by Cathy Weymouth
Tuesday 8/24/10 Jeremiah 33,34; Psalm 74; 1 John 5 - A BICYCLE IN THE GARAGE!!
S - 1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.
O - When we pray in line with God's will, we can be confident that we will receive what we ask for! God desires to give to us according to His plan, purposes and heart!
A - I recently heard John Sheasby teaching on CD about how exciting his prayer life is now (it used to be dry). Now he listens for what is on God's heart and joins Him in that. Joining God in what He is up to! I heard someone years ago on the radio tell the "bicycle in the garage" story. Have you heard it? A father decided to buy his son a bike for his birthday. He bought it and hid it in the garage. Then he began to plant the seed in his son's heart to ask for a bicycle. The desire was created and the son began to ask for a bike. Sure enough - on his birthday he got what he asked for!! Our Father does the same thing. He wants to do something in our life, places the desire there, and we begin asking "according to His will!!" How fun is that??
P - Father, may our prayers line up with what is on Your heart! May we "tune in" to the beat of your heart and align ourselves with Your purposes. Then when we pray, we know that we will have what we ask of You!! And... its fun :)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Monday August 23 Jer. 31, 32 1 John 4 "God is LOVE"
S- 1 John 4: 7 NIV- Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
MSG- My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and
experiences a relationship with God.
O- John shares with us about how we are to love one another, because that is the Spirit of God. God's nature is to be kind and loving and caring,
so why should we be different. God choice is to love us, but He doe not command us to love Him.....it's our choice, which is another example
of God's love.......He does not force us to love, but through His word the choice to love will lead to a happier life.
A- This was a real simple scripture, but it speaks such volumes to me, that God would love me even if I did not love God. That shows me just how much He
loves His lost sheep, and how He would chasten that sheep, but not make it stay. As an act of Love, He sent His son, not to be served but to serve, and to be sacrificed for our sins.
He wants us to serve with love and not from duty. To
love what He has asked of you, and do it with joy and love. God is love.....when there is not love, but discord or hate, then what? Confusion, hate...bittnerness
God's ultimate life manadate is to Love, because ultimately with love in all things, you will find peace, and with peace joy, and with joy, strength to conquer anything.
P- Lord, increase my love for you today, and take me to a new level of intimacy, that would extend to others. Increase compassion....Increase Grace & Mercy
in me, so that there is less of me and a lot more of you. Love like you love......that means even to those who don't love me. Amen
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Prospering in a Tough Time
S- jeremiah 29:7 - "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
O - The people of God were in a bad situation, captives in a foreign country. Their life was out of their control. The natural response is to be angry, complain, fight against it, or give up and become depressed. Jeremiah said to accept it, and pray into it and that God would prosper them there. The serenity prayer asks for the ability to accept what you can't change, change what you can change, and have the wisdom to know which is which. In this case, they couldn't change their circumstances so Jeremiah said to stop fighting it, and go with it! Hitting your head repeatedly against a brick wall does not damage the wall, but does damage your head. This passage is telling me that I can prosper even in a difficult situation through acceptance and prayer. Life can go on despite the most crushing circumstances. Ps 118 tells us to give thanks and trust God because his "love endures forever".
A - I will seek God's wisdom as I face challenges, and pray more and complain less.
P - Lord, show us what to accept and what to reject, when to move forward and when to strategically retreat. Help us to know in whatever circumstance we find ourselves, that you "love endures forever" and that "the Lord is with me: I will not be afraid." All I ask Lord is that I would know your presence and hear your voice and have the grace to respond rightly. In Jesus name, Amen.
O - The people of God were in a bad situation, captives in a foreign country. Their life was out of their control. The natural response is to be angry, complain, fight against it, or give up and become depressed. Jeremiah said to accept it, and pray into it and that God would prosper them there. The serenity prayer asks for the ability to accept what you can't change, change what you can change, and have the wisdom to know which is which. In this case, they couldn't change their circumstances so Jeremiah said to stop fighting it, and go with it! Hitting your head repeatedly against a brick wall does not damage the wall, but does damage your head. This passage is telling me that I can prosper even in a difficult situation through acceptance and prayer. Life can go on despite the most crushing circumstances. Ps 118 tells us to give thanks and trust God because his "love endures forever".
A - I will seek God's wisdom as I face challenges, and pray more and complain less.
P - Lord, show us what to accept and what to reject, when to move forward and when to strategically retreat. Help us to know in whatever circumstance we find ourselves, that you "love endures forever" and that "the Lord is with me: I will not be afraid." All I ask Lord is that I would know your presence and hear your voice and have the grace to respond rightly. In Jesus name, Amen.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Friday August 20 Jer. 48 & 49, Ps. 67 1John 1
Friday August 20
Jer. 48 & 49, Ps. 67 1John 1
Jer. 48 & 49, Ps. 67 1John 1
S- Psalm 67:3 "A Psalm A Song" NIV-May the people praise you , O God may all the people praise you, O God.
MSG- God! Let people Thank you and enjoy you. Let all people thank and enjoy you.
O- Psalmist is making a song of how wonderful it is to give thanks to a merciful fair judging God. All the nations will see His goodnes and grace.
The message bible says, He will judge even the Far-Flung people fair and square. Let there be a Holy Joy upon us.
A- As I read this psalm, right from the start I could feel joy, and enthusiam come over me. For the Lord to smile upon us everyday.....what more could we ask for?
It's such a God feeling when someone smiles at you. It's a sense of welcome and approval, and an inviation to open up. That's what the Lord does for us.......
When we thank Him and give Him all the glory He smiles back at us.....how refreshing and rewarding is that:)
P- Lord thank you for your grace your mercy and your big smile that shines down on us. Even in the dreariest of days, your smile can make sunshine. Thank you,
for your uncoditional love, please teach us how to extend that unconditional love to others, and to give someone a big smile today:) Amen Have a GOD day!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Friday August 19, 2010 Jeremiah 45-47; Psa. 105; John 21
FEED MY LAMBS
By Mary White
S--John 21:15-16 “”Simon do you truly love me?”…”yes Lord, you know that I love you“….”feed my lambs”…“Peter do you love me? ” “yes Lord”…“take care of my sheep“…“do you love me?” ” Yes Lord” “Feed my sheep“.
O--Before Christ was crucified, Peter denied Christ 3 times. Now Jesus is reinstating Peter.
A--Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loves him and 3 times Peter replies yes, you know that I do. Jesus says “If you love me feed my lambs”…“take care of my sheep“ “Feed my sheep“. Jesus did not settle for “yes Lord you know I do”…He wanted actions to follow these words. Feed my lambs (new believers, perhaps). Jesus cares about new believers…He wants them to grow strong and straight and in the knowledge of God‘s great love for them. . “Take care of my sheep” (help them to live according to the Word, perhaps) as a young Christian I didn’t have a clue…but someone cared enough for me to teach me God’s ways…thank you. Three times, Jesus makes it clear that if we love Him we will feed and care for His sheep. This must have been very important to Him. We have many opportunities in the church today to feed the lambs and the sheep and to take care for them. However, how do we respond when asked to do so? “I can’t do that …I am too busy…it intimidates me… I am uncomfortable”. WORDS ARE CHEAP AND COST US NOTHING. There is a cost to serving God. We need to get over ourselves, hear what the Lord is asking of us and truly say “Yes Lord I love you (in word and deed.)
P--Oh God, forgive me for the times I was too busy, inconvenienced, or too scared to feed your sheep. Help me to love You in word and deed.
By Mary White
S--John 21:15-16 “”Simon do you truly love me?”…”yes Lord, you know that I love you“….”feed my lambs”…“Peter do you love me? ” “yes Lord”…“take care of my sheep“…“do you love me?” ” Yes Lord” “Feed my sheep“.
O--Before Christ was crucified, Peter denied Christ 3 times. Now Jesus is reinstating Peter.
A--Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loves him and 3 times Peter replies yes, you know that I do. Jesus says “If you love me feed my lambs”…“take care of my sheep“ “Feed my sheep“. Jesus did not settle for “yes Lord you know I do”…He wanted actions to follow these words. Feed my lambs (new believers, perhaps). Jesus cares about new believers…He wants them to grow strong and straight and in the knowledge of God‘s great love for them. . “Take care of my sheep” (help them to live according to the Word, perhaps) as a young Christian I didn’t have a clue…but someone cared enough for me to teach me God’s ways…thank you. Three times, Jesus makes it clear that if we love Him we will feed and care for His sheep. This must have been very important to Him. We have many opportunities in the church today to feed the lambs and the sheep and to take care for them. However, how do we respond when asked to do so? “I can’t do that …I am too busy…it intimidates me… I am uncomfortable”. WORDS ARE CHEAP AND COST US NOTHING. There is a cost to serving God. We need to get over ourselves, hear what the Lord is asking of us and truly say “Yes Lord I love you (in word and deed.)
P--Oh God, forgive me for the times I was too busy, inconvenienced, or too scared to feed your sheep. Help me to love You in word and deed.
Sometimes it is a Long Time Coming
S - Ps. 105:9 - "Until the time that his word came to pass..."
O - Sometimes life doesn't make sense and is full of suffering and God feels a million miles away! Joseph was in prison and was hurting physically and emotionally. Yet behind the scenes, God was at work for good, but it took a long time for that good to be seen and experienced.
A - I have been praying for a long time about many things. I will trust that God's word will come to pass in time.
P - Lord, may I stay faithful and full of faith till that which You have promised me comes to pass.
O - Sometimes life doesn't make sense and is full of suffering and God feels a million miles away! Joseph was in prison and was hurting physically and emotionally. Yet behind the scenes, God was at work for good, but it took a long time for that good to be seen and experienced.
A - I have been praying for a long time about many things. I will trust that God's word will come to pass in time.
P - Lord, may I stay faithful and full of faith till that which You have promised me comes to pass.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
POWER IN THE WORD
by Vivian Bills
Wednesday - August 18, 2010 - Jeremiah 26, 35-36; John 20
S - John 20:31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.
O - John knew that the recounting of Jesus' miracles would lead people to believe and they would be saved.
A - There is power in the Word and power in the testimony. Tell of everything that Jesus did when He walked the earth and everything He does now in your life. To some they will just be stories, but to others who are ready to hear, they will bring Life. Never underestimate the power of the Word. I first read the bible as a non-believer, a scholar reading literature. And those seemingly mere words were powerful enough to draw me in to the love of God and belief in Jesus. When you feel that the words you could come up with would be inadequate for someone, look to the Word, the scriptures, for power.
P - Lord, I thank You for Your Word, the Holy Bible, which brings Life everlasting when we choose to believe that what You say is true. I am so grateful that I chose to believe. Remind me, Lord, to use Your Word more with the non-believers who surround me. Lead them to You, Jesus, in Your name I pray. Amen.
O - John knew that the recounting of Jesus' miracles would lead people to believe and they would be saved.
A - There is power in the Word and power in the testimony. Tell of everything that Jesus did when He walked the earth and everything He does now in your life. To some they will just be stories, but to others who are ready to hear, they will bring Life. Never underestimate the power of the Word. I first read the bible as a non-believer, a scholar reading literature. And those seemingly mere words were powerful enough to draw me in to the love of God and belief in Jesus. When you feel that the words you could come up with would be inadequate for someone, look to the Word, the scriptures, for power.
P - Lord, I thank You for Your Word, the Holy Bible, which brings Life everlasting when we choose to believe that what You say is true. I am so grateful that I chose to believe. Remind me, Lord, to use Your Word more with the non-believers who surround me. Lead them to You, Jesus, in Your name I pray. Amen.
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