Quick Gospel-Prayer

Today is an open ended devotional.  Pray today for the following:
Those effected by the devistating tsunami
Those that are hurting with sickness, relationship, emotions, issues
Those that are lost and can not see the light in this world
Those that can be the light to those that can not find it.
Those that are fighting with finances,
Those that are hospitalzed, or waiting for test results to be a stress free day, today from worry!
Those that have passed away, and for those families in their sympathies
Those that need strength, courage, and wisdom to reach those that need reached.

Today, you can find someone to pray for so take time to do it!

Prayer:
Creator of all that is seen, we come to you in observance today by prayer for others and even oursleves.  That you will open our hearts, eyes, and mind to you and all that you answer by our prayers.  Amen.

Quick Gospel

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Thought:
Dr. Bridgeman, my professor, has made this statement numerous times in class to get us aware of our surroundings and the available help that we sometimes do not see or notice.  So the statement is " use all of your resources", how true of a statement that is too.  When we think we can not find another way to solve a problem, or we get lost in translation over something we have a tendency to shut down and give up.  This is also true when it comes to following God.  I myself  fall into this stigmatism of relying soley on me to accomplish things.  But, then get discouraged and walk away not seeing before me a golden opportunity that God has placed infront of me because I am not using all of my available resources.  Keeping the Word of God in your heart is the best resource you can have and use.  This allows you to, at all times, be prepared and keep your eyes open for those resoures that God is supplying you with. 

Prayer:
Almighty God, again we fall short of being true followers of you and your Son.  Give us the understanding to look for all that you provide for us in all the situations that this worldly life throws at us.  Open the eyes of my heart Lord I want to see you!

Tuned in Tuesday

This month I am featuring some of the newset artist in the world of christian music.  Last week I featured Coffey Anderson.  I still have JJ Heller, and Josh Wilson to go this month, but this week I want to feature a praise and worship band that I feel will make their mark on the world of music in the year 2011.  The group is City Harmonic and the song is titled Manifesto.  I hope you enjoy it, and please feel free to give me your feedback and any request that you may have. I wish you all a great and blessed week.

Quick Gospel

Romans 7:18
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Thought:
So what a crushing blow this becomes for me, to realize that everytime I go to God, for any reason.  I become undone in His sight.  Unfinished, because in me there is nothing good, but through Him all things are good and wonderful.  It is a new week, and already a devistating week for yet another lose in my family.  Yet we continue to know that God is the one in charge.  I recently made a comment to a few people that I felt like I was living the life of Job, but as well like Job it was hard for him to admit that life with out God was not good.  In all that he had endured in his life he stood by his belief in an everlasting God.  Because Job knew that with out Him his life would alwasy remain undone, unfinished.  Realize today that God has something in you that he wants finished so let Him have control of it and see what gets done.  Letting God control your life you will have opportunity to see lots of great and wonderful things carried out through you that will make an impact to many others around you.

Prayer:
Creator of day and night, you ae with me in all that I do.  Aloow me to realize that without you nothing works for the good.  Be good, do good in my life today so that others will benefit.  
As well today please keep the McIntosh family (my sister) in your thoughts and prayers in this time of loss and sympathy for the entire family.  Amen.  

Quick Gospel

Proverbs 31:10-31
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Thought:
So as a conclusion to my soapbox gospel on wednesday this is my comment to women and wives form this scripture selection.  Women/wives you are as responsible for the actions of your men/husbands.  If you are letting them get away with these actions that they are doing then you can not turn and point the finger and blame them.  One thing in my seminary translations class that I have been taught is that yes Adam was created first, but in researshing the word Adam in the hebrew Bible it actually indicated that Adam means mankind which includes any gender.  It is believed that as the moment that this creation happened mankind was made in the image of God as a human bourne flesh.  So to me that would indicate that men are responsible for women and women are responsible for men!   

Prayer:
Lord God, we know we have so much to learn and our minds need to stay focued on that learning to better our relationships on earth.  Give us the understanding , so that as we better our earthly relationships we grow in our spiritual relationship with you as well.  Amen.

Quick Gospel

Ephesians 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Thought:
I am probably opening a can that I may not want to open, but in this fire of emotion that is rolling through me this morning He assures me this is where He wants me to go.   In the past week I have been bombarded with prayer request and advice to friends about husbands.  What are husbands, and fathers coming to in these days of age where they deem it OK to correspond with family by their actions on facebook, and texting?  Men if we do not cherish the grounds of our wives, what kind of relationship will we have with God almighty?  When we do and say things that put our wives down we are lacking in our call to love them as Christ loves the Church.  Where are we at when men look at fashion models, and question why our wives think that we do not look at them the same way.  It has been a hard week for me on a personal level, but let me say that on a spiritual level God has taken me to a whole new place in my understanding of His word with these battles.

Prayer:
Still Speaking God give us the wisdom to know how to read your Word and Live it!  Amen.

Tuned in Tuesday

New found artist for me is Coffey Anderson.  Love his new album, as well as this song from that album " All Ye" is the title and a great message it talks about humbling yourself in the sight of the Lord.  A practice that we all need to do ech time we look at ourselves in the mirror.  Know that you are an image of our great God and he made you to be great as well.