James 1:17 Prayer

Loving, Gracious, Awesome, Renewing, my Great Reward, Recreating, Living, Righteous, Holy, Song of my heart and Friend, thank You for Your faithfulness and mercy that sustains me each day. Thank You for Your Great Love for me. Thank You for Your Presence with me as we walk this love journey of faith together. Thank You for how You have planned out my life with such loving detail. Thank You for all You have done, all You are doing, and all that is yet to be. You are my Hero who always steps in and saves the day. Thank You for Your awesome work that was done on the cross to save me. I will praise You for Your goodness and love. I will praise You for Your faithfulness. I will praise You for You are my God and Savior. I will praise You from the depths of my heart and soul. You alone are worthy of my praise...

Pruning Season

When we prune a tree in the spring...removing all the dead limbs...it doesn't die but grows and flourish. So it is with our life. As we allow God to prune what is not in His will we emerge strong and closer to whom He would have us be... it may hurt but like the tree it will not kill us but help us to grow in love and grace...

PRUNING

Snipping away the dead branches of our lives makes way for new life to emerge. Photo by Sharon Brown Christopher Interested in submitting an image to Sight Psalms? Click here for more information. …

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A Thankful Prayer

Eternal, Awesome, Holy, Compassionate, Righteous, Redeemer, Recreating, Lord of my life, Lover of my soul, Giver of all that is good, Jehovah Jirah my Provider, Great God, thank You for this beautiful new day that I may praise You for Your unending grace and love for me. Thank You for the way You nurture me and help me grow. Thank You for Your presence with me today and always for I will never walk alone. Thank You for Your unending grace that You pour down from heaven upon my life.

Thank You for the wisdom You give me as I walk in the calling You have placed upon my life. Forgive me for the times that I doubt my call and let man try and take away what You have gifted me with. Forgive me for the times that I fail to see Your unending grace and purposes in my life. Forgive me when I listen to the lies of the enemy as he whispers fear and condemnation in my ear. May I listen more to Your voice and less to the voice of the enemy as You whisper love, hope, purpose and joy deep within my soul.

Lord, as I step out in faith and trust, hold my hand so that I will not trip over the edge of the boat as I step out onto the waters of my life. Speak words of hope into my life as I focus on You and not the world or circumstances around me. Draw me so close to You that not only do I hear but will feel Your heartbeat. Hide me so that I may find rest beneath Your wings of Love.

On this Thanksgiving day...I am truly Thankful for the Giving You have done in and through my life. I am Thankful for the Giving of the gifts and graces that You have given me that make me uniquely qualified for Your purposes in my life. I am Thankful for the Giving of the family You have given me as we sit around Your table where every we may be. Most of all, I am Thankful for the Giving of Salvation found only in and through my Risen Lord, Jesus Christ in Who's Name I pray.

Amen, amen and AMEN!

Waiting

Ecclesiastes 11:6New Living Translation (NLT)
⁶ Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
2 Timothy 3:14New Living Translation (NLT)
¹⁴ But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
How do you react when waiting on God? Some of the things that may go through our minds is:

• Thinking He has forgotten
• Whine I want it now
• Question if He heard us
• Get frustrated

Sometimes, God wants to see how we will wait on Him. He already knows what His answer is. How are we going to act or hat are we going to do while we wait? Are we going to trust in His goodness and sovereignty or are we going to think that we have to do this ourselves instead of with God?

We need to keep preying while we wait. He will strengthen us as we wait. Our trust grows as we pray aas we are waiting. If we don't pray we leave the door oopen for the enemy...

• Doubt
• Discouragement
• Disappointment
• Despair

or even worse

• Loss of Faith

God wants to and does answer prayer. He has proved it in the past, present and future. How will you wait for God to answer today?

The Giver Of Real Joy

Do you find more pleasure in the giving or receiving of gifts? Most people are more inclined to the getting versus the giving. Why do we have such a "me, me, me" or "mine, mine, mine" attitude? It is even worse when we Christians want more. We tend to look at God as a "magic Genie" or "Santa Claus". We ask and don't even think about giving to anyone else.

God is the true joy giver. When we keep asking and asking we seldom find joy that lasts. It is only a short time before we want more.

We need to come as children...in awe and wonder...thankful to our heavenly Father and leave as adults...so thankful that we give to others out of the abundance we have been given. There are many ways to give. Our time, our heart, our finances are just a few ways to give.As we are generous with what we have, we find real joy.

Real joy is really found in the giving and not the receiving. What have you given back to others...to God...out of your abundance?

What is worship...

OK...so we go to church on Sunday mornings. We get all "prettied up"...put on our "Sunday best." We got to a building and maybe greet some people. We find our favorite seat (and don't let someone be sitting in it) sit down and wait? What are we waiting for? Why are we even here in the first place? What are we expecting to hear...to see... to feel? What is this worship thing all about?

Well we need to ask ourselves a few questions:

1. What is our attitude about going to church? Are you going there because it is an exclusive club for you or is it a place for both "sinners" and "saints" alike? Is it a joy or a drudgery?
2. What is our motivation for going to church? Is church a duty...a item on your checklist or is it something much more? Is it a place where you come to be entertained or a place you expect God to show up and is present amongst us?
3. What keeps us from going to church if that is what is happening...? Is it a place where you feel safe or is it a place where you feel you have to always watch your back? Has it become that social club and not a place where you experience the life changing message of hope?

OK...Romans 12:3-5 tells us:
(Romans 12:3-5New Living Translation (NLT)
³ Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. ⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

We gather together as the body of Christ...becoming one body with many parts. We come together to worship God...to thank God for all He has done and is doing in our lives and in the lives of the body of Christ...in the body of believers.

So why do we need corporate worship...why do we need to gather together in one place? Can't we worship God in our own homes...on our own? Well yes we can and should worship God in our homes and our work place...we should live a life of constant worship. But...but...when we come together in worship it renews our faith and renews our joy...we hold each other up in prayer and come along side each other in times of crisis. 

There is value in a Godly community. It is a place where we find our role in God's great design and our purpose for His Kingdom. Have you discovered your role or purpose? It can only be done in community. In community is where we should be able to find meaning and purpose in life. Otherwise we just go through life and not live the abundant life God has in store for everyone who believes.

I think our biggest deterrent to the issue of finding our purpose in life... We use those two favorite words "I can't"... You are right...we can't, I can't...you can't...but God CAN... In Mathew 19:26, Jesus tells us:

(Matthew 19:26New Living Translation (NLT))
²⁶ Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

We just can't do it on our own but God...in and through community with Him and other believers...can do far more than we can ask or hope for. As we come together in community, Ephesians 4:16 tells us"

Ephesians 4:16New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁶ He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

We grow and become whom God would have us to be...even if we have a hard time, at times, believing in ourselves...God will always help us to succeed in what He has planned for us...God keeps His promises. This truth we can "Take to the bank...we can bank on it."

So what is worship? To me it is a way of life. You don't really "do" worship but you "be" worship in what you say and do. It is saying "Thank You" to God not with just lip service but with action. It is gathering with a rag tag group of people...as Jesus did...and hear the Good News. It is during worship I can expect God to show up and I will be changed forever. It is in and through worship I am free to love all...to see the sacred worth in all...to invite others into my "worship space" and feel the movement of the Spirit with in them.

So...what is worship to you and what will you do with your worship of God. I would like to leave you with a piece of scripture found in the Gospel of Matthew... it kind of says it all...

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Are you ready to be counted amongst the workers?

God's Standards...

No Condemnation (John 3:17)

We often go through the day feeling as if someone is looking over our shoulder ready to judge our actions. My husband probably wonders why I bought that dress . . . My boss is thinking I’m taking too long with that project . . . The elders don’t understand why I can’t take on that committee . . . This isn’t how Mom would have done it . . . And perhaps the voice we hear the most is our own: Why aren’t you good enough?

Even if others praise us, the pressure we put on ourselves can drown out the latest acclaim. We put pressure on ourselves to do more—and do it better and quicker. How could God be pleased with us, we wonder, when we feel so weak?

Listen to the words in this chapter of John’s Gospel. God wants a relationship with us—not to condemn us, but to free us. He offers redemption through Jesus—not because we have done something to deserve it, but because he loves us.

Though we may read those words again and again, they can be hard to believe. But try to wrap your brain around this truth: God does not condemn you. None of the pressure you feel throughout the day is from God. In truth, you may be trying to please others or achieve your own goals more than you are trying to please God. You may feel guilty because you keep changing the standard.

Richard Foster writes, “The less we are manipulated by the expectations of others, the more we are open to the expectations of God.” Yes, we are weak. Yes, we often fail to meet our own expectations. But what does God expect of us today? To believe in his Son who set us free from sin. To believe that he is stronger than our doubts, fears, pride and ambition. To believe that he does not condemn us for who we were before we met his Son. To discover who we are in the light of his love, freedom and grace.

We may not feel "qualified" but...our God qualifies the called..."

In Our Anger May We Not Sin...

1 Peter 4:10/Proverbs 12:16

(1 Peter 4:10New International Version (NIV)

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.)

(Proverbs 12:16New International Version (NIV)

16 Fools show their annoyance at once,

    but the prudent overlook an insult.)

It can be so easy sometimes to hold on to those "offenses" that we feel others have done to us. As we hold onto them we are the ones that are hurt, not those who we may be angry at. When Jesus walked this world, He was offended in many ways. But, even as He hung on the Cross, He was full of compassion and forgiveness.

Now...if the Author and Perfector of our faith can forgive even as He was crucified, how can we not do the same? As we stretch out our hand in forgiveness, we are changed and become more like Him. As we are transformed, we can affect a transformation of those around us. Just think about that…

I WILL rejoice in the Lord

God of mercy and hope, thank you that your mercies are new each day. Thank you that each day you give me is a day that I can do your will in the world. Help me to be focused on you and your will in my life and not on the world around me and what it says I should be doing. Help me to hear your still small voice and not the siren sound of the world. Help me to hear your description of who I am and not what the world has labeled me. May I drawer near to you as you draw near to me. Today is a day that YOU have made...I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!

My God...my Friend

Eternal God...my best Friend...thank you for loving me so much that you will never leave me or forsake me. Thank you that when the going gets tough you do not leave me but drawer ever closer to me. Thank you for being with me in the storms of life. When I think of my life without you it is a thought to heavy to bear. You have brought me through so much in my life and I am forever grateful! Lord...use me to help others who are going through their own storm of life...to those who walk in desert place. when there is sadness may I bring joy...where there is despair may I bring hope...where there is anger may I bring reconciliation...where there is injury and brokenness may I bring healing. Empty me and fill me with your joy, light and purpose. May I be a friend to the friendless as you have done for me...

Amazing Grace...how sweet the sound

Amazing God, full of compassion and love. It is mind boggling to think of the grace you so freely give me. To think that you pour out your grace on me even though I don't deserve it is truly a one of your miracles to me. I can't earn it...Jesus already did the work for me. I can't pay for it...Jesus already paid the price. I can't steal it...it is your free gift to humanity through Jesus' sacrifice. All that I can do is accept it. Lord...I accept your gift of grace this day and forever more. May I share that gift with those whom you put in my path. May they too accept the gift of grace from you because of my actions, may words and my love. I praise you and thank you...you truly are the God above all gods.

Blessed Beyond Measure

Oh Great God, thank you for loving me so much! To think of all the wondrous things I survey that was fashioned by your hand and to know that I am cherished above all of these is very humbling to me. TO think that you breathed the breathe of life into me is too marvelous for words. To know that I am your beloved child is incomprehensible to me. May I never forget your promises to me that I may stand firm in my devotion to you. May I never forget that you have a purpose for my life...even when I don't see it. I will ever sing your praise for the life I now have in Christ Jesus... I am blessed beyond measure...

Connected

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