True Christianity

“Caring for orphans in the same way God cares for us is a priviledge; it is an invitation to join God right at the center of His heart as the Father to the fatherless.”

Steven Curtis Chapman

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”  James 1:27

Father, I ask You to help me to be sensitive alert and responsive to the needs of others around me.  Help me to look after those in need.  Let it be for Your glory, in Jesus name I pray.  Amen.

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Grace for today

“What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace; knowing that His grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God.”  -Rick Warren

“The Lord is my strength and my song;  He has become my salvation.”  Ps. 118:14

God is so good!  He will strengthen us day by day for whatever we need to walk through.  I love that this verse tells us first of all that HE IS our strength- not just that He will provide strength.  Rather, He gives Himself to us as the strength we are in need of.  What I love even more is that He doesn’t stop there!  He is also our song!  How sweet is that!  A song certainly is a good thing to have in our hearts; and is a strength of it’s own.  But, wait there’s more!  He has become my salvation!!!

Father, I praise YOU today!  for all that You are, and all that You do, I am so thankful.  Thank You for strength, a song and Your salvation.  I love You Lord!

there ain’t much fun in medicine

“There ain’t much fun in medicine; but there’s a heck of alot of medicine in fun.”  -Josh Billings

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”  -Proverbs 17:22

Nothing feels as good as a decent laugh!  I mean a true outburst!  You can’t help but laugh kinda thing!  Especially if you can’t stop!  It’s like a purge from the soul.  I can still remember times with a certain old room-mate, (you know who you are) that make me want to laugh all over again.  Laughter, cheer, fun times, quirky, humorous things… now that’s the kind of medicine I’m talking about!  I think God has a sense of humor too and enjoys those lighthearted, joy -filled moments right along with us.

Father, I ask You to help me to laugh more, to see the humor in little things.  I ask you to surround me with others of good humor.  I thank You for joy in my heart and I pray that I could be an agent to spread Your joy and laughter in the world around me today.  I pray that this would bring You glory.  Amen.

God is not silent

“God is not silent, it is the nature of God to speak.  The second person of the Holy Trinity is called The Word.”  A.W. Tozer

Mt 5:18, “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

God, I thank You for speaking to us through Your Word.  Your Word is alive  and working and always will be.  Thank You for loving us enough to give us Your Word.  Help us not take it for granted but apply it to our lives and live it out for Your glory.  Amen.

Stiffened Spines

“Courage is contagious.  When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.”

-Billy Graham

“Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God.  The Lord will do what is good in His sight.” 2Sam 10:12

There are some things worth fighting for.  In a good fight, what will give you courage?  It is a trust in the Lord.  That too is contagious.

Father, I pray for the strength in my heart to face all of the battles in my life with courage.  I pray that you would surround me with other courageous and faith-filled people who trust in You; and find strength through You, in one another.  You are faithful God, and I thank you.

Very little to say

“Honest and courageous people have very little to say about either their courage or their honesty.”

-Hosea Ballou

Psalm 27:3, “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident”

The thing that stands out to me here is that ‘my heart will not fear.’  That is how the rest of this can also be true.  What is it that causes a heart not to fear?  Rather, I should say, who causes a heart not to fear.  It is God.

Father, You are the courage of our hearts, our lives, the ONE that we can trust who is always faithful.  You give us strength.  Please strengthen our hearts today and cause us to walk courageously, confidently, honestly and humbly in this world, for Your glory.  Amen.

The expectation of faith

“Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation.”  – Andrew Murray

What is the greatest expectation of my faith?  I have asked God for many things.  Healing, miracles, provision… but, the GREATEST expectation, the utmost that I have ever believed God for is that if I ask Him, He will save me and give me eternal life.  What an outlandish request from a sinner to a flawless and holy God!  How absurd that God should consider such a request!  How preposterous that I should believe He would ever even consider it, or even hear it from me; as a bug on earth whispering to the heavens!  Yet He did!  I asked.  He heard.  I believe.  That is the expectation of faith.

Father, I thank You for the gift of faith in my heart.  Thank You that You love it when your people call on You with expectation.  You are, You hear, You do, You love, You give, You have and always will be the Savior!  Thank You!  Thank You! Thank You!!!!