Worth It

Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.
Proverbs 14:4 NLT

It takes a lot of work to get a stable clean - mucking and raking on a daily basis and power-washing, disinfecting... There's a true sense of accomplishment in getting it done. However, there's no time to stand back and enjoy the look of it because the animal will go back in, and then all the mucking and raking will have to be done again on the morrow. The irony is if you want a stable and you want it to stay clean, you can't have animals. What use is that? The reward of your labor in caring for the animals is more than compensated for in the harvest results. It is worth it. 

By the same token, if we want a harvest of souls, there will be less-than-pleasant aspects of gathering them into the Kingdom. Discipleship isn't easy - for the disciple or for the one doing the discipling. Ask Jesus... He said nevertheless, we're worth it. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Give us Your eyes so we have the proper perspective for our journey with You. Help us to see past all the distractions to the heart of the matter. Give us a fresh anointing of compassion, mercy and grace for those within our reach. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

To Fulfill

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:31-32 NLT

Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, not once, but three times, and He had already prayed - interceded with the Father on his behalf - that Peter's faith would not fail. Jesus knew Peter would beat himself up over it. The guilt and shame would be overwhelming. 

He knew that Peter wrestled with his flesh and manly pride, but He also knew Peter's heart. It was Peter who had declared with deep conviction, "You are the Christ! The Son of the living God!" 

Jesus knew Peter would fall, yet He foretold His love and grace when He said, so when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers... Jesus fully expected Peter to fulfill God's purpose for his life.

We have all fallen at one time or another. What have we done with it? Have we stayed buried under the guilt and shame? Have we deemed ourselves unworthy of fulfilling God's plan and purpose for us? No. NO. NO! Christ is ever interceding for us at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34). Right this minute, Jesus is pleading in prayer for us, that our faith should not fail. So when we have repented and turned to Him yet again, we are to strengthen those around us. Go ye therefore...

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your love and grace. Thank You that Your Son is ever interceding for us, praying for us. Thank You for Your strength and wisdom that You so freely give to us. We want to fulfill Matthew 28:19-20, to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And to teach these new disciples to obey all the commands You have given us, knowing that You will keep Your promise to be with us always. Help us, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Make it Better

Don't spend all of your time thinking about eating or drinking or worrying about life. If you do, the final day will suddenly catch you like a trap. This day will surprise everyone on earth. Watch out and keep praying that you can escape all that is going to happen and that the Son of Man will be pleased with you.
Luke 21:34-36 CEB

How easy it is to get caught up in the day-to-day distractions. I cannot tell you how many conversations in the last few weeks I've had with Christians who are worried about the what-ifs of life. Things that could happen if or might happen if, but have no certainty of happening, and yet we spend precious time and energy trying to conquer any and all potential contingencies. To put it plainly, we worry.

It's surprising to discover how many people believe it is their "job" to worry. That's one of satan's great deceptions - as though worrying about something will make it better. No, it won't. When we choose to worry about things, it means we don't trust God. Praying and believing about it will make it better. Giving it to God and seeking His wisdom will make it better. Trusting the Lord to be ALL that He has promised is faith. Trust and faith will make it better.

The less time we spend caught up in the day-to-day distractions, the more time we have to spend with God. The more time we have to watch and pray. The more time we have to prepare ourselves and those within our realm of influence for the Day of His return. THAT'S when and where we want to be caught up - with HIM.

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray from the Psalms, Satisfy us each morning with Your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let our children see Your glory. This we declare about You, Lord: You alone are our refuge, our place of safety; You are our God, and we trust You. 

           We stand on Your promise that You will rescue those who love You. You will protect those who trust in Your Name. You will answer us and be with us when we're in trouble. You have promised to rescue and honor us.  And also to reward us with a long life and give us Your salvation. We trust You, Lord.  We lay down every worry and what-if of doubt. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Pursuit of Happiness

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord. They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation. They exult in your righteousness. You are their glorious strength. It pleases you to make us strong. Yes, our protection comes from the Lord, and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.

Psalm 89:15-18 NLT

I find it interesting that mankind generally believes its pursuit of happiness is its right and is generally accepted to mean 'whatever gives me pleasure". That's not what the Word of God says. And if we deep dive into history, we'll find that's not what the forefathers meant, either. (Stay with me, I'm not trying to "Americanize" God's Word - we know His Word is to all people.)

In his Commentaries on the Laws of England which are often cited in the laws of the United States, Sir William Blackstone argues that God "has so intimately connected, so inseparably interwoven the laws of eternal justice [from the Bible] with the happiness of each individual, that the latter [individual's happiness] cannot be attained but by observing the former [the Bible]; and, if the former [the Bible] be punctually obeyed, it cannot [help] but induce the latter [Individual's happiness]."1 

Here is what is promised in our pursuit of true happiness - to those who hear the joyful call to worship: 

We will walk in the light of God's presence. 

We rejoice all day long in God's wonderful reputation. 

We exult in God's righteousness. 

God is our glorious strength. 

It pleases God to make us strong. 

Our protection comes from the Lord, and He has given us our King.

We give no eternal allegiance to any man or woman - only God. We don't have to stress over any man or woman's inability to lead. (We are instructed to pray for them!) 

We are free to pursue our happiness in the One who never lies, never abandons us, the One who does not change. The One who loves us so much that He gave His only Son for the redemption of our sins so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life. So we are free to pursue Him.

Prayer:

Father, 

         We pray as Paul prayed in Ephesians 3, that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit; that Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him; that our roots will grow down into God’s love and keep us strong. And may we have the power to understand, as all Your people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully so that we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

1 Blackstone, William (1765). "Section the Second: Of the Nature of Laws in General". Commentaries on the Laws of England. Claredon Press. pg. 40. OCLC 65350522U.

NOTE: Mom's sick

 Hello, Folks

This is Andréa's daughter. Mom spent the evening in the ER. They determined she has an infection, but praise God, did not need to admit her. Please pray for her quick and total healing. Thanks! I'm sure she'll be back soon!

Not a One

And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.
Joshua 21:45 NLT

Remember this Truth found in Numbers 23:19? God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Not one. Not a single promise was left unfulfilled.

In these crazy times of uncertainty, we can rest secure in whatever the Lord has promised according to His Word. Think about it. Just the 'Fear Nots' and the promises to never leave or forsake us - those alone are security the world cannot offer! Take the time - MAKE the time - to search out His many promises to His children. Then we can also live in the peace that He promised.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your Word - what a precious gift to us! Give us understanding as we read and study. Help us to grow deep roots of faith. Write Your Word deep upon our hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

For Such a Time as This

However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
Mark 13:32 NLT

The Bible makes it clear that no one knows when the last day will be except God; even, Jesus chose not to tap into that side of His divinity when asked in Mark 13:32. It was not important for the disciples to know the exact date, just as it is not important for us to know the exact date. The information we need to live godly lives and spread the gospel has been revealed in God's Word. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." The Holy Spirit gives us the strength we need each day to accomplish the tasks and opportunities before us. Though we don't know the exact date or need to know it, we can still pray about various aspects of the end times. There's so much we can be praying for...

Guest author: Meg Bucher

Father,
           You go before us. You are the God of our past and our present. By Your hand we were all created for unique purpose to be realized in the days of our lives on this earth. Though we have no way of knowing what is coming our way, we are guaranteed that life this side of heaven will be hard. We know we have an enemy set to destroy us. Give us the boldness we need to operate in the power of Your Holy Spirit, to discern the lies of the enemy and recall and remember the truths in Your Word.
            Jesus is the story of our salvation. There in the beginning with You, Father, and now seated at Your right hand. You pray for us, and never leave us. Jesus, empower us by Your grace to love the people in our lives well, even though the ways of the world are pushing against us. Our mistakes are rampant. We’re not getting it right all of the time. We’re succumbing to pride and discord, when You set an example of and commanded us to love above all else.
            Holy Spirit, stir conviction in our souls like never before. Give us lessons in humility, coach us in encouragement, and mentor us in peaceably and gracefully asserting our faith into the brokenness of this world. Infuse a durability in us that is unworldly. Bless our lives to persevere, and to run the race marked out for us with full steam to the very end. Until the tape breaks and we’re called home. In Jesus’ Name,  Amen.