31 July 2013

God is Good to ALL His Creation!

God of Heaven and Earth,

You are compassionate and merciful! You are good to everyone, both sinner and saint. You shower compassion on ALL Your creation!
 
Lord, forgive me for judging o harshly the people I encounter. No matter who they are or what they have done, You love them and desire a relationship with them!  Even the ones on the news, I do not desire to judge them. Only You are the righteous Judge! May my heart be dead to self righteousness and alive with Your compassion!

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me compassion!  When I think about the cross, THAT should have been me!! The Law demands a blood sacrifice; it demands death! You gave up Your throne. You gave up being omnipotent. You gave up command of Heaven's Army. For what? For me! You were mocked. Hunted down. You walked dusty roads. Then You were tortured. Nailed to a wooden cross like a criminal. You were (are) innocent!  I am the guilty one! I'm the criminal! You took my place! Thank You for Your compassion!

Father, be good to _____.  We know You will!! Show Your compassion on _____, for he/she is Your creation!  Oh, God! May we each be instruments of Your compassion.  May we be a light to those stumbling around in darkness.  May we be joy makers to those who are drowning in sorrow.  May we be Your arms of love to everyone! May we be Jesus to someone today.  In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 145:8-9 (NLT)
 
The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.  The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
 
 

30 July 2013

God is Slow to Anger!

AGod, You are Compassionate!

You are merciful! You are slow to anger.  When You finally arrive at "I Am mad", You don't stay that way forever! You are filled with unfailing love and You do not constantly accuse me! Your compassion is AMAZING!

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray Your Holy Spirit searches me through out this day. Take in consideration my actions and words.  Do they testify to You being the compassionate God?  Does my attitude reflect the mercy You have shown me? Lord, judge me accordingly and correct me. I desire to be a woman who shows compassion.

Thank You for not dealing with me harshly! You do not punish me for all my sins!!  Thank You for Your grace covering the things I do out of ignorance; the things I don't do out of fear. You recognize I am human with many weaknesses: tired, hunger, illness, etc. Thank You for being so gentle and tender with me!!

Lord, we come to You on behalf of _____.  Lord, be compassionate with _____ and slow to anger with him/her.  Do not punish _____ for his/her actions nor deal harshly with him/her. Shower _____ with Your unfailing love which will draw _____ to trust You. We know this IS Your will! You don't desire a single member of the human race to be lost for eternity. It breaks Your heart when a soul refuses Your love.  Lord, may we be Your hands of compassion! In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 103:8-14 (NLT)

The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
 He will not constantly accuse us,
 nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
    as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to his children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
    he remembers we are only dust.


29 July 2013

God Is Compassionate

God, You are Compassionate!

You are God of forgiveness, who is gracious with Your mercy! You are slow to anger and rich in unfailing love!

God of Heaven, forgive me when I am proud and stubborn! I know there have been times when I haven't paid attention to Your commands and have flirted with the very sin You have rescued me from. Lord Jesus, melt my heart with Your compassion. Sweet Holy Spirit, remind me of what God has done for me and whisper His goodness in my heart's ear. I do desire to be surrendered to the One who protects me to show me His love!

Lord Jesus, thank You for not abandoning me! Even when I choose my way, You go with me to guide me back to the path God desires me to take.  I have one time ... Oh, okay ... I have several times in mind of when I know You were present rescuing me from my own stupidity! THANK YOU!

Sweet Jesus, in Your great mercy, do not abandon _____. Send Your Holy Spirit to instruct _____ in God's ways. Do not stop protecting _____ but continue to sustain him/her. Jesus, there are many physical needs we lift to You as well as spiritual. We trust each of the people we love into Your loving care.  Your love; Your compassion out way ours for them. We join together in Your name, Jesus, praying for on another's burdens and concerns. We pray God's will be done in us and through us today. Amen

Scripture Reference: Nehemiah 9:16-21 (NLT)

“But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands.  They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them,  even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, ‘This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!’ They committed terrible blasphemies.
 “But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst.  For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!



27 July 2013

What I've Learned Since .....

I'm not one to linger in a book study for ages.  I get bored easy especially if I have already read the book and took something from it. Does that make sense?  However, I knew this particular book "I'm Not Good Enough" and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves" by Sharon Jaynes was a needed study.  We started in February and ended this month. Now you are thinking, "Vivian, that's 6 months!" Well, yes, but Girlfriends only meet twice a month! That is only 12 weeks! And there were a couple of times we didn't meet. So, about 10 weeks worth.

I'm glad we did it!  It maybe a study we revisit every couple of years.  It's not just for women! Even though the book is written for women, I believe I could do this study with families or in a group of mixed gender.  Cover it in brown paper so the men can't see the title (LOL) and print up the Lies and the Truth along with a few key notes to pass out.  If Girlfriends revisit it in a couple of years or so, that's how I'll do it.

It's been a learning experience for me.  I've watched spiritual growth in several women AND that has been a joy!  There's been meetings when it was just me and one other lady.  There's been meetings when there would be 7 or 10 of us.  From this I've learned we shouldn't meet when Spring break is taking place, Summer shouldn't have a deep study more of a devotional and do more fun things, homes get bigger responses than meeting out in restaurants and coffee shops, our church Family Ministry Center (FMC) gets a bigger response than restaurants and coffee shops, Homes vs FMC there is a tie.  Our FMC is a house. People are more comfortable in houses, women are more comfortable in houses.  There is less noise in houses or "Sunday School" rooms because ... here's why we had to leave our dear Starbucks ... LOUD music! We were meeting at 5:30 PM. I kid you NOT that music was turned up around 6 PM. It seemed louder!  There weren't more people in there either. So I don't know if that is a ploy to get people to leave so more can come in or what but its a shame there aren't more coffee shops around that don't play music.   Oh, we aren't the only ones who had this problem! My Pastor has a men's group called Man to Man. They were meeting at Chic-fil-A on Saturday mornings. Couldn't hear each other! So, they moved to the church's kitchen.  Now, Chic-Fil-A does have a children's play place ... So, I really don't know what those guys were thinking! LOL  Anyway, as Girlfriends approach it's 1 year in September, I have learned a thing or two. :) I'm looking forward to learning more!!

With the Moms In Prayer Group, the only time numbers count is when there is only one. LOL Our main prayer target is Bowling Green High School. BGHS is in our church's neighborhood.  We started our chapter in January. Sometime in May, I over heard a conversation that made my heart LEAP with Joy! For the 2012-13 school year the police were NOT called to the school for any felony!! However, on the heals of that news, learned another school police had to go to 6 times!! We also pray for the schools our individual children attend. Like mine will be at Drakes Creek and Greenwood; another lady's will be at TC Cherry.  If moms come with children who are grown, we pray over their children's needs: work, family, etc. It's not for only young children! Its for all moms with children at different stages in life!  In Bowling Green, KY there are 3 registered Moms In Prayer groups.  I highly encourage moms to get connected to a Moms In Prayer group!! PRAYER is the BATTLE!

The Prayer Squad grew out of the Moms In Prayer! It's actually women in training to learn to pray. Now, there is NOT any one way to pray.  Sometimes, people don't realize there is a better way of praying.  Prayer isn't about getting that lousy husband to pick up his socks, it's about the praying wife's attitude toward her husband.  Prayer isn't about trying to get that lazy kid to do the homework, but about the praying mom's attitude and insight into her child.  Prayer isn't about getting God to do what I want but about me doing what God wants.  Prayer changes the heart of the person praying!  Sometimes we need to change the way we are praying. A good place to start is with scripture! Praying using scripture teaches us God's will! Praying His words back to Him aligns us with His will.  We aren't left guessing what His will is when we pray scripture prayers. Something begins to change in us! "Oh, this is what God is like!" or "Oh, this is what God desires for me and my family!" or "Oh, I didn't realize how deep God's love runs!" ... I could go on and on!  You should have seen me the week we did "God Is Good" and the one "God Is Just" ... Those two GOT me!  AMAZING!  I could spend a life time on those two attributes of God and still never fully understand His goodness and His justice!!  His good and our good; His justice and our justice ARE totally different!  What He desires of us and what we demand of each other are in conflict! I bold and underlined those two words for a reason. God desires and we demand.  Because God is Love, He doesn't "demand" His way. He commands His way leaving us the choice and then loves us when we don't choose His way. We demand things of other people and of God, then when it doesn't go our way "Well, so-in-so doesn't deserve my time of day!"  See the difference?  Again, I could spend every blog on this one subject and never touch it in the way it should be done. It's so deep! It's so vast!

So, here's where I'm at. The things I've learned since September 2012!  Looking forward to next week!!

26 July 2013

God Rejoices Over Me!


Lord God, The Mighty to Save! You live with me! You delight in me with gladness and You calm my fears with Your love!! You rejoice over me with joyful song!

Lord, I have done nothing to deserve such attention from You. Your love for me is so amazing! Father, I just don't understand it but I don't need to. Search me today! I desire to be pleasing to You, the One who loves me so ... I desire to be obedient to You in response to this great love You have for me!

Thank You, Jesus, for being my Mighty Savior! I know some scripture points to You as saving in physical battles and healing from physical illnesses. I can live with the physical as long as You are with me!! I'm more grateful for the spiritual war You won for my soul! You saved me from the chains of sin! You ransomed me! You rescued me! You rejoice because I am Your's! Thank You for claiming me as Your own!

Lord, live with ____ and be his/her Mighty Savior! Delight in ____ with gladness, calm all ____'s fears with Your love. May ____ know You are the true Source of his/her joy, for You are Joy! It is our prayer that we be Your ambassadors of joy! May we each live our lives in a way that shows You are living with us. We desire Your will for our lives! In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen

Scripture Reference: Zephaniah 3:17

For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

25 July 2013

Jesus the Source of Joy!

Lord Jesus, You fulfilled the psalmist prayer request! "Send out Your light and Your truth" for You at the light and You are the truth! "Let them guide me and lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place You live." You are the Way to the Father!

Why do I become so discouraged? Why do I allow my heart to be so sad? Forgive me for giving up hope the moment disaster comes my way! I desire to trust You completely!

Thank You, Jesus, for being my guiding light to God! Thank You for being the Way to God! Without You I would not have access to God! You are the Source of ALL my Joy! I will praise You and thank You with all I have!

Jesus, we pray Your Holy Spirit will reveal to ____ You are the way, the truth, and the life. May _____ know in his/her heart You are the only he/she can come to the Father. We pray _____ will understand in his/her heart that You are the only Source of Joy! Lord Jesus, may we be living examples of what Your joy can do! Your joy is peace of mind and heart. When troubles assail us, may we show we trust You and our hope is placed in You. In Your name, Jesus, we pray the Father's will be done through us. Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 43:3-5; John 8:12; 14:6

Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God,  to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp,  O God, my God! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—   my Savior and my God!
---
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
---
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

24 July 2013

Joy Comes In the Morning after Mourning

My God, I cry out to You and You answer me! I ask for help and You come to my aide! I will exalt You for You keep me from falling in to despair!  You are faithful to rescue! You are faithful to forgive!

Lord You are angry for only a brief moment. When I ask for forgiveness, not only do You show mercy, You forget my crime by not keeping a record of wrongs.  Lord, I do not want to sin by letting anger control me. I'm going to get angry! However, I don't want to stay angry. I want to let to and give You the cause. I want to forgive others as You have forgiven me.

Lord Jesus, I'm so thankful to You for turning God's wrath away from me! You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing! God's favor is upon me because of Your obedience! I WILL give You thanks as long as I live!

Sweet Lord, weeping may last through the night but JOY comes in the morning! We pray You'll turn  ___'s mourning into joyful dancing! Clothe ___ in joy! Lord, give ___ greater joy than a farmer has when harvesting an abundant crop! Lord Jesus, we pray each will know the joy that brings us peace to lie down and sleep in Your safety. May we make sacrifices in the right spirit and trust in U for ALL provision. In Your name we pray, Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 4:1,3-5,7-8; 30:1-5,11-12

Answer me when I call to you,
    O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
    Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
---
You can be sure of this:
  The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him. Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the Lord.
---
You have given me greater joy
    than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
---
I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.   You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!  Praise his holy name.For his anger lasts only a moment,but his favor lasts a lifetime!Weeping may last through the night,  but joy comes with the morning.
---
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!



23 July 2013

The Joy of The Lord

My Lord God, I will celebrate for You are God who loves me no matter where I go or what I do! Today is a holy day! It is a day You have made!! I will rejoice and not mourn for You are the source of my joy! The Joy of The Lord is my Strength!

My heart celebrates You!! There are days I'm so focused on my past regrets that my heart cries. Oh, Lord, You have washed my heart clean of the past sins! Forgive me for not forgiving myself! May my heart be glad for You make Your dwelling in me!

Thank You for this sacred day! Sunday thru Saturday are ALL Your days! Thank You for my Family in You! Thank You for blessing me with Your Holy Spirit! Thank You for always looking out for my best interest and withholding a good thing from me. I'm not rich but You are my Father and You bless me with what I need, when I need it!! Thank You for being so good!!

Lord Jesus, may ___ not mourn on such a day as this! May ___ know Your love and rejoice for the joy of The Lord is ___'s strength! Sweet Jesus, may I and my Family celebrate together ... Celebrate YOU! You are our strength, courage, and hope. When things happen that rob us of happiness, may we take courage and know it can't rob our hearts of JOY! Joy, the confidence that we have eternal life in You! We are safe and secure because of Your grace and mercy. May we be about Your work today. In Your name, Jesus, Amen

Scripture Reference: Nehemiah 8:9-12

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

22 July 2013

Joy is Present Where God Dwells

God Almighty, Honor and majesty surround You! You are glorious and strong! Wherever You live, strength and joy are present!

Lord, may I bring You the offering You deserve! An offering of an obedient heart. An offering of surrendered will.

You are my strength when I am weak! Thank You for giving me the courage to face today! Thank You for being my Joy! When my heart is down cast by the heavy burden of life, You lift my spirit! Even in times of trouble may my heart be glad because You dwell in me. Thank You for such peace!

O Father! You are THE example! O God, may we not use any man nor woman as an example of who You are to us. You set the pattern for relationships! Lord, may ___ recognize You are glorious and strong. May ___ bring You the offering You deserve. May we worship You in ALL Your glory and splendor! Worship You today, tomorrow, and each day after that You give us breath! In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Scripture Reference: 1 Chronicles 16:27-33

27 Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling.

28 O nations of the world, recognize the Lord,recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.


29 Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence.
Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.


30  Let all the earth tremble before him. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”


32 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!


33 Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise, for the Lord is coming to judge the earth.


19 July 2013

Jesus, Who Is ....

I struggled with today's prayer, not because it is hard BUT because I didn't know what direction God wanted me to take with it. It IS hard to narrow God down to a text or Email message! Here we go ....

Jesus, You are Light! Not a light wired to a switch I can control. No. You are the Source of all life kind of light! I choose to make You the Center point in my heart that I may become a woman who You can use to carry Your Light to others. 

Lord Jesus, You are my Traffic Light signaling me caution, stop, go. You are my Runway Lights guiding me to the rite strip to use for take off. Your Word is the Flashlight in my hand for me to use to avoid stumbling around in the dark. You are the bright, lit up City who draws me to You when I'm in the wilderness. You are Light who warms my cold heart! Without You, I'd be a lost, stumbling, wrecked woman! Thank You for being my Light! Amen

Scripture Reference: 2 Samuel 22:29; Revelation 21:22-25

2 Samuel 22:29 O Lord, you are my lamp,  The Lord lights up my darkness.

Revelation 21:22-25 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there.

18 July 2013

To Be In The Light

God of Heaven, Creator of Earth; This is the message Your Word, Jesus, declared to us: God IS Light! There is no darkness in You!

Father, may my life be a testimony that I live in fellowship with You. A testimony to my family, friends, and enemies. There are moments of weakness that I do not reflect Your light to those around me. Father empower me with Your Holy Spirit. Make my heart sensitive to Your will for me to represent You even in moments of human weakness.

(As we enter into a time of thanks, think of someone who has demonstrated God's light/love to you....)

Thank You for not keeping a record of wrongs! Even now as I think on my actions, I can see when I haven't represented You to my children. There are moments when I've been "monster mom". Thank You for forgiving me! Thank You for my children who have demonstrated Your forgiving love toward me!! These two are gifts from You!! I appreciate their hearts You have bent toward You!!

It is our prayer to You, God who is Light, that ____ will live in the light as You are in the light. We pray ____ will have fellowship with You, and with his/her Family. Lord, we pray for the whole Body of Christ, including ourselves, that we will live in Your light and we'll have fellowship with one another. We ask all quarreling, disputes, anger, selfishness, and jealousy be washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ. May we be united in one Spirit, Your Holy Spirit. We pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen

Scripture Reference: 1 John 1:5-7

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.


16 July 2013

Jesus IS the LIGHT



Lord Jesus, You are the LIGHT of the World! I do not walk in darkness because You light the way! You lead to life ALL who follow You!

Lord Jesus, speak Your light in my mind and write Your words on my heart. May my heart burn hot for Your words and my mind meditate on all of Your teachings! You are the Word of God! May ALL Your teachings live in me!

Lord Jesus, thank You for shining brighter than the sun You placed in my day! Your words warm me. Your words nourish my heart, mind, body, and soul!! Your words are the Vitamin D for my spirit! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being ALL I need!

Lord Jesus, be the light of ___, may ___  follow You and not walk in darkness because he/she will have the Light who leads him/her to life.  Sweet Jesus, may we not give up praying for the world who needs Your Light so desperately! Many people need Your nourishing light and thru the power of the Holy Spirit may we carry them Your Words.  Lord Jesus, we pray in Your name the Father's will be done in our lives! Amen

Scripture Reference: John 1:1; 8:12

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

God's Word Lights My Way


Father, God who is Light, Your Word is a lamp to guide me! Your Word lights up my path!

Father, forgive me for neglecting to study Your Holy Scriptures! When the psalmist prays "I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You," I can't say that! I DO desire to!  Create inside me a burning desire to study Your Word!

Father, I thank You for William Tyndale, Martin Luther, and many others who You guided to translate Your words into the "common" language! I thank You for the countless men and women who have followed in their footsteps, guided by Your Holy Spirit, to bring us Your words! I thank You for the technology that places many versions and translations of Your Word at my finger tips! I thank You for the audio versions of Your Word! Thank You for making sure I'd understand Your Word!!

Father, the teaching of Your Word gives light so even ___ can understand! Sweet Lord, may we not make Your words hard for anyone. May we be the ones who help carry Your light, Your Word, to those in darkness! In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 119:105, 130 (NLT)

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
130 The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.

Note: I love the New Living Translation. I use it A LOT! However, I like the New King James Version, The New International Version, New Century Version, and many others.  I really like using Bible Gateway's "parallel feature" on it's web site! To view the same text in the different translations or commentary Bibles brings a rich, fullness to studying God's Word.  Bible Gateway and YouVersion both offer apps for downloading to your favorite on the go technology! iPhone, iPad, Nook, Kindle, Android. Both apps offer several translations in audio as well!  Of course, you can always visit www.biblegateway.com for the full effect the site has to offer!

15 July 2013

He is Clothed In a Robe of Light: God IS Light


Lord God, Let all that I am praise You! You spoke light into the darkness and You stretched out the starry curtain in the sky!  You are clothed in a robe of light! You are LIGHT!

Spirit of the Living God, shine God's light into my heart. Fill every dark crevice of my heart with Your light, Father! Where there is jealousy, shine the light of contentment. Where there is  (fill in a negative), shine the light of (fill in the opposite of the negative) .  I desire my heart to shine for Your glory!

Thank You for thinking about me! When the darkness of discouragement falls on me, You are my beacon of hope! I'm so grateful for my family in Christ who You use to be Your light to me! That prompting of a phone call, text, or prayer means so much!

Father, shine Your light in ___'s heart so he/she may know Your glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.  Use each of us to be examples of Your light! We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ who is the Light of the World! Your kingdom come and Your will be done, Father. Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 104:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NLT)

Psalm 104:1-2  Let all that I am praise the LordO Lord my God, how great you are!  You are robed with honor and majesty.  You are dressed in a robe of light.  You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;

2 Corinthians 4:6  For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

12 July 2013

God is Love and His Love in Unfailing

 
 
 
Dearest Father, You are LOVE! You are patient. You are kind. You are not demanding. You do not keep a record of my wrongs; You are forgiving! You are God Almighty, the God who IS love!
 
Jesus, forgive me when I do not love others as You love me! Love can't be earned. Sometimes I forget that1 Love is to be given regardless of how I feel toward a person. Love is an action of setting myself aside to serve others as You served me ... served the world!
 
Father, thank You for saying I am Your daughter! You show me love even though I do not deserve it. Thank You for being so patient with me!
 
Father, may Your love be revealed to ___ today. We pray ___ will know You are the source of true love.  Lord Jesus, may we each be used by You to show someone Your love. May we be Your arms of love to each other. Father, we pray Your will to love one another as You love us will be done through us. Amen
 
Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; 1 John 3:1; 4:7-10
 
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. -- 1 Cor 13:4-7 (NLT)
 
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. -- 1 John 3:1 (NLT)
 
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. -- 1 John 4:7-10 (NLT)
 

11 July 2013

Tomorrow's Conclusion

Friday is always conclusion day. The conclusion of looking at an attribute, character, or name of God. The problem I'm having with this week's conclusion is ...


WHAT CONCLUSION?
 
 
How can we conclude looking at God is Love? The subject alone is so VAST! To examine love in just 5 days is impossible! However, the main purpose of prayer isn't to get God to do anything, it is to change us. Change how we look at the world around us. Change how we view God.  Change our relationship with God! Prayer draws us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. As we read His Word and talk to Him, something happens on the inside. A subtle change of perspective. A shift in priority.
 
I started posting these prayers for a couple of reasons. One to log them. Two to share them outside my group. Since praying scripture prayers, I've come to realize how shallow my prayer time with God had been up to January of this year.  That's not saying non-scripture prayers are shallow; I'm saying my prayers were shallow!  I know many prayer warriors who do not pray a scripture prayer who's prayers bring Heaven down to earth! Hence, the other reason to post ... to track my spiritual growth. To see where I am at and to see where God is taking me.
 
God is LOVE! Love is .... nothing like Hollywood paints it for us in the movies, nor the music industry sings about.  I'm sure "God is Love" will show up over the next few weeks too! Months. Years .... Yeah, there won't be a real conclusion tomorrow due to the fact God's love knows no end; His love is eternal.

God Is Love 4

 
Father,
 
You are LOVE!  Plain. Simple. To the point. You are LOVE! You love me!!
 
Lord Jesus, take up residence in my heart! I pray I will take root in Your love, for Your love is what makes me strong. Your love is what gives me nourishment. May my heart be fully planted in You, filled with You, willing to do Your will!!
 
Thank You for Your glorious, unlimited resources that empower me with inner strength through Your Holy Spirit! For I am weak, but You are strong! Thank You for the strength that only comes from You to do what is pleasing in Your eyes!
 
Lord Jesus, make Your home in ___'s heart, may he/she become rooted in God's love. Lord, may we each have an understanding of how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we each experience Your love, Lord Jesus, though it maybe to great to fully comprehend. In Your name and by Your power, Lord Jesus, we pray the Father's will be done. Amen
 
Scripture Reference: Ephesians 3:16-19 


16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.


10 July 2013

God Is Love 3

Father,

The God who does might miracles, You are LOVE! Your love endures forever! Nothing can separate me from Your love for You are mighty!

LORD Jesus, I pray Your Spirit continues to bend me to the Father's will! May my heart beat at the thought of You!

Thank You, Father, for not letting go of me! When fears and doubts assail me, You stay with me. When trials come my way, You cling to me reminding me of Your love. Thank You for not abandoning me!

Father, in the Name of Jesus, we pray ___ will know that no matter what he/she is going through that You love him/her. When troubles, persecution, hunger, or even death comes ___'s way, Your love for him/her is unfailing. May each of us remember this too! We pray Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen

Scripture Reference: Romans 8:35-39 (NLT)

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

09 July 2013

Getting to Know God

Several months ago, we started a group through Moms In Prayer International. Moms coming together to pray for our children and schools. It's not limited to just moms! Grandmothers, aunts, sisters. And it's not limited to K thru 12! There are moms praying for their college kids, moms praying for their children with careers. There are even groups of mothers who pray for their children who are in prison. For more details about groups in your particular area, visit www.momsinprayer.org.

Like, I said, we (as in my church) started a Moms In Prayer group. I signed up to receive daily prayers using scripture verses via Email. I'd then text them to my BFF! From that, The Prayer Squad was formed!  Other ladies wanted to learn to pray scripture using the Four Steps of Prayer guide (Praise, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Intercession/Petition).  What started out as just a quick text with one verse turned into full length prayers! We went from 2 of us sharing to 13!!

By praying the same prayer, we are joining together and praying in unity. Even though we are in separate areas (there is one in another state), we are still uniting in God's Holy Spirit praying His will. Praying scriptures ensures we are praying according to God's will!

Praying scriptures is not the only way to pray! Please don't think this is a 100% right way to pray. However, it is a great way to dive into God's Word and learn who He is and what He desires. 

This week we are working on God's character: Love. God's love is AMAZING! We never really understand what love is until we take time to know God. I mean really know God. How do you get to know someone? Well, you talk to them right? Call the person on the phone. Shoot him/her a text. Stalk that person on Facebook. You engage with that person in some form or fashion. That is how you can get to know God!  Talk to Him! Stalk Him! Write Him a quick note ... Yes, it is ok to write God a note even if you throw it away or keep it in a journal.

Stalk God? "How does a person stalk God?" you ask. Well. It's like this ... Read the Bible. Sing Songs of Praise. Read books on Bible Studies. Find a good devotional (good as in it catches your attention!) to read daily. Attend worship services. Go to concerts of your favorite God praise, singing freak! (I'd love to hear 10th Ave North and Kutless in concert!) Attend conferences that are God centered. Find a good Bible study, Small Group, L.I.F.E group to join.  Have coffee or coke with a BFF who loves God too and chit chat about what He's doing. Be on the look out for God everywhere you go! Do you see Him in the simplest things? Do you admire the sun, moon, and stars? The flowers, kittens, and trees? Trust me! There are MANY ways to stalk God! I've only named a few! 

Trust me ... unlike Hollywood's famous names, God won't turn away any fans! He enjoys being stalked!

God is Love 2

Praying the Scriptures, Focusing on God's attributes, character, and names; following the 4-Steps of Prayer Guide. Fill in the blanks with a person's name. These are the prayers the Prayer Squad receives via text messages.

Father,

The God who created all I see, You are LOVE! You fill me with Your love through the Holy Spirit and that's how I know You are love!

LORD Jesus, search my heart! Do you find self ambition there? If so, remove it from me! I do not desire to make my own agenda happen, only Your's. May my life point to You!

Father, God, thank You for loving me while I was Your enemy! You didn't wait until I was living by Your laws to save me! No, you saved me & poured Your Holy Spirit into me; fixing me from the inside out. Thank You for loving me!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we lift up __ who is utterly helpless without You. Draw __ to You! May __ know that most people wouldn't die for him/her BUT You showed him/her Your love by dying for __. Lord, Your kingdom come and Your will be done in our lives as it is in Heaven. Amen

Scripture Reference: Romans 5:5-8 (NLT)

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

08 July 2013

God Is Love 1

Praying the Scriptures, Focusing on God's attributes, character, and names; following the 4-Steps of Prayer Guide. Prayers the Prayer Squad receives via text messages.

Father,

PRAISE: The GOD of gods! The LORD of lords! Your faithful love endures forever! You remember me in my weakness and You rescue me! You save me from my enemy who is Your enemy! You provide nourishment for me & You are my strength! Your love is everlasting!!

CONFESSION: LORD Jesus, You know I am made of dirt, dust of the earth. I am human. I am weak. Forgive me for choices I make out of fear! Forgive me for not always saying "Yes, LORD". I desire to be a woman who says "Yes" to Your request ...

THANKSGIVING:  Father, thank You for all the provision! Thank You for setting the sun, moon, & stars in the heavens to govern the light You created! The sun reminds me of Your love & the moon reminds me of how Your think of every detail. Thank You for thinking of  EVERY detail in my life!!

INTERCESSION:  Father, in the name of Jesus, may (insert a name here) know Your faithful love! Your love looks on ____'s weakness & looks past his/her faults & sees all he/she will be when he/she turns to You. In the name of Jesus, we pray the Father's will be done in our lives & in the lives of those in our cities. Your kingdom come, Your will be done. Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26

07 July 2013

God is My Comfort

Father, Your love is unfailing! You are my comfort! You snatch me out of harm's way and draw me close to You. When my heart is in despair and my mind is over taken by doubt, Your unfailing love prompts You to my rescue. You will not allow me to drown in grief. You will not allow depression to consume me. Your comfort renews my hope! Your comfort fill me with cheer! You are the God of gods and LORD... of lords! Whom shall I fear? Into the dark valley of death You walk with me. You never leave my side! At times You carry me ... You comfort me in these times so You can use me to be a comfort to others. Your love is unfailing and is a comfort to me in times of sorrow and in times of joy! There is no one like You!