As we join our hearts and minds and prayers today we seek to come humbly before our God with contrite and repentant hearts. We simply ask God to bless our country and make us a blessing in our world.
The words of this song written by Fred Kaan may help us express our desires.
WE UTTER OUR CRY
We utter our cry: that peace may prevail, That earth will survive, and faith must not fail. We pray with our life for the world in our care, For people diminished by doubt and despair.
We cry from the fright of our daily scene For strength to say “No” to all that is mean: Designs bearing chaos, extinction of life, All energy wasted on weapons of death.
Creator of life, come, share out, we pray, Your Spirit on earth, revealing the Way To leaders conferring ‘round tables for peace, That they from bias and guile be released.
Whatever the ill or pressure we face, Lord, hearten and heal, give insight and grace To think and make peace with each heart-beat and breath, Choose Christ before Caesar and life before death!
Today --------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for our country and the privilege of live in America. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
We are reminded in Matt. 6:33 that if we will seek the Lord above all the things of this world, He will provide just what we need in every area of our lives.
Mother Teresa --- “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much!”
“We are powerless without prayer.”
According to John 8:47 “He who belongs to God hears what God says.”
Ancient Persian Proverb ------ “There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.”
Lucy Maude Montgomery ----- “We live in the present, we dream of the future, but we learn eternal truths from the past.”
Howard Thurman ------ “During time of war, hatred becomes quite respectable, even though it has to masquerade under the guise of patriotism.”
Unknown ---------- “Watch your thoughts, for they become your words; Watch your words, for they become your actions; Watch your actions, for they become your habits; Watch your habits, for they become your character; Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
Dale Carnegie -------- “Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.”
Today ------ Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for His love, mercy and grace given to us according to our need. Have a TERRIFIC WEEKEND !!!
I’m sitting at my desk this morning. Outside the sky is dark, lightning is flashing and the thunder is crashing causing the house to vibrate. In times like this my mind usually pulls up a song from the past. One of those songs which has a message that is timeless. Guess the song which came to mind this morning. The author is unknown. The words are familiar to us “old folks.”
NEVER ALONE
I’ve seen the lightning flashing, And heard the thunder roll, I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, Trying to conquer my soul; I’ve heard the voice of Jesus, Telling me still to fight on to fight on. He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.
The world’s fierce winds are blowing, Temptations are sharp and keen; I feel a peace in knowing My Saviour stands between; He stands to shield me from danger, When earthly friends are gone. He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.
Today --------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that when the storms of life are raging He stands by me. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
We receive many e-mails about friends. I found this in my Bible. I wrote it many years ago.
“My Friend”
I’ve found a Friend!
A Friend who was sent by God,
He came down from the glory of Heaven
To trod upon this old earth’s sod.
He would be a Friend to the world,
But the world doesn’t seem to care
For the friendship of a Friend
Who died that we might be here.
This Friend is a Friend to all
Who will accept His holy name,
And believe in Him who was
Yesterday, today, and forever the same.
I’ve found a Friend!
He means more than all else to me.
He gave His life on Calvary
That you and I might be free.
Don’t you want my Friend for your Friend,
You who know Him not?
He will take away all of your sins,
And wipe out every dark blot.
Come, don’t delay any longer,
But accept this Friend today.
He will make life sweeter and better
And help take all the sorrows away.
Today -------------Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for the “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
Guidelines
One of the most popular sections of the book store is that section on “Self-Helps.” Almost everyone is interested in finding ways to live that will give them happiness and success. May you have run across these sometime.
Five Simple Rules To Be Happy
1.Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worry.
3. Live simply
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God
Every moment, thank God.
Today ------------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for His Owner’s Manual, the Bible, which gives instruction for living. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
Bob Knisley writes in a daily devotion: “Personally, I like the faith expressed in thanking God for what lies in the future, that is where each of us will spend the rest of this life.” I might add that eternity is also in our future.
Lirk Cameron, movie and TV star, was being interviewed about his Christian experience. He let it be known among his friends that he was an atheist. He had everything a young man could want. One day he was confronted with the fact of death and eternity. He realized he was not prepared to die. Asked why he did not want to give his life to God he said, “I was too intellectual.” He did overcome this and gave his life to the Lord. That was 14 years ago. He is now the father of several children, an ordained minister and a strong Christian leader in the film industry. He stars in the movie LEFT BEHIND.
How is it with you? Are you so intellectual you don’t need God? Are you so sophisticated that you believe in many gods and that there are many ways that lead to heaven? I suggest that you give serious thought to the truth of God’s Word. “There is only one Name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved.(Acts 4:12) That name is JESUS.
Today ----------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for the salvation God has made available through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
A Prayer for today – Lord, Teach me Your ways, Oh God. Help me to have a heart of thanksgiving for all You’ve done and are about to do in the days ahead.
“A wise man forgets his anger before he lays down to sleep.”
Michael Youseff---“There is only one way to travel the road of life and that is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who brings light to our darkness, hope strong enough to shatter our greatest fears, and peace deep enough to calm our anxious hearts.” “The first step we take on the journey of faith is one of obedience.”
Billy Graham------“If I am a true Christian I will not give way at home to bad temper, impatience, fault-finding, or sarcasm, unkindness, suspicion, selfishness, or laziness. Instead, each day will display the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”(Gal.5:22-23 NIV) How different would your life be if you consistently practiced these Christian virtues?”
Joyce Myers ------- “Dating Jesus is not enough. You gotta commit to marriage!”
Chinese Proverb ---------- “Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own,”
“When counting my blessings I hardly know where to begin. Give me a thankful heart this day. Amen”
Today ----------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that He makes it possible to live life as He wants us to live it. Have a TERRIFIC WEEKEND !!!
Being consistent is to hold to hold the same principles or practice. Being consistent means to do the same thing on a regular basis. To say, “He is the same day in and day out or he is the same every time you see him” is to say he is consistent.
We teach our children to be consistent when they see us being faithful and consistent in everything. The Bible instructs us to teach our children by regularly doing the things God has instructed us to do. Do them morning, noon and night as you go out and as you come in and as you walk along the way. Be consistent.
Do you
practice what you preach? My children, grandchildren, family and friends know
that I pray for them every morning during my devotion time.
Consistently. It is also true regarding praising
the Lord for everything. Praise is the quickest and best way to get God
involved in any situation. The attitude of praise and thanksgiving is
a
”must” in living consistently for the Lord/.
Today ---------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for the awesome privilege of being consistent in our daily living for the Lord. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
Living in our world today requires that we have some bed-rock convictions on which to stand unless we are willing to be swept along by the opinions of others. But even as we take a stand we must be careful not to be overconfident of our ability to handle temptations.
I Cor. 10:12 (NIV) “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Everyone has weak places in their life. Just as we think we mastered the weakness and it will no longer be a problem – something happens. Our weakness surfaces again. We begin again to try to overcome. “Lord, forgive us” we pray. And He does. Knowing our weakness is more than we can handle alone, we ask God to help us.
I am very thankful that He is always there ready to help when I need help. He helps by giving us friends who stand with us to encourage and to pray for us. He provides His Word to instruct us. He Himself lives in us to give the strength to trust God and to do what is right.
Today ----------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that His promise is to “never leave or forsake us.” Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
My upbringing has conditioned my thinking about the worship of God. Worship is always in the church as people gather for that purpose. Worship is singing, praying and preaching. How limited this is! I believe we are not to forsake the assembling together as Paul instructs us. However, worship is not limited to this.
Worship is an individual experience whether it is in context of a congregation in church or in the privacy of one’s home or in any place where the individual is in the presence of God. Worship is praising God, thanking God, seeking God. Worship is trusting God. Jesus said, “Trust Me, everything is under control.” I ask myself have I really come to that place in my relationship with the Lord that I fully rely on Jesus? That’s the place I want to be.
Oswald Chambers said, “Spend plenty of time with God, let other things go, but don’t neglect Him.”
Today------------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that He puts within us the desire to know Him, to worship Him and serve Him. Have a TERRIFIC DAY!!!
Oswald Chambers writes: “Spend plenty of time with God, let other things go, but don’t neglect Him.” This is terrific instruction. In our fast paced world is is a weakness of God’s people that we do not spend enough time with God.
Take a look at your schedule. How do you start your day? A mad scramble to get breakfast and get everybody off to wherever they go is common for many families. I recently heard a well known Christian leader say she started her day by spending an hour in prayer. When asked how she was able to do this she said, “I get up earlier.”
Satan will do anything in his power to keep God’s children from spending time with their heavenly Father. God says to us, “Come aside for a little while.” We find that we have a million things to do that prevent us from doing that. Can we get a grip and tell Satan to back off because I have an appointment to spend time with my Father?
Today ----------------- Out loud and on purpose Rejoice! Thank and Praise the Lord for the invitation to “Come unto me.” Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
FRIDAY GEMS
PEACE OF MIND COMES FROM A CLEAR CONSCIENCE.
George Herbert – “He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven.”
Michael Josephson – “Forgive others for your own good as well as for the good of those you forgive. Holding onto anger and resentment is a decision to suffer.”
“Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.”
Kareem-Abdul –Jabar, NBA Center – “One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.”
George Matthew Adams – “It is no disgrace to start all over. It is usually an opportunity.” Prov. 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed.”
Robert Schuller – “Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly.”
“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor men perfected without trials.”
Emmett Fox – “If you would love enough you would be the most happiest person in the world.”
“LOVE ENJOYS GIVING.”
“Temptation is sure to ring your doorbell, but do not ask it to stay for dinner.”
“Nothing in life will ever be as satisfying following the Lord.”
Today ------------------- Out loud and on purpose let’s just Praise the Lord! Have a TERRIFIC WEEKEND.
I read this somewhere. “A wise man knows when to speak and when to listen, what to say and what not to say, when to wait and when to act, and when he’s wrong how to say I’m sorry, please forgive me.”
Proverbs 10:19 – Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow.”
A man who was disgruntled by the way things were being done in his church came to see me. He spent an hour speaking of all the things being done that he did not agree with. He was really wanting me to agree with him. I just listened. He ended his visit by saying, “Well, you didn’t have much to say.” I was just praising the Lord for keeping me quiet! James 4:5ff tells us the tongue is a little member but is capable of causing great harm and no man can tame it, but God can.
Today --------------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for His guidance to help us know when to speak and when to shut up. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
Our world is in conflict. World leaders propose a “Road to peace” in the middle east. The result – 5 suicide bombings in two days. American and UN armed forces are scattered around the world to “keep the peace.” Yet, there is no peace.
Is peace possible? Yes! Peace is possible when the hearts of men are changed by the power of God. Love is the power that will change the hearts of men. Right now one expression of love is seen in the efforts of various organizations to provide for the needs of people in Iraq.
My church is sending boxes of food - $65.00 each box – to feed a family for one month. Multiply this by thousands of boxes from other churches and other organizations. This is a practical expression of love. God will bless it.
Jesus said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Today ------------ Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord and pray for peace in the hearts and lives of people everywhere. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
Mark Lowry does a routine in one of the Gaither Homecoming Videos about the fact that there is always a song that seems to fit the need in every situation. Haven’t you found that to be true in your life?
Many stories come from war-time experiences. One story relates that a boy was playing the piano, picking out the notes of one of his favorite gospel hymns, “Tell It To Jesus.” He did not know that his father had come into the room as he played the same tune over and over. The father asked, “Are those the notes to ‘Are you weary, are you heavy hearted, Tell it to Jesus?” “Yes, sir” The father told how those words kept him going in WW II. He was very fearfull of what might happen to him. In some very bad situations from somewhere he heard the voice of his mother singing, “Are you weary, are you heavy-hearted, Tell it to Jesus.” That was all he could remember of the words, but the message was enough to sustain him in every situation.
“There’s within my heart a melody. Jesus whispers sweet and low, Fear not I am with thee in all life’s ebb and flow. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest name I know. Fills my every longing, Keeps me singing as I go.”
Today ---------------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that He is always with us. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
Have you noticed in many TV programs a person who comes across something unexpected says, “Oh, My God!” A careless use of the name of God. I’ve heard for much of my life the expression, “Oh, Lord!” I doubt that in the use of either of these expressions there was a serious thought about God or the Lord. We have carelessly allowed ourselves to get in the habit of using these expressions. God doesn’t like this. Take a look at what God says about this and get serious about what you say.
The Message Bible: Exodus 20:7 “No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of His name.”
Amplified Bible: “You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain (that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely); for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”
Contemporary English Bible: “Do not misuse my name. I am the Lord your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name.”
NLT “Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse His name.”
Today -------------------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, Bless His holy name. Have a TERRIFIC DAY!!!
Psa. 34:1 “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.”
“Prayer is the fuel that keeps our spiritual engine running.”
Kenneth Copeland – “You start telling God you love Him, and He’ll get all over you like a fur coat.”
Mother Teresa - “Loneliness is the most terrible poverty.”
Dr. Seuss – “I like nonsense, it works up the brain cells.”
Albert Schweitzer – “Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.”
Billy Graham - “When you and I yield to worry, we deny our Guide the right to lead us forward in confidence and peace. Don’t cause Him to grieve over you by indulging in worry, but trust everything into His all-loving care.”
“It is good for a ship to be in the sea, but bad when the sea gets into the ship.”
“If you do not believe in yourself, very few other people will,”
Napoleon Hill – “No man is ever whipped until he quits in his own mind.”
James A. Froud – “Experience teaches slowly and at the cost of mistakes.”
When you’re lonely, I wish you LOVE.
When you’re down, I wish you JOY.
When things get complicated, I wish you FAITH.
When things look empty, I wish you HOPE.
Today ------------------ Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord that this is a day the Lord hath made. Rejoice and be glad in it. Have a TERRIFIC DAY.
Matthew 11:28 (NIV) “Come to me, all you who are burdened and weary, and I will give you rest.”
In my youth I thought little about being burdened or weary. These are just not part of the thinking of youth. Rather, youth flexes muscles to show strength to carry whatever the burden or load might be. Youth almost laughs at the idea of being weary.
Time passes. The strength of youth dissipates. Life’s burdens become more real and personal. Weariness sets in over the long haul.
I’ve learned that I can’t do it alone. I need help. I pray for the physical strength I need to do what must be done. I pray for the presence of God’s Spirit to overcome the weariness that haunts my soul. Those sins of disobedience and unforgiveness are heavy burdens. Only as I bring them to Jesus can I find rest. He helps me become obedient. He gives me the grace to forgive. He lifts my burdens from my heart.
Today----------------------Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for the comfort, peace and rest that He alone can give. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
I can look back at yesterday and see what I failed to do that I should have done…but I can’t go back and do it. Yesterday is gone. I can think about tomorrow and dream of all the things I can do that will bless me and others…but I can’t do them tomorrow for tomorrow is not yet here.
I must come to grips with the reality that I live today – not yesterday nor tomorrow – but today. Today is the only day I have to live. Yesterday is gone and when tomorrow arrives it is today!
Think about this: “I need Jesus for my eternal life and the Holy Spirit of God for my internal life so I can live my external life to the fullest.” - Anon.
No one is so self-sufficient that he doesn’t need God. Pray, “Father, help me see my need of You and Your wisdom and not the world and its wisdom.”-Amen
Living today is not a choice. We are here now. Ask God to help us make the most of the time we have today.
Today -------------------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for this day that He has made and for giving me the privilege of living today! Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
CONSEQUENCES
Everything we do has consequences. Do you suppose this is the reason our Creator God has given us certain laws to guide our lives? He knows the consequences of our actions and He wants the best for us.
He gave us Ten Commandments to guide us in our relationship with both God and man. The way we follow, or fail to follow, the guidelines will determine the consequences.
In Deuteronomy 12:28 after reminding the people of the way they should live, God says, “Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.”
A contemporary example. I saw on TV News last night that over 4,000 new cases of lung cancer will happen in our state this year. According to the American Cancer Association the action of smoking will bring these consequences.
The song, “Trust and Obey” reminds us of actions and consequences. Think about the words of the song written by J.H. Sammis.
“When we walk with the Lord In the light of His Word What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
Today --------------------- Out loud and on purpose Thank and Praise the Lord for showing us in His Word that actions have consequences. Have a TERRIFIC DAY !!!
Col. 4:6 “Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Psalm 116:1 “I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications.”
Seen in a birthday card: “Ten Good Things About Getting Older.” One thing is, it gives you the perfect excuse to forget things. Another one is, you can take bets on which part of your body will conk out next.”
An old chorus says, “Let go and let God have His wonderful way.”
Mike Fehlauer - . Another one is, you can take bets on which part of your body will conk out next.”
An old chorus says, “Let go and let God have His wonderful way.”
Mike Fehlauer – “Your body and your life can never go in a direction your thoughts have not previously gone.”
- “The only thing Satan can do is temp us. It is we who cast the deciding vote.”
Some people say, “Why should I pray for my daily bread? I can take care of my needs!” But listen: If it weren’t for God’s love and grace, you wouldn’t have anything. We need to pray this prayer every day, because we need to be reminded to trust in God for everything.”