He cries in the corner where nobody sees, he is the kid with the story that no one would believe. He prays every night, dear God won't You please, could You send someone to love me ~ who will love me for me ~ not for what I have done, or what I could become ~ who will love me for me, cause nobody has shown me what love really means. Her office is shrinking a little each day ~ she's the woman whose husband has run away ~ she'll go to the gym after working the day ~ maybe if she was thinner, then he would have stayed ~ He is waiting to die as he sits all alone, he's a man in a cell who regrets what he has done ~ he utters a cry from the depths of his soul 'oh Lord, forgive me I want to go home.' Then he heard a voice, somewhere deep inside ~ and it said 'I know you murdered, I know you've lied, and I've watched you suffer all of your life ~ but now that you're listening I tell you that I will LOVE you for you ~ NOT for what you have done or what you've become ~ I will love you for you and be the LOVER you never knew of. I will love you for eternity!
Every good gift comes from God. AMEN! However, because of reports of anger, confusion, and lack of direction about how to use the various GIFTS of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote A LETTER to the extremely GIFTED believers of Corinth. The books of the bible are marked into chapters and verses, so that we can study and follow the intent of God's will, and His valued instruction on how to be effective for His purpose, for His everlasting kingdom. Paul's letter 1 Corinthians Chapter 13:1 "And now I will show you the most excellent way." Our great commission, our great priviledge is found in Matthew 28:16 "GO and make DISCIPLES of all nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We are His chosen color, we are His ribbon of faith, we are His hands that stretch out, we are His mouth that speaks out, we are His arms that wrap around the lost, the hurting, the broken. When we GO equipped by the Holy Spirit with our gift, we are told what is the MOST EXCELLENT WAY to cause people to follow Jesus. READ 1 Cor 13:4 Without the motive of the person of PURE LOVE that indwells us, our speech is just noise. Our knowledge of God and His warnings of what is to come goes un taken. And sadly our generous giving gains the kingdom of God absolutely nothing, zero, zippo, zilch! The great commission requires the greatest GIFT of all, the deposit of the Holy Spirit, Who God sent to live within us, His LOVE for all mankind. The Holy Spirit is unleashed and activated by our continual repentance, our complete surrender and dependence on His power. Regardless of what country or custom, as we are fully available, we are enabled to speak words that come from the LOVE within, and His words baptize the listening ear who accepts Christ as Savior. Or we are enabled to mysteriously impart KNOWLEDGE of what is to come, and His wisdom compels the listening soul to ask Jesus to be their Lord and rule and reign in their heart. Or we are enabled to radiate His confident FAITH, and as people watch us, we become the sparkle, the light that draws desire, thirst and hunger for Who we possess, God Himself. Or out of the immeasurable and unmistakeable LOVE that dwells within, we are moved to GIVE as generously as He has given unto us, purposefully and entirely for the glory of God. LOVE never fails, people do. The person of the Holy Spirit that dwells within is patient, He waits for us to spend time in His presence, to call on Him, to depend on Him. LOVE is kind, the Holy Spirit is quick to forgive us. LOVE does not envy anything or anybody in this world. LOVE does not boast of His power. LOVE is not proud of His accomplishments. His deeds, His mission of mercy, the purpose of LOVE is not rude. He does not demand attention to Himself. LOVE did not come down to earth, and LOVE was not deposited in us so that we can serve our pleasures or our individual passions. LOVE is not easily angered, LOVE keeps no records of wrongs. As far as the East is to the West, LOVE forgives and forgets confessed sin. LOVE does not delight in schemes or plots to harm others, but LOVE rejoices as it hears the truth of our struggles, our battles. LOVE always protects us, LOVE always trusts us to be honest with Him, LOVE always hopes that we will turn to Him and rely on Him. LOVE always pursues us with eternal perseverance. When Jesus returns all prophecies will cease, all tongues will be stilled, all knowledge will pass away. For now we know a part of His plan, but when perfection comes, when Jesus returns, the imperfect reflections of man will disappear. We shall see Him clearly, face to face. What now we know, what now we see, what now we think, what now we feel, what now we imagine in part, when we meet Jesus face to face, then we will know HIS LOVE fully. Then we will fully understand His power, His magesty, His beauty, His ways, His will, His perfection. As LOVE knows us fully now, as we are understood and embraced eternally right now, we shall be enabled to grasp His full glory! And on this day, here on earth, right now, these three, this trinity, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, remain with us as One: Faith, Hope, and Love, but the GREATEST of these is LOVE! --- ROMANS 5 "Therefore, since we have been justified through FAITH, we have peace with God through whom we have gained access by FAITH into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the HOPE (Jesus Christ) of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His LOVE (Holy Spirit) into our hearts by the HOLY SPIRIT, Whom He has given us." AMEN --- 1 Timothy 1:5 "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk." You were gifted, you are indwelt, You are wrapped in His protection, you are filled with LOVE, to be in His service, as a child of God, for His glory and purpose, you are clothed in His righteousness. F.R.O.G. Fabulous Robes Of God.
Lord, grant me the strength that I may not fall into the clutches of cholesterol. At polyunsaturates i'll never mutter for the road to hell is paved with butter. Whip cream is cursed and jelly is awful yes, satan is hiding in every waffle. He appears to me as a cinnamon roll eager to fatten and clog my soul. So teach me the evils of hollandaise of ribs and pasta and mayonnaise. May I have the presence to realize that evil lurks IN-N-OUT fries. And crispy fried chicken from the south, Lord if you love me, shut my mouth Pastor Rick Warren
As we meditate on the Word of God, we come to believe that His wisdom was given out of a love so great that it is beyond our full comprehension. The book of proverbs was written to give His beloved children direction. Our loving Father warns us to avoid fools, to not fellowship with those that deny God. His word instructs us to seek understanding from the indwelt Holy Spirit and ask for His help daily. What a delight to be in His presence and spend quality time with our Father, the King of Kings, the Creator of the universe, in His good and Holy book. Let us sing the songs of Solomon, and rejoice while reading psalms, the book of John, and proverbs for wisdom. BETH MOORE is an awesome, spirit filled teacher and witness of God's word. All past guilt, fear, judgement of who we have been, all limiting thoughts have been dissolved by the Truth. Let us affix our mind on the truth, in God's word. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Me, or seen in Me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phillipians 4:8-9. Let this Truth abide within our souls. Let the violent voices of our parents, peers, or the world be turned off, that they have no more authority, no more rule, no more impact! Let us return to our childlike faith in God. Let us believe in His perfect design of our body and mind. Let us trust His awesome plan to prosper us in His love. Let us remain constantly filled by the Holy Spirit as we repent and turn away from the world and its knowledge. Let us listen to the Holy Presence within. Let us be thrilled to be used by God for His glory! Let us Sparkle for Jesus and allow His joyful radiance to shine through us as His seal of approval! Let us choose our thoughts and surrender our understanding and accept the whole Truth, from the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Precious in His sight, we are His beloved child, filled with His knowledge, His wisdom. We are called to love as we are loved! God sent His son Jesus to earth so that the lost could see, touch, feel, smell, hear the TRUTH. The Way was demonstrated, the Light was shown to us, then deposited in us, that we could return, as a child, void of reservations to run to the arms of Jesus. "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, heaven and Earth are filled with His glory!" (Isaiah 6) IT IS PRUDENT to take heed, and call on the Holy Spirit for understanding of every day matters. To listen before acting, and make wise choices. "Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud: 'To you, O men, I call out: I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness...Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and good judgement are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His work, , before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth, (Was it the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who gave birth to Wisdom at creation?)when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before He made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. (Does God refer to the Holy Spirit as the person of Wisdom on whom we must rely for understanding?) I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep His command, and when He marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was a craftsman at His side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His Presence, rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death." PROVERBS 8 --- Oh Lord Jesus, standing in awe, we give thanks to You, for we are wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works. Thank You for designing us with the same care and precision You used in creating the universe. You built us with specific capacity and You embroidered us with great skill in our mothers womb. We are greatful that our personality, ability and appearance fit into the picture frame that God fashioned so that He can pour out His grace, love and beauty to the praise of His glory. Let us rejoice in His faithfulness, that He gifted us with a special purpose. Thank God for calling us to wisdom, and for the ears He gave us to hear, to listen... and respond with a willing heart. It is wonderful to know that God's mercy follows us, that His wisdom goes before us, around, below and above what we think. His love dwells within, His strength holds us, and His Word is firmly planted in the fertile soil of a receptive heart. What we see in the mirror is a reflection of the Holy Spirit within. What is within our human frame, is His creation? It is soul enriching to embrace the truth of our Father's satisfaction in the talents He chose to give us. Our imperfect human nature is to think that what we can accomplish is worthy of praise. All honor and glory belong to our Father. His Holy hands created us as one of God's original masterpieces. It is our desire to worship Jesus as Lord with all that we have been given. "In Him we were chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will." Eph 1:11 "For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mothers womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it well." Psalm 139:13 AMEN
Isaiah 8:19 "And when they say to you, 'Seek those who are mediums and wizards who whisper and mutter,' should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." ~ Isaiah 9:6-7 "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a Light has shined. ~ For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His Name shall be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." ~ Kings that rule with evil intent will not reach eternity - their forever funk shall fail ~ punishment is but for a short season under their flimsy rule. Gloom shall be replaced with gladness as we seek and heed our Wonderful Counselor. As we follow Jesus, the divine ruling King of Kings, our everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace - He will give us power to do what He counsels us to do. He will enable us to do the impossible. AMEN
MAKE every effort to BE self-controlled. What stirs us to discipline our steps? We all agree that LOVE causes people to do CRAZY things! A humble widow gave all she had, a servant named Martha loved without shame. What is it that motivates us to make every effort to obtain the character traits of Whom we love and respect? What does self-control require of us? How do we practice self-control if we have none? A wild fisherman named Peter was known as a foot-in-mouth kinda guy. Peter did not always behave perfectly, yet over time, we note that in his daily walk, he began to practice self-control. It was his choice to supress his personal will and tongue in order to glorify God. Each ordinary person in scripture eagerly and willingly did what they did for God's glory AFTER reflecting the truth of who they were before they heard the word of God or met Jesus face to face. With hearts that overflow with deep appreciation for Who God is, and how His deposit of love changed them --- they persevered in + through trials and persecution with loving kindness BECAUSE they had been GIVEN FREELY what no ruler, president, teacher, parent could. Will our mental focus on what type of character we want to BECOME be enough for God's glory? Does not our faith compell us to make EVERY EFFORT, to do something to add to our faith, steps to show others His goodness, devoted time to get to know God? To control self will in order that we remain surrendered to His will and live without malice, envy or hate is OUR sacrifice. Jesus is worthy to be LOVED like crazy! Our faith is a gift from God. Ask God to increase my zeal, increase affection for You!To be Christ like is to be holy regardless of popular opinion, our loss or circumstance. Being kind to the unkind and loving the unlovable is to be like Jesus. In our daily walk, if we miss the mark, or if we miss a few turns, we have the choice to return to our first love and trust that God hears our confession as we listen to His gentle voice. Equipped with an internal GPS, God does not rebuke us, He simply and quietly "recalculates" our direction as He encourages His beloved "Walk this way". For what reason do we submit or depend on God? Why do we swerve to the left when we know what is right? "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall." (2 Peter 1:5) Day by day, little by little, as we emerge from our sleep in the cocoon, we add to our faith by what we read, what we watch, Who we listen to, and what steps we take to gain wisdom, to possess faith, to EMPLOY knowledge, goodness, and self-control. Perseverance suggests that action was taken. Godliness is not laziness. How do I love Thee, let me count the ways! What is it about Jesus that we love? Naming what He has done for us personally, what He provides daily for us, motivates us to worship Him above all else. Once we possess a heart that beats for Him, we listen to all that He said then, and especially what the Holy Spirit speaks to us today through His Word. Because God gave us all that we need, His love, and the omni-presence of the indwelt Holy Spirit --- we are partakers of the divine nature of God because He put His Holy Spirit into us so that we can communicate with Him. His spirit to our spirit. By His power we have escaped the desires of the flesh, and the rule of our deceitful hearts. FOR THIS VERY REASON we GET to pursue a deeper relationship with Almighty God. Do we choose God because we fear hell, or does our fear, our respect of Who God is bring us to our knees with such graditude that we WANT all that He desires for us? We get to walk away from temptations, from doubt, from lonliness, from hatred, from self-indulgence. We get to BE diligent in our every effort to supplement our faith. To seek to put on the virtues that please the same God who forgave us much, and Who gave us much. To Luke the doctor, God gave these words "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" (Luke 16:10) Once there was a time when I distanced myself from my sister who I love, because of a debt that I was unable to repay. She was the one who approached me and said "your debt is forgiven" The love, grace, compassion and forgiveness she extended caused me to WANT to change, to become a person of such benevolence. Her act of forgiveness compelled me to WANT to become a trustworthy, honest person. When we are forgiven, do we not desire to honor that person by diligently seeking to change ourselves? What God has forgiven us, and what God has given us --- is ALL the motivation that we should need to self-control our will, our choices, our desires! God warns us and He encourages us with wisdom. "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheiritance with me." Jesus replied "Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Then Jesus told the story of the rich fool who decided to build a bigger place to store the over-flowing riches and goods that God had blessed him with. The rich man said to himself "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?" This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Have you ever seen a hearst pulling the boat, harley, or a trailer full of possessions to the grave site? Jesus continues to teach us "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." Jesus asks us to observe the birds and the flowers in the fields. We are to consider how richly God takes care of that which is here today and gone tomorrow, and that we are far more valuable to God than birds or flowers. "And do not set your HEART on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such THINGS, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do NOT be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to GIVE you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ---- We servants of God, the Creator and Owner of all things. We should WANT to work diligently to become more like Jesus, and love God with all the fruits of the Spirit that we have been given. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:49) Oh Lord Jesus open our eyes and ears that we may hear what the Spirit is saying. Show us the wisdom in loving Whom we have always had --- Open our eyes to SEE the foolishness of longing for THINGS we do not have, and be thankful for what is before us. AMEN
Reflect on the character of people who have risen above attack. Smile and rock with Jeremy ELVIS Pearce, who sings HYMNS with his Christmas act. Consider the good King Hezekiah. Not unlike leaders or entertainers today, this king inherited a kingdom that had been given over to idolatry and wickedness. Hezekiah trusted in the LORD and his obedience to God's commands, he was a spark the LORD used to ignite reformation and revival in the land. We can look at the corruption and darkness of the world around us and be tempted to give in to despair, but this isn't how the godly are to respond. Let us look at the character of Hezekiah ~ WHO caused him to live joyfully, as pure as snow? ~ Above us all, is God and His plans are to prosper us. This King did not need to SEE to believe in God ~ he trusted in the LORD God because he believed in God's written word. Our belief in the God of the Bible is an absolute if our life is going to have any value or purpose to it. Whoever does not believe is under condemnation, but whoever believes is made a child of God with tremendous potential. Next, he held fast to God; which is to say he didn't vacillate and hesitate in his walk with the LORD, he was serious about the things of God. Thirdly, he didn't depart from following Him; when things got tough or didn't go his way, he didn't throw in the towel. Finally, he kept His commandments; Hezekiah obeyed the LORD in every area of his life. Obedience brings blessing and the smile of God; "he prospered wherever he went." Let us allow the indwelt Holy Spirit to direct us, to change us, to use us to glorify our Savior Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and like the wise me, let us bring great tidings of JOY and the gift of song and praise for He is among us! Nehemiah 8:10 said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
If we hope to win a battle, it is wise to trust One Ruler, One Almighty General, One Sovereign Lord, the One CEO, the only Commander in Chief with ALL authority. Soldiers cannot go off into battle and disobey orders and expect to win! The big picture, the past, the present, the future, and eternity is held by the One who holds ALL the authority, and ALL the power to win! One great soldier named Paul told a young man named Timothy to "fight the good fight". How do we fight to win? In every fight there is one winner and one loser! How do we fight without thinking, speaking or acting like a fool, like those that deny that God exists? God warns us in His word to prepare for battle, to put our armor on and STAND FIRM. When our souls are deeply troubled, when doubt takes a hold of our minds, when our hearts are grieved, when we cannot make a decision, what should we do? How we as Christians fight the good fight is ON OUR KNEES! A war rages, and we must be aware that the Liar, the temptress, the coniving one makes the praying Christian his special target. We know the good fight is the ongoing battle for our souls and with the right stratedgy, we WIN everytime ON OUR KNEES! The enemy knows that if he can keep us distracted by being overly extended at church, at home, at work, so that we will not take time to get on our knees and pray, THEN Satan plans his victory! Have you ever been falsely accused? Ever been the victim of a crime? Have you been laughed at, or made to feel unwanted, guilty, discounted, disrespected to the point you squirm to fight --- to defend yourself, to lash out, to attack back? Well that it is our sinful nature at work in us. We do not hold our tongue, we whine inside, to others about the wrong been done unto us, then we scheme to return the pain that we feel. In our darkest hour we begin to slander others, to plot to kill their character, as we gossip about how they offended us. TO WIN THE BATTLE, we must hold our tongue, STOP, get ON OUR KNEES and hash it out with God! Cry out your pain to Him, ask for His help, then listen for what He points out in you to release. Why would we not follow the example of Jesus and get on our knees before the ALL MIGHTY, ALL POWERFUL GOD, Elohim, Adonai, Yaweh, Jehovah God, Jesus Christ and TRUST in His word, His promise as the truth? "God causes ALL things (hatred, envy, jealousy, bitterness, emotional and physical pain) to work together for good, to those who love Him, to those called according to His good purpose". GET alone with GOD daily. SET UP a SACRED place. SET ONE HOUR aside. GET ON YOUR KNEES. CRY OUT TO GOD. LISTEN TO GOD. BELIEVE HIM. "For I know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." IF we trust that what God says is true then ALL that happens to us comes from God! The boss, the mate, the neighbor, the child, the parent, the sibling, the friend that betrayed you, that lied to you, that caused you pain --- came from God. WHAT? Does God mean that the unfair criticism, the hatred, that hostility, that rejection, that abandonment, that abuse was from Him? YES! Whatever it took to cause us to give up, surrender our ways, abandon revenge, to fall on our face, to get on our knees --- will be allowed and used by God to bring us to agree with Him, that we are lost without Him, that we need Him, and when we stop blaming others, when we forgive as we are forgiven, when we let go and trust God to fulfill His word, His promise to WORK ALL THINGS for good, we are then ready to receive the best of His blessings! When did you last get on your knees with confident assurance that the Spirit himself intercedes for us and that God listens? ROMANS 8:26-28 Zig talks about how God used situations that appeared to be disastors in his life for good. God does the same for all of us. As for me, I thank God for all the people that have prayed for me through many troubles. My faith rattled as excruciating pain and fear gripped my soul. A freak VAD, vertebral artery dissection occured and I was raced by ambulance to UC Davis for a week. God used that incident to reunite me with my estranged dad. GOD says "Hold on to what you have" The truth, the light, and the way shall be revealed. Within the same year, before my back surgery, my ex-husband, the father of my only son died. My son who was then strung out on drugs, came to live with me. It was hard, we both suffered tremendous pain. But God used it for good. He sent saints to assist me and my son was there to help me during many necessary trips to the ER. Life is hard, and we are tempted to deny Jesus, the narrow path and go with the crowd. God gave me a position in life to see the truth, to work in a job that confirmed that it was time to give up my home. Losing the hope of future equity to assist at retirement was real hard. The short sale of my home ruined my credit, but it did not limit God! He used the situation for good. My son moved into the house under contract for sale and kept it safe as he regrouped without rent. Then God did the impossible and provided the way for me to purchase a new home in Mexico and pay it off in three years! MIRACLES happen when we are bankrupt, when our plans fail, and when we simply surrender all we are and have to God. Jesus also struggled in the garden of Gethsemane. In His ALL knowing, He knew He was going to be separated from God, for a time, on the cross. "He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.' Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will. Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. 'Could you men not keep watch with Me for one hour?' He asked Peter. 'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Matthew 26:37-42) Soon after that Jesus was taken prisoner and He told Peter that he would deny even knowing him three times before dawn. Peter's pride was hurt, and God knew his heart, God knew he would be tempted to betray his vow to serve Him. Out of fear, Peter defended himself, "No Lord not me, I love you!" God loved Peter, He asked Peter to pray, He warned him that he would be tempted. His word is our handbook, it points out what works, and what has never profited our souls. We do not see the wind, but we know that it moves the trees. We do not see God, but we know that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, because God said so! He waits to hear from us, to fill us, and to use us. Prophets approached our Holy God with reverence on their knees. In Daniel's captivity, he got on his knees and cried out for help before he entered the lions den. Isaiah the prophet, the man who God used to speak through his lips had been preaching from the pulpit in chapter 5: "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, Woe to those who draw sin along in cords of deceit, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" But in the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord Jesus seated on a throne, higher than any authority, exalted above all creation, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Flying above Jesus were seraphs calling to one another "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory" At the sound of their voices the door posts shook and the temple was filled with the smoke of God's glory coming down! That is when Isaiah got on his knees and said "Woe to me! he cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!" Then a seraph flew over to Isaiah with a live coal taken from the alter of the Lord and touched Isaiah's mouth. "See this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for". Then Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" Isaiah responded "Here am I. Send me!" Jesus came to show us the Way, the Truth, and the Light. He is the King, and He submitted to His Father, to die for us, to serve us, to wash us of our sins. In the presence of Jesus, in the light of the truth, Isaiah was convicted of his sin and cried out "Woe is me!" When Jesus came down from the throne, He came down with a purpose. He took the pain of being seperated from God, the abuse of the mockers, the unfair beatings, the torture of the cross --- to take away our guilt, to atone for our sins, forever! IF we desire the joy and peace that surpasses all understanding, then we must OBEY God's request "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, through prayer and supplication, let your request be known to Him." Jesus asked Peter to take one hour to pray with him. Peter did not think he needed to, and Peter denied that he knew Jesus. So let us give the King of Kings one hour in our garden, a sacred place that we go to be alone with God. Let us ask for wisdom and patience to wait on Him. Let us talk it out, then listen. When our spirit is tugged, IF we feel resentment, bitterness, anger, let us spit that truth out --- no sense in pretending to be holier than thou art! Lets take it to the cross and let the light shine through. God knows your heart, and that it is deceitful above all else! When we have lost our pride, money, or relationships as a result of our stubborness, allow God to reveal in you what you need to let go of in order to win the battle! Take my daughter, my son, my dad, my mom, my mate, my home, my health, my job, my money, my freedom, my pride and watch me continue to praise God --- THEN is WHEN what we treasure most of all is SHOWN to a watching world. That our relationship with the Author of our life, the Lover of our soul is our gold. When we surrender our will, our wants, our desires --- THEN we can see through His eyes, and we see ourselves as He sees us --- Holy, Holy, Holy is God, and when we are purged of all malice, envy, unforgiveness and loathing - we are purified and filled with His Holy Spirit to do His will, and we are blessed with His very presence. AMEN "Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray." Mark 1:35 Lord God Almighty, we kneel humbly before You, as Your children, and we ask that You would speak a word to us. We come before You to worship You as the God of all creation, the God of our salvation and our redemtion. We claim You as our loving Father full of compassion. We want a fresh encounter, we want to feel Your presence, we want to hear Your voice speaking in our ears. We sincerely desire to feel Your glory filling our temples. We ask You oh Lord, to perform that supernatural miracle of communication. We are open to hear Your Holy Spirit speak to our spirit. Nourish us, sharpen us, quench our thrist with truth, satisfy our hunger for more of You. Here we are Lord Jesus, speak to us and we will listen and obey. AMEN
He cries in the corner where nobody sees, he is the kid with the story that no one would believe. He prays every night, dear God won't You please, could You send someone to love me ~ who will love me for me ~ not for what I have done, or what I could become ~ who will love me for me, cause nobody has shown me what love really means. Her office is shrinking a little each day ~ she's the woman whose husband has run away ~ she'll go to the gym after working the day ~ 
maybe if she was thinner, then he would have stayed ~ He is waiting to die as he sits all alone, he's a man in a cell who regrets what he has done ~ he utters a cry from the depths of his soul 'oh Lord, forgive me I want to go home.' Then he heard a voice, somewhere deep inside ~ and it said 'I know you murdered, I know you've lied, and I've watched you suffer all of your life ~ but now that you're listening I tell you that I will LOVE you for you ~ NOT for what you have done or what you've become ~ I will love you for you and be the LOVER you never knew of. I will love you for eternity!
