Times Change But Not God

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Does today's world perplex you? Perhaps if you are under 45 it does not, but for those of us who have been around a bit longer, we have seen great immoral slides in these great United States of America. Elections, as we know, do have consequences. There may be many people, even Christians,  who do not see Election Days as important, but they are indeed. The enemy, Satan, has deceived many into believing lies and being desensitized to sin. Things that would have been appalling just a few years ago are now condoned and even legalized by the government, which originally was founded on God's word as a guide. We have drifted far from that.

What do we need to do to regain our moral compass? First, believe God's word and study it faithfully. Do not make God a hobby you do for one hour then forget about being a Christian till the following Sunday rolls around. Next, become entrenched and dedicated to getting closer to God. If you don't want to, then maybe your heart was never right in the first place.Third, pray for the truth to be revealed to those who are believing lies.  Finally, ask God to restore this marvelous country and bring revival in the heart of man.

It is time to rise up and restore this nation to the principles found in God's word. "Each one reach one" was a saying I heard a few years ago. Everyone does his or her part to share God's love and speak the truth in love. Together we can turn back evil and defeat the enemy.

PRAYER: It breaks my heart to see people I know and love get caught up in Satan's lies and the secular worldview instead of a Christian worldview. Protect me Lord from being deceived by the enemy as I know he roams around trying to capture people. Guide me into seeking the truth. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Pray On And Then Some!!!!

Search me, God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.Psalm 139:23-24

Do you have someone you are praying for? Your prayers could be specific or just general. I feel it is good to learn to personalize our prayers for people. I learned this valuable prayer tool over the past 19 years I have been a part of Moms In Prayer International. For instance on the verse above, say you are praying for a specific issue for a child or friend, insert their name.

Search ____________________God, and know_________________heart, test __________and know _______________anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in ________________and lead _______________in the way everlasting. 

Sort of packs a punch to cry out to God this way. When we are praying for someone else too, and not just ourselves, somehow our own issues become insignificant. I like to occasionally get away and go to a mountain, in my case a nearby Alabama State Park, to have a peaceful place for prayer. It is a good way to focus truly just on the Heavenly Father. If you are able, and it is safe, go somewhere to be alone and pray. I have even heard of a literal 'prayer closet' set aside not for clothes but for prayer and Bible time. A friend of mine who may be reading this has a 'prayer garden' at the side of her home. It too is a peaceful alone spot. Try to put your cell phone away and really be by yourself.

Make an appointment with God each and every day but try to schedule a truly alone DAWG day
(day alone with God) where dedicated time is used to focus on the savior. 

PRAYER: I need you every hour. You alone are mighty. You alone can save. You Lord care about the issues I am praying about more than me. I know you work things out in your time and for your glory and purposes. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Send A Smile Today

A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. Proverbs 15:13

You may be feeling pretty perky today but not everyone wakes up cheerful. Depending on where you will be today you might be the only chance for someone to receive kindness. 

This kindness can be in a compliment, a smile, paying for person behind you in drive thru, holding a door open at a store for the next person. Little acts of kindness can do a good deal for bringing cheer.

Perhaps you yourself don't feel all that cheerful. Well then smiling is just what you need too. Do something that makes you smile. Maybe even buy a gift card for a friend for no reason. Send a card to someone. You can not help being more alive when you show kindness to others. 

Go out into your little corner of the universe today with a happy face and a good attitude. You will be a better person for it. 

PRAYER: Lord direct my steps today so that I can purposely bring a smile to someone. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Worry Is A Waste Of Time

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

There are many things in life that can cause us to worry. You lost your keys. The alarm did not go off and you will miss your flight. Your child just let you know they were quitting college. A terminal illness was diagnosed. Somehow you misplaced your credit or debit card. 

I have news for you if you don't already know. Worry will not change one of those situations and in fact can exasperate it due to the stress it creates. The best anecdote for bad news is to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to keep you peaceful. Don't even 'go there' as the saying goes but instead as the verse for today says "cast" or throw your burdens on the Lord. "But I can't help it, I'm a worrier." Nonsense. Break that bad habit right now and purpose in your heart to not allow the devil to weigh you down with cares you can do nothing about. 

Start out each day praising God and you will have little time to fret.

PRAYER: Jesus is the answer to the cares of this world. He wants our burdens. Help me let go of unnecessary stuff dragging me down and free my mind to be peaceful. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Following

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

The term on Twitter is 'following' meaning you have tweeted some person or organization to stay up to date with and get all the latest news. Many can not start their day without checking in on someone's status. Why is this so interesting? It doesn't provide anything beneficial in the long run. 

Are you following Christ? Do you desire to be in His presence daily? Do you want to grow to be more Christlike? Do you give as much time to getting to know Him as you do to getting to know celebrities? I am not asking all these questions to guilt you or judge you but to make you think deep down what really matters in the big scheme of things. When you follow Jesus and get to be more like Him you can't help but want to draw others closer to Him as well. 

Today before you get all caught up with numerous things that don't really matter, stop and give God some quality time. 

PRAYER: I need you daily Lord. Forgive me when I let things of this world become more important than you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The Ever Changing Sunset

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoke. Isaiah 40:5
As I sat in the Tulsa International Airport recently at dusk I watched through the giant plate glass windows the glory of God. About every few minutes the sky was a different color and the clouds had taken on a new shape. God's creation is truly magnificent!
Storms had raged nearly all week and now we were left with a gorgeous sunset!!!

There are many wonders of nature to praise our Creator for. Stop a moment from the hustle and  bustle of life and breathe in God's goodness. Whatever burdens you may be carrying just stop a moment and pray. God truly is good all the time!

Don't harden your heart but instead stop and just listen to the birds. Feel the breeze. See the sunsets. God has made us a wonderful world to enjoy!

PRAYER: I thank Lord for your goodness to me and for the wonders you have created around me. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Click link and worship the Lord in song:

https://youtu.be/46ExcpsmDBc

Discouragement

Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you, He will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm  55:22

We have all probably felt discouraged.  You have a dream in mind you feel things are not going the right way for it to come to fruition. It is easy to become downcast when we get our eyes off Jesus and onto ourself. When we fail to call out to Jesus for Him to see us through, worry and disillusionment  can set in. Often times I get dispirited on my journey to be published in book form, but try to not stay there and just keep on keeping on.

Being 'cast down' is not from God. Maybe you are looking for a job and doors are shutting right and left. Perhaps you have tried to get accepted into a certain school and failed to make it. You are trying extremely hard to do well on a test but the end up with poor scores. Whatever it is God has had feelings of discouragement too. (Read Hebrews 4:15). Think about Him hanging on a cross or when friends deserted Him or said they did not know Him. 

Your hope is in Christ. He loves you and can see you through anything and help you with any battle you are facing in your life. Just pray to Him, which is simply just talking, no eloquence required. Why not today let Him hear from you and see if you do not feel better?

PRAYER: You are great Lord and greatly to be praised. Help me when I start to feel down to know I need to get my eyes back on you and off my problems. In Jesus' name. Amen.