Be A Giver...More Than Money

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."Luke 6:38

When you think about the word ‘giving’ what comes to mind? Christmas? Birthdays? Offering on Sunday? Giving is way more than all these. 

Do you share your time and resources? When you see a need do you try to meet it? If you are the recipient of a gift and have none to give in return does it make you uncomfortable? Are you able to be a ‘cheerful giver’ (2 Corinthians 9:7). Are you able to receive a gift without worrying about reciprocating? 

I have given you many things to think about in terms of giving. The main thing is not to give under compulsion or don’t go telling everyone when you have given. (Matthew 6:2). 

If you are aware of a need and have the ability to meet that need then do it.(1 John 3:17). 

All you have is God’s anyway and you are to be a good steward of it while on earth. Find a need and go bless someone. 

PRAYER: Lord I know all I have is from you. Thank you that you give mankind the ability to gain wealth and give us the ability to learn to share as well. Help me Lord to learn reaping good stuff leads to sowing good things. Help me learn to receive gifts and not apologize for not having one in return. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Who Are You Standing In The Gap For?

I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”  Ezekiel 22:30

Standing in the gap is basically praying on behalf of someone or something to not be held captive by Satan and to be delivered and set free. It could be for your country, your school, your children, your town, something that you have concern over that needs super duper intervention from above. 

Life doesn’t just happen. Each day you are in a  battle between God and the devil. Satan loves to kill, steal, destroy, deceive, distract, manipulate, start arguments, create division and so forth. He is at work right now trying to divide the United States. The devil may be trying to steal your children or grandchildren by Re-educating their minds and appearing as an angel of light to trick them. 

Sister and brother we need to take up our positions and fight the enemy each and every day. The little weasel aka Satan,  can’t have your country, your children, your mind or anything. Oh he works overtime through many demonic traps to destroy and get rid of the word of God. Stand firm and take up the word of God to fight against him. 

PRAYER: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I take up my battle positions to fight against the enemy and he has no authority or power over my nation the USA or my children. I pray you will keep me aware of the enemies tricks so I can take my position in the gap. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Root Them Out

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31

How do you get rid of a bitter root in your life that is poisoning you and hindering your spiritual walk? Things such as anger, rage, jealousy, anxiety, that all take a toll of your peace and also can affect your health.

When you garden you need to get rid of bad roots that could spoil your crop and turn it into a mess of weeds. To do this you dig up those bad roots so they do not grow back. Similarly this process needs to be done in your spiritual life. 

Don’t keep rehashing something and let things fester as that leads to a no win situation. It is necessary for you to allow the Holy Spirit to transform you but you have to surrender and ask humbly saying “Help me. I don’t want to live this way. Show me how to let this go.” Each day start with prayer and a dose of God’s word and allow Him to transform you from the inside out.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for forgiving me and helping me get on the right path. Thank you for helping me let go of things that would lead to bitterness. I surrender my life to you and ask that you Lord help me recognize bad roots and dig them up. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let Hollywood Become Holy Wood?

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John  8:44

Years ago my maternal grandma gave me a poem called ‘The Bible and TV Guide’ and it went something like this “on the table side by side, the Holy Bible and TV guide. One is well worn and cherished with pride. No it’s not the Bible but the Tv Guide.”

Those under 40 probably are clueless as to what TV Guide is but it was a small magazine that listed all the shows on TV for the week and included some stories on celebrities as well. Households bought them at the grocery store normally. This catchy poem had more to it than those two lines but it drove home the point even back then when there were only 4 channels to choose from not hundreds, that our devotion should not be to Hollywood and what it puts out which back then was mild and family oriented, but instead Jesus and the word should take first place.

Perhaps all of us need to be praying for more godly men and women to rise up in film and TV making such as David White and PureFlix and The Kendrick Brothers, to change the course of what Hollywood is like. Pray for men and women of conviction to impact Hollywood and for we believers on the other hand to not make the TV guide more important  than the guide for our lives The Holy Bible. Believers need to be vigilant in prayers for the men and women who produce or act in what many are addicted to. Also realize Satan tries desperately to control everything and he has done a dandy job with Hollywood. But the end of the story has not happened so keep praying for revival in the hearts and minds of those creative people to have Jesus in their hearts.

PRAYER: I thank you Lord for the miracle of the television set and for motion pictures. Help my heart be drawn more to you Lord than the media that tries to distract and manipulate  me. Bring conviction on all believers that you should take first place before that big black screen in their living room. Draw Hollywood hearts to you as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Works Of The Flesh

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions. Galatians 5:19-20

What does the ‘works of the flesh’ mean? Besides the items listed in today’s verse it would also be relying on your own efforts to do things and not waiting on God. When you do you have turmoil, confusion, tension, and a lack of peace.

Works of the flesh are not of God. The enemy may make you fall into this trap by many seemingly innocent tricks but do not fall for his schemes. Bible teacher Joyce Meyer says “it is our energy trying to do God’s work”.

Are you playing on Satan’s playground and leaning in to works of your flesh or are you submitting yourself to God daily?

PRAYER:It is so easy to succumb to tricks of the enemy and he uses many methods that seem legit to trick those not discerning and grounded in the word. Help me Lord to stay alert to his schemes and protect my family as well. In Jesus’ name. 

It’s Coming...Hang On!

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

One of the biggest stressors for many people is the Christmas season. Merchants start putting up trees in July and August and it seems you have not quite finished the end of the school year and this ‘sacred holiday’ is upon you. Time to breathe in and relax. 

Christmas is supposed to be about the birth of our savior. The best celebrations are often ones kept simple but many things create turmoil,  mainly gift buying and family pressures and expectations. What is a person to do? First of all enjoy the rest of the year and take a breather. 

Today’s verse speaks of peace. Make it intentional to have peace. Don’t run yourself ragged with others expectations. Take time to rest. Never forget your time alone with God because after all who is the party for anyway? 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I need you every moment of every hour and sometimes more as the end of the year approaches. Every year I say I will do better then I get bogged down. Help me Lord to rest in you and not get into an expectation trap. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer Conditioning

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1

There is air conditioning, physical conditioning, hair conditioning, and so forth so why not get ‘prayer conditioned’ as well? To do this you need to be in a habit of making prayer something you do automatically when a situation arises.

Questionable Facebook post? Pray first. Text message you are not sure about sending? Pray first. Job searching? Pray first. Home shopping? Pray first. Let prayer be your first response to anything.

When you wake up try to remember to just lie there in bed and say “thanks Lord for giving me another day. Guide my steps today.” So many people run to the phone for help instead of running to ‘the throne’ so the point is to be getting ‘conditioned’ to take your concerns to the Lord and after that  if you don’t have peace about something it is probably not a good idea. Pray first.

PRAYER: I pray for those people who may not pray cause they think it is worthless or why bother. I pray Satan does not take advantage of them due to this attitude. I pray Lord Jesus that you will help me to persevere in prayer and know you hear me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.