Verse of the Week - Isaiah 43:2 - Week of January 11, 2016

Before I surrendered to Jesus, life was just exhausting. Good times never seemed to last very long as I tried walking upstream against the current of life. I made goals and put all of my willpower behind making things happen. Anger was never far away because people just wouldn't cooperate with my plans! 

Acceptance of people, places, and things was beyond me. I fought life to make it fit my own idea of how life should be. I was bossy, aggressive, and judgemental. Anger finally gave way to depression and self-medication. The guilt, shame, and remorse over my behavior became a cycle that lowered me into my own personal pit of despair. 

The night I surrendered myself to Jesus, I told him I would do anything he wanted me to, if he would just make the pain go away. From that night on, Jesus was in charge of my life.I slowly learned how to let go of life and grab onto Jesus. My personal slogan is,"I can't - He can - I think I'll let Him."  He is always beside me. 

Let Jesus walk with you today and part the waters of life before you. No matter what is happening in your life, He will be with you. 

Psalm of the Week - 29:11 - Week of January 11, 2016

I love the fact that this verse says the Lord "will give" and "will bless" his people. The verse doesn't say "if" the Lord will give, or "if" the Lord will bless - it says the Lord "will." 

I am one of His people. I know the the Lord will give me strength and bless me with peace. This doesn't mean I will never find myself in noisy, chaotic situations. It means I will be given an inside peace that cannot be shaken. No matter what surrounds me, I will be blessed with strength and peace. 

Call to Pray for Christians in Africa

I awoke at 3:30 A.M. CST and felt led to get up and pray for missionaries. After praying for missionaries worldwide and by continent, I felt led to pray for missionaries and Christians in Africa. Then, I started writing this post.

Our brothers and sisters are being killed and persecuted right now! Buses are being stopped and searched for Christians by armed militants. This isn't a movie, it is real and taking place right now. Christians are being beaten, jailed, and killed in Africa because of their faith. I am calling upon my brothers and sisters in faith to pray to our Lord Jesus,
Scripture Prayer
Lord Jesus, we pray to you so that the flood of great waters will not reach your faithful missionaries and followers in Africa. Let them be surrounded by songs of deliverance in the form of prayers from their brothers and sisters in faith who abide in safe lands around the world. 

Lord Jesus, I know you are faithful because God is faithful. Walk with the missionaries and faithful who have answered your call in Africa. Keep your angels close to them as they walk through the waters and pass through the rivers of persecution and opposition. Surround them when they are under fire so that they will not be scorched or burned by the forces of the Enemy. Let your people hide with you so that they may be preserved from trouble.

Jesus, reach down your hand from on high and deliver and rescue your faithful followers in Africa from the mighty waters of whatever troubles they are facing from the hands of their enemies. Protect them as they spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

1 Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Isaiah 43:2

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! 2"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. 3"For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; 

Psalm 32:6

6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. 

Psalm 144:7
Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners

Psalm of the Week - 51:10-12 - Week of January 4, 2015

Can you believe that 2016 has arrived? Where did 2015 go? Time has begun to fly by faster every year. 
My Focus on the Lord
My focus on the Lord thinned a little as an action packed 2015 holiday season arrived and progressed. November - December was filled with activity deadlines and therefore stressful. Stress tends to drain away some of my willingness and joyfulness. Now that January 2016 has begun, I feel the need to renew my attitude with Psalm 51.

What Caused David to Write Psalm 51?
King David wrote Psalm 51 when the prophet Nathan came to him after David committed adultery with Bathsheba. Not only was David guilty of adultery, but he was also guilty of having Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, killed.  The prophet Nathan was successful in his intervention with David.  

David confessed his sin, his guilt, and his love of God. Next, King David asked for forgiveness in verses 1-9. These verses contain a powerful example of a personal repentance. God forgave David, just as he has forgiven me.

My Attitude Renewal
My attitude renewal begins with praying verses 10-12 as a personal prayer. 

My Personal Prayer
O God, create in me a pure heart and renew my spirit. Make the spirit within me steadfast. I love you Lord, do not cast me from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore me Lord. Restore me to the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit that will sustain me.  
Amen. 

Verse of the Week - Acts 9:31 NIV - January 4, 2016

2016 is here! How did you celebrate New Year's Eve? Bill and I had a Game of Thrones TV marathon with our Season One and Season Two DVD sets. We talked about making New Year's resolutions, but decided not to make any. However, our pastor gave us a New Year's resolution during worship service.

Brother Jimmy's Challenge

Brother Jimmy challenged us to adopt the following parts of Acts 9:31 as an individual and a church resolution. 

• Personal Peace 
• Peace between the members of the church
• Fear of the Lord, or reverential awe
• Listening to the Holy Spirit

The Early Church was Blessed

Acts 9:31 tells us that that the early church was blessed because they included reverence and awe of God in their daily life.  Additionally, The church will increase in numbers when the church body is living in peace, have reverential awe, or fear of the Lord, and are following the counseling of Holy Spirit. 

My NIV Discipleship Bible footnotes include four sentences about the biblical truths expressed in verse thirty-one of chapter nine in the book of Acts:

1. "Timid" does not belong in the church's vocabulary. The Spirit gives the church strength and courage to accomplish its mission.
2. The Spirit works with the entire church as well as individual to provide power and guidance in the astonishing mission to witness to every person on earth. 
3. Church growth depends on God's strength and encouragement provided by the Holy Spirit. 
4. The result is a reverent, worshiping, witnessing church. 

Bill and I are accepting Brother Jimmy's challenge. 

Our New Year's Resolution is to have personal peace, be a peacemaker at church, continue to worship God with reverence and awe, and to continue listening to the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction. 

Are you going to accept Brother Jimmy's challenge? 

We hope you are because living a joy-filled life before leaving Earth is what God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit want for you. Come on brothers and sisters, grab onto the joy and spread the Good News!