The Godly Woman

Want to find a really good woman or be that really good women? Look for one who honors and reveres the LORD with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength. As a woman chose to honor the Lord with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength. Appearance, physical strength, and even personality can change and degrade. A woman whose heart is anchored and enlivened by the presence of God in her life will be a life-long blessing and a woman worthy of our praise, and the praise of her God.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

— Proverbs 31:30

Dear Lord once again, we want to thank you for the important women in our life who helped shape our faith and who helped us find our way to you. Please help us to value godly women in ways that bless them, honor you, and build up your Church. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Suffering for Christ

Suffer! How is suffering a privilege? It's not unless it is for Jesus. Remember how the early apostles were joyful because they were counted worthy to suffer for the name? You see, he suffered for us so we could be saved. When we face suffering for the cause of Christ and his Kingdom, we help inspire others to live faithfully in adversity and show to all the genuineness of our faith. So few have anything worthy of their living, dying, or suffering. We have reason for all three: our lives will be caught up in Jesus' victory!

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him .…

— Philippians 1:29

Dear Lord make us courageous, O God! Help us to be faithful in times of trouble and strong in times of persecution, hardship, and suffering. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Remembering the godly women in our life

When's the last time you praised a godly woman for her life of faith and grace? Why not take time to write a note or two of appreciation and thanks to several of these women today. Where would we be today without the faithfulness of godly women? I can't imagine, and don't want to! Let's tell them today how precious they are to us and our faith. I want to take a minute and say how precious and loving my wife is. If it wasn’t for my wife Becky I wouldn’t be the man I am today. Thank you Becky for encouragement and support you are to me.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

— Proverbs 31:28-29

Dear Lord, we thank you for the godly women who have shaped our life’s and helped us have faith ... God, we thank you for the great women of faith in Scripture who did so much for your people. Help us, your Church, your children of faith, to find every way possible to show these great ladies how much they mean to us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

No greater love

Let's live as if we've been redeemed! Let's show our love and character in our daily lives. Let's especially work together, with one voice and spirit, making a vigorous effort to share the Gospel with those who have never heard of the grace of God in the ministry of Jesus. In the face of opposition, let's not be deterred or divided. Instead, let's work hand-in-hand for the cause of the Gospel.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God.

— Philippians 1:27-28

Dear LORD, give us greater unity of purpose, greater love for each other, and greater courage in the face of opposition so that we can show the world that we are your children and Jesus' disciples. In Jesus name, Amen.

We can be Victors

Because of the LORD God's grace and power, we will be victors. This is the final message of Revelation. It is the song that is sung throughout the Scriptures. This is the assurance that we have from God himself. Our lives will not be lived in vain. Those who berate, belittle, and batter God's people will be exposed and his beloved children, his saints of light, will receive vindication and salvation from the Father they love.

"No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.

— Isaiah 54:17

Dear Lord we pray especially today for your servants who are sharing the Gospel in difficult places. Some of these precious ones are imprisoned. Some are facing torture. Some face firing in their workplaces. Please give them strength today. Please deliver them from the evil one's vile intent. Protect them by your mighty hand and deliver them, like Daniel, from the lion's mouth to your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

What's In your Sponge?

There are 5 sponges laying on your kitchen counter top. Each member of your family has been cleaning up different areas of your home, but all the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what was cleaned in your home, but you can't tell by looking...they all look the same....so what do you do?

You squeeze each sponge to see what comes out. As you squeeze the first sponge, you see that cola comes out, and so you decide that someone cleaned the kitchen with that one. Upon squeezing the second sponge, you find tub and tile cleaner - that one was used to clean the bathroom.

Next, in the third sponge, you find motor oil -- hubby was cleaning the garage!

In the fourth sponge, baby powder puffs out when it is squeezed -- yep, the baby's nursery was done with that one!

And finally, in the last one, is floor wax -- that was the one you used on the hall floor!

As you lay the last one down, you look again at their similarity - and they all look the same until they're squeezed.

Christians are the same way. As life squeezes us, different things come out - anger from one, a need for revenge from another, tears from one, remorse from yet another - also greed, untruth, lust - and finally, from one saint, pours forth the love of Christ.

Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in - stay in the Word daily, and be in continuous prayer, so that when life puts the squeeze on you (and it WILL), Jesus, and Jesus ALONE will shine forth from you!

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:9-11

Dear Lord we pray that we would always remember to take the time to read your word and apply its lessons to our life. We thank you for the words you have given to us that lead and guide us to be the people you would have us to be. In Jesus name, Amen

When we stumble God is there

Who has stumbled sometime during your life? I know I have tripped at some of the most embarrassing moments. I've stumbled over my own feet, shoelaces, curbs, and just pure air -- both spiritually and physically. However, I am confident that in my spiritual life, even though I have stumbled from time to time, God has not let me completely fall. When I think I'm going to plunge into the depths of the abyss, the Father's love, care, concern, Scriptures, Holy Spirit, servants, and helpers have kept me from destruction. God's hand does uphold me. He is there in times of trial. He has been mighty to save. I do believe that he delights in my journey. How about you?

If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
— Psalm 37:23-24

O Father, thank you for your steadying influence in our life. Thank you for lifting us when we have been down, protecting us when we have been vulnerable, and comforting us when we have been broken. We praise you for your grace, your glory, and your nearness. In Jesus name, Amen.

The Lord WILL...

Love the LORD! Be strong because of your hope in the LORD. In other words, recognize where your strength is. Acknowledge your source of grace. Give praise to God for his abundant mercy and power lavished on us through his Holy Spirit. The LORD God does preserve his people. He does honor faithfulness even if it is mocked in this world. The LORD will bless his people and deal justly with those who mock and abuse them.

Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

— Psalm 31:23-24

Dear LORD, for we find ourself in trying times with enemies at our door and opponents on every side. Please give us wisdom to see your grace that leads us. Please give us courage to stand up for what is right, pure, and holy. Please give us a vision to see the things you want to use us to do for your glory. Please keep our hope passionately alive as we wait for your work in us to be accomplished. In Jesus' name. Amen.

A prayer for our Nations

As we start Thanksgiving week here in the United States and think about how God’s hand was in everything. I read a great prayer last week from one of the greatest men of God that has ever lived, Dr Billy Graham.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Truth.......from a man the media has never been able to throw dirt on..amazing!!
SUCH GREAT WORDS OF WISDOM & PRAYER
He has certainly hit the "world" on the head!!

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics.. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'

Kingdom Dream

What grand "Kingdom dreams" do you have for God's glory? What incredible ideas can you imagine requesting that God would bring to pass? What are your expectations of heaven with God? Now that you have stretched mind, challenged your imagination, and loaded up your expectations, are you ready for some down to earth truth straight from the Marvel of heaven? God is able to do far more than any of that. His power is at work in us to do his glorious will and accomplish his eternal purposes. So let's not set our sights too low and expect too little. Live for his glory and expect to see it at work in your life.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
— Ephesians 3:20-21

Dear Lord, God of heavens and earth, please stir our thoughts by your Spirit to dream bigger dreams and have higher hopes than our earthbound and selfish brain can imagine. Give us a sense of wonder and expectation as I live for your glory. In Jesus name. Amen.

The peace of the Holy Spirit's presence

God is our comforter, sustainer, and Lord. Only his gracious presence and tender blessings can bring consolation and comfort to our restless and discouraged souls. So let's turn to him, honestly confessing both our sins and our sorrows. Let's ask him to take our anxiety away and restore to us the passion, the joy, and the confidence of our salvation.

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

— Psalm 94:19

Dear Lord, in the noise and confusion of many thoughts burdened by many concerns, please minister to us through your Holy Spirit. We need your comfort and peace. We ask for your presence and your grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Our responsibilites with our spiritual family

"Make every effort!" That's quite a challenge. But notice where that exertion is to be focused: peace and mutual edification. Both sides of this exhortation are two way responsibilities. I must pursue and share peace if I am going to have it myself. I must edify, and be open to being edified, if mutual edification is going to happen. In other words, we live with other people in God's family. He wants us to be responsible for making relationships work in our spiritual family. He reminds us it will require strenuous effort. But, isn't that true in every family relationship? Love means sacrifice, effort, and concern for others. When we share our love willingly, however, we're much more likely to see it coming back to us!

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

— Romans 14:19

Dear Lord, forgive us for our impatience and selfishness. Defeat the bad attitude of competitiveness that we often display in arguments and disagreements with others in your family. Energize us by your Spirit to see areas where we can be a blessing and an encouragement to others. In Jesus' name. Amen

Growing in our walk with the Lord

Where do you need to grow in your walk with the Lord? How about keeping the tandem targets of grace and knowledge together as your goal. So often we pursue one or the other. But something seems to come unhinged in our soul when either of those becomes more important than the other. Let's keep grace and knowledge together because we see them together in our Savior.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

— 2 Peter 3:18

Dear Lord, we want to grow to be more like Jesus. We know we cannot do that without your Spirit's power and our heart's desire. In addition, dear Father, we want to grow in being a gracious person. We want to know and experience Jesus' presence in our life. Please bless us as we strive toward this goal. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God is with us

God is with us! That's the great message of the story of Jesus. That's the message of hope Zephaniah gives the defeated people of God. God is among us. He is mighty to save. He loves us. He delights in us. He stills the storms of our hearts with his loving touch. He sings us lullabies of joy. God longs to be close to us and invites us to draw near. What will your response be?

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
— Zephaniah 3:17

Dear Lord strengthen our resolve as we turn away from evil and seek to draw near to you. We don't want any imitation relationship with you. We don't want some artificial symbol of you. We want to know you. We want to experience your presence and to be used as your tool of grace in the lives of others. Thank you for being near. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Doing what God wants you to do

The Lord is really working on my heart to become the man He wants me to be. As I work on doing that please pray for me as I will be praying for each of you. Together we can become what God has for each of us.
Want to know something you can do that will please God? Rejoice in his grace. Pray for others. Give thanks for your blessings. Reach out to others and show His love.

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Dear Lord we are thrilled at the very thought of being your child. Abba Father, please hear our prayer of concern for people who are on our heart today ... Loving God, thank you so much for the blessings you pour into our life each day. In Jesus name. Amen.

Making an impact

We were challenged today at church to make an impact for Christ. I pray that the Lord will use me to make an impact. I want more then anything to be used by God. I pray each day that God will take the words I type and He will use them to help myself as well as others.

Faith in Jesus is the absolutely crucial response to God's grace and is such a life-transforming blessing. For the jailer, faith meant hearing the gospel of Jesus as Lord and responding by believing that message, being baptized immediately, demonstrating a life change, and sharing in fellowship with other believers. Imagine going from being the jailer over men to washing their wounds in your own home! Think about being responsible for the painful incarceration of men, then having these men baptize you and your family that same night! Imagine locking in chains men who would later sit at your table sharing a meal! Isn't God incredible! Isn't his grace indescribable! No wonder we rejoice when those who are lost truly believe! Life is forever different

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
— Acts 16:30-32

Dear Lord thank you for the surprises you have brought to us by your grace. Please bless us as we try to share your grace by presenting the Gospel of Jesus this week to those we love. In the name of the Jesus I pray. Amen.

Thou shall not Judge

Paul is talking about passing judgment on folks in matters that are central to our faith. He reminds us whose job it is to judge these sorts of matters. He also reminds us that the person we are judging actually belongs to the Lord and what right do we have to pass judgment on that person. So often we can find fault with others, pass judgment on them about some inconsequential matter, but then never deal with the blatant sin in our own life. Let's remember that we will answer to God for what we do every bit as much as someone we are wrongly passing judgment upon.

Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
— Romans 14:4

Dear Lord, forgive us. We confess that we have wrongly passed judgment on others when we had no right or authority to do so. We know Jesus died to redeem them. We know you love them and have a plan for each of them. Please use us to be an encouragement, never a stumbling block, to them. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Stop passing judgement

It is so easy to be judgmental of others. We don't know their struggles. We don't know their situation. Most of all, we don't know their hearts. When we are judgmental, we erect a barrier between others and ourselves. We often spread that judgmental impression to others in gossip. Our stubbornness to only view them with a judgmental spirit erects a barrier, a stumbling block, which can cause them to become discouraged and stumble.

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
— Romans 14:13

Dear Lord please be with our attitude toward others. Help us be more patient with the failures of others, just as you are patient with ours. Forgive us for not being more of an encouragement to those who are weak and struggling. Forgive us for sometimes being a hindrance to others. Please use us to be a blessing. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God is Love

God is love. God is also the source of love. He pours love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. So how do we make our churches, our families, our small groups, and communities more loving? We pray for God to grow the love in those in groups, let them know that we are praying that prayer for them, then communicate and demonstrate our love to those very same groups.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
— 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Dear Lord use us to help be an example of love to those around us. Please pour your love into our heart through your Spirit and then channel that love out of our life to others. Please help the loving spirit grow more and more, not just to each other, but also to those around us who are not part of your Kingdom. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Christian brothers and sisters

Our life in Christ is such a blessing! We welcome new Christians into our fellowship to share that blessing. We don't bring them in to scrutinize their past failures or the current struggles, but to bring them into the love of God's family. God has welcomed us graciously and compassionately. Let's do the same with new Christians.

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
— Romans 14:1

Father, please make us more understanding and patient with our brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those who are new Christians. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Following Christ

To follow Christ means that we give up everything and follow Him. To follow Christ means that we receive untold blessings in this life and eternal life with God in the life to come. So is it hard? Yes, sometimes it is. But life is hard. Is the burden light as Jesus promised? Yes, because we know our lives are not lived in vain, that we are living life as God intended it, and when life is over, it isn't really over! We get to go home and be with our Lord!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
— Matthew 11:28-30

Dear Lord give us courage to follow you, O God, to face the challenges that we must confront. Give us charity to deal appropriately with those we meet. Give us thankfulness for all that you have done to bless us. Give us clarity to see that living for Jesus is the best of all choices. In Jesus name, Amen.

Giving the best gift to God

Honoring God comes first in everything. We shouldn't give him the last, the least, or the leftovers. He gave us His best, most precious, and most perfect of gifts -- His Son Jesus. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! How could we give Him anything less than our best, our first, and our most precious?

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops…
— Proverbs 3:9

Dear Lord, thank you for every good and perfect gift you have lavished upon us. Please accept the offering of our heart which we freely give to you. Soften it and make it gracious and generous like you. We commit to give you and your work in the world, my first and best. In Jesus' name. Amen.

We belong to the Lord

We are the Lord's. He bought us out of bondage to sin and death. We have voluntarily placed our lives in His hands. No matter what we do or where we go, His grace goes with us. He has promised to never leave us. He has assured us that nothing can separate us from his love. So let's live with a sense of excited anticipation, looking to see where the Lord will lead us. Let us face difficulty, and even death, with the assurance that we will not face tough times alone. Even in the shadow of death, we don't have to fear what the evil can do. We are the Lord's.

If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
— Romans 14:8

Dear Lord, thank you for sending your Son to redeem us. We thank you for coming to earth, paying the price for our sin, and sending the Holy Spirit to be your presence in us. Take our life and use it to your glory. May our faith not fail in the face of life's worst challenges. We pray that whether we live or we die that you be glorified in us. In Jesus' name. Amen

God loves a cheerful giver

God is working in us to conform our character and will to be like his own. God is a giver. God finds delight in generously blessing us. Now he asks us to do the same. Giving is not some arbitrary task given us to support our churches and ministries; no, giving is part of our character transformation to become more like God. It may be one of the truest ways we have placed our allegiance, dependence, and priorities in the gracious work of God.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
— 2 Corinthians 9:7

Dear Lord forgive us for the times we have been selfish with the abundance you have shared with us. Make us a conduit of blessings. I know that all we have is yours. Please help us use it as you would. In Jesus' name. Amen.

We can have confidence

How can we be confident in what happens today? What is our assurance for tomorrow? Where do we muster excitement about eternity? The Lord is our helper! Fear will not be our master because our future, our destiny, our eternity rest in the hands of the eternal Lord. The worst that man can do is to send me home to my Lord

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
— Hebrews 13:6

Dear Lord, we place our trust in you. As the Alpha and Omega, we trust you for all our tomorrows and place our trust and dependence in you for today. In Jesus' name Amen.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Paul reminds us that our baptism was more than just a dunking in water. In baptism, we shared in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. What he did to save us is now shared with us. We die to sin and are raised to be a new person, cleansed and made holy, empowered by the Holy Spirit. We have been set free from the power and the penalty of sin.

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin...
— Romans 6:5-6

Dear Lord, thank you for giving us new life in Jesus. We are truly thankful that our guilt is covered by your grace. We ask for the power to live our life of freedom from sin. Forgive us for our times of mediocrity and flirtation with sin. Give us a strong sense of revulsion toward anything that would pollute our soul or distract our heart from your will. In Jesus name. Amen.

Victory over sin

Jesus' resurrection was just the beginning! His resurrection means that those of us who have faith in him, who trust in the Father that raised him from the dead, can have confidence that those who belong to him, whether they are living or dead when he comes, will also share in his victory over death.

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
— 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the victory over sin and death in Jesus. We know that just as you raised him from the dead, you will also raise us up at the great day of Jesus' return. Please use that resurrection power in us to help us live more victoriously today. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Sin doesn't have to control us

Jesus did what we could not do; he lived perfectly before God. He showed that sin isn't a necessity in our lives and that it does not have to hold us captive. He poured out his Spirit on us so that we could not only share in his forgiveness and cleansing grace, but also so that we could have power to live in a way that pleases God. Jesus is our sin offering and our Savior.

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
— Romans 8:3-4

Dear Lord thanks for providing the sacrifice for our sin. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being willing to pay the awful price to ransom us from that sin. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for living in us and empowering us to live for God. Thank you, O God, for your salvation! In Jesus' name, Amen.

In God we Trust

"In God we trust." That's the phrase written on much of the money in the United States. It's a great reminder. The financial climate goes up and down, always vulnerable to instability in the world. Only God is our refuge and fortress during the storms of life. He is eternal. He desires to bless us. He has earned our trust.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
— Psalm 91:2

Dear Lord we are so thankful that we can trust our life with you. Mold us and use us in ways that are a blessing to others. You are our source of security and strength. Please continue to make your presence known in our life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Don't worry about tomorrow

Humility about the future! We don't control tomorrow. At other times in our lives we may have taken tomorrow for granted; not so anymore. Tomorrow may not come. Tomorrow something horrible could happen. Tomorrow everything we possess could be gone. In the face of these discouraging possibilities, is there anything positive we can hold onto? Absolutely! We know that God holds tomorrow in his hands. We know that because our life is hidden with Christ in God our tomorrow is secure. It might not be what we expect. It might not go as we planned. But, it will go as God determines and it will end up with us sharing in his comfort, victory, and glory.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
— Proverbs 27:1

Dear Lord our tomorrows all rest in your hands. We ask that we can be useful to you today; courageous enough not to worry about tomorrow, and loyal enough to not waver in our love for you and our commitment to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.