YOUR ANGEL STORY

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.    Acts 12:5-10

I love this story of Peter’s deliverance, because I love angel stories. Almost every day someone sends me a story of a personal miracle; some incredible angelic intervention that changed their life. Yes, angels are very real They are God’s helpers and messengers. The Bible and our reality is filled with their incredible stories and adventures.

During the Christmas season, we often hear the story of the angel who appeared to Mary and told her that she would have a son called Jesus. Joseph was also visited by an angel who told him what his role would be in this world-changing event. After Jesus was born, another group of angels appeared to the Wise Men, as well as to a group of very surprised Bethlehem shepherds.

Today Christmas angels are alive and well, appearing just in time to help save or comfort us. They appear in many ways, but their mission never changes; they are here to help us in times of great need.

One of my own Angel stories is not that different than many others. Years ago I was driving home very late one night after a long day of work and some last minute Christmas shopping. The road was very dark and I was very tired. I was fighting to keep my eyes open and I was losing the fight. After dozing for only a second, the steering wheel was torn out of my hands and pulled sharply to the left. The sudden movement woke me out of my dangerous slumber as I grabbed the wheel. Just then I passed a parked car in the breakdown lane. I missed it by inches. I had fallen asleep at the wheel, drifted into the emergency lane and was headed directly at that car. In that one, life-saving moment, an Angel was driving my car – and probably saved my life.

What is your angel story? You probably need only a minute to remember that one moment in your life when something unexplained happened; when someone seemed to be helping you – maybe even saving you.

Yes, I love angel stories and I want to hear yours. Please tell us your angel story by responding in the Comment Section below with all the details. It’s time we spread the miracles!

This Week’s PrayerDear Lord, I know your angels are all around us. And I know I need them more than ever. Yes, Lord, I need an angel. But, most of all, I need the love and grace of Your Son, Jesus, through whom all things are made new again. Amen.

THE WINNING MOVE . . .

She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Matthew 1.21-25

Years ago, an irritated journalist wrote a column about his experience trying to navigate his way through a crowded store. “Hurry as we may,” he wrote, “we are hemmed in by a surging crowd in front and a dense throng of people pressing in from the rear. One man digs his elbow into me, another carelessly hit me with a pole; one bangs my head with a plant. You can be considered foolish and thoughtless if you go out without your will made!” Sounds like a typical Christmas shopping trip at the mall, doesn’t it? Later, the columnist complains about the economic stresses of modern day life by writing that “here you may pay a big rent for a miserable house and everyone dresses above their means.” His frustrated insight is certainly shared by many of us.

The most fascinating element to these observations is that they are from the Roman writer, Juvenal, who lived from A.D. 60 to 140, just after the time of Jesus. Apparently, human nature hasn’t changed very much in at least 2000 years. Yet, while humanity often has a selfish and sinful heart, Christ can change us. In fact, He initiated that change in all of us long ago. Whether or not you choose to see it, that change can take place any time.

More recently, Benjamin Garrison, a Christian writer, found himself desperately trying to win a game of chess he was playing against his computer. His computerized opponent had made a brilliant, winning move several minutes before; a move Garrison had not seen. The computer let him continue making his moves, some good, others quite bad. And all along the computer was moving toward its own inevitable victory.

This is the just like the change God made with the birth of His Son, Jesus. Twenty centuries ago God made the decisive, but mostly unnoticed, move of sending Christ into the world. That move secured His victory . . . and ours. That move guaranteed the outcome. Meanwhile, He allows us the freedom to go on making our moves on the chess-board of life, some good, others incredibly bad.

And while we struggle on, God is calling us to join Him on the winning side. That is the simple message of Christmas. God has not forgotten you and me, His people. It is with Him that our nature can change forever. Jesus is the only winning move!

This week’s prayer

Lord Jesus, I don’t want to keep going on the same path. This Christmas, I don’t want to hurry about through life, ignoring and forgetting all the things that matter. I don’t want to live without you any longer. Your Son Jesus came into our world to save me. I know He is reaching out His hand right now to take hold of my life. Please give me the strength and will to take His hand and join the Victory of Christ!  Amen.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY CONTINUES . . .

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:20

The Christmas story is a beautiful tale of love and family; a true inspiration for all of humanity. Yet, the most extraordinary part of this story is that it continues today in all our lives.

Take a moment and consider the people you encounter each day. Among your neighbors, co-workers, friends and family perhaps there is a man whose second marriage is not going well; a young man having profound doubts about his career; a woman who is waiting for test results from her doctor; or a family in debt is trying to find their way out of a devastating financial crisis.

Why am I telling you this during such a joyous time of year? Because Christmas has always been about people in trouble. It began with an unplanned pregnancy to an unwed couple who were on the road with very little money. They had no place to stay, so the teenage mother gave birth in a barn surrounded by farmers and their animals. For the baby to rest, the young couple could only place him in a feeding trough. And this was only the beginning of their troubles!

Remember, the story of Christmas is not just about the Christ Child in the manger. Like the stories of our lives, it is filled with plot twists, unpredictable characters and lots of surprise endings! And through it all - through the clamor and confusion of our everyday lives - we hear the call of God. Like the angels singing out to the shepherds, it is a glorious call bringing common men and almighty God into fellowship again. It is a call of forgiveness, hope and love.

Let there be no doubt. It is time we receive that call! And whatever challenges you are facing in your life right now, this is where your story can be rewritten with a magnificent new direction!   

This week’s prayer

Lord Jesus, I hear your call. I know the story of my life has many complications and surprises to come. Please be with me as my story’s central character. Guide me and lead me today and every day as I answer your Great Call on my life. Amen.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

“The commandment we have from him is this: 

those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”

1 John 4:21

Since the time of Adam and Eve, our Lord has provided us with everything we need in life, including the choice to reject it all. Yes, the power to choose is one of the most awesome, mysterious and wonderful of God’s gifts. Whether we accept it or not, it is something we live with every moment of the day. In fact, our lives are filled with choices between our way and the Godly way.

The history of the Christian faith is filled with inspirational stories of people whom made Godly choices. One story begins long ago with a young girl named Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu who chose to become a nun when she was 18 years old. As a nun, Agnes was assigned to teach very wealthy children in Calcutta, India. From her classroom window, located in a well-to-do neighborhood, she could easily see people living in the impoverished slums throughout the villages below. Yet, Agnes was perfectly content with the choice she had made for her life.

Then one night she was walking home and heard a woman crying out for help. Finding the injured woman lying in the street on the verge of death, Agnes rushed her to the nearest hospital. Since the woman was poor the hospital said she would have to wait for treatment. Knowing the woman would die without immediate medical attention, Agnes took the woman to another hospital. Again help was denied because the woman was poor and belonged to an undesirable social class. Desperate, Agnes took the woman to her own home. A few hours later, the woman died in peace, held in the comfort of Agnes's loving arms.

That night Agnes resolved that this would never happen again to anyone within her reach. She chose to devote her life to easing the pain of those who suffered around her. Whether they lived or died, they would do so with dignity. She made a clear choice to treat the poor better than they had ever been treated in their entire lives, with the love and respect the Lord wanted them to have.

That is the choice Agnes made. And that is how she began her journey as Mother Teresa.

We never know what the results will be when we begin to share God’s love, especially when we share it with the poor. Long after Agnes became Mother Teresa to the world, she told us, “What the poor need most is to feel needed, to feel loved. The condition of banishment which their poverty imposes is what ulcerates them. There are remedies and treatments for all kinds of illnesses, but when someone is undesirable, if there are no serving hands and loving hearts, then there is no hope for a true cure.”

This Christmas, you can become the cure by using your hands, your heart, your mind - your everything – by serving “the least of these,” the poor.

This week’s prayer

Lord Jesus help me to share your love generously. Give me the strength to choose Your will and Your way in all things. Keep me focused on the people you need me to help most of all. Show me the opportunities to help the poor and give me the discipline to make the right choice. Amen. 

THE BEST PARENT IN THE WORLD

"See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be

called His children, and we really are!"

I John 3:1

The love parents have for their children is found in the heart of God. In order for you to be the kind of parent that all children need, you must understand what kind of a parent God is to His children.

First, your children need leadership. You have been called by God to instruct your child, point your child to the path of life, and show your child how to walk upon it. You are your child's spiritual leader. From your lips, your child needs to hear wise words and wise counsel; from your steps, your child needs to see the importance of wise choices and good decisions; from your love, your child needs to discover their purpose, identity, and true worth.

Your children also need great care. Children are very needy people. Every child needs to be cared for and have their basic needs met. You have the responsibility of caring for and providing for the children God has given you. Not one thing can be overlooked. Would God forsake you? Of course not. Never! Nor should you ever allow the real needs of your children to be ignored, nor matter where they are or in whose care they might be.

Your children need your time. It is our greatest and most precious resource. And time has an extraordinary value to all human life. Those who choose not to spend time with their children came up with the lackluster theory that spending “quality time” is more important than the quantity of time. I see the victims of “quality time” parenting wandering the streets every day with no where to go. It’s not a question of quality, it’s a question of quantity. And that means spending large quantities of time with your kids. Being a parent is about being together with your child to share life's joys and God's blessings. Every moment you spend with your child is another opportunity for good to happen in their young life. You need to value and guard your time with your children.

Finally, you must give yourself. There’s no easy way to put it, to be a parent is to sacrifice your whole life for your child. It’s not about you anymore. But, when you give yourself to a child you are saying, "I am not only spending this time with you, but you have my complete attention. My eyes are upon you, heart follows you, my thoughts are with you, and my love is around you.” Remember, when God spoke to Abram, God gave him this precious promise, "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” What a wonderful and cherished gift to give to our children as well.

We witness the most exquisite pattern for our own parenting in God, our Father in heaven. He gives us His love through His wise leadership, His uncompromising care, His unlimited time, and His perfect self. Today, it is our responsibility to pass these blessings to our children.

Today’s Prayer

Lord God, You have given us the privilege as well as the responsibility of being loving parents. In the name of Jesus, we ask you to guide us as we invite our children to hear your call to service and leadership in our Church. May our children respond with deep faith and generosity to the needs of God's people. Help us to be a source of love and encouragement to our children as we look to you for courage, strength and wisdom in the years to com. Amen.

YOU ARE THE CURE

“When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’

then he will save the downcast.”

Job 22:29

A young man was learning to be a paratrooper. Before his first jump, he was given very clear instructions by the jump master: “Jump when you are told. Count to ten and pull the rip cord. In the unlikely event your parachute doesn't open, pull the emergency rip cord. When you get down, a truck will be there to take you back to the airport.”

The young man memorized these instructions and climbed aboard the plane. The plane climbed to ten thousand feet and the paratroopers began to jump. When the young man was told to jump, he jumped. Just as he was told, he counted to ten and pulled the rip cord. Nothing happened. His chute failed to open. So he pulled the emergency rip cord. Still, nothing happened. No parachute.

"Oh great," said the young man. "And I suppose the truck won't be there when I get down either!"

Sometimes, when trouble comes upon you, it just keeps coming and coming. There is no life without trouble and challenges or even disasters and tragedy. At one time or another, all of us will experience or be close to illness, accidents, betrayals, and death. If it hasn’t happened to you yet, it will. And when these days come upon us, the first thing we ask ourselves is, “Why?” Somehow, we think our troubles will be easier if we know the reason behind them.

Rarely is there a reason we can easily see or comprehend. But, there is always a purpose to our pain, a purpose that God needs you to understand.

There is an analogy from an old minister that goes like this: A bar of iron worth 1 dollar, when hammered into horseshoes, is worth 2 dollars. If made into needles, it is worth 70 dollars. If into penknife blades, it is worth 650 dollars. If into springs for watches, it is worth 50,000 dollars. What a drilling the poor bar must undergo to be worth this! But the more it is manipulated, the more it is hammered and passed through the fire, and is beaten and sharpened and polished, the greater its value.

You see, you are of more value to our Lord Jesus when you have gone through the trials and tribulations of life. In fact, those who suffer most are capable of yielding most. Why? Because you are able to identify with the pain and suffering of Jesus on the Cross, thereby bringing you closer to Him, and you are able to identify and encourage others who will go through the fire in the days to come.

Seldom does God use a person greatly who has not been hurt deeply. Yes, you have been through a lot. Sometimes, it’s too much to bear. But, you are warrior of life. And you have been saved from despair and destruction by Jesus Christ.

Now, He wants you to stand by those who need protection from the storms of life. They need you because you know where the pitfalls are. You know the darkness of hopeless days. You know how much it hurts and how lonely it can be. But, you also know what it is like to call upon Jesus. You know how to sit with someone and call His name in prayer. And you know the joy and hope of His voice when the new dawn awakens in your heart.

It has been said that the brook would lose its song if we removed the rocks. And those of us with the voice of pain have the responsibility to sing our song to the hurting people in our lives. It is the blessed sound of heaven’s healing. The music of the Holy Spirit that calls to the broken hearts of the world.

Why do we go through so much in life? Because God put us here for Him and for each other. The Lord has made you strongest where you were wounded the deepest. Today, someone near you needs that strength.

This week’s prayer

Lord Jesus, I love you. As your child, I confess it is sometimes difficult to thank you for the problems I have had in life. But, I do thank you for them all. Your plan is greater than I could ever see or know. I only pray that I may live a life that brings honor and glory to you. I know that my life will have difficult days. Please allow me the strength, patience, and wisdom to use these experiences as a foundation for the healing of others. Make my life a living sacrifice, an encouragement and an example to those who suffer this day. May they see the light of your love coming from my heart. Amen. 

Discovering Your Dream Life

“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you,

O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1

Are you inspired by a dream for your life? Chances are, if you are inspired by a dream, others will be as well. Think of the inspiration of one man’s dream four decades ago when he said, “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” 

What is your dream? You should know that it is of no use unless you discover it, just as a good harvest of golden wheat dies if it stays to rot in the field. But, when you truly discover and define your dream, you will realize the distinct reason God put you on this earth!

Perhaps it’s time to reveal your life’s dream. After all, what’s there to lose? There’s nothing to be afraid of, I assure you. And God Himself is on your side! Commit yourself to a dream! Nobody who tries to do something great but fails is a total failure. Why? Because you can always rest assured that you have succeeded in life's most important battle: the fear of trying.

Let’s get started on Discovering Your Dream Life. First, you’ll need to Get alone with God. The main reason people never uncover their purpose in life is they never stop long enough and listen to what God is saying. This going away from the television, away from work, away from people, just for a little while each day. Just get quiet for a few minutes and let God talk to you. He has a lot to say!

Next, you’ll need to review your gifts and talents. The Bible says we each have gifts. What are the gifts God has given you? Remember now, you didn't choose them. That’s why real fulfillment comes when you use those gifts for the dream God gave you. So ask yourself, What are my best abilities?  What do I really like to do? What are your desires? Don’t be afraid of your desires. As a Christian God has given you “the desires of your heart.” That doesn’t mean He gives you whatever you want. It means He gives you your wants!

Now, take a look at your personal experience. Examine your desires, your talents and your history. This is powerful thing! The Bible says, "All things work together for good" God doesn’t waste a thing. He uses all your training, skills, expertise, all the good times and the bad to build the person He needs you to be. God integrates every moment of your life, so take a good, honest look at it.

Then, let the dreams begin! Taking hold of your dreams means exploring whatever roads, journeys and adventures they will lead you. Explore new areas of ministry, business, and education. There are grand new possibilities every day! Get active and participate. Take classes; volunteer, travel. The sparks of your dream will soon ignite.

Finally, record your dream. When your dream is clear, write it down. This brings it one step closer to reality. It will give you resolve and bring undeniable definition and form to your life’s dream. You must do more than have an idea; you must make and follow a plan for implementing it. Dreams don’t come true just by “daydreaming.” Write them down and like a rudder on a boat, allow them to become a guiding force in your life.

Never forget that whoever God says you are, that is who you are. Let Him speak to you today so that He can introduce you to that very special person He created you to be in HIS dreams.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, please allow me to see my life the way You do; through Your eyes. Allow me to see and nurture the talents and gifts you have given me. Reveal to me all that I am good at doing, and how I can do those things more and more for Your Kingdom and greater glory. Reveal my purpose and allow me to rest in the knowledge that because you are good, you are working for good in every situation in my life. Keep me moving in the right direction, even though I can't see all of Your incredible plan. Lead me on this great adventure, this miraculous journey to my destiny in You. Amen. 

DREAM A BIG DREAM

“And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;”

                                                Acts 2:17

Along with every individual in the world, you have been created by God to have a glorious dream, a magnificent destiny and a higher reason for living. On that day long ago when God created you, He needed something accomplished on Earth that no other person could do, so He designed you to do it better than anyone else could.

Your God-designed, unique destiny, your dream, that certain something only you can do better than anyone is meant by our Lord to change the course of human history. Every one of us, and you are NO exception, has a moment when our dream and destiny can somehow impact the lives of people all over the world for generations to come. So, as you journey through the adventure of your life, remember that God has already arranged appointments and opportunities that will fulfill your destiny of making an eternal impact on His Kingdom.

What are these dreams? (No, I don’t mean the images that flash through your sleeping mind in the night.) By dreams, I mean the goals and visions that burn so brightly in your heart and permeate your soul with joy at their very thought. These are the strong and clear visions of what you want your life to be at your highest level of fulfillment. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” You see, it’s all about what you truly want to do with your life, how you want to do it to your greatest potential, and who you want to become in the process.

Your dream is more than a goal. It should be the very definition of your life. Eventually, you should be able to define your life in one word. When people think of Michael Jordon, they think "basketball." When they think of Shakespeare, they think "Playwright." What word pops into the minds of your family and friends when they thing of you? Why not "servant," "soul winner," "giver," or "discipler"?

As you go about your day today, please know that dreams do come true. Without that possibility, God would not incite us to have them. Next week, we’ll discuss how you can discover a clearer view of your dreams and some very real tips for making your dreams become reality.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank you for creating me. Give me the courage to make my dreams come true. For, I know you have given me those dreams. If they come true for me, they come true for you. Oh, that you would allow me to do great things for You and Your Kingdom. Grant me that I would never underestimate what you have created me to do and the great things you need me to do this very day. Amen.

God, please Bless America

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,

the people he chose for his inheritance.

                                    Psalm 33:12

Please take a moment to read and meditate upon this proclamation given by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 . . .

“It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

Know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people.”

This proclamation is more ominous when observed from its historical perspective. Only four years before, a prayer and revival movement swept across America. It was not a planned event with guest speakers and complicated productions. It had no schedule and began spontaneously without any time limit. It was fast-paced, Spirit-led and genuine. As the phenomenon spread, news began to spread. Newspapers reported on the meetings because of the enormous crowds. Telegraph operators discovered that similar occurrences were happening all over the growing nation. A million souls were swept into the Kingdom, including folks in the South, in both Black and White churches. People and communities were changing.

Yet, despite the blessings of a great nation in revival, America’s sins remained an open wound before God. And during the height of the Civil Ware, that is what Lincoln called us to recognize. Has anything really changed that in 148 years . . . or in 2000 years? It can change today if we repent our sins and recognize our blessings!

What does the future hold for America and other nations of the world? God only knows. We can only pray for God’s tender mercies upon us and use His blessings to sweep more souls into the Kingdom of God!

Today’s Prayer

Lord, I thank you for this great nation and for the freedom to worship and praise You to my hearts desire! Thank you for the blessings you have given me. Please open my heart and eyes that I might use your blessings to bless others. Forgive me, forgive us, as a nation under God, for our sins and for turning away from you. Give us the courage to forever turn our faces toward you so that we may clearly see where you are leading us. Amen.

THE ROAD OF LIFE

"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals'"

                                                    1 Corinthians 15:33

Fellowship is such an illustrious word! It is derived from the idea of two people traveling together on a ship. It meant two or more companions, working on a journey together, sharing one common community and communication. Along the way they would revel in the energy of the relationship and experience the adventure together.

I think of my own journeys on airlines in the modern age. Fellowship can be impossible on a long flight when you’re sitting next to someone who isn’t very nice, but instead rude and demanding. I am sure you have had this experience as well. The hours go by so slowly. Fellowship like this can make you look for the nearest emergency exit!

In the long-term, fellowship must be taken very seriously. If we choose the right partners in fellowship, it sustains us, causes us to grow in faith and ultimately brings us closer to God. But, the wrong fellowship, one that is negative or unhealthy, can break your spirit and tear down your soul.

If you were to check the passengers on the journey of your life, who would be there? Are there people who can assist you in getting to your final destination in victory? Or is your vessel filled with those who make you stumble and fall?

Perhaps you have never considered fellowship like this before, but the company you keep is essential to the success or failure of your entire life. You may like to believe that you are immune to the influence of others, but we are designed by God as social creatures. Those around us affect our behavior.

The Bible says, "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnerships have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" If you are constantly surrounded by the voices of anxiety, you may be in fellowship with the darkness of fear. This would keep you anchored to the shores of safety and comfort. But, you were made for the journey, not to rest at the docks.

Don’t set sail with the wrong companions. You may find yourself seeing everything through a dense fog and end up at the wrong destination. Faith comes by hearing, but so do doubt and fear. How much better is it to voyage with Jesus Christ, to climb aboard and find Jesus at rest in spite of the storm around you. With Jesus as your traveling partner, you can raise the sail of hope and embark on a journey, knowing that joy and wisdom will travel with you!

Whatever you find in the hold of your ship that causes you to fellowship with darkness, throw it overboard this very moment! Invite Jesus into your mind and ask the Holy Spirit to bring you to home.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, I pray that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit will be with me on my journey to you. Protect me from those who would sink me into despair. Surround me with people who believe in you and my life in you. Together, we will seek your Kingdom on this great adventure! Amen.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON?

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

John 3:19-21

What is your initial reaction when the lights come on? Doesn’t it depend on the source of the light? Think of how you feel differently when various sources of light suddenly shine on you: Police lights? Stage lights? Christmas Lights? Bedroom Lights? Each source of light sparks a wide range of reactions.

Animals respond to a light very differently. An insect will scramble with fear to the nearest place of darkness. A deer in the road stands frozen, immobilized and unable to move in any direction. A moth will turn from the darkness and fly with purpose directly into the light.

People respond to the light of God in the same ways. Some run to the nearest place of darkness when confronted with God. Some stand frozen, never making a decision.  While others turn from the darkness in their lives and pursue God, never looking back.

But, the source of the light is not the only thing to which we react. Your reaction to the light also depends on what the light is shining on! What does the light reveal? Do the police lights reveal that you’re going to fast? Does the kitchen light reveal all those dirty dishes? Does your computer light display all the work you have to do?

This week, ask yourself how your respond to God’s light and what it is revealing in your life. Do you run into His magnificent light or hide in the darkness. Are you happy by what you see in His light or does it trouble you. Either way, you don’t need to be afraid. The light of the Lord is love and in His light you will find healing, comfort and peace.

This Week’s Prayer

Lord, you are the light of the world. I do not want to stay in the dark any longer. Please give me the courage to run into your incredible light and accept the love waiting for me there. Yes, there are things I do not want your light to reveal. I ask for your strength as I examine each area of my life that remains in the dark. I ask for your grace as I bring these things before you. Amen.

LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS

Then Mary took about a pintof pure nard, an expensive perfume;she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair.And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.                                                                                                                    John 12: 3

There are people around you who know how to change the world.

They know how to change the world and they’re doing it by loving people with everything thing they have. These special people always put other people first, making them feel safe, important, and interesting. They always go out of their way to make others are happy by accepting their wounds and knowing exactly what their real needs are today. Of course, being aware of people’s needs is an extremely important part of serving them.

You may know one or two people like this. They genuinely love to give more than receive; they simply receive more pleasure giving. Yet, they do all of this so naturally and quietly. There are no horns announcing what they do, nor does anyone feel obligated in receiving.

Then, there are some people who are the opposite of stealth in their serving. They use their serving as a means of getting something. You may receive their service, but it comes with a hidden – sometime very high - price tag.

Thank God for the Pure Givers. They offer the gift of Pure Service. They are not looking for anything. It is a joy to receive from someone like this because they have already gotten their joy in the giving. The act of giving is their only agenda, their only reward.

I am sure you know someone with these qualities. They simply have the unique gift of service, providing them with an almost inexhaustible resource. Though this may not be your gift, Pure Service is common to all of us as one of our purposes in life. Since Pure Serving and our spiritual gifts all come from the Holy Spirit, we can certainly learn from those who do this so effortlessly. We only need to ask God to put this beautiful and valuable attitude in our hearts. We just need to learn from the experts!

Who do you know that has the gift of Pure Service? What can they teach you today?

Today’s Prayer

Lord, I want to serve. Without payback, without expectations, and without obligations, I want to serve your Will by serving your people. Please help me find the needs and fill them and see the hurts and heal them. Give me the strength and courage to do the impossible, for surely I know that through You all things are possible! Allow me to endure as I work to bring Honor and Glory to Your Name. Amen.

STEPPING OVER THE LINE

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?

And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

                        Isaiah 6:7-9

A few years ago, about 30,000 people held a worship service in California to celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of Saddleback Church. At the end of the service, this large congregation rose to their feet and stated aloud a very refreshing vow of faith. More than that, is was a declaration to God and to the world that things are going to change from this point forward and that the status quo was no longer good enough. The statement they made is below. Please read it and keep it near you. Pray it aloud if God gives you the courage. But, be warned, your life may never be the same….

Today I am stepping across the line. I'm tired of waffling and I'm finished with wavering; I've made my choice, the verdict is in and my decision is irrevocable. I'm going God's way. There's no turning back now! I will live the rest of my life serving God's purposes with God's people on God's planet for God's glory. I will use my life to celebrate His presence, cultivate His character, participate in His family, demonstrate His love, and communicate His word.

Since my past has been forgiven and I have a purpose for living and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead, I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of His family.

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, "we" over "me," character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures.

I know what matters most and I'll give it all I've got. I'll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today. I won't be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation or intimidated by the devil.

I'll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won't back up, back off, back down, back out or backslide. I'll just keep moving forward by God's grace. I'm Spirit-led, purpose-driven and mission-focused so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.

I'm a trophy of God's amazing grace so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for every day, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me.

Today’s Prayer

However, Whenever, Wherever, and Whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I'm ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; Whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I'll hear you say, "Well done, thou good and faithful one.” Fill me with the utter determination it will take to love and change the world around me. Please do not let me be satisfied with the way of the world, but to continually strive for the Way of God! Amen.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself

intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
                                                                      Romans 8:26

Do you sometimes feel like there is no one on your side? We often move through the day and our lives so fast and so blindly, that we end up disconnected from the people and world around us. Well, I have news for you. You are NOT alone! The Holy Spirit is with you right now.

Why is that so important? Because the Holy Spirit is far more than just another character from the Bible or an entity we mention in worship. The Holy Spirit is our personal friend sent by God to intervene on our behalf. Yes, the Holy Spirit is your intercessor. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you have the Holy Spirit, God's divine intercessor, actually living inside you to guide you in prayer, to reveal God's Word to you, to reveal you to the truth and to actively pray for you.

Why is having an intercessor so important? The word "intercede" is from the Latin words "inter," which means "between," and "cede," which means "to go." When someone intercedes it means "to go between." So, when we act as intercessors we bridge the gap between current circumstances and God’s will. That is why we are called to always intercede on behalf of people, crisis situations and nations.

The Holy Spirit knows the gaps that the Father desires us to fill. So He places that particular weight in our hearts and leads us to pray.

Yes, life can be chaotic and lonely. And you may feel that you lack even the energy or ability to pray correctly. Don’t worry about it. God only requires that you be available. If you will just be faithful and turn your face toward Him, God will perfect any inaccuracies and strengthen any inadequacies. Rest assured, your prayers will be heard because you are not alone. You have a helper. 

When you pray, be fully aware that you are in partnership with the Spirit of the living God. Your success in prayer does not come from how well you articulate the words of prayer, but on how fully you yield yourself to the Holy Spirit so He can pray through you.  Don’t be concerned about the Quality of your prayer, that’s the Holy Spirit’s job. You just be concerned with the Quantity of your heart that you put into the prayer, that’s your job.

As you pray today, you only need to believe in God and believe that God WILL! We should always approach the place of prayer with an extraordinary expectation of meeting with God and seeing Him answer our prayer.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, I come to your throne with a heart full of faith; faith in you and faith in your will for my life. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may have guidance through the places in my life that are too dark for me to understand or see. Lead me in my prayer so that I may be closer to you and come to fuller understand and acceptance of your will for my life. Amen.

Praise!

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

                                                            Psalm 9:1-2

It is important that we do not become presumptuous in our approach to the praise and worship of God. Sometimes people think they must be doing Him a favor by blessing Him. It’s tempting to think that the better or more often our praise, the more blessed God must be.

Then we read about the mountains and the hills breaking forth into singing and all of the trees of the fields clapping their hands; and the heavens telling of the God’s glory and the earth showing forth His handiwork; and the children praising Jesus as He entered Jerusalem, and how He said that if they were somehow silent, the stones themselves would cry out.

You see, when we praise we are simply and finally becoming as we were meant by God to be. Look around you. Everything else God created is engaged in the continual expression of praising His Glory through their mere existence as a natural course of events. Stars in the sky were made to twinkle. Sheaves of wheat were made to wave in the wind. Trees were made with leaves that brush together and branches that grow strong to hold them. So we praise Him for no other reason than He is our creator. It is through praise that we become our true selves. We are just aligning ourselves correctly with the God’s universe and our place in it.

More often than not, we tend to devote our energies to asking God to help us with our problems and needs. Yet it’s in praise and worship that our hearts can be lifted up to God’s presence, where we can gain a new, heavenly perspective. Through praise, we can give the Spirit an opportunity to renew our minds and even to give us his guidance in dealing with the challenges we face here on earth. We praise God simply because it is right and reasonable to do so not for what we get from it or even for what God receives, though all of this is important.

So let us worship Him! But, let us not brag about it or draw attention to ourselves in the process. We praise because that is what we are meant to do. Let us worship Him! But, let us not presume to ever be giving Him anything more than what He is due. And He is due everything.

Today, praise the Lord in a way that is new to you. Lay aside your list of petitions for a short time. Cast off your inhibitions. Lift up your heart and voice—even your hands and feet, too!—in a burst of praise. “Ocean of glory,” sang St. Ephrem to the Lord, “in your goodness receive this drop of praise!” May each of us add a drop of praise into that ocean today!

Today’s Prayer

Lord, We join all the heavens and earth in a loud celebration of your glory! We praise you as your simple, loving children because that is how you made us. You are glorious and eternally worthy of our praise. Bring me deeper to the realization that like a rose in full bloom, I am at my absolute best when I am praising you. Amen

He Prays For You!

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

                                                John 17: 20-26

    

Jesus has prayed for you! Read John’s Scripture again. He says, “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” Jesus prays for his future disciples—all the men and women in future ages who will believe through the message proclaimed by his first followers. You are one of those people! You are one of those future disciples for whom Jesus prayed. So, as you read this part of Jesus’ prayer, take a close look at what it is that Jesus wants for you.

Jesus wants his disciples—all of us—to be in unity with one another as we are also in unity with Him and His Father. The calling to be united with Jesus and the Father is awesome enough, but how much more awesome—and how much more challenging—is the call to be united with one another. Knowing that Jesus prayed for this kind of unity gives us confidence that it really will happen, especially during those times when we aren’t united as believers.

Why does Jesus take our unity so seriously? Of all the things he could have prayed for on his last night on earth, why did he choose to pray for this? There are many reasons, but one of the most important is because He knew that our witness of love and mercy toward one another could change the whole world. He knew that our unity in Christ is one of the most important elements of evangelization. Actions always speak louder than words, and when we demonstrate to the world that people from diverse backgrounds and cultures can come together, we are demonstrating the power of divine love.

Finally, Jesus prayed that the same love the Father has for Him may be in us. Try to imagine the immensity of the Father’s love for Jesus. This is the same love Jesus wants for you! Today, take time to rest in this love and fully experience it. And as you pray, and let the experience of this love flow over you. As you do, it will empower you to seek the unity that Jesus deeply desires and to become a light to the whole world!

Today’s Prayer

Holy Spirit, open the eyes of my heart to the immense love that Jesus has for me. Fill me with your spirit so deeply that your love shines from every part of my life. Allow me to experience this love more deeply so that I may share it with others throughout every day of my life. Amen.