Changed Into His Image

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2nd Corinthians 3:18

The old hymn resounds in my spirit today. Written by Thomas Chisholm and William Kirkpatrick and published 120 years ago. The Truth remains, constant and unchanging, and ever our prayer.

Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,  This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. 

Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion, Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find. 

Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit, Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches, Willing to suffer, others to save. 

Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming, Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing, Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine. 

Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading, Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling, Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray those precious words from the Refrain - Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Finding the Right Rhythm

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
1st Peter 4:11b NIV

More Pearls of Wisdom from my sister, after the weekend conference in Tampa.

The older I get, the more I realize that I am meant to serve, there is no greater joy in life for me (other than singing in a praise choir!!).  I don't get as excited like other women with buying new clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry, etc... My joy is if I can help someone who is down and out physically or emotionally, it's like it lifts a burden off of me. I feel lighter by making someone else's load lighter. I am glad God has given me the physical strength to continue to help others, although I am very aware of the fact that I'm not as strong as I used to be. It's a very humbling experience to ask others to lift something for me... that's foreign territory for me.

Natalie Grant shared something at the conference that really stuck with me.  She talked about how we are always comparing ourselves to one another. She reminded us that we all have our own rhythm; that I'm not going to be as fast as someone else in something because God gave me my own pace. 

What does it matter if someone else can read 5 chapters and pray 2 hours a day? We each have our own rhythm; mine is not the same as yours. I liken it to the verse that states we all have our own gifts - embrace them. Mine is serving, someone else might be a great cook, someone else a terrific hairstylist, composer, teacher, mom, exhorter, etc. Different people have different gifts/ rhythms -  whatever you want to call them - we just need to use them to help someone else. You may never know how much they need it. 

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for giving gifts and talents to others and giving them a heart to share with the rest of the Body of Christ. Thank You for enriching our lives with those around us. Help us to focus on the good. Help us to look for and SEE the best in those You are using to color our lives. Help us to bring beautiful color into their world by using the gifts in the rhythm You have given us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Detrimental and Dangerous

For the word of God is alive and powerful.
Hebrews 4:12a NLT

I love when we get confirmation of what God is speaking to His people from several different sources. Saturday, I wrote about being intentional when it came to being in God's Word and in relationship with Him. Yesterday, my pastor's wife taught about being in God's Word and how we treat our relationship with God. Today, my sister sent me an email about the conference she was part of this weekend. She wrote,

"My mind and emotions have been everywhere the last few weeks, feeling blessed to be at a job I love to the other extreme of what difference am I really making in this world. You know those kind of days? And then I realized over the weekend that the correlation of feeling like a failure is directly related to not spending enough time in the Word. Not rocket science....oh the busyness of our lives....crazy."

My pastor's wife always says we make time for what we want to do in life. And it's true. Besides work and all the things we have to do, we still will make time to binge-watch our favorite show or Netflix or Hallmark Christmas movies. Maybe you're a gamer. I know I can get caught up in the competition of wanting to win, and can "one more" myself into past my bedtime. 

Hear me, I'm not saying it's wrong to watch your favorite show or Christmas movies or to play a game. I AM saying it's detrimental and dangerous to do that to the exclusion of spending time in God's presence and in His Word. One GIVES life, the others are only imitations of life.

Prayer:

Father,
           We know Your Word is alive and powerful. As we read it and take it in, let it cut between our soul and spirit and divide between joint and marrow. Expose our innermost thoughts and desires so that we are accountable to You and can ask forgiveness for anything that is in opposition to clean hands and a pure heart before You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Compelled to Re-Post

They All Heard

[Jesus speaking] 
Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine."
John 12:27-30 NLT

Jesus knew He was going to be crucified. He had time to think about it. He knew what was coming. How? Because He knew the voice of God. He was "deeply troubled" and yet He prayed for God to be glorified by His willing obedience. Why? Again, because He knew the voice of God! He wasn't wondering IF it was God or if it was God's will, He KNEW. 

Do we spend enough time with God to know His voice? The thing about this particular passage is they ALL heard the voice of God, but how many recognized it? Some thought it was thunder...

The question on my mind is 'How often do we pray to be delivered from the very thing that serves God's purpose?' What if - in the midst of the trial - our path crosses with someone who never met Christ? Someone we would never have met otherwise. Would they want to know our Lord and Savior because of how we respond to Him in the middle of our affliction or would they give us a 'No, thanks'?

The writer of Proverbs tells us, Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord (Proverbs 20:12 NLT).

Prayer:

Father,
           Of all Your many blessings that You bestow on us, please, God, give us ears to hear and eyes to see. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Intentionally

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2nd Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

There are things we do without even thinking about it. Things that are necessary to stay alive. We breathe, we eat (although that might take some thought). We hydrate. We practice good hygiene. We sleep (and that might take some absence of thought). Some things, by the Grace of God, our bodies do for us. Our heart pumps the blood through our veins; liver, lungs, kidneys do their job. We blink without thinking.

However, we don't live our lives by rote. We are intentional about going to work. We have to be intentional about our relationships. We have to be intentional about taking care of the business of our lives.

We have to be intentional about walk with the Lord. We have to be intentional about our relationship with Him - talking to Him, listening to Him, praising Him, spending time in His presence, reading His Word... Not just on the day(s) we go to church. We can't survive, thrive or stay fully alive on once or twice a week.

Reading the Word of God is not just about information; it's about transformation. It's about teaching us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Let's do it intentionally.

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for giving us Your Living Word so we can fulfill Your purpose for our lives - to do every good work. Teach us, O God. Open our minds to understand. Give us wisdom, Father, and birth in us a renewed desire for more of You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

As Usual

Then Jesus left Capernaum and went down to the region of Judea and into the area east of the Jordan River. Once again crowds gathered around him, and as usual he was teaching them.
Mark 10:1 NLT

How many times have you mentioned someone in conversation to a mutual friend and said, "As usual, she was doing exactly what you'd expect her to be doing." Or something like, "As usual, he was sleeping (or hunting or something else)."

We tend to identify people by things just like that. "She's always got a smile." "He's always willing to lend a hand." "He's a good ol' boy - he'll help anybody." "She's just grumpy - that's how she is." "As usual, she's/he's too busy..."

I keep thinking about the line in the old song, ♪♫ Everywhere that Jesus went, He was doing good. Gave beatitudes, helped the multitudes, everywhere He could...♪♫  

Heart check. What's our 'as usual'? Does it reflect Christ and the work He's wrought in us? Or is it just life as usual...

Prayer:

Father,
          Open our eyes to our own 'as usual.' If it does not reflect Your character, change our hearts, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

For Better For Worse

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
James 1:17 NLT

Even if we've never spoken them, we've all heard it in one form or another, 

"I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my lawfully wedded husband/wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith [or] pledge myself to you."

The traditional vows define unfailing love. Covenant love. Till death do us part. It's the 'for better for worse' part that struck me today. We all hope to become better - to be a better person. Kinder. More loving. More understanding. Perhaps better off financially - to be able to provide better. To better help others in need. Nobody sets out to become worse... at anything. But people change. For better. For worse.

Think about this. Our God never changes. NEVER. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, according to His Word. There is nothing wrong with Him. There's nothing lacking in His character. 

Even when your head starts listing all the things that are "wrong" with your life - things that you want to blame God for. He shoulda, coulda, woulda. In Isaiah 55:8-9, God tells us, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  We don't understand. We don't always know why, but what we DO know is God is love. He does not lie. He cannot fail. His ways are perfect. He tells us, I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. 

His plans don't change, neither do His promises. He is trustworthy. Unfailing. God doesn't get better or worse because He is perfect.

Prayer:

Father,

           Open our eyes to see Your fingerprints in every area of our lives. We pray as Paul prayed,  When we think of all this, we fall to our knees and pray to You, Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. We pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him. Our roots will grow down into God’s love and keep us strong. And may we have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. Father, grant that we may experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

That Doesn't Work for Me

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
1st Corinthians 12:7 NLT

How many times have you heard someone say when hearing the rules or the policy, "Yeah, that doesn't work for me" as though rules and policies are supposed to somehow line up with their individual ideas rather than the corporate. Unless your name is on the building, I'm pretty sure it's not about you. I know that may come as a surprise in this day and age, when everything seems to be about "me". What me wants. What me likes. What me thinks.

There are many talented people in this world, but we lose sight that those gifts are not all about "me" either - or at least they shouldn't be. We tend to lose sight of it also in our Christian walk. The Bible says we're a team. We're supposed to be working together to get Home. Verses 4-6 read, There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.  It's not about individual wins - it's the Body of Christ.

Verse 12 reads, For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. The purpose of our gifts are so we can help each other.  The gifts are not about making an individual who s/he is - it's about the collective gifts making the church whole, complete. Jesus prophesied in Matthew 16 that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church - the Body as a whole.

Pastor Alan used the game of baseball as a great illustration. One person isn't a baseball team. Even if one or two shine, one person cannot be the team. An opposing team will defeat one person. It doesn't matter how good you are - if the team doesn't win, you don't win. And sometimes, we have to sacrifice for the team. You may be the best hitter on the team, but if the situation calls for a bunt, you need to bunt. The Truth is, when we help our teammates score, we still win. 

We need to be of one heart and one mind, according to Scripture. We have one purpose and one plan - God's. It "doesn't work for me" because it shouldn't work just for me. We're called the Body of Christ. Our bodies are His temple. That would make it HIS Name on the building. It will work for US together. Let's lay our lives down in service to the Body of Christ. Let's help them get Home - then we all win!

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to see with Your eyes - to be of one heart and one mind - executing Your plan, not ours. Change our hearts, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

History Repeats Itself

Like our ancestors, we have sinned. We have done wrong! We have acted wickedly!

Psalm 106:6 The Message

I was reading in Psalms tonight. Something I read cross-referenced to Psalm 106. It is both frightening and reassuring at the same time to read the history of Israel's faults and failures, especially when it so readily translates to 21st Century behaviors...

Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough? There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.

Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people; come near and rescue me. Let me share in the prosperity of your chosen ones. Let me rejoice in the joy of your people; let me praise you with those who are your heritage.

Like our ancestors, we have sinned. We have done wrong! We have acted wickedly! Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the Lord’s miraculous deeds. They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them. Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea. Even so, he saved them— to defend the honor of his name and to demonstrate his mighty power. He commanded the Red Sea to dry up. He led Israel across the sea as if it were a desert. So he rescued them from their enemies and redeemed them from their foes. Then the water returned and covered their enemies; not one of them survived. Then his people believed his promises. Then they sang his praise.

Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn’t wait for his counsel! In the wilderness their desires ran wild, testing God’s patience in that dry wasteland. So he gave them what they asked for, but he sent a plague along with it. The people in the camp were jealous of Moses and envious of Aaron, the Lord’s holy priest. Because of this, the earth opened up; it swallowed Dathan and buried Abiram and the other rebels. Fire fell upon their followers; a flame consumed the wicked.

The people made a calf at Mount Sinai; they bowed before an image made of gold. They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull. They forgot God, their savior, who had done such great things in Egypt— such wonderful things in the land of Ham, such awesome deeds at the Red Sea. So he declared he would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen one, stepped between the Lord and the people. He begged him to turn from his anger and not destroy them.

The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn’t believe his promise to care for them. Instead, they grumbled in their tents and refused to obey the Lord. Therefore, he solemnly swore that he would kill them in the wilderness, that he would scatter their descendants among the nations,  exiling them to distant lands.

Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead!
They angered the Lord with all these things, so a plague broke out among them. But Phinehas had the courage to intervene, and the plague was stopped. So he has been regarded as a righteous man ever since that time.

At Meribah, too, they angered the Lord, causing Moses serious trouble. They made Moses angry, and he spoke foolishly.

Israel failed to destroy the nations in the land, as the Lord had commanded them. Instead, they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters. By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan, they polluted the land with murder. They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love of idols was adultery in the Lord’s sight.

That is why the Lord’s anger burned against his people, and he abhorred his own special possession. He handed them over to pagan nations, and they were ruled by those who hated them. Their enemies crushed them and brought them under their cruel power.  Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin. Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love. He even caused their captors to treat them with kindness.

Save us, O Lord our God! Gather us back from among the nations,  so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!

In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

REMINDER: Attitude of Gratitude

John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.”

John 3:27 NLT

Jumping the gun a little for November thankfulness, but this is a favorite of mine and it’s time for a refresher course in an Attitude of Gratitude. In our flesh, it’s too easy to see the down side of life. A friend of mine sent a message a while back that clearly showed her CHOICE to look for something for which to give thanks. 

She had been working mandatory overtime for several weeks. She was tired and wanted to whine about it, but that day she came home, her A/C had gone out… on one of the hottest days of the year. She chose to thank God that she had the extra money on hand to pay for the repair. She had to put her uniforms in the dryer for work the next day (while the A/C was down); she chose to thank God that she has a dryer AND that it works! She also chose to thank God that she was perspiring enough to cleanse her body from toxins (also God’s design). 

How many times do we miss the opportunity to acknowledge God in all our ways? The old car/van/truck – that still runs faithfully with no car payment. The flat tire that happened in the parking lot at work could just as easily have happened on the freeway at 70mph. You might say that NO flat tire would have been better. Let’s see, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.” Perhaps you needed an opportunity to practice an Attitude of Gratitude or find a way to acknowledge God…

Prayer:

Father,

         We haven’t the words to properly praise You for all the ways You provide for us – spiritually and physically. Forgive us for the times we don’t acknowledge You. We love You, Lord. Help us to be more aware. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Light & Dark

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.
1st John 1:5 NLT

Strange how we humans tend to live our lives as though God is made in our likeness; as though we have to make allowances for those times He doesn't do what we want Him to do. That we would dare to think God is somehow lacking. And as though we think that God will overlook our "little" sins because of it. 

If so, we are deceived. There is no such thing as "little" sin. Sin is a BIG DEAL - such a big deal that Christ died for it! Paid with His very life's blood to redeem us from it.

Continuing with verse 6, 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. 7 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.

Light is life. Think about the Creation story - the world was without form and empty until God said, "Let there be light" and then it was on from there. We can live in the light because Jesus IS the Light of the world.

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.  

According to 1st John 2:1b-2) ...if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.  Understand this - we WILL sin because we are flawed, but we do not have to LIVE in the darkness created by sin. We can live in the Light.

Prayer:

Father,

          Help us to live in the light as You are in the light, so that we may have fellowship with each other, and be cleansed from all our sin by the precious Blood of Jesus. Most of all, we want to be in right relationship with You, living in Your Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Prophetic or Pathetic

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
Matthew 8:8 NLT

The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry...
Proverbs 25:11 The Message

If you've been a Christian for any length of time you know our texts for today. And more than likely you also know the Scripture in James 3:6 that reads the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity, and verse 9 of the same chapter, Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Do you know Psalm 57:4, as well? My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

The point is - they are all about words. What we say. How we charge the air around us. Do we speak light and life - or do we darken the souls of those around us with our words? Just a reminder. Will I speak prophetic words of Truth and light and life over those whom God has placed in my life?

Prophetic or pathetic? The choice is ours, but it's THEIR lives that are most affected.

Prayer:

Father,
           With no joke or humor intended, Let my words be sweet and tender today so that I don't have to eat them tomorrow. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Scared to Death

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 
Psalm 139:1-5 NLT

(My sister, Michelle, wrote this one.)  I remember the days when the first verse of this Psalm scared me to death because I was walking the wrong path. Our upbringing taught us only of a God ready to send us straight to hell if we messed up; do not pass go, do not collect $200. Our generation was brought up getting "the hell" literally scared out of us; the next generation got to live in the luxury of "the grace" teaching which was definitely more about the love of God and not His judgment. However, God is both Judge and justice, and so much more - Grace, Mercy and Love. 

If you believe the Word of God, it tells us that God cannot lie, and if we believe the Word, we have to believe all of it. We don't get to just pick the Scripture passages that we like. The same Bible that teaches God is love also teaches us that The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10: 30b-31). 

Because I was so scared of God for the majority of my life, I never felt loved by Him. I know I have a long way to go in that area but I at least know now that I AM loved by God. Regardless of what I have done, regardless of what I will do in the future that may not please Him, He loves me... and He loves you!

I wish I hadn't wasted so many years not having that knowledge. I am positive if I stood in front of a roomful of people with their heads bowed and eyes closed, and asked how many truly believe that God loves them - no matter what they had done in their life - very few people would raise their hands. That's the lie the devil perpetuates when we are young and unfortunately, we believe it for a very long time. It wasn't until I learned to rest in His presence that I could feel His love. It's how we learn about our other friends, right? Spending time with them? So let us spend time in His presence and get to know this God of love. He is, after all, Immanuel, God with us. 

Prayer:

Father, 
          Forgive us for judging You with lies the enemy has sold us. Shine Your Light of Truth on Your Word and reveal it to us in such a way that we be holy and acceptable in Your sight. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Straight Answer

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Jesus said to him,“Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
John 5:5-9a NKJV

A new friend of mine SOAP'd on this particular Scripture passage. It was so good, that I wanted to share it with you. (SOAP=Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.)

In this story of Jesus and the man at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus asked the man plainly, "Do you want to be made well?" It was a straightforward question requiring a straightforward answer - a simple yes or no would suffice. Did He get a straight answer? No, He did not. 

What Jesus got in reply was an excuse and an explanation. In this case, Jesus had mercy on the man and miraculously healed him anyway. I wonder how often the Godhead is frustrated with our answers to His simple yes-or-no questions. Will you...? Won't you...? Do you...? Don't you...?  Can we just give Him a straight answer without excuses? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Forgive us for all the times we tried to give You excuses when all You wanted was a simple yes or no. Help us to truly stop and listen to what You're asking, so that we will answer You in Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Holding On

The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:14 NKJV

An interesting verse. Powerful as a stand alone, but even more so when we know the story. The Israelites had just left Egypt. One minute they're strutting their stuff out and taking Egypt's gold with them; the next, they're weeping and wailing because the Red Sea is in front of them and Pharaoh is closing in from behind! So, they did what most people do - they cry out,"Oh, God!!" and then start pointing fingers at the leader and making accusations.

Moses speaks Truth, verse 13, And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever." Then he delivers our Promise for Today, "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."

In other words, "God's got this! Be quiet!"

Shut your mouth.
Stop whining.
Stop crying.
Stop playing the blame game.
Quit pointing fingers.
Stand still!

If we trust God... If we trust His plan for our lives... If we BELIEVE He is who He says He is, we won't be moved by what we see. Even better - when God fights for us, the enemy "whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever... We WILL hold our peace and through God, we'll have the peace that passes all understanding - holding on until victory is ours!

Prayer:

Father,
Help us to stay focused on the Truth of Your Word until we see Your Glory revealed in victory over the enemy. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Dry Bones

He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.
Ezekiel 37:3-5 NIV

We all go through them. Desert places. Places so dry you wonder if you will live through them - or sometimes question whether or not you even want to live through them. Well, there's good news and there's great news.

The good news is often hidden or lost to us in the dust of the desert, but it is found in Psalm 37:23, The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. If you're in the desert, God knows exactly where you are and He's dealing with EVERY detail.

The great news is found in our Promise for Today - Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.

In Ephesians 5:25-26, Paul tells us, Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. Hear the Word of the Lord! Run to the Living Water. Your parched dry bones WILL come to LIFE!

Prayer:

Father,
Thank You for Your Word! Thank You for directing our paths exactly to where we need to be! Help us to always look for Your fingerprints even in the desert sands. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Truth about Imaging

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27 NKJV

We live in extraordinary times. Now more than ever, it's all about the visual appeal. Marketing campaigns,computer technology, the world of medicine - all excel and rely on their imaging capabilities. Such incredible strides just in medicine alone! Ultrasounds projecting images - detecting everything now from blood clots to cancer to kids!

Websites, social medias of all kinds rely heavily on photos and images. Just think Instagram! A few statistics according to AdWeek*,

"On Twitter, tweets with images receive 18 percent more clicks, 89 percent more favorites, and 150 percent more retweets. According to Socialbakers, Facebook brand page posts with photos account for 87 percent of total Facebook page interactions worldwide."

And selfies! Oh.My.Word! People and their selfies!! Photo booths and photo ops are at every event! We are absolutely infatuated! Why shouldn't we be?


Psalm 139:14 declares, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." 

The Truth is we ARE fearfully and wonderfully made because we are made in the image of God, according to HIS likeness. But instead of the staged photos, how about we mirror His love? His compassion! His kindness! His mercy and grace! His faithfulness! Just to name a few... God created us with purpose for His purpose. He created us in His own image so we could accomplish all that He has planned for our lives. That's the Truth about imaging. Picture that!

Prayer:

Father,
            Rip the star-struck scales from our eyes so that we can see Your Truth and properly portray Your likeness to the lost and dying generations, without the photo ops and props of this world. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

*https://www.adweek.com/digital/the-3-things-that-make-a-visual-marketing-campaign-actually-work/

Psalm 16

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.

Psalm 16:1 NLT

I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from You.” The godly people in the land are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them! 

Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods.

Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land You have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.
For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow Your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.

Psalm 16:2-11 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

           Let our hearts always turn to Your Word for Truth, for life, for light to guide our way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

At the Right Time

At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.
Isaiah 60:22b NLT

Isaiah was prophesying of the promised future for all of God's redeemed. Eternal light. God's glory and splendor will shine on us. Our days of grieving will be over... and everybody says, "Amen!" and wants to know when!

We are all familiar with Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

“However," Jesus tells us in Mark 13:32-33, "no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!"

Paul exhorts in Ephesians 5:15-17, Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. And in Romans 3:11-12, he writes, This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

2 Peter 3:8-9
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

You know I just keep thinking about the different Scriptures that refer to a set time for things - for this world, for our lives - and what to watch for so we'll know. We have His Word that He's coming. We don't have an exact date, but we know it will be at the Right Time!

Prayer:

Father,
           We know You have made everything beautiful in its time. Your Word declares that You have set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what You have done from beginning to end. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Never An Option

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Romans 8:5-11 NLT

Every day, we're presented with choices. Some are easy. Some are not. Some have subtleties that we might miss if we don't think it through, guided by the Holy Spirit. Some seem absolutely overwhelming in our flesh! When I read this passage of Scripture, I get a sense of someone volleying their options back and forth, even making a list. Do I? Don't I? Will I? Won't I? But the Truth of the matter is if we're led by the Spirit of Christ, the choice is clear.

I remember as a child, plucking daisies - he loves me, he loves me not. I had the worst luck... I never won. When I got old enough to realize I could manipulate the game, I won every time... and I do SO like to win. Ever been there? How much do we still try to manipulate to win? Oh, that's an ugly thought, isn't it? Yeah, I didn't like it, either...

Which do you love more - Spirit or flesh? That's what it boils down to. Who do we love the most? God or ourselves? What we ultimately choose clearly defines what/who is most important to us. Will we overcome or succumb?

If we continue in our passage for today, we read, Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

We're always going to have temptations and urges. Paul Overstreet - a country songwriter who is also a Christian - always tries to put that perspective in his song lyrics. One of his older songs talked about a man who was so tempted to cheat. On one hand, he tries to come up with all the excuses he can to try to justify what he's tempted to do, but on the other hand, there's a wedding band to remind him why he can't, and he goes back and forth.

How does that apply to our lives as followers of Christ? It's very simple... On one hand, there's a scar where the nail pierced the Lover of our soul to the Cross. On the other hand, is an identical scar because Jesus loved us enough to die in our place for the sins we've committed.

He loves us NOT was never an option for Him. Should it be for us?

Prayer:

Father,
            Illuminate our lives with this Truth - every step, every choice, every day. Let us carry in the forefront the choice of love Christ made and be led by Your Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Full of It

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:20-21

Colossians 1:23 reads, if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

The word "IF" stuck out and the concern in my mind was for those times when the level of faith felt less than it should be and hope fell short. So, let me just say this. I have never met one Christian who could say they didn't go through times when they felt their faith was less than it should be and/or their hope fell short. However, it's what we do when we're in that place that matters the most.

What choice do we make in the place where we are assailed by circumstances, trials and tribulations, pain and suffering? When we're dashed against the rocks by the horrendous storms of life - are we crushed or do we know that Jesus is the Rock? In the moment of our deepest dark, do we give up and walk away, or do we say with conviction, "God, You are still God" - no matter what we see going on around us?

Listen, friends will fail us, and so will family. Not on purpose more than likely, but it will happen. So will those in church leadership at some point or another. The number one thing to remember when it does happen is that they are NOT God. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It's when we make the choice - as an act of our will - to follow after Christ that we continue in our faith. If there never was going to be a need to forgive or to be forgiven, Christ would not have died.

1st John 2:24-25 exhorts us, So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

Can we make up our mind to believe the Word of God is true, no matter what we see or hear - and then "feed" on the Word instead of what we feel?

We remain faithful by keeping our faith FULL... full of His Word.

Prayer:

Father,
           You are the Lifter of our heads. Help us to see above the circumstances of life and to abide in Your Word. Help us to remain faithfully Yours. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Decision-Making Time

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
James 1:5-6 NLT

We make many decisions in a day. Some are considered 'no-brainers' - things we don't have to decide daily because at some previous pivotal point, we decided we would do it regularly. Other decisions require conscious effort, deep thought and reasoning, and just when we think we've made the hard decision, we think about it some more.

Some decisions are made for us - such as what the boss wants done and when he or she wants it. Some are seemingly without thought because they 'go with the territory' - if you deliver pizzas, you need a driver's license and the state-required insurance, and a vehicle of some sort.

The bottom line is this: we make our decisions - and our decisions make us. More than that, decisions we make affect the lives of those around us. 

To choose to live righteously, 

to choose to have an attitude of gratitude. 

To choose to reach out to others... or not. 

Those decisions affect everyone within our sphere of influence. If we don't make conscious decisions, it will be our mindless decisions that will affect our lives and those around us.

So, knowing that - how are you at making decisions? Do you have all the wisdom you need in order to make them?

Prayer:

Father,
          We come before You today and ask for Your inspired wisdom to make the right decisions to follow Your purpose for our lives. Lord, Your Word says You will give it to us and not rebuke us for asking. Our faith is in You alone, Father - we do not want to waiver. We need Your wisdom. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Packing It Up

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Luke 12:34 NLT

A decade ago, when we evacuated for Ike, we had no idea what, if anything, we would come back to. The one common thread was pictures. Family pictures. Baby pictures. Pictures of parents or loved ones who'd already gone on to eternity. Too little space, not enough time, a life's span of goods. What do you take? Hurricanes usually provide some advance notice. Last year, Harvey took us by surprise even though we knew it was coming close.

What about those who get no advance warning? All is lost.

Jesus is coming. God has given us fair warning. We have time to plan. We have time to prepare. We have time to be ready...but not a lot of time is left...

The time of the Son of Man will be just like the time of Noah— everyone carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ship. They suspected nothing until the flood hit and swept everything away. It was the same in the time of Lot—the people carrying on, having a good time, business as usual right up to the day Lot walked out of Sodom and a firestorm swept down and burned everything to a crisp. That's how it will be—sudden, total—when the Son of Man is revealed. When the Day arrives and you're out working in the yard, don't run into the house to get anything. And if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat. Remember what happened to Lot's wife! If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get life on God's terms.
Luke 17:26-33 The Message

We're packing it up. We're getting ready to leave. Are you ready?

Prayer:

Father,
Adjust our eyes from the darkness of this world to see and seek Your light. Cause our hearts to store up only what is important in heaven where it cannot be destroyed. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

I AM

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalm 18:1-2 KJV

When Moses asked God who he should say sent him to tell Pharoah to release the Israelites from slavery, God replied, Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you (Exodus 3:14). A long time ago, I did a study on the title of I AM. It's amazing how much can be defined by so few letters! How can so little encompass the Creator of the Universe and all that He is?

He is our rock, our fortress, our God, our deliverer. Our strength. He is trustworthy, our full-body shield, our protector and provider. He is the author AND finisher of our faith. Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. Holy One. Lamb of God, Lion of Judah. The root of David, the Word of Life. Our Advocate. Our very breath.

He is the Way, the Truth and the Light of the world. He is the King of kings. Lord of lords. Alpha Omega, Lord of all. Messiah, Jehovah, Chief Cornerstone. Our righteous judge, the Morning Star. Bread of heaven. Resurrection and Life...to name a few...

He is Emmanuel. God with us. All that we need. More than enough. He is I AM. And He came to set us free, that we might have life!

Prayer:

Father,
          Give us a revelation of all that You are. We stand in awe of You. In Your all-consuming love and passion, put us in the proper perspective of Your greatness and Your power. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

No Fear of Bad News

They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Psalm 112:7 NIV

No fear of bad news. That's quite a promise! How are they fearless? ...their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Steadfast in the original Hebrew is the word kuwn; defined* as; 

be firm, be stable, be firmly established, be secure, enduring, to be prepared, be settled. 

Other translations render it as hearts are firm, fixed, confident.

Who are "they" whose hearts are steadfast? The ones who fear the Lord and obey His commands (vs 1). The righteous. Those who have prepared their hearts with God's Word. They are secure. Firmly established. Enduring. Confident.

No fear of bad news.

Prayer:

Father,
           Let Your Word be forever established in our hearts and minds. We want to be found faithful, our hearts steadfast in You, so that we will praise You no matter the circumstances in this life. Like David, we put our trust in You. As Isaiah declared, surely You are our salvation; we will trust and not be afraid. You are our strength and our defense. We proclaim our song of victory in You, O God, our Light. Our Strength. Our Song. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

*The Hebrew lexicon is Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius Lexicon. These files are considered public domain.

Walk Worthy

We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.
1st Thessalonians 2:12 NLT

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
Ephesians 4:1

What does it mean to walk worthy? Is it something we do or say that can make us worthy? One teacher describes it this way,

A clue is found in Colossians 1:10 which says, "Walk worthy of the Lord, to please him." But Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please him." So the call to walk "worthy of the Lord" is at least a call to walk by faith.

Paul lays it out for us in Colossians 1:9-14, praying for us as we should pray for others... thereby walking worthy. For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that

• you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 
• that you may walk worthy of the Lord, 
• fully pleasing Him, 
• being fruitful in every good work 
• and increasing in the knowledge of God; 
• strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, 
• for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 
• giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 
• He has delivered us from the power of darkness 
• and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 
• in whom we have redemption through His blood, 
• the forgiveness of sins. 

Prayer:

Father, 

            May all the spiritual wisdom and strengths that Paul prayed for the church in Colosse come to fruition in our lives today. Help us to walk worthy of You, Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Changing of the Seasons

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6 NLT

In South Texas, we sometimes dream of changing seasons. We only see pictures of beautiful leaves or else we have to travel to see them. Those trees are not in our yards. Here, we jokingly tell you we have two seasons: Summer and Lesser Summer. Right now, it's still summer. It was 100 degrees Fahrenheit today. TODAY. No kidding. It's October! It was so humid this morning that I thought I was going to need snorkel gear just to walk to my car. I walked outside and my face melted off into my hands...  

That's okay, though. In another 6 weeks, when the rest of the country (north of our border) is freezing and enduring winter weather, we will be soaking up our lesser summer. We're ready now.

And that's just like life. Some days, some times, some seasons are harder than others. The good news is times and seasons are known to change (in most places). The BEST news is, God does not. His love doesn't change. His ways don't change. His expectations of us don't change. His Word doesn't change. His plans for our lives don't change, either. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. 

No matter the season in life, we can weather it as long as we follow Christ (pun intended.) Seasons change. God does not. If you need a season to change, pray. Tell the Father. And be sure to thank Him.

Prayer:

Father,

            We thank You for being with us and leading us through all the seasons of our lives. We thank You for the peace that You promise us - peace which exceeds anything we can understand. No matter the season, guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus. Help us to keep our thoughts fixed on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Help us to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Strengthen us to keep putting into practice all we have learned about You and received from Your Holy Spirit. Be with us, Jehovah Shalom, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Plan B

But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
James 1:6-8 NLT

I've mentioned before that I grew up hearing "God helps those who help themselves." I heard it so often as a child, I thought it was Scripture. It is NOT. However, as all subtleties of satan, a thought that sounds good can really mess with your faith. We start thinking that God doesn't have time - or worse - doesn't care because He doesn't answer in our time frame or the answer is not what we wanted or expected. And surely, "we should do something about that..."

I have heard good Christian people actually say, "Well, I'm gonna pray about it and if that doesn't work, I'll do such and such." There's no evidence of faith in that statement. There's no ...prayer, believing... (Matthew 21:22). The Truth following such a statement would be, "Don't waste your breath." Our Promise for Today clearly states, Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. That's praying with a Plan B.

Plan B indicates a lack of faith; not believing that God is who He says He is. Plan B is declaring either that God can't or won't - I don't know which is worse. If you have prayed something according to God's Word, there isn't anything higher, better, wiser, richer, more profitable to your mind, soul, body and spirit! What Plan B could possible be better than God's Word?

Prayer:

Father,
            Forgive us for every time we made an alternate plan. Show us where we lack faith in trusting You and You alone. Expose the lies of the enemy of our soul and tear down strongholds that have been built on those lies of half-truths. Open our eyes and our hearts to receive Your whole Truth and nothing but Your Truths. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Snip Snip

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
1st Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

It's been pretty stressful at work lately. Today, I went to the other side of the building to check something and stopped for a 5-minute chat with a fellow believer. In the course of the conversation, we encouraged each other and talked about how important it is to lift up others, to speak an encouraging word to family, friends and yes, even strangers.

She told a story that gave a mind's eye visual of our Promise for Today. When her daughter was in college learning how to be a teacher, one of the exercises they did required her to have a paper doll to care for and carry for a full day. The assignment was that for every negative word spoken, a piece of the paper doll had to be torn away or cut off.

Imagined morning phrases counted, too, before the child ever got to school.

"Come on, Johnny. You're always late!" Snip
"Evelyn, can't you do anything for yourself?" Snip Snip
"Let's go! You are the slowest kid!" Rip"You will never..." Tear"Fine! You don't care? I don't care, either!" Cut...

Now, think about your day. Did we take their head off first or their feet, not giving them any way to stand... How many negative words were spoken - even if the person didn't hear what you said or thought? Snip, Snip! Rip and Tear! Cut...

How much of the paper doll would we still have at the end of the day? How are we doing with the flesh-and-blood ones God has placed in our care?

Prayer:

Father,
           May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Cause us to have clean hands and pure hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Praying the Psalms

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 40:1-3 NLT

There are days when it's best if I don't use my words... Today should have been one of those days... except to say, "Forgive me for my bad attitude today, O Lord, I pray..."

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand - you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.

Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles surround me— too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.

Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me... 

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!” As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.  Psalm 40:4-6, 11-13, 16-17

In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen