Tuesday, January 17, 2006
I prayed for you today. I didn’t just think kind thoughts about you or flippantly release empty words into the air.
I spoke with the Living God … the very God that I struggle with in relationship daily … the Father Who nurtures my spirit … even when I resist and run away … the Creator of mornings … and mighty men … and memories … the Composer of the joyful songs of the earth … and the harmonies of the angels … the Author of the greatest story ever told … Who adds to its pages daily … the Brave and Gentle Hero Who would rather die for us than leave us alone in our sin.
I spoke to Him.
I asked that He give you strength and grace to be Jesus to the world … a beacon of hope to those who cannot find their way. I asked that He calm you and fill you with His Holy Spirit. I asked that He give you confidence … and humility. I asked that He teach you from His vast supply of wisdom so that you may speak His truth.
I asked Him to love you the way He has loved me … a love unearned … undeserved … a love that covers a multitude of sins … a love that only a Living God can give.
I believe He listened.
May you feel His Spirit nurturing your spirit … and when you enter the world today … may you find Him there waiting for you … anticipating your arrival … already answering a faith-filled, fervent prayer … prayed especially for you.
~s
Tags: author, beacon, composer, creator, Father, hero, Holy Spirit, Living God, love, prayed for you today, wisdom
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Tuesday, January 10, 2006
May our Father continually shower you with every spiritual blessing and with that mix of material blessings perfectly suited to your needs and your faith and your ministry. Each time you encounter a soul in need of healing, may you minister to them with confidence and humility.
May your heart be tuned to only hear the voice of the Living God. May no distraction ever drown out His words. May no person or thing ever cloud your vision of Him.
May He remind you … over and over again … that you are His child … and that you were created to live in relationship with Him. May the relationship that develops between the two of you be peaceful … harmonious … and unshakable. May you thrive in His steadfast love.
~s
Tags: confidence, drown, humility, Living God, physical blessings, relationship, relationship with Him, spiritual blessings, steadfast love, voice
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Tuesday, January 3, 2006
May Jesus be your inspiration … your greatest ideas … your holiest thoughts. May He continually increase … in you.
May you find Him in every moment … every smile … every heartbeat of today, and may He find you close by His side … laughing … listening … lost in His love.
May He smile as He rejoices in the morning … the moment … that the first thought of you dawned in His heart.
~s
Tags: first thought of you, heartbeat, holy thoughts, inspiration, Jesus, smile
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Tuesday, December 27, 2005
As Christ increases in you, may your love for Him and those He has created multiply greatly. May that love overflow as a blessing to everyone you meet, and may it return to you swiftly and in abundance.
May many faithful, trustworthy friends walk the red carpet to your heart’s door, and may you find in them the rich gifts of compassionate spirits … encouraging conversation … and fervent prayers. May you see in them true reflections of the ever-creating, ever-increasing Christ.
~s
Tags: Christ, compassionate spirits, love, multiply, overflow, red carpet, true reflections, trustworthy friends
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Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Father of love –
I get it. I finally get it. Just like an earthly father loves his children, You love me … only much more than any human father could ever love.
I’m not just another person to You. I am special in Your eyes. I am a joy to Your heart. You love me deeply because I came from You.
Even in my mistakes and my failures and my sin … You love me!
I am amazed at Your continual … unconditional … steadfast love. Your love continues forever. Nothing can separate me from Your love. There is no distance too far for You to come after me when I am lost.
You love me. You hear my cry. You run to me. You draw near to me when I draw near to You. I am drawing near to You, Lord.
Kum ba yah! Come by here!
Many times I have withdrawn and resisted You. You have never done that to me. Thank You!
Please make me new. Make me like You. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
~s
Tags: draw near, Father, Jesus, kum ba yah, love, make me new, unconditional, you love me
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Tuesday, December 6, 2005
Sunday night a friend invited me to attend a special worship service with him and his family. The whole evening was a celebration of the birth of Jesus. I was amazed at the talent of each participant during the service. I was attentive. I listened carefully … observed closely. My heart was moved. One moment my eyes filled with tears … another, I wanted to stand and applaud.
I was reminded that my Savior chose to humble Himself and enter this world as a tender, innocent baby in a stable in an insignificant little town … knowing all along that His destination was a cross … a cruel, inhuman death … an unavoidable and unspeakable event … because of no sin other than my own.
Forgiveness of sins is an incredible thing. Before Jesus, there was no forgiveness. Today, there is no forgiveness apart from Him.
Maybe it was that simple fact. Maybe it was the dual videos contrasting the baby in the manger and the Son of God on the cross. Maybe it was over 100 voices singing “Joy, Joy” at the top of their lungs. Maybe it was a revelation from His Holy Spirit. Maybe it was all of those things, but whatever it was, the good tidings of great joy took on a new significance to me.
The darkness was over. God was contacting His people. Reconciliation had begun, and there was no turning back. The world was about to experience the release of burdens and guilt of a magnitude that it could never have imagined, and this was an occasion for great joy … a joy that continues to this very day.
Every day that is graced with forgiveness is a cause for celebration … an invitation to rejoice. Joy can’t be legislated … censored … or banned. No amount of bad news … depressing statistics … or threats of impending doom can overcome the joy of forgiveness. It dwells in a secret place in your heart … an inner room filled with treasures … accessible only to the One Who offers forgiveness … for only He holds the key.
May you turn off your television. May you unplug your stereo. May you log off of the internet (yes, including this site). May you clear your busy schedule, and may you rekindle your friendship with the Author of forgiveness. May you laugh with Him and cry with Him. May your voice blend in unison with His, and may the two of you sing a song of joy like no one has ever sung before.
Joy to the world!
Joy to your homeland!
Joy to your neighborhood!
Joy to your family and friends!
Joy from Jesus straight to your forgiven soul!
Joy to the deepest reaches of your sincere, hopeful heart … today … and every day!
May you live in the joy of forgiveness.
~s
Tags: Author of forgiveness, birth of Jesus, celebration, destination was a cross, frozen moments, innocent baby, joy of forgiveness, joy to the world
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Tuesday, November 29, 2005
My Father –
I want to learn about love. I want to learn to give love and to receive love in every way that honors You.
I want to love You with my whole heart. I want to love my neighbor. I want to love myself. Sometimes, particularly in the past, I have had a hard time loving … especially myself. That has had a negative effect on my love for my neighbor and my love for You, but I want to learn.
I’m not afraid to learn from You. You are the Good Teacher … the Wonderful Counselor … the Perfect Guide. I am Your student. I am Your servant. I am Your child.
I know that You are perfect love, and I know that You love me. You truly love me.
Teach me … counsel me … forgive me … guide me … lead me … love me … never let me go.
All of my needs are filled in You, and from Your presence, I don’t want to move. I am praying to You, my Father, through Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
~s
Tags: counsel, Father, i don't want to move, perfect love, Wonderful Counselor, your child, your servant
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Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Great Provider –
Every success I experience or know is only because of You … because You are with me and have chosen to bless me. With every success, help me to remain humble and thankful.
When I experience failures and disappointments, You are still with me. I believe that. Joseph believed that. Thank You for his wonderful example! Please give me strength to, like him, give You all of the glory for every good thing.
You are Your own interpreter. Rather than getting sidetracked with my own interpretations, give me wisdom and grace, Lord, to simply read Your Word, believe it and obey it. I never want to complicate Your simple truth with my vain opinions.
I can do nothing without You. You can do anything and everything without me, yet You want to be with me. That makes me feel valuable. That gives me purpose.
Fill me with Your beautiful Holy Spirit of grace. Please hear my prayer through Jesus. Amen.
~s
Tags: believe, Holy Spirit, humble, interpreter, Jesus, success, thankful
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Tuesday, November 15, 2005
May your days on this earth be filled with many brothers …
… wise men sent by our Father to help you shoulder the load … to strengthen your faith … to mentor … to guide … to nurture your growing soul.
… equals sent to challenge you in your spiritual walk … to help you multiply your talents … to encourage your heart and refresh your spirit when the world would overwhelm you.
… youths to look up to you in admiration … to feed your inner hero … to remind you of your incredible value … and importance … and worth in this world and in the world to come.
May you find that the necessary load that comes along with these friendships … never weighs you down. May they not be heavy … may they be your brothers.
May Jesus be your greatest Friend … your truest Brother. May He never be a burden for you to bear.
~s
Tags: brothers, burden, encourage your heart, feed your inner hero, greatest Friend, heavy, Jesus, refresh your spirit, spiritual walk, truest Brother, wise men
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Tuesday, November 8, 2005
May thoughts of Heaven fill your heart.
May the golden streets inspire you to help someone along a rocky, difficult road that stretches before them.
May thoughts of Michael and Gabriel motivate you to be an angel to a soul struggling desperately with demons.
May the hope of an endless day with Jesus lead you to illuminate the path of a friend encircled by an endless night.
May the abundance of the Tree of Life encourage you to provide for those in need of food, clothing and shelter.
May the promise of our Father’s finger tenderly wiping away your tears stir you to bring comfort to those who weep.
May the welcoming King on His throne move you to raise your scepter when those who have wronged you enter your presence and request your grace.
May joyous worship break out in your heart and roll from your lips when you are counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ.
May our Father’s kingdom come … in you.
May His will be done on earth this day because you understand that getting Heaven into you is more important than getting you into Heaven.
~s
Tags: be an angel, counted worthy to suffer, Gabriel, golden streets, kingdom, Michael, raise your scepter, thoughts of Heaven, Tree of Life, worship
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