Hard To Go Forward If You Keep Looking Back

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:13

How many people do you ever hear of yearning for the good old days? I, for one, am happy just where I am. There is no time machine to transport me back to fix things I messed up at. Our enemy Satan likes to drag up the past. The past is gone and we can learn from it good or bad, and move forward to new experiences. The natural progression is to keep looking ahead and know you might have done things you regret but God is full of mercy, it is Satan who is not. 

I serve a big God and He is able to forgive, restore, redeem, and set free. He is your friend when humans friends or family want nothing to do with you. His love endures forever. He is not limited by our human rules. 

Today why not get going making up your mind you will not allow Satan to torture you with things from the past you can do nothing about. Move ahead with peace and joy. 

PRAYER: Lord you are good and forgiving. Your love knows no bounds. You love me when the world runs out and for that I am thankful. In Jesus' name. Amen, 

Respect

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband? Ephesians 5:33

Both Ephesians chapter 5 and 1 Peter Chapter 3 have allot to say about marriage between a husband and a wife. Not meaning to leave single people out, these chapters are good for all of us to read and take to heart. The foundations are love and respect among other things. But love and respect are also needed in our world in general.

Respect is defined by Bing online dictionary as "esteem: a feeling or attitude of admiration and deference toward somebody or something."  Some husbands may not be kind verbally to their wives but with God's help those ladies can master respect. Always remember to love unconditionally. Respect will get you a long way. 

Your job today and everyday is to show love to others and be respectful regardless. Go change your world. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I want to show respect not only to my spouse but to those around me. I want your live to flow through me like a mighty ocean. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Wow! Wow! Wow!

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him— 1 Corinthians 2:9

Who doesn't ooh and ah at a beautiful humongous mansion? Perhaps those who live in them? As I drove through Brentwood, TN on the outskirts of Nashville recently I passed by gorgeous homes where I could not stop saying to myself "Wow, wow, wow"! It is not that I am ungrateful for my own home ,because indeed I am blessed, but these stunning 10,000 square foot plus homes looked  almost like miniature hotels.

Each of us living in the United States is blessed to live pretty adequately compared to most of the world. Even those in homeless camps have tents that are pretty nice. To covet someone's else's property is not what God desires. As I gazed at these beautiful homes my thoughts drifted to our heavenly kingdom that awaits us once we breathe our last breath on Earth. The time we spend on Earth is so very short in the big scheme of things. In James 4:14 we are told "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." We are to live well and seek God while we are on Earth. Not everyone will enter this heavenly kingdom. Those who reject Him need to accept Christ so they do not miss out. You never know when your last day will be so be ready.

Are you imagining what your mansion in heaven will be like? God has glorious things in store for those who know and love Him. 

PRAYER: Thank you dear Lord for the blessings I enjoy here on Earth. Thank you for my home and the other possessions you have blessed me with. Help me never put possessions before you. In Jesus name.Amen. 

Click link to worship God in song. 

http://youtu.be/K_OB7d-B1Vw

Prayer Rooms Abuzz

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

I have had people wonder why I go to Starbucks since they tell me they are anti-Christian.  I say to them that I am to be like Jesus and go spread His love not just in Holy places. One day as I sat in Starbucks early in the morning  the place was so loud with people talking. Every table was occupied. I was in my cubby hole back In a corner writing. With all this activity buzzing around me I got to thinking about how excited people seemed to be while enjoying their friends, coffee, and socialization. I thought "wouldn't it be great if there were little prayer houses similar to a Starbucks that is so popular and people could get excited about congregating to pray and have fellowship"? 

It was not my place to stand in judgment of anyone in the coffee shop but I did wonder how many had spent time with the Lord before rushing into their busy day. Often times it is so much more convenient to do worldly things such as the morning shows on television, stop for coffee on way to work, hit the gym, read the morning paper. All these are fine activities but if anything takes the place of Jesus that is dangerous territory. When you spend less and less time with Him your thoughts can become more and more like the world. 

So what do you think. Anyone want to open a chain of morning prayer houses? 

PRAYER: Forgive me Lord when I allow other activities to squeeze you out or only give you a passing thought. You are so patient but I know you miss me when I rush into my day without you. Help me in time management to put you first. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Broken But In For Repairs

Persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:9

Cars break and we take them to the dealer for repair unless we know how to do it ourselves. Break your leg and it is time for a visit to the doctor for a repair. Clothes are torn and need to be sewn. Tires get a flat and have to be patched. When a dish is broken we often glue it back together. When I was a child my little teddy bear named  "Bucky Bear', which I still have on a chair in my living room, fell in a child's swimming pool a few times. I recall my mom taking the stuffing out and hanging it on the clothesline to dry then re-stuffing it with perhaps old hosiery. It had many operations to put it back together. 

"Life is fragile handle with prayer" is a familiar phrase. Broken spirits, broken hearts, broken relationships, broken promises all can add up to a very broken person.  Often times it is hard to visualize every being whole again when you hurt. God is the great repairer of brokenness. God is the great healer and deliverer of brokenness in life. Often overwhelmed perhaps there is no hope. That feeling is from the enemy whose purpose is to destroy hope and make us feel helpless. Don't allow that to happen. Rise up my friend. 

Time to go to God's repair shop and cry out to Him to help you through. 

PRAYER: Lord oh Lord you are so great and mighty. You have the power to do it all. I need only cry out to you and you can heal wounds of brokenness and set me free. In Jesus' name. Amen.

All I Can Do Is Pray

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Have you found yourself in an absolute state of despair wondering when something you have been praying for will end? I sure have. You cry out to God. The end of your rope is near. Anguish builds up. There is no where to run, no one to talk to who will understand. 

The good news is God is there in the midst of everything seemingly going wrong. He loves you and He wants you to hang on. His ways are not our ways it says in Isaiah 55:8. Once you pray you need to let it go, so why is it so many of us can not seem to do that? In your time of need do not abandon God and become angry. He knows the "big picture". Try telling this to someone who prayed for a child to be healed and he died. Do I know why? No I do not but I do know that the Lord Jesus loves us and has gone through the same sufferings we have. 

Hang on and look to Jesus and above all keep praying!

PRAYER: I love you Lord and I know you love me no matter what. I will continue to not quit praying. In Jesus' name. Amen.

End Times

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. Matthew 24:12

Ungratefulness, unholiness, being led astray, strange weather patterns, wars and rumors of wars, and complacency  about sin are just a few of the signs of the return of our Lord. There is nothing to fear if you are a believer and following Jesus. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that  "the Lord Himself will come down with a loud command". Many may see this as frightening. Others anticipate it with joy and hope to see it in their lifetime. 

There have always been those people trying to predict the end of the world, doom and gloom. Many signs point to the fact we are getting closer but it says in Matthew 24:36 that "But about that day no one knows not even the angels  in heaven or the Son, but only the Father." Predicting the apocalypse sells many books and makes a great movie, but it can also create a  tremendous panic.

Do not be afraid my friend. Fear and worry about an event that has not even happened is wasted energy. Instead make sure you are ready for His return. Be loving, caring, kind, and be ready. Have you asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life? If not why not do it  today. 

PRAYER: Lord oh Lord how majestic is your name in all the Earth. I fear no terror. I know you are coming back one day and look forward to that. Help those who do not know you to be ready. In Jesus' name. Amen.