…Prayer Warriors

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.   2 Corinthians 1:11

I am very thankful for the prayers of others for me.  I know some huge steps in my journey were through the prayers that have prayed for me.  Saturday I was given the opportunity to share at the ladies breakfast.  The response from women was awesome and encouraging.  So I have to say thank you for all of you who prayed for me.  For weeks prior and up to that day, I’d heard from many, I’m praying for you.  And God answered prayer.   Thank you!

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing us.  So often You do this through our prayers from others.  I am thankful for all the prayers for me.  Thank you for answering and blessing others through those prayers.   It is amazing when we can see the fruit from prayer warriors.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

…When I’m judgmental.

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.”  If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.  Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.   James 2:8-13


Amazing how we judge other’s sin.  Yes, I'm guilty.  I’ve judged others sin before.  There can be a sin in someone else’s life but if we don’t understand the struggle of that sin, it becomes so easy to judge it.  Yet sin is sin.  These two are harsh, but yet let’s investigate them a little further. 
James 4:4 - You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 
Opps, maybe not realizing it right away, but there have been times I have had friendship with the world.   
Matthew 5:21-22 - “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.
Murders will be subject to judgment and anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.  So does that mean anger toward someone can be equivalent to murdering them??

Prayer:
Dear Lord Father, Thank you Father for mercy.  The royal law in Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, by keeping it we are doing right.  Lord how do we judge ourselves of sin?  Many times we justify our own actions, or we have an excuse for our sin.  And so often we expect others to be compassionate for us, we expect them to forgive us immediately.   But Lord when others struggle with things we don't relate to, do we do the same for them?  Many times our humanness puts judgment on them, we think we'll they shouldn't do that!  Lord forgive us, that so often the favoritism we show is to ourselves, yet our sin is sin and we are still lawbreakers.  No matter where we stumble we are guilty.  Lord help us never to excuse sin in anyway, whether our own or someone else's, but keep us from being judgmental, help us extend mercy to others around us, the mercy we want them to extend to us, the mercy You show us.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

...Reflection

As water reflects the man’s face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

Proverbs 27:19

Hmm. How is my heart reflection today? Is my heart so focused on Jesus that I reflect him today?

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for your love toward us. Lord I pray that our hearts would reflect your love to the outside world around us. Lord you have made each one of us precious in your sight, you have given us the desire to love you Lord, and the desire to be Christ like. Lord I pray today our reflection would resemble Jesus, to all who are surrounding us today. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.

… Adopted

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.  For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.   Romans 8:12-17 (NIV)

Dear Abba Father,
Many years ago, Jesus brought me here to Your home.  In spite of my rebellion and many faults You welcomed me and loved me.  Jesus stood up for me and took the blame for all my wrong actions and bad behavior, and You Father punished Him in my place.  You were glad I was here, in spite of the punishment I deserved and Jesus took for me.  Jesus has continued to show me how to live in Your home and how to leave my old patterns and habits behind.  And Jesus is still now letting me know I have been adopted into Your home, but yet there are some ways I have not completely adopted the home You have given me.  Father where I lived previously, there was no discipline and no one cared what I did.  Most of the time I wasn't even wanted there and I think that is why sometimes I think You don't really want me here.  However Father, You do care and there are areas of undisciplined living that need to go.  Forgive me Father, I sometimes have fear, because I still have some of those things in my life.  Sometimes it's actions, sometimes it's just thinking I'm not good enough and I don't belong here, but You always come to my side and pull me in and tell me how much You love me.  You always remind me that You chose me to live with You, and You have a better life for me than I could ever think.  You remind me I am Your child, I belong to You.  Although sometimes leaving behind where I came from takes me out of my comfort zone and it feels like suffering, it's really not suffering at all compared to what Jesus did for me.  It's so that I may also share in the glory of what you have for me, the glory of living in Your kingdom.  When these times come, I struggle with the words, and then, I hear the voice crying out, Abba, Father.  And I know, My Jesus is again taking me in His arms to You, my Abba, Father.
Love,
Your Child

… He brings us thus far.

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?  
And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!  And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD!  Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.  Therefore you are great, O LORD God.   For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.  2 Samuel 18-22

This morning was one of those mornings with a fresh awe of Him and what He does in our lives.  Last night I had the privilege to visit our Youth group.  I got to hear and see the amazing work of our God among the teens.  Yes our great God has saved us from death thru Jesus.  And if that was not enough He goes even further and promises great things to us.  He loves us, provides for us, mends our broken hearts, restores us, restores our relationships, heals us, and gives us gifts we can’t even fathom at times.  He has done so much for us because of His own greatness, yet when was the last time we sat with Him in awe and pure excitement.

Last night was a night to say, YOU HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT ALL THIS GREATNESS AND MADE IT KNOW TO YOUR SERVANTS.  THIS IS WHAT OUR GOD HAS DONE AND HE HAS BROUGHT US THUS FAR!!!!!

Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, thank you!  I thank you for all You have done in the lives of the youth and their families and all of us.  Father I pray today we are reminded with fresh excitement and awe of You and what You do in our lives, and so we sit and marvel about how great You are, there is NONE like YOU.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

He loves me, He loves me not…

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present 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 in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:37-39

As a kid I have sat there plucking the pedals off a flower one by one, he loves me, he loves me not.  There have been many days where I have felt this way about my Heavenly Father’s love for me.  One day I’m sure He loves me and the next day thinking He loves me not. Romans 8, reminds us nothing can separate us from His love.  So pluck the last pedal and take it with you today and forever, He loves you.  

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You.  You do love us and nothing can separate us from that love.  Father I pray we receive this today.  I pray we take this last pedal, Your love and keep it with us today and forever.   In Jesus Name, Amen.

…While House Cleaning

Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42

I’m sure we all know the story. 

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42

I have learned there is no better time with Jesus than in quiet and more still, just being in His Presence.  I encourage each one of you to make this time with Him.  Let’s face it we all have busy schedules and chores to get done.  As a wife who needs time with her husband, a mom whose children need her time and I need theirs, dinner to prepare, laundry, and of course a house to clean.  So having the role of Martha, I was struggling to find my good portion time.  I was looking around that house that needed cleaning and had to get done, but did much rather desire time at His feet.   Since I couldn’t avoid house cleaning at the moment, I invited Jesus to come clean with me.    Going from room to room I asked His Spirit to dwell there and prayed accordingly.  As I finished each room had its own theme.    

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for wanting us to spend our time with You.  I pray first we would always seek and make time for the good portion, which You will not take away.  I pray also, when the work needs to get done that too would be time spent with You.  Come, Holy Spirit, dwell with us and in our homes.  Make it a place where love is shown, where memories are shared, and when visitors come they would know You live here.  In Jesus Name, Amen.