I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Psalms 34:4
Give thanks, all you who believe in the Lord, for He is good, and powerful to rescue those who trust in Him
Let everyone who has faith, offer thanksgiving to our God, because He has redeemed us from every trouble and from the sentence of death
He has rescued us from our wandering and given us a home within His Kingdom by His power and mercy
Some of us were found lost in deserts of despair, sentenced to dwell in hardship because of the poor choices they made
There, they had stumbled and found themselves lost, thirsting for a redemption from all that they were suffering from
They called out to Him in their anguish and our God answered them. He picked them back up on their feet and led them from despair
God brought them to a place of goodness and light and gave them hope instead of futility, mercy in place of the punishment they deserved for their actions
Let those who believe give thanks to the Lord for He is good
He delivered them from those dark times when hope became distant
Give thanks to The Lord for His unfailing love and for His great gifts of deliverance
Some were found in prisons, either literally or figuratively. They sat there behind bars, in chains, left to suffer a cruel punishment. Day after miserable day they dwelled in boredom and hardship, their very lives threatened by the dangers that lurked around them
When they cried out to their God in truth and in faith, He listened and drew near to them
At first, He gave them glimmers of hope, but then, as they continued to live a life of faith and humility before Him, He began to release them from their distress, Bringing them out of the darkness and deepest gloom, into the light of life
Let them give thanks to Him for His unfailing love, for He opened the most impenetrable doors and cut through bars of hardened steel
Some found themselves stranded in dangerous and difficult places threatened by situations that might injure or even end their life. Disasters, wars, crimes, accidents, mistakes, illness, and disease; People at the end of the line, clinging to life, in need of a savior
Some who were wise, reached out to their God. They cried out to Him for rescue, remedy, or a life rope of some kind. There, they prayed a prayer of deliverance
Then our faithful God came and rescued them from the grave, He reached out His hand, and snatched them from peril
God acts to save us every time from the troubles we face in life, because He is a God of love, forgiveness, and mercy
Let us all give thanks and consider the great love of our Lord. 10/30/2021
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love… Ephesians 5:1-2
Give praise to the Lord, for He is good. His blessings are greater than our understanding
Seek Him at the beginning of each day and pray to Him in faith and in honesty, so that you may walk before Him cleansed of all iniquity
Align your life with His will, so that our God may produce good works through you
Be thankful, for He has given you everything. Even your precious life, here in this time and place
Seek the Lord, and he will be found.
Give unto Him, and He will give unto you
Praise Him, and He will inspire others to praise you
Earnestly work at fulfilling His call for you, and He will reward you in Spirit and life
Bless those who follow after our God and He will remember you each day. For our God is good
By His wisdom, He created all there is. His power extends throughout the universe and dwells inside every particle within His limitless reach
He is glorious, magnificent, ever loving, His way adds life unto our days
Therefore, make straight your path before Him, be diligent in your efforts, use His wisdom and adhere to His truths. Align your life with His will as an offering to your God and creator
Feed upon His Word
Breath in His Spirit
Drink from the cool sweet waters of His wisdom and you will understand the reason for your life
Our God is good, He loves and cares for His children
A life set in His pattern and taught by His Word, will flourish and grow strong
Give abundant praise to our God, for He has shown us the way, the truth, and the light that leads unto life 6/22/19
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Faith is a both a living and active force in our life. It swells within us as we begin to believe in God and grows stronger as we come to trust in His Word, realize His great love for us, and begin to experience His grace and forgiveness
Sometimes, when we first come to believe, He fills us to the brim as His Spirit flows into us. It overwhelms our consciousness with an abiding sense of His presence. With His Spirit comes a knowledge of God’s truth, goodness, and love
As we come to know these things, we place our full trust in Him. Even during those difficult days of unending pressures and doubt, we can harken back to our faith in Him, to the truth of His Word, and sense His love, and then we are assured that God is good, and that He loves us without measure
No believer is immune to those days when we don’t feel God near us. Reach then into your toolbox and select a time for prayer, read a chapter in the Bible, or praise Him for something good in your life. Acknowledge Him in everything that you are given in life
Faith is both a living and active force in our life. It is an adventure we must take each day and precious beyond any earthly measure
That is why we cannot allow ourselves to store our faith in a safe place. We can’t keep it locked up like a treasure in our safety deposit box. Like we would with a piece of jewelry, or an important document
Faith is something that must live and breathe. It is active by nature, a reaching out to God, a quiet conversation with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, or a living out of His truth and goodness in our lives before the world
Faith is precious, it is real, it must be lived out in the moments of our life
Faith can be quiet in a moment of prayer, or, sometimes a bold and loud profession of faith in sermon or song. It can be our day-to-day soundtrack, our inner conversation, a calm response
But it is never present when we lock it away
Life in these times is full of distractions. There are a million pressing things that surround us each day that can distract us away from our faith and leave us empty
Faith cannot exist in us if we lock it in our safety deposit box. It cannot link us with our God, if we set it aside so that we deal with something, or focus on what is demanding our immediate attention now
How many times do these things take over our days and nights, so that we lose sight of Him, and get cast adrift in worries and stress?
Faith is not a natural part of this world we live in. It is the light and life that connects us with the God of the universe
Faith takes effort sometimes to continually come back to Him and acknowledge His presence and imminence within all that happens
It is vitally important for every believer, because it makes real our friendship we have with our creator and opens all the possibilities that He so generously offers, so that we might live a full and realized life for all our days. 9/20/2021
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy them; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:17
This world is changing, our climate is warming, the balance of our living world is degrading and few of us are paying attention
It appears, that the ways in which our climate is changing does not easily set off alarms in us. Perhaps it is happening at such an incremental rate that it defies our deep perception
We notice things are different, but we endure or adjust, and then move on. This has left us profoundly vulnerable to this danger
Wake yourself, arouse your mind and sharpen your perception, become an observer and listener of nature. This is more important than we realize, a problem which will be difficult to recover from
Never forget that this planet was made by our God, created for life and for wonder. It is a miracle of His work
Do you think God applauds its destruction?
Many say they don’t see the climate changing. Look more intently, study the data determined by the experts.
Remember the harm you have seen across the lands nearby. Recall the gigantic fires, the powerful storms, the unusual freezes and unrelenting heat; the devastating droughts, and all of the collective damage done so far
Sense the enormity of environmental stress that covers most of the world now. It is all there for you to see, just open your eyes and understand
Some say it is a hoax or scheme to defraud us. But, why are so many brilliant people telling us there is now no doubt?
Climate change is happening. It is real, and our own actions are to blame. The real hoax may lie in the disinformation and lies spread abroad, sowed by those who can gain by creating confusion and distrust in the truth
Our God is a God of justice and righteousness, He considers those who act justly, and those who aspire towards what is good, but He is against anyone who acts selfishly and propagates lies
How do you think He feels about those who are damaging this precious Earth?
Some say it is our right to subdue this World that God gave us to live in. But we have gone far past overcoming the challenges of living on this planet
Never has there been so much destruction wrought upon our land, seas, and air; harm that has affected all life, especially our poor and our defenseless, the ones God calls precious in His eyes
Oh Lord, I pray for our collective climate awareness, that we might sharpen our focus upon this threat. Please help us grow closer and more united as we seek to find good solutions
We elevate you, the Lord of the heavens and of this Earth, so that we might regard You in all our ways, that justice may be served, and the health of our world, upheld
May we always acknowledge You, as we work to restore the bountiful abundance of this world, so that it may be well for us, and for all who live here, and so that You may be forever praised for your all Your awesome works. 3/5/2021
“Even from your your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!” Acts 20:30
How wonderful it is, when God’s people can get along with each other, when our differences can be overlooked, and our judgements, dismissed
Joy bursts out when the followers of Christ lay down their arms and focus on the greatness of His salvation, which renders every element of discord as petty and meaningless
Blessed are the peacemakers in the eyes of our God. For they see and understand His incredible mercies. They recognize the dangers that arise from divisions within our ranks, and seek to mend and heal that which has become a cancer within our society
Who are they, who seek to fan the flames of division? Are they not our enemies?
And what do they hope to gain from their actions? Is it not to persuade us away from peace for their own gain?
Wake up America, and listen, all you people of the world; Seek peace, and turn your ways towards the righteousness of God
Bring together all of God’s children through the outworking of His love, so that God’s perfect work may abound within us
There is an extreme level of anger and division building within our world. It threatens to overrun us, and take away our liberty
I have seen that everyone who joins into the discourse of division believes they are right, but each one only aids and abets the mistruths of our enemies
Believe and trust in the truth of God, for it is where our strength and peace resides
Live according to His ways, and have faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. For without these we will revert to our old ways of sin
Stay away from all who cause divisions, who claim to be righteous only to further their own cause. Avoid their messages, for they seek to divide us to one side or the other, so they can gain power, riches, and control
We are one in Christ, and each of us is a child of God
Our God is truly a God of love, justice, and mercy. How do you think He regards those who scheme to divide us?
Most often we never meet or see the purveyors of these lies. They hide within cyberspace, or talk in carefully crafted media. Some are not even real, but computer-generated algorithms designed to amplify their effect
Do not get caught in their trap, or be persuaded by the shocking tone of these staged opinions, for they are skilled in crafting their message and given to deception
Consider then, the quality of the ‘fruit’ that results from their words. Do they create harmony, or foster discord? Will it help to bring peace between those on both sides of the issue?
Does the message build up the Church as a whole, and not seek to separate some to one side and the rest to the other?
Pray that God will give us a spirit of unity and love in these times. 3/18/2021
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
May the Lord draw you near this day and remind you of His presence, so that you might remember your place in Him, and be restored towards a completeness in faith
On this day, come back to your God. Return from your wandering, so that you might be made whole again, and be healed from the wounds that sin has inflicted upon you
May God richly bless you this day with the revealing of His truth and wisdom. So that you may see clearly the road ahead, and begin again, to follow His ways of living
By His power and through His love, He will begin to restore every broken place, and lift up those who may be broken, to renew them by His truth and goodness
May the Lord of righteousness, walk with you each day, our one true savior, and heal those wounded places, so that you may be of sound mind, body, and soul
Cease from your wandering. Leave behind, those things that cause desolation. Build up your life within the strength of God, and be made new
May you come before the Lord each day; and with each waking of the morning, return again to Him, so that you might call upon His name, and listen
Never tire from seeking our Lord, for He will return to all who look for His presence, and will soon be beside those who desire His friendship
Cry out to God, and come back home to a place of safety and communion with Him
Return, once again, and be filled with God’s Spirit and truth. There you will find a safe haven from the storms of life
May the Lord always remind you of His love for you, and bring to remembrance the magnitude of His goodness. For all good things come from Him. All that has ever been a blessing in your life, has been a gift from God
Sin is a liar. It promises, but always withdraws true reward. Instead, it’s bite is like a venomous snake, which shows no mercy upon its victims
May God continue to deliver you from every form of evil, and draw you near today, so that you may be filled with all fullness of life. 11/18/1006
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, and who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
For all of you who have been called of God, to employ yourselves in accomplishing His holy work, and to those who had heard His voice clearly, to live out their lives in faithful service to His will, Be strong and stand firm in Christ
Humble yourself, and conduct your life worthy of His calling. Nourish your relationship with Him, so that you will never stray far from His path for you
At all costs, make every part of your life as His home, and He will come in and strengthen you for your labor, giving you holy wisdom to accomplish all things
Defeat can only come from within you
Never accept criticism as a barrier to progress, or a reason for giving up. Rather, consider what council, if any, might come from these words so that you can improve your efforts
Don’t give in to failures. God is more powerful and wise than anything in creation. He will never leave you, or forsake you, on your journey
Don’t give up, but grow through every experience, trial, and victory
It is a sin to be weak in Christ, so never allow yourself to be completely defeated
Be wise about what people say about your work and your call. Do not fret if roadblocks are placed before your path. Accept it for what it is, but do not give up, or retreat
Place all matters before before God, and He will give you wisdom. Be courageous and brave, for there will be opposition
In Christ, you can overcome every kind of trouble
If God has truly given you this calling, then never believe the lie that what you’re doing doing is all a waste of time. God has ordained you, He has given you the strength and skill, and anointed you for this service
Your work is of infinite value, no matter how the world rates what you do
Guard yourself, so that you don’t stray off the path. Focus your life upon what our Lord has shown to you
Don’t become lazy about what God has said is vitally important, nor should you spend out all your energy in overheated activity. Instead, strive for a consistency of effort each day, and our Lord will will give you the strength and wisdom to continue on
Share in your effort with like minded believers, and have them pray for work, as you also do the same for them
Always maintain close contact with God. Pray to Him each day with requests and petitions for your work. Stay vitally connected to Christ, through His Spirit and His Word. As you do these things, God will use your work to bless many others. 1/18/2006
“If any person be in Christ, they are a new creature: old things have passed away.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Today, this day, I give over my life to God
My right, to myself, I freely give to You, for I am not my own
You formed me from this earth, and breathed life into these lungs. You placed Your Spirit into this body, and set me here, to walk amidst this place
There is nothing I have that was not given to me by You
Why am I here, at this place, in this time? Is it not to praise You, and to lift Your name up above all names; to bring honor and glory to You, oh Lord, for You are holy, above all things
I am nothing, filled with sin, but You filled me with Your Spirit, and placed a joy within my heart
Your presence amazes me. That you, who are above all, and who dwells, even beyond all creation, would spend time with one so lowly
My spirit sings praises to You. I lift up my hands to honor Your Name. For you are my God, you have blessed my life to overflowing
I cry out Your name and feel the presence of Your Son. His love and righteousness hold me. They keep me safe from harm, and give me hope within eternities span
How glorious is our God! I am amazed at the depth of His goodness
Today in humility, I give myself to God. I let His perfect will be the light that guides me, and His love, the strength that moves my feet
May every particle of my being be given over to Him, so that I may glorify my God and my Maker. 4/9/2006
Thorncrown Chapel, Eureka Springs AR For this is what the high and lofty One says- He who lives forever, whose name is holy; “I live in a high and holy place, but also with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite”.
My life is continually before You, Oh Lord. Every particle of my being is known to Your Eye; and yet I don’t always see the face that so loves me, and my thoughts are often on earthly things
How far, oh Lord, am I from You; yet Your thoughts are always upon me
Even though I seek You diligently, my mind is apt to wander; and though I often spend time in prayer, I can lose sight of You
As I make my way through life, I realize more each day just how weak I am, and how dependent I am upon You. For my life is held in Your hand. You could crush it out, but all I have ever felt is Your love and Your power
If You were to judge righteously, my life, and how I have managed it, You would not be found too harsh if You were to give me the stiffest of penalties
But, in all that You have done, I have found only gifts of forgiveness, second chances, and the chance to live the fullest life imaginable
Where do I go from here Lord?
It’s hard to believe that You have not grown tired of me asking that question. But I am reminded, that You have a plan for me, as You do for everyone
Help me to have the courage to follow Your ways, and not my own. Remind me of how futile it is to strike off in my own way, and strengthen me to know that Your way is always the best path I can take
You hold my life in a vise grip. I cannot wander far before Your Word reminds me of the route I should take
I praise You that You care enough lay hold of my life, and I thank You that You have never let me go, even when I have struggled with all my might against Your grip
I do not know what the future holds, only that someday You are going to send Your Son back to us. Someday, I am going to stand in front of You, Jesus; and I don’t know if I am going to be able to look You in the eye. For I would be undone by You. There is nothing worthy enough within me to stand in Your presence
But, You have placed Your Spirit within me, and it is preparing me for that day.
The very Spirit of Your being dwelling inside of me, attesting day by day of the incomprehensible goodness that is in You, that leads me to live out that goodness in my life
Lord, You have formed me from the dust of this incredible universe, breathed life into my body, and placed me here in this time and place
No doubt, You have a purpose for my life. I know now that it is not always to achieve the success of mankind, but to live out Your loving ways day by day throughout my life; and to continually seek to glorify Your most Holy Name. 1997
