Resurrection Day Worship~Arise My Love

You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.

Mark 16:6 (NIV)

Praying for you a blessed Resurrection Day!

Weekend Worship~The Power of the Cross

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)

What a love. What a cost.

Are You Tempted?

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

I'm relating to Eve just a bit this morning.                                    

You know...forbidden fruit and all that.

Only mine is not actually fruit. (As my photo shows.)

And I wasn't told not to eat it by God.

The "restraining" orders came via my doctor's office in preparation for the delightful drawing of blood to take place in a couple of hours. (Yes, I'm hungry and a little sarcastic at this point.)

I am "standing up under it" with my "way out" being multiple cups of black coffee. Decaf.

Sadly that wasn't the only temptation faced this morning. And I failed with the "standing up" in that case.

Now, I'm not caught up in legalism, but I like to hold to a rule that I seek the Lord and His Word before making a trek to my computer and getting sucked into the social vacuum there. But today I did. Yes, I yielded to the temptation. Oh, I realize that's not grounds for being banished from the "garden" of the day. I'm just disappointed with myself.

I want to put Him first.To fill my heart and soul with Him so that He is my joy and my song for the day. To be reminded of His faithfulness and power to sustain me no matter what I face.

I'm so thankful for His loving-kindness and that His mercies endureth forever! Oh how I desire to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power" and to "Put on the full armor of God so that [I] can take [my] stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)

Stand strong, my friends! You're going to look...and live...so amazing in His armor!

Wednesday Worship~Power in His Presence

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV

No matter what you face, there is power available to you through the Lord...who never leaves your side. I pray that this song, Never Once, by Matt Redman, will be a tremendous source of encouragement to you today...whether you're standing on a mountaintop or kneeling on a battleground.

Ah, His power in us! Joining you in the march toward victory!

Monday Meditation~Prayer & Praise for Power

1 Chronicles 29:1-13 (NIV)

David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

Praise be to You, O LORD,

God of our father Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Yours, O LORD is the greatness and

the power

and the glory and the majesty and

the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth

is Yours,

Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom,

You are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from You;

You are the ruler of all things.

In Your hands are strength and power

to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give You thanks,

and praise Your glorious name.

Psalm 20:6-8 (NIV)

Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;

He answers him from His holy heaven

with the saving power of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the Name of the LORD our God.

Are you in need of power today? God holds it in His hands. That power is available to all who call upon Him. He hears our prayers and answers them from on high. He longs to meet our need. He is the giver of ultimate victory!  Trust in Him today. Let us praise Him for the power He provides.

Wednesday Worship~Need You Now

"The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

He is always there, no matter what your need. Trust in Him.

Praying for Him to meet you at the point of your need today,

Monday Meditation~He's There

No matter what you're facing today, remember the promise that,

"The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) 

As David reminded us in 2 Samuel 22:2-3, hold on to the Truth that,

"The LORD is [your] rock, [your] fortress and [your] deliverer;

[your] God is [your] rock, in Whom [you] take refuge,

[your] shield and the horn of [your] salvation.

He is [your] stronghold, [your] refuge and [your] Savior...." 

Cling to the words of Moses,

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands."  Deuteronomy 7:9 

I pray for His loving arms to enfold you, His compassion to be realized, His strength to be yours, and His presence to be tangible in your life today. 

 

Bargain Bagels Don't Satisfy!

Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.  Psalm 90:14 (NIV)

I'm not a bagel snob.                                                                 

I've enjoyed good grocery store bagels.

However, my latest purchase left me longing for Panera!

Not only did I buy less than fresh bagels, they were "bo-bo's"...you know the off brand ones.

I'll just note that the "value" wasn't "great."

Where were the yummy swirls of cinnamon and the plump, juicy raisins? Not in my bagels!

I pondered throwing them in the trash, but not wanting to be wasteful, I slathered some "bo-bo" cream cheese on top and dug my teeth in.

While I ate it, my mind rushed to the verses in Isaiah 55:1-2 that say,

Come, all you who are thirsty.

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

I settled for a cheap imitation. Yes, it filled my tummy, but it didn't deliver fulfillment and surely not delight.

You know, I think we do that a lot in life...look to be satisfied by that which just can't.

There is a longing inside us for satisfaction and fulfillment. It's there on purpose. Created by God, and only able to be filled by God. No cheap substitutes will do. Are you spending your money and labor on what does not satisfy? Or are you "eating" what is good and delighting in the richest of fare?

Psalm 90:14, above, encourages to meet with the One who satisfies at our breakfast table. There's no better way to start our day!

Wednesday Worship~All We Need

God is our Healer, our Portion, truly all we need! Nothing is impossible with Him.

May those promises fill your being as you listen to Kari Jobe sing "Healer."

Monday Meditation~All We Need

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

LORD, You alone are my portion and my cup;

You make my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the LORD who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

I will keep my eyes always on the LORD.

With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Psalm 16:5-8 (NIV)

God, and only God, can truly meet our needs. He, alone, is our portion...the One who fulfills.

I pray for our eyes to stay on Him, our hearts to be instructed by the LORD, and that our boundary lines feel delightful and secure!

In His unfailing love,