Gear Up For Work - Deliver Hope

Taken from Wired For Men, 4-25-16 Gearing Up For Work . . . you have put off the old self . . . and have put on the new self—Colossians 3:9-10 At work, we serve. We serve the users of products and services that we and our companies produce and sell. But what about the people working alongside us? What about the people with whom we spend so much time—our bosses, our teams, our peers, our rivals, our friends? What about those who inspire and teach us, or who frustrate and annoy us? Well, each one was designed and built by our Creator God. Each was found worthy of the great sacrifice of our King, Jesus Christ. And each was put into our lives for a reason. So our responsibility is clear: we must love them (Matthew 22:36-40). We must love (and serve and lead and influence) all the people with whom we work. Now, this kind of thing is undertaken best with action—not “in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). It’s done by doing. It’s done by treating people with care; doing our work with care; doing the hard things, when the hard things are the right things. It’s done by allowing ourselves to become the people we’re meant to become. It’s done, actually, by simply becoming ourselves—our new selves. For that, though, we must first put on the proper gear: “. . . dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love”(Colossians 3:12-14 MSG).

Okay, so what do we do? What’s something you can do today, brother, to love or serve or lead or influence someone at work? Take it up a notch, maybe, and focus on the toughest person—the last one you’d normally choose.

A Prayer Of Praise

                                

Father, you are so worthy of it all—my attention, praise, worship, and love. Your works are amazing, beyond anything I can even express.

Help me be a light that shines toward you today. It is often hard for me to stand out from the world and be different. Give me the courage to make your goodness known and to never be ashamed.

Please give peace to my friends who are standing up for you and as a result have found themselves friendless or with few who understand them.

I thank you for your wonderful works and all that you have done and will do.

In the glorious name of Jesus Christ, amen.

From Max Lucado's new 365-day devotional God Is With You Every Day [2015] 

Interesting - Do The Opposite - Hope For The Church

12 Downslope Markers - Be Aware

Reach People and Make Disciples

Good and brief blog about working together to reach people and make disciples. Click on the link to the right of the pic.

How Did They Start Churches

2 Hopeful Truths

Terrible Truth - I am the problem.

Terrific Truth - God is the solution.

Romans 5:8. HOPE.

Adapted from a tweet by John Ortberg.

Hope In Prayer

Thank You, Father, for giving me Your Spirit to help me when I pray. Thank You for hearing my prayers and for loving me.

From ODB 4-22-16. 

Do The Normal

                                   

Seven Steps To Great Parenting

My friend and fellow parent, Scott Burks, posted this on his fb page.

Step 1 :: Focus your life on Jesus ... This is your top priority! 

Step 2 :: Practice 100% involvement in your child's activities ... Attend everything your possibly can. 

Step 3 :: Don't try to parent by yourself ... Rely on friends and family for help. 

Step 4 :: Never quit! Parenting is for life. 

Step 5 :: Speak words of life ... Be encouraging, say yes more than no, and think before your speak.

Step 6 :: Trust the Bible when making hard decisions about your children. Scripture will never lead you down the wrong path! 

Step 7 :: Pray all the time! Your children belong to God ... Talk to Him about their lives ... Ask Him for help daily!

Christianity - A Message of Hope

                                           

Sabbath

                                 

Prayer Of Jesus - Disciplined Lifestyle

This can be found at youversion.com. Daily Plans. Effective prayer.

What caused Jesus to pray? 

It was the eve of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, and trial. Lord Jesus knew ahead of time about His suffering, the weight of humanity’s sin, and the cross that He was to bear. He was overwhelmed with intense stress and turbulent emotions. He needed someone to talk to, or to pray with. Jesus asked God the Father if there was an alternative to His will, if there was another way to achieve salvation for mankind. The Father’s answer stated the obvious - Jesus is the only way to salvation. 

How did Jesus pray? 

Jesus had a discipline to His prayer. He prayed as was His custom. (Luke 22:39) 
Jesus had a specific place for prayer– Mount Olives–away from distractions. (Luke 22:39) 
Jesus prayed in solitude and in a group. (Luke 22:39-41) 
Jesus prayed to resist temptation. (Luke 22:40) 
Jesus was alert and cautious in prayer - watch and pray. (Luke 22:45-46) 
Jesus had a posture of submission and surrender in prayer. (Luke 22:41) 
Jesus prayed emotionally with sweat like drops of blood. (Luke 22:44) 

Was Jesus’ prayer answered?

Angels from Heaven strengthened Jesus. God gave Jesus the fortitude to endure the suffering and the Cross. For this reason, we have salvation, forgiveness, healing, and deliverance in the name of Jesus. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved except for the name of Jesus.

How can we pray like Jesus? 

Prayer ought to be a discipline that we develop in our lives, irrespective of our emotions and circumstances. If we find a specific place and time for prayer, it will help us stick to our prayer schedule and will also keep us away from distractions. 
Prayer must be accompanied with the faith that the Father will hear us and that His will be accomplished in our lives. We should make the effort to be alert and watchful in prayer. Connect to God through prayer with your soul, spirit and body. We need to expect answers to our prayers. Beyond the pursuit of an answer, prayer is to find and know God. (Job 11:6-10, Deuteronomy 4:29) 

A Few Thoughts From The Week

Share the gospel - in deeds and with words - share the gospel.

This day is a gift from God, make it a gift to God.

The person who desires a friend without faults will be without a friend.

Wear a smile, it will improve your entire outfit.

Yes - From Twitter

                                                  

Persistent, Persistent, Persistent

“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"”

Luke 18:1-8 NASB

Hannah's Prayer

Prayer of Hannah, an Emotional One 

What caused Hannah to pray? 

Hannah was in great agony. In the Jewish culture, being barren was considered a great misfortune and a curse. Elkanah, Hannah’s husband, was compelled to marry Peninnah because of Hannah’s barrenness. Peninnah, who bore many children, teased and mocked Hannah. Hannah felt suffocated in pain and depression. In her anguish, she went to the temple to pray. 

How did Hannah pray? (1 Samuel 1:10-18) 

Hannah’s prayer was laden with emotion and fervent in spirit before God. She found solace from her pain and anguish when she prayed. Hannah spoke to God without any pretense – her emotions lay exposed, her heart was undistracted, her mind was focused, and her spirit was connected to God’s. 

Hannah’s prayer started with a request for a child. However, by the end of her prayer, she made a commitment to give the child back to the Lord to serve Him. She went home with the belief that God had started work on her behalf and therefore she was happy and light hearted. 

Did God answer Hannah’s prayer? (1 Samuel 1:20) 

In due time, Hannah received her blessing. She bore a son who she called Samuel. 

How can we pray like Hannah? 

• Get emotional with God: Pray simple and heartfelt prayers to God. 
• Focus in prayer: Redirect your emotions to focus in prayer; do not get distracted by your surroundings and negative voices. 
• Let God’s Will be our will: Pray with utmost sincerity; then, our desires become aligned to the Will of God. 
• Faith and Confidence: It is normal for prayers to begin on our knees in anguish and desperation, especially when we go through painful situations, like Hannah’s. However, our fellowship with God helps us to rise up with strength, comfort, and courage to face the situation.

Leave your prayer room with the confidence that God has started His work on your behalf.

Taken from youversion.com

You Can Pray These For Your Church

Click on the link and begin to pray.

18 Things To Pray For Your Church

Change

                                    

I Am Very Talented - Just For Laughs

                               

Zero Talent

                                 

If God

                                    

Blessed Are You, O Lord - Book of Common Prayer

Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As once you ransomed your people from Egypt
and led them to freedom in the promised land,
so now you have delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your risen Son.
May we, the first fruits of your new creation,
rejoice in this new day you have made,
and praise you for your mighty acts.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Romans 12:1-2 The Message

                         

The Word Of God Is Powerful

“"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:9-11 NASB

Romans 12 - God's Word

Renewing your mind through the Bible is God's way to transformation. When you read, meditate upon, and apply God's word in your daily life, you are changed from the inside out.

Excerpt from Renewing Your Mind at YouVersion.com