Friday, June 26, 2009

Vacation


On vacation
for a week to
Charleston, SC.

Faithfulness


What if some did not
have faith? Will their
lack of faith nullify
God's faithfulness?
Romans 3:3





The future is bright, because of God faithfulness.
His abiding truth does not change with my mood,
and He never wavers when I stumble and fall over
a promise through my unbelief.

God Himself has made believing a condition of receiving,
and the Giver has a sovereign right to choose His own
terms for His gifts. (Samuel Hart)

From: Streams in the Desert

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Names of God














Jehovah-jireh - our God who sees our need and provides for us.

Jehovah-nissi - our banner and our captain and the One who will
fight our battles for us.

Jehovah-shalom = our Peace

Jehovah-tsidkenu - our Righteousness, the One in whom we find
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption.

Jehovah-shammah - the One who is with us, our ever-present God
who will never leave us or forsake us.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

He Knows







Heart design
by Amy Sumrall





The Lord looks down from heaven
and sees the whole human race.
From His throne He observes
all who live on the earth.
He made their hearts,
so He understands everything they do.

Psalm 33:13-15

You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar.

Psalm 139:2

Monday, June 22, 2009

Difficulties


That is why, for Christ's
sake, I delight in weaknesses,
in insults, in hardships, in
persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am
strong.

II Corinthians 12:10


I praise You in advance for the part these
difficult things are going to play in Your
good plan for us--in eventual deliverance
and growth and fruitfulness. I'm grateful
that in all this, the battle is not mine,
but Yours...and that the final chapter has
not yet been written. Thank You that these
trials force me to trust You more. You're
a God who acts on behalf of the ones who
put their trust in You.

~Ruth Myers~
from: 31 Days of Praise

Friday, June 19, 2009

Gratitude Prayer



Being confident of this,
that He who began a good
work in you will carry it
on to completion until the
day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6






Father, I'm so delighted that you are both loving and
sovereign, and that You cause all things to work together
for good to those who love You, to those who are called
according to Your purpose. So, I thank You for each
disturbing or humbling situation in my life, for each
breaking or cleansing process You are allowing.
Thank You that each difficulty is an opportunity to
see You work...that in Your time You will bring me out
to a place of abundance. I rejoice that You plan to
enrich and beautify me through each problem, each conflict,
each struggle...that through them You expose my weaknesses
and needs. Thank You that You use trials to humble me and
perfect my faith and produce in me the quality of endurance.
I'm grateful that You look beyond my superficial desire for
a trouble-free life; instead, You fulfill my deep-down desire
to glorify You, enjoy Your warm fellowship, and become more
like Your son. Amen.

~Ruth Myers~
from: 31 Days of Praise

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Silent


The LORD will
fight for you
while you keep
silent.
Exodus 14:14





Our part is the trusting; it is His to
accomplish the results. And when we do
our part, He never fails to do His.
~Hannah Whitall Smith~

Stand firm and you will see the deliverance
the LORD will bring you today.
Exodus 14:13

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Judging


Judge not,
that you
be not
judged.

Matt. 7:1







Flower design by A. Sumrall

Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of
people, but in the spiritual realm nothing is
accomplished by it. The effect of criticism is
the dividing up of the strengths of the one
being criticized. The Holy Spirit is the only
One in the proper position to criticize, and He
alone is able to show what is wrong without
hurting or wounding. Criticism serves to make
you harsh, vindictive, and cruel, and leaves you
with the soothing and flattering idea that you are
somehow superior to others.

There is always at least one more fact, which we
know nothing about, in every person's situation.
I have never met a person I could despair of, or
lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in
me apart from the grace of God.

~Oswald Chambers~

It is unwise to use a measuring
stick on other people.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Prayer


Always pray, and never
become discouraged...
keep on praying and
never give up.
Luke 18:1





Lord, help me remember to always praise You
for Your goodness and mercy to me, especially
in the difficult times, when it is not the normal
or natural thing to do. Even in the worst of
circumstances You are able to turn anything into
victory for me when I acknowledge You. I am
grateful that Your mercy endures forever. Amen.

~Unknown~

Monday, June 15, 2009

Proverbs









Rainbow by
Rhonna Farrer



Every story sounds true until
someone sets the record straight.
Proverbs 18:17 (NLT)

Truthful words stand the test
of time, but lies are soon exposed.
Proverbs 12:19 (NLT)

A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, and
it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
Proverbs 19:11 (NAS)

Friday, June 12, 2009

Journey


We must go
through many
hardships to
enter the
kingdom
of God.
Acts 14:22


God may not give us an easy journey to the
Promised Land, but He will give us a safe one.
~Horatius Bonar~

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Fruit of the Spirit


But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kind-
ness, goodness, faith-
fulness, gentleness and
self-control.
Galatians 5:22



An examination of the fruits of the Spirit can be
intimidating. Working all nine of these traits into
your life seems impossible, and indeed it is. But
moment you became a Christian, the Holy Spirit began
a divine work to produce Christ's character in you.
Regardless of who you are, the Spirit works from the
same model, Jesus Christ.

This is as natural as the growth of fruit on a tree.
You do not have to orchestrate it on your own. It
automatically begins the moment you become a believer.
How quickly it happens depends upon how completely you
yield yourself to the Holy Spirit's activity.

~Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby~
from: Experiencing God Day by Day

For God is working in you, giving you the desire to
obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him.
Philippians 2:13

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Transformed


Do not conform any
longer to the pattern
of this world, but be
transformed by the
renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2




God calls His children to live holy lives.
This requires both the Holy Spirit's help
and our cooperation. We should begin with
our thought life because our actions are
based upon what we believe.

Daily time in the Word will keep our resolve
strong. Through scripture, the Holy Spirit
will transform our mind and strengthen our
inner being to bring about needed changes.
If we neglect Bible study, we leave ourselves
open to the influence of the world and our
"flesh," neither of which cares about godliness.

Becoming holy is a lifelong process that requires
understanding Gods ways, plans and priorities--and
adopting them as our own. It means letting the
Spirit develop within us the mind of Christ.

~Charles Stanley~
from: In Touch Devotional Booklet

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Changing Times


Jesus Christ
is the same
yesterday and
today and
forever.

Hebrews 13:8



We must adjust to changing times and
still hold to unchanging principles.

~Jimmy Carter~

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Learning to Hear


Him shall He
teach in the
way He chooses.

Psalm 25:12





If we are saved and sanctified, God guides us by our
everyday choices. And if we are about to choose what
He does not want, He will give us a sense of doubt or
restraint, which we must heed. When there is doubt,
stop. God instructs us in what we choose; that is,
He actually guides our common sense. And when we
yield to His teachings and guidance, we no longer
hinder His Spirit.

~Oswald Chambers~
from: My Utmost for His Highest

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Timing


He has made everything
beautiful in its time...
Eccelesiastes 3:11







When it comes to prayer, most of us think about timing--
that is, we think about what the timing of God's answers
should be. When the answer doesn't come immediately, we
anxiously wonder why. God's timing is not the same as
ours. God sees things from an eternal perspective.

We have to remember that even though we pray and have
faith, the final outcome and timing are in God's hands.
God's timing is perfect. And it is liberating when we
surrender to it. There is great freedom in simply laying
our concerns and desires before Him and then trusting Him
for the outcome. While you may not be able to understand
exactly what God is doing, you can trust that He is doing
something. He has your best interests at heart. And He
will make everything beautiful in His perfect time.

Lord, I know Your timing is not the same as mine. I want
all the answers to my prayers right now. But You want me to
be patient and wait on You. I lay my concerns before You and
leave the outcome in Your hands. Help me to rest in the
knowledge that Your timing is perfect, just as everything You
do is perfect. Amen.

~Stormie Omartian~
from: The Power of Praying Through the Bible

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning
I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Psalm 5:3

Monday, June 1, 2009

His Promises


Blessed be the Lord...
according to all that
He promised, not one
word has failed.
1 Kings 8:56





Thank You for giving us priceless promises,
great beyond measure--promises that apply
to Your work in me, in my loved ones, in my
situation, in my service, and in the whole
world...and not one single word of Your good
promise has ever failed. I glorify You
because no human problem, however hopeless
or impossible, is too hard for You. You are
able to give life to the dead and call into
being that which does not exist. So I need
not stagger at Your promises or waver in
disbelief. What You have promised You are
able to perform!

~Ruth Myers~
from: 31 Days of Praise