THE FOUR BLESSED LOOKS

Look back and "Thank" God.
Look forward and "Trust" God.
Look around and "Serve" God.
Look within and "Find" God!"

"I asked God, 'How do I get the best out of life?'
God said, 'Face your past without regrets.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear!'"

"Without God, our week is:
Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday, Shatterday and Sinday.
So, allow Him to be with you every day!"

"Life is short, so forgive quickly.
Believe slowly.. Love truly.
Laugh uncontrollably. Never regret anything that makes you happy.
And have a wonderful journey!!

You will overcome in the end

Negative situations are NOT PERMANENT, so why should you allow your mind to be ruled by them?

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ROMANS 8:38, 39

AS YOU READ these powerful words from Romans 8 keep in mind they came from the apostle Paul. Consider his life experience as expressed through the Book of Acts, and you realize that this was a man who was tested by adversity and negative situations on a grand scale.He suffered at every level a person can suffer both from those outside the church as well as from some inside the church. Having faced the worst Paul refused to allow these situations to rule his life because he knew that however much they might affect his life they could not separate him from the love of God.

Your overcoming strength in life is that God is for you and that your risen Lord and Savior has opened the door to His love and care that cannot be shut by anyone or anything else.


You will overcome in the end. Have a Thoughtful Tuesday

THE LORD'S BASEBALL GAME

Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate named 'Love.' Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because " Love never fails."


The next batter was named Faith , who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom . Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.


Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan throws .

The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace .. Freddy said, "He sure doesn't look like much!"

Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace ..
Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.


He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground;


the roaring crowds went wild as the ball continued over the fence . . . for a home run!



The Lord's team won!

The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love , Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but couldn't win the game. Freddy answered that he didn't know why.

The Lord explained, "If your love , faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love , Faith and Wisdom will get you on base but only My Grace can get you Home :

"For by Grace are you saved, it is a gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk

A LETTER TO YOU FROM SATAN

I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn't even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night. You are so un-thankful, I like that about you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living, Fool, you are mine. Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don't love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God. He kicked me out of heaven, and I'm going to use you as long as possible to pay him back.

You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me, and I'm going to make your life a living hell. That way, we'll be together twice. This will really hurt God.

Thanks to you, I'm really showing Him who's boss in your life with all of the good times we've had. We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out, stealing, lying, being hypocritical, fornicating, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, being judgmental, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults, and those in leadership positions, no respect for the Church, bad attitudes. SURELY you don't want to give all this up. Come on, Fool, let's burn together forever.

I've got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you. I'd like to say 'THANKS' for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible, I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in.

HA HA HA, you make me sick. Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life. You look 20 years older, and now, I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, get drunk or drink while under-aged, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and live being as selfish as possible. Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that.

Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I'll be back! in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run somewhere, confess your sins, and live for God with what little bit of life that you have left. It's not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it's becoming a bit ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I still hate you.

IT'S JUST THAT YOU'D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR CHRIST.

P.S. If you love me, you won't share this

JUST 19 WORDS

GOD OUR FATHER,
WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE
AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES AND ILLNESSES;


IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN

Cast All Your Cares on the Lord

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
—1 Peter 5:7


Have you been worried lately?

Worry torments and is totally useless. In the natural realm there is usually plenty to worry about, but the good news is that we believers do not have to live in the natural realm. We have the privilege of casting all our cares on the Lord.

The word casting refers to throwing or hurling. We can throw or hurl our worries on God because He takes care of us. The seed we sow is our care of ourselves, and the harvest we reap is His care of us.

Our refusal to worry shows that we are trusting God. We may speak words that say we are trusting, but actions do speak louder than words in many instances. Our heavenly Father has promised to take care of us. God is for us, with us, under us, upholding us, around us, and watching over us. In other words, God has us covered! He is our shield and our buckler, our high tower, our fortress and hiding place, our place of refuge, and our sure foundation.

Be anxious for nothing—you are too smart to spend your life worrying!

Do This:

Make a decision now to cast all your care on the Lord and begin to watch Him take care of you.

A.S.A.P.

Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.?

Generally we think of it in terms of even more

hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think

of this abbreviation in a different manner, we

will begin to find a new way to deal with those

rough days along the way.

*************
There's work to do, deadlines to meet;
You've got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos,
"Quality time" is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

It may seem like your worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

God knows how stressful life is;
He wants to ease our cares,
And He'll respond to all your needs
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

Friendship

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half f hour?' She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because we cram so much into our lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained.
We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process The other day , I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask 'How are you?' Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die?
Just call to say 'Hi?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away. ... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.


It's National Friendship Week. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND. If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a circle of friends.

To those I have sent this to.... I cherish our friendship and appreciate all you do.

'Life may not be the party we hoped
for... but while we are here we might as well dance!'


Have a Terrific Tuesday

Hold on Tightly

Hold on tightly to what is truly important in life.

Hold on to faith;
it is the source of believing that all things are possible.
It is fiber and strength of a confident soul.


Hold on to hope;
it banishes doubt and enables attitudes
to be positive and cheerful.

Hold on to trust;
it is at the core of fruitful relationships that are secure and content.

Hold on to love;
it is life's greatest gift of all,
for it shares, cares, and gives meaning to life.


Hold on to family and friends;
they are the most important people in your life, and they make the world a better place.
They are your roots and the beginnings that you grew from;
they are the vine that has grown through time to nourish you, help you on your way, and always remain close by.

Hold on to all that you are
and all that you have learned,
for these things are what make you unique.

Don't ignore what you feel and what you believe is right and important; your heart has a way of speaking louder than your mind.


Hold on to your dreams;
achieve them diligently and honestly.
Never take the easy way or surrender to deceit.
Remember others on your way
and take time to care for their needs.



Enjoy the beauty around you.
Have the courage to see things differently and clearly.
Make the world a better place one day at a time, and don't let go of the important things that give meaning to your life.

~by Kelly D. Caron~

Prayer of the day
Father God, I come thanking you for another day that was not promised to us and I thank you for choosing us this morning . Lord, there is none like you. Lord, where would we be if it wasn't for your grace. You are a Holy God.

Teach us how to change our thoughts, so our results will change, because we behave based upon what we believe. Lord, we speak things as though they were. Our minds are transformed, and we will operate in your wisdom. Therefore we will get a different result as we go through the many changes in our lives. We are covered by the blood of Jesus and we are conquerors. I pray this prayer in Jesus' Name.

AMEN

Complete forgiveness is completely free

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.
—Romans 8:1


Guilt and condemnation are major problems for many believers.

It is Satan's greatest delight to make us feel bad about ourselves. He never tells us how far we have come, but rather, he constantly reminds us of how far we still have to go.

When the enemy attacks me, I say, "I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. I'm okay, and I'm on my way."

Like David, we must learn to keep ourselves encouraged in the Lord. (1 Samuel 30:6.) None of us has arrived at the state of perfection. We cannot perfect ourselves: sanctification (holiness) is the job of the Holy Spirit, and it is worked out in our lives as a process.

The Bible teaches that we can have complete forgiveness of our sins (total freedom from condemnation) through the blood of Jesus Christ. We must decide if Jesus did a complete job or if He didn't. We don't need to add our guilt to His sacrifice. He is more than enough.

Let Jesus do His job. He wants to forgive you. All you have to do is receive His forgiveness. Complete forgiveness is completely free!

Say This:

"I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. I'm okay, and I'm on my way."

Jesus Christ, 33 of Nazareth died Friday on Mount Calvary

Jesus Christ, 33 of Nazareth died Friday on Mount Calvary,
also know as Golgotha, the place of the skull.
Betrayed by the apostle Judas,
Jesus was crucified by the Romans,
By order of the Ruler Pontius Pilate.
The cause of death were crucifixion
Extreme exhaustion, severe torture,
and loss of blood.

Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham
Was a member of the house of David.
He was the Son of the Late Joseph
A Carpenter of Nazareth and Mary,
His devoted Mother. Jesus was born
in a stable in the city of Bethlehem, Judea.
His is survived by his mother Mary, his
Faithful Apostles, numerous disciples,
and many other followers.

Jesus was self educated and spent
Most of his adult life working as
a Teacher. Jesus also occasionally
Worked as a Medical Doctor and
it is reported that he healed many patients.
Up until the time of His death,
Jesus was teaching and sharing the Good news.
Healing the sick, touching the lonely,
Feeding the hungry and helping the poor.

Jesus was most noted for telling parables
About His Father’s Kingdom and
Performing miracles, such as feeding
Over 5,000 people with only five loaves
of bread and two fish, and healing a man who
was born blind. On the day before His death,
He held a Last Supper celebrating the
Passover Feast, at which He foretold His death.

The body was quickly buried in a stone grave,
Which was donated by Joseph of Arimathea,
A loyal friend of the family. By order of
Pontius Pilate, a boulder was rolled in
Front of the tomb. Roman soldiers were put on guard.

In lieu of flowers, the family has
Requested that everyone try to
Live a Jesus did. Donations may
Be sent to anyone in need.

Heavy-laden, and overburdened

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
—Matthew 11:28


When we become so burned out, heavy-laden, and overburdened that we feel we are unable to take it anymore, what are we to do? Jesus said, Come to Me.... But what are we to do when we come to Him? We are to come to Him to receive!

If we ask and ask and keep on asking and never receive, then we become frustrated. Jesus wants us to have joy.

One of the major reasons we do not receive is that what has been provided for us is free, and we keep trying to do something to earn it. Jesus has already paid the price.

The New Covenant is according to grace. It is based on the goodness of God and the work Jesus has already accomplished—not on our merit or works.

To get is "to acquire as a result of action or effort." To receive is "to acquire or take (something given, offered, or transmitted)...." When we get something, we obtain it by struggle or effort. When we receive something, we obtain it by acting as a receptacle and taking in what someone else is offering.

Receive what Jesus is pouring out. Come into His presence and drink of His forgiveness, His love, His mercy and grace.

Everything you need is available—start receiving!

Do This:

Enter into God's rest and receive what has already been poured out. You will be rested, refreshed, revived, restored, and refilled.

Great Peace

Today's Scripture

“Great Peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165 NIV).

Today's Word
God not only wants to give you peace, He wants to give you great peace! When you love the law of the Lord, nothing can make you stumble, and you will have great peace. Great peace gives you joy when it doesn’t make sense for you to be happy. It passes understanding. Great peace keeps you stable and strong no matter what may come against you. Make the decision to focus your attention on God’s Word today and everyday. As you discipline yourself in the scriptures, you will hunger more for God’s Word, and that love for His law will naturally develop. Psalm 119:105 says that His Word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path. That means God’s Word directs us. God’s Word protects us. You can find peace and security in His Word, knowing that He is faithful and your future is sure! Choose His Word today, and you will have great peace and live the life of blessing God has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word that gives me peace. I choose to focus on Your Word today so that You can protect me and guide me. I give You praise today for working in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Trust the Holy Spirit.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever.
—John 14:16


We serve a Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—one God, three persons.

The Holy Spirit is the One Who makes us holy. The Father willed it, the Son paid for it, and the Holy Spirit does it. We become the sanctuary of God because of the presence of the Holy One in us. The Holy Spirit is the agent in the process of sanctification that accomplishes what needs to be wrought in us.

It is vital that we understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit so we can appreciate it and cooperate with it.

It is the Holy Spirit Who prompts us to pray and Who teaches us how to pray. He strengthens us in our time of need. He alone can minister to our inner man where comfort and refreshing are so often needed as we live out our lives here on the earth.

The Holy Spirit must be allowed to be in charge. We cannot change the things in our life that need to be changed, but the Holy Spirit can.

Trust the Holy Spirit. Begin today to benefit from His ministry. Let Him show you new ways to approach old problems.

Say This:

"The Holy Spirit lives in me. He is my Comforter, my Counselor, my Helper, my Intercessor, my Advocate, my Strengthener, and my Standby!"

Have a Wonderful Wednesday

power in the name of Jesus,

...in My name....they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.
—Mark 16:17,18


There is abundant power in the name of Jesus, and we have been given the right to use that name.

We should speak the name of Jesus in faith against every kind of sickness, disease, and infirmity that arises. We should remember that the Lord gave it to us so we could walk in victory.

We are to pray in the name of Jesus. Prayer is our request—our petition—and the name of Jesus is what gets God's attention. When we pray in Jesus' name, we are presenting to the Father all that Jesus is and has done.

Sometimes we fall into the trap of just putting up with some physical problem, especially if it has been around a long time. We need to be reminded occasionally that there is healing available for us.

If you are sick, fighting any kind of an illness or disease, I encourage you to exercise your blood-bought right to use the name of Jesus against it. Each time you speak that name in faith, power is released.

Start exercising your right to use the name of Jesus against your problems, and believe they lose a little more of their power against you each time you speak that name.

Pray This:

"Father, I thank You for giving me power for any situation in life through the precious name of Jesus. Amen."



Have a Faithful Friday

Dreams and Visions

NubianGraphics.com



Where there is no vision, the people perish....
—Proverbs 29:18 KJV


It is important to have dreams and visions for our lives. We atrophy without something to reach for. God has created us to have goals. We need to look beyond where we are.

Our dreams and visions are simply hope for a better tomorrow. When God plants a seed of something in our heart, at that point it is a possibility, but not a "positively". That seed must be cared for properly.

Quite often the Lord attempts to place something in our heart, and we fail to conceive that He really means what He is saying. We must remember that we cannot get pregnant with a dream or a vision unless we are able to conceive. Practically speaking, that refers to our thoughts.

We must believe a thing to be possible. We must be able to conceive it in our thoughts. If we do get past the conception, there is still the pregnancy to go through. There is much planning and preparation before the birth. Satan does everything he can to get us to abort our dreams and visions.

God has a vision for your life, and He desires to plant it in your heart. Don't have a "spiritual abortion." Give birth to all that God has placed within you.

Say This:

"I will not give up the dreams and visions God has placed within my heart. I am determined to see them through to the end."

Have a Terrific Tuesday

Come clean with God

I will wash my hands in innocence, and go about Your altar, O Lord, that I may make the voice of thanksgiving heard and may tell of all Your wondrous works.
—Psalm 26:6-7

Each morning we need to come clean with God. If there is anything between us and God, when we try to pray and get into His presence, it will bother us until we deal honestly with it. God wants us to confess our faults. I have found over the years in a ministry of dealing with other people, and also in dealing with my own flesh, that we don’t really like to confront wrongdoing as we should.

Most of us like to make excuses, but excuses keep us deceived. An excuse is a reason stuffed with a lie. The Bible says that the truth will set us free (John 8:32). Honesty with God will free us to enjoy our whole day.

Have a Magnificient Monday

God is the ultimate Giver

Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness shall go before Him and shall make His footsteps a way in which to walk.
—Psalm 85:12-13

God is the ultimate Giver. He expects nothing less than for us to follow His example. I challenge you to give away something every day of your life. You may think you won’t have anything left if you do that, but if you give as the Lord leads you to do, soon you will receive so much that you will have to figure out where to put it all.

God gives you bread to eat and seed to sow (See 2 Corinthians 9:10). Some things that God sends your way are given as seed for you to sow into the lives of others. Ask God to show you what He wants you to give away.

Reading God's Mind


For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is
written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." 1 Corinthians 3:19-20

Have you ever said to yourself, "if only I knew God's thoughts?"
Some people seem presumptuous to think that they do know God's thoughts. They're full of advice and act as if they understand exactly what God thinks and what he would do in every situation. Too often such people fail to recognize that God's thoughts and ways are far beyond our ability to understand. His ways are typically not our ways.

On the other hand, God's Word does give a glimpse into his thoughts and desires. He calls you to forsake your worldly thought patterns and learn his principles for life because conventional, worldly wisdom is often the exact opposite of God's ways. By saturating your mind with God's Word you begin to see both God's message and His method. You'll see how He worked in history. If you pause and reflect on your own life you'll see how he has worked in your life. And you'll see that it wasn't how you would have designed it in either case.

God's words to the prophet Isaiah give great hope. "The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Get to know God, but don't try to be His mind-reader.

"A glimpse of God will save you. To gaze at Him will sanctify you." - Manley Beasley

God Bless....
by Steve Arterburn

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance
I kept seeing 'dance' at the end of the word.

I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.

The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.

The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw 'G: I thought of God, followed by 'u' and 'i'.
'God, 'u' and 'i' dance'
God, you, and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God as God
abides in you.

Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached.
If God has done anything for
you in your life, please share this message with someone else,
for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive.

There is no cost but a lot of rewards;
so let's continue to pray for one another !
And I Hope You Dance

He Is Attentive to Your Prayers

Today's Scripture
“For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer…” (I Peter 3:12 AMP).

Today's Word
Do you ever wonder if the Lord hears your prayers? There is Good News today—this verse promises that He is attentive to the prayers of the righteous! If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and have asked Him to cleanse you of your past sins, then you are righteous by the blood of Jesus. God longs to show Himself strong on your behalf. Your prayers open the door for Him to move in your life. You can be sure that He is attentive and listening for your prayers. Keep standing, keep believing, and keep praying knowing that God is on your side. He hears you. He’s working behind the scenes and orchestrating things in your favor. Thank Him today for listening. Thank Him for making you righteous. As you stand in faith, you will see God move in your life. Don’t shrink back—move forward in confidence knowing that the eyes of the Lord are upon you, and He is attentive to your prayers!

A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me righteous. Thank You for making me clean and new. Thank You for hearing my prayers today. I cast my cares and burdens on You knowing that You are working in my life today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

When fear knocks at the door, let faith answer

...The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
—James 5:16


Fear attacks everyone. It is Satan's way of tormenting us and preventing us from going forward so we cannot enjoy the life Jesus died to give us.

Fears are not realities, they are False Evidence Appearing Real. But if we accept the fears that Satan offers and give voice to them, we open the door for the enemy and close the door to God.

Faith is released through prayer, which makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working.

Satan seeks to weaken us through fear, but God strengthens us as we fellowship with Him in prayer. The Bible teaches us to watch and pray. (Matthew 26:41.) I believe the major reference in this passage is to watching ourselves and the attacks that the enemy launches against our minds and emotions. When these attacks are detected, we should pray immediately. We may think the attack will go away but we must remember that it is when we pray that power is released against the enemy—not when we think about praying later.

Pray about everything and fear nothing. I believe you will find this decision to be one that will produce more joy and peace for your everyday living.

When fear knocks at the door, let faith answer.

Do This:

Remember that fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real. When fear knocks on your door, let faith answer.


Have a Thankful Thursday

A SERVANT of God

His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys. (MATTHEW 25:21)

AS A SERVANT of God, you have been given gifts and talents from Him to use for His kingdom and glory.While others may have far greater talents than yours, you have at least one gift for which you are responsible to give an account to God. It is a principle within God's kingdom that as you are faithful and responsible to what God has given you He will advance you to a higher service. Being faithful where you are and with what God has given you to do now has nothing to do with whether you are particularly fond of what that responsibility entails.

Two aspects of your responsibility stand out in Matthew 25. First, there is a day coming when you shall give an account for your faithfulness to what God gave you to do. And, second, if you are faithful your divine Master offers that you may enter His joy is beyond description."Enter in," Jesus says, "and share the joy!"

Have a Magnificient Monday

A patient man is a powerful man

For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.
—Hebrews 10:36

The Word of God promises that the patient man will be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. (James 1:4 KJV.) A patient man is a powerful man. He can remain calm in the storm. He has control over his mouth. His thoughts remain loving in times when people's behavior becomes challenging. Without patience we cannot endure to see the fulfillment of our faith. Everything does not come to us immediately upon believing. There is a waiting period involved in receiving from God. It is during that period that our faith is tested and purified. Only if we endure and wait patiently will we experience the joy of seeing what we have believed for. Patience is not only the ability to wait, but also the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. Waiting is a part of life that cannot be avoided. We will spend a great deal of our lives waiting; if we don't learn to do it well (patiently), we will be quite miserable. God is so patient with us. And we are to imitate Him. Be encouraged to actively pursue patience it will lead you into God's power Pray This: "Lord, help me to exercise every kind of endurance and patience, perseverance, and forbearance with joy (Colossians 1:11). In Jesus' name, amen."

Have a Fabulous Friday

He Restores Your Soul

Today's Scripture

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul…” (Psalm 23:1-3).

Today's Word
God wants to restore your soul! Your soul is your mind, your will, and your emotions. You are a three-part being: you have a spirit—that’s the part of you that lives for eternity, you have a soul, and you have your body while you’re here on earth. Your soul is where the enemy tries to wound you and hold you back. Your soul is where you may have brokenness from the past, or hurts and disappointments. When God restores your soul, He brings His healing power to those broken places. He makes you whole again. And when God restores you, He makes you better off than you were before! I love the picture painted in this verse. Notice that He leads us beside quiet waters. He makes us lie down in green pastures. This is a picture of rest. When we are resting in Him, He is able to do a work in our lives. He is able to bring that restoration. Don’t let the busyness of life keep you going so fast that you don’t stop and rest. Take time to be still before the Lord and meditate on His Word. As you do, He will restore and heal your soul, and you will live the life of victory God has planned for you!

A Prayer for Today
Father God, thank You for another day to praise You. Thank You for Your plan to lead me into rest so that You can restore my soul. I surrender my brokenness to You and open my heart to receive Your healing in every area of my life today. In Jesus’ Name.

Amen.

Have a Magnificient Monday

The Morning

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually!
[Earnestly] remember the marvelous deeds which He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered.
—1 Chronicles 16:10–12

Many people don’t realize how important the morning is, especially those first moments of time that we are awake. God calls the sun to rise for us. He is eager for us to wake up and talk to Him again.

David the psalmist talked a lot about mornings, saying “This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it” (see Psalm 118:24). David didn’t always feel like rejoicing, but he decided to rejoice in God’s new day.

As soon as you get up, look at yourself in the mirror, smile, and say, “I am going to have a good day because Jesus loves me.”

Magnify the Lord

Today's Scripture
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3).

Today's Word
There is power when you magnify the Lord and exalt His name. When you magnify the Lord, you aren’t changing Him, you are changing the way you see Him. You are making Him bigger in your life than your problems and circumstances. So many people today waste time and energy talking about their problems and feeling sorry for themselves. In other words, they are magnifying their circumstances in their own mind and heart. But when you start magnifying the Lord by talking about Him and worshiping Him, you are making Him big in your life. You are opening the door for Him to move on your behalf. Decide today that no matter what’s going on in life around you, you are going to magnify your God. Talk about His goodness. Talk about His faithfulness. Declare that He is working behind the scenes on your behalf. Exalt His name today and lift Him up! As you magnify the Lord above your circumstances, He will become bigger in your life. You will see His hand of blessing and move forward into the life of victory He has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I choose to magnify and exalt You. You are faithful and worthy of praise. I declare today that You are for me, so who can be against me! I trust You to work in my life today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Joy in His Presence

Today's Scripture

“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand” (Psalm 16:11).

Do you need more joy in your life today? God promises that joy is found in His presence, and if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then His presence lives inside of you! That joy manifests when you focus your mind and heart on the Father and begin to praise Him for what He’s done in your life. The Bible says that He inhabits the praises of His people. When you begin to praise and thank Him, you are in His presence where there is fullness of joy. It doesn’t matter where you are or what’s going on around you, you can access the joy that’s inside of you at anytime, day or night. And know this: God wants you to experience His supernatural joy and peace at all times. That’s why He chose to live inside of you and give you an endless supply. Don’t waste another minute feeling overburdened and discouraged. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength, and you will move forward in victory on the path of life He’s prepared for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for an endless supply of joy. Today, I choose to cast my cares on You and give You the praise, glory, and honor You deserve. Let joy flow through me today so that I can be a witness of Your goodness to those around me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Live the higher life II

..Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink....
—Matthew 20:22


This was Jesus' response to the request of His disciples James and John to sit on His right and left hand.

Many people want God to bless them with a high position, but they are not ready to stop living a self-centered life. God considers selfishness to be a low level of living.

We can choose to spend our lives trying to get what we want when we want it, but it is a lower life. There is a higher life. If we will not give up the lower life, we will never have the higher life. But if we are willing to give up the lower (natural) life, then God will give us the higher (spiritual) life.

Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father. He had to lay down the lower life first before He got the higher life.

In order to be promoted as Jesus was, we must crucify the flesh. We must forget about ourselves—stop thinking about ourselves, talking about ourselves, and trying to get our own way. We must first make an investment, then God will give us a mighty return.

If you want the higher life, be willing to drink the cup that Jesus drank—the cup of unselfishness.

Pray This:

"Father, in the name of Jesus, I break the bondage of selfishness off my life. Thank You that I am free."

Live the Higher Life

Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.
—Mark 4:19


In order to live the "higher life," we must be willing to die to the "lower life."

One of the major reasons people are not rooted in God's Word is their strong attachment to the world. They want the higher life, but they are not willing to give up the lower life.

There is a life to be lived that is so superior to anything the world has to offer that no comparison can be made, but we must die to self and all its ways and demands in order to attain it. We must die to our own ways of being and doing - the fleshly ways of handling situations. We must also die to our own thoughts and our own idle, willful, and contrary talk. We must learn to live beyond our feelings.

The "bottom line" is that God relentlessly pursues the flesh and is intent on setting us free from its control. We must die to live, but it is a positive thing.

Dare to die in order to live.

Do This:

Choose to die to self and the things of the flesh so that you may live the higher life that God has prepared for you.




Have a Magnificent Monday