My Prayer For You...April 27, 2014

My prayer for you and me this week is this...

Bloom Where You're Planted!

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, 

whose trust is the LORD.

He is like a tree planted by water, 

that sends out its roots by the streams, 

and does not fear when heat comes, 

for its leaves remain green, 

and is not anxious in the year of drought, 

for it does not cease to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)

The Lord, your God, knows where you are, and it is He who waters and prunes.  He is our Master Gardener, and He will cause our roots to grow down deep nourished by His Living Water.  Our Creator will bring us to maturity, to bloom and bear fruit right where we are planted.

Thank You Jesus, for Your Glory, Amen!

This Week's Lightbulb Moment

Even as adults, we want to know, "Are we there yet?"

Maybe I'm the only one!  Though, in my circles, it seems I often hear people pondering out loud, "I wonder what's next?"  There's no sin in pondering the future.  In fact, it's good to ask questions, plan ahead; everyone should dream!

                                                                        

In their hearts humans plan their course,

but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 16:9   

But how are we handling the journey?  Are we whining in the backseat, making everyone around us, including ourselves, miserable until we get there or are we enjoying the ride, content to take in all the sights and events along the way?

Most of us, if we're honest, are traveling through life much like the family vacation of our childhood memories.  We're looking out the window wondering how much longer until the scenery changes, until we can take a break and stretch our legs, or possibly, how long until we FINALLY get to our next destination.  

You know, it's so easy to get caught up in whining while we wait!  "I wish I could just hurry up and get there!  I'm gonna' have so much fun...I'm gonna be just fine...Everything's gonna' be great...I can stop worrying...All my problems will be solved
...when I get there!" 

Learning to enjoy the journey has been a struggle for me.  In the early years of my life, I was "destination focused".  I wanted to figure out how to get from A to B as quickly and efficiently, with as little mess as possible, and then I could "be happy".  As I am advancing in years, God continues to  grow me up and slow me down, continuously, patiently pointing out the view.  He's teaching me ~ the joy is in the journey!

be content with what you have, because God has said, 

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Hebrews 13:5 

So, lately, I've been thinking the scenery on my path has been fairly consistent for quite a long time.  Frankly, the terrain has been rather desert like, and I am feeling a bit weary.  I've caught myself wondering often, "What's next?"  I've been asking the Lord almost daily, "How much longer til I get there?  And where are we going?  Is there possibly an oasis around the corner?"

Even today, as I wondered within myself, I opened a piece of chocolate.  The message on the inside wrapper...

Oh my good Papa in heaven, thank You for hearing me, and knowing me, and lovingly, tenderly answering me.  Thank You for pouring Your peace over me, and for Your reassurance - You know where I am.  Thank You for the lavish love You have poured on me, by which I am called Your daughter!  (I John 3:1)  Thankful, in Your Son's Name, Amen!

My Prayer For You...April 20, 2014

My prayer for you and me this week is this...

Just as we have now celebrated God's glory, as revealed in the resurrection of His Son, Jesus; we will now live in the recognition this power of resurrected life is meant for us!  It's available to you and to me simply by confessing with our mouths, Jesus Christ is Lord of all.   If you've not believed this truth in your heart and confessed it with your mouth (both are necessary), do it now while you still have breath to speak!
( If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9 NIV)

Lord, Jesus, Holy Lamb of God and Mighty Lion of Judah, show us Your glory in our every day lives. May we desire to see You, to know You, to experience Your nearness, and may we dare to live passionately in the fullness of Your resurrection power made evident in our weakness.

And Lord, Lord, Lord, for those who have not yet believed in their heart AND confessed with their mouth, "JESUS IS LORD", apprehend each one with truth and conviction of the Holy Spirit to bend their knee to Your Lordship while there is yet time.  Today is the day of salvation!  
(..."I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.  2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV)

Thank You, Jesus, You have always been present since before the foundation of the earth; You've never forsaken us.  Thank You for coming in person. Thank You, Jesus, You are coming soon!  We are standing on tiptoes, anticipating Your arrival, yielding to Your purification! Come Lord Jesus, in power...resurrection power...Amen and Amen!!
(He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.  
Revelation 22:20 NIV)

This Week's Lightbulb Moment.

I often ask a person, "Where will you be spending your spring break or summer vacation?"

But, how often do I ask, "Where will you be spending eternity?"

It is important to care about the people all around me, and their daily lives.  Yet their eternal destination is of the utmost importance.  If I truly care about the people all around me, I will share the hope of my future; I will extend a royal invitation to personally know my King, my Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

Do you know your eternal destination?  Have you been adopted by the King?  Have you received your Robe of Righteousness from King Jesus?  When your journey here is complete, will you receive your Kingdom home and your Father's inheritance?

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.  

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: 

bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the Kingdom of Light.  

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  

Colossians 1: 9-14 (NIV) 

My Prayer For You...April 13, 2014

My prayer for you and me this week...

Excitedly and expectantly rejoice over the truth of Jesus' victory over death, and more so...
share this best news with everyone who will listen for their own good and God's glory!

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  
(Matthew 28:8)

Holy Spirit, come and fill me with Your truth of the best news ever...the tomb is empty, Jesus has conquered death and lives victorious as Lord of lords and King of kings!  And Holy Spirit so fill me with excitement and thanksgiving for the abundant life this truth affords me; I will not be able to stop myself from sharing this best news with everyone You place in my path.  

Lord, Jesus, because of Your kindness, undeserved by me, how can I do anything other than grab the hand of anyone who needs You and walk them into Your presence.  

How can I do anything other than introduce every precious one to You; knowing You long to adopt them, bring them into Your Kingdom family, and deliver them into wholeness, healing, restoration and life eternal.  You make Your creation new...You give us a new name...You give us life.

Thank You Jesus for going to the cross! Thank You Father for conquering death once and for all!  Thank You Holy Spirit for residing with God's family to bring peace, comfort and JOY!  Amen and Amen!

Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers..."  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord" - and that He had said these things to her. (John 20:17-18)

This Week's Lightbulb Moment

Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison. (Acts 8:3 HCSB)

Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”  (Acts 9:4 HCSB)

The best way to get rid of an enemy?  

Do not repay anyone evil for evil...
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; 
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning 
coals on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:17, 20-21 NIV)

Ask the Lord to make them family!

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.  And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites.  (Acts 9:13-15 HCSB)

When he (Saul) arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple.  Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:26-27 HCSB)

My Prayer For You...April 6, 2014

My prayer for you and me...


pray boldly..."we are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.  We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."
(2 Corinthians 4:8-10 HCSB)


Lord, Jesus, whether You act to change my circumstances or not, change me.  Oh Sovereign God, change me first, and change me from the inside out.  For Your Name and for Your Glory, I trust Your love for me and Your will for my life, so change my heart first.


"Therefore we do not give up.  Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.  So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18 HCSB)