Wednesday prayer & verses (17 03 2010)

Thought for the day

Someone has prepared the following list of things that you don't want to hear during surgery:

~ Better save that. We'll need it for the autopsy.

~ Bo! Bo! Come back with that! Bad dog!

~ Wait a minute, if this is his spleen, then what's that?

~ Hand me that, uh, that uh, thingie.

~ Ya know, there's big money in kidneys. Hey, this guy's got two of 'em!

~ Everybody stand back! I lost my contact lens!

~ Could you stop that thing from beating? It's throwing my concentration off.

~ That's cool! Can you make his leg twitch again?

~ I wish I hadn't forgotten my glasses.

~ Well folks, this will be an experiment for us all.

~ Sterile, shcmerile. The floor's clean, right?

~ Nurse, did this patient sign the organ donation card?

~ Don't worry. I think it's sharp enough.

~ Oh, no! Page 47 of the manual is missing!

When you think about it, going in for any kind of surgery and allowing a doctor (whom you hardly know) to cut you open with a knife is a great act of faith. Having been there myself, I know that it's not an option that anyone chooses without a lot of thought and prayer. But sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we must be willing to allow a doctor to take our lives in his (or her) hands, trusting in their ability to bring life and health.

Jesus desires that we reach the same point spiritually. If we feel we have no real problems (at least, nothing we can't handle ourselves), we're tempted to take the spiritual equivalent of two aspirin and go on with our lives. But it is only when we realize the seriousness of our condition that we are forced to turn to the Great Physician, allowing him to take our lives in his hand, trusting in his ability to bring life and health.

"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick....For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." (Matthew 9:12-13)

May you realize the seriousness of your ailment, and find comfort in the One who can heal.

Verses

Hebrews 10:38

And those whose faith has made them good in God's sight must live by faith, trusting him in everything.

Otherwise, if they shrink back, God will have no pleasure in them.

Philippians 2:9-10

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice always;

1 Timothy 4:5

for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Joshua 1:8

You must not remove the book of these laws from before you, but think about it day and night, for you must carefully practise all written in it, for then your career will prosper, -- so reflect upon it.

Prayer

Father, as I dwell in Your secure shelter I rest in the shadow of Your wings. You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. You saved me from the evil plot of Satan when You secured for me the eternal plan of salvation. Like a bird who protects its young with the spread of its feathers, You cover me and protect me as You shield me with Your wings blocking the fiery darts of Satan. I will not fear the day nor the night as I am sheltered and protected by You. No evil can harm me for I am resting in Jesus and am safe forevermore. Amen.

Tuesday prayer & verses (16 03 2010)

Thought for the day

The following piece was recently written by Jacquie Sewell. I think you'll appreciate it as much as I did:

Everything I Needed to Know About Life I Learned From a Jigsaw Puzzle

1. Don't force a fit -- if something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.

2. When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.

3. Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.

4. Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.

5. When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later (see #4).

6. The creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook. Refer to the Creator's guidebook often.

7. Variety is the spice of life. It's the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting.

8. Working together with friends and family makes any task fun.

9. Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.

10. Don't be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.

11. Take time often to celebrate your successes (even little ones).

12. Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can't be rushed.

13. When you finally reach the last piece, don't be sad. Rejoice in the masterpiece you've made and enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Copyright 2001 Jacquie Sewell (jsewell416@hotmail.com). Permission is granted to send this to others, but not for commercial purposes.

There's much good advice in there for Christian living. Take #7, for example. There is much variety in the Lord's church -- not only variety of color, but variety of background, and variety of temperament. Some Christians would be happy if they were locked in a room filled with books totally isolated from society; other Christians would go crazy if they didn't have contact with people on a regular basis. Some Christians are fascinated by the theological arguments of the writer of Hebrews; other Christians are more moved by the depth of emotion expressed in the Psalms. Some Christians most enjoy expressing their love through doing things to help other people; other Christians get a great deal of satisfaction by writing notes of encouragement or giving hugs.

We sometimes wish that everybody else in the church was "just like me," but the things that make us different are actually a blessing. In I Corinthians 12, Paul compared the church to a human body. He wrote:

"If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?" (1 Cor. 12:17-19).

Though it sometimes gets frustrating, be thankful for the differences between us. We need the things which other Christians have to offer. It is that variety which allows the church to function as a body. Those differences make us stronger. Thank God for the variety!

Verses

Romans 4:21

And being certain that God was able to keep his word.

Ephesians 6:10

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Matthew 16:19

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you forbid on earth will be held in heaven to be forbidden, and whatever you permit on earth will be held in heaven to be permitted."

Ephesians 6:18

Pray all the time, asking for what you need, praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all the saints;

2 Corinthians 9:7

Let everyone give as he has previously resolved, not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Prayer

Father, we read throughout the period of the Judges that the people of Israel endured great heartache and spiritual defeat because each one became his own authority and acted on his own opinions of what was right and wrong. They did not make You the final authority; they disregarded Your holy laws and chose to do that which was right in their own eyes. We see this prevailing attitude in our own day. But as believers we acknowledge that our judgment is flawed and our motives are selfish when we do not submit our will to a holy God who knows what is best for His children. Today we want to obey Your laws and surrender our will as we seek to do what is good and right in Your eyes. This will result in our hearts being strengthened and our lives being blessed by You. Amen.

Monday prayer & verses (15 03 2010)

Thought for the day

I'm sure you have all heard (and maybe prayed) the prayer: "Lord, give me patience, and give it to me right now!" The following list of similar prayers has been made up. As usual, the author is unknown.

*** God, help me to begin relaxing about little details tomorrow at 11:41:32 am.

*** Lord, help me to be more laid back, and help me to do it exactly right!

*** Lord, help me not to be a perfectionist. (Did I spell that correctly?)

*** Lord, keep me open to the ideas of others, wrong though they may be!

*** Lord help me to stand up for my rights! (If you don't mind my asking)

*** Lord, help me to finish everything I sta.....

*** Lord, help me be less independent, but let me do it my way.

*** God, help me to take responsibility for my own actions, even though they're usually not my fault!

*** God, help me keep my mind on one th.... LOOK, A BIRD! ... ing at a time.

*** God, help me to slow downandnotrushthroughwhatIdo.Amen!

Maybe you've heard some of those prayers. Maybe you've prayed some of those prayers! We often find ourselves having to say, as the apostles did, "Lord, teach us to pray!" Teach us to pray with confidence, but in humility. Teach us to pray, not to force You to give us what we want, but as a means of submitting ourselves to Your will. Teach us to devote more time to this precious privilege.

I don't know about you, but one of the most amazing things in this world to me is the realization that the God of this universe hears and answers the prayers of his children.

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."
(I John 5:14-15)

Take time today to pray.

Verses

Hebrews 11:6

and apart from faith it is impossible to satisfy him, for the man who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he does reward those who seek him.

Joel 3:10

Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, 'I am strong.' "

Luke 12:7

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Acts 6:4

"but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

2 Corinthians 9:11

God will give you enough so you can always give to others. Then many will give thanks to God for sending gifts through us.

Prayer

Father, we’re so grateful for the four seasons that bring a fresh reminder of Your marvelous and inimitable works throughout the universe. When the fresh spring rains fall to the earth or the strong winds blow the trees and strew the leaves into the air we’re mindful of Your mighty power. Your works are so great and vast that in a lifetime we will see but only a tiny fraction of Your creative handiwork. In this unstable society we can be assured that You set the earth on its foundations and it can never be moved without Your command. Your glory is revealed to us as it is declared from the heavens to the ends of the earth. Amen.

Thursday prayer & verses (11 03 2010)

Thought for the day

Have you ever been guilty of looking at others your own age and thinking, "Surely I can't look that old"? An elderly woman was sitting in the waiting room for her first appointment with a new dentist. She noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name.

Suddenly, she remembered that a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in her high school class some 40-odd years ago. Could he be the same guy that she had a secret crush on, way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, she quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way, way too old to have been her classmate....or was he?

After he examined her teeth, she asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School.

"Yes. Yes. I did...I'm a Morgan Mustang," he gleamed with pride.

"When did you graduate?" she asked.

He answered, "In 1959. Why do you ask?"

"You were in my class!" she exclaimed.

He looked at her closely...and then he asked, "What did you teach?"

It's easy, isn't it, to look at others our age and see all the changes they've gone through -- the wrinkles they added, the hair they've lost, and not realize that we have changed in exactly the same way? "Surely I can't look that old!"

It's easy to do the same thing spiritually. We see the spiritual "wrinkles" in others. We see what's lacking in their lives that ought to be there. "Surely I'm not that sinful!" And, all the while, they are looking at us, unaware of those problems in their own lives, but they see the same blemishes in our lives!

Jesus didn't use the imagery of wrinkles and hair loss. Rather, he used the imagery of dust and planks to make the same point.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:3-5)

Let's be honest enough to look in the mirror and say, "You know, I really do look that old!" And let's be honest enough to look into the mirror of God's Word and say, "You know, I really do have these sins in my life." Only when we use a mirror on ourselves rather than a magnifying glass on others will we begin to see some development in our spiritual life.

Verses

James 1:2-4

My brothers, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Jeremiah 8:22

Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?

James 5:7

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

Matthew 6:7

"But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Romans 8:31

When that is said, what follows? Who can be our adversary, if God is on our side?

Prayer

Jesus, Your sacrificial death on the cross became the tree of life for all who believe. It is the highest expression of love not only for those who bore the nails in your hands and shouted “Crucify, Crucify.” It is for all the generations who follow that were born under the sin curse. How grateful we are that You came from the glories of heaven to crush the head of the serpent, as You conquered death through Your miraculous resurrection so that we might be redeemed from the law of sin. We will partake of the tree of life in heaven because You partook of the cross of death here on earth. All glory and praise is due Your name. Amen.

Wednesday prayer & verses (10 03 2010)

Thought for the day

The story is told of a young man who wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked him over and responded, "Son, go stand out in that field and I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter."

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate.

The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood - pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber - as it eyed him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He grabbed... but the bull had no tail!

Life is full of opportunities. Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available.

The same thing is also true of opportunities to serve Christ. God often opens doors -- opportunities to speak up for Him, opportunities to minister to someone who is hurting or in need, opportunities to make an influence on the world around us. If we allow them to pass by (perhaps because we are waiting for something easier to come along), we may miss out on them altogether.

"Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God. Also pray for us that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message." (Col. 4:2-3a, NCV)

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Gal. 6:10).

May you take advantage of the doors God opens for you this day!

Verses

Luke 1:37

Because no declaration from God shall be void of power.

Exodus 15:26

and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you."

Habakkuk 2:3

For the vision is for its appointed time, it hastens towards its end and it will not lie; although it may take some time, wait for it, for come it certainly will before too long.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Never give up praying.

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each person must make up his own mind what he is going to give, He must not give as if giving hurt him, or as if the money was being forced out of him. God loves a man who enjoys giving.

Prayer

Father, we know that we must do more than just read Your Word, but we must apply Your truths so that we see Your Spirit at work in the daily challenges we encounter. The Israelites looked to You for guidance in the cloud by day and the fire by night. They learned when to wait and when to walk. It is in the waiting times that we learn endurance for the present and it is in the walking times that we learn to trust You for the future. Whether You are moving us forward or keeping us still our hope is in You all the day long. Amen.

Tuesday prayer & verses (09 03 2010)

Thought for the day

A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a junior high school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment . . . then a new school year began. The very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his street, beating merrily on every trash can they encountered. The crashing percussion continued day after day, until finally the wise old man decided it was time to take some action.

The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street. Stopping them, he said, "You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your exuberance like that. Used to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I'll give you each a dollar if you'll promise to come around every day and do your thing."

The kids were elated and continued to do a bang-up job on the trash cans. After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face. "This recession's really putting a big dent in my income," he told them. "From now on, I'll only be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans." The noisemakers were obviously displeased, but they did accept his offer and continued their afternoon ruckus.

A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street. "Look." he said, "I haven't received my Social Security check yet, so I'm not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents. Will that be okay?"

"A lousy quarter?" the drum leader exclaimed. "If you think we're going to waste our time, beating these cans around for a quarter, you're nuts! No way, mister. We quit!" And the old man enjoyed peace and serenity for the rest of his days.

A wise man indeed! He discovered something that most of us spend our whole lives searching for -- a way to make peace. Granted, his peace was a "peace and quiet", while we seek to bring about a deeper level of peace, but the principle is the same.

In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:9), Jesus included peacemakers among those who would be blessed. I stand in awe of those who have the ability to reconcile people who have been fussing and fighting.

Allow these words of Paul to speak to us:

"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.....Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another." (Romans 12:18; 14:19).

May God bless us with wisdom to find ways to do just that.

Verses

Luke 1:37

Because no declaration from God shall be void of power.

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

Psalm 105:2

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders.

Matthew 7:11

So if you, weak mortals that you are, are capable of making good gifts to your children, don't you think your spiritual Father will give even better gifts to those who ask him?

Psalm 34:9-10

Fear the LORD, you His consecrated ones, for those who fear Him lack nothing. Lions have been reduced to starvation, but those who turn to the LORD shall not lack any good.

Prayer

Father, all the goals and strategies that I set for my life culminate in the blessing of knowing that as I press on I will eventually hear You say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant”! “You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary….I will give the right to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” You grant the eternal prize for remaining steadfast and faithful in my Christian walk. Others in this world may earn titles and win prizes for worthy earthly pursuits, but the greatest prize that I will ever obtain is my entrance into heaven where I will see you face to face. And amazingly it was not because I earned it but because of Your merciful pardon of my sin. May my outlook be bright today as my heart is heaven bound. Amen.

Monday prayer & verses (08 03 2010)

Thought for the day

Fridtjof Nansen was a Norwegian explorer who led an expedition to the Arctic Ocean in a search for the North Pole. He took his ship in very deep water and, as part of his studies, he would drop a sounding line to check the ocean's depth. Since the line was too short to reach the bottom of the ocean, he would record the date, time, location, length of line, and a final note of “deeper than that”.

He then lowered a longer line with the same result and notation, “deeper than that”. Another attempt, still “deeper than that”. Finally, after lowering his longest line, the logbook received the final notation of so and so length of line and “deeper than that”.

I want to suggest to you that that's the way God's love is. No matter how we may try to measure it, his love is deeper than that. John tells us in I John 4:8 that “God is love”, but I feel rather overwhelmed and challenged by the task of trying to explain this incredible doctrine.

A.W. Tozer struggled to explain God’s love as well. He once said, “I can no more do justice to this awesome and wonder-filled topic than a child can grasp a star. Still, by reaching toward the star the child may call attention to it and even indicate the direction one must look to see it. And so, I stretch my heart toward the high, shining love of God so that we may be encouraged to look up and have hope.”

Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:17-19, "[I pray] that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height -- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Paul prayed that the Ephesian Christians might be able to comprehend the love of Christ, but he said that it is a love that truly surpasses knowledge. As difficult as it may be, I encourage you seek to grasp a better understanding of the love of God, for it is there that you will find the motivation to love Him in return and to love others around you.

Verses

2 Corinthians 4:13

Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak.

Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for the wrong things we did. He was crushed for the evil things we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him. And we are healed because of his wounds.

Matthew 16:19

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind -- that is, declare to be improper and unlawful -- on earth must be already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth -- declare lawful -- must be what is already loosed in heaven.

1 Peter 3:12

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

2 Corinthians 8:9

For by experience you know the unmerited favor shown by our Lord Jesus Christ; that although He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, in order that by His poverty you might become rich.

Prayer

Father, Your warnings regarding the deluge of deceitful tactics from the enemy is evidenced all around us – through the media, books, false prophets and even well-meaning but confused individuals. Your Word is the stabilizing and authoritative doctrinal manual for all that I need for life and godliness. You promise to bring maturity into my Christian walk as I apply Your teaching so that I attain to the fullness of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone. Help me to be wise, studied, and vigilant so that I correctly discern good from bad, truth from error. In Your holy name I pray, Amen.

Friday prayer & verses (05 03 2010)

Thought for the day

Who is a father?

A father is a person who is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic. He growls when he feels good and laughs very loud when he is scared half-to-death.

A father never feels entirely worthy of the worship in a child's eyes. He is never quite the hero his daughter thinks. Never quite the man his son believes him to be. And this worries him sometimes. (So he works too hard to try to smooth the rough places in the road of those of his own who will follow him.)

A father is a person who goes to war sometimes...and would run the other way except that war is part of an important job in his life (which is making the world better for his child than it has been for him).

Fathers grow older faster than other people, because they, in other wars, have to stand at the train station and wave goodbye to the uniform that climbs on board.

And, while mothers cry where it shows, fathers stand and beam...outside...and die inside.

Fathers are men who give daughters away to other men who aren't nearly good enough, so that they can have children that are smarter than anybody's.

Fathers fight dragons almost daily. They hurry away from the breakfast table off to the arena, which is sometimes called an office or a workshop. There they tackle the dragon with three heads: Weariness, Works, and Monotony. And they never quite win the fight, but they never give up.

Knights in shining armor; fathers in shiny trousers. There's little difference as they march away each workday.

And when Father passes away, and after a good rest, he won't just sit on a cloud and wait for the girl he's loved and the children she bore. He'll be busy there too...repairing the stars, oiling the gates, improving the streets, smoothing the way.

"Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father." (Prov. 17:6)

Verses

Matthew 24:35

Land and sky will cease to be, but my words will stand to eternity.

Mark 5:34

And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

Ephesians 5:1-2

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Mark 11:24

For this reason I say to you, Whatever you make a request for in prayer, have faith that it has been given to you, and you will have it.

Psalm 34:9-10

Fear the LORD, you His consecrated ones, for those who fear Him lack nothing. Lions have been reduced to starvation, but those who turn to the LORD shall not lack any good.

Prayer

Father, we are confident that You will provide for all our needs as we obey Your commands. You have instituted work from the very beginning so that we can provide for ourselves that which we have need of. Your blessings fall upon those who obey You and who are not idle or wasteful. We thank You for our jobs and the skills needed to perform our duties. We lift up our brothers and sisters who are diligently looking for employment but are awaiting doors to open. Father, we pray that You would open the right door and provide for their needs in supernatural and unconventional ways as You always care for Your own, no matter the circumstances. May it be a time of trusting and growing as they look to You for their provisions and for the open door. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.