WE CANNOT TAKE GOD OUT AND EXPECT TO SURVIVE

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the  Early Show, and  Jane Clayson asked her, "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding the attacks on Sept. 11). Anne Graham gave an incredibly profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government, and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman, He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. So how can we expect God to give us His  blessing and protection if we demand He leave us  alone?"  In light of recent events...terrorists attack school shootings, etc. It started when Madeleine  Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently)  complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.
 Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The  Bible says thou shalt not kill,  thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin  Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped, and we might damage their self-esteem  (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about, and we said  OK. So now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers,  their classmates, and themselves. If we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I believe that it has a  great deal to do  with "WE REAP WHAT WE  SOW."
It's funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say but question what the Bible says. It's weird how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail, and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages about the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd,  crude, vulgar, and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing? It's funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe or will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you feel it has merit. If not, then just discard it... No one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in; no Nation or people can ever survive or succeed without Jesus Christ.

BE THANKFUL AND STOP COMPLAINING

Philippians 4:11-12 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. I have learned the secret of facing plenty, hunger, abundance, and need in any and every circumstance.

We complain that we are having a hard time, but what about the four and five-year-old girls and boys being sold as sex slaves. We complain about not having what we want to eat, but what about the seniors who have to choose medicine they need to live or food to eat. We complain about what to wear, but what about the children with no shoes or a clean change of clothes. We complain about needing a new car, but what about the mother with three small children that have to walk miles a day just to see a doctor or go to school. We complain about our area, but what about the homeless men, women, and children that sleep on the streets. We complain about how long it takes when we have a Doctor's appointment, but what about the people that cannot afford to see a Doctor. We complain about God not being there for us, but what about the times we never communicate with Him, pray, fellowship, or study His Word. We complain about going to work, but what about the Millions of people that cannot find employment. We complain about everything; instead, we should be grateful and content where we are, then God will move us to the next level.

Father, forgive us for complaining about what we do not have, and let us focus on our blessings and how we can help others. Lord, let us desire Your Word as much as we want the world's material things. Father, teach us how to teach our children the way to go; so they will not seek the things of the world but desire the things of the Spirit. Lord, help us develop a Christ-like character so our ambition will be to please and honor You.  Lord, help us deny ourselves so You can use us to help build up Your Kingdom and others. Father, You are our refuge and strength in times of trouble, so we will not fear. Father, help us do all things without grumbling or questioning so that we will be blameless and innocent children of the Highest; help us hold fast to Your Word of life so we do not labor in vain, in Jesus' name Amen

EVEN JESUS HAD A SUPPORT SYSTEM

No one can walk alone on our Spiritual journey or in this world; even Jesus had twelve Disciples walking with Him, and we need Spiritual Soldiers walking with us too.  God saw how lonely Adam was, so He created Eve to walk with him. Although we are not alone in the Spiritual realm because Christ is always with us, we also need people in our worldly life to support, love, and walk with us.  Genesis 2:18, the Lord said, "it's not good for man to be alone, so He made Eve who was just right for Adam." God has made someone for everyone; but, we must be patient and wait for Him to guide us to them.  We also need the Word of God to give us guidance, protection, provisions, strength, courage, and faith. Matthew 4:4 It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.  We need the Word of God and His Spiritual Soldiers to lift us up when we fall or when we get weak.

Father, thank You for all the Spiritual Soldiers You have surrounded us with, thank You for Your Son who has never left us; in times of trouble, need, or adversity.  Lord, thank You for those who help us with our day-to-day struggles and our Guardian Angels who protect us from harm.  Father, continue to touch the hearts of Your people, who have much, so they will willfully share with the least of us.  Father, thank You for keeping Your promise to us, even though we are not worthy.  Father, thank You for wisdom and the knowledge of Your Word, so we will not follow false Prophets but stay focused on Your doctrine.  Thank You for forgiveness and the strength to forgive others; Lord continue working in and through us; so we can become the people You created us to be, and thank You for family and friends,  in Jesus' name Amen.

JESUS WILL NEVER FORSAKE US

Deuteronomy 8 The LORD himself goes before us and will be with us; He will never leave us nor forsake us. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Jesus tells us that we will have trouble, suffering, and pain, but we can take heart because He has overcome the world! (John 16:33) Through scripture, we can be comforted by knowing that God is faithful,  He will keep His promise to us “He will never leave us, He will provide for us, and He will give us peace. He cares, and He is our comforter in times of need, trouble, or loss.

Father, thank You for preparing us for the storms through Your Word and our faith, thank You for the comfort and peace; of knowing You are with us and will never leave us.  Lord, thank You for Spiritual growth, wisdom, and the knowledge to implement You in our lives.  Father, we decree and declare that we will testify about You daily, about the goodness of You, and the hope of a brighter tomorrow, by accepting You as our Savior.  Lord, thank You for this beautiful privilege that Jesus has given us, to be able to come before You knowing we have been forgiven and cleansed by Christ blood.  Father, unity Your people from all generations to honor and praise You, as we bear witness of Your Love, in Jesus name Amen

GOD WANT US TO PRAY FOR OTHERS

In the midst of Jesus suffering, He prayed fervently, not only for Himself (Luke 22:41-42) but His disciples and us.  Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your interests, but also for the benefit of others.

We have so much to pray for:  pray for our soldiers that put their lives on the front line every day for our freedom. Pray for the war-torn countries where people fear daily that their family members may not return home. Pray for our Veterans that have lost limbs and mental stability fighting to protect us from the enemies, and have no place to stay in a country they defended.  Pray for the righteous Cops that put themselves in harm’s way to save our lives.  Pray for the firefighters that battled flames, not knowing when they could be trapped and burned to death.  Pray for our teachers that deal with all the different attitudes of our children and the parents that feel like they raised little angles.  Pray for the Doctors and nurses that save lives daily, and have very little time to spend with their families.  Pray for our pilots that fly us daily to and from our destinations safely under all kinds of stressful situations.    Pray for our world leaders that are the fall guys for whatever goes wrong in our nations.  Pray for our Spiritual leaders that are looked upon as unique until they fall from grace and are ridiculed for being human.  But most of all, pray for our lost children that are being sold as sex slaves, gunned down in schools, Malls, raising themselves, and have no hope for a better tomorrow.  With so much going on in this lost world, how could we only pray for ourselves?

Lord, there is so much evil in this world today; we do not know where to begin.  So, Father, we pray for all our children, especially those abused and sold as sex slaves.  We pray for the homeless, those who live in war-torn countries, and our soldiers fighting for our freedom.  Pray for those that gave their lives for freedom and pray for the families they left behind.  Pray for those who are falsely incarcerated and the ones whose lives have been taken by those who sworn to protect us.  We pray for our Spiritual Leaders to stand on Your Word and for those who do not walk in Your ways to repent and turn to You.  We pray for our Nations Leaders to serve You and the people and not their financial greed.  Lord, we pray for justice to be done to those who have wronged others, those who have taken innocent lives.  Father, we pray for all the people who have given up hope of a better tomorrow and those with reprobate minds.   Father, right now, I pray a special blessing over our children; touch the hearts of those who come in contact with them, with compassion, love, and kindness in their hearts.  In Jesus' name, hear our prayer, Amen.

A PRAYER FOR MY SON

 Lord, we thank You for the years, we spent with my son; and the love, laughter, and joy he brought to our lives.  Thank, you, Lord, for giving him a heart of compassion, and for him always being there for when we needed him; thank You for helping me raise a wonderful son, father, brother, cousin, and friend, we will all miss you dearly. Often time Lord, we know Your goodness comes disguised as pain and sorrow; and we know, You are the architect who can build temples out of rubble and adversity.  Father, right now our souls are ripped with anguish, so please create a better tomorrow from the pain and suffering of our loss. “God, bring comfort and peace to my son wife, children, and grandchildren because You understand the pain and sorrow that comes with the loss of a child. We won't ask, why, and please forgive our insistence, our confusion, even our anger.  Lord, but,  we do ask how we can move forward? How can this bring us together and not tear us apart? How can we now live under the shadow of this untimely death? Answer this prayer with Your comfort and guidance.  Father, there is no way to remove the pain, the grief in our hearts; the only sanity is to know, to believe, in a life beyond with You when all the scales are righted, and the sufferings are made right. We trust You and Your promise that while my child’s life on earth is done, his life beyond has just begun, with You. Father, today we give his body to the earth and thank You for receiving his Soul.  In Jesus name Amen

Artwork by RonWatsonDrawing.com

Proverbs 10:1 the proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish son is a grief to his mother. 2 Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death.

SHARE GOD'S LOVE

Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”  Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

 Lord times are getting harder, and people are losing faith in these troubled times.  Father, this world is filled with unspeakable sin and evil, Lord we reach out to You; please help us.  Lord, we understand that Your Word will come to pass, Lord, prepare us for that day and keep us at peace while we wait.  Father, right now we feel our burdens are too significant, please help us lay our burdens at the altar and turn away in the name of Jesus.  Lord, we want to serve You, so we ask You to strengthen our faith, help us with our unbelief, and train us in the way to go.  God, teach us what to do to walk into our destiny and eternity so we may sit at Your feet.  Father, please teach us how to love each other and work in unity and harmony.  It is Your name; we pray, Amen

Praise Is What I Do - William Murphy

ANGUISH PAIN AND PEACE

Jonh 16:21"Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.

Sometimes we have to go through pain and anguish to get to the next phase of our journey, Jesus suffered to free us; and then He moved to the next phase of His purpose.  But, because of His relationship with our Father, He had comfort and peace in His time of suffering; and we too have to share in His suffering, and we need a relationship with our Father so He will help us bear our cross.

Oh, God, thank You for the comfort You give, and the peace You have brought to our lives.  Lord, we thank You for peace, while You help us bear our day to day walk.   Often time Lord, Your goodness comes disguised as pain and anguish; but, we know Lord, You are the architect who can build temples out of rubble and adversity.  Father, right now our Souls are ripped with anguish, so please create a better tomorrow from the pain and suffering of today.  Father, we thank You for another day; because so many did not make it, so thank You for keeping us.   Father, we ask that You intercede in the self-destruction of ourselves, through the senseless gun violence.  Lord, we ask that You come into our young people lives, and give them a purpose for living; provide them with guidance and help them mature Spiritual.  Father, help us become people with Christ-like character; people who are submissive and honor Your Word.  Lord, forgive us of our sins as we forgive those who sins against us, please give us Your strength.  Thank You, for provisions, protection, and grace; as well as life health, and favor, in Jesus name we pray Amen 

PLEASE PRAY WITH ME

Father, when we begin to doubt You, let us turn to Your Word; and pray that You will renew our hearts and minds, with Your grace.  Lord, help us be encouraged; as You move through and correct all the circumstances in our lives, as Your acts of mercy strengthen our faith.  Father, let Your Word fill us with the Holy Spirit; that will teach us how important it is, not to give into to our doubts and fears.  Lord, let us feel Your presence so we will know You are still with us; because You know, we all struggle with unbelief from time to time; and the only way we can be reassured is through Your Word.   So give us a strong desire for Your Word, when we begin to doubt You or fill pain; so You can comfort us.  Lord, help us stand on Your Truth because we know You will keep Your promise; as You have so many time before, and thank You for understanding our weakness, in Jesus name, Father, please remove every demonic Spirit around us, and all generational curses.  Father, help us stay out Your way as You, work things out in our favor.  Lord, right now our hearts are heavy, please Lord, easy the pain and suffering You felt on the cross from our hearts.  Father, some of us feel hate’ Father, open their hearts and minds to Your will; so the devil will flee.  Father, keep us in unity and let us support each other through this time of suffering; let us help those who have given up and those who feel lost and alone. Lord, put a hedge of protection around our children, and our grandchildren; right now in the name of Jesus.  Father, I pray a special prayer, for my son Eddie.  Lord, let his heart be known; for the person, he was in the body, and Thank You for receiving his Spirit.  Father, we give back what You what You have given to us; thank You for time loving the time we had, and the joy he brought to my heart.  So, Lord, I pray for peace and unity, right now in the name of Jesus.  Amen

THE LOSS OF A CHILD

John 14:1-4  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

MY SON EDDIE SESSION APRIL 20, 2017 - JUNE 13, 2017

Father, to You, we lift up our children and our souls to You; in You, we put our trust.  FATHER, help us incorporate faith, Spirit, and Truth into our children lives,  Lord, do not let our children bring shame to You or themselves for lack of knowledge; and do not let Satan and this dark world triumph over them.  Father, none of Your children with Hope and faith in You will perish, our Spirit’s will live on in Your Kingdom.  Teach us how to save our children, from all this gun violence and help us teach them Your ways.   Lord, guide our children and our children’s children to Your path; keep Your hedge of protection around them, please order their steps out of the pit of darkness.   Let us teach and guide them the right way to go through Your Word, as our parents and grandparents taught us.  Lord, fill them with Hope and let them not grow weary of doing good.  Father, let them feel Your presence so they will know You are our Savior, and our Hope is in You.  Lord, You have been waiting so long for us; now Lord, we wait for You.  Thank You, for forgiving our past, and our rebellious ways; thank You, for teaching us how to walk with You, in Spirit and in Truth.  Now, Lord, we ask You to touch the hearts of all grieving mothers, wives, children, grandchildren, and friends; remove all anger and hate, from our hearts.  Father, give us family unity and support so we can help each other through this time of grief and pain.  Father, please comfort us, and give us the strength and courage to stand on Your Word in this period of sorrow.  Lord, give our children discernment so they will not be lead into darkness; and provide them with a desire for the things of the Spirit, and not the things of this world. Lord, we thank You, for instructing us to Your path; let Your light in us and our actions, lead others to You, “especially our children”. In Jesus name Amen

LET'S PRAYER FOR COMFORT

I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a child, the thought of it brings tears to my eyes and pain in my heart.  I lost a brother in 1998, and I still grieve the loss and often wondered; how much pain my mother felt in her heart when she lost her son.   To lose a child has to be an indescribable pain, for a mother and those that are close to them; and the only things can heal that pain is consolation from our Lord, love of family and friends.  When we are suffering from the loss of a loved one, the Word of God will comfort us.  God tell us He will turn our mourning into gladness “Psalm 30:11 “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness…” God share’s our pain and suffering, and He will console us; out of, the depths of sadness. God knows the pain of losing a child, His Son died on the cross for our sins; He knows it’s an unbearable pain, that only He can soothe and give relief.  When we are suffering and in pain, God grieves with us; and He looks for ways to comfort us. 

Father, grant those who are mourning the loss of a loved one; peace and gladness, as You help them through their grief.  Father, Your Word tells us, You will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more; neither shall they be mourning.  Lord, help them understand that death, like life, is only temporary; because our Spirits will move on, we pray they gave their souls to You.   Father, we praise You and our Lord Jesus Christ, for compassion and comfort.   Lord, You, comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we receive from You. Lord, just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. Father when we are distressed, it is for Your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for Your comfort, which produces in us patient endurance.   Lord, prepare us for Your second coming, and the ultimate comfort and peace we will experience.  Father, we pray that we dwell in Your house all the days of our lives because You are our light and salvation.  Father, open our hearts to comfort others, the sick, the dying, the homeless, and those that need the love and comfort of You Lord. Amen

Artwork by Ron Watson

LET'S PRAY IN GOD'S WORDS

We do not have to pray a long drawn out prayer, for God to hear or bless us.   If you’ve ever felt like you’ve caused hurt or pain to someone; if you ever wanted to believe that God can do what He said He could do, then this prayer is for you.

The Jabez Prayer
“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from  harm so that I will be free from pain.’

 And God granted his request.

Prayer for Salvation

We may never be swallowed by a fish, but we can experience the sorrow and regret that Jonah felt after he disobeyed God’s will. We will never have peace if we run away from a direct order from God; God gave Jonah the assignment to go to Nineveh, but because of his prejudice, which was also a sin, he disobeyed God’s will. Once Jonah disobeyed God’s calling, peace was no longer with him. This prayer of repentance, God heard and answered; because of Jonah heartfelt sorrow for his sin of disobedience. If we are ever at a loss of how or what to pray for; there is no better person to turn to than, our Heavenly Father, and the book He wrote. Almost every book in the Bible contains a plea, prayer or request, so, when we cannot find the words to say, pray for God’s will, through His Word.

Johan 1:11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” 12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this, the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. Jonah’s Prayer.  Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 2 1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:

Lord, in my distress, I called to You, and You answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead, I called for help, and You listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all Your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from Your sight, yet I will look again toward your holy temple. ‘The engulfing waters threatened me; the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains, I sank; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But You, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered You, Lord, and my prayer rose to You, to your holy temple. “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to You. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

WE ARE TO COMFORT OTHERS

Romans 15:1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

God blessed us so we can bless others; we are to bear the obligations, of those in need.  God is not telling us to take care of anyone but to help those that need help; the neighbor that husband died and left her and their children, and those that have lost their jobs.  Help the children that were born in drug addicted homes; there is so much we (Christians) could do for others, once we realize it's not about us.  We are to be the hope and encouragement of others; to help draw them to the light of God; so let's help and welcome those in need, just like Christ welcomed and helped us.

Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, our Father of compassion and our God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  Lord, help us give those who are about to give up hope; let our lives and actions be the encouragement they need to believe in Your faithfulness.  Father, let us represent You in whatever we do, open our hearts and minds so we may receive Your wisdom to do right by You and others.  Lord, Your, knowledge surpass the wisest of men, and Your promise is greater than we could ever comprehend.  Father, even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of our busy day; we stop to pray and worship Your name because we love You and we know You love us.  Lord, we pray for all those who requested prayer, Lord, You, know their needs and wants; blessing them according to Your will and their faith.  Lord, keep our children safe and fill their hearts with Your love; that will nurture them daily, and keep them from going astray.  Father, give us the Fruits of patience, love, and hope; so Your peace will dwell in our hearts, and we can work and live in harmony with each other, in Jesus name we pray Amen

THE FLESH OR THE SPIRIT

John 3:4-8 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared to take away sins, and in Him, there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him.  Hebrews 10:26  if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

God's Word has not change societies interpretation of the Word has changed; we are willfully living in sin, but we claim to know God.  We cannot gratify the desires of our flesh, and walk in Spirit; we must choose one or the other, we cannot have it both ways.

Father, Your Word, has not changed our interpretation of it has; we freely live in sins as if there are no consequences for violating Your Word.  Lord, we have become so comfortable in sin, that we are now breaking abomination sin; willfully in Your sight, dishorning Your name. Forgives us, Lord, for not making the sacrifice for You, as You've done for us, by not giving up our sins that sperate us from You. Father, please forgive us for being more unworthy than ever of Your grace, by changing our laws to stand against Your WORD.  Lord, we’re sorry for allowing them to take prayer out of schools. We’re sorry for letting them move You out of the Workplace, and we are truly sorry for taking You out of our children’s lives; by not teaching them Your Word.  Father, help us save them before it's too late, we knew not what we've done.   Lord, open our deaf ears to Your Word so we can hear the Truth of Your Word; that has transforming powers,  that will help us obey You.  Father, give us  Your strength, courage, wisdom, and knowledge to help us teach and lead others to You;  in Jesus name, Amen

WE ARE FORGIVEN AND DELIVERED

Hebrews 2:17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things about God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.   Acts 13:38  "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When we confess our sins and ask for God strength to repent, we are forgiven,  Then God will show us favor without regards to our worth and in spite of our sinful nature.

We decree and declare the Lord will deliver us from every attack and will bring us safely into His Heavenly Kingdom. We decree and declare there is power in our witness, purpose for our pain, Joy where there are sadness and healing where there’s sickness. We decree and declare God will lift us up from the deepest pits, give us wings like Eagles to soar above our situations. We decree and declare God will provide us with authority to walk into the enemy's camp without an ounce of fear, and be victorious over our enemies. We decree and declare this is a time of new beginnings for us as well as our families, a time to teach, a time to learn, and the time to mature into the People God created us to be; prune us with Your Word Lord so that we will grow.  Father, we decree and declare we will make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Father, we decree and declare that since we have been justified by faith, and delivered we have peace with You through Jesus Christ,  Amen

A HEART OF GRATITUDE

Psalm 100 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!   Serve the Lord with gladness;  Come before His presence with singing.   Know that the Lord, He is God;   It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.   Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.   For the Lord is good;   His mercy is everlasting,   And His truth endures to all generations.

We have so much to be grateful for, but because of our constant life demands, struggles, and problems, we lose sight of our blessings; and why we should be thankful.   But, no matter what is going in our lives, we all have a reason to be thankful.  When we come with a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude, God works to change our circumstances, strengthen us with His peace, and refuel us with joy.

Lord, thank You for loving us more than You loved Yourself and for giving Your life to save ours.  Father, we know that we are lost without You; so thank You for grace, thank You for deliverance and thank You for peace.  Father, help us teach our children Your Word and forgive us for losing a whole generation of Your sheep.   Father, intervene on their behalf, save our children, remove every generational curse they may be paying for, and order their steps.  Father, touch their hearts with Your Spirit, so their Fruit will grow, and develop Christ-like character.  Create in us a clean heart, and use us as Your vessels; to spread the Word of Your kindness, love, and promise.  Lord, fill us with compassion, gentleness, and love; so our actions will honor  You, as we serve others.  Father, give us Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement it into our daily live.  Father, we thank You for forgiveness and give us Your strength to forgive others. Thank You, Lord, for Your hedge of protection around us, our children, and grand-children.  Thank You, Lord, for provision, blessings, and grace, In Jesus name,  Amen

THE GOD WE DOUBT

When we face difficult times, the first thing most of us do; forgets about the power of God.  Our faith is replaced with doubt and fear, and we forget that God is still with us; sometimes we even doubt His existence, even though He has brought us through so many times before.  The things we have read about Him and the blessings we have already received should be enough to keep our faith secure.  Just think about the blind receiving sight, the lame walking and our lives being regenerated, this is the God we doubt. But, the best thing is God understands our doubts because He knows our flesh can override our Spirit.

 Matthew 11:3-5  3 to ask him. “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”  4Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

We must remember when we are faced with adversity, that nothing is too hard for God.  Scripture tells us “blessed are those that believe without seeing Him” so do not let doubt and fear ruin our faith in Christ. Also, suffering is part of our growth process Because Christ had to suffer.  But, God will not give us more than we can handle; just like He did for His Son, so do not be afraid, stand on His Word

Father, when we begin to doubt You, let us turn to Your Word; and pray that You will renew our hearts and minds, with Your grace.  Lord, help us be encouraged; as You move through and correct all the circumstances in our lives, as Your acts of mercy strengthen our faith.  Father, let Your Word fill us with the Holy Spirit; that will teach us how important it is, not to give into to our doubts and fears.  Lord, let us feel Your presence so we will know You are still with us; because You know, we all struggle with unbelief from time to time.  Father, the only way we can be reassured is through Your Word; so give us a strong desire for Your Word, when we begin to doubt You.  Lord, help us stand on Your Truth because we know You will keep Your promise; as You have so many time before, and thank You for understanding our weakness, in Jesus name, Amen

A Conversation with God

Person: God, I have so many problems in my life right now.  It seems like I am knocked down as soon as I get on my feet.

God: I know my child; it is called life and life come with adversity.  Have you been reading the instructions, I left with you about how to overcome these things?

Person: What instruction Lord

God: My Words (Bible), everything that is happening in your life, can
 Be controlled with My instruction.

Person: Oh, I read Your instruction last week, and I prayed to You a couple of days ago

God: How many days do I wake you up, provide for you, protect you, heal you, and forgive you?

Person: every day Lord

God: I will keep my promise to you, but you must do your part to receive the promise.

Person: Do what Lord

God: Study My teaching, pray, fellowship, worship and praise Me daily, help and teach others

Person: Lord I do not have time every day

God: What if I could not assist you every day

Person: Ok Lord, I will do what You ask of me

God: Do not do this because you need My help, do it because you believe and love Me, as I believe in and love you

Exodus 14:14   The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Acts 16:13 3 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.

KINDNESS AND GENTLENESS IS POWER UNDER CONTROL

2 Timothy 2:24-26 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach; patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition. If perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.  Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you

Being gentle does not mean we are weak; Kindness and gentleness involve humility and thankfulness toward God and polite and meek behavior towards others.  Gentleness is power under control, people with a gentle spirit are slow to anger; they do not have a desire for revenge, but they place their strength under God guidance.  A gentle soul recognizes that God’s plan and ways are better than our own.

Father, give us the Fruit of kindness and gentleness so that we may be humble and kind to You and others.  Lord, fill the hearts of our Political and Spiritual Leaders with kindness; so they will have compassion and love, for all people.  Father, touch the Souls of those who come in contact with our children; let them treat them with gentleness, kindness, and understanding, so they will not be quick to anger or harm them.  Father, as we mature in Your Word, let us not think too highly of ourselves; so help us remain gentle, and we will speak words that influence others to follow You.  Father, let us act in a way that helps others, and build up Your Kingdom.  Lord, let our hearts be gentle towards those that do not know You; so we can help lead them with easiness, instead of arguing in resentment and anger, remembering that their Salvation is more important than our pride, in Jesus name Amen

She could have gone on to win the race, but she put his need over her desires

WE ARE FORGIVEN

Psalm 32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night, your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

We are forgiven, so we are free from our sins, but being free does not give us the freedom to continue sinning; being free means, we can enter into the presence of God unobstructed.  Once we are forgiven we are made clean, but we must study, pray, worship, and praise daily; to discipline our fleshly appetites.  The Holy Spirit gives us self-control over our sinful nature, but we must choose to obey, and obedience comes easy when we know and fear the Lord. But, when we stumble and fall, acknowledge our sins; repent and turn away, and pray for forgiveness and we will be restored to Him.

Father, thank You for mercy in spite of our shortcomings and errors.  Lord, give us ears so we will hear the Truth of the Word, that gives correction and conviction of our sins.  Father, develop our Fruit of self-control so we can have power over our sinful nature; help us turn away from the lustful desire of this dark world and keep us on the path of righteousness.  Father, help us sacrifice any sins that separate us from You, so right now we acknowledge our sins, and we ask for Your strength to turn away from them.  Lord, we all fall short of Your glory, but thank You for forgiveness and a way out; so we may be restored to You.  Lord, our self-denial becomes easy, when we fear Your wrath, so strengthen our faith and help us with our unbeliefs; and help us become the people You created us to be, in Jesus name Amen

Artwork by Ron Watson