Wow God!

Sit and ponder how amazing God truly is...He spoke the world into creation (Genesis 1) and saw that it was good! It was VERY GOOD! (Gen. 1:31). He formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life! (Gen. 2:7). He gave a life-giving breath...what do we give in return? A life of service, a life of complaining, nothing at all, reverent fear and respect? To fear God doesn't mean we are afraid of Him, it means we honor, respect and are are amazed by Him. When is the last time you sat back and said, "WOW GOD!" because you admired something He has done? Look at creation all around you! The birds, the flowers, the sunrise or sunset, the trees starting to bud, people, the laughter of a child...He created ALL of this! Awe is pleasing to God. When we are awestruck by His awesomeness then we are on our way to gaining reverent fear for our Lord! Look at all God has done for you...sometimes the only response we can say is "WOW GOD!"

Be the Light!

"LIGHT" is used repeatedly in God's Word. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus uses it to illustrate to Christians that our lives are open books and sometimes the only Bible others will see. We are the LIGHT to this dark world...we should not hide our LIGHT, we should let it shine for all to see. Being the LIGHT in this time is a high calling - whether you are being the LIGHT to your family as you are at home, or the LIGHT to others as you are still going to work every day, ---both has challenges at this time. 

In Genesis 1- God said "Let there be light". In 2 Samuel 22 David says "God is his Lamp that lightens his darkness" (vs 29). Psalm 27 says "The Lord is the light of my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?" Jesus said in John 8:12 "I am the light of the world whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." Revelation 22:3-5 tells us the day is coming when things will no longer be acursed and, we will be face to face with our almighty Lord and Savior and there will be no more night, or need for lamps or sun, for God will be our LIGHT." I challenge you to seize the day and let your LIGHT shine for all to see while we are able. Are you still shining brightly, or is your lamp starting to flicker like it's running low on oil?? What are a few things you and your family can do to become a stronger LIGHT for God in these uncertain days? Pray for God to give you strength to shine brighter than ever! Encourage and pray for others, make some phone calls, mail some homemade cards...let your LIGHT SHINE! Sit outside and enjoy the beautiful light for a few minutes today!

Silence Speaks

When God allows you to be silenced, learn to listen. It’s hard, it’s depressing, but it’s in this silence you realize how much you really speak when you should be listening. You also realize how much there is to be heard. It is good to be quiet before God. It is good to be quiet when having conversations with others. It is good to listen for that still, small voice of the Lord.

Psalm 46 is a hymn celebrating Zion as the city to which God has pledged himself and through which He will bless the world. 

Ps. 46:1–7 tells us God is a mighty fortress where His people are secure. We are secure even in times of chaos and turmoil. I am so thankful God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. (vs.1)

Verses 2–3, and 6 use earthquakes, landslides, and the raging sea as images of raging nations, kingdoms and turmoil surrounding. We have the same types of things raging around us today. Whether it is work, family, or world issues there are seas raging around us. The opposite can be present too —we just have to BE STILL, or in my case, BE QUIET before God and allow Him to speak to us and reveal His will for us! Elijah didn't find God in the great, strong wind, or the earthquake, or the fire, but in a low whisper...

11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Where to we look to meet God? Do we go about our crazy schedules, or stop and listen for a while to that small whisper? A stream is so peaceful compared to a raging sea, and mountains can be moved with the faith of a mustard seed. His Word is full of so many promises we should cling to; so much imagery for us to breathe in and behold His mighty powers---if we stop and take the time.

We may not understand what is going on, but be still and know that Our Mighty God is in control! Be flexible, follow His plan and path. Choose to adjust with a smile and a "silent" prayer when needed!

Allow God to speak volumes to you during your silence. Learn to embrace the silence and let it calm your soul! 

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content. --Helen Keller

It has been 14 days since I had a voice, the last time this happened it was about 3 months of healing before it was normal again due to granulomas on my vocal cords.  I am awaiting an appointment with my ENT to verify what is going on, but we believe this is what is happening again. Hopefully I can say, like Paul the Apostle and Helen Keller, whatever state I may be in, to be content. To take time to BE STILL and know that He is God and still on His Throne!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Is God asking you to be still, quiet, and content before Him today?

Praying for our students through the year - day 27 (Head to Toe - part 1)

Now that we have made it through the alphabet, we covered lots of Godly Character Traits to pray over our children. Today we are going to start praying for our kids, grand kids, students, and others from "head to toe". A great way to remember them is to think of each of these as you are getting ready in the mornings...

1. Pray for their mind - for them to earnestly seek wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Pray they will learn to value discernment and choose the best yes. Pray they will center their thoughts on holy and pure things--not on pleasures of this world or things that will draw them away from God. Pray they will develop a Biblical World View and focus on God's Word as Truth. (Book of Proverbs, James 1:5, Psalm 119:97)
2. Pray for their eyes - Ask God to protect their innocence and not let them grow up too quickly. Pray they will not look on unwholesome things. I hate to say it, but children are exposed to porn at a very young age now (some statistics show this happens as early as 3rd grade). Pray for God to protect them from this form of evil. Pray they will choose good social media, if they have access to it. Pray they will focus on right and pure things, not lustful temptations. Pray they will have eyes to see the good in people and show Christ-like love. Pray they will love God and their neighbors. (Psalm 101:3).
3. Pray for their ears - Pray they will be quick to hear and slow to speak. Pray they will not listen to gossip, or negative influences around them. Pray they will incline their ears to instruction and to the ways of the Lord. Pray they will listen to music that is positive---music does not make someone a monster, however garbage in will result in garbage out. Pray they choose to watch and listen to good TV shows and movies that are not filled with violence and evil. What shows are their ears and eyes hearing and seeing on TV or the theater? (Proverbs 8:32). 
   
4. Pray for their mouth - Ask God to help them learn to control their tongue. Pray they will learn the value of speaking truth instead of speaking lies. Pray they will learn the value of silence. Pray their words will be pleasing to our Heavenly Father and for uplifting others. Pray they will not use their mouths to bring others down or for destruction. Pray they will speak with respect and use their words to worship and praise God. (Psalm 34:13).

Praying for our students through the year - day 26 (Z) Zeal

Wow our kids are starting their 7th week of school today! We are going to start this week by praying for  Zeal. Romans 12:11 says: "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."  Zeal or being zealous is energetic enthusiasm; a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to accomplish something. When Jesus performed miracles he often asked the people not to tell, yet it made them want to tell it more zealously (Mark 7:36).  Today, Christ commanded us to tell everyone about Him to the utmost parts of the earth, but do we?  Revelation 3:19 says “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent”.  We are all guilty of sin, of not obeying His Word, and of having less Godly Character than we should at some point in our lives, but the secret is to learn to repent. Then we can learn to be more zealous. Sincerely ask God to forgive you, and He will. Pray your child will become more zealous for the Lord and His Word today. Pray they will have enthusiasm to share His love with others. Pray they will be eager and determined to accomplish all God has called them to do. 

We have made it through all 26 letters of Godly Character; the Bible says Jesus is the Alpha and Omega which are Greek letters for A and Z (Revelation 1:7-8). He is the beginning and the end of the alphabet; He is everything in between.  Jesus is the Eternal Ruler of past, present, and future. He is the A, Z, Alpha, Omega, Beginning, End, First and Last! We need to be on fire for God because one day this world will have no more chances to choose to accept the Lord, we will be out of opportunities to Go and Tell those He has put before us. Pray your child will have their priorities in line with what really matters in life. It’s all about Jesus! Pray they will have enough zeal to live out loud everywhere and not hide their “Christian-side” from others. Pray God will unsettle them until they seek a deeper relationship with their Heavenly Father. Pray they will seek Him as their personal Lord and Savior. Pray they will grow in their Godly Character daily. Pray they will have uncontainable ZEAL for the Lord today and everyday until He returns! 

Praying for our students through the year - day 25 (Y) Yearning

Today we are praying for our children have a yearning for Christ! Yearning is a deep, tender and urgent longing; an appetite or craving. Pray your children will have a yearning to know more about Jesus and the Bible.  Isaiah 26:9 says “My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you”. The old hymn More About Jesus describes yearning well: 

“More about Jesus would I know, More of His grace to others show; More of His saving fullness see, More of His love Who died for me. More about Jesus let me learn, More of His holy will discern; Spirit of God, my teacher be, Showing the things of Christ to me...".  

Our lives should be more about Jesus, not about us! Do you yearn to know Him deeper?  Pray you and your family will yearn for a deeper relationship with God. Psalm 42:1-2 says “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God”. We have to crave, thirst, yearn for a relationship with God. Pray your child learns to crave and thirst for this relationship above all others. Pray the Holy Spirit will create a yearning for His Word.  Pray they will become more in love with God than anything else in this world. Pray your whole family will work on developing a yearning for God. Make it a goal to spend more time in prayer and reading His Word. Crave Him today!

Praying for our students through the year - day 24 (X) eXcellence

It is hard for me to believe the 6th week of school is almost over and we are almost to the end of the alphabet on praying for our children.  Today we are praying for eXcellence. There are a few character traits in which each of us should have a desire to excel. Just to mention 23...pray for your child to excel in his or her attitude, boldness, courage, discernment, enthusiasm, friendship, generosity, humility, initiative, joyfulness, knowledge, listening, maturity, being neighbors, obedience, perseverance, being quiet, respectfulness, self-control, thankfulness, understanding, victory, and work ethic! (this was the first 23 prayer topics if you need to go back and review check out my old blog posts) Excellence goes beyond dreams and what we can do and is about what we SHOULD do and how we SHOULD act. We need to also pray for our children to excel in prayer. It is vital for us to learn to communicate with God and teach our children to do the same. When I was a student I remember receiving an "excellence in education" plaque every year; excellence is not about just making a good grade or doing what we are supposed to at that moment, but about sustaining that attitude for a lifetime.

Philippians 3;13-14 states: "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus".

We need to press on until the end of our time on this earth and pray our children will do the same. Excellence in all we do should be a priority. Excellence demands that we do our very best with the abilities that God has given us. Pray your children will learn to exhibit moral excellence, then there will be evidence that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is growing in their lives.

"Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." 1 Peter 2:12 NASB