Thanks Be To God - - For HIs Kingdom

 

1 CORINTHIANS 4:20

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1 Corinthians 2:4, 5

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 932

Kingdom: sovereignty, authority, realm; the realm in which  a king sovereignly rules

From the Greek word 'basileia' (pronounced bas-il-i'-ah). 

The word 'kingdom' refers to any location wherein a king rules with sovereign power. Whether that location is a physical location; for instance, on a map, where you can pinpoint a kingdom. Kingdoms are built and kingdoms are destroyed. Be careful who is ruling in the kingdom of your hearts. If God lives in you by the Power of Christ, the God is your King. If, however, God does not live in you, then Satan is your king. 

If we are God's servants, we wear the armor He has provided for us (Ephesians 6:10-20). Such armor makes it possible for we who are of God's kingdom to take down and overpower the kingdom of darkness, where spiritual wickedness rules (Ephesians 6:12).

If we are living righteous lives according to the righteousness of God and His Word, then the kingdom of God is, indeed, in our midst. 

Luke 17:21

Nor will people say, 'Look, here it is,' or 'There it is.' For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst."

And what do the Scriptures say is the kingdom of God? =

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS CHRIST

1 Corinthian 1:24

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIFE IN THE HOLY GHOST 

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD CANNOT BE DESTROYED BUT WILL ITSELF DESTROY 

Daniel 2:44

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT OF THIS WORLD

John 18:36

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Have you asked God to set up His kingdom in Your hearts? Have you repented of your transgressions against His laws? Are you letting His Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost direct your steps. Are you soaking in God's presence by reading and studying His Word? If we don't make time for God now, why would He make time for us later? We need God now. We need Jesus Christ now. We crave the indwelling of the Trinity within us: to feed us, to lead us, to raise us up. 

Dear God,

Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to be my Savior; to be the King of my heart and the Lord of my life. Lord, I want Your kingdom built up in me. Take my heart to be Yours and reign in me.

O God, hear our prayer! Hear the cries of our hearts! Come, Lord Jesus, and take up residence in our hearts. We/I want to be Your people, Your children, Your servants, Your friends. I want to hear You say that I am Your friend. I long to hear Your voice say that I have been a good and faithful servant. 

O Father, set up Your kingdom in me: reign forever in me. Be my God and I will be Your holy nation. Move through me, through us. We are a kingdom of workers. Our legs go where you direct our feet to walk. Our mouths open to speak the words of Your heart. Our arms are raise in worship, our hands are stretched out before us in surrender to You.

In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray,

Amen

 

Kingdom Medley playlist

Thanks Be To God - - For The Resurrection

 

JESUS. Though He suffered and died, He still has the victory. He has the victory over death and the grave. 1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

 He did that for us, ALL OF US. Not just for Israel's descendants, but for ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE: CHRIST died and CHRIST Lives! He walked out of the grave. Such a resurrection! He was given the keys to hell and death (Revelation 1:18). 

At the instance of His death, saints who had been long dead came out of their graves and were seen by the yet living (Matthew 27:50-53). 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 386

Resurrection: stand up again, a raising up, rising

From the Greek word 'anastasis' (pronounced an-as'-tas-is). referring to the physical resurrection of the body. 

DEATH & THE GRAVE END

David in his day had faith to know that God would not leave his soul in the grave.

Psalm 49:15

But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah

Hosea, chapter 13, speaks of the coming judgment on a rebellious people, but God promises a ransom that will be paid and a redemption that will cause those whom He has redeemed to belong to Himself. Hosea 13:14

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”

Isaiah 25:8 speaks millenia ahead of what is promised in Revelation 21:3,4.

He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.

Revelation 21:3,4

3. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

4. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

CHRIST IS CHANGED

Without the cross there'd be no resurrection. Christ had to suffer: Someone had to atone for sin and God chose Him. 

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 

Jesus was just as unrecognizable after death as He was in death. But in a different way. At His mock trial He was given the death penalty; He was beaten, His beard was plucked out of His face, a thorny crown was forcefully put on His head, He was whipped across His back in public humiliation, and even with such loss of blood He was expected to carry the heavy cross beam across His shoulders. (Isaiah 50 & 53; Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 22 & 23; John 19).

But AFTER the Resurrection He was given a glorified body. 

John 20:10-18, specifically verses 14 and 17.

14. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.

17. “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ 

1 Corinthians 15:19-22

19. If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

22.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Acts 2:24

But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.

Acts 26:23

That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

WE WILL BE CHANGED

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

51. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

52. in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

53. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

What preparations must be undertaken before we even reach that stage?

I.

In Matthew 4:17  Jesus called people to repentance. That hasn't changed. 

Romans 1:16,17

16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

II.

Romans 10:8-10

8. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

9. that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

III.

Romans 3:22-23

22. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 

23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:10, 18

10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. 

18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Dear God, My Heavenly Father,

I recognize that I have sinned against You, against Your Word. As I repent, as I turn from my wicked ways which grieve You, forgive me of all my unrighteous actions and the hurtful words I may have spoken without thinking. 

Take not Your Holy Spirit from me, but pour even more so into me that I may walk this path which You have laid out before me with dignity and integrity. May Your Light and Your Love shine through me, drawing people to You. Whether or not I see the results in my lifetime, I lift up those You have placed in my life to be strengthened in You and filled with Your Holy Spirit, that they, too, would walk in Your power to reach the goals You have set before them. 

Whatever it takes, Lord, save and fill our loved ones. Save and fill the unlovable. I was unlovable once and You loved me out of the darkness of this world into Your glorious Light. You call us to change, Lord, not just after death but here and now. 

Change me, O Lord, mold me and transform me in every way which glorifies Your name: make me holy, that I may be in Your presence forevermore. For You are a Holy God and Your Very Presence and Your Name demands a holy people. Make us Your holy people, Lord.

As we submit to Your will, O Lord, help us to stand against the enemy of our souls; help us to humble ourselves to be Your people; help us to preach/share/proclaim the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to whomever You lead us to.

In Jesus' Lovely Name, I pray,

Amen

Thanks Be To God - - For His Revealed Love

 

1 JOHN 4:9

This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5319

Revealed: make visible, make clear, make known, manifest, illumine, make apparent

From the Greek word 'phaneroó' (pronounced fan-er-o'-o)

REVEALED LOVE OF GOD

1 John 4:7-10

7. Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

8. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

9. This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

10. And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father's side, has made Him known.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:16

And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Isn't it amazing how much God loves each one of us?! It's a beautiful love, too. He wrapped His Word in mere flesh, called Him His Son, and sent Him to die an ugly death on the cross, to liberate people from the bondage of slavery to sin: to set free those who would choose to believe on the only Name that could save us from the consequences of our sinful natures.

THE NAME OF GOD'S REVEALED LOVE

Matthew 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.

Jeremiah 23:6

In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

John 1:29

The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

THE METHOD OF GOD'S REVEALED LOVE

A mock trial ensued after the Lord was blindfolded, beaten and mocked. Having been found guilty by those who hated Him, Jesus was then flogged 39 times across His back. 

Isaiah 53

Matthew 27:24-31

Mark 15:16-20

Luke 22:63-65

John 19:1-3

Though Pilate tried to have Jesus released, he saw that the crowds were riled up demanding that Jesus be crucified because He had said He was God. And for them, that was just too much to take.

God's method of His revealed love was for The WORD to die on the cross. Such a death as this, because He was the sinless LAMB OF GOD (John 1:29), would take away the sins of the world. Not just my sins. Not just your sins. Not just the sins of people we know in our own lives, but of The WHOLE world: from times long past, from this present time, from the times to come: JESUS died on the cross. 

It was God's Perfect Plan which had been set in motion back in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sinned against Him. What JESUS did on the cross was foretold to happen.

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity (hostility) between you and the woman, and between your seed (sons of the devil [John 8:44]; generation of vipers [Matthew 3:7]) and her seed (sons of the heavenly Father [ Matthew 5:45]; generation of  the Lord [Psalm 22:30, 24:6]) . He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

Dear God,

Thank you So MUCH for sending Your Son to die in my place. I could never have gotten this far in my life without You IN my heart and my life. I am Yours. May I continue to the best of my ability the work You have set before me. All the days of my life and then some I am Yours to command. 
Strengthen these feeble knees, make sure my steps, that I may walk with You without delay, for time is surely our enemy. But an eternity with You is very much better than even one moment without You.

I give You my heart: it's Yours. Make Yourself at home here, LORD. I give You my body to do with as You will. Be glorified through me. I give You my life: You gave Your Son's life so I could live beyond death, beyond the boundaries of time: in eternity with You. Thank You for this wonderful blessing of Eternal Life in You. 

O God, SAVE our Families! Deliver our children from the hands of the enemy into which they have placed themselves. Some in ignorance, some willfully, boastfully. BUT YOU O GOD can break their hearts, that their willfulness would pour out and Your brokenness be writ in. We who pray for the lost and the dying know that there is still time left for them to surrender their hearts and their lives to YOU. 

O God, You are My GOD. You are my Everything. In You I am blessed. In You I am saved. In You I am loved. In You I shine. Shine in me, LORD and through me to a dark and dying world.

In Jesus' Priceless Name, I pray,

Amen

GOD WITH US by Mercy Me

REDEEMED by Big Daddy Weave

GOD REALLY LOVES US by Crowder, Maverick City Music

The Lord Is -- November

 

YHVH CHECED

(pronounced yeh-ho-vaw' kheh'-sed)

THE LORD IS MY STEADFAST LOVE

He is my Steadfast Love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

Everything about this verse concerns warfare, especially spiritual warfare, so it seems unusual for the psalmist to write here about God being our Steadfast Love, doesn't it?

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2617

Steadfast Love: goodness, kindness; lovingkindess, great mercy

While checed can be used to describe others' actions toward us, here it speaks of Who God Is to those who take refuge in Him, who are sheltered by Him in times of trouble, trial and tribulation. 

Goodness

Exodus 34:6, 7

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Kindness

Nehemiah 9:17

And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that Thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. 

Lovingkindness

Psalm 63:3

Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.

Great Mercy

Micah 7:18-20

(18) Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.

(19) He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

(20) You will perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

Dear God,

You are my Steadfast Love. When I repent, You forgive me. When I seek Your face, You show mercy to me, though I do not deserve it. When I turn back to You, You turn Your face to me; You love me in spite of myself. 

This day You are my God. I choose You above all else. You are the God who forgives, who shows compassion to all who seek to know You, and to have a closer relationship with You.

Lord God, You are a generous God, loving all people everywhere. Thank You for loving me when I was in an unlovable state, when I was covered n the muck of sin and the mire of my transgressions against You. Thank You for saving me and covering me with Yourself, with Your blood. 

Thank You, Lord, for being a whisper away; closer than a brother, You are a Friend who never leaves me, nor forsakes me. Help me to lead others to You that they, too, may know Your wonderful Love.

In Jesus' Name, I pray

Amen.

ADONAY ELOHIM

(pronounced ad-o-noy 'el-o-heem' )

LORD MY GOD

Psalm 86:12

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.

When we say to God, You are our God, that's a collective congregational decision; a unified in spirit declaration.

But when we say to God, You are MY God, that's an individual personal decision; a cry, a whisper from the heart of 'I' to the heart of God. 

2 Chronicles 2:4

Behold, I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God to dedicate to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for displaying the showbread continuously, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening as well as on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is ordained for Israel forever.

Solomon was getting ready to build a temple for the LORD, an actual standing immovable temple. But as Christians, when we give our hearts to God, we are giving Him a place to dwell within us, a permanent place for Him to live: as long as we remain in His Word, His Word will remain in us. As a born-again Christian, I reiterate: I need to remain in His Word that His Word would remain in me. 

Psalm 30:2

O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.

When we need to be healed in every way, not just physically, but spiritually, we indeed seek God to heal us. For we know that He is the only Healer who can heal us from all diseases and ailments, for He created us. God heals broken bones, sore muscles, various diseases and sicknesses, allergies, mentally challenged people, aching hearts and removes sin from the sinner. 

Doctors can put bones back together, but God does the restorative healing. Doctors can prescribe medicines, but God heals the body and mind. Nutritionists work with people to change their diets that their bodies would work more efficiently, but God is the ultimate Healer. 

When the heart is overwhelmed by grief and trauma, God puts all our tears in His bottle (Psalm 56:8). God heals the brokenhearted and fills the cracks and breaks with His Love. 

I am healed by the Grace of God and filled with the Love of God. My broken heart is strengthened in His Word and His Word thrives in me. There are no more tears to cry, though there are still sad times ahead. 

Psalm 109:26,27

26. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.

27. Help me, O LORD my God; save me according to Your loving devotion.

When a Christian, a Christ-follower, suffers verbal abuse, many times we do cry out like David did. We cry for God to come and help us, for our ears cannot take it any longer. Our hearts are under attack and we begin to feel sorry for ourselves, when in fact, we must not let them get through our spiritual armor, but repel such darts of the enemy. Wouldn't it be nice if the evil words spat in our direction were to reverse direction and dart back to the speakers? But were that so, then the evil words that leave our lips when we are stressed or frustrated would then come back to us! 

David cried out to God for God's salvation and deliverance. And though he did live to see it in his day, God answered David's cry through David's lineage. The Savior of the world would be born out of tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 5:5), of David's seed (Isaiah 11:1, 10; Romans 15:12). 

I, too, have cried out to God to save me. He saved me from the first cry. He saved me from the situations in which I had placed myself. And He saved me from the clutches of death. God saved my soul and He lives in my heart. For God is the God of the whole world, of which I am but a small part, but God is the God of me, of 'I'. 

God wants to be your personal God. He's calling you to be part of His family, a woven into His heart son or daughter, an intimate friend/servant in His kingdom. 

As Joshua asked the people of Israel, in Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Is God your God?

Thanks Be To God - - For His Everlasting Love

 

JEREMIAH 31:3

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an Everlasting Love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5769

Everlasting: of long duration, antiquity, futurity, forever, perpetual, permanent, ancient

From the Hebrew word 'olam' (pronounced o-lawm')

Occurs 438 times in the Old Testament

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4900

Drawn: extended, lifted up, stretched out 

From the very beginning God has loved us. Before we were ever born, He knew us. 

Job 10:11

You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.

Psalm 119:17

Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.

Psalm 139:13

For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

God loves us even now in this present day and age. 

GOD IS THE BEGINNING, THE NOW AND THE ENDING

Genesis 1:1 

"In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

John 1:1

"In the Beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God."

Revelation 1:8

"I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

GOD IS EVERLASTING 

Genesis 21:33

Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, The Everlasting God.

Exodus 3:14, 15

14. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

15. God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

Lamentations 5:19

You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.

Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

THE LOVE OF GOD

Leads Us & Feeds Us

Hosea 11:4

I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.

Covers Our Sins

1 John 2:2

He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:10

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool."

Isaiah 43:25

I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

John 1:29

The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

Is For Everyone

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:12, 13

12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.

13. for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

We are wooed by God. He calls us to come near to Him. He calls us to submit our wills and desires to His will and desire. God calls us to follow His Light and leave the darkness of this world behind. He calls us to repentance and reformation: to turn away from sin and learn to be holy. 

God leaves the mature sheep in the pasture and goes looking for the lost sheep to bring it into the pasture, where it will feed well and grow up in His pasture. 

God calls the wayward child to come home. He throws great parties when a person returns to His arms and is restored. 

God extends His arms to us, ever reaching for 'just one more'. Just one more soul. Just one more lost sheep. Just one more child to pick up and hold near His heart. 

God draws us to Himself gently, whispering our name, waiting patiently for us to turn to Him and choose to be with Him above all else. Waiting for us as a father waits for his wayward child to return home.

 No matter how far away from God we are, when we come home to Him, He is more than happy to see us. We see this in the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11=32

Luke 15:20

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

It's time for you to come home. It's time for you to listen to God's whisper and run to God's embrace. 

Dear God,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for saving me and waiting patiently while I figured things out. Thank You for Your warm, loving embrace, when I chose to listen to Your whispering voice in my heart. 

Thank You for saving our children and their children, and, if the return of Your Son is not soon imminent, their children, as well. You have said in Your Word that Your mercy extends to a thousand generations. That's a lot of people. 
Please guide our families into Your grace, that none be left behind. Help us to forgive those who have done us wrong, that we may grow in Your heart, the way You accomplish Your works in us. For Your Word has said that 'as much as we have forgiven others You will forgive us'. 

Bless our witness as we testify of Your saving grace. Bless our testimony as we tell of what You have done for us. May Your kingdom increase as we continue to serve in Your fields.

May Your Name truly be glorified in all that we do, Lord. 

In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray,

Amen

Whisper by Jason Upton

Softly and Tenderly - Classic Hymn

Love Lifted Me - Classic Hymn

 

Thanks Be To God - - For His Continued Presence

 

HEBREWS 13:5

Let your manner of life be without covetousness, being satisfied with the present; for He Himself has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

LIFE LIVED IN PEACE

Conversation means lifestyle, manner of life. We are to live peaceable lives which glorify God. Lives lived in such a way do not covet, desire, what is not theirs to have. It's okay if we don't keep up with the Joneses of this world. We have God for our God and He is Enough.

Exodus 20:17

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

LIFE LIVED SATISFIED

We are to live a satisfied life, a life that says, I am content with the God who provides for me. As long as I follow His Word, His lead, He will be my God and I will be of His people. 

Philippians 4:11-13

11. I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

12. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.

13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

LIFE LIVED FEARLESSLY

We are to live our lives in Him, with Him and for Him: for He is with us always, as long as we are with Him. 

Hebrews 13:6

So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

LIFE LIVED IN HIS PRESENCE

We are to give this life we have been given back to the One who gave us life. Romans 12:1 tells us to 'surrender our bodies a living sacrifice'. God wants us to live in Him and He wants to live in us. 

If we want to live fearlessly in this world, we need to live life according to God's Word and maintain a loving, working relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is the foundation on which we build satisfied, fearless lives. 

Matthew 28:20

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My Righteousness.

LIFE LIVED IN CHRIST

If we want God to remain with us, we need to remain with Him. Once saved, always saved is not a viable option. His Word warns us against leaving Him, for without His continued presence amongst His people, His wrath will fall on us. We will be judged and found lacking. But when we obey His Word and follow His Spirit, we will lack nothing, for He is with us. 

John 15:4

Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. 

Romans 12:4, 5

4. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,

5. so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.

1 Peter 2:5

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3306

Remain: stay, abide, wait for; I stay, I wait for, I abide; not depart, not leave, continue to be present

Dear God, 

As Sarah said, You Are The God Who Sees. See me, see my heart and prepare me to face those who will come against me as I follow You in Your Word. Strengthen my heart to be better equipped to serve You. 
Lord, I long to see Your face and hear Your voice: help me to do so. With joy I search Your Word and ask You to reveal Yourself more everyday. Be strength for those who have walked this journey before me, whom I have loved and admired. Be their memories and their wisdom; remove not their testimony, nor their witness. 

As our elders leave us, meet us where we are and bring us to where You are. Though our hands are weak and our knees are feeble, You are our Strength: You impart Yourself to us and we are made the stronger for it. You give us vision for the days ahead, wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. 

Help us to glorify Your name wherever we are or may go. As we strive to remain in You, may we be more aware than ever that You are with us. Even now.

In Jesus' Beautiful Name, I pray,

Amen

Nothing Without You by Will Reagan

Whom Shall I Fear? by Chris Tomlin

Thanks Be To God - - For His Testimony

 

Psalm 19:7

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the Testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5715

Testimony: ordinances, warnings, witness

From the Hebrew word 'eduth' (pronounced ay-dooth')

Used 59 times in the Old Testament. 

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3141

Testimony: witness, reputation, evidence

From the Greek word 'marturia', (pronounced mar-too-ree'-ah)

Used 37 times in the New Testament.

Deuteronomy 4:1-6 reminds the people of God that obeying the laws which God had set up would lead them to (v1.) Live; gain entrance into the land He promised them and take possession of it. (v2) All laws must be followed, not just some of them. (v3) Reminded to remember the judgment God had against the people who did not obey His Law. (v4) They who had clung tightly to the LORD were they whom God let live. (v5) God's people had been taught the statutes and ordinances that they would follow them when they entered and possessed the land. (v6) [our primary verse here] Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

Job 28:28

And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding."

1 John 5:9-11

9. Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.

10. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.

11. And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

12. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

John 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:14-18

14. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

15. that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

The Testimony of The LORD God is The Law Written On Stone Tablets, AND The Testimony of The LORD God is His only begotten Son Jesus Christ: The Living Word which is written on the hearts of we who believe that Jesus Christ Is LORD. 

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endures for ever.

Wisdom is to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, to believe in one's heart that God sent Him to die a horrible death on the cross, thereby taking the punishment for our sins upon Himself. Wisdom is to fear the LORD, to be in awe of His majesty and His glory. And to be amazed and awestruck by His lovingkindness towards us who know we deserve no such grace, but are nonetheless very thankful that God's grace has been extended to us through His Son Jesus. 

Understanding is to repent and turn away from the evil we have done by not following God's commandments, by not believe that His Word is Faithful And True.

Understanding is to turn our backs on the sin-filled lifestyles we once lived before we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives; it is to follow the path of holiness which the Lord has laid out for us to walk in. We must simply read the Scriptures and pray about we are reading, that God would reveal to us Himself and what He wants us to know. The Book of John is a good place to start, if you are not sure where to start.

Whoever has Jesus has Life Eternal and will enter into the promised land which God has prepared for them. Whoever does not have Jesus has eternal death and will be disinherited.  

Dear God,

I am so very thankful that I answered Your call on my life. I am thankful that You tugged at my heart-strings and gently led me from a dark place into Your glorious Light. Father, forgive me of any and all unrighteous acts or words I may have misspoken this night and day. 

Lead me through Your Word to become the servant You want me to be that I may glorify Your Name in all that I say and do. May words of peace, words of hope, words of compassion and mercy, words of love flow through me into the ears and hearts of they who need to hear You. 

In Jesus' Name, I pray,
Amen

Thanks Be To God - - For His Mercies

 

Lamentations 3:22

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2617

Mercies: kindness, lovingkindness, pity, compassion

From the Hebrew word 'checed' (pronounced kheh'-sed). 

Though the word 'checed' is used over 200 times in the Old Testament, not all of these refer to the goodness of God extended to all people everywhere. It just depends on context where it is used. 

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1656

Mercy: covenant-loyalty, covenant-love; pity, compassion

From the Greek word 'éleos' (pronounced el'-eh-os). Used 27 times in the New Testament.

Psalm 78:38

And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath.

Psalm 103:10

He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.

Nehemiah 9:31

Nevertheless for Thy great mercies' sake Thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for Thou art a gracious and merciful God.

THE LORD'S MERCIES:

New Every Morning

Lamentations 3:23

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

Never Fail

Psalm 100:5

For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Extends To All Generations 

Luke 1:50

His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.

Lead To Eternal Life

Jude 1:21

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Cause Us To Be Born Again 

1 Peter 1:3-5

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One according to His great mercy having begotten us again to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ out from the dead,

4. and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,

5. who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Dear God,

Thank You for extending Your tender mercies to us. We are forever grateful for Your lovingkindness which You have shown us through the death and resurrection of Your Son Jesus Christ. 

We praise You and adore You for who You are: a loving, generous God whose love draws us from the pits of death into His warm embrace. 

Be our God forever and ever. 

In Jesus' Precious Name, I pray,

Amen.

Thanks Be To God - - For Answering His Faithful People

 

Psalm 17:5, 6

5. My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped. 

6. I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 8605

Prayer: intercession (praying for people to be aligned with God's will), supplication (praying for a specific need)

THE PATH OF THE FAITHFUL

~IS WELL LIT

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Proverbs 6:23

For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

~IS OLD

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’

~IS GOOD

1 Kings 8:35, 36

35. When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them,

36. then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance.

~IS STRAIGHT

Psalm 5:8

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.

~IS LIFE

Psalm 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

~IS HOLY

Isaiah 35:8

And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

~IS NARROW

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

PEOPLE OF PRAYER

WE ARE GOD'S DWELLINGPLACE/HOUSE/HOME

2 Corinthians 6:16

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them, and will walk among them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people."

Exodus 25:8

And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.

Leviticus 26:12

I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.

Jeremiah 31:1

"At that time," declares the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people."

John 14:23

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

PRAY FOR OURSELVES

Psalm 119:10

With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. 

Psalm 119:45

I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will obey Your statutes.

Psalm 143:1

A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness.

Psalm 31:1

In You, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; save me by Your righteousness.

PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

James 5:15, 16

15. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

16. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Colossians 1:9

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

PRAY FOR THOSE IN PLACES OF AUTHORITY

1 Timothy 2:1, 2

1. First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—

2. for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

Jeremiah 29:7

Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper."

PRAY FOR ENEMIES

Matthew 5:43-45

43. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’

44. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45. that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Luke 6:28

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

GOD'S HOUSE

1 Corinthians 6:19

19. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 

20. You were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Mark 11:17

Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

Isaiah 56:7

I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.

THE GOD WHO HEARS

Psalm 4:3

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.

Psalm 3:4

To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah

Psalm 6:9

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

Psalm 34:15

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.

Dear God,

My God, my Father, clean out my heart and make me holy. Remove all unrighteousness from my heart, that I might live. I, too, would like to hear the words from you, saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Please help to walk the old path of Your testimony and Your Word: guide my steps and light the path wherein I am walking.

You are my Strength and my Refuge: Hide me in You. You are my Song and I love to sing Your praise. Strengthen my resolve and help me to stand upright in Your Word, neither wavering or doubting You, nor bending in the vanity of philosophies and theories. 

As these days draw to a close, keep Your people near, ever leading, ever guiding us, revealing Yourself every step of the Way in which we walk. You are my God and I am Your child. Let me not be found lacking in anything that You have desired for me.

And, Lord, thank You for saving, and filling, and being the Strength of, our children, our siblings, our parents and our friends; for saving, and filling, and Strengthening the strangers, the foreigners, among us. Thank You for opening the eyes of our enemies to the glories and wonders of Your grace. Save them, fill them with Your Spirit and Strengthen them in these last hours. Pour out Your Holy Spirit even more so upon our persecutors, tormentors, mockers and captors. Give them dreams and visions of Your mercy and grace. Keep calling them all to repentance and redemption through Your Son. For the conductor is giving his last call and the train is about to depart. 

In Jesus' Precious Name, I pray,

Amen

HOUSE OF PRAYER by Eddie James

BREATHE by Eddie James

LET US PRAY by Steven Curtis Chapman