DO WE KNOW CHRIST OR KNOW OF HIM

 JOHN 15:14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

We can claim to know Jesus, but if we do not demonstrate it by our actions of love, we just know of Him, but we do not have a relationship with Him. Jesus is our Shepherd. He knows us, and we know Him; wherever He leads us, it will be in our favor to follow Him.  We can look at Jesus' followers and see their gentle ways, kind hearts, and self-control; they are never quick to anger, and they are always willing to do good for others.

Father, we thank You for calling us friends; and allowing us to be part of Your royal family.  Lord, forgive us for falling short of Your mercy, grace, and favor; help us surrender our will for Your plan for our lives.  Father, let our actions demonstrate our relationship with You; for all the world to see Your light that shines in us.  Father, we are so grateful that You do not rebuke us for our waywardness but still love us even with our frequent disobedience.  Lord, help us avoid destructive things to our faith and our relationship with You.  Father, we were born in sin, so sinfulness is our nature; so to stop sinning is not possible in the flesh, but through Christ, we can stop living under the control of sin.  Father, thank You for another day to get it right, and thank You for grace, in Jesus' name Amen.

Artwork by Ron Watson

WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST

Romans 12:4-5 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another

The body of Christ is what unites all believers everywhere, and when one part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain because we are one.  So we must stop and ask ourselves whether we are reflecting the attitude and actions of Christ or the world.   We have to determine what is causing the body pain, our attitude or our actions, and what we can do to heal the body.  Do we help the least of them, are we witnessing to the lost, look out for the widows and orphans, or focus only on ourselves?  When one part of the body is not functioning right, the rest of the body works harder to support the vulnerable parts; if not, the whole body will eventually shut down, or worst.

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.

When the body is in pain, it gets weak and distorted; we tend to look for anything that will give us comfort, sometimes the things we choose cause more harm than good. The only thing that can heal the body is the Word of God, our faith, and our trust in Him.

Father, right now, our bodies are not operating as one; please give us unity and love for one another so Your body will be whole again.  Lord, every day the pain that separates us from You, grows stronger; help us, Lord, come together to function as one, so we may serve Your purpose.  Forgive us, Father, for our shortcomings and not teaching our children and our children's children how to go so they will not stray away from You.  Lord, please accept us for not standing up for You; and allowing them to remove You from our lives. Father, fill us with Your courage and strength so we will stand on Your Word without wavering.  Lord, thank You for Your comfort and peace when we are faced with life's storms; give us a desire for the things of the Spirit so we will not get lost in this dark world.  Lord, help us surrender entirely to You so that we can work together as one body in Christ; and become the believers You created us to be, in the name of Jesus Amen.

Artwork by Ron Watson

TO BE ALIVE IN CHRIST WE MUST STUDY

Matthew 13:20-21 "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy.  Yet he has no firm root in himself but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the Word, immediately he falls away.

To Hear the Word of God is a good thing, but to be filled with the Word is better.  To be deeply rooted in the Word, we must study the Word; when we study, a complete transformation takes place; the more we study, the stronger our roots grow.   So when adversity and the storms come, we will not fall, but use the Words in us to stand with faith and endurance.

Father, teach us to study Your Words; so we will develop Fruit so that we will be deeply rooted, to help us stand on Your promise during the storms of life.  Father, let us be inward changed men and women and give us a strong desire for Your Word; fill us with Your Spirit so we will have direction and guidance to become the people You created.  Father, we are all sinners striving to be more like Christ, so we will be submissive to You and filled with the Holy Spirit.  Father, touch those who come in contact with our children and our children's children; with compassion, kindness, and gentleness so they will be treated fairly and with love.  Lord, when we get weak from our day-to-day struggles, give us Your strength; to help us stand firm in times of trouble. Lord, we thank You for life, health, and power, as well as mercy, grace, and favor.  Forgive us for taking You out of our schools, work, homes, and our lives.  Father, we need You to intervene in our lives right now so Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, so we may be rooted and grounded in love.  Father, we the people who are called by Your name; come to You in prayer on one accord, asking You to save us. In Jesus name, Amen

JESUS WAS TESTED IN THE WILDERNESS, AND WE ARE TESTED IN THE FLESH

Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the Devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test." 8 Again, the Devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." 11 Then the Devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Our Spiritual walk is a daily battle with the flesh, and if we are not prepared in full body armor, we are fighting unprotected.  We must study God's Word daily to be victorious in battle, Jesus had to rely on His Father's Word, and we must also rely and stand on His Word.  The only way we can defeat the Devil is through Scripture, but to use the Word, we must know the Word, and the only way to know the Word is through study.

Father, we ask that You remove all from us that is not of You, so we may come boldly to the throne in prayer with a clean heart so that You will hear us.  Lord, fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we will be compelled to Your Word and stand on Your promise with obedience.  Lord, give us the wisdom and understanding of Your Word so that the knowledge will nourish our fruit of the Spirit and help us become Christ-like.  Father, Your Word tells us in Matthew 5 that blessed are the poor, the grieving, and the mistreated; please keep us as the poverty of life teach us to trust in You.  Father, fill our children and us with the hope of a better tomorrow so we may stand on Your Word without wavering.  Lord, give us Your strength when we are weak and patient when we are anxious; so that we will wait for You to order our steps in Your will.  Father, Jesus is our mentor and our Savior, so help us deny ourselves; as He denied Himself in the wilderness, as we draw near to Thee.  Lord, teach us how to say no to sin, and help us exercise Your teachings; so the Devil will flee from us, as he did Jesus.  Lord, help us become one in unity through worship, praise, and prayer; and let us not test You, in Jesus' name Amen.

LORD DO NOT REJECT US

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperer

The Word of God will draw us near to Him, and the closer we become to God the better our lives become, and when we know better we do better.   But, if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, God will turn us over to a reprobate mind.  God will reject us and leave us to our own corruption.

Lord, You said that we should present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship. Father, teach us how to worship and praise You with a pure heart; so we may pass the test, and not be rejected.  Father, help us not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of our minds, that by Your word we may discern what is righteous and Your will, what is good, acceptable, and perfect in Your sight.  Father, give us Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement Your Words into our daily lives so we may know Your moral standards and Your plan for our salvation.  Lord, give us Your Spirit so we may have a strong desire for the things of the Spirit and not this lost world, In Jesus name Amen

BE CAREFUL WHO WE CALL FRIEND

John 15:12-15  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

What a friend we have in Jesus, to become someone's friend is the best thing in the world. Of course, some friend's relationships are more substantial than a brother or sister's, but be careful who you call a friend; some people are wolves in sheep clothing; as long as they can use you, they call you friend.  But, Jesus will never forsake us; he will be there for us until the end of time; so if you want a friend for a lifetime, develop a relationship with Christ, there is no better friend to have in this world.

Lord, this is the start of a new day; thank You for the blessing.  Father, give us a gentle and kind word for all we encounter, help us with our day-to-day struggles, and keep us in Your will.  Bless our children in their comings and going, give them hope, guidance and maintain a hedge of protection around them.  Father, bless those who were called home, and we pray they had given their souls to You; Father give their families the strength and courage to give back to You, what You so graciously gave to them.  Lord, we pray for those falsely incarcerated, wrongfully killed, and the people who took their lives.  Lord, we pray that You save Your people from this self-destruction course we're on; teach us how to stop our young people from killing each other and how to put You back in their lives.  Lord, give our Spiritual and Political Leaders Your love for the people, so Your Churches and the world will operate as Your Kingdom.   Father, help us become the people You created us to be and thank You for the forgiveness of our sins; Lord, let those who plot evil schemes against Your people fall into their own traps, in Jesus mighty name.  Father, remove everything that is not of You from us and cut down those who think too highly of themselves.  Lord, touch the hearts of those who seek to find You and help them receive Your wisdom to gain the knowledge that will save them from this lost world.   Amen

LORD WE NEED YOUR GRACE AND MERCY

2 Corinthians12:8-9 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me, but He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Life is not always fair, but God is always faithful to those that have faith in Him and do good work.  Grace is something we do not deserve; it's God's unmerited favor, and His mercy keeps us from being punished for our sins.  Our Lord's act of grace is His gift of salvation given freely through our faith in Jesus.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are promised eternal life; this is a promise of a home one day in heaven with God, and God always keeps His promise.  One day Jesus will return to earth to claim His possessions, our souls, which He purchased with His blood on the cross at Calvary. Will we be ready when He comes?

Father, right now, we need Your grace and mercy to save us.  Lord, this world is so out of order, it's hard to have the hope of a better tomorrow.  So, Father, we ask You to intervene and take charge of our lives and this lost world right now.  Lord, Your Word has warned us over and over again of how leaving You out will cause destruction, but a man with his thick-neck, do not believe.  Father, You said if we come together and call on Your name, You will save us.  Lord, we are calling Your name in unity; please hear our cry; keep us from this lost world, show us Your mercy, even though we do not deserve it in the name of Jesus.  Lord, let us come with confidence and draw near to the throne of grace, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in this time of need; in Jesus' name Amen.

WE MUST STUDY GOD'S WORD DAILY

Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character then the Thessalonians, for they examined the message with great eagerness and examined the scripture every day to see if what Paul said was true.

The word of God gives us a glimpse of Jesus that we cannot get any other way.  The gospel gives us a unique account of the world before Jesus and a new world after his crucifixion. Studying of God's word is what transformed us from non-believers to Christians.  The word gives us Jesus strength and courage, the kind of Courage and strength that allows us to love our enemies.  Studying the word also build a strong relationship with Christ, and welcomes us into God's  kingdom.  If we want to be changed men and women we must study God's Word daily.

Lord, let us pray before we read Your word, for more zeal and understanding.  Father open our hearts and minds to Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement You into our daily lives.  Lord, help us pray without ceasing, and help us draw near to Thee; so we may know You who made the world and everything in it, our Lord, of Heaven and Earth.  Father we thank You for each new day, clothe in our right minds; give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Father, give us a strong desire for the things of the spirit, and not the things of the world. Lord, from one man You made every nation of man, that they should inhabit the whole Earth; and you determine the time set for them and the exact place where we should live.  Lord, help us seek You, because You are never far from us; for in You we live, and without You we perish.  So, Lord, give us eyes that see Your Word and ears that hear, and help us become the people You created to us to be, in Jesus name Amen

OUR FLESH IS STRONGER THAN OUR SPIRIT

Galatians 5:19-21 Now, the deeds of the flesh are evident; which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you.  Just as I have warned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God

We have been serving the flesh longer than we have been serving the Spirit, and the devil does not want to lose us.  So he will fight to keep us desiring things of the world.  We must study daily to keep our flesh at rest; praying and attending church is not enough; we must study the Word to mature into the men and women God created.  Studying the Word is the only way to crucify the flesh and its passions and desires.

We love You, Lord, and we thank you for all you do. Father, since our flesh naturally puts itself first, we ask for forgiveness, understanding, and wisdom of You.  Father, help us develop fruit so we will honor You like Christ honors You. Father, allow us to pray without ceasing study Your Word daily, and witness to the world about Your goodness. Lord, nothing is done in the flesh can honor or please You; Lord, strengthen our faith so our spirits will override our flesh as we honor You.   Lord, You programmed us with Your moral code before we were born.  Father, let the Holy Spirit use this moral code to reprogram and renew our hearts and minds. So we may evaluate every opportunity, taught, invitation, Word, and deed in Your will, and not ours.  Thank, You for opening Your Kingdom to Your unworthy servants, and we ask You for forgiveness for not passing Your Word to the next generation and the next like we should. Father, teach us how to put You back into our children's lives; we pray to You in Jesus name

 Amen

TAKE ALL YOUR BURDENED TO OUR FATHER

Matthew 11:28 Come to the Lord, all you who are weary and burdened, and He will give you rest.

He will give us peace, not the false peace that man and material things pass, but a peace above all understanding, so do not let your heart be troubled.

Father, prepare us for this life, like You prepared Noah for the flood, and give us eyes that see our enemies.  Lord, protect us like You did Daniel in the Lion's den, and give us ears so we may hear Your voice.  Father, heal all the lost souls in this world like You healed Naaman, and let us not perish for lack of knowledge.  Lord, favor us like You did Moses; even though we are flawed, please use us to build up Your Kingdom and others.  Father, anoint us like You did David, and let us know even though we are sinners, we still can be submissive to You.  Father, when we pray with a clean heart, please answer us like You answered Elijah, and bless us according to our faith and Your will.  Lord, we all fall short of Your glory and grace, change our hearts like You changed Paul's heart.  Lord, we are losing hope, our children do not know You, and our enemies are plotting against us; please intervene for us as You did for Esther.  Lord, we ask that You fight for our salvation like You did for the Israelites.  Father, we love You, so please help us obey Your teachings, and forgive us for our sins, in Jesus' name Amen.

Artwork by RonWatsonDrawings.com

THE LIFESTYLE OF A BELIEVER

Ephesians 4;14-15 then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching, by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow Christ-like who is the head of our lives.

To newborn Believers and some seasoned Believers that only knows the theology plan, but do not practice it.  When we accept the Lord as our Savior, we don’t instantly become the Believers God created. Christianity is a lifestyle, not an organization, and as life, we have to learn to live and act like Christians.  But unlike most things in this world Christianity comes with a Book of instructions. These instructions alone with prayer, faith, trust, fellowship, worship, and praise; will help take us through the process.  After which the continuance studying of the Word will help us mature and develop the Fruit of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will help us execute obedience to the Word

Father, forgive us of our sins; and helps us grow into the people, You created.  Lord, open our hearts and minds; so we can receive Your wisdom, and the knowledge to implement that wisdom into our daily lives.  Father, help us grow Fruit; and nourish our Fruit with the Word so that we will become Christ-like Christians.  Lord, help us keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of love; which is the basis for all service to You and others.  Lord, let there be oneness throughout the entire world; so we are one body in Your Kingdom.  Father, give us hope, direction, protection, courage, and strength; while the Holy Spirit compels us to obey Your Word, and give us peace.  Father, we believe and trust in You, so please strengthen our faith and help us with our unbelief.  Lord, Your Spirit dwells in us, even though our bodies are dead because of sin, our Spirits lives because of grace and righteousness
 in Jesus name,  Amen

ALLOW NO DIVISION

God calls his people to live in unity with one another, so it is important to make every effort to live together in harmony with other fellow believers. 1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought


Father, we pray for everyone who requested us to intercede on their behalf; Lord, You, know them name by name and need by need, blessing them according to Your will.  We pray for all those who have lost a loved one; fill them with Your strength, comfort, and peace to help them get through their grief.  Father, we pray for everyone that needs to feel Your presence; please wrap Your loving, healing. and comforting arms around them, and fill their empty hearts with Your Spirit.  Father, cover our children and our children's children, from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet, with Your Son’s Precious Blood.  Lord, in their day to day struggles, comfort them with Your peace; which surpasses all understanding. Lord, keep Your hedge of protection around us and order our steps in Your will.  Lord, fill us with Your compassion, love, and kindness; so we can live together in unity, and become the people You created.  Father, clothed our children with salvation, so they will rejoice in righteousness and do good work.  Lord, please do not reject us, as we wait patiently for Your promise to manifest in our lives. Lord, direct our thoughts, words, and actions, to honor You, and fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit.  Mold us daily into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ and do not let us grow weary of doing good. In Jesus name Amen

ALLOW NO DIVISION AMONG YOUR PEOPLE

IS OUR ATTITUDE CHRIST LIKE OR OF THE WORLD

Believers with the right attitude will benefit from the Word of God. We must bring a good attitude when studying the Word; we need God's strength, guidance, wisdom, and knowledge to receive His Word. Acts 20:32) Paul tells us: so now brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which can strengthen us and give us the inheritance and power of His promise. If we go to God's Word with the right attitude, His Words will develop in us Fruit as we study and implement the Word in our lives.  Studies show that the right attitude actually has a positive effect on your atmosphere, combat aging, and makes you healthier

Philippians 2:1-30 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to our own interests but also to the benefit of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus

Father, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with You through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Christ, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of You.   Lord, more than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because Your love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit and Your Word which You have given to us. Lord, let us have the right attitude when we approach You so we may receive Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement Your commands into our lives, and help others.  Father, help us understand that You, a King came to serve the weak, and the poor in spirit; and Your followers are servants too, so let us not think too highly of ourselves. Lord, open our hearts and minds and fill them with Your Spirit; so we may become the people You created us to be, in Jesus name, Amen

OUR CONFESSIONS AND WHERE WE GO FROM THERE

Yes, we should confess our sins, 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.) But we should also pray for them; fast from them, study the Word daily, to keep our sins at rest; worship and praise Him for His strength and courage to stand on His Word, His grace, and His sacrifice.  Yes, we should confess our sins, but it does not stop there; we must strive to change through the help of the Word, and our Lord.  Once we express sincere regret and remorse, the Word and the Holy Spirit begin to fill us; this will help us repent and turn away from our sins.  When we receive God and confess our sins the relationship with Christ starts there, now how strong and close the relationship becomes is up to us.

The more we study and receive the Word, pray to our Lord, worship, and praise Him the close we become; and the closer we are to Christ, the more we will receive His promise.  We all have a part to play in our walk with Christ, walking with Jesus is a 24/7 process as long as we are in the flesh.  And we must stay on His path to reach our destiny because there are no short cuts, and if we stray away, we lose our protection from evil and this dark world. So, remember the Christ as our Savior and the confessions of our sins is only the beginning. Now, daily studying, fasting from the things that separate us from God and His Word; praying, worship, and praising Him, will help it grow and develop our Christ-like character

Father,  we receive You as our Savior;  please open our hearts and minds to Your Word, with understanding and knowledge.  Father, let us develop Fruit as we study, pray and fast from the things that separate us from You.  Give us Your strength and courage Lord, as we deal with our day to day problems and struggles; and let us not grow weary of doing good.  Lord, forgive us for not passing Your Word to the next generation and the next; please Lord, help us restore order to our children, right now in the name of Jesus.  Lord, serve justice to those who take and destroy the lives of children, men, and women for financial gain.  Father, serve justice to all the people who took the lives of the innocent, our children, the people in war-torn Countries, and our Soldiers; and a special prayer for all the senseless gun victims and wrongful killings of our children in these streets.  Father, You blessed us with blessings for others, let those who have much bless those in need and keep them and the receiver of Your grace humble.  Father, thank You for eyes that see and ears that hear, so we do not follow false witnesses or prophets; we are grateful to You for Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement You in our lives. Lord, we thank You for mercy, grace, and favor,  In Jesus name Amen

Artwork by RonWatsonDrawings.com

WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS

YOUR BLESSINGS ARE NOT TO

INCREASE YOU THEY ARE

 GIVEN TO YOU

SO YOU WILL HELP

INCREASE

OTHERS

(Matthew 41-45) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 

Father, give us a kind and gentle heart so we may help those who are less fortunate.  Lord, sometimes we will be the only help those in need have; let them see You through us.  Father, Your Word tells us "whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for You.  Lord, teach us how to bless others as You have blessed us, and by doing so, we will reap the rewards of Your promise.  Amen

WE CAN'T JUST TALK THE TALK WE MUST WALK THE WALK

Ephesians 4;14-15 then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching, by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow Christ-like who is the head of our lives.

To newborn Believers and some seasoned Believers that only knows the theology plan, but do not practice it.  When we accept the Lord as our Savior, we don’t instantly become the Believers God designed us to be. Christianity is a lifestyle, not an organization, and as life, we have to learn it through practice.  But unlike most things in this world Christianity comes with a Book of instructions. These instructions alone with prayer, faith, trust, fellowship, worship, and praise; will help take us through the process.  After which the continuance studying of the Word will help us mature and develop the Fruit of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will help us execute obedience to the Word

Father, forgive us of our sins; and helps us grow into the people, You created us to be.  Lord, open our hearts and minds; so we can receive Your wisdom, and the knowledge to implement into our daily life.  Father, help us grow Fruit; and nourish our Fruit with the Word so that we will become transformed men and women and not just religious fanatics.  Lord, help us keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of love; which is the basis for all service to You and others.  Lord, let there be oneness throughout the entire world; so we are one body in the Kingdom.  Father, give us hope that will fill us with all joy and peace; as we believe and trust in You, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen

SOMETHING TO PRAY IN UNITY AND ON ONE ACCORD FOR OUR CHILDREN

We must come together on one accord to save our children. A lot of our young people do not see a future in their lives, and this isn't a race thing this is America as a whole thing.  Which gives them no hope, a person with no hope become a danger to themselves and others

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.  Ephesians 6:4 Fathers and mothers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.  Let's come together in prayer for our children

Lord, in our distress, we are calling to You. From deep in the realm of the dead, Lord, we call for help, please listen to our cry; save our children our future. Lord, do not let them be hurled into the depths and schemes of the evil one, so they do not get weary and swirled about in this lost world; do not let the waves of their enemies swept over them. Father, do not let our children be banished from Your sight please draw them to Your holy Word and grace. Lord, when day to day life engulfs them, order their steps in Your will; and keep Your hedge of protection around them.  Father, surround them with Spiritual Soldiers and let their Guardian Angles keep them from harm.  Lord. just as You brought our lives up from the pit of this world, please Jesus bring our children out as well; help us teach them Your wisdom and knowledge, and forgive us for falling short with training them in the way to go. Father, we ask that You remove every demonic Spirit from them and every generational curse.“When our lives were ebbing away, we remembered You, Lord, and our prayers rose to You, to Your holy temple and You saved us. “Lord, we cling to Your Word right now in the mighty name of Jesus, that if we come together on one accord in prayer, You will hear us; so please hear us today save our children, in Jesus name Amen

IF YOU HAVE NOT PRAYED TODAY PLEASE PRAY WITH ME

Father, we pray that today become a day of hope; joy, peace, happiness, unity, and love for us.  Let the Holy Spirit overflow through us and develop our Christ-like character; so we can live in harmony and unity.  Father, thank You for, Your atoning grace and forgiveness that has reinstated us into Your Holy Family.  Lord, teach us how to use Your power in the physical and spiritual real; for those in need and freedom from sin, help us guide them to You.  Father, You said those who are wise should shine like the brightness of the firmament, Lord, let Your light shine in us, for all the world to see.  Lord, we ask that You allow this light to shine on our children and their children; help us train them in the way to go,  so they will not stray for from You.  Lord, there is destruction all around us, in our neighborhoods, our schools, our Churches and our world.  Lord, we ask You to intervene in our lives right now to restore peace and order for all people and the world.  Lord, help Your people gain a real spiritual birth; through the studying of Your Word, praise, worship, and understanding, so we may become the people You created.  Father, there have been so many senseless killing; please serve justice to those who have dishonored You, "Thy shall not kill."   Father,  we thank You in advance for justice, for my son and all sons who have been taken from their mother, their children, their brothers and sisters, and friends.  Lord, we ask You to serve Justice to those responsible for l taking my son's life and the lives of others.   Lord, remind us, that You walk with us and give us peace and protection, when we are lost and Afraid. Thank You,  Lord, for the guardian angels that protect us; from the fires of our enemies and all the spiritual soldiers, You have surround us with. Lord, we thank You,  for Mercy, grace, and favor; we thank You for forgiveness and the strength to forgive others,  we thank You for Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement You into our lives.  Father, teaches  if we pray for the things of the spirit, our lives and the world would be a better, in Jesus name
 Amen

DO NOT MAKE OUR WEAK BROTHERS AND SISTER STUMBLE

Luke 17:1-3 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.  Take heed to yourself, if your brother sins against you rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him.

We should never tempt our brothers and sister who are weak if we know a friend who is an alcoholic do not drink in front of him/her. If your brother has a weight problem; you do not take him to a restaurant.  God says there will be harsh punishment for those that lead their brother or sister into sin. And if your brother/sister did you wrong then and asked for forgiveness, you most forgive them.

Father, forgive us if we have tempted our weaker brother/sister into sin.  Lord, teach us how to rebuke and help them find their way back to You. Lord, You said we most forgive seven-time seventy for the same sin, Father, please give us Your strength, because we cannot accomplish this on our own.  Father, You have allowed us to see another day, Lord we decree and declare from this day our finances are increasing.  We decree and declare we will study the word and spend more time worshiping and praising You.  So that we may draw closer to You, Lord, we will continue praying for our brother and sister; to see Your light, so may have a strong desire for Your Word.  Father, help us save our children and our children's children from this lost dark world, in the mighty name of Jesus we pray Amen

FATHER, SAVE US SO WE DO NOT PERISH

We must do better by the people, spreading the gospel is one thing but; using God to rob the people is another.  Instead of building up the Kingdom of God, they live like movie stars; Kenneth Copeland lives in  18 thousand square foot, 6 million dollar mansion, a boat house next to it, and his own airport and a fleet of jets, one costing 20 million dollars.  Creflo Dollar also flies around in a private jet; he lives in a mansion in an exclusive area in Atlanta.  Paula White has two multi-million dollar mansions one in New York and one in Tampa.  TD Jake told one Church here in Tampa "that if he was not paid 15 thousand dollars to preach a sermon, he could not attend".  There are several  TV ministers, that lives way over budget, what happen to help the people; I thought if we paid our tithes and was an active member of the Church, there will be funds to help the people when needed.   There are some Churches with so much money; they hire bodyguards to protect them; do we think this is what God meant by prosperity.  Instead of using the money to draw the young lost souls to Church, they are building up their kingdoms; and they do it without paying taxes, Lord, help us.  They tell weak minded people and seniors that they can be cured of a terminal illness by donating graciously; what about having faith, and standing on God’s Word for a blessing, but that is not mentioned because what God offers us is free.

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord from your wealth and the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Deuteronomy 15:10  Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

We should give to the less fortunate, how many homeless people could live in a nice warm bed and wake up to a hot meal with 20 million dollars.  If we put the wealth of Kenneth Copeland, TD Jake, Paula White, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Myers and a few others; we could create jobs for millions.  Yes, they should be paid for their services, but not the lifestyles of luxury they have chosen to live.

Father, we need You to intervene right now in the name of Jesus; those who are supposed to help build Your Kingdom, are building their own kingdoms at the cost of Your people.  Lord, our children are dying at an alarming rate homelessness is at an all-time high; and the people have given up hope, please Lord, help us.

 Father, give Your people a desire for Your Word and give them Your wisdom and Your knowledge to understand and implement the Truth in their lives.  Lord, help them develop their Fruit of the Spirit; so they will become the people You created us to be, and not of this dark world.  Lord, forgive us for allowing the government to take You out of our schools, jobs, and homes; forgive us for not teaching our children when they were young, the way to go so they would not stray away from You.  Father, onlyYou have the power to turn this around; please we come to You with the faith of a mustard seed, change this mess into a message, for all the world to see, that You are still in control. Lord, we know You did not bring us this far to leave us; we are aware You are Who You say You are because You pulled us up out of this pit of darkness.  So, Father, we plead with You SAVE US, in JESUS name, Amen

FOR EVERY PERSON WHO HAS LOSS A CHILD OR LOVED ONE

Father, we pray for every mother who has lost a child or loved one whether it was at war, a disease, sickness or a senseless killing on the streets; we pray for comfort and peace.  Lord, there is no pain like the loss of a loved one, so we thank You for helping us get through this, and we are thankful for all the love and support from family and friends. Father, we know You want us to be happy, despite the loss and heartbreak we are dealing with; so help us support each other, to help us find peace.  Father, we know with love and the reassurance You will provide, will help ease the pain in due time. Lord, we pray for justice to be served, to those who are responsible for, the crime against us and against Your command “thy shall not kill.”  Please Lord, stand up for the innocent lives, that were taken, as we stand on Your Word “that You will fight our battles and justice will be served.  Lord, some days are so difficult we feel as if we cannot go on because the loss we feel is so intense, it’s almost tangible to us.  Father, please remove the thoughts from our minds that we know are wrong, and give us Your strength and courage to forgive those who have wronged us by taking our loved ones.  Father, death is such an empty and draining feeling, so much so that we sometimes don’t want to be here anymore; so please fill us with Your Spirit, in these trying times.  Lord, we understand that we will never get over our loss, so please help us to live with it.  Lord, we know in due time we will be whole again, but we will never be the same; so help those around us understand.  Father, we ask that You keep Your hedge of protection around us and our children, in this lost dark world, in Jesus name, Amen

                                     THE PAIN WILL NEVER GO AWAY BUT WE CAN LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT

     

THE BIBLE WILL CHANGE US IF WE STUDY

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”  5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you; unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God". 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The Bible is what gives us rebirth; it is not just a book; it is the living Word of God, and it gives life to our dead Spirits.  The Word of God has the power to transform our lives from self-serving individuals to servants of God.  Once we receive Christ as our Savior and develop a relationship with Him through studying the Word, prayer, worship, and praise; we can tap into His promise and His power.  The Word will give us comfort, peace, joy, love, courage, strength, and faith. The Word enables us to defeat our enemies and conquer our fears.

Father, let Your Word penetrate our hearts and minds; so it can lay our flesh to rest, by giving us a desire for the things of the Spirit.  Lord, let Your Word give us correction, protection, guidance, forgiveness, joy, and peace in this loss dark world that we live.  Lord, let us not forget the sacrifice of Your Son; let the Holy Spirit compel us to see our need of Your Him so that we will develop Christ-like character.  Father, open the hearts and mind of our children and our children’s children so that they will draw near to Thee; help us teach them Who and What You are in their lives.  Lord, give us Your strength to hold on during the unpleasant times in our lives; so You can prepare us for something greater.  Lord, thank You for saving us and giving our lives meaning and purpose; thank You for keeping Your arms around us, and showing us Your love, attention, and how to live a righteous life.  Father, we give our will to You, help us develop the Fruit of self-control through the studying of Your Word and help us be submissive, in Jesus name, Amen.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTURE

We should praise God when life’s circumstances are in our favor.  We should praise God when life’s circumstances are not in our favor.  We should praise Him for His cross, even when we have to carry it for Him.  We should praise Him no matter what, just as Job did during his time of suffering.    Job is the epitome of patience, love, self-examination, faith, trust, and perseverance.    Job was made the subject of God and Satan power and philosophical debate, but God was confident that Job’s love and trust were unimpeachable.  This is how we should be as well when we are confronted with life problems and adversity.  When we stand on and trust God’s Word He will reward us; not with what we may have lost, but with twice as much.  During the time of the test, Job had no peace, no quietness, no comfort, and no rest; all he had was turmoil.  Although Job suffered greatly, he never gave up on God; and God did not give him more than he could handle.  Of course, Job complained about his suffering; he cried over the loss of his children,  he even wished he had never been born.  Sometimes suffering hurts so bad that the only healing we can receive is praise and crying out to God. 

But the lesson we should learn from the tragedies of Job’s life is that suffering is never meaningless.  The Book of Job stands as a reference point,  of how we should respond to our suffering; by keeping the faith,  that what is happening in our lives, God is still in control. 

Father, give us the faith of Daniel and the patience of Job in our times of suffering.  Lord, when we feel burnt out or overwhelmed from our day to day struggles or suffering; lead us to Your Word for comfort and peace, as we stand on Your promise with faith and courage.  Father, in You, we find a place of sanctuary, because You know our hearts and our weakness; give us Your strength and peace while we wait patiently on You.  Lord, give us the patience, understanding, and tolerance we need to withstand any suffering.  Father, right now we lay before You, our weakness, and we ask for new energy and strength; we lay before You, our frustration and confusion, and ask for peace and calmness.  Lord, we lay before You, our resentment and anger, and we ask for kindness and gentleness; we lay before You, our judgment, and ask for love and understanding.  Lord, we lay before You, our hate and envy; and we ask for forgiveness, and we lay before You, our anxiety and we ask for more patience.  In Jesus name, Amen

A NATION WITHOUT GOD

Jeremiah walked through the streets and alleys of the Holy City and saw nothing but pain, suffering, and destruction; right before the Babylon invasion. Jeremiah lamented a tragedy entirely of Jerusalem’s doing.   The book of, Lamentations tells us how Jeremiah was in grief over the consequence he knew Jerusalem would face because of their evil and shameful ways; Jerusalem was a lot like our Nation is now.  Jerusalem was a great Nation that all other Nations admired until Jerusalem left God out, and is living in the world and not the Word, causing God, to turn away from them.  We must follow the Word that has existed through time, anytime man’s Laws take us out of God’s will; something bad is bound to happen. God will not allow evil to overtake His creation; He will destroy it before that happens.

We must put God back into our Schools, Jobs, families, and our lives if we want to live.  God has destroyed many Nations that started walking in their own understanding, and we still serve that same God.  If you, have not accepted Christ, and for those who have lost their way the time is now, let us pray.

“Dear Lord Jesus, we know we are sinners, and we ask for Your forgiveness. We believe You died for our sins and rose from the dead. We trust and follow You as our Lord and Savior. Guide our lives and help us to do Your will, in Jesus name,”  Lord, give every family that lost their loved one to senseless violence closure by bringing their killers to justice.    Father, we are losing our young people at an alarming rate; so please keep them covered in the Blood from the top of their heads to the souls of their feet. “So there is hope for our descendants.  Father, forgive us for becoming people of the world and not of the Spirit; give us Your wisdom, and the knowledge to implement Your Word in our lives, in Jesus name Amen

THE MORE WE LOVE GOD, THE MORE HIS WORD MAKES SENSE

The more we love God, the more His Word makes sense; and as we begin to understand, we start to develop Fruit.  As our Fruit grow, our worldly desires start to fade; and as our Worldly desires fade our Spiritual desire gets stronger, to the point all we want to do is be with Him.  We study more, pray more, and fellowship with other believers more.  Then God will use our trials and pain as a way of taming our impatience until we learn to sit quietly and wait on Him.  Not only do our trials and pain produce patience it ultimately builds character and hope.   As our character becomes more Christ-like the more peaceful, we become, because our minds are being controlled by the Spirit and not by the flesh.  Once we have peace, we start to develop kindness, gentleness, and joy; which helps us trust God’ and as we trust God, it strengthens our faith.  Now the stronger our faith becomes, the more self-control we will have; which will help us obey God’s Word, will we still sin, yes; but God will take our faith and with His transforming grace, change it to righteousness.  Then we will start to act more Christ-like, and our actions will draw others to Him.  Now this transformation will not happen overnight, nor does it happen the same way for everyone; but we will know when it happens because we will feel His presence.

Father, we possess the most powerful tool in the world that will help us become the people You designed us to be;  please give us the desire to study the Word so that we can live a righteous life.  Lord, believers know that Your Word has changed countless lives, and the Blood still works; but we must use it to activate it’s power.  Father, help us serve You and others by spreading Your Word in truth to draw the lost near to You.  Lord help our Spiritual Leaders and teachers realize that no transformation of the soul comes from our understanding but through Your Word and the Holy Spirit.  Lord, we are just vessels moved by the Holy Spirit, and we are to use Your WORDS to speak the TRUTH to others.  Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit that corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us through Spiritual Fruit what is right.  Lord, thank You for equipping us with the power of the Spirit to obey You and change our lives.  Father, Your Word is timeless, personal, and powerful, because it is a living organism that comes straight from You.  Lord, show this lost world that You are the answer to all our problems, all we have to do is make You the Head of our lives; and You will tend to our deepest needs, give us guidance, comfort, encouragement, and HOPE, just as You promised.  Lord, we know that You love us and You want to save us from the destructive power of sin if it is our will to be saved.  Father, You have brought meaning to our lives, and we are so, so grateful in Jesus name Amen.