinking a lot about hope, and I desire to spend a little bit of time with you on it. I remember when I was a child, growing up in church, we used to often sing that hymn: "Since Jesus Came Into My Heart". Do you remember that one? I seem to remember being bemused by one particular line of that hymn that goes like this: "I’m possessed of a HOPE that is steadfast and sure, since Jesus came into my heart, And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure, since Jesus came into my heart ..." And I remember that I used to think how can you be 'possessed of a hope'?

For myself, and perhaps for you too, hope is not just a wish or a desire, but a settled confidence in God and in His promises. Christian hope is a continuing reliance upon God’s wisdom, and love, and power. What distinguishes our hope from those without faith is that instead of just hoping for something, our hope is in someone. Someone who loves and cares for us, whose possession of wisdom and understanding is far far beyond ours. Someone who has the power to accomplish whatever He pleases, both in our lives and in the world. I pondered too, with my past, just what hope did I have? Perhaps you too are po8ndering with your own past, just what hope you have as well.

Psalm 25 finds David gearing himself up spiritually for what future lies ahead of him. He spends significant time looking backward, admitting to his own inadequacies and past mistakes. This is a pit that we can all identify with quite readily. However, David does not keep his gaze backward for long. Without ever making an endless array of excuses for his past, David looks forward because he knows God is for us, not against us. He was forgiven, we were all forgiven when we clothed ourselves in Christ Jesus. But we still have a tendency to look back, pick up our past, weighing ourselves down all over again with the sins we burdened ourselves with. When will we get God's hint?

The enemy has always had a great way of trying to keep each of us tied to our past sin, weighing us down with sorrow or pain and regret. We have all fallen short, we will always fall short of the grace of God. God knows this, but just how much of the message of hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ do we actually internalize and live out in our daily lives? Whoa! Did I just dare to ask you that question? Well, I did! I hope you will have a response sufficient for the Lord when He asks you too! Do you remember feeling almost weightless when you were first saved. It was the literal removal of the weightiness of sin. What a glorious Savior! Step forward you're free!

Let Us Pray: Psalm 25 is a Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon. Spend some meaningful and quality time with it. Internalize it! Absorb It! Make it your own! Take possession of the limitless hope contained within it's Living Words! Look forward to  the eternal hope offered to us without price through the resurrection of Jesus Christ and take firm possession of this too. For the hope that is, will be, forever before you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdMWyDyIPaE

'What Sin' by Morgan Cryar

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Have you heard the expression, "Confession is good for the soul"? Well, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News concerning our sin - how God forgives and for...

Day 240: What If We Set Our Differences Aside For God's Sake?

Day 240: What If We Set Our Differences Aside For God's Sake?

Read: Malachi 3:16 - 18, Psalm 4

When people come together at a time of fellowship, have you ever wondered, just a little, what the Lord thinks, when His children get together to speak about him? I see the people of Moore, Oklahoma, I read the host of inspirational stories coming from there and countless other places around the country of the people, whether of God or not, coming together and talking and sharing and loving amongst themselves. They find themselves drawn together by bonds of friendship and support. They set aside the differences, the enmity that may have existed before because what is now before them is recognized as infinitely greater than themselves. What does God think of this? What do you believe God would think of this 'let's come together' stuff?

I know what I think. I can probably make a fair guess of what you might be thinking of at a time like this. But what, if it is even possible to know, is God thinking of this? Well it is very special to Him! In fact the word of God says the words become His very special treasure. Have you ever seen this scripture Malachi 3:16-17? 16 'Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. 17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them...." Those who feared the Lord, talked with each other, the Lord listened, heard. They are God's treasured possession!

In Psalm 4:2, we witness a heartbroken King David as he pleads on behalf of God: How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?  Throughout the Psalms and Prophets, you will hear a familiar lament "why would God's own children reject Him so through their enmity with each other?" Was it for lack of love? Never on God's part! Was it because they were mistreated in some way? Of course not! However, somehow mankind allows their hearts and minds to become locked into the vanities of life - false riches, false security, idols made and fashioned by their hands. What if we got together? Set them aside for God's sake? What if we all just got together and set ourselves aside for God?

What a stark contrast are of those who love God set against the back drop of those who get locked and blocked into the things of mankind versus mankind, obstacles to God's grace. Something miraculous happens when together we open our hearts to His love. Our hope is in the name of the Lord. Our glory is that we finally stopped to hear Jesus' call to us and finally recognized in that moment - the voice of the Good Shepherd (John 10:3,4). Do you hear the Shepherds voice saying to you: “On the day when (they) act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him."?

Let Us Pray: Dear heavenly Father, until Jesus comes back, we, your people will live through all kinds of seasons together. Indeed, “there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heaven. A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance”. In Christ, our seasons providentially change, because we are a broken people in a broken world utterly dependent on you, our sovereign Father and redeeming Lord. Seasons are subject to you. You are an every present help in times of trouble, periods of pain, moments of madness, seasons of sadness. Come to us now, Father, we plead before Your Throne, come to us today.

Because of you, mighty Father, the river of restoration and streams of grace flow to us even as “mountains fall into the heart of the sea… waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging.” Your hand causes real gardens to bloom in real deserts; you bring the gladness of the Gospel into the agony of our pain; you bring the message of hope of your kingdom into our kingdom - size hurts. Please, Come to us now, Lord, come to us today. We hurt, we cannot do it alone, we need your hope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNOfw1NVAyo

Blest Be The Tie That Binds

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A beautifully done song about the love shared in the fellowship of believers.

Day 239: When Our Hearts Are Not Big Enough To Pray

Day 239: When Our Hearts Are Not Big Enough To Pray

Read: John 17:1 - 12

On my heart today, as I am absolutely sure they are on the hearts and in the prayers of countless people are the ones who found themselves in the path and on the ground of the Oklahoma tornado. The men, women, and children who were in their homes, in their classrooms at schools, stores doing their shopping, in cars, and trucks going to work, going home to their families, doing the everyday things they did on so many regular days in the past, even the day before the storm destroyed their way of life. I see life scattered everywhere, stories of people looking for loved ones not knowing if they are alive. There is so much to do, help to provide, it is just absolutely staggering.

What do you pray for when there is just too much to pray for? The sheer magnitude of it all and I have to ask it - where does anyone begin to pray in the midst of such a great catastrophe as this or any catastrophe for that matter? Generic words just are not going to cut it. I know in my heart and by God's Word that God hears all prayers however the words may be strung together. But still they seem wholly insufficient to me to address the enormity of their needs. As much as anyone might call the other a "Prayer Warrior", have the God given gift of intercession, called upon by God's Holy Spirit to bear the burden of Prayer (Nehemiah 1:1 - 2:5), we're still out of our league.

As much as we never want to admit it to ourselves or another human being, whether they are a believer or not, in times and places such as Moore, Oklahoma, we are so very much out of our league. And we struggle with that as we very well should. Our hearts are in the right places but I have to admit that my heart is simply too small. I am sorry to tell you, the reader, that your heart is also just far too small for this task. In the Gospel of John we find in rich detail of Jesus' last days and moments with His disciples. All of Jesus' words are precious and powerful for the believer, but as Jesus experiences His final moments His words reveals the deepest depths of God's heart.

In searching Scripture for a heart which is unquestionably big enough, I came to this verse: "11 I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are." If you have ever experienced a moment in life when you have felt anything close to what the community of Moore undoubtedly feels now, then you know that God's heart is the only heart big enough to provide the measure of Love required to meet so complex a need. He prays for our safety, prays, intercedes before God on all our behalves for divine connection, divine unity and Love.

Let Us Pray: Wonderful God! We thank You that You fill our hearts with Your hope and our lives with a sense of expectation, that You heal our wounds and wipe away our tears, that You excite us with Your grace and overwhelm us with Your mercy, that in Christ's life, His death and resurrection You have demonstrated Your complete victory over death and despair and given us the divine assurance that nothing, but nothing can bring an end to Your loving-kindness toward us or separate us from Your love. We thank You O God of our salvation for the peace, hope, joy and courage with which You have filled our hearts and our lives and for the gratitude with which You have flooded our hearts. Thank You for praying for us, interceding for us when we cannot. From the bottom of our hearts, thank You for sending us Your Heart - Jesus Christ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5-6gwssX0Y

Names of God

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THANK YOU!!! 1 Million + Hits! It's amazing how I've gotten emails and heard about how this video has gone around the world. Praise the LORD!!

Day 238: The Difference Makers: The Believer And His/Her God

Day 238: The Difference Makers: The Believer And His/Her God

Read: Psalm 4

On my my mind today are the difference makers in our lives. Are there any of us out there who can point to that certain someone or or group of someones who has made the difference, who has stepped forward from anonymity, or obscurity, temporarily into the spot light, and forever changed your outlook on the future? I look at and study so many of the pictures posted online from the devastation in Oklahoma. What I see are faces of regular people thrown headlong into catastrophe of unimaginable depth. I see people rescuing people. I see first responders digging through tons of rubble. I see people responding in an instant for somebody needs the difference they'll make!

Praise God for these people! Praise God to the highest for in the difference they make a life is saved, a life is changed, a life is transformed, a miracle in fact a whole host of miracles are witnessed by a world in shock. I love to hear those stories of how one person stepped forward, how in the moment of catastrophe people step forward and despite their own injuries, their own state of being, they start digging, they reach for a crow bar, they begin to reach out to people, they hug them, they love them, they pray for them. They do whatever it is they can because someone, they know not who desperately needs the difference they are about to make. I see the believer and God!

Psalm 4 is an excellent example of the big difference the Lord makes in our lives. He gives a rock solid reason to Pray 'Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. Prayer is critical, and centrally grounded to a vibrant relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Psalms have been designed to give us a language of love, wholly adequate and thoroughly sufficient for any humanly response to all things of God, who spoke to the chaos, told chaos that it was time for it to finally make a difference and creation came forth into the lives of all nature and all mankind. Yes, from chaos - a difference made.

The richness of God’s word is how it speaks to us differently at different times. We can read same passage many times yet becoming enlightened by it as if never read before. This happened to me as I read today’s passage, especially this one verse (7) which made the difference for me today 'You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.' What better choice of words describing the depths of a heart that beats in God's own rhythm within the chest of a 'difference maker'? Sit back for a while and pray, let that verse sink in as you witness Oklahoma recover. May each one of us, difference makers all, be able to fully share in this joy.

Let Us Pray: Prayer for the difference makers, the First Responders, The one's who are called to fill the breach, repair the walls, pick up the pieces, bring love with their hands and arms full of the basic necessities we take for granted, the restorer's of hope through a hug or a smile, a shovel, a wheelbarrow and their bare hands ready. With hearts that beat strong, steadfast and true in one rhythm with their Creator God.

I found this prayer online for First Responders and figured I'd share for anyone who would like to pray for those trying to find a way to make a difference on the ground in Oklahoma or from a distance, to give aid and comfort and help that community.

Blessed are you, Lord, God of mercy,
who through your Son Jesus Christ
gave us a marvelous example of charity
and the great commandment of love for one another.
Send down your blessings on these your servants,
who so generously devote themselves to helping others.
Grant them courage when they are afraid,
wisdom when they must make quick decisions,
strength when they are weary,
and compassion in all their work.
When the alarm sounds
and they are called to aid both friend and stranger,
let them faithfully serve you in their neighbor.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXilbs5a-iI
Lifesong (Lyrics) Casting Crowns ♪
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Lifesong LYRICS Casting Crowns Lifesong with lyrics - Casting Crowns Album: Lifesong

Lifesong (Lyrics) Casting Crowns ♪

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Lifesong LYRICS Casting Crowns Lifesong with lyrics - Casting Crowns Album: Lifesong

Day 237: Love: When We Were Children ... When We Became Adults ...

Day 237: Love: When We Were Children ... When We Became Adults ...

Read: 1Corinthians 13, 1 John 4, Psalm 64

Today, my friends, my heart is a bit on the troubled side. Today, my heart and spirit is squarely on these words: 'When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.' (11,12) Why should my heart be on the heavy side - in as few words as possible - family strife. Not between me and my wife, but between my sisters, my niece, and two growing great nieces. Why? A years long ago exchange of many hurtful words that today has become a quiet? war.

Perhaps some of you know from first hand experience what I'm talking about and can put forth some heavy prayer on my and my family's behalf. Family at war? It seems so completely contrary and so completely hurtful to what we prayerfully hold Love to be all about. A Love that bears all things, suffers all things, patient with all things, is kind with all things, believes, hopes, endures all things, rejoices in all things of truth, is not provoked, does not count the cost or keep a score card, never ever fails .... Yes my friends this is the example of Love that God has set before all mankind. But, I sit here and wonder, how much of this do we actually live by? Can there be Love in war?

In Psalm 64, David calls to God for deliverance, not from those who would do him any bodily harm but from those who are talking behind his back and speaking ill of him. In verse 3 he says: "Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword. They aimed bitter speech as their arrow,". You know, it has been written somewhere that perfect Love casts out fear, but now I am in complete wonderment about what perfect Love does when it is confronted by a war of words .... does it likewise cast out or cast off or cast away all the fears of all that has been, all that is, all that will become of a family at war with itself? As children we loved, reasoned like children, so as adults are we any different?

The Permanence of Love. Love that lasts forever. Throughout all eternity love will never end. The Corinthians had their focus on the wrong things. They were overly concerned about the temporary and had little concern about the permanent and eternal. For the sake of Love every Christian will want to build his/her life upon the permanent, the most preeminent love of God. The gifts of the Spirit are temporary. Even when compared with the other two eternal virtues, faith and hope, love reigns supreme. Love is God’s gift of gifts. Love is the most excellent way of life. But what about in a family at war?

Let Us Pray:

Precious Lord,

You are the source of all love and grace – the one who redeems and heals. You have a plan for us to live in harmony yet we are driven by other forces. I lift into the light of Your love, a family, my family whom I love, that has been torn asunder.

Lord, please let your love surround each part of this broken family. For each person, Lord, minister to needs as only You can. Heal the hurts. Quicken each spirit to find refuge and guidance in You. Please, Lord, do not let the dividing walls continue to grow. As the Prince of Peace, As the Lord of Truth and Love, stop the destruction.

Be a common ground where each one is enabled to put down the tools of war. Let Your tender mercy flow and encourage their hearts toward a faith that gives way to perseverance. Send angels, Lord, to protect and to bring message of hope. Restore to them a joy they once knew, and lead them to a great peace they have yet to see.

May each ones connection to Your Love become the common bond that holds them together until You can heal and restore. Please, Lord, send the support they need from every direction to reinforce Your plan and hold at bay whatever would hinder.

Lord and Love of my life, we desire a miracle today .... What can You do for us?

Signed with a broken heart

In Your precious name, Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uusiWwIo-C4

Psalms 13 (How Long O Lord) - Brian Doerksen

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worship video

Day 236: Are You Ready to 'Exhort' Yourself? Then Let God Arise!

Day 236: Are You Ready to 'Exhort' Yourself? Then Let God Arise!

Read: Psalm 68

Today is my birthday. God has blessed me with another few moments. The Holy Spirit has been unleashed upon the world of sinful man. Let me tell you I am so pumped for what this day will bring. God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are on the march and there is just no turning back now. Today, I want to share with you on the challenging theme of "Letting God Arise" using Psalms 68:1-3 as the scripture text. I am praying that at the conclusion of this message that our hearts will be burning with the same desire that filled the heart of the Psalmist as he cried these words ... "Let God Arise!"

Throughout Scripture, God's people have called out to Him for their deliverance and in spectacular earth shaking and heaven quaking fashion God has responded (Psalm 18:4-19)! 'As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish before God. But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.' (2,3). When you think all is suddenly lost, Jesus died yet He returned to the Upper Room. We stayed behind locked doors, we waited like He told us too then from nowhere, a great wind rushes in, we are all made new by the fires of the Holy Spirit. We are unleashed by God: "Let God Arise!"

How can we not dare celebrate this day when the Psalmist declares 'Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. God is to us a God of deliverance's; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.'? (19,20) Are you celebrating the day(s) of your own deliverance's or is it just another day when you are getting ready for the hum drum busyness of rush hour traffic, caffeine highs and sugar rushes to get through the day? When was the last time you seriously felt like leaning out of the window of your car, home or office, belting out at the on rush of life ahead of you: "Let God Arise!" It is a bit risky I admit. But it might just catch fire! "Let God Arise!"

What we so desperately need is a new marching song: So my friends, set your spirits on fire for a few minutes today and just let er rip from the top of your lungs, let your voices be heard, let God Arise in your hearts and sent into the lives of our neighbors: 'O God, when You went forth before Your people, When You marched through the wilderness, The earth quaked; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched. Your creatures settled in it; You provided in Your goodness for the poor, O God.' (7 - 10) "Let God Arise!"

Let Us Pray: My prayer for today is that we will strive mightily to find a few minutes out of each day to celebrate the unfathomable power and the simple kindness of God in our lives. I pray today for all you who may read this and find your hearts strangely stirred, I pray that in spite of bad knees, bad backs, bad colds, bad moods etcetera, you will find it within your heart and within your spirit, to 'exhort' and I guess 'exert' yourselves too, to sing and shout to the heavens above and the people below: "Let God Arise!" Because we will never ever truly know this side of heaven the full breadth of all that God has delivered us from. Come, Join God and me into a new procession!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY6SKjsuSV8

Let God Arise Paul Wilbur.

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Let God Arise Paul Wilbur.Video created by Celio Abatti.Roni Roni Bat Zion Heriu Yisrael Simchi V'altsi B'chol Lev Bat Yerushalayim.The purpose of this

Day 235: If Your Pentecost Can Be Summed Up In One Word ...

Day 235: If Your Pentecost Can Be Summed Up In One Word ...

Read: Acts 2:1 - 11

I believe it’s generally true that people are always looking to improve, to change their lives for the better. That’s why there are so many commercials for diet and exercise products – lots of people out there trying to change their appearance for the better. I guess it comes down to an exercise in our vanity to be more concerned with outward appearance than inner self, before and after pictures. People are always looking to improve, to change for the better. Isn’t that why people go to school? Isn’t that why people go to conferences and seminars? Professionally, or personally, we desire to be seen as changed, as better than who we really are. If just one word could sum it up for you today, what would it be ....?

What is it about yourself that you would like to change? If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Is it the way you look? Something to do with your health? Something to do with your level of expertise on a certain subject? If you could sum up in one word the one change, that one thing about yourself, what would it be? My beloved friends, this is where you need to be prayerful, careful, and oh so spiritual when you look in the mirror. Who is looking back at you? I know the obvious answer. I would see me looking back at me too. Ask yourselves, who else is looking back at you? Who else might be staring back at you wondering "If just one Word could sum it up for Me today, what would it be ....?"

God is interested in change. He’s interested in changing you. Today is your Pentecost Sunday, and as we take a look at what happened on Pentecost many years ago, we see that God changed many people’s lives. And as we learn about these things, we will see that God is also interested in changing you - there are certain things about you that God wants to change. What are those things? And how does God plan to do that? We will find the answers as we study God’s Word. Change # one was what happened to the disciples. We know the disciples believed in Jesus as Savior, yet they were still confused. They did not fully understand Jesus’ mission or even their own.

But then Pentecost came. The disciples were together, when the sound of a blowing wind came down from heaven. What seemed to be tongues of fire settled on their heads. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in several foreign languages they had never learned before. A crowd gathered, people from all over the world, and that crowd listened as the disciples preached the Gospel. The Apostle Peter stood up and addressed the crowd – he gave a beautiful sermon that God the Holy Spirit inspired him to preach, a sermon that converted 3000 people in one day. As you begin praying for your changes this Pentecost, If just one Word could sum up your Pentecost this day, what Word would it be ....?

Let Us Pray the Prayer of St. Bonaventure to the Holy Spirit:

Lord Jesus, as God's Spirit came down and rested upon you,
May the same Spirit rest on us,
Bestowing his sevenfold gifts.
First, grant us the gift of understanding,
By which your precepts may enlighten our minds.
Second, grant us counsel, by which we may follow
in your footsteps on the path of righteousness.
Third, grant us courage,
by which we may ward off the enemy's attacks.
Fourth, grant us knowledge,
by which we can distinguish good from evil.
Fifth, grant us piety,
by which we may acquire compassionate hearts.
Sixth, grant us fear,
by which we may draw back from evil
and submit to what is good.
Seventh, grant us wisdom,
that we may taste fully the life-giving sweetness of your love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNBqKWpIpnI

Phillips, Craig & Dean - From the Inside Out

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CCLI Song # 4705176 Joel Houston © 2005 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) A thousand times I've failed Still

Day 234: For All Those Days That End In "WHY?"

Day 234: For All Those Days That End In "WHY?"

Read: Psalm 22:1 - 10

Trick question: How many days of the week end in 'Y'? Silly enough question I know. Of course they all do. So today, we are going to delve into why so many days end in not the letter 'Y' but 'Y' spelled “why” and what should we do when “why” fills up our days and our minds for way more than the seven days of the week we are allotted. In our much much younger days we entered this life questioning, “Why?” Why did I have to leave that comfortable place I was living? Why are they shining bright lights in my eyes? Why am I being poked and prodded, rubbed and wrapped up? Why do people always talk to me with some unintelligible language? Why are people smiling at me?

We are born with a burning desire to know the “whys” of life? Why do the birds and butterflies fly when I cannot? The why question continues through our school years. Did you ever wonder why you had to learn math? Does anyone have a compelling response to the penetrating question: “Why do we observe daylight savings time?” Why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? Why do I have to endure more of it than others? Why is my 'fair share' greater than the next guys 'fair share'? We all surround our lives with the ear shattering, earth quaking cacophony of “WHY”. Have any of you even noticed this or have you heard so much of it that you just tune it out?

In case you haven’t noticed, every day ends in “y”! I’ve even known many days that ended in “why”, haven’t you? Now, give careful and prayerful consideration to the day from which this "WHY" was born: 'My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest.' (1 - 2). We have heard these words before many times from King David throughout his writings. We heard them from the cross when Jesus was being crucified, fought through the enormous anguish of Good Friday. For all that happened on that day that ended in your "WHY", your answer is?

The long and the short of it is - our release from sin and eternal life through belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior. What a great answer for all those inquiring minds. I have always been grateful that the Psalms have helped me to both frame and shape all my responses to so many of my "why" questions in the joys and trials of life. But to learn that I can know more of the inner depths of Jesus' heart in God's response to His own "WHY" moments brings me to tears. For me to pray like that might have left me guilt ridden that I was not being faithful. But knowing Jesus prayed this way has taught me to come to His cross in FULL honesty, NEVER holding the depths of my "WHY's" back!

Let Us Pray: Give to God the full measure of your "WHY's"! God is giving you His fullest
measure of approval to just stand before the Cross of Jesus Christ and JUST LET HIM
HAVE IT - FULL BORE, BOTH BARRELS, HOLDING NOTHING BACK! GO 'HOT' ON GOD! NO GUILT - NO SHAME! ONLY HIS LOVE, MERCY, COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS! Put it all on the Altar of the Father's Love, the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Healing Hand and Heart of the Holy Spirit. Burn away that dross of "why me?", be refined by God, BE REDEFINED BY GOD! Why? HE LOVES YOU!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZtgJKJCqXM
Refiner's Fire - Steve Green
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The Refiner's Fire, as sung by Steve Green Words and Music by Jon Mohr and Randall Dennis, © 1989 Jonathan Mark Music. I do not own the rights to

Refiner's Fire - Steve Green

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The Refiner's Fire, as sung by Steve Green Words and Music by Jon Mohr and Randall Dennis, © 1989 Jonathan Mark Music. I do not own the rights to

Day 233: When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Day 233: When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Read: Psalms 63, Isaiah 53:1 - 12

Thou shalt not commit adultery - spiritual or otherwise (check)! Why? Suffering is not very far behind it. Woe be unto the one who intentionally places a stumbling block in front of one of God's children - for them it should be like placing a millstone over his or her neck and throwing them into the sea (check)! Why? Someone suffering for it greatly cannot be very far behind it. Read throughout the Psalms and it does not take very long to notice that personal suffering, great personal suffering in fact, is never to be very far away from someone's stark reality, or long held at bay by the strength of one's charisma or personality. I have often glanced over it, never much considered it. What about you readers out there - what has been your response?

We read and we see the words of the Psalmist. We read the words and have some vague notion of the impact it might have had on the writer. But in all likelihood we are quickly (too quickly?) moving beyond it to find out that great display of Love and Mercy God is getting ready to place on the Psalmist's life. All well and good, we all need to know how the outcome of the story of God stepping briskly into our lives. We all need to know the true blessing of experiencing God's mercy and grace to somehow gain a measure of self confidence before the suffering comes. Yes, all that is just wonderful to know and have available to fall back on when that predictable suffering shows up. However, what about the 'when'? When the predictable suffering comes?

So my question for all of us today is this: When do we actually engage the suffering as the Psalmist did? When do we place ourselves into the story of the real suffering that prompted the writer to write? When do we permit ourselves to engage the writer and his words exactly where the writer is at that moment of time when they put pen to parchment? When do we permit ourselves to suffer alongside the one's who are doing the suffering? When do we give ourselves the permission to come alongside of them, kneel beside them, place our hands around their shoulders and be a Christian? When do we dare, or better yet, why should we dare, to risk identifying with them? Why should we dare to survey the wondrous cross where Jesus died?

What have we to gain? What have we to lose? What do those who are suffering have to gain? To lose? Suffering and pain should never be allowed to have the last word. We know God will be present in the midst of that suffering and God will have the last word (Isaiah 43:1 - 13) on it. Great and wonderful will be the works of God's hands! God dared to identify with the suffering of mankind. God sent His Son Jesus to us in the midst of that impossible suffering. He sent us a suffering servant to suffer for us. Jesus suffered, oh how, in Love, He suffered intensely, greatly and impossibly much. How much will we dare to allow ourselves to walk through someone else's suffering? How close will we dare allow ourselves to come to surveying Jesus' cross?

Let Us Pray: Lord of all creation by whose hands we are all molded and shaped into the image of His Son Jesus, who for the sake of Your great Love, suffered impossibly much for our sakes, died that we might have eternal life through belief in Him, we do lift up to You our prayer for those who physically and spiritually suffer greatly this day that You might cause one of Your children to come alongside and walk with them. We thank you for the message of hope, joy, peace and heaven they might bring to their hearts, that You have given them through the Love and suffering of Your Son Jesus. May all Your people be filled with confidence and with certainty of their faith in Christ and in the power of a love that is steadfastly ready to bear the burden of being self giving, and self sacrificing, Help us to just come alongside, share more of ourselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szQze2UJCeo

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Piano with Lyrics

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Solo piano meditation on the hymn "'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" recorded January, 2011.

Day 232: For All You Adulterous People Out There ....

Day 232: For All You Adulterous People Out There ....

Read: Mark 8:27 - 38, James 4:4 - 7

Thou shalt not commit adultery. Keep your eyes on the prize - being Father, Son, Holy Spirit, your wife, your husband. "Wandering eyes get poked out" said a man with an eye patch over his left eye. Pick up any Hollywood tabloid and invariably it plasters on its headlines someone has cheated on someone and the other is 'devastated', 'heart - broken' 'betrayed'. What a way to begin a relationship with someone you professed your great undying love for. Not to name names, not to bring any spot lights on you who might be trying to hide in the corner, slink away from the table, turn your face away. Shamefully, I am one of those adulterous souls, never on my wife, but on God! But, I can hear each you scratching your collective heads "Adultery against God?"

I can imaging that as you were reading this, you were waiting for a confession on my part that I had turned away from my wife's bed and looking to another - NO I haven't. I bet some of you out there thought I was trying to bring the spotlight down on top of you - NO I am not (although be careful if this shoe fits too snugly ...). No, what I am talking about and asking you to very carefully, very prayerfully consider is your own personal covenanted marriage relationship with God the Father of us all, Jesus Christ (Bridegroom) and The Holy Spirit (Best Man, Matron of Honor). Perhaps too it would be fitting to sit down, pick up your Bible and contemplate this 'Adultery' using God's eyes! I can see each of you trying to pick up, put away rose colored glasses  

But there is another type of adultery that takes place even more often than marital adultery. It’s spiritual adultery. It’s when Christians are supposed to be married to Christ spiritually, but they often cheat on Him by worshiping idols. Whoa! This is that something that we don’t like to own up to, but it happens to most of us. Most of the time we are not even aware we are caught up in the act or do not even know what adultery we are looking at or for. 'Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” What if God had asked Abraham this question at Gomorrah?

ADULTERERS? Not a pretty word -- Not a word most of us would want applied to us. And yet it is a word that James applies to Christians who are "friends of the world." The church is the "bride of Christ," and as such she is to be loyal and true to Him, pure and holy in His sight. Could James have made it any plainer? Do you prove your focus and faithfulness to God by your daily life, or do you prove your "friendship with this world"? I fear that many Christians spend more time with their "mistress," the world, than they do with Christ. Spiritual adultery means friendship with the world. Spiritual adultery means opposition to God. What does this adultery mean for you?

Let Us Pray: Father, we praise You that no matter the depths of our sin, your love can reach down and lift us up; no matter the hurt and pain we inflict upon each other and upon You, Your love holds us together and heals us no matter how far our eyes and lives wander away from You and Your covenant will for our lives, Your greater love for us still reaches out to find us and bring us home. We thank You that Your love far exceeds our guilt, that through Jesus' death on the cross, You have made abundantly clear the enormity, gravity of our sin, yet we are accepted, yet we are forgiven, yet we are loved anyway. You seek to make us new, You seek to make us whole, You seek to mold us into the image of Your Son. We thank You that You will love us in spite of us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9ICt1FFTwo
Sidewalk Prophets - You Loved Me Anyway
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I am the thorn in Your crown But You love me anyway I am the sweat from Your brow But You

Sidewalk Prophets - You Loved Me Anyway

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I am the thorn in Your crown But You love me anyway I am the sweat from Your brow But You

Day 231: Finding A Beginning: God Is Ever Going Before You!

Day 231: Finding A Beginning: God Is Ever Going Before You!

Read: Psalm 68

So, the decision has been made, if it is to be God's way for us in the beginning then let us send forth the clarion call so that those around us may now that what has been started here for the sake of the Kingdom is a thing of God. So let the blast of shofar's horn resound about the mountains - 'Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, And let those who hate Him flee before Him.' Yes my friends, we have taken the first step into our new beginnings in the great name of Jehovah God, whatever beginning that might be for you. Yes, always that confident first step taken knowing God is present. You are standing at the gates of newness we stand with our God in full line of march!

So, let us stand tall in the breach of Jerusalem's walls, sing it loud; "Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before ...!" So, come on, let us put some lung power into this, let us fall in line as one Body with Christ our Lord as our banner. The breeze is blowing, the rain's falling, but that does not, should not matter to us, for we are soldiers in God's Army and our God has always gone on before us. So, all my fellow soldiers of the cross, let us get together in step with the new thing God is getting ready to do. The world around us has lined up, They have seen Your procession, O God, The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

Oh, by the way, let me stop here for a moment and ask each of you a question. When we come to the sanctuary of God, when we gather as His church, what is our posture and attitude? The Psalmist when he enters does not just see a ragtag army returning week after week from a victory God delivered; he sees God in front, leading the long procession. He sees God first. You know, I love meeting with God's people - coming together to celebrate, give, and be fueled for service, hopefully getting pumped up for the next week and so on and so on. But if there is one thing I treasure above all that, whenever I first enter the House of God, is the presence of God Himself. Is God there?

My friends, it is not just a symbolic presence, but the knowledge that God Himself is in the building. That He has gone before me into that place ready to lead me on through to the next time. What a constant source of strength and hope for you and me, for all of God's people. In Psalm 68 we are briskly reminded that Jehovah God is not an aloof nor austere king, who stands afar and is unconcerned for the needs of His people and His kingdom. Rather, He daily bears our burdens, providing us a sure way of escape from the whole host of enemies arrayed in battle line against us. As you enter God's sanctuary, remember He Himself marches in ahead of you. He always go before you!

Let Us Pray: God of The Angel Armies, Lord of the Heavenly Hosts, we come with a great sense of anticipation; we come expecting to meet You here. We come, and we know that You will not disappoint us. We come seeking Your face, longing to give You praise and glory. We have come to the sanctuary that we might be made strong in Christ and be renewed by the power of Your Holy Spirit, please let it be so today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsi_67NWiq4

Whom Shall I Fear by Chris Tomlin Lyrics

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Video copyright Youtube User ID bobf72450. Whom Shall I Fear, God Of Angel Armies, sung by Chris Tomlin from the album, Whom Shall I Fear.

Day 230: Finding A Beginning: God's Way Or Your Way?

Day 230: Finding A Beginning: God's Way Or Your Way?

Read: Psalm 81

When have you ever wondered about the wisdom of beginning a new road, traveling down an untried, untested expanse of wilderness? You see before you an un surveyed expanse of land and you have this inner sense that you are the one called upon to do something about it - to make something out of an apparent nothing. Something that is placed on your heart that just wont go away and you are prepared to respond with an unequivocal "full speed ahead" action? I often wonder, historically, what was on the mind of individuals 200 years ago who conceived of carving a road out of the greatest expanse of wilderness called the Historic National Road? How did they find their way? How did they know where to begin cutting out those very first trees?

I know this sounds allot like a history lesson, but please bear with me. The Historic National Road was the nation's first federally funded interstate highway. It opened the nation to the west and became a corridor for the movement of goods and people. It was begun in 1811 taking four decades to finish - "The Road That Built The Nation". It stretches from Baltimore, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois - 824 miles in total. Through forest glades, over hills, over mountains, fording rivers and streams and God knows what else. No chainsaws or bulldozers or other road grading equipment. I wonder, if when looking at those first trees, how they decided where they would begin cutting? How did they know, come to a consensus on which way was the right way to go?

If you have ever wondered about the wisdom of deciding to do things God's way or your way, of the power and joy found in obedience to God's way, then read over the Words of Psalm 81 which illustrates and contrasts for us the greater wisdom of God's goodness versus the complete folly of mankind's waywardness. Read it over and over and let it sink in, let it settle in your heart. The lessons of the blessings of obedience, love and service are rich. We learn of the magnificent protective hand of our God. His heart is indescribable. But in the end, He does not force what is continually rejected, for God is the ultimate gentleman. When we are looking at our forests - we do have our wills. We do know very instinctively (all too distinctively), we are the correct place. 

11 "But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me. 12 “So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices." Ask yourselves, when hearing God declare, "Do it your own way!" what goes through your spirit? It is the beginning of a new road for you, a new calling, a new ministry, Man is saying to you "My way, my idea is better, go ahead, do it your own way! We will see who whose way is better when...!" God's ways versus our ways - where do we begin to cut the kingdom road out of the worldly forest? What is it about us that still wants to things our own way? Why do we fight so hard against the ways of God to begin our own Road to Salvation? Why do we find it so hard to believe our road to salvation is Jesus?

Let Us Pray: Psalm 81 - Lord, as I consider the vast forests, wildernesses before me, while I am pondering where I should start, while I am busy pre-planning my way over the hills and mountains, across the wide rivers and narrow streams, while I am so hard at work convincing myself of the wholly better way (my way) is the only place to start cutting out my road to Your glory and and my salvation, help me to see the error and folly of my ways, help me to bold and courageous enough to turn from them and help me to find, help me to learn, help me to just live, experience, share the greater wisdom of Your better way - through the greatest love of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Dn77rNc708

Jeremy Camp The way

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Christian Hit Radio

Day 229: Mother's Day, This Is The Day That The Lord Hath Made.

Day 229: Mother's Day, This Is The Day That The Lord Hath Made.

Read: Genesis 3:20 - 24, Matthew 20:20 - 23

All of God's creations have a beginning. All of God's creations are blessed. All of God's
creations are blessed because God is their beginning and God declared all things He created "good" right from the very beginning. Right from the very beginning Genesis 3:20 declares probably the best thing Adam ever said, proclaims the greatest act any man could ever hope to do to give highest honors to his wife and the greatest glory to God who was the Father: "Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living." Mother's day for mankind, the day the Lord hath made! I kinda smile at the blessing of this revelation. Come, friends let us rejoice and be glad in it.

From the very beginning, God has always had this perfect plan. God created man in His own image, in His own image God created man and in His wisdom, God set man as steward over the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. God blessed the man and woman - commanded them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Yes, God in the fullness of His wisdom gave man stewardship. But in what I consider even the wiser move, God knew that man could never go at it alone. Man was blessed by the presence of woman. Guys, we should always be forever blessed.

(Matthew 20:20 - 23) What I can learn from a Mom? First: the Approach to Jesus! She obviously knew that to get the best in life for her children she knew that Jesus would be the only relationship either one of them would ever need, so she made it a point to come to Him. Next, she brought her children to the feet of Jesus. Whether or not her motives were pure of heart matters little for what we can learn from her. She brings herself, her kids, and her requests to Jesus. The Bible tells us to bring our needs, families, and even wants to Jesus. The Attitude toward Jesus – Worship! It is interesting to watch children and discover how they carry the attitude of their parents.

Mother's Day comes once a year. Some think that if they buy their mother flowers and a card that they have fulfilled their obligation for the rest of the year. If we only comprehended a 10th of what our mothers did for us as children, and just how they would literally die for us if needed, we would realize that one day is not sufficient. Mothers Day should be a time to remind us that we have been neglecting our duties as sons and daughters. This God created relationship is wholly sacred, let us honor our mothers whether they are still blessing us with home cooked meals or a memory. Honor your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord gives you.

Let Us Pray: Dear Lord, today I turn to you to give you thanks for my mother. With your own gift of life, she bore me in her womb and gave me life. She quietly, lovingly, tenderly, patiently cared for me and taught me to walk and talk. She read to me and made me laugh. No one delighted in my successes more; no one could comfort me better in my failures. I am so grateful for how she mothered me and mentored me, and even disciplined me. Please bless her, Lord, and comfort her. Help her loving heart to continue to love and give of herself to others. Strengthen her when she is down and give her hope when she is discouraged. Most of all, Lord, on this Mother's Day, give all mother the graces she most needs and desires today. I ask you this, in the name of God the Father, Jesus, our Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2-GO7tB4-o

With Love, Mom

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Originally written for my own two children, this is a message anyone would love to have sent to them from their mom. So if you're a mom and this

Day 228: It All Begins With A Blessing

Day 228: It All Begins With A Blessing

Read: Psalm 1

For the last week or so there has been a growing sense of hunger in my spirit. In the beginning of the week it was all about exploring baring or bearing burdens. A time of preparation if you will set in motion by God. A time of preparation for taking on a new and deeper and more personally challenging step in my journey towards completion. I felt in my heart that maybe I was being strategically guided or politely cajoled, and gently prodded forward toward a new beginning in my life. There was the newness of entering Prison Ministry, discovering this strangely growing warmth in my heart. I look, smiling at my wife having just returned to College, diligent in her Online studies. Yes, my friends, I am reflecting on beginnings, blessings.

I look at our shared journey together as husband and wife, just three years old three days ago. I look back at where we have both been along those widely divergent paths we both walked, to the beginning of our new life together, the getting to know each other, the rough spots (and there were a few) we worked through together, getting to know each others families. All the while realizing that God was doing an amazing work in both of us - molding and shaping us into one each trying to be more in love with the other everyday and more in love still with the Creator, His Son and The Holy Spirit. Yes, I look back reflecting on what God has done - It all began by His blessing. I am looking back on what God has done, looking forward to much more.

Look at the first promise we find in the Psalms - it is one of blessing, of a joy that resides deep inside the heart. What a marvelous place for all new things in God to begin. Sit back for a while contemplating the incredible joy found when we truly know the depths of the Father and Son's love for us all. Notice that the order for the fruits of the Spirit mentioned begin with love and joy and peace and the rest all flow from them. It all begins with God blessing us with the fullness of His Love and Joy for us. It is humbling to know that God loves me and my wife, has joy over our watching our shared lives come together, through the assortment of struggles that come from being newlyweds, coming together more everyday. Coming together in the image of our Creator.

When we place the blessings of the Father first in our hearts and minds something of
incredible magnitude takes place. We are made alert, we are awakened, shaken from our slumber. We experience the joy of God's ways. Likewise we are reminded of the enemy's deceptive ways trying to steal this joy away, hold us back from experiencing God's very best for us. If the enemy had as much joy in thievery as he had in love, I wonder how the world would be different today. Every time I begin reading any of these Psalms, my thoughts turn to Jesus and my joy is renewed. My prayer is that you too will experience the truth that life in Christ is the greatest blessing in, for, your life. I pray that you will be the beginning of someone's blessing.

Let Us Pray: Take the time to reflect on the depth of the blessings to be mined from the Ancient Wisdom, the Living Words and the Glorious Truths from Psalm 1. Reflect on them in your own right, then in God's name, set aside some special time with your family. Begin sharing and reflecting on the wonders and the newness of all of God's blessings. Pray unto Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you may be the beginning of someone else's blessing today. Blessed is he/she who comes in the name of the Lord.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ

Laura Story - Blessings

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Album iTunes link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/blessings/id429376000 Listen to the story behind the song at: http://www.youtube.com

Day 227: Great Commission: Lord, You Want Me To "Chase The Wind"?

Day 227: Great Commission: 'Lord, You Want Me To "Chase The Wind"?'

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:1 - 14, Matthew 28:16 - 20

Sometimes things do not make sense to us. Well, let me just come right out and say it - there are so many (too many in my estimation) things that just don’t make sense in life. These are the things that Solomon refers to as meaningless, futile, and says that figuring them out is like chasing the wind. Take for example verse 6 'For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool; And this too is futility.' I have a tough time placing the sound of the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot or why that particular image had such a deeply profound meaning to the writer. I have heard the laughter of fools. However, how the two come together, I don't know. I have ceased trying to figure out how a person thinks. 

Figuring out the thought process that motivated the repeated use of 'everything under the sun', and 'like chasing the wind', that prompted such a broad and expansive view of life as a whole as being so completely meaningless, so utterly futile, just such total folly would most likely send anyone into a tailspin of gloom despair, excessive misery. But are reading and trying to comprehend such defeating words and phrases really so 'Old Testament'? Just take a look for yourself at the news being thrown at us by the print and television media. Have you noticed (probably a silly question) just how much more negativity there is compared to the positive? It is staggering for me to watch it. One wonders at the futility of trying to keep up.

We can look at and try to absorb the biblical world view of Solomon, then watch or read any of the news channels, put one world view in one hand, one world view in the other and say "yep - Solomon was right on target!" But now something has to get in the middle, it always will - God will make sure it does. God sees these world views too and would agree wholeheartedly that trying to live in, comprehend, compete with, survive in, get along with each other in without killing each other would be exactly the same as trying to chase the wind. Have you ever tried to catch the wind? I did once as kid. I had this child's innocence that believed I could catch and bottle all the wind. Yes, I tried once with a mason jar, thought I succeeded too!

So, now back to the middle. God always wants us to send us back to the middle, the center of all things. Have you ever noticed that? What are we to find in the middle of these competing worldviews? What do you see in the middle? Someone chasing after the wind? I see the Great Commission right smack dab in the center of it all. I see that God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit (Ruach Adonai - The Holy Wind) saying if we are going to continue in our folly (all well and good for Me), do so in My name. "You want me to keep chasing Your Holy wind?" "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." So relax all, we only have to strive to place people in the path of the winds of God's Great Commission and The Ruach Adonai, The Holy Wind, The Holy Spirit will do the rest. 

Let Us Pray: Ruach Adonai, Holy Spirit, Holy Wind of God, we read of the futility of spending even a brief moment 'chasing the wind' as Solomon wisely wrote. We do so easily recognize the utter folly of such an adventure as being completely foolish so we listen to Solomon's words and do not try. Now, you have placed before us, The Body of Christ, Your Church in the middle of conflicting world and kingdom views. You have given us the Great Commission. However, like those Disciples who came (16,17) to Galilee, to the mountain the Resurrected Jesus designated, we have our doubts. It seems that You are commanding us to 'chase the wind' and "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” But we are confused. We are perplexed. We pray, Holy Spirit, Holy Wind, that you will reveal to us which wind, the wind of this world, Your Kingdom we are to catch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAH8jEI7wWI

04 THE GREAT COMMISSION

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LYRICS: (refrain) we carry our crosses, this the great commission, pick up your crosses, this the great commission, (JC Verse 1) Let us stress that