GOT A MINUTE OR TWO

 Psalm 9:10 "Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You." Heavenly Father, how wonderful to know Your name, to have put my trust in you by faith and been adopted into your family!  What is amazing is You know MY name.  You knew me before I was formed in my mothers womb and you wrote name in Your book and numbered my days.  This is to marvelous to understand, so I just love and accept it becausse Your Word is always true.  We can trust from this verse that if we seek You, You will never forsake us!  I love You.  Amen

  “ It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 (ESV) Father, help us to understand the vital necessity of the daily reading and mediitating on your Word to the sustenance of our spiritual life. Help us to follow the counsel and guidance of the Scriptures given by the Holy Spirit to: "Let Christ's word with all its wisdom and richness live in you...." Colossians 3:16 (GW) Indeed Father how: "How sweet your word is to my taste —sweeter than honey in my mouth." Psalm 119:103 (CSB) Thank you Father for this spiritual daily bread that is sweet to our taste, nourishing to our soul, renewing to our mind and invigorating to our life as we daily partake of it's treasures and truth. As the Scriptures say: "9....The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. 10 .....They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. Psalm 19:9-10 (NLT) And Father may we also say...

UNDERSTANDING BRINGS JOY Nehemiah 7:8,12 After Ezra and Nehemiah had rebuilt the walls and temple in Jerusalem after the exciles returned from captivity they assembled all the people.  Ezra stood on a high wooden platform and read outloud the Book of the Law of Moses and  clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people to understand each passage.   They celebrated with great joy because they and  heard God's words and understood them. Heavenly Father, how precious are Your Words, but without understanding their is no joy!  When the people in this passage in Nehemiah heard the Words of God explained clearly they rejoiced with great joy and celebration.  Oh Father, give us wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit so when we read and study Your Word it will be clear and understanding will bring joy and obedience.  Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my way.  I love You.  Amen googleimage.com

Proverbs 3:11-12  "My son, do not desise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." Dear Father, how You cherish your children!  Your love for us is relentless and undeserved.  Even Your discipline is motivated by compassion.  Teach me to accept Your correction with humble gratitude.  I do not ask You to withold Your discipline; I only ask that You grant me the wisdom and humility to learn the lesson quickly!  I love You.  Amen

  THE GOOD SHEPHERD John 10:11  "I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." How tenderly you care for me, Jesus, my Shepherd!  When I hear Your reassuring voice I know that I am secure.  When I wander far away You search for me.  And when You find me, You hoist me upon Your strong shoulders; rejoicing that I have been found.  You are the gate that lead to the fold of salvation.  You are the fold in which I find safety.  When I am in danger, You lay down your own life for me.  You give me the gift of life, life to the full.  Oh to know You, gracious Shepherd and to be known by You ~~this is true life!  I love You.  Amen googleimages.com

Love Letters, googleimages.com   Holy and Loving Father, what could be better than this old hymn to show our love for you on this Valentine Day.  Your Holy Word is your "love letter" to us.  It tells us everything we need to know about You and how to live our lives.  Thank You for your LOVE, thank You for your WORD.  Thank You for sending your precious and only Son to pay the penalty for our sins.  May we show you our LOVE by our obedience this day and every day.  I love You.  Amen.

  Lamentations 3:22-25 "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fails.   They are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait on him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him." Heavenly Father, You Word tells us we will have daily troubles, but not to dispair, along with the daily troubles, you have given us  daily mercies.   They are new every morning.  Thank You for meeting our daily needs.  Help us to take one day at a time, receiving you mercies to deal with the troubles of the day.  Help us to look beyond our troubles and reach out to those who have hurts and needs and share this good news.   I love You.  Amen. Let us with gladsome mind, Praise the Lord for He is kind; For His mercies shall endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. All things living He doth feed; His full hand supplie...

 Spiritual Prisons Psalm 37:7,28  "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicket schemes.  For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones." Thank You Lord that You are able to give us spiritual freedom even when the world constructs its "prisons" around us.  When our hands are tied, when we seem to be trapped by life's small frustrations or enormous tragedies.  Your wisdom protects us and infuses us with an inner strength that moves us beyond the confines of our circumstances.  You lead us in the midst of a world that has veered off course.  You empower us to live out Your plan among people who refuse to call You God!  Lord, help us!  I love You.  Amen. Maranatha Worship Bible

 Sometimes amid the frustration, fear, chaos of our world, we need, of course, to pray for God to touch men's hearts and bring a sense of calm.  But what I found as I read the Scriptures this morning is, God calls us to Worship and Praise in the midst of darkness.   Listen to Psalm 150 and let it rise your heart and emotions above the cloud that hangs over our country.  Praise is a command from our Lord. Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary Praise Him in His mighty firmament. Praise Him for His might acts Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet Praise Him with the lute and harp, Praise Him with the timbrel and dance. Praise Him with the stringed instruments and flutes. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath  Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Do you hear the noise?   Do you see the celebration?  Don't you want to join in?  Thi...

  Jude 1:17-24 'But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts."  These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some that are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garments polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Holy Father, we are l...

SEEKING HIS FACE     Psalm 27:8  "When You said, "Seek My Face". My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." In the eleventh century, St. Anselm gave advice that is relevant to us today! " Up now, slight man!  Flee for a little while your occupations; hide yourself for a time from your disturbing thoughts.  Cast aside now your burdensome cares, and put away your toilsome business.  Yield room for some little time to God, and rest for a little time in Him.  Enter the inner chamber of your mind; shut out all thoughts save that of God and such than can aid you in seeking Him.  Speak now, my whole heart!  Speak now to God, saying, I seek Your Face; Your face, Lord, will I seek." Dear Father, it doesn't matter if it's from the beginning of time to now, men have always needed to seek Your face.  Where do we find it?  In the humble solitude of putting everything else away and seeking you.  Help us, Lord, wit...

Father God, as You promised Your people of old, so you promise me today, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you".  Lord, I want to be where You are.  Go before me to prepare the way.  Stay with me to direct my every step.  Surround me with Your presence so that I may say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me"?  I love You.  Amen.     Deuteronomy 31:8  "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you, he will never leave your or forsake you.  Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." Keep bright in us the vision of days when war will cease. When hatred and division Give way to love and peace. Till dawns the morning glorious When truth and justice reign And Christ shall rule victorious O're all the world's domain.                ~William W Reid Jr. (1958)   

GET MOVING  What is prayer?  Communication with the Almighty, the Creator of the universe, our precious Lord and Savior!  God promises us many things about prayer throughout the Scriptures. God does not ignore our prayers ~ Psalm 9:12 Our prayers bring us into God's presence ~ Psalm 145:18 God honors persistence in prayer ~ Matthew 7:7 God will give wisdom if you ask for it ~ James 1:5 A sincere prayer brings wonderful results ~ James 5:16 God hears out prayers when they are in line with His will ~ I John 5:14   These are wonderful promises.  Put prayer is also Action!  In Exodus 14:15 "Then the Lord said, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!"     Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of prayer and the opportunity to be in your presence and know you hear us.  But Lord, I pray that we will hear your voice saying "Get Moving"  for our prayers must be accompanied by a willingness ...

As I read the devotion this morning in the Daily Bread, I was struck that Ezekiel had the answer for the wickedness in our country.  "But if a wicked person. . . does what is just and right, they will save their life."  God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone.  The Sovereign Lord declares, Repent and Live!  (Ezekiel 18:27) Only God can change a hard wicked heart of stone into a heart of flesh and good.  The last four months have driven us to our knees for our country.  Wickedness abounds and we see the sinful nature of man left to his own ideas and devices.  Oh how we need to see SIN for what it is and Repent...so we can LIVE. Dear Father God, You alone know what's in the heart of man and the wicked things that are being played out in our country.  We know you are Sovereign and You are in control and long to have us repent and turn back to God as a nation.  But Lord, it has to happen one heart at a time, so I pray and plead...

 A Nation in Trouble The Reconciliation Song   Oh, let us be the generation Of reconciliation and peace, And let us be a holy nation Where pride and prejudice shall cease.   Let us speak the truth in love To the lost and least of these, Let us serve the Lord in unity So others will believe. Let us be a generation Of reconciliation and peace.   Have we not one Father? Have we not one Faith? Have we not one Calling? To become one Holy Race?    ~Morris Chapman, Buddy Owens, Clair Cloninger (1995) 

 "TAKING A RISK" (Mark 14:3-9)  This woman took a risk in order to touch Jesus.  She interrupted a dinner party to perform a public act of lavish, extravagant adoration that you will remember forever.  O Lord, help me to worship like that - not for others approval, but for the deepest springs of my heart, with acts and expressions of overwhelming devotion and awe.  By Your Spirit, Lord, teach me how. Before Your throne I'm amazed at Your glory  Down at Your feet, oh Lord In the most high place In Your presence, Lord I seek Your face I seek Your face.   There is no higher calling No greater honor Than to bow and kneel Embraced by Your mercy Oh Lord, I live to worship You. (No Higher Calling 1989) Image from googleimages.com

Sometimes we just need to get back to the basics!  What could be more basic than the 23rd Psalm at this time of unrest and frustration in our nation. Dear Holy Shepherd, I praise you that my needs are met daily from Your loving hand. You bring me rest in green pastures and give me cool water to drink.   When I feel lost, You restore my soul.  When I feel unworthy, you lead me in the path of Your righteousness.  You do this for YOUR name sake. When I don't know what to do, You walk hand and hand with me through those dark shadows and give me strength to fear no evil.  Thank You Father that you are with me, your discipline and love comfort me and show me the way.  You prepare a table before me, and show me I don't have to fear my enemies.  Because of your precious healing oil, my cup runs over and Your goodness and mercy follow me where ever I go.  And when this life and troubles are over, I will be with my Good Shepherd forever i...

 Stained Glass ~Watercolor by Wanda   "In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.  Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape.  Incline Your ear to me and save me.  Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually.  You have given the commandment to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress..."Psalms 71:1-3 Father God, you holy scriptures tell me that if I put my trust in You I will never be put to shame.  It's Your righteousness not mine that causes me to escape.  In these times of unrest and fear with so many people, help us to remember Your promises that You are our Rock, our Refuge, our Fortress.  We need no more.  Thank You for holding us in the palm of Your hand, and hiding us in the cleft of the Rock.  Our safety is in YOU.                          ...

googleimages.com   In times like these you need a Savior In times like these you need an anchor Be very sure, be very sure You anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock The Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One The Rock is Jesus, the only One Be very sure, be very sure You anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock In times like these you need the Bible In times like these, O be not idle Be very sure, be very sure You anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock                                                                       (George Beverly Shea) Oh Lord, You are our Anchor.  You are the Solid Rock.  The Word...

THE TABLE Living Christ, there is no altar on which to offer sacrifices and no need for them.  THE TABLE displays Your love, and the sacrifice of Your grace is pictured for our hearts to embrace.  Thank You for Your sacrifice.  Thank You for the cross.  Thank You for the crumbs of broken bread that reminds us of Your sufficient supply and for the cup that reminds us forever that You have kept Your promise to redeem us.  Remind us of our frailty and our dependence upon You.  Help us to respond to Your unspeakable gift with worship, love and gratitude and obedience ~~ that our hearts may display the grace You have freely given.  Amen *Bill Crowder ~ The Path of His Passion