Joy Spilling Over

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:38

I had just emerged from an awesome one hour 21 Days of prayer at my church and entered a local Starbucks when the barista says “and how is your day so far” and instead of being embarrassed to tell someone who I am not sure where they stand with the Lord I blurted out it was excellent cause I just had an hour of prayer at my church. 

Are you ashamed or afraid to ‘bubble over’ to the outside world around you? After all, believers are to be salt and light but how can we if we stay inside the salt shaker or never turn on the flashlight? It is obvious the world around is needs Jesus. Many confused lost people are wandering in the darkness and need the love only Jesus can give and as a believer you are not here to just go to a Holy huddle on Sunday but to spill over throughout your week sharing His love and joy with others without shame or fear. 

So every day you may not feel intense immense joy as we all have ‘those days’ but when you do wake up and say “good morning Lord. Use me today and show me how to share your love.” Now go and have an awesome day! 

PRAYER: Oh Lord every life has a purpose and many are hurting, lost, and confused. Use me somehow in the life of a person like that and show me opportunities to share your love with those I may encounter daily. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Overwhelmed? Outnumbered? Pray On!

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

What has you burdened today? Family issues? A wayward child? Betrayal by a friend? Unfair gossip? Many things can send you to the end of your rope but guess what? At the end of that rope God is there. 

Satan is the great deceiver trying to get people caught up in lies, worry, fear, doubt, defeat and you have to stand up to Him in the authority Jesus gave you and know that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

Take authority over wrong thinking by using the word of God. Start each day by turning on some praise and worship music. I have included a link to an awesome song at bottom of devotion. Have a blessed day. 

PRAYER: Oh Lord it is easy to get confused and down in the dumps over things I have prayed for and have not seen answers to or it is easy to let this present world overwhelm and overburden me. I trust in you and you alone Lord give me the power to break through the darkness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click link for an awesome song of worship: https://youtu.be/Xu6_CYcl0gY

Keep Dreaming And Moving Forward

They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green. Psalm 92:14

Have you ever heard the Bible verse “without a vision the people perish” found in Proverbs 29:18. Simply put everyone needs to keep a vision alive of something. If you are over 50 don’t think you can’t try new things.

Go ahead and get involved in some new activities. Apply for a job you may be interested in. Try a new hobby. Learn a craft or skill. Think positive. Stay healthy on purpose. Go back to school. Create. Take a hike. You get the idea. Keep your mind and body active. Find a Bible study group to be a part of or start one yourself.

It takes courage to step out into something new. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about a new direction you need to try in life. Pray for sure. And know that God is not the God of a confused spirit. Surround yourself with positive uplifting people. Listen to uplifting Christian music that stirs your soul. And keep your dreams alive no matter what your age. 

PRAYER: Lord I am thankful for the ability to pray, to dream, to have energy to be able to wake up and explore new things. Help me never get stagnant or feel washed up because that is only going to be the enemy trying to disable me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Stand For The Truth

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. – Daniel 6:10

What if you were told you could not carry your Bible, pray in public, talk about Jesus? In many foreign nations this is a reality and it could get this way in America if believers don’t stay informed of political maneuvers designed to shut down people of faith.

No surprise that with the Bible being removed from public schools in 1963, abortion made legal in 1973, same sex marriage approved, and now God’s creation of male and female identities being messed with that lawmakers who don’t know God push a false hurtful agenda which if not stopped could lead to the break up of the traditional family and being able to be an open Christian who believes the word of God. 

You need to choose which side of the battle you want to be on, God’s and the truth found in His uncompromising word or the world and culture trying to push an unwholesome, ungodly, hurtful things. By standing in the truth against the lies of the enemy this does not make you a hater which is the narrative the dissenters like to push. You are to love all people because love is from God but you are not to cave to the culture’s ways and be sucked into believing lies. Stand for the truth and do it in love.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus you are my hiding place. You shield me from the Lies of the world and temptations I get faced with daily. Help open the eyes of those who are caving to unrighteousness and deliberate sin. Help those stuck to get set free. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Eternity In View

Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here. Colossians 3:2(TLB translation) 

Everyone has a bad day every now and then where their thoughts and heart slip off the Christian wagon so to speak. You start dwelling on a problem and fear or lack of trust enters in then next you have wrong thinking patterns and possibly anger and confusion. Not stuff to glorify God for sure. That is why it is so critical to fill your mind with things above.

Do you live for today or do you live with Eternity in View? If you remember to live each moment with eternity in view how much more joyful  life would be, 

but human nature sometimes gets in the way and you say or do things you are not proud of and wish you could wind back the clock.

Try this. If you feel yourself slipping start praising God out loud if you can and then start praying and thanking God for His blessings to you. Tell Satan to take a hike cause you are covered with the blood of Jesus and no weapon formed against you will prosper.

PRAYER: Lord I thank you that you love me and care for me and when I am weak you are strong. I choose to focus on you when the enemy tries to get me to stumble. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Note: Got title idea from Verse of the Day devotion by Michael Harrison.

Not Everyone Is Going To Like You, But Jesus Does!

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.Romans 12:14

I don’t know about you,  but I am a people person who loves to give gifts, send cards, talk to people and when shunned it is like taking out a chunk of my heart. I can only imagine what someone must feel like who has been tossed aside by a spouse when having a friend do it is bad enough. 

Not all personalities get along and we are to try to love people regardless of how they react to us. Some relationships may need a rest period if one of the parties just is not receptive to warming up to you. Am I hitting home with anyone? This new Facebook stuff is another whole can of worms. I have several friends not on it and I say more power to them for not entering into what can become petty bickering and unfriending. Yes it is ‘not real’ but still hurtful.

So love those people who don’t love you back. Hard but with God’s help maybe some of them can be reconciled to you. Let God do the Heavy lifting in the restoration and try to be still. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus it hurts when someone close treats me bad and I need you strength and grace to not be hurtful back. I know you desire peace in my inner most being and you want me to forgive and let things go. Help me be still and let you work things out. Touch the hearts and minds of anyone who is hurting and bless those people to who are the ones who have caused the pain. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Thanks 

Rest Area

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

When traveling down the interstate freeways of America you will see signs for ‘Rest Areas’ meaning if you are tired, need a bathroom break, snack, need to stretch or let your pets out, or get travel  information this little stop is a good one to take. 

In life you need rest breaks every day. No not because you have run a race and are tired but you need time to rest and reflect on the goodness of the Lord. Rush, rush, rush seems to be the way of life particularly in large metropolitan areas but also in smaller towns. It is easy to fall into a bad habit of never taking time to sit down, ponder, and read the Bible and pray. 

Why not get your calendar out and see if there are things on it you could back away from? Why be compelled to fill up every spare minute or be embarrassed if you can’t tell people you are ‘worthy’ because you are busy. You have nothing to prove to anyone. Take time today to enjoy God’s presence. At night try keeping TV off and maybe sit on your porch. You can’t hear from God if you are constantly on the go. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I thank you for restful moments. Help me learn to not overburden myself with non stop activities. Help young moms learn to teach their children the value of a peaceful home versus a non stop go to clubs and sports moments. Forgive me when my rushing leaves you out. In Jesus’ name. Amen.