Is God Smiling?

This is not a time of panic and fear, worry and grief, hate and anger. This is the day of preparation, repair and renewal. Jesus is coming to catch away his Bride. We must be ready and watching. Fill your mind with his word, his promise and his faith. Repair your broken relationships. Renew your soul in the Spirit of forgiveness. Joy will fill every corner of your being as God smiles upon you from his throne.

7-28-2015      Luke 7:40-50

S.       40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

O.      Jesus forgives a woman her great sin.

A.      I must never see sin as “big or little”. I must forgive all sin against me, and learn how to treat people as if they had not sinned.

P.       Father; grant me divine help to forgive and to release all bitterness, grudge and hate. Teach me to love as you love. Amen.

7-29-2015      Luke 8:1-3

S.       1And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

O.      Women are included in those that ministered to Jesus and his Apostles.

A.      God calls who he will whether man or woman. I shall not follow man-made rules concerning the role of women in the church.

P.       Father; give me discernment of the Spirit as to who you have called and the self-called. Amen

7-30-2015      Luke 8:4-8

S.       4And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: 5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

O.      The parable of the sower.

S.       I must sow the seed of God’s word, some will produce a crop and some will not.

P.       Father; guard me from discouragement and fear that I may keep on sowing your word. Amen.

Fear is not of God!

What did the disciples go through on the day between the cross and the resurrection?  Their hope was all gone. Their Lord was dead. They were sure to be next on the crosses of Rome. Fear, worry, doubt, shame and hopelessness was the order of the day. Why? They had been taught, by Jesus himself, that on the third day he would come to life again. They had seen his power as he calmed the sea, fed the multitude, raised the dead and set the demon possessed free. Why doubt now? They were too focused on how they were feeling and not on their faith. People are acting like this right now...... Are you?
Sunday is on the way!

S.O.A.P.

4-4-2015         Romans 13:11-13

S.       11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

O.      Abandon all evil and walk in the light of love and salvation.

A.      Our eyes will not function without light. No light and we are blind. The same is true for our souls. Spiritual blindness is the result of sin. God gives us light from his word to guide us away from sin.

P.       Father; I confess all my sin and ask for the Blood of Jesus to wash me clean. Give me wisdom to implant your word into my mind and the Holy Spirit to remind me of each line. Amen.

Get Ready,,,,Get Set....

Life goes by so fast. One day your a kid, the next a great grandfather. At the end of this year I am looking back at it's events, some with pleasant memories, some not so pleasant, all in all a great year. The question comes up; what would I have done differently? My answer; I would have prayed more, hugged more, laughed more, and spent more time with the ones I love. All these are simple things and don't cost much to make happen.....so.....I will start over and do a better job, glad that I serve a God of new beginnings.

S.O.A.P.

12-28-2014         Mark 15:16-26

S.       16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.21And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

O.      Jesus is crucified.

A.      The darkest day in the history of man. A perfect, pure, holy and loving man is killed. Jesus healed, fed, taught and helped others every day of his adult life and yet because he dared to expose the false, the fake and the hypocrisy of religion he was murdered. I will be a man of truth.

P.       Father; fill me full that there is no room for hypocrisy, no room for hate, no room for self and no room for sin. Amen.

Family

9-30-2014      Mark 3:31-35

S.       31There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

O.      Jesus declares the source of family; doing the will of God!

A.      I will learn the will of God from his word and keep it before my face daily. I will submit my will and obey the voice of the Lord.

P.       Father; I want to be a part of your family, show me how to accomplish your will. Amen.

The Real Victory!

People all around me are speaking fear, dread and worry. Why do we think the worst? Why do we expect bad things to come our way? If you have your hand in the hand of God, what are you afraid of? Is there any terror too big for Him to handle? Is there any power that can overcome Him? Try looking "up" into his eyes as you tighten your grip. You won't "see" the fearful, wicked or profane around you........your on the right path!

9-10-2014      Mark 1:16-20

S.       16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

O.      Jesus calls his first disciples, four fishermen, Simon, Andrew, James and John to train them.

A.      We must heed the call of God each day, “take up our cross” and obey. The lost will not come to us and ask for guidance into the kingdom of God. We must declare the gospel message and increase the kingdom of God, one person at a time.

P.       Father; thank you for reminding me of your call. Lead me, sweet Spirit, to the people that I  might help today. Strengthen my heart and give me courage to speak. Amen.