Walk With Nature

What do you benefit...

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

...Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:34-38

Prayer: Dearest Jesus, Let us find within our being the freedom to lay our trust fully in you. Amen.

Teaching about Giving to the Needy

2012-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you

Matthew 6:1-4

Prayer: God, what a joy it is to receive your gift of Jesus Christ! We welcome him in our hearts as a reminder of your love and share your gift with others as a token of our love for you. Amen.

Arise, O LORD!

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others. Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set. The LORD is known for his justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

The wicked will go down to the grave. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God. But the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.

Arise, O LORD! Do not let mere mortals defy you! Judge the nations! Make them tremble in fear, O LORD. Let the nations know they are merely human.

Psalm 9:15-20

Prayer: Precious Lord, teach us to recognize that you are powerful and that we are not. We live not by our own power but only by your grace. Amen.

Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

2 Corinthians 4:3-7

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming into this world and giving your life for us. Help us to feel your love in our hearts and to share it with others. Amen

Teaching about the Law

2012-01-25T06:00:00.002-06:00

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5:17-19

Prayer: Dear God, when darkness and grief surround us, help us to turn to the light of your son, Jesus Christ, and help us to mourn with hope and faith, leaning on the promises given in your word. Amen.

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea and everything that swims the ocean currents.

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Psalm 8:3-9

Prayer: Loving God, why have you chosen us? We are not worthy, yet you chose us. So often we wander from you, yet you are always with us. We cannot escape your grace; help us surrender all that we are to you. Amen.

Everything that was written...

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

“Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us endurance and encouragement so that we can have hope!”

Romans 15:4

Prayer: O God, as we have welcomed your grace and truth in Christ, help us to show our weary world that following him is the way to peace. Amen.

2012-01-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

“All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God's comfort.

I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we feared we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned to not rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us. He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many others will give thanks to God because so many people's prayers for our safety have been answered.

2 Cor. 1:3-11 (NLT)

Prayer: Dear Lord, when fears surface, we know you are by our side and that we can confide in you. Thank you. Amen.

Do what is good and run from evil

2012-01-21T06:00:00.001-06:00

Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.

Amos 5:14-15

Prayer: Father, enable us as your servants to hear and follow your will as we seek to spread the good news of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

Ephesians 3:6-13

Prayer: God, how we stand in awe! Your favor encompasses more than we will ever humanly understand. Encourage us to be life-long seekers, eager to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.

Hear My Voice

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,
for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house. I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.
Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.

Psalm 5:1-3,7-8

Prayer: God of our future, things will happen this year which we can not foresee. Some may delight us, and others may cause us grief. As this year begins, we will look back and know you were with us. "Great is thy faithfulness!" Amen

The Future Glory

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved.

Romans 8:18-24

Prayer: Lord, though written so long ago, the scriptures remain our hope for the perfect peace that was promised to us. Amen.

The incredible greatness of God’s power

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 1:18-23, 2:6-10

Prayer: Christ offers us the gift of eternal life. On the cross he paid the debt for our sins, and now with open arms, our Lord waits quietly for us to receive this gift. By faith, we can accept the invitation and follow him. Amen.

Rest in the shadow of the Almighty

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Psalm 91:1-4

Prayer: God of our joy, we thank you for the joy we find when we walk with you in trust and obedience. Amen.

Living the New Life

2012-01-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Colossians 3:1-4,10-11

Prayer: Christ Jesus, as you sit on the right hand of our father interceding for us, forgive our trespasses we humbly pray. Often we choose to express anger instead of love and ignore the pleas of others because we are too selfish to care. Correct us when we try to make decisions in our frailty and set us on a right path. Amen.

Jesus, the Way to the Father

2012-01-14T06:00:00.003-06:00

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

1 John 14: 1-4,6-7

Prayer: Dear God, you have always been committed to me. May I also be truly committed to you in all the days you give to me. Amen.

Live as Citizens of Heaven

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

Philippians 1:27-30

Prayer: O God, thank you for your constant care and your presence with us, especially during our most vulnerable moments. Give us the strength to endure today's challenges. Amen.

Let God's Word give you the words

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

(My apologies for not getting or giving credit to whoever wrote this.)

The enemy wants nothing more than to destroy our reputation, our character, and our hope. The world attempted to do that to Jesus over 2,000 years ago, and the world is still trying to do this to Christians today. Look at what Psalm 2 says:

"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 'Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us'" (Psalm 2:1-3).

It is so important for us to be people in the Word of God. Rulers, nations, and all enemies of God want to break our bonds and tear apart the very fabric that holds us together--Jesus Christ. They desire to break off any relationship with heaven...and they want to take you down with them. They will distort everything you try to say. But let God's Word give you the words to say, and the wisdom that you give to others. The wisdom of man is foolishness, but God's Word never returns void. Keep your words few and let the love of Jesus pour through your life. Yes, the enemies will still try to catch you, but you can count on the fact that Jesus Christ will bless you abundantly for your faithfulness to His Word.

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Romans 8:14-17

Prayer: Lord, our God, throughout the ages you have demonstrated your great love for us. We thank you for the many blessings and we pray that we will be worthy of your many gifts. Amen.

Life in the Spirit

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4

Prayer: Our Lord and our God, forgive us when we turn away from you to a place that is comfortable and predictable. Give us the strength and desire to embrace change and the unknown as we follow you. Amen.

God is love...

2012-01-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

1 John 4:11-16

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, help us to know that wherever we are and whatever we do, you care more for us than we can care for ourselves. Amen.

Praise the Lord!

2012-01-07T06:00:00.002-06:00

Praise the Lord!

How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting. The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem
and bringing the exiles back to Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name.

How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! The Lord supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

Psalm 147:1-6

Prayer: O God, help us put into practice what we know and what you promised -- that no matter what happens today, we can trust you. Amen.

A Call to Repentance

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

Gather together—yes, gather together, you shameless nation. Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff. Act now, before the fierce fury of the Lord falls and the terrible day of the Lord’s anger begins. Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you— protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.

Zephaniah 2:1-3

Prayer: Dear Lord, give us the courage we need to face our own transgressions and release them back to you. Amen.

Have the Attitude of Christ

2012-01-05T06:00:00.001-06:00

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians 2:1-5

Prayer: Dear Lord God, thank you for Jesus who came to earth to experience the trials and joys of being human. Thank you for understanding us and promising to be with us in all circumstances. Amen.

Don’t just pretend

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Romans 12:9-13

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to do your will not for rewards but because it is right and good for us to do so. Amen.

The veil is taken away

2012-01-03T06:00:00.001-06:00

We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2 Corinthians 3:13-18

Prayer: Creator God, we praise you and thank you for your continual creation in our lives. Help us to be a light for those around us. Amen.

God revealed these things by his Spirit

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
      and no mind has imagined
   what God has prepared
      for those who love him."

But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

1 Corinthians 2:10-12

Prayer: When our lives seem confused, dear God, help us to see your hand at work, bringing order out of chaos. Amen.

Paul’s Final Greetings

2012-01-01T06:00:00.001-06:00

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

Prayer: Loving God, as we face a new year, help us to place our trust and confidence in you and your promise to go with us always. Amen.

Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000-06:00

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:21-24, 30

Prayer: Lord, give us wisdom and a loving heart so that at every moment of our life we will be ready for a meeting with you. Amen.

I pray that you will understand

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

For we died and were buried with Christ

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:4-11

Prayer: Gracious God, how often we must seek your forgiveness. You have blessed us in so
many ways. Bring us close to you; we long to love and serve you each day. Amen.

I know the plans...

2011-12-28T06:00:00.001-06:00

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

Prayer: Dear Lord, we find joy, comfort, and the peace which surpasses all understanding. Remember your children who seek peace but it escapes them. Lead us to a place of rest and perfect peace. Amen.

The Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.

2 Peter 3:8-15

Prayer: Dear Lord, we praise you for loving us and for calling us to serve you. We look to you for guidance, insight, and wisdom as we reach out to others. Amen.

For He Speaks Peace

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.

Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him so our land will be filled with his glory. Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!

Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.

Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest. Righteousness goes as a herald before him preparing the way for his steps.

Psalm 85:8-13

Prayer: Dear Lord, open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts so we may know your call to us and the path you would have us walk. Give us the courage to take the steps that we need to take this day. Amen.

LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS.

2011-12-25T06:00:00.011-06:00

LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS.

That is the message for all times. Love was born in the manger in Bethlehem.

May We Show Others

2011-12-24T06:00:00.005-06:00

Lord God, as we celebrate this Christmas, may we show others what you have done in sending your son to save us and to bring us peace. Amen.

Christ lives in me

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Galatians 2:20-21

Prayer: Giver of all good things, strengthen our faith in you. Amen.

A Call to Repentance

2011-12-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before.

Joel 1:12-14

Prayer: "Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved". Amen.

Listening and Doing

2011-12-21T06:00:00.002-06:00

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

James 1:19-25

Prayer: Holy yet personal God, we give thanks that you honor us by working through us. Help us to see your hand of love in our lives, and help us to faithfully follow your lead. Amen.

Christ, the Eternal Word

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:1-5

Prayer of the day:

God of love, thank you for sending Jesus to show us the way to live with you forever. Amen.

Faith and Endurance

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
James 1:2-8

Prayer of the day:

Christ who calls us sisters and brothers, hold our hand when we are in pain, distress, or need. Give us time for stillness so that we can acknowledge your blessings and peace. Amen.

Your laws are wonderful

2011-12-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

Your laws are wonderful. No wonder I obey them! The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.

I pant with expectation, longing for your commands. Come and show me your mercy,
as you do for all who love your name.

Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil. Ransom me from the oppression of evil people; then I can obey your commandments.

Look upon me with love; teach me your decrees. Rivers of tears gush from my eyes
because people disobey your instructions.

Psalm 119:129-136

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, we pray for those facing seemingly impossible and hopeless circumstances. May they find hope in your love and feel your presence today. Amen.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

2011-12-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline:

Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord’s demands. Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may be hope at last. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them and accept the insults of their enemies.

For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.

Lamentations 3:22-33

Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord, help us to trust you when we feel abandoned, lonely, or rejected. Grant us hope to see the future possibilities instead of the present disappointment and rejection. Thank you for choosing us as your own. Amen.

We know that the Son of God has come

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

1 John 5:20-21

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, grant us the wisdom to see and hear your words of instruction and the courage and confidence to act according to your will. Amen.

It is time for you to wake up from your sleep

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

There is another reason for doing what is right. You know what time it is. It is time for you to wake up from your sleep. The time when we will be taken up to be with Christ is not as far off as when we first put our trust in Him. Night is almost gone. Day is almost here. We must stop doing the sinful things that are done in the dark. We must put on all the things God gives us to fight with for the day.

Romans 13:11-12 (NLV)

Prayer of the day:

Loving God, thank you for your promise that you will be our light. Help us to focus on you in the quiet of our hearts and to return always to rest in you. Amen.

Know that I am with you

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

"Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

Genesis 28:15

Prayer of the day:

Precious Lord, you promised not to forsake us. Free us from guilt and be for us the rock of our salvation. Help us to forsake evil and do good things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

God loves us

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

1 John 4:16-17

Prayer of the day:

Living Christ, we offer to you all that we are -- our doubts and our faith. We believe; help our unbelief. Amen.

Loving One Another

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

1 John 4:9-16

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, help us to see how great your love is for us. Teach us to depend on you, to trust in you, and to treasure and proclaim your faithfulness. Amen.

The Good Shepherd

2011-12-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.

I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!

Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-16

Prayer of the day:

Dear Jesus, keep me close to you, so that I won't become lost or stray from your salvation. In your name I pray, Amen.

Christ Is Our High Priest

2011-12-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:14-16

Prayer of the day:

Forgive us, dear God, when we forget how much you love us. Keep your faithfulness to us ever sure in our hearts. Amen.

Use well what they are given...

2011-12-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
Matthew 25:29

Prayer of the day:

Dear Jesus, through your inspiration, may I do more to help than hinder your work. Amen.

For God chose to save us

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

Prayer of the day:

Our only God and Savior, hear us as we confess that salvation comes from you and from you alone. Help us to bring glory to your name so every tongue will confess you as Lord. Amen.

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
1 Peter 2:4-6

Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord, I trust the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to flow from you and give me the words and the wisdom I need to tell others about Jesus. Amen.

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.”

Psalm 122:6-8

Prayer of the day:

God our heavenly Father, abide with us in our homes, in our nation, and through all the world. Bring us your grace, mercy, and peace. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Do Not Love This World

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

1 John 2:15-17

Prayer of the day:

Gracious God, we are so thankful for all the good things in life. So much of our daily living depends upon these good things, and our receiving them depends in turn upon the work and daily life of so many other human beings. Strengthen us to do our part in resolving the world's difficult times and in easing the world's suffering. Amen.

Living in the Light

2011-12-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

1 John 1:5-10
Prayer of the day:

Dear God of light, help us want to do what you want us to do, so that our will may be yours. Amen.

Psalm 8

2011-12-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8
Prayer of the day:

Awesome God, we are overcome by the depth of your knowledge and wisdom. Each day we marvel at the beauty of the earth and the love of humanity. Give us the consciousness to nurture the earth and to live at peace with all races, with our inner being, and with you. Amen.

Hope in the Lord’s Faithfulness

2011-12-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

The Day of the Lord Is Coming

2011-12-01T06:00:00.001-06:00

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

2 Peter 3:8-13

Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord, keep us faithful until the day we see you in all your glory, face to face. Help us to never tire of waiting or doing what we have been commissioned to do. In Christ's name. Amen.

Learn to do right...

2011-11-30T06:00:00.001-06:00

Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 1:16-20
Prayer of the day:

Thank you, dear God, for providing us with second chances. Amen.

Living in the Light

2011-11-29T06:00:00.001-06:00

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

Ephesians 5:1-2, 10-14

Prayer of the day:

Loving God, teach us to focus on the joy of your presence now. Then accept our gratitude for the everlasting joy we will have in eternity with you. Amen.

Spiritual Blessings

2011-11-28T06:00:00.001-06:00

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 1:3-8

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, as our paths become rugged or plain, we trust you to bring us to the place you have prepared. Thank you for your faithfulness in us. Amen.

Growing in Faith

2011-11-27T06:00:00.001-06:00

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

2 Peter:3-7

Prayer of the day:

Lord, you direct our lives and bring us peace. We give you thanks for another day of worship and praise. May this day set the tone as we worship together in thanksgiving. Amen.

But you are a chosen people...

2011-11-25T06:00:00.001-06:00

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10

Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord, thank you for the great love you show us from day to day. Grant that through your strength and mercy we will grow in your grace and speak of your love to all people. Amen.

See how very much our Father loves us...

2011-11-24T06:00:00.001-06:00

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

1 John 3:1-3
Prayer of the day:

Jesus, you save and bless the children of the entire world. Give us an open heart for them as they strive to find their place in this world. Amen.

God has given each of you a gift

2011-11-23T06:00:00.003-06:00

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

1 Peter 4:7-11

Prayer of the Day:

O God, forgive us for being concerned only about our own growth and maturity as believers. Show us how we can help our sisters and brothers move toward the finish line. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days...

2011-11-22T06:00:00.002-06:00

For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

1 Peter 3:10-12

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, help us to follow Jesus' example as we study the scriptures and apply their truth every day. Amen

He is your example...

2011-11-21T06:00:00.002-06:00

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.

He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.

He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.

By his wounds you are healed.

Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

1 Peter 2:21-25

Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord, Hold us close to your heart, and teach us your loving ways. Amen.

Consider...

2011-11-20T06:00:00.002-06:00

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this:
Wisdom preserves those who have it.

Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

Ecclesiastes 7:8-14

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, thank you for giving us your light to guide us. Help us to trust you more and more to see the way ahead. Amen.

Keep away from worldly desires

2011-11-19T06:00:00.002-06:00

Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

1 Peter 2:11-12

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, help each of us to be the face of Christ to all the people you bring into our life. Amen.

Living Stones for God’s House

2011-11-18T06:00:00.002-06:00

You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,

chosen for great honor,

and anyone who trusts in him

will never be disgraced.”

1 Peter 2:4-6

Prayer of the day:

Thank you, Lord, that our relationship with you can sustain us through whatever life brings. Amen.

Your new life will last forever

2011-11-17T06:00:00.002-06:00

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say,

“People are like grass;

their beauty is like a flower in the field.

The grass withers and the flower fades.

But the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:23-25
Prayer of the day:

Dear God, enfold us even when we tend to stray from your presence. Let us be always willing to repent for our sins and seek your forgiveness. Prepare us to seek the truth of your word and to walk humbly in your presence. Amen.

A New Heaven and a New Earth

2011-11-16T06:00:00.002-06:00

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Revelation 21:1-6

Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord, as your still small voice talks to us each day, please open our ears to hear and guide us to the places that we are needed. Amen.

The Hope of Eternal Life

2011-11-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

1 Peter 1:3-5

Prayer of the day:

Savior of the world, you suffered for our redemption. Mold our wandering hearts to draw near to you and open our eyes to the work of your salvation. Amen.

A Prayer of Praise

2011-11-14T06:00:00.001-06:00

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
Jude 1:24-25

Prayer of the day:

Our life, our faith, and our strength belong to you, Lord. We can do nothing without you. When we are overcome by illness or distress you stretch out your hand of mercy to us. Give us the strength to accept all you offer and make us willing to give our all in return. Amen.

Restore Wandering Believers

2011-11-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

James 5:19-20

Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord, may I help one more person to find you. Amen.

Patience

2011-11-12T06:00:00.001-06:00

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

James 5:7-8

Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord, grant us wisdom and patience with others. May our words and actions reflect your love. Amen.

Humble yourselves before God

2011-11-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

James 4:7-10

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, grant that we may always hunger for you and allow you to feed us. Amen.

It is God’s will...

2011-11-10T06:00:00.001-06:00

It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.

1 Peter 2:15-17
Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord, allow us to trust in your authority. You are our shepherd and you care for your flock. Help us to rely on your plans for our good. Amen.

True Wisdom Comes from God

2011-11-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 3:13-18

Prayer of the day:

Your word reminds us "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God". In all that we do today help us to be a reflection of you. Amen.

Teach me your decrees...

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart.

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you. Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good. I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness.

Psalm 119:33-40

Prayer of the day:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we seek you in the dark of night and in the light of day. We long for you to fill our hearts with your love and peace. Amen.

Let Me Reveal To You A Wonderful Secret

2011-11-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.

1 Corinthians 15:50-56

Prayer of the day:

Keeper of our lives, center our hearts on the hope of your glory. Show us the vision of your kingdom and give us the confidence that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Faith Without Good Deeds Is Dead

2011-11-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

James 2:14-17

Prayer of the day:

Help us, Lord, to learn from you so that we will be better able to share your love with others. Amen.

Open my eyes to see

2011-11-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word. Open my eyes to see
the wonderful truths in your instructions.

I am only a foreigner in the land. Don’t hide your commands from me! I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations.

Psalm 119:17-20

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, use us for your purposes, both great and small. Create your great works both in us and through us. Amen.

Shout His Praise !!!

2011-11-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord, for he is coming!

He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth.

Psalm 96:11-13

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, fill our hearts with praise for your honor and majesty. Let us share our amazement for the healing and health that you provide. Amen.

God’s Discipline Proves His Love

2011-11-03T06:00:00.002-05:00

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong

Hebrews 12:10-13

Prayer of the day:

Creator God, thank you for watching over our first steps and for inviting us to follow your path of peace and justice. Amen

Joyful are people....

2011-11-02T06:00:00.002-05:00

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.

You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!

I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!

Psalm 119:1-8

Prayer of the day:

Great God of all, we strive to do what is right and just. We long to worship and serve you. Search our hearts and souls and find us acceptable in your sight. Through Christ our Savior. Amen.

Listening and Doing

2011-11-01T06:00:00.001-05:00

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

James 1:19-27

Prayer of the day:

Forgiving God, we turn from our sins to face you. Allow our repentance to bear the fruit of salvation. Make us truly worthy of your love and grace. Amen.

This is the Lord’s doing

2011-10-31T06:00:00.001-05:00

The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

We bless you from the house of the Lord.

Psalm 118:22-26

Prayer of the day:

Sustaining God, as we serve you, keep us zealous and ardent in our spirit. Keep the whole of our hearts focused on you. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Is anything worth more than your soul?

2011-10-30T06:00:00.001-05:00

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Mark 8:34-37

Prayer of the day:

Dear God, thank you once again for bringing Jesus into my life, so that I may be close to you. Help me to make good choices that will bring me even closer to you. In Jesus name, Amen.

A Psalm of David

2011-10-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
For the honor of your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins. Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land.

The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

Psalm 25:8-15

Prayer of the day:

Lord, thank you for the Ten Commandments and for Jesus Christ, who shows us the way. Help us to obey your word and to follow you and you alone. Amen.

A Psalm of David

2011-10-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.

Psalm 25:4-7
Prayer of the day:

Dear God, we turn to you to safely guide us. Help us to discern your will and to follow it. Amen.

A Warning Against Prejudice

2011-10-27T17:28:00.000-05:00

1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

⁵ Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?

¹⁰ For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.

12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

James 2:1,5,10,12-13

Prayer of the day:

Serving God, as Jesus came not to be served but to serve, you call us to serve one another regardless of our status in life. Help us to love as he has loved us and to serve as he has served us. In his name. Amen.

Your Kingdom Is An Everlasting Kingdom

2011-10-27T06:00:00.002-05:00

All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.

For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.

I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.

Psalm 145:10-21

Prayer of the day:

Almighty God, our Savior and King, help us to see your beauty and majesty. Purify us with the hope and promise of your presence. Amen

2011-10-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

James 1:12-18

Prayer of the day:

Most loving Lord and God, receive our souls which we lift up to you. Guard the trust that we place in you. Help us to endure temptation so we can receive your crown of life. Amen.

Faith and Endurance

2011-10-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

James 1:2-8

Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord, feed us with knowledge and understanding so we might go forth into the world and proclaim the good news. This we pray with joyful hearts. Amen.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever

2011-10-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace,....
Hebrews 13:7-9

Prayer of the day:

You call us to follow you in a small, still voice. Let us proclaim aloud and to all that you are our Lord, our Savior, and our Redeemer, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Listen To The One Who Is Speaking

2011-10-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.
Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.

Hebrews 12:25-29

Prayer of the day:

God of all, both rich and poor, strong and weak, strengthen us and give us courage to look out for the needy and seek justice for the poor. Let us inherit the kingdom of God. Amen.

A Call to Listen to God

2011-10-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Hebrews 12:14-15

Prayer of the day:

Our loving God, help us to see and celebrate all the good in the world, and to join in such efforts whenever we can. Amen.

I love the Lord...

2011-10-21T06:00:00.003-05:00

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save me!” How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours!

The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. He has saved me from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!

Psalm 116:1-9

Prayer of the day:

Dear Lord of light, shine into all our darkness of grief, loss, frustration, and helplessness. Light up our lives with faith and hope. We pray in the name of Jesus, the light of the world. Amen.