I Don’t Like Them....Ouch!

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

Have you ever caught yourself uttering the statement “I can’t stand them” or “ I don’t like them”? Maybe it is time for a speech lesson in love.

Yes there will be difficult unlikeable people in all of our lives. Maybe they are there to sharpen our love skills? Regardless as a believer to catch yourself uttering that you can’t stand someone is really not cool. Start praying for this particular person instead of saying that.

Yes it is hard to ‘like’ or get along with everyone especially if someone has hurt you or acted like a jerk. Yet as a believer we are to turn the other cheek and demonstrate Christian love. Can you do it? 

PRAYER:Forgive me for acting no different than those in the ‘world’ by saying ugly things about people. Help me learn to love like you love and to like like that too. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

He Is Coming In Y2K!

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Luke 12:40

Through the years theologians or otherwise have tried to predict when Jesus is coming back. Because of a big ‘event’ these experts on end times say that is the day. Whether an  eclipse, a huge earthquake, massive volcano, a cloud that looks like a horse, and even the Y2K frenzy, mankind, as much as he thinks he is an expert, is not. 

Scripture truly says “when we least expect it” so that means no one can say when. You could be driving and poof Jesus comes back. Those who don’t believe in this, some even in churches will very surprised on this day. This is an unpredictable day. There will be prophesies fulfilled before this but still no one knows. 

Is your heart in order? Have you surrendered fully to the savior and are praying for those you know who may be agnostic, non believing, in a false religion, spiritually sleeping,  or caught up in demonic activity masquerading as okay? Live each day as if this is the day, cause it very well could be. Be ready!

PRAYER: Lord God I lift up those family members and friends who are confused, locked in dead ‘religion’, believing lies from the ‘angel of light’ the devil, compromising themselves, or just don’t seem to care. Bring divine appointments to help those I love wake up and get excited about living for the Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lift Them Up!

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;

Proverbs 4:20–21

Our church just got done with 21 Days of Prayer and as always I hated when it was over. Some people may wonder how you can pray for a non stop half hour to an hour but with so many needs it is not hard. First you have to be taught how to pray, not a repetitious prayer you may have learned as a child. That is a good base but you have to grow in your faith and that includes in your prayer life. 

In today’s verse you can personalize this for your son or daughter by adding their name where it says “My son” and see how much more meaning and impact it has. Christian parents who are sold out to Jesus want nothing more than their children to love the Lord with all their heart. Sometimes they do but things happen and that love grows cold or that flame turns into a flicker. 

Keep believing mom and dad’s out there. Don’t let Satan’s lies and doubts make you fear or feel nothing will ever change. God is a great God and does great and mighty things. He specializes in big miracles. 

PRAYER: My Hope is in you Lord. I know you have big plans for my children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. I pray the blood of Jesus over them that no weapon formed against them will prosper. Guard their hearts and help them run form evil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Note: Moms would  you like to be part of an international ministry that prays for children and the schools they attend and goes on beyond that praying for college and career. Even grandma groups. Www.momsinprayer.org for information on where and when groups meet or how to start a group. For mothers of preschoolers check out MOPs at www.mops.org.

Dabbling With The World

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

I am not one to stand in judgment but something to think about is what type of TV and movies do you watch that seem harmless?  Even some reality shows laced with profanity. Just want you to think and ask yourself if you would take Jesus with you while you watched certain things. Pray for God to convict your heart. 

As a believer it is essential to guard your heart and mind. If you shrug off the content of books, movies, magazines, plays, and TV you can greatly compromise your walk with the Lord. Granted different Christians set various  boundaries on lots of things. Revealing clothes, suggestive music, the F word being no big deal to some, when and where will the line be drawn? 

My intent is not to persecute and beat up on people, but it is instead to really make you think what you expose your heart to. If you say all is well then it is between you and the Holy Spirit. What is your heart drawn to?  In saying that know that each person has to decide what they will allow in their mind knowing that your body is the temple of God.

 PRAYER: Everyone has sinned and fallen short of your glory Lord and it is easy in this present day culture to be sucked into the world’s way of right and popular without giving any thought to what your standard is Lord. Direct my heart to what is right and pleasing to you and convict me when I should turn and run the other way. Help me as I seek to let my light shine. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Are You Entangled In Weeds?

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19

Recently I was in my neglected strawberry patch which had all sorts of ugly thorny vine like weeds everywhere. Some were climbing up the brick outside wall of the house. Immediately I chastised myself for allowing this to occur then went to work yanking them up by the roots.

Have you allowed weeds and choking vines to entangle your spiritual life? Say you have gotten off track, neglected quiet time. Maybe knew you needed to stop bad habits like condemnation and judging of others or acting hateful and vindictive. You maybe still got to church but your life with Christ beyond that was practically non existent.

When this happens Satan’s lies can be like those prickly thorny weeds and choke the life out of you. You get bogged down with worldly cares and have no spiritual backbone and start to cave to sin. Start each day by not allowing weeds to infest your life and this is done by starting the day with Jesus.

PRAYER: I don’t like weeds because they kill things and even can make my skin itch. Also the weeds of sin choke joy and peace out of life so I choose to root them out daily with your word and prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Poison Control

But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. Matthew 15:18

If you were to ingest poisonous substances it would be necessary to contact a poison control center for immediate attention. Do you realize on a daily basis many put poison in their minds and hearts giving it no second thought?

Things like gossip, rumors, things you choose to read or watch all can ultimately poison the mind and heart and cause you to do or say things that don’t bring glory to God. The anecdote is a good dose of God’s word, prayer, and thinking right on purpose.

Today make it an intentional thing to not poison yourself with worldliness that serves no purpose other than to drag you away from the joy of the Lord. Get rid of the poison by putting God back on the throne.

PRAYER:Lord God I need help every day to combat the attack’s of the enemy in my heart and mind. I choose to have peace and get rid of poisonous thoughts that serve only to be defeated. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Don’t Be Eaten Alive! Let Worry Go.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

Worry is like a monster that can gobble you alive if you allow it to. Ponder for a while  what  it  really accomplishes.  The answer is of course not a single thing.

You get consumed over something and hash things over in your mind, maybe creating scenarios or plans to help you get through this situation creating the worry. You have to stop it and nip it in the bud because nothing changes as a result of your being obsessed and overwhelmed by something.

Basically turn it over to God’s more than capable hands and think on something else. This is a mental and spiritual discipline but with God on your side you can refocus and have victory over the worry monster.

PRAYER: I need strength to really let stuff go that only creates lack of peace and takes my mind off things above. Help me to cast off wrong worrisome thinking. In Jesus’ name. Amen.