The race of your life . . . . for your life

The race of your life . . . .  for your life 

I Cor. 9: 24

Do you not know that in a race [the onward movement to a fixed  boundary or goal]

ALL the runners compete, but [in this race only] one receives the prize?

So run [your race] that you may lay hold of the prize and make it yours. [everyone who finishes this race – wins!]
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Pray the Word:

Lord, we are all caught up at some point in our life where life seems more like a treadmill than a marathon ---  and there doesn’t seem to be an apparent purpose or direction and we’re tempted to abandon hope or surrender the dream. This is a time when disillusionment can come, when we feel tired and discouraged; and we’re tempted to quit the race. But. . . .in one stroke, the possibilities for our lives can be extended far beyond anything our mortal mind can comprehend – if we don’t give up in the race.

Think before we speak

Think before we speak

Ps. 19: 14Let the WORDS OF MY MOUTH [that declares the state of my mind] 

and the MEDITATION [murmur, sighings] OF MY HEART [the processing center my life]

BE ACCEPTABLE [meeting requirements] IN YOUR SIGHT, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.

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Pray the Word:

Lord, what a powerful way to change our attitude toward life and our behavior toward others . . . . THINK BEFORE WE SPEAK! In fact it will change the way our whole day goes - if when we open our eyes in the morning, and before even one foot hits the floor, we repeat the words of this Psalm . . . and, then, do it.

Let me pray about it . . .

Let me pray about it . . .

James 1: 22

But BE DOERS OF THE WORD [obey God’s message of Truth],

and NOT MERELY LISTENERS [spectators] TO IT,

DECEIVING [betraying, misleading, cheating] YOURSELVES [by reasoning yourself into a way of thinking contrary to the Truth].
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Pray the Word:

Lord, at times, we seem to imagine that we have done all that is demanded when we have listened attentively the Word preached or faithfully read our Bible;  yet of its influence on our lives [as it will tell us plainly what we are and what we should be doing] - we have been reluctant to obey parts of it and have, inadvertently, deceived ourselves by falling back on the age-old CRUTCH OF DELAY saying, ‘LET ME PRAY ABOUT IT’; only to realize that when we read or hear it again, it says the same thing!

All in the same boat

All in the same boat

Mk. 4: 37 – 40

And there arose a great storm of wind [of hurricane proportions], and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full [flooding].

But He [Jesus] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing? [going to be destroyed]

And He arose and rebuked [strongly disciplined] the wind and said [declared] to the sea,

Peace! [let there be order]  Be still! [motionless, calm, quiet]

And the wind ceased [sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating] and there was [immediately] a great calm [a perfect peacefulness].

He said to them, Why are you fearful? [afraid, anxious, panicky - when I was in the same boat you were in]

How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)?

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Pray the Word:

Lord, there are times You appear to be asleep [not paying attention] to the dire circumstances we are dealing with . . . the ‘storm’  is tossing us around, making us feel sick [physically, mentally & emotionally] and we know, that if there’s not divine intervention soon, we will soon be destroyed. To be honest, what we really want is a kind of genie, touching everything with a magic wand, so that trouble is barred from us, nothing ever goes wrong, & we have a nice easy time, with  no doubt: carefree, with no responsibilities, everything going smoothly; sunshine and blue skies, the lake always calm, and just that soft wind to billow out our sails and carry the ship along without our having to use the oars. . . . . But, if life were that easy, would we grow in faith in You or mature in our Christian journey? I think our ego would go unchecked, and we would just drift sweetly and easily, without resistance, into self-sufficiency. I’ll remind myself that You are in the boat with me at all times and I need not fear that You aren’t paying attention.

If you only knew MY circumstances :O(

If you only knew MY circumstances  :O(

II Cor. 11: 23 – 29, 32 - 33
Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool [I am talking like one beside himself and full of himself], [but] I am more,

with far more extensive and abundant labors, with far more imprisonments, beaten with countless stripes, and frequently [at the point of] death.

Five times I received from [the hands of] the Jews forty [lashes all] but one;

Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been aboard a ship wrecked at sea; a [whole] night and a day I have spent [adrift] on the deep;

Many times on journeys, [exposed to] perils from rivers, perils from bandits, perils from [my own] nation, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the desert places, perils in the sea, perils from those posing as believers [but destitute of Christian knowledge and piety];

In toil and hardship, watching often [through sleepless nights], in hunger and thirst, frequently driven to fasting by want, in cold and exposure and  lack of clothing.

And besides those things that are without, there is the daily [inescapable pressure] of my care and anxiety for all the churches!

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
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Pray the Word:

Lord, what circumstances in our life have WE really GONE THROUGH that would give us the entitlement to either boast in them --- or whine about them? . . . .  Not enough to even mention!! So, today [& every day] I will count myself blessed beyond measure & will not succumb to bellyaching.

Just a ‘commoner’?

Just a ‘commoner’?

Matt. 13: 57b – 58

But Jesus said to them,

A prophet is not without honor [treated with disrespect and refused to be accepted]

except in his own country and in his own house. [a ‘commoner’ – an ordinary / average person]

And He did not do many works of power [miracles] there,

because of their unbelief (their lack of faith, doubt or skepticism in the divine mission of Jesus).
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Pray the Word:

Lord, we, too, are living in a time where Jesus Christ has become ‘common’-place and just a mere symbol  of Christianity. This lethargic attitude  generates unbelief and prevents the power of the Holy Spirit from being sent down to bless us. We know that You require faith [belief] and hear only the prayers of faith [belief]; and where there’s little true belief, and prayer is cold and formal - we sleep in spiritual death and are unblessed. We ask forgiveness for any lethargy we have succumbed to and a renewed passion to You, our Lord!

The force [of prayer] is with us

The force [of prayer] is with us

 

Acts 4: 23 – 31

After they [Peter and John] were permitted to go, they returned to their own and told all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

[vs.18 They summoned them and imperatively instructed them not to converse in any way or teach at all in or about the name of Jesus.]

The Apostles Praying The Word:

And when they heard it, lifted their voices together with one united mind to God and said, O Sovereign Lord, You are He Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them, Who by the mouth of our forefather David, Your servant and child, said through the Holy Spirit, Why did the heathen (Gentiles) become wanton and insolent and rage, and the people imagine and study and plan vain (fruitless) things [that will not succeed]?
The kings of the earth took their stand in array [for attack] and the rulers were assembled and combined together against the Lord and against His Anointed (Christ, the Messiah). For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined [predetermined] should occur.
And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly, While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant Jesus.
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage.

Time Management Skills

Time Management Skills

Ps. 31: 15

MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS [my ups and my downs, my health and my sickness, my poverty and my wealth are under God’s divine power, jurisdiction and care]



deliver me from the hands [power, jurisdiction and care] of my foes



and from [the power, jurisdiction and care of] those who pursue [hound] me and persecute [harass and persistently trouble] me.

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Pray the Word:

Lord, as hard as I’ve tried, I haven’t done so well when I’ve tried to  manage my life’s course. I know in my heart that the affairs and events of my life are under Your control and that there’s nothing left to chance for a Child of God. I want to be more readily to release into Your hands my ups and my downs, my health and my sickness, my poverty and my wealth — Oh, for grace to trust You more!

It's Friday - but Sunday's coming!

It's Friday - but Sunday's coming!

It’s Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter’s denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It’s Friday; but Sunday’s a coming.

It’s Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, “Father, forgive them.” It’s Friday; but Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?” What a horrible cry. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. And at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it, but Sunday’s a coming.

And on that horrible day 2000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the Garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But that was Friday.

Now it’s Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn’t the only thing that was shaking because now it’s Sunday. And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb.

Yes, it’s Sunday, and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because it’s Sunday, and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for He is not here, the angel says. He is risen indeed.

It’s Sunday, and the crucified and resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave.



It’s Sunday. And now everything has changed. It’s the age of grace, God’s grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary was buried and rose again.



All because it’s Sunday.

From ‘A’ to ‘Z’

From ‘A’ to ‘Z’

Rev. 1: 10 -11a, 13 - 18

I was in the Spirit [rapt in His power] on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a war trumpet,



 

Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.

[Description of Jesus Christ]


And in the midst of the lampstands I saw [One] like a Son of Man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast.



 

His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire.



 

His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.



 

In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.



 

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid!



I am the First and the Last,

And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities].



I died, but see, I am alive forevermore;



and I possess the keys of death and Hades (emblems of authority, opening and shutting at will).

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we never want to become complacent to Who You are . . . . the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. How can we even think about standing before You except through Jesus Christ Who paid the price to purchase mercy for us to be saved from the power of sin and hell, and the final death of eternal torment . . . we bow ourselves before You in honor and praise!

Beyond a reasonable doubt

Beyond a reasonable doubt

Jn. 14:15

If [providing that] you love Me, [are really devoted, dedicated, committed to ME]


[the proof will be that]

you will keep [continue in] My commands [instructions, requirements].

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Pray the Word:

Lord, the only proof of our devotion, dedication, commitment, and loyalty to You is not in our great swelling, emotional words proclaiming our undying love to You. . . . . but in our obedience and compliance in submitting to all Your instructions and requirements which is the evidence that demonstrates the truth.

Nothing Ho – Hum about this!

Nothing Ho – Hum about this!



Is. 55: 1



Ho!

[give the most earnest attention to this invitation!]



Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! [has an intense need or desire that’s not been able to be satisfied]



Come to the waters; [overflowing blessings]



and he who has no money, [nothing you can offer]



come, buy [with your benefactor’s grace ] and eat! [break your hunger]



Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine [revives the spirit] and milk [feeds, nourishes the body]



without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].

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Pray the Word:

Lord, if the poor [needy in spirit] are willing to accept it [Your salvation] as a gift, they are welcome; and if the rich [who think they have need of nothing] will not accept of it as a gift, they cannot obtain it. . . . thank You for the day I realized I had nothing to support myself with and nothing to pay off my debt to You but through Christ Who paid it for me by buying my soul through His death at Calvary.

Tell me again! ! ! !

Tell me again! ! ! !

Mk. 16: 2 - 6

And very early on the first day of the week they came to the tomb; [by then] the sun had risen.

And they said to one another, Who will roll back the stone for us out of the door of the tomb?

And when they looked up, they saw that the stone was already rolled back, for it was very large.

And going into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a robe of white, and they were utterly amazed and struck with terror.

And he said to them, Do not be amazed and terrified; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here.



See the place where they laid Him. [it is empty!]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we will forever sing to the top of lungs . . . . . . . . .

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Teach your children . . .

Teach your children . . .

Deut. 11: 19 -21

And you shall teach them [the ways of the Lord] to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you rise up.

And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates,

That your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.

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Ps. 78: 4

We will not hide them from their children, but we will tell to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonderful works that He has performed.

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The Crucifixion Jesus Several times the Gospels mention that Jesus was crucified on the day before the Sabbath, the Jewish Day of Preparation (Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:14, 31, 42), that is, on Friday. Some object on the basis of Matthew 12:40: "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." They argue that this requires three 24-hour days. Some argue that since he was raised on a Sunday, he must have been crucified on a Thursday. However, the NT repeatedly refers to Jesus' resurrection as occurring on the third day, not the fourth day (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; Luke 9:22; 18:33; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4). And the Jews reckoned a part of day as a whole day. So there is no problem with the death of Jesus on Friday, being in the tomb on Saturday, and being raised on Sunday constituting three days in Jewish reckoning. Here is a brief chronology of Holy Week: Saturday Arrived at Bethany John 12:1 Sunday Crowd came to see Jesus John 12:9-11 Monday Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-44 Tuesday Cursed Fig Tree Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14 Cleansed Temple Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46 Wednesday Fig Tree Withered Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26 Temple Controversy Matthew 21:23-23:39; Mark 11:27-12:44; Luke 20:1-21:4 Olivet Discourse Matthew 24:1-25:46; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36 Thursday Last Supper Matthew 26:20-30; Mark 14:17-26; Luke 22:14-30 Betrayed and Arrested Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12 Tried by Annas and Caiaphas Matthew 26:57-75; Mark 14:53-72; Luke 22:54-65: John 18:13-27 Friday Tried by Sanhedrin Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66 Tried by Pilate, Herod Matthew 27:2-30; Mark 15:2-19; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:16 Crucified and Buried Matthew 27:31-60; Mark 15:20-46; Luke 23:26-54; John 19:16-42 Saturday Preached to spirits in prison / Got the keys to death, hell and the grave 1 Peter 3: 18-20 Rev. 1: 18 Sunday Resurrected Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-35

Where the tall corn grows

Where the tall corn grows

Ps. 23: 4
Yea [even though],

I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [any place, period, or situation that is filled with fear, gloom, and is threatening enough to where I think I’m not going to survive]

I will fear or dread no evil,

[why?] for You are with me;

Your rod [to protect]
and Your staff [to guide],
they comfort [reassure] me. [I will survive this!]
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Pray the Word:
Lord, we are not content living in the lowlands of life because we continually desire to move onto higher ground.  The problem is not that You won’t take us to higher ground [those mountain top experiences], but we often disagree with the route You take us.  But every shepherd knows the best route to the top is through the valley because that’s where the river runs through and the ground is the most fertile to produce – it’s where the tall corn grows! I trust You to protect, guide and comfort me as I walk through [successfully reach the end of] my valley on my way to the mountain top.

Undisturbed calmness

Undisturbed calmness

Is. 30:15

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

In returning [to Me]

and resting [in Me]

you shall be saved; [cease from warlike preparations]

in quietness [waiting]

and in [trusting] confidence

shall be your strength.
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Pray the Word:

Lord, we want to live each day in that UNDISTURBED CALMNESS where the wondrous combination of perfect passivity with the highest activity is most completely realized. It is in that place where the deepest experience of what the Christian life is and where we will see Your most ‘beyond belief’ workings in our life.

Do you know who you are?. . ! ! ! !

Do you know who you are?. . ! ! ! !

1 John 3:1

Behold, [catch sight of; recognize and understand ]what manner [an incredible quality] of love the Father hath bestowed [put honor] upon us,

that we should be called [declared and named] the sons [children] of God:

therefore [for that reason]

the world [those who do not acknowledge Christ as Savior & Lord]
knoweth us not, [recognize, acknowledge or identify with us]

because it knew Him not. [recognize, acknowledge or identify Jesus as the Christ, Son of God]
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Pray the Word:

Lord, what an incredible reality that we have received the privilege of such a glorious title – A Child of God! What closer relationship could we hope for than to be Your child? We are elated, yet humbled by this! All we can say is, ‘thank you, Lord’!

That wicked One toucheth him not!

That wicked One toucheth him not!

I John 5: 18-19

 

We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin,

but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ's divine presence within him preserves him against the evil],

and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].

We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one.