The Horrible Devastation

The devastation that has taken place today is more than my heart can bear.

I am waiting for my precious Avery to get out of school and I am unable to contain the tears.

I am broken for these families.

I have thoughtlessly dropped Avery off at school assuming everything would be fine, but today things have changed.

Today I will be more prayerful. I will be more cautious. I will be more mindful.

Jesus comfort theses families, each and everyone of them. Especially the ones who have lost their precious babies, wives and husbands. I pray that through all this chaos Your presence will be felt. Amen

Are We Really Doing His Will?

" Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis" Colossians 4:12


How do you know your doing what the Lord has called you to do?

Do you know the difference between His will verse man and fleshes will?

Was the last decision you made in His will or in your own?

Jesus I wonder today how many of us are doing what we have called for ourselves to do rather than what You have called us to do? Are we living outside of Your will for our lives?

Help us to not step outside of Your will because we are fearful, because we feel pressured, because we are unhappy, or because we listen to man rather than You.

Keep us focused on Your will for our lives because being in it is way better than being outside of it. Amen

A Gift that Last's

“Love will last forever." 1 Corinthians 13:8

I was taking Avery to school this morning and we got to talking about what we wanted to get daddy for Christmas when Avery said, "Mommy I think the best gift I could give daddy is my love."

How right he is. Don't you think the best gift to give Jesus and others is the gift of love?

It would last longer than any materialistic gift.

Remind Me

“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who had heard what John said and then followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him. We have found the Messiah.” (which means the Christ.) Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus.” John 1:40-42

What was the first thing you did when you met Jesus for the first time? Did you go tell your family like Andrew did? In that moment didn’t you want to tell everyone about Him?

Do you still feel that way today?

Once we taste of His sweetness we are never the same. We want more of Him and we want to share that sweetness with others as well.

We should have that same desire for Jesus today that we did when we first met Him.

Jesus remind us of how special that moment was when we met You for the first time. Amen

 

 

Knowing Jesus

"Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29

Why is getting to know Jesus so important? Because He is the perfect Lamb of God who takes away our sins.

He is the One who has done more for us than we could ever do for Him.

He is the One who gave up His life so we could have life.

Jesus as Your birthday approaches I pray more and more people will come to know You. Amen

On Their Behalf-Altar Sunday

If you know of someone in need of prayer who is unable to go to the Altar, go on their behalf.

Pray For Dana

As many of you know this precious family is very dear to G and me and tonight they REALLY need all the prayers they can get.

Dana has become pretty ill and is in the hospital.

The new treatment has been hard on her body.

Please keep them in your prayers daily and as often as possible.

If you are like me, and pray specifically by name their names are Dana, Mark, Shelby, and Cameron Miller.

Jesus I come to You with a heavy heart for my precious friend Dana. Jesus she is so tired and weary. Her body is weak and I know she could use every ounce of strength possible. Please Father, reach down and place Your railing body over hers. I ask Lord Jesus that Dana's cancer begins to go away, every bit of it until she is completely cancer free. I believe and know You can and will heal her and I praise You for Your love and faithfulness.

Fill her with a strong steadfast faith that rests in who You are.

Give Mark the strength he needs to tend to her and the girls. Give him rest and reveal Your love and presence to him in a strong and profound way.

I love this family so much and my heart is so heavy, but Jesus I know You are in control and that You love them so much more. I know You have not left her side and that thought is so precious.

Thank You Jesus that You know her every need and that she never goes without.

I pray for rest, comfort, and a pain free night for Dana and for Mark. Amen

His Presence Surrounds Us

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for, O God. I thirst for God, the living God." Psalm 42:1-2

The Lord's presence surrounded us this morning with the beauty of fog, deer, trees and water.

It's a vision my family loves and one we are so grateful for. We always leave knowing more about Jesus than we did the day before.

There is something about the beauty of His creation that always draws you closer to Him.

Most of the time if you listen, you can hear Him speak, you can see as He reveals a little more about Himself through the beauty and craftsmanship of His creation.

Let God's beauty reveal to You a little more of who He is.

Jesus thank You for Your amazing craftsmanship and how it draws us closer to You. Speak to our hearts as we gaze upon You. Amen

The More You...

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7

Do you know the more You learn about Jesus, the more you learn about love, and the more you learn about love, the more your heart fills with love?

"No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us." 1 John 4:12 

Becoming Familiar

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15

The more we get to know Jesus the more we become familiar with His voice.

Jesus help us to become more familiar with You and Your voice. Amen

One Thing

"The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from it's heat." Psalm 19:6

If there is one thing we can learn about Jesus, it's hat He is always on time and the Sun will always rise!

Knowing You...

"It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus who came as a man, born into King David's royal family line. And Jesus Christ our Lord, was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit." Romans 1:3-4

How would you describe Jesus to someone? How would you introduce Him to a friend, to family, to a stranger?

Would you share with them who He is to you, what He has done for you? Would you share with them who the Word of God says He is?

Do you tell them He is the Son of God, that He was born of a virgin? Do you tell them that though He is Lord, He made Himself nothing?

Do you tell them He was born in a stable and placed in a manger rather than in a King's palace?

Who is Jesus to you? Is He your Savior?

Jesus there is no greater thing than knowing You. Teach us all there is to know about You. Not because we have to, but because You are the greatest thing there is. Amen

Altar Sunday

Do you ever long for the Altar but when the time comes you are bogged down with thoughts, emotions, feelings, and doubt?

And just as you go to lift your leg and step, you feel the weight of all those emotions, feelings, and thoughts and realize that your leg is stuck in chains.

The chains are tight, but your heart is desperate and in need of Jesus, so you lift your leg one more time and with just enough strength the chain breaks. He has set your leg free.

Jesus knows Your need, He knows what has tied you down and He wants to set you free.

Get To Know Jesus First-It will Make His Birthday More Special

"He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!" Luke 1:32

Do you know we spend so much time preparing for Christmas, that we easily fall into the routine of the Christmas frenzy, but what if we did the opposite this year?

Instead of just talking about His birth, what if we got to know Him first, like we get to know each other.

Aren't birthdays more meaningful when we actually know the person celebrating the birthday?

It's easy to fall into the same routine during Christmas, but let's not. Let's change it up and introduce others to who Jesus is first. Don't you think, then, they would understand why His birthday is so special?

Jesus I want to know You-here I am, share with me all there is to know about You. Amen

How Do You Prepare?

How does your family begin preparing for Jesus' birthday?

I thought to myself all day as G and I shopped for Christmas gifts if all of these materialistic things were really necessary.

How can I teach my two boys the importance of celebrating Jesus rather than how many gifts they get.

We can go so overboard on presents, and in doing so, we push aside what Christmas is really about.

How can we overcome ourselves this Holiday season and focus more on Christ and others?

Jesus this special month is suppose to be all about You, yet we make it all about ourselves. Please forgive us. Show is how we can bring glory to Your name. Amen

Testing Your Knowledge Part 2

I am dying to know how you did yesterday on the questions I posted. I hope you did great, but more so I hope it challenged you to get in the Word.

How about another round?

1. By what other name is Mount Sinai known?

2. Where did Elijah's contest with the priests of Ball take place?

3.  What was poured over Saul's head when he was made King?

4.  In which city was the famous temple of Artemis?

5. What does "gospel" mean?

6. How many books does the Bible contain?

7. What kind of animal, belonging to Balaam, spoke God's words?

8. The valuable crop of which tree is used for making oil?

9. What was the name of the man to whom Jesus said, "You must be born again?"

10. What is the name of the the festival at which Christians remember the coming of the Holy Spirit?

I pray you are challenged and led to His Word today.

Anyone Up for Testing Their Knowledge?

I thought this would be fun to do, being that I just did it with my own family and I have to say, it was fun and we all learned alot and G and I also realized well, we didn't do so hot.

Anyone interested in testing their knowledge?

1. Who was Isaac's father?

2. Who got transformed into a pillar of salt as she looked back?

3.  Who was thrown into prison, had dreams, but eventually became prime minister of Egypt?

4.  Which woman protected the spies at the city of Jericho?

5. What was the name of the priest that Samuel served under?

6.  What was the name of the seven-year-old boy who was crowned King of Israel?

7.  What was the name of John the Baptist's father?

8.  In which town did Mary and Joseph live?

9.  Where was the wedding at which Jesus changed water into wine?

10. In which city was Straight Street?

I wish I was sitting with you over a cup of coffee asking you these questions. It would be so much fun. Enjoy brethren, I hope you know all of them, and if not I hope it challenges you to get in the Word today.

He's Earned It

"And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him." Ephesians 3:17

In order to trust, one has to get to know someone. It has to be developed. Time has to be spent with that person, questions have to be asked and answered, and if we are honest, trust has to be earned.

So how does that work with the Lord? Do we make the Lord earn our trust? Is that even the right phrasing?

God is God. Yet being God He still knows that our hearts are weak and that we need to know His existence, His presence, and His love for us. And because of that, He displayed His existence through creation, His presence through the Holy Spirit, and His love through the death of His Son, Jesus.

He continues to show us His faithfulness. His trust is steadfast. It is strong. It is real. We can give Him our heart and trust that it will be treated with love, compassion, gentleness, and kindness.

So as we trust Him more and more, the more our hearts become His home. And I need Him to have complete residency within my heart.

He has given me absolutely every resource possible to trust in Him and His Word is the main one. If I don't read it, study it, and store it, then I will never fully develop a deep trust for Him, nor will He be more and more at home in my heart.

Jesus I need You and I need my heart to be completely filled with You. Help me to trust more and doubt less. Amen

I Need It...do you?

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit." Ephesians 3:16

There is so much power in Paul's prayer to the Ephesians and to us. I have read this prayer so many times; I have prayed this prayer over many others and for my boys as well.

But today the Lord brought me back to this passage and I know for a very specific reason. There is power in praying God's Word over yourself and others. And He knew I needed it!

The moment the Lord brought me back here it felt as though Paul was praying this prayer over me and for me specifically. 

I felt the security, the hope, the relief, the comfort come as I read our particular verse above. And just as I was about to move forward, the Lord stopped me and said one line at a time.

Brethren I need and want His mighty inner strength to fall all over me through the Holy Spirit that is alive within me. I know how glorious He is and that His resources are truly unlimited and that brings me great comfort.

As I went over and over this in my heart, I couldn't shake the mighty inner strength. I need mighty inner strength to stand up against temptations, and any and all arrows Satan tries to throw at me. Especially right now with all this change that has taken place in our lives.

I mean who in this world does not want or desire mighty inner strength? Okay, well we know there are a few who could care less, but not me. 

I NEED IT! I am weak, I am easily tempted in certain struggles and I can give in without thinking it through.

So, for this sinner, in need of Jesus daily, I need His glorious unlimited resources of mighty inner strength.

I want to be strong, but in order to develop this mighty inner strength, I have to get Miss "ME" out of the way and let the Holy Spirit take center stage.

Even that in itself is hard, but brethren it can be done and the Lord promises that.

Jesus thank You for always knowing exactly what I need and for the comfort that comes from Your Word. Amen

Altar Sunday

Jesus as I approach the altar and kneel before Your holiness and presence, I ask that You reveal to me all of the sinfulness that You see, so that I may lay it out before You with confession and repentance. I want there to be nothing that hinders this time I desire with You.

Open my heart Jesus and fill it with Your word.

Thank You for opening the door to Your throne room.