BLESSINGS EVEN IN TRIALS

FRIDAY DEVOTIONAL     SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 5:1-3 1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: 3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. BLESSINGS EVEN IN TRIALS God is waiting to bless those whose hearts are breaking because of sons and daughters, moms and dads, brothers and sisters who are fighting a life threatening disease. God wants you to know that He hasn’t forgotten you and He will draw nearer to you more than ever before. We can thank God and Praise Him because He has promised to give you strength in the toughest of times. He knows every tear drop and is waiting to hug you and give you comfort. If you trust Him and have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior then the Bible reminds us that “Joy comes in the morning”. I sat at the bedside of a football team mate in the last stages of cancer. The Morphine did not cancel the pain and yet he talked to me about the love of the Lord. He was trying to imagine how Heaven would be and joy filled his soul as he concentrated on living eternally in heaven free of imperfection and walking with Jesus. We prayed thanks to God for what He had prepared for my friend. At the end of the prayer He asked me to get his parents. I told his parents that he was asking for them. He told them I love you mom and dad. His dad asked if he was in pain and he smiled a big smile and in perfect peace he said “no all is good.” His dad said then close your eyes and rest. He said “Jesus” and closed his eyes and went to meet Jesus. “Oh death has no sting but is swallowed up in victory by Jesus. PRAYER THOUGHT: Dear Jesus we pray for all the victims of cancer today and the loved ones who are walking the passage with them. May their faith give Godly comfort which this world cannot give. We pray for a cure to be discovered soon. In Jesus name, Hallelujah, Thine the glory. Amen

Waiting On God   SCRIPTURE: PSALM 62:1-2 (MESSAGE) 62 1-2 God, the one and only—     I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him,     so why not? He’s solid rock under my feet,     breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle:     I’m set for life. WAITING ON GOD I believe one of the main stressors in a home is experienced when a husband or a wife has to wait for their spouse to get ready. However we can take this to another level in our spiritual life. We ask God to answer our prayer today rather than in His time. Do you have a pressing need from which you desperately need deliverance? Are you willing to wait as long as he says? The temptation to take matters into your own hands ends up as a disaster. David was able to be patient because he believed that everything he really needed comes from God. Do you realize that one must plant their feet on the solid rock and praise God for deliverance even before it occurs. Faith will allow us to be set for life. We need to pray for our nation’s leaders to prayerfully make decisions that reflect faith in God. The core beliefs that marked this nation as a Christian nation need to be returned to and be reflected in our laws and statutes. Know that God has heard your prayers and he will answer every prayer. As a parent my children would come and ask, “Daddy can I…” questions. I as a responsible parent would consider if it would benefit my child and then give an answer, yes or no or not now. Your Heavenly Father does the same thing. PRAYER FOR TODAY: Dear Jesus: We vow to “stay the course” and Lord we need help to restore the core beliefs among your people, namely recognition that God is our help and deliverer. We seek a revival that brings us to our knees asking for forgiveness. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

Distinguished Medal of Honor

DEVOTIONAL (Love of God Series 03292013)     SCRIPTURE: MARK 15: 37-46   37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. 40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41  (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. 42 ¶  And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43  Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. 44  And Pilate marveled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. 45  And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46  And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulcher.   “Distinguish medal of honor for service above the call of duty.”   Today is called “Good Friday” What is good about the scene of the body of our Lord lying in a tomb with a battered body and injuries as evidence of death by crucifixion? Let us realize that body is the major proof of how much God loves us. Jesus gave his life up to brutality and shame and abuse and disrespect when he could have called 10,000 angels. My friend it is because He loved you so much that endured the cross. What other proof do you need of His Love ? He was your only chance to be forgiven and experience a wonderful relationship with God. Let each of us prepare to exclaim praises for His love this resurrection Sunday .  God’s Love To You. See you Sunday!!

LOOK WHAT GOD IS DOING

LOVE OF GOD SERIES DEVOTIONAL 03042013

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SCRIPTURE: PHILIPPIANS 4: 4-9

• 4 Celebrate God all day, and every day. I mean, revel in him!
• 5 Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
• 6 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
• 7 Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
• 8  Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.
• 9 Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.  

“LOOK WHAT GOD IS DOING”

         Verse 4 challenges us to “celebrate” and to revel in him. This is verbal recognition of God’s deliverance. It should be lively and exalt the Glory of God. We are announcing to all we meet that the Master is about to arrive. Share with the cashier at the store that Jesus is coming any time now and you pray that he/she will be ready. This is good news for the believer but a warning for the unbeliever to repent, believe and be saved. You will not believe the joy of witnessing someone’s life changed with whom you shared the love of God. This is pure joy and will be recognized in heaven. Live your life knowing that God is daily working in your life. Wow that is a reason for joy instead of worry. Let your tendency to worry give way to prayer and incredible joy and peace. To accomplish this do the following:

1.   Fill your minds and meditate on ;

• a.   Things true! (Like knowing He will never abandon us.)
• b.   Authentic Love.
• c.   Love that demands love in return.
• d.   Unmerited Love from God.
• e.   Remember everything will work out with God in your heart.