Joy for the Journey

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you."
Psalm 5:11

"We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests."
Psalm 20:5

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
Psalm 51:12

"Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul."
Psalm 86:4

ever go through a time in life when the road seems long and the destination seems too far away to think about it? it's not that the burden is too heavy, it's just that the finish line is so far off that you feel like you are running in circles. and what or who is it that holds you to the course? this is how i am feeling.

this morning during a quiet time with God, He shown this to me: without His joy the journey seems bleak, deserted and lonely. when He gives you the joy of His salvation, something happens within Your attitude. no longer is the race in vain, the finish line beyond site and the prize barely worth running for. there is hope when there is joy. there is a spring in your step, a smile on your face, laughter in your heart, and a light-heartedness which others sense. does any of this make sense? do any of you feel as though you're missing something with is needed for the journey? then let's ask God to pour out His joy on us so that we can go about our days with a proactive attitude, knowing there's a reason for our journey.

Jesus,
You are the ultimate joy giver. thanks for calling me into Your presence - to know You are the giver of joy. come, Holy Spirit, into my life with Your fruit of joy. manifest in my heart Your joy so that i can encourage others in their bleak and deserted journies. restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and grant me a willing Spirit, to sustain me. guide me, protect me, and let me walk in Your presence, then my journey will be a joy, and not a burden. thanks for never leaving me alone.
In Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Kimberly *Karen *Paul

An Example

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."
John 13:35 ~ Jesus

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
1 Tim. 4:12 ~ Paul

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
1 Cor. 11:1 ~ Paul

Gentleness

"Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge."
Prov. 23:12

"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."
James 1:21

I'm currently in a Bible study by Beth Moore called, Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit. this week's topic has been 'gentleness'. i've learned that an important aspect of gentleness is submission to God, teaching, others, etc. it's kinda like refusing to take up an argument. and not only refusing, but to let go of your rebuttal all together. it's teaching your heart to come under God's control, so that He can do even greater works with it. it's submitting to other out of reverance for Christ. {Eph. 5:21}

this week i've begun to discover how much i think i know about God without really knowing Him. He longs to speak w/ me at all times, and i turn off my ears. i get sidetracked with Yahoo games (not offense) and other 'entertainment' which fills my time with meaninglessness. Christ is the only One who desires to know every area of my life. He is the only One who can do good with my life. He is the only One who patiently waits His turn to speak to me, instead of yelling at me like the world. guess it's time for me to do what Psalm 131:2 calls, "still and quiet my soul".

Loving Father and Friend, i want to know You more, but my heart is distracted by fast moving, loud speaking distractions. give me a heart which seeks You, which desires to hear Your voice, which longs for You touch, which is satisfied in the depths of who You are. Let my gentleness come for submitting to You. i love You. thanks for giving me a desire to know You more. Thanks for this beautiful day and the freedom which comes through surrendering my rebillion to You.
In Christ' Name ~ Amen!

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*Deena *Shannon *Reagan

"Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain."
Ps. 119:36

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
Phil. 2:3

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Col. 3:12

i've been doing a lot of thinking lately about putting other's interests above my own. i know it's a Spirit thing. i've been digging deeper into trying to figure out who God really is and how He desires me to live. and thru it all i'm discovering that He is a giving God, desiring to be understood. He wants me to seek Him and what He wants. He wants my lives to match His in holiness. that's what God desires for my life.

me wants me to esteem others more than my wants, or perhaps even my needs. i'm learning that the more time i spend studying His Word, the more i long to be in communion with Him. i'm learning that Jesus' life was the ultimate example of what a servant looks like, and i am to follow in those steps, even to death. i'm learning that the devil has a plan for me, also: to destroy me and the Truth which rules in my heart. i'm learning that only thru Christ do i have victory over satan, and that i'm equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome satan.

God has opened my eyes to a man in our church who has a servant's hearts. he is not a high class, wealthy, always put together type of person. sometimes he's kinda scraggley and unkept. he's not a genius in knowledge, but he gets an A+ in servanthood. when asked to do something, he will always do the task without complaints or grumbling. he's humble, and tries to include others in conversation. when he speaks with you, he's genuinely concerned about what's happening in your life. he is a roll-model in my eyes; i'm blessed to know this man, even tho many members in our church don't see his fame.

steven gave me a ride to work this morning, so on the drive we discussed servanthood a little. (it's only a 7 minute drive to work!) both steven and i agreed that we'd rather have a father who is a servant, than one who is a genius. we'd rather have a dad who cares about the happenings of our lives than one who won't accept us unless we are excelling. we'd rather have a dad who teaches by example than one who bosses us around. we'd rather have a dad who loves us unconditionally than one who cares in their terms.

Father,
i praise You for opening my eyes to the example's of servanthood within our church. it's wonderful to see You move. i want to be a servant, God. i want to be the one others can look at and say, "she really knows what it means to be a servant. God has really changed her from the inside out." thanks for loving me and for caring about every detail of my life. thanks for drawing me to Your Word for comfort, wisdom, and support. You are my Dad, and i love You. let this child learn to follow in Your steps, even bowing down to love my enemies.
In Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Mike *Laurel *Kim

Growth As A Christian

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
Col. 2:6-7

it's crazy to think that i accept Christ into my life so many years ago. as i had a birthday yesterday, i've been looking over what i've learned and how i've grown from the years. i'm more tolerate of many things, as well as less tolerate for certain things. my highs seem lower and my lows seem higher, so i guess i'm getting to more of a level life.

my spiritual growth chart is a little more difficult to see the areas where i've grown. sometimes i think i've grown, and then in the next breath i blow it. but i do know that my love for Jesus is deeper, my heart is more rooted and built up in Who He is. i try to live in Him and by His grace each second. my faith has been strengthened, and continues to be each day.

...and then i get to the "overflowing with thankfulness." some days my life is jubilant w/ glee. other times i struggle to find things to be thankful for. and i have no reason for either senario. i know that i have been saved by grace and now i live in Christ. for this i am thankful. i know He cares for me, and refuses to leave me or forsake me, and for this i rejoice. i have a roof over my head, a physical and church family who love me, and for these i am grateful. but what about finding joy in all circumstances? this is where i need to consider Christ. my thankfulness narrows when my focus is on myself and not on Him and others. my heart doesn't leap for joy when i'm overcome with my problems, instead of laying them at the cross of Christ. so as i learn to be more like Jesus, again i realize that i should gaze at Christ and glance at the circumstances - then i will be filled with thankfulness - even overflowing with it.

Brilliant Brother,
You are beautiful. i love looking at You and seeking Your face. You are my hope and my peace. You are my resting place and my salvation. You watch over me, care for me, sustain me, and love me. thanks for being all these things to me. let me focus on You always, and glace at my circumstances. let my heart rejoice and overflow with thanksfulness. Holy Spirit, let me commune with You always, so that i can lay my burdens with You.
In Jesus' Precious Name - Amen!

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*Susan *Jacqui *Tara

Lend Without Return Policy

"Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Luke 6:30, 31, 34-36

just reading these verses makes me realize how selfish i am. "Give to everyone who asks you, and don't expect to be paid back!" but what about all my stuff? what about a theif in the night, and an insurance claim? what about my well-being? what....? and Jesus replies, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power if made perfect in weakness." {2 Cor. 12:9}

in today's society we are taught about justice. we still desire to live by the old rule, "an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth." we desire to see punishment for a crime, death for the convicted criminal, and for the government to uphold our rights. i find that Scripture often does not defend our rights, but requests us to surrender our rights to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He desires to be evident in our lives, even when our pride is hurt. sometimes he wants us hurt, so that we realize where our significance lies: in Him. just read the Beattitudes and you'll soon discover that our joy and blessings come through weakness, and our hope is only in Jesus Himself.

Lord Jesus,
deep within, i desires to be more like You. Holy Spirit, come to me and conform me to Your thinking, away from the world. again You've shown me how selfish and hypocritical i am. let my pride and arrogance be torn asunder, so that Your grace can be my sufficiency. i need You. i can't change on my own. help me to rely on You for meekness, lowliness, weepiness, poorness, hunger, etc. let Your sermon on the mount ring in my ears all thru this day.
Under Jesus' Lordship, Amen!

Servant To All

They came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me but the One who sent Me."
Mark 9:33-37

i get tired. i get down. i get upset. and yet through it all i'm asked by my Savior, Jesus, to be a servant to all - no exceptions, no matter how i'm feeling.

so how about those times when i don't want to share? or about those times when i've served so much my feet hurt, my head is pounding and my heart is not in the right place? even then? already i know the answer. YES! if i'm tired of serving, my heart is not in the right place. if i'm tired physically, i should seek God, who strengthens me. if i'm being selfish, then i need to seek Jesus's examples of the many ways He served others.

i want to be a witness for other. i desire Christ to be manifested through all my actions, my thoughts and my expressions. if my witness is not servant-like, then i am failing to live the life of a Christian.

Greatest Servant,
my heart is humbled before You. You are amazing. You served when You were exhausted, when You were being beaten, etc. Jesus, let me have that type of attitude. let my heart seek Yours when it goes astray through selfishness. let my life be others-serving instead of self-serving. You are my example and i desire to live as You did. Spirit, come alive in me. empower me to live a life worthy of being called a servant.
In Jesus Precious Name, AMEN!

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*Holly *Derrick *Hunter

try this litte quiz to figure out which Christian theologian are you? Christian Theologian Quiz

"God will not suffer man to have the knowledge of things to come; for if he had prescience of his prosperity he would be careless; and understanding of his adversity he would be senseless."

You are Augustine! You love to study tough issues and don't mind it if you lose sleep over them. Everyone loves you and wants to talk to you and hear your views, you even get things like "nice debating with you." Yep, you are super smart, even if you are still trying to figure it all out. You're also very honest, something people admire, even when you do stupid things.

What theologian are you?

A creation of Henderson

Healing

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones."
Prov. 15:30

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Prov. 16:24

"O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me."
Psalm 30:2

"Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD , do not delay."
Psalm 70:5

"My help comes from the LORD , the Maker of heaven and earth."
Psalm 121:2

"At what point did i lose control?" this is a question that i ask myself many times during my senoir high sunday school class. it's one of those questions that makes me realize that i am not in control, and God is. it makes me realize that i am the creature of an amazing Creator, and apart from Him i am nothing.

i can try to "fix" myself when things are not going well. i can try to make the youth in the sunday school class understand the mystery of the Gospel, but only God can change their hearts and heal their disease of sin. only God can open a way for Denise's ankle to be fully restored. only God can change cold hearts of stone into pliable pieces of compassion. i'm again reminded that i am just a branch and He is the vine. He is the life-giver, the Living Water, the Truth which sets us free.

Hey Dad,
thanks for opening my heart again to Your amazing love. You have a way with me. i praise You for wonderfully making me to be part of Your whole plan. thanks for desiring me to follow hard after You. thanks for opening my eyes to see Your majesty, Your glory, Your fame. I love you, Jesus, and desire for You to be in control. i forfeit my rights, so that You can accomplish much. Holy Spirit, have Your way with me. Speak to me, mold me, make my life comform to Yours.
In Jesus Precious Name ~ Amen.

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*Nancy *Yawon *Ziran

Suffering

"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."
2 Cor. 6:3-10

yesterday my friend (and roommate), Denise, had an accident. now she is suffering from the pain in her ankle, along with the thought that it may be broken. she needs to return to the doctor's office in 2-4 days for a check-up. please pray for her.

as many of you already know, we are planning to move to a new apartment this weekend. denise is feeling terrible about that, because she knows that her condition is not very helpful for moving boxes and furniture up 3 flights of stairs. i feel really bad for her. so my discovery is that my empathy for her causes a reaction of prayer. seems like all night last night and all day today i've been continually praying for her recovery and her good spirits through this trial. i'm learning more and more about "struggling for the sake of others."

Loving Father,
again i lift up Denise to You. May You wrap Your loving arms around her and comfort her through this trial. please enable her to accept help from others. i cry to You for healing for her ankle. may You take away the pain. may her heart be drawn closer to Yours as she recovers. please keep her eyes and heart focused on You and on Your loving-kindness toward her. thanks for allowing me to come before You with this request. You are great Dad, and i love You. thanks for caring about Your kids. Thanks for opening a way for me to enter Your holy sanctuary. it is thru Jesus Name that I pray, Amen.

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*Denise *LeeAnn *Steven

Mystery of God

I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
Col. 2:1-5

Paul mentions several times throughout his various letters that he is struggling for the sake of someone else. in the letter he is specifically struggling for those at Laodicea, and for all those who he has never met. often i struggle because of people's stupidity, not for the them to come to know Christ. my focus is on me, and Paul's focus is on other. that's the difference.

i notice how inconvenienced i am because of something someone else said or did. Paul struggles for the souls of those whom He's never met to know Christ. Jesus had to have made some major impact on Paul in order for him to be so adament for others to know Him also.

which leads me to my many questions: what do i desire for others? am i willing to get on my knees and struggle for their souls to be saved through the grace of Christ? have i ever struggled for anyone?

Evidence of God's Presence

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless--cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything--encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
{1 Peter 4:7-11}

when i read these verses i think about Romans 13:14, which says, "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." only through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit are we capable of praying and loving other, including doing all kinds of good things for others.

in today's culture we are so afraid of being injured that we justify driving by a family whose car has a flat tire. we refuse to look into the eyes of a man sitting on the street corner holding a paper cup. we turn the tv station when we see a commercial asking for financial support for starving children in foreign countries. we justify spending $65 on a pair of jeans just to give away our 1/2 worn out ones to a homeless shelter. we think we need to have our nails done.

how and when did the devil trick us into being so selfish? when did we allow him to get that stronghold? how and when are we going to reliquish his power so that we can "love our neighbors as ourselves"?

starting today i'm going to make more of an effort to spiritually discern what is need and what is want. i'm going to make an effort to give what i can for the good of those around me. i admit that i've slacked too long, wasted too much money, and dulled my senses.

Living Water,
i have allowed the world to slip into my life. my senses have been dulled by the world. please, Holy Spirit, come and awaken me. Father, give me a discerning Spirit that i may seek to follow You in all my spending. Open my eyes to others around me who may need a helping hand. let me be quick to respond.
In Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*LeeAnn *William *Nick

His Passion for Me

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Is. 41:9-10

as i read over those verses i can just about hear Him calling my name. i get so distracted with life that i sometimes lose touch with the reality that God is my Father. He desires for me to rest in His arms. i forget how He delights in me. when things look grim in my world view, i can trust in the reality of God's loving arms to be wrapped around me. what a wonderful reality this is!

Most Loving Father,
i love You. thank You for calling my name and drawing me near to Your side. You are amazing. please help me to be quick to run into Your arms as i travel along this journey. have me be ever mindful of the way You love me. i open my haert to love You in return. be praised for the strength and help which You always offer.
In Your Son's Name, Amen!

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*Kyle *Maeli *Laura

Stumbling Blocks

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.
1 Cor. 8:9-13

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Cor. 13:4->

i often think about these verses in the context of "am i causing any one to sin because of something i am doing?". maybe it's on my list of questions i ask when i'm scrutinizing my life, trying to figure out if i've done or said anything which would cause my Father to be hurt. either way, i think of this question often. and because of this, i may be extra sensitive to it. i'm not sure. tho i miss so much, and many times i don't even realize that i offended someone. these are the times i need to rely on my friends and others to point out the error of my ways.

not sure how to express my many thoughts on this topic. i think i'll just list of some of the things i've learned over my 26 years.
*if i do something to someone and i think it's really funny, but that other person doesn't---it's prolly really not good to do in the first place. and i may be causing that person to sin by invoking their anger.
*if my actions don't reflect the type of forgiveness which Christ gave to me, then i am causing my Father to be hurt.
*if i do something to someone which causes them to be offended, i need to apologize and do everything in my power (through Christ) to reconcile the relationship back to good terms. even if this means accepting a wrong which i haven't committed. (i think about Christ example - He was put to death for my behalf. He didn't deserve it.)
*if i delight in evil at the expense of someone else, i am off base and need to be reprimanded.
*since Jesus says in John 13:35 that others will know i am a Christian by the way i love them, then my actions better match up with the words of my mouth.

those are just a few of my fleeting thoughts for today.

Jesus,
You are the king of forgiveness. i fall on my face before Your throne and cry out for mercy. i've delighted in causing others to stumble. may You forgive me, tho i an unworthy. i trust that only through You can i love the way You love me. may i willingly take up the cross You give me to bear with joy, knowing that when i am persecuted, You will bless me. when i am temped to cause others to stumble, please give me the strength to trust You. open my eyes to other areas in my life where i am causing my friends, loved ones, and even those whom i come into contact with to stumble. please don't allow me to delight in the fall of others. sensitize me, God, to Your love.

In Christ's Holy Name - Amen!

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*Robin *Denise *Ruth

God's Worthiness and Our Unashamed Love

"For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods." {1 Chron. 16:25}

"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." {Ps. 145:3}

Judgment

What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? {Romans 1:19-20, 2:14-16, 3:5-6}

most Christians at some point in their faith journey ask the question, "How can my loving God let people go to hell?" i know that i certainly have wondered that question several times. but as i grow in my understanding of who God is and the love He has for us, i discover that i ask that question less. i'm only beginning to understand that His love for us exceeds human understanding. His gift to us of free choice has to be incredibly difficult to give, since so many of us choose not to love Him in return. His justice needs something to be based upon, so there has to be a law in which it base it.

and another deep understanding, He doesn't want any of us to be condemned to hell. {2 Peter 3:9} this is why He sent His Son to go through the suffering and agony which He endured for our sake. i can't imagine being God in Heaven experiencing His Son's execution by the hands of those whom He created for His glory. and yet, ultimately, it was for our glory that Jesus should die on the cross a sinner's death. yet, we already know death did not hold Him. Him was raised from the dead so that we can be spiritual people with access to a loving Father who longs to communr with us.

this is all very profound to me, and still i barely have an understanding of it all. but i trust this all to be true, and the i am currently seated in the heavenlies with Jesus and my Father. {Col. 3:1,3}

Amazing Love,
how can it be that You would give Your life for me? in You i place my trust. You are my hope, even when i walk on the breeze. thank you for saving me from the pit of hell. thank you for raising me with Jesus, that i may rejoice in giving up my life. use me in a way that draws others to a deeper understanding of Your great love for them. open their eyes, sweet Jesus, to see how much You love them, and desire for them to love You too. let NOT my fear of being injured, misrepresented, or killed for your sake hinder the way i love others. You've overcome death, and i trust that i am already seated with You, no matter if i'm in this body or not.
through Christ, Amen!

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beginning to day i want add an extra section. it will bet the names of people whom i'm praying for today.
*Brandon *Shannon *Hope