Do you sense that God is on your side?

On the very day I call to you for help,
my enemies will retreat. This I know:
God is on my side. O God, I praise
your word. Yes, Lord, I praise your word.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?
I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
and offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence,
O God, in your life-giving light.
Psalm 56:9-13 NLT

Praise for God's Rescue

 77 Days of Prayer for our New President
      
Day Fifty-Eight: January 1, 2009   19 days,
    
For faithfulness as we pray for President-Elect
Barack Obama, the Vice President-Elect and
other leaders 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 through all
spiritual wisdom and understanding.
—Colossians 1:9

As the only sovereign God, the one to
whom all our allegiance is due, we bow
before You now. We ask, Lord, that
You will enable us now to set aside
all distractions and cares and focus
our prayers on all of our governmental
leaders, especially our new President
and Vice President.

Lord, make us faithful in prayer, even
when we may not agree with those
You have placed into authority over
us. You have told us to remain steadfast
in intercession, asking for our leaders to
be flooded with all knowledge of Your will.
Holy God, enable us to become true and
consistent intercessors, praying for our
new President and his administration,
today and every day. In the name of
Jesus, amen.

Scripture:

O God, you will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are fixed
on you; for in returning and rest we
shall be saved; in quietness and
trust shall be our strength.
(Isaiah 26:3; 30:15)


Prayer for Peace

Heal my wounded heart.
Grant me the courage to change my heart.
Let Peace live in my heart.

Fill me with compassion for those suffering in war.
Help me care for those in war.
Help me bring Peace to those in war.

Help me stop wars.
Help soldiers stop wars.
Help leaders stop wars.

Fill me with Peace and Justice.
Help me to work for Peace with Justice.
Let there be Peace with Justice among all peoples.
In the name of the one who is Peace, In Jesus
Name Amen.

HAVE A BLESSED AND PEACE FILLED NEW YEAR
 

Judging by appearances

Scripture:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge
by his appearance or height, for I have
rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things
the way you see them. People judge by
outward appearance, but the Lord looks
at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) NLT


Little Woman, Long Shadow

"Two weeks before Christmas, on
December 12, 1840, a baby girl was
born into an aristocratic plantation
family in Albemarle County, Virginia.
Her name was Charlotte Diggs Moon,
but everyone called her "Lottie."
She grew to just four feet three
inches, yet her intellect and force
of personality were enormous. Lottie
spoke six languages and earned a
master's degree in education in 1861.

Lottie came from a family of dedicated
Southern Baptists, but she became a
staunch skeptic. Yet, it would be her
intellect and skepticism that would
bring her to faith one sleepless night
in December 1858 as she pondered
a message by Dr. John Broadus.

At age thirty-three, Lottie heard a call
to missions "as clear as a bell." In
July 1873 the foreign mission board
of the Southern Baptist Convention
appointed her its first unmarried
missionary to China. She tirelessly
advocated for the needs of the people
of China. In 1888 she persuaded SBC
women to take an annual missions
offering on Christmas Eve. By 1912,
despite such gifts, thousands of people
were dying every day in famine-ravaged
Shantung Province.

At seventy-two, Lottie Moon was coming
home. But that same night, aboard a ship
off Japan, she died—of complications from
starvation. A few months before she had
written, "If I had a thousand lives, I would
give them all for the women of China.""
The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering continues
 to this day. The 2005 goal was $150 million.

adapted from The One Year® Book of Christian
History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten
(Tyndale) pp 694-95 "
 

Scripture:

"But when the Father sends the Counselor
as my representative—and by the Counselor
 I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you
everything and will remind you of everything
I myself have told you. I am leaving you a gift
peace of mind and heart.…"
(John 14:26-27 NLT)

"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves,
"Quiet! (Peace) Be still!" Then the wind died down
and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:30)

Reflection:

On the stormy sea of Galilee, Jesus commanded
the winds and waves, "Peace, be still" (Mark 4:39),
and immediately there was calm. And later in the
upper room, as Jesus told His disciples that He
would leave them, He promised them the Holy
Spirit and peace.  That promise of peace is
extended to both you and me.  As a Christian
I know the peace of Christ and I am to extend
that peace to all.  Let us start this new year
passing the peace of Jesus Christ on, as a
person, as a community, as a nation!

Prayer:

May the peace of Christ that passes all
understanding go with you all!
 

Scripture:

Luke 14:13-14 (New International Version)

13But when you give a banquet, invite
the poor, the crippled, the lame, the
blind, 14and you will be blessed.
Although they cannot repay you,
you will be repaid at the resurrection
of the righteous."

Luke 4:18-19 (New International Version)

18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom
for the prisoners and recovery of
sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed,19to proclaim the year
of the Lord's favor."[a]

Reflection:

There is the story of 2 soul's meeting
each other between heaven and Hell. 
The soul from hell started complaining,
"It is terrible in hell I'm so hungry. The
Devil said we could eat all the food we
want, but there was one condition. We
must use 3 foot long forks to eat our
food.  We can't eat."  The soul from
heaven said, "Oh we have the same
rule in heaven."  The soul from hell
asked, "Then how do you eat"  The
soul from heaven responded, "We
feed each other!"

Please keep this in mind for the
coming year.  As the Creator and
Ruler of the universe has taught,
through His Holy Scripture and Holy
Spirit,  take care of each other and
others who need our help.  Pass on
the "Good News" to the poor, feed
them and take care of them. Proclaim
freedom to all those who are oppressed
and prisoners in life. Help those who are
lost and need help finding their way. And
release all who are oppressed by
depression, anger, and other problems
that weigh so heavily on them. In other
words be there for others!  There are a
lot of people who need our help.  In 2009
let's make a special effort to help others,
what better resolution is there!

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred . . . let me sow love
Where there is injury . . . pardon
Where there is doubt . . . faith
Where there is despair . . . hope
Where there is darkness . . . light
Where there is sadness . . . joy
O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled . . . as to console
To be understood . . . as to understand,
To be loved . . . as to love
For it is in giving . . . that we receive,
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned,
It is in dying . . . that we are born to eternal life.
 

Scripture:

Luke 2:1-20 (King James Version)

1And it came to pass in those days, that
there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when
Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3And all
went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,
unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife,
being great with child.6And so it was, that,
while they were there, the days were accomplished
that she should be delivered.7And she brought
forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there
was no room for them in the inn.8And there were
in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon
them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not:
for, behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the
city of David a Savior, which is Christ
the Lord.12And this shall be a sign unto
you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying,14Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men.15And it came
to pass, as the angels were gone away
from them into heaven, the shepherds
said one to another, Let us now go
even unto Bethlehem, and see this
thing which is come to pass, which
the Lord hath made known unto us.
16And they came with haste, and
found Mary, and Joseph, and the
babe lying in a manger.17And when
they had seen it, they made known
abroad the saying which was told
them concerning this child.18And
all they that heard it wondered at
those things which were told them
by the shepherds.19But Mary kept
all these things, and pondered them
in her heart.20And the shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God
for all the things that they had heard
and seen, as it was told unto them.

Reflection:

There is a reason why I choose to
copy all 20 verses of the account of
the birth of Jesus Christ.  It's a reminder
that "This is what it's all about".

BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!
 

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 5:3 (New International Version)

3 As a dream comes when there are many cares,
so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

Christmas slippers

 A woman died, leaving behind her
husband and one daughter. The
little girl soon became the very
apple of her daddy's eye. He l
oved to spend time with her,
but because he had to work,
they had only their evenings
together. After dinner each night
they would talk and play games;
sometimes she sang for him.
He treasured every moment.
One night the little girl announced,
"Daddy, I need to go to my room
early tonight. I have something
I have to do!"
He felt very disappointed, but he
let her go. She continued this
pattern for a solid month. Finally,
Christmas Day arrived, and early
in the morning she burst in on her
daddy and proudly displayed a pair
of crude crocheted slippers she had
made for him. It was this project that
had taken her away from her father
for every evening that month.
Her father thanked her warmly and
gave her a big hug, but then he said,
"Honey, I would rather have had you
with me all those lonely evenings than
to have these slippers, as beautiful
and comfortable as they are."

{1from the TouchPoint Bible with
commentaries by Ron Beers and
Gilbert Beers (Tyndale) p 1298
2from Breakfast with Jesus by Greg
Laurie (Tyndale) p 141 "}
Content is derived from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation and other
publications of Tyndale Publishing House


Reflection:                                                                         

Guess What?  God wants us to be with
him more than our slippers!  He wants
our dedication and devotion more than
our work.  GOD WANTS US!  Not a
part of us when we may have the time,
BUT ALL OF US ALL OF THE TIME!
While certainly God wants us to work
hard, it is important that we make
absolutely sure that our time,
doesn't so preoccupy us that we
in fact put our health in danger, our
relationships, or our time with
God. You see it is a matter of
balance, with God, not us, at the
center.  This Christmas season
is a perfect time to put Christ
at the center of our lives.

Prayer:

Lord God my Savior Jesus Christ
help me to recognize that You are
the center of my life.  As I work, as
I do all this worrying and running
around for Christmas, let me keep
in my mind that we are celebrating
your birth and you life. Guide me as
I make Your life the center of my life.
In Jesus Name Amen
 

Scripture:

"4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will
say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your
gentleness be evident to all. The
Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests
to God. 7And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7) NIV

A nervous-looking man was pushing his
son in a super market grocery cart...
The youngster was howling at the top
of his lungs and throwing vegetables
and fruit out of the cart. The father just
kept on pushing the cart; repeating in a
quiet voice, “Take it easy Billy. Don’t cry
Billy. Cool it Billy. Everything will be okay Billy.”
A woman shopper turned and said, “Sir,
I admire you for the gentle way you’re
soothing little Billy.” To which he replied,
“But lady, I’m Billy.”

Reflection:

Is that how you feel?  Does this time of
year drive you nuts? Are you anxious,
angry, depressed? 
Do me a favor will ya.  First of all try
to keep in your heart and mind, what
this time of year is.  It's not about
presents, or having enough money,
or being depressed, or sad, or angry.
As a matter of fact it's not about us.
It's about the birth of Jesus Christ,
that's why its called Christmas. It
is a celebration of the coming of
'peace, love, service, compassion.
It's a celebration that changed the
world. 
I would like to suggest that you
follow one of my favorite passages.
Philippians 4:4-7.  Rejoice in the
Lord, rejoice in the celebration.
The Lord is near so don't be anxious
about anything, don't let it get you
down. But through prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving in your
heart give it all to God. And do you
know what's going to happen, the
peace of God, which goes beyond all
understanding will be in your hearts
and minds through who, Jesus
Christ, the birth in which we now
celebrate.  Celebrate God through
Jesus Christ His Son.  GIVE IT
TO GOD!

Prayer:

Oh Mighty God I celebrate You.
Thank You God for giving us Your
Son.  Thank You for what Jesus
has given to us.  Thank You
God His peace that passes
all understanding.  I give any
anxiety to You.  I give it to You
God, I give it all to you.  Thank You
for being near to me. In the name of
Your Son in which we celebrate amen.
 

Scripture:

"The Lord knows how to rescue godly men
from trials." (2 Peter 2:9)

Reflection:

I remember, as a boy, often getting
into, what I thought was earth shaking,
arguments with my peers.   Often times
those disagreements would end with the
phrase, "I won't if you won't."  The problem,
was of course, was that ending would
rarely ever last.  First one child, then the
other child would try to infringe on the
forbidden area or action without actually
violating the "agreement."
Jesus' model prayer, "The Lord' Prayer",
gives us a different and new course.  
"And lead us not into temptation but
deliver us from the evil one."  (Matthew
6:13) With that as your attitude, you
are well on your way to becoming a
maker of peace instead of war!
Please remember this, in Christ who
strengthens you, you are ready for
anything.  Rejoice today that God will
give you power to meet whatever comes
into your life, and that He will use it for
His higher purpose.  Walk in obedience
with joy!

Prayer:

Oh God thank You for being there always
ready to help and even rescue me.