Hope On!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20

Hope. It is a good sounding word and something you should always hold on to. Like an anchor that holds a ship steady, so your hope holds you still through storms raging in your life. 

Don’t let the storms of life chase your dreams away or cause fear that something bad is going to happen. Keep believing and pressing on to your goals in life and don’t let the enemy Satan make you hopeless. Speak positive things over your situations in life and don’t start sounding like the old Saturday Night Live Character Debbie Downer. No one needs her around when hope is needing to be steady. 

If you continue to speak positive things and believe in goodness then your life will be much more pleasant. Hope on my friend! 

PRAYER: Father God if it were not for hope I don’t know where I would be. The world’s way says to give in and get depressed and get mad at you. I choose love, joy, and hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Far Out Faith

As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Romans 4:17

How is your faith? Are you able to believe and keep believing about something even when no changes are coming your way? That is called ‘far out’ faith. Believing in the impossible and hanging on no matter what. 

Many people in the Bible believed and kept believing regardless of a situation. Sometimes you may pray and believe for something but it seems nothing is changing or ever gonna change for that matter. A wayward child. Healing of a relationship. A new job when you got laid off. Healing. A raise. A spouse if unmarried. 

Whatever it is can you believe and keep believing even when the answer does not come or comes differently than you expected? 

PRAYER: Father I know you are with me when I feel like giving up. I know your plans are more than I could imagine. Help me be patient and not listen to nay sayers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Heavenly IV

Do  not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become "fools" so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; and  again, "The LORD knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." 1 Corinthians 3:18-20

In a recent Call To The Wall 24/7prayer call one man on the line was  talking about a spiritual IV of sorts. Similar to how a medical IV puts essential medicines or nutrients into a patients body we need a spiritual or heavenly infusion of God. One example could be keeping good uplifting Christian radio with worship music or teaching on. Or The Bible On CD. 

If we do not stay connected to this Heavenly IV then you become spiritually sick and incapable of handling many of the situations in life that come your way. A continual inflowing of God’s nutrients into our mind daily helps us cope with things and combat attacks from the enemy which can occur frequently. 

How about you? Is your spiritual IV hooked up and working well? Are you feeling uplifted or dragging? Maybe it is time to readjust the flow in that IV and put healthy things to build your spirit instead of junk to drag you into the world’s way of thinking. Just saying. 

PRAYER: Oh how I love to feel uplifted. There are many downcast souls around me daily. Our situations may be different but we all can call on the same Heavenly Father for help. I choose to keep my IV connected. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Be Respectful

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Do you consider yourself a respectful person? Even when irritated by someone’s personality or quirks do you still treat them with respect? How about the annoying telemarketer? The stone cold store clerk? There are all types of people to make the world go around and we are supposed to be kind and loving. No cork popping allowed in other words. 

So have you been on the receiving end of hurtful comments or disrespect? You learn that people may be going through junk and sometimes their reactions are because of that even though that does not make it right. As a follower of Jesus it is so important to shine the light of Jesus on the just and unjust and the loving and hateful. Don’t lash back. 

Pray for people who are hard to love. Pray especially God would give you supernatural kindness for others. Respect your spouse if married. Respect your parents if they are still living. Respect your employer. Overall do what the Bible says and love one another. 

PRAYER: Thank you for all lessons learned in life sometimes the hard and hurtful way.  Give me strength to be respectful even when I am not respected. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

It's Right There...In The Bible!

A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 19:11

How many reading this refuse to forgive someone or know of a person close to you who won’t forgive? Everything you need to know about how to act and behave is right there in the Bible. Read it  but then DO IT too. 

Satan loves Christians who are hard hearted and too prideful to go to a friend they have issues with and clear the air. Instead the secret feud continues and bubbles and boils over. Stubbornness keeps the person who was hurt from making amends. Does this sound familiar to anyone? 

Why is it so hard to forgive people and let stuff go? I know of someone right now refusing to forgive a dear friend who did something that the friend may not even be aware of. It is so silly if you think about it.  We all know it is the enemy who causes this division yet our humanness keeps up the wall of separation. So very sad. Be the bigger person and seek reconciliation and do not wreck a valuable friendship or relationship. Refuse to allow the enemy to gain any territory and laugh behind your back. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I pray for those people in my life who won’t forgive me or for others I know who refuse to forgive. Help me recognize if my own heart is hard and never allow Satan to cause division and get glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Twelve Days Of Christmas

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

I have no idea of the origins or meaning of the song which is also my title but since we are just a few days away from the day Christians celebrate the birth of The Messiah thought I would capitalize on it for my writing. How about doing 12 nice things before Christmas and then continue them afterwards. 

Let’s see first give a smile to someone. Two compliments to a friend. Three hand written letters to a loved one maybe your mom if she is still alive. Four unexpected phone calls to four separate friends. Five dollars in the Salvation Army kettle. Six gifts for an angel tree recipient. Seven dollars spent on a friend for a lunch. 8 unexpected pay it forwards at a drive through for persons behind you so 8 separate people.(God’s money anyway). 9 acts of service for the one you love. 10 dollar tip at a restaurant. 11 acts of kindness to strangers such as opening doors. And finally 12 prayers for family and friends. 

It does not have to be Christmas to be nice or feel happy although this time of year either accentuates goodness and joy or makes others immensely sad. Find time to do something good for another and it usually comes back to you. 

PRAYER: Lord JESUS Christmas is a special and happy time of year but let me never forget what it is all about. Simply to celebrate your birth. Show me ways to be kind to those around and open doors for opportunities. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Garaged?

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.2 Corinthians 5:9

Has your faith been 'garaged' in storage somewhere until you think you will need it? Is your Bible too nice to 'use'? Many times things you may not need or use much are put up in the attic, in storage or in the garage.  Hopefully this does not describe your faith. 

Not only at Christmas but all throughout the year your walk with Jesus should be a high priority and a passion for you with other things centering around it. If your life is out of whack in any area and something has taken priority of your love and devotion to Jesus maybe as it is getting close to end of year it is a time to have a ‘come to Jesus moment’ and see if something needs to be put TRULY first.  Don’t just say “ I believe” but be all in! Can you do that? 

Only you can answer truthfully if your faith has been put away in moth balls. Is your prayer life stale, dull, or non existent? Do other things seem to be drawing you more than God? What is your passion or what you talk about most? Maybe as 2017 draws to a close it is time to really look hard at your life and see if you have put Jesus in the garage. 

PRAYER: Lord God I am sorry for not making your a priority 24/7 in life. I let hobbies, fun, and many things come before you and am ashamed of myself. I will not allow Satan to rob me of growing in Christ and will reorder my priorities to line up with truly putting you first. In Jesus’ name. Amen.