Week 4: JESUS, THE REDEEMER

Jesus lightens my burdens

Forgives sins and removes shame

Gives purpose to my life

Praise His wonderful Name.

I trust Him completely

I depend on His power

To keep me forever

Starting this very hour.

His love reaches higher

Than the stars I can see

Wider than the oceans

And includes you and me.

Dear Reader, I pray you will choose to trust your life to Jesus

since He redeemed you on the cross. Where ever you are

in your life whether staying in His freedom and light or experiencing

darkness and sorrow trust Jesus to walk with you and give to you

the strength and power needed for your journey. Amen

Matthew 6:9-13 "This, then, is how you should pray:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil one, for you are the King who rules with power and glory forever." Amen

Our Lord taught his disciples the components of prayer that both Glorify God and receive answers to their request. First, we will honor the Holy Name of our God as blessed members of Christ's Kingdom, and we will strive to bring as much of heaven to this earth as possible. For example, the opportunity to make the kingdom real on earth presents itself each time we meet another human being and we greet them with a gentle "hello" and a warm "I wish you well" smile.

Next, bread, is typical of all food. It was indeed the staff of life in the Holy Land and bread is still the chief item of many Easterner's meal. Daily bread means "for the day ahead" and stresses our continuous dependence on

God for the simple necessities of life. I grew up during the great depression of the 1930's. Our bread was home made biscuits baked from scratch each morning or corn-bread made from corn Dad had grown then taken to the mill where it was ground into corn-meal. Many days when we gave thanks for our food we were thanking God for a meal consisting of beans and bread. It is important that we acknowledge the simple necessities of life and keep an attitude of gratitude for them because it is indeed a token of God's mercy that He sends rain and makes the sun to shine so we may have daily bread. Speaking of every day needs, the last thing  I say to God when I'm falling asleep is, "thank you Father for my warm house and soft bed." I'm especially grateful when I am listening to the cold wind outside as it whistles around the corners of my house.

We are to petition our Heavenly Father for spiritual as well as material food. Matthew 4: 4, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Is it possible that if so many of we Westerners were not spiritually starved by omitting God's Word from our daily diet that more of the starving world would be well fed both physically and spiritually?

In Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount teaches us how to get to heaven and also teaches us how to keep hell at a minimum on earth. This brings us to another important component of the model prayer: forgiveness. When God forgives our sins after we repent they are, wiped off, dismissed and He regards the debt paid. Therefore, reconciliation is possible. Evidence of forgiveness is when in our hearts we feel no strife, bitterness, or jealousy. Apart from forgiveness, disrupted relationships are never repaired. Some will say, "I can forgive but I cannot forget," Actually, we can't even forgive when we have been deeply wounded. However, forgiveness is a choice. When we choose to forgive, we must ask God to help us forgive those who have offended us. God will over power Satan and answer our prayer because He loves us and does not want us to be held back from reaching the potential He planned for our life by clinging to an unforgiving Spirit. His desire is that we demonstrate love for each other so that our Christian testimony to the world will continue uninterrupted. I John 3: 14

Dear Reader, Many individuals including  myself are ultra sensitive. So we must choose to forgive before a reason to forgive presents itself. According to our Lord's words we must ask God to lead us away from temptation. God is the only one whose power will overcome the evil one. Satan will initiate conflict between us and other individuals even when God has put them in our lives to befriend and to love.

Father, we do understand that your kingdom belongs to you and we can be a part of it only as your power works through us. Help us to use your model prayer as a guide and give to you the honor and glory that is due your name. Help us put away any immature ways so we can be your light in the world. Amen

Belief in Jesus and giving ones self to Him as Savior and Lord is the beginning of an incredible journey with God. John 15: 7 "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you." Cultivating an intimate relationship with Jesus is like making friends with any individual.

FIRST, talk to Him frequently. Don't put the Lord on a shelf in your home and heart and talk to Him only one time a week or less.  Next, be still in your heart and listen to His answers. It is called getting acquainted.

SECOND, reading and studying the Bible is essential since God's Spirit permeates His word.

THIRD, talk to Jesus about your life. Express your feelings to Him honestly. Tell Jesus when you are unhappy, troubled about work, home, neighbors, and when you are hurting from some disappointment. It feels good to go to Jesus when we fail to be what He wants us to be. He already knows about the failure but the relationship with Him becomes close and sweet when we name the failure  and admit the disobedience to Him when the Holy Spirit makes us aware of it. The refreshing and cleansing we receive from His forgiveness gives us the sense of a new beginning.

FOURTH, when we are called upon to confront another individual in a difficult situation, we ask Jesus for courage to see it through. He helps us so we will respond in the way He desires and we will grow in our faith and dependence on Him. We praise Him each time He answers our request for courage and He helps us stand tall! Jesus confronted Peter then promised him restoration and gave to him an assignment. Luke 22: 31-32 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

FIFTH, The victory: the result of remaining in Jesus and His words remaining in us is that we see the world through His eyes and individuals though His love. The intimate relationship our Lord has helped us cultivate with Him will bring answers to our prayers because what we want and need will be what He wants for us and our needs He already knows about. Since we know His will we make our request within His will. In other words, we will want what He wants!

Father, since we desire to Honor and Glorify the name of Jesus, help us draw to Him all individuals whose lives we touch. Amen

 

Acts 12:  5 "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him/"

The power of intercessory prayer is noted in this passage of Scripture. God's gift to His children is the Holy Spirit, the avenue to Himself through their prayer. Peter's impossible situation, conceived by Satan in his effort to stop the spread of Christianity, was nothing when it encountered the power of the living God. Peter was released from his shackles by an angel and led invisibly from  the prison in answer to the prayers of the church meeting in Mary's home. Mary was the mother of John Mark. Miracles of this type were repeated many times in the history of God's new church. God is aware of Satan's persistent efforts to destroy His church and in answer to the prayers of His people His power is unleashed to insure her permanence.

The atmosphere in Mary's home was focused on one problem, the release of Peter before Herod could carry out a plan to execute him the following day. When Peter realized he was free, he went to Mary's house where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening the door and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" "You must be out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was, they said, "It must be his angel." (Have you ever prayed and when your prayer was answered you couldn't believe it? I have) But Peter kept knocking and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned for them to be quiet and when he told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison, he instructed them to tell James and the brothers about this, he then left for another place.

A young woman who is a member of the church in Los Alamos had to have a liver transplant. Her Sunday school class prayed for her before, during, and following the operation. She came through the surgery and began a lengthy recovery time. She remained in the hospital in California for weeks as prayers continued for her healing. When she finally was able to come home she expressed her gratitude to the church for their prayers. She related to the church that she felt the presence of the Lord all the time she was in California but on Sundays when the church was assembled she felt a very special visit of God's healing power at work through her entire body! It has been close to twenty years since her operation and she is well and strong.

Dear Reader, the assembled church is a powerful entity when the fellowship is of one accord. God's power is present to those who meet together to worship Him and love each other in obedience to His command that His children not forsake the assembling together. Hebrew 10: 25

Lord Jesus, thank you for the way you supply all our needs especially for constituting your church. You knew that we need one another and you made an institution that consists of a fellowship of people who are in love with you and love and support each other. Help us to remember that the power in the assembled church is due to the fact that your Holy Spirit lives in each one of your children present. Amen

 

Week 1: MESSIAH'S BIRTH

Luke 2:1,4-7 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first-born, A son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in  a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Ron was big for age 9. this made him just right to play the innkeeper in the annual Christmas pageant put on at the local church. Since he had a tender heart he found it difficult to sound mean to Mary and Joseph. When Ron saw the sadness in Joseph's eyes as he brushed the couple away when he said to them gruffly, "I said, we have no more rooms" his tender heart gave way and as the couple walked toward the exit Ron called, "Come back here you can have my room." Some in the congregation thought the play was a failure but others thought it was the best pageant ever and left the church with tears in their eyes.

Dear Readers, Have you made room in your heart and life each day to be with our Savior? If this was not a part of your News Years resolution or perhaps you have been unable to do your resolution routinely you can start now. Sincerely acknowledge His presence by saying something like, " it is a good day, Lord. Thank you for what you do for me because you love me, " Or "Lord, things are bad here for me. I need you now. Thank you for being near."

Just a few minutes with Jesus will radiate from your countenance, visible to people around you. Perhaps some will inquire why you're like you are which opens the door for a brief testimony about His love and care.

Precious Savior, Thank you for coming to earth for us. Show us ways we can share your love and how you want us to trust you to help us with whatever we are experiencing today. Amen

Week 2: MESSIAH'S MINISTRY

Matthew 11: 4 "Jesus replied, "go back and report to John what you hear and see; The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."

Luke 7: 36-38 "Now one of the Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them."

Can't you just hear these whispers among the elite law-keepers. "Look, there is one of those naughty ladies from the street. That's what happens when you give an open-house dinner. Everyone comes including that woman. See, she has broken the bottle of expensive perfume and is pouring it on his feet. What in the world is she doing now? Why, she has un-loosed her hair! How disgusting, That shows what a vulgar creature she is. No decent woman would untie her hair in Public. See how she is carrying on, sobbing and crying all over his feet, there she goes using her hair as a towel, kissing his feet and all that stuff. How can Jesus just sit there and let this happen. Any respectable prophet would know what she is-- a sinner--and Jesus should not even let her touch Him.

So who is right with God? The woman expressing a deep love and appreciation for the forgiveness our Lord gave her that freed her from the grips of s sinful life, or those who claim to be forgiven and they attend all the worship services, say all the right things church people say, pray every day in public, and give tithes. But are we missing something here? What is missing In all those works?  Love is missing! Love expressed to our Savior, Redeemer daily. And love for those people who are down and out as well as those who are society's elite but are still seeking fulfillment and peace.

In answer to the question "what is the greatest commandment?" Jesus replied in Matthew 22: 37: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself."

Wonderful Messiah, we know we are sinners made acceptable to God by only one way: faith in you and your sacrifice. Increase our love for you so that the people who watch our behavior every day will see that you are real. Amen

Week 3: MESSIAH'S DEATH

Matthew 16: 22 "Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"

Luke 22:31-33 "Simon, Simon, Satan, has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back strengthen your brothers. But Peter replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.'

When death comes or our hopes and dreams are otherwise shattered, many times God answers our pleas for help with an assignment just as he did Peter.

Peter did turn back. Jesus did forgive Peter for betraying Him and Peter became a powerful evangelist.

Unlike Peter's cowardly self defense, our Lord met the squad of soldiers in the garden with the question, "Who is it you want?"

"Jesus of Nazareth."

"OK, here I am. Take me. Jesus gave himself up without a struggle. Do you ever think of Jesus as a weakling during

His final days? Don't, He is the powerful son of God, in control of all His enemies like puppets in His hands. But He had power to lay down His life and power to take it up again.

Dear readers, we also have an assignment. Before our Lord left earth He finished what He came to do. One of His last accomplishments was to prepare Peter and the other disciples to carry on His work. He relinquished the follow up work to the disciples and to the Apostle Paul. When Paul left earth he relinquished the follow up privilege to the churches he had constituted. What about your church and my church? Are we really aware that we must continue the work that Jesus did when He was on earth? If we fail what will we tell Him when He comes back? Is it not our time to serve others. What about that single mom down the street, raising three children alone? Can we shepherd her, offer a listening ear, our friendship, and advice? Or the shut-in couple whose children live out of town? Show them our love by visiting them and offering to run some errands for them. Or that unhappy man who always seems to be raising a fuss over something? Stop at his place and help him find some meaningful task in the church. If we  church members will concern ourselves with serving others, another term describing the church will be the "joyful institution."

Lord Jesus, wake up our church so that when You return her hands will be full of mature souls she has brought to you. Amen

Week 4: FROM HOPELESSNESS TO GLORIOUS HOPE

Luke 24:33 "They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem, There they found the eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to  Simon. Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how they recognized Jesus when He broke the bread.

"But we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel." These words of hopelessness and disappointment expressed the feelings shared by the disciples. The walls had crashed in around them. What goals were set and unachieved blown away by the wind. What did we do to deserve this? What kind of a God would string us along with such promise,  such high hopes only to let us down. What do we do now? O Lord we trusted you! We counted on you! We risked everything! We devoted our lives to you--but now you're dead. Dead. Buried. Gone.

Their eyes were too full of tears, and hearts to full of hopelessness to recognize the one walking beside them. Who is this stranger who says he doesn't know a thing about what's  been going on around here? Can he be for real--everybody has to have heard about this Jesus of Nazareth who created such a commotion. And yet, yet, the way he talks, the things he says---I don't know. It makes my heart flutter a bit. I'm so sad I'm all mixed up! " "When he was at table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them" (Luke 24:30)

The wide-eyed followers, with dropped jaws and trembling lips, said unbelievable!" It's him! It's him!" The hands--did you see the hands? Pierced. O my Lord, you're alive!"

Dear Readers, In John 14:19 "Jesus said, "because I live you also will live." This  is the hope of the resurrection that we  depend on. What would we give to have been on the road to Emmaus that day and have our Savior join us on our  journey. Our hearts would have burned within, also. In reality He walks with us in every journey we take in this life 

and he will be walking with us when we cross over to meet Him face to face. Acknowledging His presence is all that is needed to make our hearts burn with the joy of His presence along life's way.

Living Savior, We praise God that the power of the resurrection is available in redeeming each soul you call from the world unto yourself today. Amen

One of the most beautiful examples of forgiveness is found in Genesis. The story of Joseph and his brothers, who were jealous of their father's affection for Joseph and they sold him to some merchants who were on their way to Egypt.

Genesis 45: 3-11 "Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, "This is what your son Joseph say's: "God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay."

Can you imagine this man, who was so badly treated by his brothers just because they thought their father was showing favoritism, being able to forgive them and be absolutely convinced that the whole episode was for good not evil. Just think how much of God's testing Joseph endured for God to know that he was a trustworthy individual. Of course God knew that Joseph was the right man but it was awhile before Joseph himself knew that he himself could be trusted in all circumstances to be God's person. It is so great to read about the change Joseph saw in his brothers since they had watched their father nearly die from grief when they sold Joseph but now they were ready to give their lives to save young Benjamin because they were filled with compassion for their father.

Dear Readers, How long does it take and how many challenges does God need to put us through before we are at the place and time we need to be to see God's hand working in our lives to test, to try, and to prove that we can be trusted to partner with Him to save and forgive our own family members that we are at odds with, or even to save a nation. Or perhaps be responsible enough to bring up our children to be trustworthy, loving and forgiving citizens of God's Kingdom. Have we learned to depend totally on God to help us choose to forgive those who treat us badly or those who insult us? Have we asked Him to overpower Satan in our lives and instill His own love and kindness in our hearts? I pray that you will read for yourselves all of Joseph's story again because it will inspire you as it does me.

Dear God our Father, may we all be found faithful and forgiving during those challenging times in our personal lives, in the life of our church, and our nation.  Amen

Luke 23: 34 "Then Jesus said, "Father forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing."

This is another unbelievable act of forgiveness, It is difficult to understand but I know the people who put our Lord to death could not possibly have known they were killing their Creator. The one who for three years had walked among them and taught by word and example what it meant to love. Those who executed our Lord model's the reality of a mob mind-set and nothing could be done to save Him. If He came down from the cross to save Himself, those who were killing Him and the entire world would be forever lost without hope. Jesus chose to die!

Another glorious aspect of the cross was the message the two thieves who hung on crosses beside our Lord gave to the world. The first thief railed on our Lord like it was His fault he ws caught and hung on the tree for his criminal deeds. Then called our Lord a lier for claiming to be King and not being able to get down from the cross and save himself or them. The second criminal gave to the world our Lord's required steps to His forgiveness and Salvation. First, the thief recognized that Jesus was God because no ordinary man would be able to forgive those who were executing Him since He was innocent of any wrongdoing. Next, the  thief acknowledged he was a sinner when he said he was getting what he deserved. Third, recognizing that our Lord was indeed a King, the thief asked our Lord to remember him when He was in His Kingdom. Finally, Jesus assured the thief that his repentance and confession of faith was accepted, that he was forgiven, and that the thief would be with Jesus in paradise.

The story in Mark 2: 3-7 clarifies the price God paid to forgive the sins of the world. "Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic," Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus knew what they were thinking so He asked "Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven, ' or to say, 'Getup, take your mat and walk." From the Pharisees' perspective the easier statement was 'your sins are forgiven." From God's perspective the easier statement is "get up and walk." For God. healing is easier: since  permanent forgiveness of sins required the death of His Son! The people looking on needed to know that Jesus takes care of both physical and spiritual needs for those who have come to Him for help. His work is not halfway when people leave His presence they are completely whole!

Dear Readers, When we come to Jesus confessing our sins in repentance and ask for forgiveness for our unbelief and invite Him to take charge of our life, the Holy Spirit puts in our soul the peace and freedom that comes from being forgiven and accepted by our Lord. With our sin needs erased by His forgiveness we are no longer carrying daily the burden of guilt and our soul is satisfied. Our Spirit has finally connected to the creator's Spirit by faith and His Spirit will forever live in our being!

Thank you blessed Redeemer for your loving sacrifice for me. I cannot imagine my life without you in it. Amen

Philippians 4: 2-3 "I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life."

Scriptures do not tell us what happened that caused the two women in the Philippians church to be at odds. This we do know, in Philippians 4: 7 the Apostle Paul talked much about the, "peace of God which transcends all understanding that will guard your minds in Christ Jesus." so he pleads with these two women, who obviously helped him in his starting ministry in Philippi, to resolve their differences since there is no peace where discord is allowed to remain. However, remember Satan! He is the enemy of reconciliation and also the enemy of our Lord's church. He laughs when he is able to turn a simple disagreement into strife within our Lord's fellowship. 2 Corinthians 2: 10 "If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. and what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive-- I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us, for we are not unaware of his schemes.

A plus for the two women and their Lord is that they did not run away from each other, but, we assume, they were both present to hear the reading of the letter from their dearly beloved Paul. They both remembered it was he who brought each one to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. And was present to help them grow in Him. The women heard the clerk read the letter from the hands of Epaphroditus. And heard Paul plead for them to be reconciled. There is no written proof the women ever reconciled, but the fact that the subject is never mentioned again would suggest they were able, with God's help, to forgive.

Dear Readers, it is possible for people, whether men or women who are at odds not to agree on any debated subject, but agreeing is not necessary for reconciliation. It's the attitude. People can love and forgive one another and not agree on everything. The part that is essential is for those involved to have a no doubting faith in and an undying love for Jesus Christ, God's Son. In other words accentuate the common ground and minimize differences, while beginning a prayer vigil for one another. Friends, Jesus loves His church. She is His treasure, His Bride. When we love someone, we will love those they love. When my husband and I married I practiced loving my husband's mom and sister like he did. He practiced loving and doing caring things for my sisters like I did. If we love Jesus we will love what He loves, His church. We will see to it that Satan does not get any victories over our Lord's treasure. The one thing Jesus said we must do to show our love for Him is to love one another. If you are absorbed with an unforgiving spirit for the church for whatever reason: perhaps someone hurt you when you were young, the pastor said something from the pulpit that offended you, or your church failed you when you needed someone to be close. I'm sorry for our failure. You are precious to Jesus and He never fails anyone. But you can choose to forgive the neglect because you don't want to carry the burden of an unforgiving spirit any longer. This is how I help myself move beyond the burden. First, I pray. I ask God to overpower Satan and get him out of my life so I can think clearly. Next, I ask God to remove all the anger and bitterness from my heart. Finally, I ask Him to fill my heart with the power to forgive and to fill me with a spirit of kindness and love for His church. Then, I ask  Him to help His church be more alert to needs within the fellowship. One way to be more aware of needs is to divide the fellowship into small group home Bible studies. In that way we can relate to one another and get close.

Loving Lord Jesus, help us to devise ways to keep our fellowship close and remember to call on you when we need a helping hand from our church because when I have asked, you have always answered in your amazing way by sending someone to me. And Lord, overpower Satan so we can continue to forgive each other and thus be free from the burden of guilt for any sin in our own lives. We do so want to be the church you want us to be, Lord, so your name will be glorified in your world. Amen

Matthew 19: 5 "for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together let man not separate."

Never has there bee n an area of life where forgiveness is more necessary than in marriage. At the time of the wedding is the time to choose to forgive. Once the  mind-set is in place, before any serious disappointment has occurred, both partners will be ready to forgive any differences. When the binding vows are made expectations of each other seem to surface. This year statistics show the percentage of successful and failed marriages if fifty, fifty.

One major cause of strife in a marriage is money and the lack of it. Perhaps budget planning should be a part of the couples premarital counseling appointments.  Another factor is lack of communication. We need to show our mates how to treat us by treating them the way we want them to treat us. Our Lord said the same thing a little different in Matthew 7: 12 "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Talking to each other is also vital. Open up and be honest and candid with each other and lets stop being so critical of our mate's ways. Help our mate by praying for him or her everyday. We may not know what we need from our mate, we must ask God to help our mate be the person we need them to be from His wisdom and then help us accept them the way they are until God decides He wants to change them. God made us, He knows us, He loves us and we are precious to Him. He wants one mate to help the other reach the potential in life that God created them to be. Sometimes hardships come, He allows it so we will grow close to each other and depend on Him. When God helps us overcome one challenge, we can be sure He will be alongside us for other challenges, also. No matter whether the challenge of the moment is in child rearing, mate disagreement over finances or something very personal, it is so important that we talk to God first to keep our emotions in check so we can think clearly and hear how the Holy Spirit is telling us we should react.

Read what the apostle Paul says regarding fulfilling one another's intimate needs in 1 Corinthians 7: 1-5. It is crucial that we work on forgiving one another when we fail to be what we need to be in our marriage because  God has the power to overcome any obstacle that prevents us from having true marital bliss.

Dear Readers, lets make a copy of 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, and attach it to our mirror or refrigerator to remind us to pray for more love, God's overcoming love, so Satan will not have the power to destroy any more marriages among God's children. Let us all pray for one another and express our gratitude to our mate often. Thank God for giving our mate to us and helping us to be aware of our need to practice forgiveness in our marriage relationships.

Father, I'm so thankful to you for my husband's and my sixty-one years of marriage. I thank you for the times when we were ready to give up that you made a way for conditions to improve and our circle to remain unbroken. Amen

2 Chronicles 7: 14 " If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Psalm 33: 12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance."

I was attending a rural school in Southern Missouri when the Japanese Nation bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Our teacher, Miss Mereda, had a radio in her home and each night she would hear the news and the next morning, after the pledge of allegiance to our flag, she told the school where our American service personnel were in combat. She hung a large world map across part of the blackboards and with her yardstick she pointed out those areas. Then she would lead a prayer for our nation and all the armed forces. All of America was engaged in the war. The nation prayed to God, worked, and helped in any way they could help. God gave America the victory!

Dear Readers, Are you proud of the gift God to you two hundred and thirty years ago. Since that time many men, women and children have died to keep America a nation under God and believe with all their hearts she is worth all the sacrifices. If you need to know why America is like she is go to the Bible and read about Jesus Christ. You will see the principle on which our nation was founded and is governed. You remember when the German leadership ran over Europe with destruction and death. Japan ran all over the Islands of the Pacific destroying lives and beautiful lands. God gave the victory in both cases. Then what did America do? America helped the nations rebuild their lands. So America conquered then made the enemy her friends and allies. That's what our Savior does. We were His enemy but He loved us into His kingdom by forgiving our sins thereby making His enemies, His friends.

Father, thank you for America and let freedom continue to ring in every walk of life. Take away our apathy and replace it with a vision of the nation you want America to be. Amen

Daniel 4: 37 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.

Galatians 6: 14 "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

I truly stand in awe of my God. When I see all the wonders that God has accomplished starting in my own life. Looking back through the years as a child, then, rearing my own children, and my aging years, I see His faithfulness.

Remember in the 1970's how constantly uneasy our nation was during the cold war. It was at that time a man called, Brother Andrew, was a participant in an underground Christian movement that delivered Bibles to Christians behind the iron curtain. Many prayers were answered and many miracles happened. Then suddenly it was over. People still give those who were the political leaders, at the time, the credit for bringing it to a close. But we know the One who simply made it go away. I'm so proud to call my God, who is over all, my all in all.

Some days ago I read a devotional in the Mission Mosaic that told about a small people group deep in the interior of Peru that had no believers and no witness for Christ. The writer was asking us to pray for God to use anything, even visions and dreams to cause someone in the tribe to seek after Him. I just sat there, my eyes filling with tears as I thought how my God had laid a burden on someone's heart regarding a little people group where not one soul knows Him. Can you see how precious every soul is to our God and how He knows about them and searches, like a shepherd, for those who are far away from Him!

Dear Readers, Are you thrilled to know Him personally? Our God who shows no difference in status and who invites everyone to be a part of His Kingdom? Whether it is a King like in Daniel's day or in our day where in far away countries, God is always searching for those who have not heard that He loves them and wants them to be in His Kingdom.

Father, I'm proud to be your child! Amen

Proverbs 22: 6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it"

Recently, my two sisters and I talked together about our lives. Each one contributed to the conversation with whatever things she remembered.

Sister Georgia Ann said, "first of all, we love and care for each other. I remember Dad would not allow us to fight or say mean things to one another. When he was around, that is. We respected our dad and obeyed him. As we grew older we loved him for the person he was. He insisted that we respect our teachers and others in authority and address them as "yes sir" and "Yes ma'am."

Sister Elizabeth remembered that we reared our children with some of the ideals that our dad reared us. We loved them and disciplined them so they would grow up to be sweet, kind and good people. Thankfully our children, eleven in all, are responsible citizens. Dad was as strong a Republican as he was a Southern Baptist. He told us to vote for the candidates who were open and honest about their plans for the future if they were elected.

I couldn't wait to add my observation. Not one of us have amassed great wealth but we have worked hard and followed our dad's teaching about being frugal with our money. We each own our modest home and will probably not go hungry the rest of our lives. We love and support our church. I recall once, after we were baptized into the church, Dad said,"we need to send an offering to the church." However, we knew Dad had no money to send. During the depression, we had pigs to butcher and eat, cows for milk, chickens and eggs to eat, but no money. The fact that he wanted to support our church made a lasting impression on us.

Considering all the teaching we still concluded there is, in reality, no way we should have become good citizens, and we all agreed, God's hand was on our lives from the beginning in answer to our parents prayers, and that  made the difference.

Dear Readers, How is it with you? Are you proud of your heritage? If God was a part of your home life as you grew up, you can be proud. If He was not, it is never too late with our Lord. You can start now. Simply ask Jesus what you need to do to right any wrongs in order to be proud of who He has made you to be. He will answer!

Luke 12: 16-20 "And he told them this parable: "The ground of  a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops." Then he said 'I will tear down by barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy: eat, drink and be merry." But God said to him, "you fool!' This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"

Roman's 12: 3 "For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you"

One example of false pride was when the Pharisee thanked God he was not like the publican while the publican wouldn't even raise his head but beating on his chest declared,  "forgive me a sinner." We catch a glimpse of our Lord's attitude regarding those who believe they are better than others  when he said it was the publican who would go to his home justified.

Dear Readers, Our Lord himself is the perfect example of what he desires regarding pride. It is so true that He can call us home any time He chooses. We know we are nothing when we face our inability to be good apart from God's Spirit that is in us. Every good and perfect gift comes from God. We can't boast about tomorrow so how can we ever feel we are superior to anyone.

Sometimes pride takes on a slightly different color. Some people may give the impression that they are humble when actually they are using it to make people believe they are righteous. I know someone like that. He so wants other people to believe he is good that he goes to great length to prove he is humble. Sadly, he is deceiving himself. He tries so hard to be something he isn't that it becomes all about him but It is really all about God since it is He who judges our motives.

Lord Jesus, You know us inside and out. Help us to overcome any false pride or fear of losing prestige when you call us to talk to seekers about your love for them. Amen

Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Time is the common denominator of life. Everyone has twenty-four hours each day. Time management is the subject that needs our special consideration. Whatever activity we make our first priority we must discipline ourselves to stand firm about the allotted time we decide to give to that activity. As Christians we are told not to be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4: 14) that scenario can also be applied to how strict we are in disciplining ourselves to keep our promise to ourselves regarding our selected first priority and the time we gave to it.

Even after we prioritize our time we will encounter emergencies that cause us to get off our schedule but Satan is our enemy in all things. He will frustrate our plans if we don't recognize His schemes. We can ask God to overpower him so we can discern how our Lord wants us to deal with any distraction. Whether a writer or homemaker it has been my experience that when I take God into my decisions and commitments, I'm more likely to be successful at keeping them.

I can hardly believe I'm past half way into the year 2006. On January 1, when I received this web site as God's gift I had not fully realized how great a gift it was. For sometime I had felt led to have a ministry of encouragement through which I could proclaim God's unchanging truth from His word while being a full time care-giver for my husband, Ray. But on February 26th 2006 when my husband of 61 years died, I knew the value of God's time. When Ray no longer needed my care having the website filled the empty time in my life and helped me retain my sense of purpose.

Dear Readers, Is it time for you to have a ministry for Jesus in obedience to His teaching? Ask Him how and where He wants you to share His message with others. You will receive His answer. In the time you are waiting for His answer just share your knowledge and experience of His love and forgiveness with any and everyone He puts in your daily path.

Father, you made me, so you know me, I praise you for providing for all my unique needs ahead of time even before I knew that I would be needy. Amen

Luke 2:6 "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born."

God is always on time.

If it is difficult for our children to wait until Christmas to open the gifts under the tree, think about Israel waiting for a Deliverer that would crush the serpents head which was promised in Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike His heel." Talk about patience look what happened: The murder of Abel, the flood, the tower of Babel, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, going to Egypt, slavery, the exodus, the wilderness wanderings, the conquest of Canaan, the time of the judges, the time of the kings, Samaria's destruction and the northern kingdom, carrying away the Jews into Babylon, the return to Canaan and rebuilding the temple, ruled by the Persians, ruled by the Greeks, ruled by the Romans. Imagine the excitement when it finally happened: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." Isaiah 60:1

 

Some of the people had given up; had not passed on to their children their knowledge of God's promise to send a Redeemer-deliverer. But those who continued to believe the promise and were watching, recognized that Jesus was God's promised Messiah. It is obvious to me that Mary was one of those who waited for God's time and the fulfillment of His promise. In her willingness to be God's servant she sang her song of praise. Luke 1: 46-55.

Dear Readers, Are you waiting on God for His time: an answer to your prayer, a child to mature enough to overcome temptations, or perhaps a baby to be born? Remember God has the correct time and when those anticipated events do come to pass "we know that  in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called 

according to His purpose. Romans 8: 28

Lord Jesus, help us to wait on your time. Help us not to run ahead of you or lag behind but walk in step beside you until you are ready to reveal your will to us and accomplish your purpose in our lives. Amen

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2B  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. A time to plant and a time to harvest."

The Apostle Paul gives a great explanation to the church at Corinth about the problem they were having regarding loyalties. He tells the church that he, Paul, planted the seed, Apollos watered and God makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3: 6-7. He also tells them that only God is important because no matter how well the seeds are planted and how faithful the seeds are watered there will be no harvest unless or until God does His work of making the seeds grow.

Paul makes the point that each person is responsible to use the gifts God has given them to bring to Him a harvest of souls that is worthy of His blessing. Whether in the home or in the church some will plant, 

some will stir the soil and water then God will give the increase: a harvest of mature children.

Dear Readers, The need for parents to spend more time with their children is a an on going subject of discussion. It is true that children in the home must take first priority but spending time with them suggests more than providing the entertainment in their life.

 

In the home, everyone has a job. During the school year the children's job is going to school. Mom and Dad have a job at home or outside the home. So on the weekend in order to keep the home running smoothly there is work to be done by someone.

 

If you parents haven't already done so, how about inviting the children to come along and spend time with you instead of the other way round. In that way children can learn how to work and help with the up-keep of their home at the same time.

My daughter and her husband are foster parents. As soon as their babies learn to walk really well, the foster parents get down in the floor with the child and together they pick up toys and tidy the room; they teach by showing. This type of working together creates a relationship of trust. As the children grow, parents can show them how to be even more responsible like cutting or pulling grass around the edges of the lawn while the parents mow or show the children how to fold the laundry. Don't give them the job then leave them alone but have them work by your side so they feel they are sharing your life and you theirs. Some really positive conversation, that  develops understanding, can occur when children and parents work side by side. When parents are vacuuming the carpet even small children can be taught to put toys and books out of the way. They can empty a wastebasket. It may be easier for parents to do all the work themselves but taking time to teach the children and enjoy doing it will bless everyone. When things like faucets need washers replaced or other miner repairs need doing show the older children the right tools and procedure for accomplishing these tasks. Cultivate the soil of children's lives so the harvest will include an environment of living together and liking it.

Lord Jesus, thank you for our children. Help us as parents to make child rearing our special business until our children reach maturity. Help us emulate Christ's love to them so they will know how to love and care for each other when we as parents are no longer around. Help us remember to talk with our children about you and even memorize verses from the Bible together so the knowledge we have of you will live on into the next generation and beyond. Amen

Ecclesiastes 3: 11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time.

There is so much ugliness in our world, hatred, Jealousy, anger unrest, dissatisfaction with life, lying, stealing, cheating and so much more, that it is hard to see God's beauty. We must remember to look up and over the ugly and see Him because where He is we will find beauty, 

love, joy, peace and eternity's hope. So much so that we can scarcely take in His work from beginning to the end. After we see Him and all He is, we must get into the world and with His power try to help the ugly become beautiful without allowing the world to blind our eyes also.

Dear Readers, On a clear night this summer go outside after dark and sit  or walk awhile to see some of the beautiful displays that God has made for you to enjoy.

 

One night when I was on my one mile and a half prayer walk I was absorbed with thoughts about problems at church, grandson's problems with school work and health issues until on the return I was within a block of my house and had not uttered one prayer for anyone on the streets or the problems going around in my head.  Suddenly just above the tree tops in front of me appeared what I believe was a meteorite. It was about seven feet long plus it had a thinner part like a tail. It swooped across in front of me from my left and melted into the darkness on my right. It was gone as suddenly as it had appeared. I have never seen anything like its spectacular beauty before or since. Its full length and tail glistened like the fire in diamonds and like the stars. I stood mesmerized in the darkness. Finally, gaining my wits, I walked on home. All I could do was thank my Lord over and over for the beauty He had just shown me. However, I have since tried never to walk without talking to Him along the way just in case the beautiful display was to get my attention!

Heavenly Father, You are beautiful beyond description and your works more wonderful than words. Thank you for showing us from time to time the spectacular beauty you have created to give us pleasure and lift us up beyond ourselves just when we need it most. I love you, Lord. Amen

Romans 7: 15 "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."

Sometime ago when my dear friend's husband died I felt God wanted me to go to her right away. I planned to cut a red rose and a bud from my rose bush and take it with my card to her home. I felt I needed to tarry awhile and visit with her. But it didn't happen. Satan put so many distractions in my path that two days passed before I got to her house. She was not at home. I felt I had let both my friend and my Lord down and I prayed for forgiveness because it is possible that she needed my words of comfort and would have been at home had I been obedient when the Spirit first moved me.

 Dear Readers, Is Internal conflict a regular occurrence in your life? Satan

works to keep us discouraged about our failure to be what we believe God

wants us to be. I'm so grateful He has the power to overcome the evil one

and also forgive us when we fail.

Heavenly Father, My desire is that when you impress on my heart to do some kind and loving deed to someone who is hurting, your grace will help me follow through immediately. Amen

Colossians 3: 18--21 "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the

Lord, Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not

continually scold your children, or they will become discouraged"

In so many homes expressions of love is missing. It is time we looked at

God's Word to find ways to express our love for each other. One important

way is to listen to one another. My grandson came to have dinner with me and in the course of the evening as we discussed his beginning a new school year he leaned back in his chair and said, "I like school." I was surprised since I had never heard him say that. Studying is difficult for him because he has dyslexia. This fact caused the family to be in conflict as to whether he was goofing off or was really in need of help. As we continued the conversation it became obvious the reason he likes school this year is  that his parents, teachers, and school officials finally listened when he told them he could not read like other kids. He is now receiving the much needed specialized help from them.

Dear Readers, remember when we are in conflict with a family member or a

former friend,  resolving conflicts and reconciling families through

forgiveness is what Jesus does. Pray about it and pray for every member of

the family. Ask God to bless them and help them to be at peace within

themselves and in their interaction with others, When the family is in

conflict someone must decide to be the hero by pouring the oil of peace on

troubled waters. What we cannot accomplish Jesus will go on ahead of us and do what is needed because He can't stay where there is anger and hatred being demonstrated.

As parents, we were guilty of continually reminding our children of past

misbehaviors even after the consequences we had chosen for their

disobedience was accomplished. We realized what we were doing after one of our children reminded us that God doesn't do that. When He forgives us He forgets!

Father, help us as families to resolve our conflict and understand that you

are a God of love and peace. You can and will overpower Satan and bring

Ephesians 4: 3-6 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through

the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you  were

called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one Baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Recently I heard a story of a church daycare director who solved a literal

earthshaking problem.

 

The director ordered eight tons of sand for their sandbox. When the drivers

delivered the sand they did not wait for the director to unlock the gate but

hastily dumped the sand in the alley and drove away. Wow! What a problem they had and didn't even have a wheelbarrow.

The children, ranging in age from two to five, saw no problem. Armed with

their tiny shovels and painted tin cans, they set to work. The story said

the black and white children, Mexicans, Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos, and

Armenians march back and forth single file, each one carrying cans full of

sand.

As they worked they sang a little song they had just learned. When lunchtime came they had moved half the truckload, and after lunch they moved the remainder!

What a perfect example for the church, working together to solve problems

and singing while doing it. And without complaint or laying blame on each

other!

Dear Readers, Lets stop making issues from nothing. We must work together, forgive each other and prepare to meet our Savior face to face. If the problem in your church is eternal, call the church to prayer and ask God to remove all anger, bitterness, and hatred and replace those sins with

forgiveness, increased love and kindness. If the problem is not eternal we

must solve it with the brilliant minds God has given to us and stop wasting

time while souls are dying and headed for hell unless they repent and

receive Christ Jesus as Savior.

Lord Jesus, forgive us for our immaturity that causes us to waste time

disagreeing over unimportant issues while seekers are unable to see hope for their souls. Perhaps, we, your Children, are too busy fighting among

Isaiah: 1 "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, "Here am I, here am I".

I'm puzzled when I try to pinpoint the time in history that our people as

well as peoples of other nations began organizing their lives without

including God when He clearly states in Exodus 20: 3 "You shall have no

other gods before me. "

Satan works so subtly the world's people are not aware their particular

nation lost her way and turned to other gods. The Christian worldview is no

longer the main view even in America. At our Bible study last week a request was made for prayer that God save our nation. A member of the group said, "no individual can save our nation because America doesn't know she needs to be saved."

God's conditions for healing is found in 2 Chronicles 7: 14 "If my people,

who are called by name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land."

As a nation, if we don't realize we are sick how can we learn what we need

in order to be healed? First, we will read John's gospel in the New

Testament. Next, seek God's help in prayer. Then, confess to God the sin of unbelief and tell Him we are sorry for our sin. We will ask God to enter our being and take charge of our life in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Dear Readers, let's lift up the name of Jesus Christ every day and pray that

when we do so He will do as He said He would do in John 12: 32, " but I when I am lifted up from the Earth, I will draw all men to myself."

Dear God our Father, have mercy on America. Put down our enemies with out and within, wrap Your Mighty Arms around us, and gather us to yourself. Amen

Psalm 119:90 "Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You

established the earth, and it endures.

I am amazed when I think about the four hundred  and thirty years Israel

spent in Egypt becoming a great nation, and the promise God made to Jacob when he was hesitating to move his family there. Genesis 46: 2 "And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!"

 

Here I am," he replied. "I am God, the God of your father," He said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes.

Many generations of Jacob's people made up the over four hundred years in Egypt yet God never forgot His promise to Jacob. After Joseph died and was forgotten, the Egyptians made slaves of the Israelites. One day God spoke to a young man named Moses about His promise to His people. Moses, reluctant at first, was chosen by God and equipped by God to lead Israel out of the land of Egypt. God's faithfulness was evident to all generations. Another generation with Joshua as God's chosen leader took the nation of Israel into the Promised Land after wandering forty more years in the wilderness.

Under Joshua's leadership God helped Israel conquer the land. When Joshua

died and those of his generation, Israel became disobedient and worshipped other gods. God was faithful and provided judges to lead His people back to Him. God did go down to Egypt with Jacob and He did bring His people back again!

Dear Readers, Surly we can trace God's faithfulness to the generations of

our own families in our nation and hopefully that will be true forever.

Almighty God, our Father, keep our hearts and minds aware of your presence as your Spirit works in our lives and may we emulate your faithfulness to our own upcoming generations. Amen

       

bow our hearts in repentance. Amen

       

faithfulness and love in your world. Amen

           

           

travel and for blessing our time together. Amen