See What You Can’t Ignore
Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.”
Salutations everyone! May you see today what can not be ignored in a day you were given. May today give only positivity in every moment of this day and others to come. Today is a time to understand that we as humans desire many things, and with that we tend to ignore that the world is temporary and heaven is eternity. As we go through life, we also find that during prayer, God reveals those blind spots, those motives, and those truths that we ignore. Sometimes we get caught up in the “pleasing” of those around us; those closest to us; sadly, believing we have to keep peace. But in reality, are we? Are you sure that ignoring the good and right way is leading to happiness or is it just brewing and if we just stir the pot now and again, no one will notice? When we allow God to intervene on our behalf, others will let you know what you are ignoring; causing feelings of fear, anger, confusion, especially regret. Maybe we need to get back to focusing on the eternal, to listening to God’s wisdom, to studying His word, to obeying His prompts, truly examine how we react, get back to walking in faith, and then embrace humility! Our biggest hurt will come from God letting people around us reveal our “ignoring”, because we are choosing to believe that if we do ignore whatever it is, it will just go away, or fix itself! Sinful behaviors will grow like weeds when we ignore the truth that God’s way is better, more satisfying than this temporal world. Your first duty is to God, then others, then self. Today, let’s initiate working toward realigning our hearts back to Him- forcing the advancement away from the blind, self-centered, superficial living. Work toward a life of true purpose, full of compassion, rejoining the living God’s way! Gain your sight back; act on those pricks you feel on your heart that God is sending to you! Listen to the voices of those who are giving warning to you; they may have already been where you are! Remember, God said in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” KJV Get back to the real-life God has for you; leave worldly desires; then open your eyes to see what you can’t ignore!
Scriptures:
Read: Philippians 4:8, Matthew 15:11, Romans 1:19-22, John 12:48, II Corinthians 9:6-12, I Peter 3:9-12, James 1:17,22, Matthew 7:12, II Timothy 3:16, Philippians 2:3, Jeremiah 7:23, Luke 6:38, John 3:16, Matthew 5:9, Hebrews 12:6-7, II Timothy 1:7, Romans 5:8, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 11:26-28, Hebrews 4:12, Proverbs 2:7, Psalms 121:1-2, James 4:17, I John 4:18
Prayer:
Lord, today we come asking for true forgiveness on letting the world lead us away from you. Lord, please continue to prick our hearts when you see us falter to the evils of this world. Help us Lord, to gain back your control by trusting in your leadership, your strength, your promises. Push us Lord, to read your words, reach for your knowledge in how to be more compassionate to others, to acknowledge we failed, but build back that faith and trust that will gain that honor of eternity with you. Amen.
What Are You Praying For
Psalms 145:18, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”
Greetings fellow readers! How are we today? Have we awakened to joy, to excitement, to the positive thoughts that today will be a good day? Today, as we opened our eyes, did you thank God for that moment, that realization that, YES, God gave me another day to fight the good fight? I know there are many of you who still popped up and thought only negative thoughts because your itinerary or schedule has you on edge. BUT, can we take a moment to pause, reflect, calm those nerves by just opening a channel to the One who can change our negative straight to positive? When we first wake, we need to focus on God’s presence at that moment so we can become in tuned to His spirit; letting Him come in and place peace, comfort and strength so that everything will go as planned. Then we will need to allow Him to guide, to give wisdom and strength where we most need it. We also need to know that our prayers will align with God’s purpose in our journey. When we pray, are we asking in earnest belief that God will answer? As you take this moment to connect with God, ask for physical provisions, spiritual blessings and that He will use you in doing good works for Him; even in your job, at school, your family, with others around you. Don’t forget to always ask Him for His hands of protection to wrap around your spouse, your children, your family and especially you! That prayer is the one that keeps the devil from slipping in when you are distracted! If you have trouble when you are in a place that causes anxiety, or fear; remember Luke 11, “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in the earth. 3Give us day by day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” Jesus taught His disciples this one for when they could not find words! Then remember David as he cried out with Psalms 23, acknowledging all that God can provide, all that He will do for us; look it up! Today, as you begin, and as the day progresses; just remember God hears you, He is with you and He will answer what you are praying for!
Scriptures:
Read: I Thessalonians 5:16-18, Matthew 21:21-22, Philippians 4:6-8, I John 5:14-15, Mark 11:24-26, Jeremiah 29:12-13, Romans 8:26-27, Colossians 4:2-3, Ephesians 6:18, Psalms 145:18-19, Matthew 6:5-6,9-13, I Timothy 2:8, II Chronicles 7:14
Prayer:
God, we come to you now in earnest, humble submission; believing and trusting in you and all you can provide. We thank you first for being the one constant; the one who we can have faith in; the one who can provide, protect, and give grace and mercy. God, we want to say thank you for all the answers you have given; all the guidance you have provided, the continued presence in our lives; even when we slipped away. God, we sincerely pray to you for your continued love and everlasting promises. Amen.
What Are You Waiting For
Isaiah 30:18, “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.”
Good morning. Let’s just take a moment to feel the presence of God, to know that He has provided another beautiful day on our journey. No matter the weather outside; no matter how hectic your schedule may be today, trust that He will go with you! On this day we have been given, let’s talk on waiting; that one thing that we all seem to not like. We are all born into a world where we have no patience, no value of time or moments; just wanting things to happen now. When God closed the door to the ark, do you think the thoughts of Noah and his family were “how long will this take”, “will we be in here forever”? True, in every situation, doubt, disbelief, anxiety, fear; all of which enter our minds and make us forget who really is in control of every moment, every second. When we give God our trust and faith, we acknowledge that whatever the outcome is to be; He alone has the power. It could be simple prayers, it could be life changing prayers or it could be your prayers for another person. But as we pray in deep faithful obedience, sincerity and trust; God already knows the outcome because it was part of the plan for your life’s journey. Waiting on God’s answers will help teach us to trust in the process, to wholly give our needs over to Him. We will learn to be more Christ-like; to remember how Jesus suffered the waiting on His own delivery to the cross, the destiny that saves us from sin; to the receipt of eternity with Him. There will be times that we will struggle with the decision God makes on many prayers; outcomes that we will feel that it will break us; pull us down to depths we would rather not endure. This will be the time that we will positively need to wait on Him. Though that waiting will be a challenge of a life time; our spiritual endurance will be strengthened by His presence, His unfailing love. Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” NIV We need only to ask “what are we waiting for”? Are we waiting on Him, or are we waiting on ourselves? When I was getting treatments for cancer, I learned quickly how waiting is crucial, it is life altering, it is part of life. But when I totally decided to WAIT on God, turn it all over to Him, truly trust in His timing; my whole outlook on life was transformed. So today, as you get anxious over the timing, pause and remember who holds the true endings. Give it over to Him; What are you waiting for?
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 37:7,34, Proverbs 3:5-6, Lamentations 3:25-26, Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 40:31, Psalms 27:13-14, James 5:7-8, Micah 7:7, II Peter 3:9, Psalms 130:5-6, Psalms 62:5-8, Romans 5:3-4, Psalms 33:20-22, Psalms 25:4-5, Matthew 6:33-34, Hebrews 11:1, I Peter 5:6-7, Jeremiah 29:11
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the waiting, for your presence that gives us peace, comfort, healing; that ultimately brings us back to you. Father, help us to know that sometimes pain comes from the waiting, but great joy will come in the morning. Guide us Father, to that understanding, that trust, that obedience, that deep faith we need to process, to accept any decision you bring to us. Thank you for your Son who trusted in the waiting and then gave much more than we deserve so that we might be with you in eternity.
One Life To Live
John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Morning dear friends! Praying this finds you reaching for the positive, even when you feel negative. Today why not trust in the one who can provide life, the one that gives you the opportunity to follow Him, to trust in His truth. Every day we are hearing quotes like “you only have one life”, “live your life”, “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you going to get”. True, life is but one life here on earth. We have been blessed with a life because God ordained it, created it, guides it! When we fall short by allowing worldly pleasures, worldly views to pull our lives away from the only one who can control its existence; we fail, we fall, we disconnect, we lose! Our lives were given in order that we would worship Him, find fellowship with Him and likeminded people, become Christlike, serve Him as a disciple, share His message across the world. He provided all our needs to survive any obstacle that crosses our path during this life journey. In Colossians 3:17, God let us know that doing this life by living right, being faithful, using words that encourage, doing good deeds in the name of Jesus and thanking God is how we continue. As we align our life to the principles of love, grace and righteousness we are using our actions, our thoughts and our words to exemplify Christ. If we falter, if we choose wrong and then not use the gift of life to honor Him, we are on a path of destruction, an endless life of sadness, a loneliness that this life was not intended for and the loss of spending eternity in heaven. Today, let’s choose to seek God not sin; fear God not men; believe God not the deceiver; obey God not the devil; serve God not self; worship the true God not satan; then love God and not this world! If you feel you are not living that life that is faithful and true to God; stop, pray, ask for Him to come into your heart and guide you on how to live the right life He planned for you! Thought for the day: You do have one life to live, but choose the right way to live it and receive blessings that are intended just for you!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 37:4, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Proverbs 27:1, II Timothy 1:7, James 4:14, Proverbs 16:9, Colossians 3:23-25, Romans 6:23, Joshua 1:8-9, Romans 8:28, Romans 12:2, Matthew 6:33-34, Hebrews 11:1, Philippians 1:6, Psalms 46:10, Hebrews 4:12, II Timothy 3:11-16, I Corinthians 13:13, I Timothy 6:12, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 5:24, John 11:25-26, I Peter 4:8-11, Matt.4:4
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, we want to give thanks for your precious decision to provide us with life, with the breath of life you breathed into each of us. Thank you for showing us through your word how we can take this gift of life and use it for your good. Father, please continue to provide strength and grace to us so our faith and our trust in you will grow. Help us Father, to understand who allows us this life, to acknowledge that without you there is no true life. Amen.
Standing On The Rock
I Samuel 2:2, “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee; neither is there any rock like our God.”
Hello dear friends. I pray this finds you full of joy, seeking positive vibes for this day the Lord provided. Have you thanked Him for the allowance of the day, the gift of life, family, friends? Have you thought on how He provides the rock that you stand on, the rock that keeps you steady, the rock that keeps the sand from washing your path away? When we think of rocks, boulders; we understand that it symbolizes strong, secure and unmovable foundations; biblically sought strength against “storms” or “sinking sand”. Throughout history, God was called the “rock, the firm foundation”, then Jesus came and He was called the “cornerstone”, the main part of a building foundation that stabilizes it. Today, do we rely on the rock and the cornerstone to stabilize, to stand firmly, to provide us with what we need to be strong and unmovable? Have we chosen to ask God to be the one constant that leads, guides, provides for everything we need and go through? Have you placed yourself on the rock or have you gotten stuck in the sinking sands of this world? Deep questions, I know; but when we truly look at where we need to be within our spiritual, physical or mental health, are we lacking? Life can be full of obstacles, challenges; things that keep us from being grounded in what God can do for us. Ultimately, we understand and acknowledge that God is in control; that He is the one who can guide us along our journey. It comes down to our true obedience and trust that produces a faithfulness that keeps our rock steady and the cornerstone stable! We need to be active in the choice to trust God in everything, whether it is difficult and whether it goes against what the world deems right. When we let God be that rock, we ensure our lives are anchored in true permanent stabilization! Why not check your foundation today and see if you are sinking into the sands of the world, or if you are just tottering on the edge of your ROCK! Today, trust in the rock, ask for the guidance, allow complete control to the one true God, then stand firm on the rock of His foundation.
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 71:3, Psalms 61:2, Matthew 7:24-29, John 14:6, I Peter 3:15, John 3:18, Psalms 119:1-8, James 1:21-25, I Corinthians 3:11, Isaiah 28:16, II Timothy 2:19, Matthew 16:18, Psalms 40:2, John 5:24, II Peter 1:4, I Corinthians 10:4, I Peter 2:4-8, Deuteronomy 31:6
Prayer:
Lord, we come today thanking you for the foundation that can hold us, guide us, protect us, deliver us. Thank you for helping us to know that your rock is steady, strong and capable. Lord, please continue to help us when we allow the world to cause us to step into the sinking sand by lifting us, aiding us, giving strength beyond all measure, then placing our feet firmly back on the rock. Thank you for sending the cornerstone that aids us in forming the foundation that leads us to eternity with you. Amen.
Fear Has No Chance
Psalms 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
Hello friend! How are we adjusting to it being morning and another day freely given to each of us? First, claim it with positivity and joy, then ask God to go with you through whatever is planned for you. Today, we want to reach into the depths of our souls and realize who is really in control of our fear. Ask yourself if you have truly relied on God during times you let fear take over in whatever situation that brought that feeling to you. I am not saying that every person will not have fear; but rather informing you that you have a presence of a comforter, a refuge, and a protector. When we get a diagnosis that destroys our endurance we have to give it to God. Placing that burden on His shoulders will relieve you of stress, worry; to provide you an outlet for that fear. God replaces fear with perfect love, His presence, trust, and faith. When we give in to His promises we are reminded of all His blessings; the past ones and the future ones. The security that is provided by Him comes from constant prayer, allowing you to release all the worries and doubts you are holding within. Your biggest courage is to face fear head on; to become determined with God’s help; confront it, then move forward. The key to overcoming any fear is to trust Him; completely trust Him, because He loves us deeply and He is greater than any fear that comes before you. Rev. Billy Graham said, “Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us.” Which I am sure means, don’t give in to anything fear or anxiety offers, because if you have God, there is no real fear, He is the remover of it all. Pastor Steven Furtick said, “fearless is to fear less.” Sounds hard, yet it’s not; because God tells us that anything evil, worldly, fearful, is not of Him. So today, place any fear you have into His hands, calling on Him in reverent prayer, asking for His help to guide you in knowing that fear has no chance!
Scriptures:
Read: Is.41:10,13, Ps.23:4, Phil.4:6-7,13, Rom.12:1-2, Ps.27:1, Ps.46:1-3, John14:27, Ps.118:5-6, Deut.31:6, II Tim.1:7, I Pet.5:6-7, John16:33, Ps.56:3-4, Josh.1:9, Rom.8:38-39, Is.35:4, Deut.3:22, Is.43:1, Luke1:37
Prayer:
Dear Lord, today we come in humble adoration of the one who can replace our fears with love, kindness and understanding. Lord, we ask you to daily fill us with your presence so we can endure anything the devil throws our way. Lord, when we let fear enter, guide us back to you so we feel peace and comfort of the one who can take those fears away. Amen.
Don’t Be Shaken
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Salutations all you beautiful people! I send you positive vibes that as you have awakened you will have continued blessings of joy throughout the day. Today, let’s just find ways to avoid anything that my cause us to become shaken. That we might find strength if something negative starts interrupting the joy we claimed when we woke up this morning. It is not a sin to be afraid, to be anxious, disheartened; but when we surrender to it, we lose true sight of who we are. We then doubt God’s ability to help us in those times. We need to build up our emotional resilience, maintain our inner peace; focusing on the positive outcome, not negative. We need to ask God for the best mechanisms to overcome the suppression of our emotions which can become unhealthy, leading to stress. Take time at those moments to stop, breathe, silently pray, then soften your response, then let go of any negative thought. Never let that situation or person see your fear, or your emotions. Pull from within that strength that God has given you so you can protect your peace; choose to not engage their destructive attitude; control and become unshaken! The devil seeks who he can devour; but when you are God’s, you have the armor that can shield you in all situations. Remember those people in the Bible that God gave inner peace to; like Moses leading multitudes, Job in loss whose friends denied God, Jonah who ran from God, David who stood before a giant, Esther who spoke for her people, Mary who accepted motherhood of Jesus. That list gets longer and longer because God didn’t choose the equipped, He equipped the chosen! There is knowledge in God’s word of all that can help you to overcome, to not be shaken! You can become the disciple God called you to be by protecting your peace, choosing to speak up, and understanding how to not be shaken!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 16:8, Isaiah 41:10, Daniel 2:20-22, Jeremiah 31:3, Psalms 73:26, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalms 62:2, Jeremiah 29:11,13, Psalms 16:5-11, Hebrews 12:28, Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 3:5-6, Ephesians 4:32, I Peter 3:14, Romans 1:17, Joshua 1:9, II Corinthians 4:16-18, John 10:28-30, I Corinthians 8:6, Acts 2:21
Prayer:
God in heaven, thank you for a life of peace, a life that can be endured by accepting your strength, your peace and your love. God, continue to place inside us the heart that can respond to negative situations in a way that is pleasing to you. Please God, help us when we forget to rely on your guidance and enter into our souls in those times so we can overcome and not be shaken. Amen.
Leave It Behind
Philippians 3:13, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”
Good Morning! Greetings to you all and may today bring you joy and promises kept; a lasting relationship with God above; a renewing in your spirit that leads to all good things in His name! Have you awakened to the thought of good things, new things? Have you opened your eyes and said, thank you Lord for giving me this another day to be in your grace? Are you willing to open your mind and heart to what God can do? If you are a Christian, you should be constantly seeking His will. If you are someone today reading this that hasn’t made that decision to follow God, I pray that you are on the verge of seeking a true connection with God; that you will accept Him, ask Him for forgiveness, then know He found you first! God has always been right beside all of us. Our next steps after accepting is to leave behind the old you, the old life, the negative people; anything that steals the joy out of you. Worldly desires of things of this world are nothing compared to the everlasting love provided by God. When we finally surrender to His will we become set apart from the evils of this world. Our new life is to seek everything pertaining to Him and Him alone. We have a desire to take full responsibility, changing direction and then relying completely on God to redeem all consequences. God offers the way to transform past failures into growth when we confess the sin, when we rely on His scriptures-not emotions, then move forward with faith, trust, hope and love. The hardest part of that acceptance, to fully follow Him, will be the leaving of the old ways, leave the life we thought was the right life. When you became a teenager, you left the childish ways, then as a young adult you left the frivolous ways of youth; then you chose adulthood with all of the choices that can bring! Leaving the old behind enabled you to grow in all aspects of life. This is the way God helps us to understand how leaving the bad behind gives you the opportunity to live better, love better, just BE better! We are born again, a new creation, ready to walk in a newness of life, renewing our minds toward God and His promises. So today, accept the new life with grace, study scriptures, pray, live better and maintain a relationship with God so you can totally leave it behind!
Scriptures:
Read: I John 1:9, Philippians 3:13-15, Isaiah 43:18-19, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 6:14-15, Acts 2:38-39, II Corinthians 5:17-18, I Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 6:2-6,22-23, John 3:3, I Corinthians 10:13, I Corinthians 13:11-13, Luke 8:17, Isaiah 55:7, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Proverbs 28:13
Prayer:
Lord, we come today thanking you for continuing to seek us, to offer a better way, a lasting way to leave this world of sin behind. Lord, give each of us strength to push toward a better life by letting you guide us daily through everything we go through on our journey to eternity. Amen.
Disconnected
Isaiah 59:1, “BEHOLD, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.”
Hello friends! Starting off today with only positive, joyous thoughts! Let each of us find ways to push out anything that is negative; anything that will take away the joy of our day! Today, we want to talk about how we can become disconnected; whether with each other or especially with God. We all know that as humans, we tend to be self-sufficient, goal seeking, motivated to achieve; but sometimes distant. Without actually acknowledging that at times we forget that there are others within our “space”, within our every day lives. I don’t believe we all do it on purpose; some just get caught up in the world that we disconnect because we fail to take to heart that someone helped us to get where we are! In many ways, we let sin, lack of concern (still a sin), distractions of all kinds, keep us from the connections we truly need to survive. This also happens when we neglect prayer time, reading God’s word, or interacting with those fellow Christians that encourage, enlighten. Then we wonder why things are not working out, not going in the right direction, not having happy endings; just off! When you divert your attention to people, careers, social media, worldly influences; you become drained, empty, disappointed, then depressed. The habit of choosing selfishly began even with Adam and Eve! Choices of doing right or wrong has always been a battle for God’s people; but if you notice, it only happens when we get distracted from what keeps us in a close relationship with Him. Every time we let sin or the worldly choices override the guidance of God, nothing goes right, something always happens that you regret. God intended for us all to be centered on obedience and love; to be connected to Him. God became distraught about our choices; He stayed with us through everything, pricking our hearts, reminding us of how much He loves us, how much that love when returned can make things better. If you are feeling disconnected, stop and re-evaluate what is happening in your decision making, your choices. Search to see if you have chosen from a sinful, guilty heart or from the faith based, trust given direction of God! Jesus became discouraged also, but He spoke words of encouragement, pushed the teachings of old and new, gave us a way to reconnect to what can bring us to ultimate relationships with God. Get your life re-connected by throwing out the disconnection and get back with God!
Scriptures:
Read: Isaiah 59:1-2,19,21, I John 2:15-17, Colossians 3:12-16, Ephesians 4:30-32, Romans 5:18-21, Philippians 4:6-7, I Peter 5:6-7, John 14:26-27, Isaiah 40:31, Deuteronomy 31:6, II Timothy 1:6-8, Romans 8:31, Proverbs 3:5-6
Prayer:
Father God, we come thanking you for the opportunity to have ways to re-connect with you when we have failed to follow your leadership. Father, we come to you asking for strength to see the signs of disconnection; the red flags that are right in front of us. Help us Father, to go back to the beginning and realize our help comes from you; that everything we are or have was provided by you. Amen.
Calamity
Proverbs 3:25-26, “Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”
Morning friends! May today be a positive, happy and wonderful day! I pray today, even if you have doubts about the outcome, that no matter the calamity that might start around you, you find peace from God. Each of us are subject to disasters of all kinds; heath, economic, political, social, etc. Without even knowing, we are affected individually, and as groups of people. Through those calamities we will experience stages of adjustment which can include shock, anger, depressions and real hopelessness. With God’s help, those moments can be accepted and ultimately, we can move forward away from the bitterness and sadness. We do experience natural calamities also; such as hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; the list goes on. These things are a part of God’s sovereign control, natures way of reflecting or groaning due to the evil that is hurting this world. Which means, the earth and all its inhabitants are affected deeply by the evil that lurks and is destroying us and all that is around us. But, the solution to all calamities is to put our trust, faith, and understanding in God, allowing Him to help us through everything we go through. He is the one who can deliver us when we become distressed. He can reverse devastation and bring spiritual growth and give us the refuge we need. Biblical views say that calamities serve as a “refining fire”; a purifying where God allows some trials and sufferings so we can burn away spiritual impurities; like sin, selfishness, negative actions, etc. Because of the trials, we can turn back to being humble, relying on God’s guidance, love and nurturing. During those sufferings, as we again trust and have faith in God restored, we become transformed, purposeful, and more loving toward ourselves and others. As we focus back on the positive, we can then trust in the true promise that there is an eternal hope; a day when all pain and suffering will end. Today, let’s begin our new outlook on anything that causes calamity. Let’s place all our needs on the one who can ultimately bring peace to our pain!
Scriptures:
Read: Joshua 1:9, Mark 13:7-8, Nahum 1:7, Isaiah 43:2, Matthew 24:4-8,14,29-31, Luke 21:25-28, II Chronicles 7:13-14, II Corinthians 5:1, Romans 12:12, John 16:33, Isaiah 54:10-11, Psalms 18:6, Romans 8:17-18, Zephaniah 3:15-20, II Peter 3:9, Job 1:21-22, Psalms 57:1-2, Philippians 4:13, Amos 4:13, Psalms 107:39-43, Psalms 46:1-11, John 1:1-5, Haggai 2:6-7, Psalms 91:4-5,9-10
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come now thanking you for your peace, your ever-present help that is never-ending. Father, place within us the strength to know that through all things you are the one thing that last, the one that can provide calm in any crisis, peace through conflict, and love us thoroughly. Thank you for the promise of eternity where no pain or sorrow will ever be experienced again. Amen.
Take My Pain
Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Greetings my friends, my acquaintances! Today I would like to talk on something everyone has experienced at some point in their lives. This is probably the one thing every human being would like to not endure! Each of us have dealt with physical pain in the sense that we have gotten scrapes, bruises, sprained muscles, even broken bones. This type of pain is complex and unpleasant, yet we know there can be healing of the body parts. The deeper pain we all endure is the emotional deep pains of our inner souls and hearts. These are the kinds that usually stem from loss, trauma; the kind that has no bodily injury, but entails deeper feelings of emotional pain. Each of us has manifested grief, fear, shame, anxiety or even loneliness; which all can cause a physical breakdown, sometimes worse than an actual injury to our bodies. God encourages us to trust Him in helping to heal all wounds; to pray and turn to Him for relief. Allowing God to enter into your heart and soul gives Him the opportunity to take those pains and use them for your benefit. He doesn’t remove them completely, but allows your transformation through grace, that gives you the ability to endure. We will lose a job, or we will get a critical diagnosis, or we will lose a family member or friend in death; but God will be there to comfort, to give strength and listen intently to your needs. Our prayers are a place for venting fury, explaining our frustrations, pouring out pain, allowing God to let His grace work within us, accepting His help and feeling His presence. Pain can be real, but God’s purpose for your pain is also real. He allowed His son, Jesus, to endure suffering; then because of that suffering, He gave His sinless life for you and I; He lived life here on earth as a real person; He knows the pains we endure because He endured. God gives us the promise that pain, any pain, is momentary compared to eternity in heaven where all pain of every kind will be removed. Let God use you and your pain as a living testimony, so others can receive all that God offers. So today, if you are in need, bring those requests to God and receive His peace, and compassion that will take your need, your pain, and give you a passion to keep going.
Scriptures:
Read: Romans 8:18, I Peter 5:10, Isaiah 53:4, I Peter 4:1,12-13,19, II Peter 3:9-10, Romans 6:23, Jeremiah 29:11, John 3:16, Psalms 34:18-19, Psalms 41:1-3, I John 1:9, I Peter 3:18, Matthew 11:28-29, Hebrews 11:6, Ephesians 1:7-10, Galatians 2:20, John 16:33, Revelation 2:10, Philippians 4:4-7
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for your peace that passes all understanding. Lord, thank you for showing us that with you, all things, all pains can be healed and endured, just by bringing it to you. Lord, continue to come into our hearts and lives with your peaceful presence; guiding and teaching us how to endure. Thank you for all your promises and especially the knowledge of knowing there will be an eternity without pain. Amen.
Safe Because Of You
Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Hello Again! Greetings to you on this another day God has given us to bask in the love He offers to us daily! May we take time today to see the real reasons we are safe from the evil of this world, and how we need only to continue trusting in God to provide that safety. There are scriptures after scriptures that speak of God’s unfailing love and protection. From that day in the Garden of Eden, as the devil began his plot to diminish the relationship of man with God; God began His work of protection for the people He created and loved! Whether it is spiritual or physical, He works to serve as our refuge, our present help in all things. In Psalms 91, He tells of all the ways He alone protects us, guides us. In Ephesians 6, He spells out exactly what we need as armor to fight against the evils of this world. Instead of God just preventing anything that comes our way, He sustains us through it, sending us strength and endurance. Each of us needs to understand that we are only safe because of God. As we travel the journey God has laid out for us, we must find peace in knowing how much He helps, whether little things or big things, little choices or big choices. He is that still small voice that speaks when we are flustered, the voice that speaks calm when we are afraid. Our prayers should be constant; continually conversing with Him on all subjects! He already knows our needs, He just wants us to ask. When we study His word, we will find everything we need that will assist us through life. As we accept the armor of God, peace will come over the physical, the mental, the spiritual parts of our life. Our lives here are not forever; but to get to that forever home, we need to put on the armor of God so we can endure the trials while we are here. Let your words this morning, this day, reflect and then thank Him for understanding we are safe because of Him!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 23:1-6, Psalms 27:1,4,5, Psalms 46:1, Psalms 121:1-8, Romans 8:37-39, Romans 14:8-9, Psalms 4:8, Proverbs 18:10, Joshua 1:9, Ephesians 6:11, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:13, II Timothy 4:18, James 1:12, Nahum 1:7, Isaiah 54:17, John 16:33, John 10:28, Psalms 91:9-10
Prayer:
Precious Lord, we come today just thanking you wholly and completely for all that you provide us. Lord, we ask that you continue to be present in our hearts and souls through each day. Dear Lord, we give you praise for the armor you provided that can guide us against the evil of this world. Please Lord, go with us today and always, leading, guiding and protecting us. Amen.
For My Good
Hebrews 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Good morning! Praying that everyone got up on the right side of the bed this morning and left negativity back in our dreams! May we use today to find understanding in all things that happen on our journey through life. Today let’s focus on the reasons we need to accept the things God has planned for us and has allowed to enter the path we are walking. If we search the Bible, we can find that the goodness of God works for us by offering salvation, protection, provisions, and unconditional love. When we begin living life as a child of God, His goodness flows through us, helping others understand how they can have that life too. When we forget how much He has provided, we lose sight of why He provided. When we doubt His reasoning, we lose part of our faith. God taught us that when we do good, it would be returned to us. When He makes a decision that benefits us, yet we cannot see that reasoning at that moment; we must accept that is for our good! We cannot keep asking why; there just may not be an answer we want to hear. Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” All believers when receiving salvation, become disciples, followers of God; which means we are constantly working to be more like Jesus. God works through life challenges to help guide us away from stubborn pride, to teach maturity, then teach dependence on Him. While doing this He helps us to look beyond what the world offers and get the mindset of a heavenly home with Him. God is capable of working out all events whether good or bad, into positive outcomes. Just like when we are children or young adults begrudging our parents, teachers, bosses, of their warnings of what circumstances can happen when we fail to do the right thing. We hear it time and time again; it is all for your good! As we mature, as problems occur, as the memory processes those past warnings; we know that they meant them for our good. God knew the people of the Bible could not and would not understand that what He allowed or prevented was for their good. He knew what was good for them and us, that’s why He gave the Bible as a guide to avoiding the bad, and as a way to learn the good. Today, let’s move back to trusting God’s plan; asking Him for guidance, then accept that it’s all for our good!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 23:1-6, Luke 6:35, John 3:16, Hebrews 10:22-24, Hebrews 12:5-7,10-11, Deuteronomy 8:5-6, Proverbs 13:24, Job 5:17-18, Revelation 3:19, II Corinthians 9:8, II Peter 3:9, James 1:2-4, I Corinthians 10:13, Romans 5:3-4, Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 3:1-7, 11-13, Proverbs 15:32-33, I John 1:9, Galatians 5:22-26, Titus 2:11-14, Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 6:9-10, Micah 6:8
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your guidance, for your grace, for your mercy. Thank you for always being there to catch us when we fall, when we lose trust, when we let the world take over. Father, continue to show us the right path, and help us to see that you know what is good for us. Amen.
The Way You Move
Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask and think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Salutations good people! Welcome to another day provided for us by a gracious loving God! May today be the day that we show others how you can move inside each of us; causing us to show more of you on the outside. We know that many people have the mindset of not believing what they cannot see. They constantly say show me, prove it to me. Some believe that by seeing it, it becomes more real. But this is kind of rhetoric; because we can’t see the wind but it’s there, we feel it. We can’t see love or gratitude; yet, we feel it with emotions from inside! I believe that each of us sees what we want to see; whether we are shone actual proof. While getting my degree, I came across a quote by C.S. Lewis, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” I found that to be a profound statement in facts that something like the sun created by God, can indeed shine light on other things so that we can behold them! When we look back in the Old Testament, we remember how God appeared as objects so humans could “see” Him. We saw how He moved through those objects. The burning bush, the cloud during the day, the pillar of fire at night, the Star of Bethlehem that led the wise men; the list goes on. God moves by comforting, prompting, through conviction, direct intervention, His spoken word; sometimes using dramatic displays, other times subtle yet quiet means. He also moves in response to how we are faithful, obedient and humble in actions; and through prayers. God can also move through the voice of someone called to speak instructions and messages specific to the need you have, at the very moment you needed those words! So, today, or maybe on another day, when you feel like you can’t see how God is moving in your life; stop, focus, pray. He is being quiet, yet He is working it through for your benefit, but in His timing. There is always a reason why we can’t see it right at the moment we think it should be moving. The way we move is not the way He moves! Patience my friend, you will see the way He moves!
Scriptures:
Read: II Pet.1:21, Ps.37:4-5,23,28,34,39-40, I John1:9, Phil.4:6,13,19, Gal.2:20, Rom.8:28, Matt.17:20, Is.41:10, Prov.24:3-4, Eph.2:10, II Tim.1:7, Josh.1:9, Phil.1:6, Ps.32:8, Ps.23:1-6, John15:5, Is.42:5-6, Rev.4:11, II Cor.6:2, Deut.5:33
Prayer:
Dear God, we come now humbly thanking you for just moving on our behalf, yet at your pace and not ours. Help us God, to understand that seeing is not believing, our believing without seeing truly is. God, guide us now to learn how to move for you, to accept how you move within and without our lives. Please continue to be present in our lives with your presence. Amen.
Something Better
II Corinthians 4:16, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
Good morning! May today be blessed for each of you! Hoping that positivity has kept you working and looking toward good days and no negative vibe is going to enter your presence on this day. Today, we want to look at what makes us reach for something better. We each are born with the ability to learn, grow and become. We could say it is just nature, but we know creation is God’s and He knows each step we can take to grow and succeed. He has made a plan for each of us; a journey that He already knows and that He knows what you will go through as we search for something better! Within the goals we establish for ourselves after we have grown up enough; both physically and mentally; the need to keep becoming something more than what we are pushes us. As we look for “better”, we must pray about it, meditate with God on it, and discuss it with fellow Christians or people who are genuinely supporting our hopes and dreams. We also need to remember that He provided a book with lessons, examples, and wisdom that will provide better ways to move forward on the right paths. Realizing and then acting on His guidance, God will work with you through all circumstances; providing strength when you are weak, opportunity when you don’t see it, and sometimes transforming pain into purpose. As we grow, and allow God to lead and guide, our lives can be changed and enriched daily. Our society today says we all have three goals: personal fulfillment/growth, building lasting relationships, then making a positive contribution to the world. Each has direct meanings that cause us to search for what God offers more of: purpose, connection, and well-being; these can be accomplished easier when we accept God’s guidance. Working toward being more like Jesus helps us show empathy, love, forgiveness; traits that honor God’s word. So today, let’s begin with positive thoughts, renewing of our minds, then praying to God to help us find the “something better”!
Scriptures:
Read: Titus 3:5, Isaiah 40:31, Ephesians 4:22-24, Romans 12:2, Psalms 51:10, II Corinthians 5:17, I Corinthians 10:13, John 3:16-17, Lamentations 3:22-23, Revelation 21:4, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 10:22, Colossians 3:2, 10-12, Philippians 4:6-7,13, Isaiah 43:18-19, Philippians 3:13, I Peter 1:13, I John 5:4-5, II Corinthians 7:1, II Timothy 2:15, Hosea 6:3, Ezekiel 36:26, Ezekiel 18:31, Lamentations 5:21
Prayer:
Dear Lord, today we want to acknowledge that we need you in our lives to guide us through this life’s journey. Thank you, Lord, for your word that provides examples of lessons, teachings and show us how others found something better by trusting and obeying you. Lord, we ask that you continue helping us on a daily basis to become more like Jesus, and to realize the mercy and grace you have given us is because of your deep love for us. Amen.
Broken Pieces Together Again
Jeremiah 18:4, “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”
Greetings friends! I pray this is finding you waking to an absolute joyful day of chasing negative vibes out the door and out of your way while getting started on routines, habits, or even vacation plans! Today while we begin, I would like to look at how our lives can be broken, cracked, dismantled; yet can find the way to placing all those pieces back together. There is a Japanese art of repairing broken pottery (Kintsugi) that has touched my thoughts on putting broken pieces together again. They focus on the details by finding beauty in imperfection. I see that as the same way God heals us; whether through sickness, heartache, betrayal, even how we accept death. The Japanese believe that there is resilience in imperfection; that broken items can become more beautiful after restoration; that the object should not be discarded, because of a flaw. Just like God does when we accept Him and ask for forgiveness of our sins and accept salvation through Jesus; God proves that there is no sin that cannot be forgiven. He says that we can be changed; that we can be made whole again; that He won’t discard us. The only way to be discarded is to not accept salvation and to not receive Him; thus, we spend eternity in hell instead of heaven. When we allow God to restore the broken pieces, we allow His grace to rebuild a flawed life into a repaired life. The restoring comes through us renewing our minds through reading His word, surrendering ourselves to His teaching, His guidance and then trusting His timing. We also must put aside our past, leave behind anything or anyone that will steal our joy. God works diligently to restore our peace, our joy and create a new purpose in our lives. Understanding the process will be the hardest part; “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, will be the quote we must work through! Restoration, regeneration, revitalization; comes with work; lots of rebuilding. Connect with other believers that understand how to gather the pieces, choose the right glue, and then help to put them together. Pray daily that you can receive the strength God offers so that all your broken pieces will be put together again!
Scriptures:
Read: Jeremiah 18:2-6, Psalms 51:8,10,17, Psalms 34:18, Psalms 147:3, II Corinthians 4:7, II Corinthians 12:9-10, Isaiah 30:14-15, 20-21, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 4:15-16, I John 1:9, Hosea 10:12, Proverbs 25:4, James 4:7-8, Romans 9:20-24, II Corinthians 5:17, II Timothy 2:1-26, Jeremiah 17:14-18
Prayer:
Father God, we come now offering our broken selves to you, believing and trusting that you can mend every hurt, every pain. Thank you, Father, for the Bible that shows exactly how we can rebuild ourselves to the person you want us to be. Thank you, Father for showing us grace and mercy when we couldn’t accept the right path you had chosen. We ask humbly now that you gather the pieces that are broken and mend them, create a new and more beautiful person who accepts and follows you. Amen.
Trust To Be Okay
Psalms 9:10, “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
Hello friends! Praying this finds you in good health, good spirits; that you are ready for another day, facing everything with God at your side. For those who may have brought a negative thought or action into the morning that may be upsetting the flow of your day; I would like to suggest praying! In every morning, I choose to say thankyou God for waking me up, for the sounds of silence in that moment when I need to call on God to just fill me with His presence. Trust Him to arrive right on time; to enter your room; to speak to you in a voice only you can hear. When we open ourselves to His presence we have opened the door to positive actions, responses, strength beyond what the world offers. If you really want your minds to stay focused on peace, trust Him to provide it! When in denial, pray, when in turmoil, pray; when in doubt, pray; through all moments, trust Him to work in and through you. We might change, but God never changes; His guidance never changes; His character, love and power will not change. To find trust we must consistently give worries and doubts to Him completely. When the devil keeps telling you that you cannot make it, you cannot get through this, you cannot trust God; stop, gain your control back! Remember how you have already come this far; how God never fails; how He never falters in His love, His protection, His promises that have never changed. Trusting means believing; believing means you have faith in all that God has taught you. Trusting brings greater happiness, understanding, a blessed relationship with Him. Everyone has doubt, everyone slips in denial, but through it all, when we put our trust in God, good things start to happen. Finding true peace only comes when we stay focused on God, place our burdens on His shoulders, and believe wholeheartedly that HE can make all things good! Use consistency in your daily actions by following His guidance. Study scriptures, pray about everything, practice obedience; become the person God intended you to be. Move beyond habits of worship, make them a mainstay in your character, your life. Giving it all to God will then help you to trust everything will be okay.
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 56:3-4, Psalms 13:5, Isaiah 26:3-4, Mark 11:23-26, Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:6-7, Jeremiah 17:7-8, John 14:1-4, Psalms 28:7, Joshua 1:9, Psalms 31:14-15, Romans 12:2, Romans 8:28, Nahum 1:7, Hebrews 11:6, Psalms 91:1-2, Psalms 62:5-8, I John 4:13-19, Isaiah 12:2-6
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, today we come with humble adoration, looking to you for answers to all things. Father, we need reassurance daily; we need your strength and not our own. Help us Father, to call on you, to believe in you, to trust in you. Father, today and every day guide us, teach us, show us how to love, obey, to become the disciple you know we can be. Help us to let others see Jesus in us; to see how trusting in you makes all things new. Amen.
Reason To Carry On
Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Good morning! This is another day we have been given; a day that we can be positive in a world that promotes negative. May we use today to gain strength from God to handle anything that comes upon us during this day. Today, let us focus on the positive things that will carry us through. This brings us to identifying that changes can be a part of life; but let yourself focus on what thoughts, actions and responses you need to control and which are out of your control. When we allow the devil to slip in and try to take over our positive lives, we must get back to our spiritual disciplines. Finding peace within and without takes work; Bible study, prayer time, worship; all these push you to fight against the devil and his negative antics. Seek out other believers so that you can be encouraged in your journey. In every day, we must find strength from deep within; that strength that only God can provide. Reach for Him to show you practical, emotional and psychological strategy that can help build a real sense of purpose in all that you do. Everyone has that inner survival mode that can click on at a moments notice! When we look at the relationship with God, we remember how to gain perseverance; how to show gratitude, and love. When we get back to His promises, our lives will search for the future with hope, endurance, the want of seeing an eternity in heaven. We can then see trials as not a burden but just a stepping stone in our journey. We can now place anything that feels negative on Jesus’ shoulders; thus, gaining rest, peace, protection. While getting back your focus, remember God is ever present; He never leaves you, He ask only that you trust Him. He can give you everything you need daily, to keep carrying on.
Scripture:
Read: Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Isaiah 46:4, Isaiah 43:2,18-19, Psalms 40:1-4, Romans 15:13, Psalms 71:16-19, Matthew 11:28, Deuteronomy 20:4, I John 5:4-5, Romans 8:37-39, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 34:4, II Chronicles 15:7, Isaiah 26:3-4, John 16:33, Psalms 22:8, Psalms 33:18-22, I Corinthians 12:9-12
Prayer:
Lord, today we come with piles of negative feelings and emotions; needing peace. Lord, we ask humbly for your strength to lift us back up, back to where you are. Please Lord, come and fill us with peace, with joy, with worship, that will lighten the load of what we carry inside. Lord, bring us back to the knowledge of you and help us remember from where our help comes from. Thank you, Lord for your ever-present help, even when we stray or deny, even when the world pushes us away from you. Amen.
Grace Greater Than Sin
I Corinthians 15:10, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was in me.”
Hello again dear friends! My hope is that you gained rest and relaxation through the night and are now ready and willing to greet this day we are given! Today again, we want to look toward how grace has provided an out for sin. By grace, Jesus sacrificed so that He overcame sin, then offered each of us redemption, thus breaking sins hold; even covering our past. We are given grace daily for the shortcomings we as humans all have. When we think about it, grace not only matches sins power, it becomes like superman, it dominates and then removes it! Grace should be a present power used for freedom, not a cover that just hides the sin. This leads us back to scripture; God’s word and His promises; no sin is too big; no life is out of God’s reach; or His ability to save and rescue! While we may feel that we are not worthy; we must remember that no one is worthy; but God’s love abounds through each and every one of us. Here is a thought about grace; four types of grace; a) Saving grace(salvation), b) Sanctifying grace (growing in holiness), c) Sustaining grace (strength for enduring) and d) Serving grace (ministering/doing good works). Each of these help us to gain/receive grace from God through faith because we are working at doing God’s will to one day spend eternity with Him. We must also remember, that while sin can separate us from God, leading us on paths He didn’t want for us; grace is how He brings us back to the fold! Receiving grace restores our fellowship with Him, then gives us the strength to say no to anything negative or sinful. God is always ready to forgive and welcome us back into His presence; and He ask so little in return. When we accept Him, we become new, better; we gain a purpose to continue; to put away anything sinful and harmful; everything that will not lead us to heaven. So, the next time you feel inadequate or just unworthy; stop, pray, ask for forgiveness and know that God’s grace is greater than any sin!
Scripture:
Eph.2:8-9, II Cor.12:9-10, Heb.4:15-16, John1:16-17, Acts15:10-11, James4:6-7, Rom.6:14-18,22-23, I John1:9, John3:16-17, Titus3:4-8, II Tim.3:16-17, Eph.6:13-18
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for your saving grace; for Christ who gave the ultimate sacrifice that we might live! We come to you asking humbly for your strength in fighting the sin of this world. God we want every grace you provide: saving, sanctifying, sustaining, and especially the serving grace! Lead us now and always with your love and mercy through life until we meet you in heaven. Amen.
Stone Rolled Away
Ezekiel 36:26, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
Greetings friends! Welcome to a new and positive day for us to be thankful and receive the blessings God has in store. Today, let’s look at stones and how they can have significance in our lives. For reasons, probably given through many, that stones have been and will continue to be more than just geological items; it’s believed they are intertwined with our human experiences. Many researchers say they have meaning of strength, stability; a part of faith. Within the books of the Bible, God is often called the rock, an unchanging nature, a massive, unmovable, and a constant reliability of secure refuge. David said it with deep, sincere words, “And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.” 2 Samuel 22:2-3 KJV Every metal, we use for items of protection are drawn from within stones; gold, silver, diamonds, etc. God created stones of all kinds; some rare, some hidden, some right in front of us. Then came Jesus, who is given the title of the cornerstone; the foundation of the church. His central role is the unity of believers, the cornerstone that holds the building up; determines how the walls will hold throughout time! We as believers are the “living stones”, we make up the church, not a building, but the people within it! With Christ as the cornerstone of stability, we as the walls build a firm foundation. So, the next time you look at precious stones; take a moment; while seeing the color, rarity, the properties; then ask yourself which stone are you? Are you the strongest, the most beautiful, the brightest, or the one that rolled away and opened the tomb? Every stone/rock that builds a foundation must have a cornerstone; each part has a purpose to form that building into a structure that last. Let God be your rock, then ask Christ to be your cornerstone; then roll away the stone that will open up your world to a lasting foundation!
Scripture:
Read: Luke 24:2-9, Isaiah 57:13-16, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Genesis 28:18-21, John 11:39-42, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Ecclesiastes 3:5, Isaiah 28:16, I John 2:2-3, II Corinthians 1:21-24, II Corinthians 5:17-20, I Corinthians 3:9-11, Acts 4:10-12, Isaiah 54:9-17, I Peter 2:4-9, Revelation 2:17, Matthew 16:17-19, Psalms 118:21-24
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for being the rock of our salvation. Thank you for sending your Son to take our place and die for our sins; and then become the cornerstone of our lives. Thank you, Father, for teaching us how to become the foundation of your church; the voice to lead others to you. Go with us now Father, continue leading, teaching, providing the things we need that will help us build toward that home in glory. Amen.