Sampling or Feasting?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

One of my husbands favorite things is when we have been in grocery stores like Sam's Club when they are giving out food samples. You could practically get your days caloric intake wandering from vendor to vendor sampling the various food items.

When it comes to God are you simply sampling Him or are you serious? Many think they do not need Him at all and life is just fine without church and Bible study. Others may say Sunday is quite enough and rarely pick up their Bible during the week. That indeed is just sampling. 

Now feasting is when you want to fill up until you are bursting at the seams with worship and God's word. That is how I felt recently at the Moms in Prayer Festival of Joy held in mid October in Dallas, Texas. I hated for the praise and worship time to end. If you don't get hungry for Jesus and things of the Lord, have you ever truly asked Him into your heart to be your Lord and savior or are you going through Sunday motions because that is what you learned as a child? Today why not make Him Lord of your life?

PRAYER: I need you in my life and I am hungry each day for you. Guide my path things that bring me closer to you not further away. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below for a very powerful song:

                      http://youtu.be/ZUg9qE_KjLg

People Can Hurt Us

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44

Ever heard the phrase "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me?" Well I am here to attest to the fact that is untrue. I have been treated very hatefully verbally by people in my past who were once friends. It goes to prove you just never know and friendship can be unpredictable and fragile.  These friends comments deeply hurt me and sometimes stunned me as I never saw it coming. I had to make a decision to let them go as most wanted nothing else to do with me. Then I had to learn from it.

If you have been on the receiving end of  hateful speech, comments behind your back, verbal abuse, betrayal, or someone just shutting  you out of their life  with clear blue with rejection, it hurts really bad. God can help you learn from rejection and you can eventually let them go. Pray for God to bless them, then move on. 

We do not know what makes people "tick" so to speak. Something else may be the root cause but you get the brunt of the verbal abuse and rejection. Continue to pray for them, leave them alone, and live regardless. Then cherish and nurture the relationships you do have currently. 

PRAYER: It is so hard to be ridiculed or talked down to by a friend. It is hard from strangers too but a trusted friend or perhaps a spouse It would be  much worse. Lord help me love them regardless through my pain. In Jesus' name. Amen.

In Case Of Emergency, Pray.

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

We all have probably seen the little red boxes in many buildings that read 'in case of emergency break glass'. They are there in case a fire breaks out to alert the fire department to hurry over and to make occupants of the building aware so they can evacuate ASAP. 

All sorts of emergencies happen in life. When you least expect it there is the dreaded phone call informing you of a death or accident. No one is prepared for that type of scenario. Don't sit around dwelling on that wondering if and when that call at come because it may never come and hopefully not.

Constantly be in an attitude of prayer. Do not wait until a major crisis to be a prayer warrior. Pray in good times and in not so good times. Let God hear your praise too because He loves those. Just know that God is near and is able and He does love you.

PRAYER: Lord God use me in the life of a friend who may have experienced tragedy in their life and help me learn to be on my knees each and every day and not wait till the bottom falls out of something. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link for a wonderful song of worship:
http://youtu.be/X1OJ3DmO75c

Elevated? Stay Humble

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Luke 14:11

 My husband is one of the most humble people I know besides my two sons. They do not brag all over the place about good stuff they do and they put other people first.  They would be mad I used them for an example so if they are reading, sorry guys. I am very proud of all three of them. When you have accomplished something great it is human nature to think people ought to know but really it does not matter. A former Army boss of mine used to say "Let your virtues speak for themselves" and that is so true.

 It is not necessary to toot our own horn. Humble people are truly pleasant to be around whereas a braggart sometimes is hard to take. Our job is to live, love,laugh, and show kindness to others and when we have done something great let others praise us and not our own lips.

 Maybe some reading have slipped up some on this,I know I have. I pray for God to keep me humble and useable in His kingdom and if I get praise to God be the glory. It is God who creates us and gives us the skills, talents,and gifts we possess. Never forget that. It is not necessary to prove anything to anyone. Let God do the exalting.

PRAYER Lord if I have ever been less than humble forgive me. I choose to give you the praise and glory and thank you for what you have given me in my life. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Click link below and worship the Lord in song:

http://youtu.be/jVjrcrf7Hq8

PS: Don't forget to go vote today here in America!

Get Out of God's Way(Let Him Work)

 For I know the plans I have for you,” clares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

 Do you ever try to orchestrate change in things by manipulation or some sort? This is not a good thing and when you do it you are acting like what Bible teacher Joyce Meyer calls 'Holy Spirit junior' which we are not called to do. We are called to pray and give things over to God not sit and stress and figure it out ourselves.

Things happen in God's timing and trying to jump ahead of God often has dire consequences. Think of the story of Abraham and Sarah not trusting God to bring them a baby in their old age and tried to work it out on their own. Read Genesis 18:10-12 for background on this story.

Our job is to keep praying, keep believing, and keep trusting. Let God do the rest.

 PRAYER: Lord your plans are perfect and your timing is perfect. Help me not try to manipulate outcomes to prayers as your job is to hear our prayers and our job is to be faithful and trust. In Jesus' name. Amen.

People At Work

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

As I sat for a three hour layover recently at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport I observed all sorts of employees doing there jobs. Facilities management emptying trash. Skycaps pushing people in wheelchairs. Customer Service answering confused passengers inquiries. Restaurant workers busily fulfilling orders. People were scurrying about on this busy day working hard at their jobs.

As a believer no matter what we do we need to perform it as if working for the Master Himself because ultimately we are. God does not want us to be slackers but to work hard whether we are a grave digger, store clerk, CEO of billion dollar company, or a mom at home, to name a few. Be an example for the kingdom in every facet of your life

When you are at work or at play take your duties seriously.

PRAYER: I am your servant Lord and I willingly work at each of my jobs in a manner to please you and be an example for your kingdom to non believers. Give me strength to persevere. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Ripe For The Harvest

Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. John 4:35

Most of Alabama's cotton crop has been harvested by now. Before it was picked and baled the fields looked like southern snow. Some call it 'white gold'.

There is another type of harvest mentioned in the word of God and that is souls. When things start to go crazy and get scary often times people finally wake up and maybe really do start to believe this 'God thing'. Often times that is what it takes to get someone to turn to the Lord.  When life is going great many have no need for God and certainly think they are 'okay' and can not get serious about this 'religious' stuff.

Believers are supposed to be out there in the 'fields' doing our part to share Jesus with others. This does not mean you have to pack up and go to Africa to minister but wherever you live make use of the time you have left on this Earth to share Jesus' love with hurting souls around you. The fields indeed are 'ripe' for the harvest.

PRAYER: Help me keep my eyes open for those who need me to share your love and give me Holy boldness to speak the truth in love at the appropriate time. In Jesus' time. Amen.