Work of His Hands

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Psalm 19:1-4

last weekend my friend, Laura, and i took a roadtrip to Rhode Island. by the way, it is a rather long drive from Atlanta to Newport, RI, but it's all worth it! during the drive, i had a chance to get out of the city and enjoy the brillant landscape God has created. and night, the stars seemed to jump from the sky. it was incredible to see how bright those stars shine, when the city lights don't distract from their glory. those stars helped me realize that everyone in the world, excluding those who are blind, can see the works of God's hands in the heavens.

too often in life we get distracted from the glory of God. kind of like the city lights hindering our view of how bright those stars are shining. my reality gets mess up at times. when i'm in the city i think that the stars are beautiful, but when i get outside of the city limits, those stars are brilliant and radiate - nearly bright enough to light the way in the darkness. it was incredible for me to experience that again. i've gotten used to seeing the stars thru the haze of ambient lighting. but God is great enough, big enough, extravagant enough to shine even brighter in the complete darkness. that is a wonderful understanding to me.

Jesus,
i praise You for allowing me to experience Your greatness during my trip. it was incredible to see You thru the stars, thru the ocean, thru the beautiful weather, and so many more ways. i give You glory for the safe travels, good company and joy of experiencing You thru nature. You've refreshed my soul. i love You and it's an honor to be called Your child. thanks for caring for me so radically. i love the way You love me.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen!

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*Ed and family *Laura *Paul

Demonstrating the Spirit's Power

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
1 Cor. 2:1-5

the books of corinthians have been heavy on my heart recently, so last night i began to read thru 1st corinthians. let the conviction begin. Paul admits in this passage that he wasn't an eloquent speaker. we all tend to think that he was the man...the greatest preacher to ever have walked on earth, but he admits his fear and trembling. he knew that his words apart from the Spirit's power were worthless. paul didn't try to win people to Christ with his powerful messages (unlike so many of us...), instead He relied on the Spirit's power to convict and to sanctify hearts back to a relationship to Christ. i'm still learning this. i try hard to have the right words, the exact emphasis on certain phrases just to win people to Christ. too often i forget that it is God who makes the changes, not me.

which makes me wonder about Paul's prayer life. for me prayer is so connected to my winess that if i don't spend ample time on my knees, my emotions and everything else become distractions from Christ. "prayed up" --need to have more of that in my life.

Jesus
Your power is great. i've seen You sweep thru large arenas of people or thru a single high schooler. You move in just the right time. Spirit, i want to learn to rely more on You. please teach me. forgive me for being so selfish as to think that i can change hearts by my words and actions. i know that only You can convert people to become believers. thanks for humbling me with this understanding. i bow to Your authority and Lordship. You are the One in control. i love You.
Thru Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Derrick *Malcolm *Denise

Take it for the Team

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:10-12

sometime during this Easter weekend i was reading from the prophet, Isaiah. again i was amazed at how God spoke so truthfully thru a man who lived 800 (or more) years before Jesus. the gift of prophecy has always facinated me, but this passage is a bit much for me.

how can it have been God's will for His own Son to be made a guilt offering? that question is at the root of my amazement. our Father's blameless Son became our sin, our guilt, our shame, our anxiety, our fear, our humiliation, so that we could rejoice in the Truth, so that our clothing of shame could be destroyed forever. by His wounds we have been healed. (is. 53:5)

then the passage goes on to say that 'after the suffering of His soul'. praying for a change in Your future because You know it only leads to death and suffering. He sweat blood He was praying so diligently for His cup to be passed from Him, and yet He surrender Himself completely to the Father's will. i, too, am called to surrender myself completely to the Father's will. sweat or not sweat, my will should align itself to the Father's and Son's will. that is the work of the Holy Spirit, to align my will to the Father's will. and i rejoice that i don't have to do it alone. i don't have to make the changes, but i still need to surrender my will to Him. i still need to continue to pursue peace. just as Jesus gave His life for us, so i should willingly surrender my will to Him who gave me this life.

Jesus,
i rejoice in You. i bow before You with adoration and praise. Your passion for us to live with You exceeded Your personal perference. You chose to give Your life so that i may dine with You in paradise. that is my heart's praise and victory song. i love You because You first loved me. i surrender my will to Yours. i surrender all my heartaches, my anxiety, my shame, my questions. i want to be satisfied in You. i want to know You more.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

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*Zach *John *Andy

To Know is to Obey

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
1 John 2:3-5

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15-17

these are difficult passages for me to take in. the connection between knowing (and loving) Jesus and doing what He asks is so intertwined that they should never be spoken of as being separate units. i hear so many people say that they are Christian (AKA "i believe in Jesus") and yet they don't pay any attention to His word. these verses make it so clear... there isn't any separation between being a Christian and doing what He says and living as He did. it's not an option.

so when i know what i ought to do and choose not to do it, then i am just like Peter, the Rock, lying about not knowing Him. same thing. no difference. it's all about living the Truth, no matter what the penalty is or if my reputation is going to be hurt. that is a difficult reality.

God,
please forgive me for disobeying You. Holy Spirit, You given me promptings to do good to others, and i've chosen to not obey because of selfish motives. may Your grace fill my broken cup. i need You, Jesus. i can't live like You did without Your help and continued encouragement. i know the sacrifice You've made on my behalf. never let me loose site of what You've given away in order for my life to be complete. i want to obey You and know You more and more. if i stand, let me stand on the Truth which has brought me this far....but if i fall, let me fall on the grace which first brought me to You. i am Your servant, and i pray for my heart to be a servant's heart, not the rebellious brother/son. thanks for this understanding. You are my King.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

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*David *Stacy*Tom

Love Songs

I will sing a new song to You, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to You.
Psalm 144:9

The LORD will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord.
Is. 38:20

If you love Me, you will obey what I command.
John 14:15

i have two separate persistent thoughts this morning. first one: 'how do i show affection to my Savior?' this question has been heavy on my heart the last couple of days. and i can nearly hear Jesus answering, "follow My example; do what I've asked of you; love Me with all of your precious heart." as a gen. x-er i'm taught that to 'make love' is to have intercourse. so loving my Father in heaven would be rather difficult with that definition of love. so there has to be more to love. i want to love Jesus. that is what my heart is set on. so i'm focusing on how He says to love Him. i want to make on impact an His heart, not because i think i need to do anything to encourage Him to love me, but because i want to be intimate with Him.

second thought: i purchased a new guitar (well, 2 actually) and i want to use them for His glory. i've been fiddling with denise's guitar for a few months. slowly and faithfully i'm learning to strum and finger those strings. i love playing....(just ask denise!) my only dilemma is that i can't play my guitar at my apartment, because afraid of the police coming and telling me to put it away. (it's happened before) so i practice at church, in the house of the Lord.

Jesus,
i desire to be intimate with You. because You've given me so much, i want to give back to You my heart. i want to honor You with all that i have, my life, my job, my guitar, the very heart You've blessed me with. i love You. i want to obey what You've asked of me. i desire to follow Your example. i can't praise You enough for restoring my relationship to the Father. it's awesome to communicate with You. thanks for knowing my heart and my desire to submit to You. may my skills be for You. may my guitar playing be praise to You. may the words of my mouth be pleasing to You. may Your Spirit guide me into a deeper friendship with You. i love You with all that i have.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen!

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*Those suffering from depression, skin irritations, and AIDS

His Faithfulness

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Ps. 57:9-11

God is faithful. He still reigns from on high, but dwells in the hearts of people. He's able to use the beauty of nature to display His marvelous qualities. He chooses to use the simple things in life to profound the wise. and thru all these, He remains faithful to all. as the hymn from old says, "great is Thy faithfulness".

this weekend i had the opportunity to serve at SLR. thru out the weekend i was reminded of God's faithfulness, from the way God feeds the squirrels to the way He continues to draw His people to Himself. He chose youth and adults from all over GA to remind me of the way He loves me: extravagant and un-partial. He gives so freely; always has and always will. Jesus reminds us that He supplies sparrows with food, and how much more will He supply us with all our needs. that is faithfulness!

Faithful Friend,
You are faithful. You continue to supply us with al our needs, even thru our unfaithfulness. Your love is extravagant. Lord, please forgive me to being hesitant at times to share Your love with others. may You move me to love the way You love, freely and un-partially. Holy Spirit, i pray that You'd help me to be sensitive to Your prompting. let me know what to say whent to say whatever You'd have me say. i can't share Your love without Your help. let praises rise from my lips, for You've have done great things. You have called me from the darkness in to Your radiant light. let Your light shine in the dark places. let those who are calloused and hurting know Your call to come home to You.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen!

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*Ed *Mike *Sean

Blessings Flow

Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
1 Cor. 4:6-7

This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.
Jer. 9:23-24

'what do i have that i have not received?' this question has resounded thru my mind all morning. i have nothing which hasn't been given me. i am here because Someone else created me. i live because Someone gives me breath, and healthy lungs to breath the air. i have because Someone has given me talents to work, to love, to play and to simply exist. i am because He gives generously.

just wondering about my sinful nature in all this? both passages listed above refer to boasting and pride. what i boast about, or what i grumble about mostly take pride in my human flesh, and not in the promises of God. my heart leans toward the flesh instead of towards the Spirit about pride. too often my thoughts puff myself up, like on a pedestal or throne. but i don't belong there. that is Christ's throne. He is the only One for which i am to boast. i have nothing besides Christ, tho i like to think i own things.

Father,
i bow humbly before Your holiness. i am prideful. my heart seeks vanity too often. Jesus, please draw me close; forgive me for my thoughts of how wonderful i am, instead of how awesome You are. guide me deep into Your humility. i want to boast of You and of Your righteousness. i want to be Your servant, not my own queen tut. close my mouth when i am about to boast of the flesh. cleanse my heart that i may be more like You, Jesus. send Your blood to cover my selfishness. take my pride and nail it to Your cross at calvary. You are worthy of my everything. it's all Yours.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

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*Joshua *Zach *Morgan

Verses on My Mind

"To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: " 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."
Matt. 11:16-19

Jesus's teachings. currently in the senior high sunday school class that i lead (or try to lead), we are studying some of the tough teaching of Jesus. yesterday's lesson was on "following Jesus faithfully, no matter what." it was based on the verse if we should come after Jesus, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Him. (Luke 9:23) we had some great discussion about ways we must deny ourselves the pleasures of the world, etc.

so, last night as i was reading a few verses before i crashed for the evening, i came to these verses about our generation. i am at a loss as to what the meaning really is. i've thought that perhaps Jesus was trying to tell them that they have One who is offering them help, and that God the Father sent them exactly what they were seeking, but they missed Him. or that we are not content with what we have been offered. if anyone has any insight, i would love to hear it.

lately i've been thinking alot about contentment and how i am seeking something more. perhaps those people in Jesus day were in the same place i am, but i have found Jesus (or He found me). i know the Truth and i know that it has set me free. i trust that He is all i need, but often my emotions/mind feels differently. i'm still seeking satisfaction, but i know the One who makes me complete. definitely signs of my immaturity. well, i'm trying to know Christ as my sufficiency, or maybe i'm looking for Him to be the 'Perfecter of my faith'. that is my search right now. my heart is longing to know completeness in Him. (and i realize that this longing will never be complete until i meet Him, but there has to be a place of contentment, too...doesn't there?)

Jesus,
i know You as my Prince of Peace and my Creator. i want to know You as my Perfector, my Sufficiency, my Completor. i need You to be my satisfaction and my contentment. and i would like You to open my eyes to what these verses mean, too. you know the tendencies of us humans to seek the Truth and miss it, because we are seeking our own Truth. Jesus, i pray for You to lead me to You, the Truth. i want to know You more intimately. i want to behold You in the presence of my enemies. i want to stand when the world around me is crumbling. i want to know You and be known by You. i love You and my heart finds comfort in Your midst. thanks for calling me from darkness into Your glorious light. thanks for guiding me into a deeper relationship with You. thanks for my friend, ashton, who is learning to grow up in You, too. may her faith be like a tree planted by water, always yielding its fruit and doesn't worry when the heat comes. (Jer. 17:7-8) let her talents be for You a glorious sound in Your ear. thanks for drawing her close to You.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Ashton *Stacy *David

State of the Soul Address

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Psalm 84:2

i think i am homesick for my eternal dwelling which Christ is preparing. (John 14:2-3) sound strange to say that i'm homesick for somewhere i've never been, but it's true. i feel like david crying out to God, 'my soul thirsts for You!', 'my soul yearns for You, for our house'.

'The human heart quests for satisfaction and keeps at it until it finds some kind of peace in God. And even when we find contentedness in the Lord and know for a fact that He is our constant companion, it's still difficult for the heart to give up the hunt.' ~Lucy Swindoll in the book, Cultivating Contentment.

Jesus,
as david cried out to You long ago, i too cry out for You. i long for You. i crave more of You. i yearn to be in Your courts. i praise You for being my constant companion. thanks for always letting me hang out with You. it's awesome to be in a relationship with You. i know that You are drawing me closer to You, strengthening my trust in You. be praised for loving me and for being faithful. thanks for preparing a place for me in heaven. i can only begin to imagine how gloriously beautiful it is.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

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*Owen *Scott *Kaylen

Succombing to Frustration

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Romans 8:20-22

Denise and i have begun setting aside time each day to discuss our devotions. she suggested that we do separate books for various reason and i think that is a great idea. i'm working my way thru a small book called 'cultivating contenment' by luci swindoll. so far i've highly enjoyed the study, tho i'm only one day into it. :) i haven't yet learned what paul meant when he said, "i have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation." (phil. 4:12)

craving. longing. yearning. desiring. wanting. all these words are not contentment. slowly but surely i'm learning to give up my desires, my wants, my fantascies, because too often what i desire is not what He has in store for me. just one more step on the ladder to my house in the sky.

gracious Father,
i long for this glorious freedom from the frustration which has been subjected upon me. i desire for more of you. i want You to increase in my life so that i can decrease. i crave Your truth, Your righteousness, Your loving kindness in my life. i love the way You love me, and desire to share that love with others. may You, Holy Spirit, use my gifts and talents for the Father's glory. may You shine forth from me. let my heart know what's going on with You. i love our time together. thanks for meeting with me. i am a better person because You care about me. thanks for transforming my heart from the inside out. thanks for teaching me lessons about humility. thanks for guiding me to this bible study book, and for denise and her willingness to share her thoughts and concerns with me. i love meeting with her, knowing what You are doing in her life. thanks for giving me some wonderful spiritual friends who encourage me when i'm struggling for contentment. You are the best teacher and i want to learn from You. thanks for giving me so many lessons of love.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen!

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*Ashton *Melissa *Jessica

Finding Sanctuary

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah
Psalm 62:5-8

life can be so difficult to understand. my mind is racing with things to say, but my fingers refuse to type them, in fear that i'll hurt someone's feelings - or say too much. lately when i open my mouth to speak, all that seems to come out is meaningless words. my feelings tend to keep hidden deep within my blackened heart. my mind suppresses thoughts of not being satisfied. my soul is longing for more, but i don't know where to find it. my heart longs for something, but i don't know what. my mind is in a state of unrest, and my feelings are all caught in the middle. i have no real reason to feel like this, but i know that something is amiss in my life. i'm lacking 'rest' tho my heart is filled with hope.

each day as i enter into the Lord's sanctuary, my heart is transformed. i see how wretched i am. and i am drawn into God's loving arms again. i am a fallen human. pride seems to be my root of discontentment. i hate being human - knowing my tendencies to grasp at the blackness of my soul. emptying myself out hurts.

but thru this night of my soul, i trust that in Christ i am alive. i trust that in Him i am made alive. i trust that He is my peace. i trust that He has me in the shadow on His wings. i know that no discipline feels pleasant, but in the end it leads to a life worthy of the crown of life. when i am weak, He is strong.

Jesus,
i don't know what is happening within me. this place that i am at is not comfortable. the darkness around me closes in, and my soul seeks retreat... i long for Your sanctuary, Your peace to cover me. i crave for more of You and less of me. i am longing for my Home with You. this discontentment is narrowing my vision, but i pray for You to keep my eyes fixed on You. i pray for You to be my stronghold thru this trial. i pray for Your mercy to fall fresh upon me. hear my prayer, O Lord, for i am poor, broken and needy. i am worthless without You. i cling to You for comfort and support. i know that only in You can i truly find rest for my soul. You are my Rock, my strong tower. i love You. help me thru this, please. i'm crying out to You.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen.

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*Katie *David *Brandon

God's Unfailing Love

Give thanks to the LORD , for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise?
Psalm 106:1

All the Levites who were musicians-Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives-stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD . Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good; his love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.
2 Chron. 5:12-14

i pray for God to answer my prayers, and yet i'm surprised when He does. and this weekend He answered my prayers more abundantly than i could have imagined. i am still in awe of the way He moves.

on Thursday i took some time to sit down and pray over this weekend's event: our youth and counselors were attending a spiritual life reatreat (SLR) in the GA mountains. as i was praying i began to pray that God's glory would fill the sanctuary with His glory...and the verses with solomon and the temple were laid heavy upon my heart. i love this passage of scripture. it's one of my favorites. but this weekend made it extra special for me.

throughout the weekend the band, Taken, played a song with the lyrics, "For You are good, and Your love endures forever." isn't that just ironic that the singers in the temple were singing the same lyrics? again i'm amazed at God's marvelous works. just gotta love it when God reveals Himself in a manner which you can't miss.

Most Worthy God,
You amaze me. i feel so little, so unworthy. You, the Creator of the universe, care enough for me that You answer my simple prayers. i know that You've been preparing many hearts to requests great things from You this weekend, but i am amazed that You'd be so generous. i praise You with everything in me. thanks for the changes happening in the hearts of all who attended. i praise You for drawing these people back into Your care. thanks for allowing us to worship You in spirit and in truth. i love the way You love me. thanks for calling me to be Your servant. thanks for moving in my heart thru this weekend. it's wonderful to be in Your family. may the good work You've begun in these young hearts continue to grow, to strengthen their faith. may these young people grow up to be obedient worshipers who desire to seek Your face with every decision. may their witness be bold, and may You use their faithfulness to bring glory to Yourself. thanks for growing our family this weekend. it's awesome to have some more babies in the family. let our tears of joy be praise in Your heart. i love You so much.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Nick *Andy *Ed

Knowing the Plan

Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7

He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth- the LORD God Almighty is his name.
Amos 4:13

last night i was in a crabby mood. everything seemed to make me crabby. definitely a spiritual attack of some type, cuz normally i'm pretty happy-go- lucky. my thoughts were very negative and they wandered far from what i know to be the Truth. anyway, after putting up w/ that for some time, i opened my bible to Amos. sometimes those minor prophets speak right to my heart.

while reading thru the entire book, i was amazed that God continues to tell His people His plan, even when no one else is listening. He speaks to those who desire to hear His voice, and sometimes even those who don't want to hear him. Amos says in 7:14, "I was neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees." doesn't seem very high and mighty of God to choose a simple shepherd who has some farming skills to preach His message to the entire house of Israel. but Amos was faithful to His calling. God instructed Amos on what to say, and he said it.

i want to be one who knows when God is speaking to me, instructing me to give a wise word to someone in need. i want to be His voice calling in the desert. but more importantly i want to be faithful to His calling on my life, even if He doesn't call me to do something high and mighty.

Jesus,
i sit amazed at how You use simpletons to accomplish Your mighty plan. it intrigues me. Your written Word is filled examples of how You use common people to accomplish extraordinary tasks. i love You so much. Jesus, lately you've placed in my heart a desire to be more humble. after reading mere christianity's chaper on pride, i'm more conscious of how i think and act. i know, Holy Spirit, that You are creating this new holiness within me. thanks for revealing to me where i fall short of the Father's glory. if You don't call me to something great that is ok; i just pray that i can be obedient to You in all You do call me to. i trust that You've appointment me to accomplish certain tasks, for which i am humbled to serve You. i praise You for calling me to Your service. i also praise You for beginning this great work thru this SLR weekend. may You reveal Yourself in a new way to all those who are attending. may Your glory fill our sanctuary just as it did in the temple with Your servant, solomon.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen.

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*Bruce *Shari *Nick

Boldness

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Is. 61:1-3

Isaiah the prophet was pretty bold in his proclamation when he announced these words. i understand that this is the very word of God thru man, and yet a man of human nature like me said these words to a dark and hurting world.

just as isaiah said these words, so i could also. but why do i tremble when i read this bold statement? do i not believe this declaration? do i doubt that i have been annointed by the Living God to preach, to bind wounds, to proclaim freedom, to release captives and prisoners from the grip of hell? is my faith weak? that question is just ringing thru my mind this morning.

my boss, ed, is having a meeting as i type this with a gentleman who is seeking to know the Truth. this man's life seems to be falling asunder - his marriage, his company, his very life. so i'm praying for ed to be bold in his witness, just like Isaiah. to set this man free from the chains of sin and slavery to addictions. i know ed is powerless without the Spirit of God, so my prayer is that ed will be filled with Him as Christ manifests Himself thru ed. what a wonderful way to begin a day! testifying to the faith which ed lives on a daily basis.

Repairer of broken hearts,
i give You the glory for this opportunity for ed to witness to this man. Father, i pray for You to draw this man close to Your heart this morning. let his fears be stilled with Your love. Holy Spirit, fill the room where they are meeting. let Your love radiate thru their conversations. Jesus, let him see You clearly. let his heart accept Your forgiveness and love in a new way. let this man gain a new Best Friend. Jesus, i pray for Your power to draw this scared soul back into a loving relationship with You. may the words spoken continue to convince this man of Your gift of salvation. don't let him leave here unchanged. let her heart surrender to Your lordship. may Your blood, Jesus, flow over him, cleansing him from all unrighteousness. may You fill the brokenness he feels. my heart rejoices for the work being done this day.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Robert *Robert *Robert