Sunday Praise and a Prayer to Keep Running

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise your holy and precious name. We glorify and magnify the name of Yeshua HaMashiach – Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One. 

Father, many of us are weary of running the race. We’re bogged down with our own personal sorrows and sufferings, health issues, difficult relationships, just trying to make ends meet, and when we add to that all that’s going on around the world, we are at a loss. We are overwhelmed and sometimes we just want to give up.

Lord, forgive us of our sins, and overwhelm us with the power of your Holy Spirit to keep running. Fill us again with the passionate love and fervor of faith we had at the beginning.

Remind us continually to keep our eyes fixed on you and not on those around us who would discourage us and keep us from wholeheartedly following you, living as your light in the world, using the spiritual gifts you’ve given us, and fulfilling the calling you have on our lives. 

We know you’re with us every step of the way. 

We pray in the precious name of Jesus and because of His blood spilled for the forgiveness of our sins, amen. 

 

Scripture Picture – Light of the World

Sunday Praise and a Prayer For Continued Joy

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day
in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.'” 
Luke 2:10-11

 

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise your holy and precious name. You are glorified in the birth of your Son, and though the world’s celebration ends, may our celebration of the birth of our Savior continue every day of the year.

Lord, only you know what the coming year will bring. No matter what we go through, the good times and the painful ones, may we glorify you by walking in the joy our salvation brings.

In the good times, may we remember to thank you and give you all the glory. And when we face difficult days, we pray your Holy Spirit will sustain us with your peace that passes all understanding and remind us of your loving care to the brokenhearted.  

No matter what, may people see you in us and know our celebration of Christ’s birth never ends. We pray it all in the mighty and victorious name of Yeshua HaMashiach, our Savior and Lord, amen.

***

Please remember, if you have any prayer requests you are more than welcome to leave a comment or email me your request and I will be honored to stand with you in prayer.  The Lord bless you and keep you!

To Gaze Upon the King

I’d like to repost one more piece for you, this one from December 2015. I pray you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of the beloved Child, the Savior, the King.  

***

Oh dear ones, loved so greatly by God, can I ask you to, for just a moment, lay down your tape and scissors?  To take your eyes away from the Christmas movies and your ears from the holiday music?

Can I ask you to come take a journey with me?  We are going to see a King.

There is a little, ancient town full of people who have come to be counted in the census.  All the rooms are full, too.

There is a very young woman who is about ready to give birth.  She and her husband have come a long way and she looks tired and uncomfortable. Her labor pains have begun.

“The barn is available,” they’re told.

Humbly, they make their way to the stable.  He tries to make her comfortable with a bed of hay as the animals make room for a royal guest.

She gives birth and the pain is soon forgotten as joy overwhelms her.  He is perfect in every way.  They gaze upon their miracle child, the one given to them by God Himself.  There is a feeding trough, and he makes a bed for this tiny baby.  The stars are shining on this most special of nights.

Meanwhile, out in the nearby fields, men who only a moment ago were tending sheep now stand in shock and fear as a glorious and heavenly light shines around them and an angel of the Lord appears to them and says,

Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The shepherds are barely able to take it in when a whole host of angels appears, praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

They grab their staffs and run to the place where this Savior, this long-awaited Messiah has been born.  He is beautiful and they can hardly believe it.  They have seen the great Shepherd.

Room has been made for this little family of three.  They wonder what the future holds in and through this new and precious life.

Sometime later, other worshippers make their way from the east.  A star has led some wise men on a journey.  It’s been long and dusty, but they’ve been moved by something, Someone, beyond them to make it.  They’ve brought gifts suitable to present to royalty: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Gold for a King, but not just any king.  A King who has chosen to strip Himself of His heavenly robes and crown and become like us.

Frankincense, symbolizing His priesthood, one that would never end.

Myrrh for embalming, for one day in the not-too-distant future, this King will die for the sins of the world.

The star that led them from so far away has stopped directly over the house where the King lay.  They step inside and bow before Him and worship Him.  They present their gifts, and Mary and Joseph continue to marvel at God’s love, His miracles and His glory.

The world looks different to them now.  Suddenly it is filled with hope and love and promise.  Under the light of the stars was the Light of the world. Salvation was here.

This, they knew, was no ordinary child.

This was a King.

The Saturday Song – Forever

 
Is there anything more worthy of giving thanks than for our God and Father who has declared His love through the sacrifice of His only Son, and tells us that nothing, nothing, will ever come between us and His love? 
 
He is love, all He does comes from love, and His love will endure forever.  For that, Lord, we offer you our hearts full of gratitude, forever. 

 
Forever
by Chris Tomlin
 
Give thanks to the Lord
Our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
 
With a mighty hand
And outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that’s been reborn
His love endures forever
 
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever
 
From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
By the grace of God
We will carry on
His love endures forever
 
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
Yeah!
 
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever
Forever
 
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever
 
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
Oh, sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
 
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever

Yes You are!
Forever You are faithful
Forever You are strong
Forever You are with us
Forever
Forever

Sunday Praise and a Prayer to Live Unafraid

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise your most holy name. We praise you for your faithfulness and goodness. We praise you for your love and for the plans you have that are so great, so glorious, so miraculous, that we cannot even begin to conceive of them. 

Father, when your servants, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faithful to you and trusted you even in the furnace, you protected them, and because they chose to live unafraid, even King Nebuchadnezzar praised your name.  

Lord, we ask that you would give all of us who believe in Christ the kind of courage and strength and conviction to live unafraid and that the world will see your faithfulness in and through us and have no choice but to praise your name. 

No matter what we’re going through, whether it’s physical, emotional, financial, or even persecution for our faith in you, may we live unafraid, filled with the sure hope we have because of what Christ did for us on the cross and because the Holy Spirit indwells us, knowing that you are an ever-present help in time of need and that you promise to be with us and love us to the end.  

Thank you for giving us all we need to walk victoriously. May we daily avail ourselves of all the riches of your glory in Christ Jesus. It’s in His blessed name we pray, amen. 

God Promises a New Heaven and a New Earth

Our minds may be spinning right about now because of all that’s going on in the world.

God’s word tells us that we “must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.'” 2 Peter 3:3-4

The word for “scoffers” translates as false teachers. They can be within a church, or outside it, but the Bible says they’ll follow their own evil desires, and they’ll try to get as many to follow them as they can.

Even now there are voices trying to instill despair and fear, moving our attention away from the LORD, away from our hope, away from abiding in Christ and walking in the Spirit, away from growing in spiritual maturity, from praying in faith, from our calling to be a light, to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and make disciples. 

But we must remain steadfast and true in our purpose as the sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. 

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 

Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
2 Peter 3:10-18

As long as this life might seem, it is short. Let us use the time we have for the glory of the Lord, living in faith, receiving His peace, and looking forward to the joy set before us. 

A Wake-Up Call and a Prayer in Light of the Events in Afghanistan

As I read the news about what’s going on in Afghanistan, I’m repeatedly being reminded of prophetic scripture. 

“And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Matthew 24:15-16

Not that what we see happening is the specific fulfillment of these scriptures, but we can see it coming. The birth pains are getting more frequent and more painful. 

As we lift up in prayer those in danger in Afghanistan, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ who are a particular target, let’s remember we cannot give way to fear. Fear leads to weakness and that’s exactly what the enemy wants. 

We must set aside our fear, remember whose we are – the chosen children of our Heavenly Father, redeemed by Christ, filled with His Holy Spirit, and given an eternal promise. 

Let’s pray, believing.  Believing in His love, in His strength, in His power, we can pray with confidence, knowing that He hears us, He is on the throne, and in full control. 

I believe the events we see happening should be a wake up call to waste no more time.  Now is the time to make sure we are right with the Lord, to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1b-2a

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” 1 Cor. 3:16-17

Therefore, ‘Come out from among them (unbelievers) and be separated’ says the Lord, ‘and do not touch the unclean thing. And I will receive you and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:17

“I am the LORD who sanctifies you.” Lev 20:8


Heavenly Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus Christ, your only begotten Son, and the only name under heaven given by which anyone can be saved. 

We pray for the pouring out of your Holy Spirit for the revival of hearts that are cold or lukewarm, and for the salvation of countless more souls.  

We pray you would strengthen the love and faith of your Church, that you would “strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you.” (Isaiah 35:3-4)

We pray we would be found being about your business, walking in your Spirit, serving boldly in the gifts you have so graciously given to us, building up one another and making disciples, that you might be glorified and magnified through us.

We pray you would fill our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan with your peace that surpasses all understanding and with a fresh boldness to continue in hopeful, faithful prayer and to stand firm in their faith. We pray their witness would lead many to Christ. May they feel our prayers through the powerful presence of your Holy Spirit. 

We pray you would be with our soldiers and with all those they are charged with bringing home, that every one would arrive safely. We pray our president and all those who oversee our country would turn to you in humble reverence and repentance, receive you as Lord, and be filled with your wisdom, praying that you would intervene. Please bind the the work of the enemy, Almighty God. 

May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Sunday Praise and a Prayer to Walk in the Spirit

People photo created by jcomp – www.freepik.com

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you, and we are so grateful you’ve called us to walk the journey of life with you. 

Thank you for knowing what this week holds and already making a way for us through it. We pray you would remind us to be intentional every moment of every day to walk through it, not in our flesh, but in your Spirit and His power. 

Help us remember to think with the mind of Christ, to see others with His eyes, and to love, forgive, and show grace and mercy with His heart. 

We are yours. “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” 

May all we do, say, and think glorify and magnify the Name above all names, until we meet you face to face. 

In Jesus’ holy and precious name we pray, amen. 

***

Please let me know if I can pray for you in any way. 

For Him,

God Promises Our Suffering Will Produce Hope