Dark Nights-Troubled Waters

As you pray, it's easy to have a mind that never rests.  So you wonder:

About the power of prayer

About the starving children

About Christians in cancer wards...

These are some tough questions for the heart to deal with.  Sometimes you're tempted to throw in the towel.  The disciples must have felt this way in the storm.  All they could see in the dark of the night were troubled waters.

Then a figure appeared, walking on the water.  They, like you, almost missed the answer to their prayers. God is our light in our dark nights, even though our dark nights are as numerous as the stars if we will look for them.  At times like these we cry out "hold me Jesus", walk on out troubled waters.

God hears the desire of the afflicted, defends the fatherless and the oppressed.  In the Lord, you can take refuge and flee like a bird to your mountain of faith.  He is righteous and is on His throne watching after you.

You must set your minds on things above for your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts and be thankful as you sing spiritual songs to Him: his love is a song, a symphony of our blessed hope.  Whether in word or deed, do it all in His great name;  and like sunlight shining through dark nights; He will make your life beautiful.

For the grace of God that brought you salvation teaches you to say no to worldly passions, and to live a self-controlled life, while waiting on the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of Jesus as He:

"Shines on your darkest night and walks on your troubled waters"

And Jesus promises to be with you always, even till the end of the ages.  Worthy is the Lamb.

Max Lucado  Francesca Battistelli  Amy Grant  Psalm 10:11  Proverbs 20  Rich Mullins

Colossians 2  Hillsong  Titus 2

My Prayer from Scripture

I will give thanks to the Lord of righteousness and sing praises to the Lord most High.  Let the light of Your face shine upon me O Lord.  You have filled my heart with joy!  I can lie down at night and sleep in peace for You alone, O Lord, can keep me safe.

In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice as I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.  Just the sound of you Mighty name, Jesus, makes my heart melt with love for You.  Search my mind and my heart, O Lord.  You are my shield from the things of this world; my righteous Judge.

When I consider the work of Your hands, I wonder, who am I that the Almighty sovereign God would even consider me?  I ask for forgiveness when I give You less than I should.  I am getting back to the Heart of Worship for it is all about you Jesus, all about You.  I may not have much, but what I have I give to you precious Savior; You gave all You had for me.  Because of you Jesus, I can stand before God Your Father and instead of my sins of darkness, He will see me purified and holy because of the blood you shed for me.

Because of Your mercy and grace, I am able to deny myself daily, pick up my cross and follow You.  I am no longer afraid of facing the death of this world I must endure, because I know Jesus and am persuaded that He is able to do that which I have committed unto Him against that day.  For this same Jesus will come for me in like form that He ascended into Heaven, and will take me home, so that I may be with Him always for eternity.  Thank you Jesus, for having mercy on me, and lifting me up from the gates of death.

Your touch is like a fire unto my soul.  A fire from God the father that will never go out, because of the blood You shed and the price You paid to reconcile my soul unto You.

Thank you, Jesus for your outrageous love and the amazing grace extended to me by the Holy Spirit.  As I walk through this world, may I do so in a manner worthy of you Jesus, my Savior.

2 Timothy 1:12  Psalm 1-9  Luke 9:23  Matt Redman  Ray Boltz  Max Lucado

Colossians 1  Acts 1:11

A Strong Tower

"Come to Me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

As long as Jesus is one of your many options, He is no option.  As long as you can take Him or leave Him, you might as well leave Him for He will not be taken half-heartedly.

But when you mourn and get to the point of sorrow for your sins, and there is not other name you can call, then cast all your hurts and fears upon Jesus.  He is a strong tower.

Understanding is a fountain of life for there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.  Therefore, when the storm clouds come, run to Jesus for He is always there for you.

Know you serve and awesome God and He is on His throne.  God esteems the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at His word.  Don't listen to those who exclude you because of His great name, just glorify the Lord and they will see your joy and will be put to shame.

Paul came to Jesus with much fear and trembling in weakness so that he could rest in God's power. For:

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived,

what God has prepared for those who love Him"---

But God will reveal it to you by His Spirit.  Thus you can understand what He has freely given you.

"Wonderful merciful Savior; precious redeemer and friend, You offer hope when we have hopelessly lost our way.  You are the one we pray to; You are the One we adore.  You give us what our hearts always hunger for; grace, as we kneel before Your throne."

As the storm clouds rise may You be our only option.  For Jesus you are:

"A Strong Tower"

And we can do all things because it is Jesus who gives us strength...

1 Corinthians 3  Chris Rice  Proverbs 17  Isaiah 66  Philippians 4:13  Selah

Natalie Grant  Francesca Battistelli  Max Lucado  Need to Breathe

Living the Carefree Life

Jesus said not to lay up treasures in this world, but to build your treasure chest in heaven.  For where your treasures are, there is where your heart will be also.  Earthly treasures will soon fade, but a treasure in heaven lasts forever.  Study Matthew 6.

The fact is, if you love the world you cannot love God. (Matthew 6:24).  It is impossible to serve two masters.  By trying to love Him and the things of this world, you will eventually turn your eye away from the Lord.  Look deep into the life of one who tries to serve both.  What you will invariably find is that their minds are of this world.

They do not witness.  Let the church folks handle that; its none of my business.

They do not pray in the morning.  I'm too tired and don't need anything today.

They are not involved in the church.  I am not interested, they don't need me.

They do not study the word of God.  I prefer John Grisham books: easier to read.

They do not give money for the work of God.  I've got an RV and TV to pay for.

They do not care for the poor and oppressed.  Let the government do it.

They are not interested in the blood Jesus shed.  Video games are bloodier.

They do not want to follow Jesus.  Because they are not into self-denial.

The Bible says to seek first the kingdom of God.  Most are more concerned about their own worldly castles.  Fellowship with Jesus comes first and all else follows.  If we have Christ we literally have all things.  Jesus tells us to deny ourselves and follow Him.  (Luke 9:23).  In other words, deny the world and it's fading treasures.

One day we will meet Jesus face to face.  I will cast my crowns at His feet and cry out praise to Him, and in my heart will glorify my Savior who suffered on a Roman cross just so I could be with Him eternally.  We will reach out in love for each other.

Jesus may ask you why you never followed Him to the cross of forgiveness and redemption.  Why you let Him hang there in suffering and shame as He died so that you might live.  What did you spend your time doing on this earth?  You will bow before Jesus and confess Him as Lord.  The one you didn't have time for while you were:

"Living the Carefree Life".

What waits for you now is eternal punishment; suffering in the fire of hell.  You chose it.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer  William H. Clay  Any one preaching Jesus and Him crucified.

In the Valley of Oppression

"You should be a light for other people.  Live so that they will see the good things that you do and will praise your Father in heaven".  (Matthew 5:16)

Tread lightly when walking through the valley of the oppressed.  For the one who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.  Do you feel anything in your heart for the ones who need your help: who need your love?  It is the desire of God, that you bring good news to the poor, to bind up the broken hearted, and to comfort all who mourn.  By doing so, God says you bestow on them a crown of beauty; a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  And you will be called oaks of righteousness.

You should live in harmony with the poor and be sympathetic.  Love as brothers being compassionate and humble.  It is God's desire that we seek justice for the oppressed, showing them the mercy of our hearts.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior may be ashamed of their slander.

Are you keeping a blind eye to all the oppression going on around you, disregarding their pain and suffering?  Are you hiding in your safe places thinking that is not my concern?  If so, your reward from God will be of this world, not from the heart of the Father.

In every heart there is a candle; some shining bright and some dark as coal.  How does your candle measure up?  Do you feel convicted to change and be what God desires you to become?  Pray to your God to send His Spirit to ignite the fire in your heart.  Become a light in the darkness of the oppressed and the poor.  Seek out the ones wandering in hopelessness and confusion.  Take out your candle and "light up your world".

It is my prayer that as Christians, we ask to be lead by the Spirit of God to walk:

"In the Valley of Oppression"

That they may see the light of Jesus in the darkness of their world...

Max Lucado   Proverbs 14   Isaiah 61  1Peter 3   Cory Nelson   Phil Fletcher

Kathy Troccoli Michael Orndorf

Don't just stand there--Do something!

My Jesus, My Savior

The One, who with a towel and basin washed my feet, is King of the universe.  Fingers which created the mountains, now cleans my feet.  The One, whom all nations will kneel, now kneels before me--Only hours before His own death.

Separated from a holy God, bearing guilt and shame--until the veil was torn; I was captivated; no longer bound with shame which was left at an empty grave.

Though I sometimes stumble and fall short of your ways--I find You, by grace embracing me, just as I am.

When I get down and feel like I'm just going through the motions--there You are breaking through the dark making my life so beautiful again.  You never give up on me.

There are days when I feel the best of me is not enough--That is when He comes, takes me by my hand, and tells me,  "By grace, I can make you what you ought to be".

I ask myself, "Am I giving enough; am I doing enough?"  He says, "I gave My life my all for you; everything I do is for you".

He knew by grace I would need a Savior.  So He left the splendor of the heavenlies and became flesh.  Who would have thought that a man could rescue my soul from hell?  Because of my sins, He wept in the garden, and by grace, gave Himself up to crucifixion on an old rugged cross.

To the cross will I forever cling because there He was bruised and crushed for me.  O, how great is Your wondrous love.

I will glorify the King of Kings; I will glorify the lamb, the Lord of Lords, who is the great I am.  By his saving grace, I will bow before His throne.

My Jesus, my Savior there is no one like you.  For all the days that I have left I want to praise You for your wondrous love.  May by Your grace I never cease to worship Your holy name.

Thank you Jesus for pouring out God's grace like rain upon my heat.

Ray Boltz   Twila Paris   Darlene Zscheceh   MercyMe   Jeremy Riddle  Aaron Shust

DC Talk   tobyMac   David Crowder   Big Daddy Weave   Selah   Rich Mullins

Max Lucado   Francesca Battistelli   Among the Thirsty   Todd Agnew

Before God's Throne

When you recite the "Lord's Prayer," and you say, "Thy Kingdom come," you have just asked the Messiah to come into your world; A world meaning your heart, marriage, your fears, and doubts.  This is a bold request for God to occupy every corner of your life.  Who are you to ask such a thing?  You are a child of the King, so go boldly.

Lift up your eyes to the maker of mountains you can't climb.  And there in the midst of it all, He will hear your voice speak, while you rest in His holiness.  Then you will see those mountains are not that high.

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on you.  Your prayers please Him, and He loves you when you pursue righteousness.  When you approach His throne, you become a crown of splendor in his hand, and your God rejoices over you.  Pretty awesome you might say.  He makes something beautiful, beautiful out of your presence.

Just think, you are in the presence of Jesus, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him.

Clothe yourself with humility which comes before honor because;

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble".

Cast your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  Stand firm in the faith, and the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will make you strong and bold.

Welcome to the glory of your king, The God of creation is ready to meet with you.  As you reach out to Jesus with trembling hands, rejoice and praise His holy name.  It is because of His great name, you can boldly take your place:

"Before God's Throne"

I thank You Jesus for the priceless gift you gave me.  In this life, to the cross I will cling, and in Your arms seek rest.  For You are my Savior and because of Your outrageous love for me, saved me from an eternity in hell.  Worthy is the Lamb.

"Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace".  

                                                                   (Hebrews 4:16)

Mercy Me   Max Lucado   Isaiah 62, 63   Proverbs 15   Hillsong   Big Daddy Weave

Natalie Grant   Jeremy Riddle   1 Peter 4, 5   Francesca Battistelli   Bebo Norman