“If You Have Faith As Small As A Mustard Seed…”

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2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

“If You Have 

Faith

As Small As A Mustard Seed…”

Scripture

Matthew 17

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
 

Observation

A week ago Monday we prayed for one of the members in our life group who has been constantly having migraine headaches. Medicine had not helped him stop from having these headaches and he has been dealing with these severe headaches for months. Last Monday night our life group circled around him and prayed and asked God to take away those headaches.

Last night when he came to our life group meeting he said that he wanted to share “a praise” with us and he told us that for the past week he had not had a migraine headache.

My immediate response in my heart was that of surprise and then I was reminded of what a wonderful and powerful God we serve. Our life group laughed and someone in the group jokingly said to the group, “Wow, can you lay hands on me and pray for me too!”

It was a lesson for our small group that God does hear and answer our prayers.

Faith as small as a mustard seed is all we need to do the impossible!

Application

 I will continue to pray for God to do the seemingly impossible in people’s lives.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as I pray and talk with You today I pray knowing that You hear me and I know that You want to answer my requests! Thank You for teaching our life group that our prayers are powerful because we are praying to an All-Powerful God. Nothing is too hard or impossible for You. I pray for my brother Rick who will have surgery in a few days. I pray that You will meet all of his needs and that You will completely heal his body. 

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves… Psalm 68:19-20

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I Will Build My Church And The Gates Of Hades Will Not Overcome It.

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2 Samuel 4; 2 Samuel 5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

I Will Build

My Church

And The Gates Of Hades Will Not Overcome It.

Scripture

Matthew 16

¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Observation

Two things about the church: 1. It belongs to Jesus! 2. Nothing will overcome it!

I like that. How about you?

The church will survive and not only survive, but the church will thrive. It will not be defeated. It will conquer darkness. It will be the Light to a very dark world.

What do you think about the church you attend?

I love our church – Christ Fellowship! Every Sunday I love meeting new people and seeing the church alive and well. Lives are being changed one by one. People are excited. It is contagious!

We have a city to reach! The church is what our city needs. People are in need of a Savior. They need to hear about Jesus.

Application

I will strive this week to help our church be all that Christ wants it to be. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help the new believers in our church to grow. Keep them away from sin. Thank You for all of those who serve each week at Christ Fellowship. Thank You for our lead team. Thank You for pastor Bruce and his wife Heather and their daughter Gwyn. Continue to bless our church and continue to use our church to reach those in our city.

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But The Things That Come Out Of A Person’s Mouth Come From The Heart

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2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15

But The Things

That Come Out Of A Person’s Mouth

Come From The Heart

Scripture

Matthew 15

¹⁸ But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart,

Observation

A reminder for us to watch was goes into our hearts because it will come out of our mouths! Garbage in … Garbage out!

Application

This week I will watch what goes into my heart and mind. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me guard my heart. Help me to live this week in a way that brings You glory.

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“You Have So Little Faith,” Jesus said, “Why Did You Doubt Me?”

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2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14 

“You Have So Little Faith,”

Jesus said, 

“Why Did You Doubt Me?”

Scripture

Matthew 14 

²⁴ Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. ²⁵ About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

²⁷ But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
²⁸ Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
²⁹ “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
³¹ Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

³² When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³ Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Observation

Storms … life is full of them! If you are not going through one lately, have not just gone through one, then get ready because you are getting ready to get hit by one!

How do you weather the storms of life?

Peter was the only one that stepped out of the boat to walk on water that night and walk towards Jesus. Nobody else even got out of the stinking boat, but Peter got the rebuke for having “little faith”. Jesus was preparing Peter for bigger storms that would come later in his life.

Peter would become the leader of the church in Jerusalem and the church and Peter would face tremendous persecution. It would take “water walking faith” to endure what was coming Peter’s way!

So are you going through a storm right now? Don’t be afraid. Take courage that Jesus is here.

The storm you are experiencing right now can build your faith … if you let it! Put your faith in Jesus Christ. Keep your eyes on Him. Don’t look down at the rough waves of the storm.

Focus on Jesus and He will get us through the storm.

Application

As I face the storms of life I will keep my focus and my faith on Jesus!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I don’t know what people do when the storms of life hit them and they don’t have Jesus. It must be totally hopeless. I will put my trust in You because You are my help. You will rescue me from any storm that comes my way. You are my Savior. You rescue me from danger. I am Your child. I am secure in the Palm of Your Hand. 

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But You Have God-Blessed Eyes – Eyes That See! And God Blessed-Ears –- Ears That Hear!

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2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13


But You Have God-Blessed Eyes – Eyes That See!

And 

God Blessed-Ears –- Ears That Hear!

Scripture

Matthew 13

Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing.
    Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing.
 
The people are blockheads!
They stick their fingers in their ears
    so they won’t have to listen;
 
They screw their eyes shut
    so they won’t have to look,
    so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face
    and let me heal them.

^16-17 “But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! 

Observation

One of the words that I over use the most is the word “knucklehead” but after reading this passage in the Message translation I may start over using the word “blockhead” too!

Those of us that have heard and received the Good News about Jesus Christ are very blessed. We are very fortunate! No one can come to God unless God gives them spiritual eyes and spiritual ears! So if you are a Christ – follower you have God-blessed eyes and God-blessed ears!

As we share the Good News with others and as we pray for others around us lets be sure to pray that God gives them the ability to understand the Gospel. 

Application

I will pray for my lost friends today that God gives them God-blessed eyes and God-blessed ears so they can be saved.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I believe and I know that You hear our prayers. I know that You can give spiritual understanding to those we pray for. You did that for me and I didn’t deserve it and I know that You can do it for them too. I pray today that You put on my heart those who You want me to pray for. 

I pray for everyone that will attend Worship United tonight. I pray that you open up the eyes and hearts of everyone attending. I pray that the Gospel is shared tonight and I pray that You give spiritual understanding to those who will attend that do not yet know You.

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For The Mouth Speaks What The Heart Is Full Of.

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1 Samuel 30; 1 Samuel 31; 1 Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

For The Mouth

Speaks

What The Heart Is Full Of.

Scripture

Matthew 12

…For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 

³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Observation

Do you want to know what a person is really like? Just listen to them. What is in their heart will be revealed by what they say and how they say it!

Don’t kid yourself and think that the person is not really like how they sound. Have you ever heard someone say, “I know that he or she said that but in their heart, deep down inside, they are not really like that.”

Hello … wake up call … oh yes they are!

What is in your heart will come out of your mouth!

Application

I will listen carefully to what those around me are saying and I will also pay attention to what is coming out of my mouth.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me guard my heart so that mean and hurtful things down come out of my mouth! Give me discernment and help me know to know and understand what people are really telling me when they talk. May the words that come out of my mouth be pleasing to You LORD. 

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Come To Me, All Of You Who Are Tired From Carrying Heavy Loads, And I Will Give You Rest.

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1 Samuel 28; 1 Samuel 29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

Come To Me,

All Of You Who Are Tired From Carrying Heavy Loads,

And I Will Give You Rest.
 

Scripture

Matthew 11

²⁸ “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 

²⁹ Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. ³⁰ For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.”

Observation

If you and I are weighted down this morning and already worn out maybe it is because we are trying to live life without the help of Jesus.

Life is tough! Remember what Jesus said,

    "... In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

God never intended for us to live this life without His help. 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;” Psalm 23:4    

Application

I will depend on Jesus to lighten my load today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I don’t intend to live out this day without Your help. You are my God. You are my Strength. Nothing is too hard for You. Help me to go through this day taking everything to You in prayer. Don’t let me think that I can deal with things today on my own. Because You are my Shepherd I have everything that I need. 

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If Good People Correct Me, I Will Consider It A Good Thing.

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1 Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1 Chronicles 9; Matthew 10

If Good People

Correct Me,

I Will Consider It A Good Thing.

Scripture

Psalm 141

Lord, help me control what I say.
    Don’t let me say anything bad.

⁴ Take away any desire to do evil.
    Keep me from joining the wicked in doing wrong.
    Help me stay away from their feasts.

⁵ If good people correct me,
    I will consider it a good thing.

If they criticize me,
    I will accept it like a warm welcome. (ERV)

Observation

If people don’t care enough about us to correct us when we go off track (and all of us will get off track at some point) then they really don’t care very much about us. 

Someone who I love very much recently has taken a step backwards in his Christian walk. I care about him very much. During the night as I was praying for he and his wife I realized that I needed to call him and set up a time to talk to him about what I see as destructive behavior. 

How he receives what I say really depends on him and how well I am able to express myself to him when we talk. My attitude and my motives need to be right with the LORD when we talk. 

It is my prayer that he will have the attitude that this Psalmist had when he wrote the words to Psalm 141. “If good people correct me, I will consider it a good thing. If they criticize me, I will accept it like a warm welcome.”

Application

I will pray that this person accepts my counsel and I will pray for God to give him a change of heart and a teachable spirit. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and I know that I am capable of veering off course in my life too. I pray that You keep me close to You. I pray that You help this friend accept my words when I speak to him. Give him a teachable spirit. I pray for him. I pray that he would understand how much You want to use him in the lives of so many people. You want him to be salt and light in this world and if he is going to be a godly influence for You then he can’t yield to ungodly temptations and live like he did before he put his faith and his trust in You. Open his eyes LORD. Open his eyes. Show him his potential. Help him to see how many people are depending on him to live a godly life.

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You, God, Are My God, Earnestly I Seek You; I Thirst For You, My Whole Being Longs For You,

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1 Samuel 25; 1 Samuel 26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

You, God, Are My God,

Earnestly I Seek You;

I Thirst For You, My Whole Being Longs For You,

Scripture

Psalm 63

¹ You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
 
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.

Observation

Does this describe your life and my life? Do you and I thirst for God? Does our whole being long for God?

Yesterday, I found out that several people who I love went backwards in their Christian walk; instead of moving closer to God they were tripped up by sin and messed up.

It is a reminder for us. We need to be in God’s Word everyday. We need to be earnestly seeking Him. It is also a reminder that if you and I don’t set boundaries for our lives and if you and I don’t stick to those boundaries then we could do the same thing that they did.

I remind myself all the time of this fact, when I am not walking close to the Lord that Eddy Williams is capable of any sin. I could do just what these folks did. I could do far worse!

Application

 I will pray for these friends and family members who are struggling in their Christian walk.

Prayer

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.  …with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Psalm 63:1-5

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“When Jesus Heard This, He Was Amazed And Said …”

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1 Samuel 24; Psalm 57; Psalm 58; 1 Chronicles 8; Matthew 8 

“When Jesus Heard This,

He Was Amazed 

And Said …”

Scripture

Matthew 8 

⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. ¹¹ I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Observation

 One day I would love to amaze Jesus Christ like the centurion did!  

Application

 I will ask God for that kind of faith!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me the faith that will make You smile. Give me the kind of faith that amazes even You.

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So Be Strong And Courageous, All You Who Put Your Hope In The LORD!

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1 Samuel 23; Psalm 31; Psalm 54; Matthew 7

So Be Strong And Courageous,

All You

Who Put Your Hope In The LORD!

Scripture

Psalm 31

²³ Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
    For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
    but he harshly punishes the arrogant.

²⁴ So be strong and courageous,
    all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Observation

Saul was hunting down David and day after day David had to hide and run for his life. David cried out to the LORD to save him. I love these two Psalms that are in today’s Bible reading. David finishes Psalm 31 with this bold statement of his faith, 

“So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!”

None of us are going through what David experienced, at least none of us that live in the United States. There are Christians in other parts of the world that have to live in hiding and day after day are being hunted down, but Americans don’t have that problem.

Over and over and over again in Scripture the LORD tells us to be strong and courageous and to trust in Him. I love what Jesus says,

    "… In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33b (NIV)

Application

I will be strong and courageous. I will trust in Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be strong and courageous. Help me to trust in You all the time. Thank You for rescuing those that live in Boston from the terror of two evil men. Thank You for the police and government leaders that keep us safe from evil people that want to terrorize us. Saul terrorized David and You protected David from Saul’s evil plans. 

You are the Mighty God. You are All-Powerful. You protect those who are loyal, those who put their trust in You. 

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“Do Not Worry About Your Life.”

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1 Samuel 22; Psalm 17; Psalm 35; Matthew 6

“Do Not

Worry

About Your Life.”

Scripture

Matthew 6

^25a “I tell you this: Do not worry about your life.”

Observation

Two days in a row that I am being told by Jesus that I am not to worry! Okay…I am a slow learner but I think that I get the message! Now if I can just put it into practice!

Instead of worrying about the things that we need in life we should instead be focusing on the Kingdom of God and living the way God wants us to live. Then Jesus says that we will be blessed and we will have all of our needs met. 

I love the way Jesus sums up His message on worry by saying, “ Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have its own worries. The troubles we have in a day are enough for one day.

Application

I will seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness today. How about you?

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be concerned about Your Kingdom and not be worried about myself. I know that You will meet all of my needs if I just put You first in my life. Help me not to worry. Help me to have faith. Help me to trust You with every detail of my life. You are All-Powerful. Nothing is too hard for You.

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I Prayed To The LORD, And He Answered Me. He Freed Me From All My Fears.

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1 Samuel 20; 1 Samuel 21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5

I Prayed To The LORD,

And He Answered Me.

He Freed Me From All My Fears.

Scripture

Psalm 34

⁴ I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
    He freed me from all my fears.

Observation

I have to admit that sometimes things I fear or worry about keep me from going back to sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night. Do you ever have that problem? Most of the things that I fear never happen and none of them have been as bad as what I had imagined. My mind can make things a million times worse than they really are and none of my worrying does any good at all.

During those sleepless nights that I have recently had I prayed and turned those fears over to the LORD. Every time that I caught myself worrying I prayed. God gave me His peace and I was finally able to have victory over those fears. He freed me from all my fears.

It is a crisis of belief. And I think that all of us go through it. You can’t have both fear and trust at the same time. It is one or the other. God wants us to trust Him. He wants to take care of us. He waits for us to pray to Him.

Application

When fear creeps into my mind again I will claim and pray back to the Lord Psalm 34:4.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, when I catch myself worrying about something I will pray to you and I know that You will answer me. I know that You will free me from all of my fears.

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“Come, Follow Me, And I Will Show You How To Fish For People!”

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1 Samuel 19; 1 Chronicles 7; Psalm 59; Matthew 4 

“Come, Follow Me,

And I Will Show You 

How To Fish For People!”

Scripture

Matthew 4 

¹⁸ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. ¹⁹ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ²⁰ And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Observation

Kathy and I just got back from a trip to Texas to be with some of our very best friends, Hugh and Millie Roberts and Dave and Ann Tucker, Mike and Carolyn Cleveland. Our friendship with the Roberts and Tuckers goes back over 40 years when we were in the same Sunday department at Spencer Memorial Baptist church (now called Christ Fellowship)! Mike and Carolyn have been our friends for over 37 years! We are blessed with very good friends!

We had a wonderful time while we were in Texas. Sunday afternoon we sat on their back porch listening to everyone share funny stories and I laughed until I hurt.

Our son Tim went with us. It was a fishing trip that I wanted him to make last year with me but I was to sick for us to make the trip last spring.

Here is a true fish story … 

We caught more fish than you could imagine! In one day we caught over 150 bass! And I am sure that we caught way over 300 bass over the 5 days we were there fishing. Tim caught a large mouth bass that weighed 8 pounds and I caught an 8 ¾ pound hybrid bass! Hugh and Tim each caught hybrids that were just about the same size as mine! It was incredible! Hugh is an awesome fishing guide!

As fun as catching those fish was this past weekend I think it has been a lot more fun fishing for people over the past 40+ years! Each one of those friends that I mentioned above have been faithfully fishing for people the entire time that we have known each other! I am very proud of them. They have served the Lord faithfully in their local churches and have always been positive leaders wherever God has led them to serve.

Application

I will continue to fish for people (and fish) every chance I get. How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be a good fisher of men. Bring people into my life that need a relationship with Jesus and help me bring them to Him. Thank You for my friends in Texas. Thank You for all the good friends You have given us in every place where we have lived. 

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As For Me, I Will Certainly Not Sin Against The LORD By Ending My Prayers For You.

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1 Samuel 11; 1 Samuel 12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11 

As For Me,

I Will Certainly Not Sin Against The LORD

By Ending My Prayers For You.

Scripture

1 Samuel 12

²³ “As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right.

Observation

Praying for others is one of the most important tasks we have as believers. If you really believe that God answers our prayers then it only makes sense to pray for those around you.

Who did you pray for this morning? Did you pray for their salvation? Did you pray for their healing? Did you pray for God to meet their physical needs?

I believe that there is no greater joy, next to someone surrendering their life to Christ, than for God to hear the prayers of His people. We were created for fellowship with Him and there is no fellowship if we are not talking to Him.

When we thank God for what He is doing in the lives of those around us God says that it is a sacrifice that honors Him.

Samuel believed that if he did not intercede for the people then it was sin. I believe it too.

Application

I will pray for people today as the Lord brings them to my mind.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to pray for others today. I know that You are pleased when I focus my attention on other people rather than on myself. Give me a heart like Samuel’s for the people that You bring into my life. I pray for our friends in Texas who we are going to spend time with this weekend. Bless them. May Your face shine brightly on them. Give us a great weekend of fellowship together. You are a Mighty God.

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We Are Human, But We Don’t Wage War As Humans Do.

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1 Samuel 8; 1 Samuel 9; 1 Samuel 10; 2 Corinthians 10 

We Are Human,

But

We Don’t Wage War As Humans Do.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 10 

³ We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. ⁴ We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

Observation

As I prayed this morning for many that may read this blog. I prayed with confidence knowing that my prayers are powerful. They are powerful not because I am praying; they are powerful because of my God who I am praying to. He is Mighty. He is All-Powerful.

Did you pray today for people in your life that need a relationship with Jesus? I did. 

Did you pray today for people in your life that need to be strong in the Lord and did you ask God to give them strength? I did. 

I used God’s mighty weapon this morning to knock down the strongholds possibly holding these people back from being what God created them to be. Wow! What power we have at our disposal! 

Prayer is one of the biggest weapons in God’s arsenal that He provides for our use everyday! Lets use it to the fullest!

Application

I will continue to pray knowing that God is working in the lives of those I am praying for.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the powerful weapon of prayer. Sometimes we think that we are hopeless and powerless to help someone but we always have the weapon of prayer at our disposal. Thank You for hearing me this morning. Thank You for allowing me the privilege of praying for others. You love them just as much as You love me. And I know that You want a relationship with them just like You have with me. You are a Mighty God.

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So Two Good Things Will Result From This Ministry Of Giving

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1 Samuel 6; 1 Samuel 7; Psalm 72; 2 Corinthians 9

So Two Good Things Will Result

From

This Ministry Of Giving

Scripture

2 Corinthians 9

¹¹ Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. ¹² So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.

Observation

Our giving will accomplish two things: 

1. It will meet the need of the person who we are helping. 

2. God will receive a “Thanks offering” from the person we helped!

I remember Psalm 50:23a “ But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me…” 

Application

 I will look for ways to be generous this week.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, there is no way that we can out give You! When we give to others the blessing is always ours. You love it. Thank You for blessing us so much. Thank You for the gift of “strawberries” that we received yesterday from someone in our small group. You will bless them for being a blessing to us. Thank You for their generosity. 

Thank You for all the people that helped serve in our church this past Sunday. I especially give You thanks for everyone who helped me with the Shave Ice Ministry. We cannot out give You.

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Church … Take A Minute To Read This Blog …It Is Short! “I Want You To Excel Also In This Gracious Act Of Giving”

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1 Samuel 3; 1 Samuel 4; 1 Samuel 5; Psalm 77; 2 Corinthians 8

Church … Take A Minute To Read This Blog …It Is Short!

“I Want You To Excel

Also In This Gracious Act Of Giving”

Scripture

2 Corinthians 8

⁷ Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

⁹ You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

¹¹ … Give in proportion to what you have. ¹² Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

Observation

Giving is always a test! I don’t know about you but giving and being generous is a struggle for me most of the time. God says, “Test Me” by giving! I know that He promises that every time I give with an eager heart that He is going to bless me way more than what I gave. He promises to do it. It is the only area in life where God says to put Him to the test!

Yesterday, as I had the opportunity to encourage people to give $1 for a Hawaiian Shave Ice telling them that the proceeds was going to go for Crystal Snow to help her go as a missionary to the Amazon jungle it was interesting to watch the responses.

True, the cups were small and the actual cost of making one of those delicious mouth watering, brain freezing, and absolutely refreshing drinks did not add up to one dollar … but!

Some people gave very generously and gave more than a dollar and many gave when they didn’t even need to do so. (I was telling everyone that the children’s shave ice (not teenagers) was free and that the adults and teenagers should give one dollar if they could).

 A few (very few) acted like the treats should be free and that it was painful to give a little dollar … even if it was to help a missionary go to the Amazon jungle!

I think this ministry will be a learning experience for everyone.

Every time we have Hawaiian Shave Ice there will be a small cost and the proceeds will go to help out a missionary or a mission organization reach the lost for Christ!

Paul was educating the church at Corinth to be generous in their giving and we are going to do the same at Christ Fellowship!

Let me share with you … Giving … it is something that I struggle with too!

Here is my example and your example for how we should give. It is found in 2 Corinthians 8:9,

“You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Application

This week I plan to do a better job of giving in all areas of my life. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that You promise to bless me in proportion to how I give. Help me to be generous this week. Don’t let me be stingy. Show me who I need to serve and let me do it with all my heart. Show me where I need to be generous and help me to give eagerly. You are and have been so generous to me. I am blessed. Help me to be a blessing to those around me. 

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From Where The Sun Rises To Where It Sets, You Inspire Shouts Of Joy

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Ruth 3; Ruth 4; Psalm 64; Psalm 65; 2 Corinthians 6

From Where The Sun Rises

To Where It Sets, 

You Inspire Shouts Of Joy

Scripture

Psalm 65

⁸ Those who live at the ends of the earth
    stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
    you inspire shouts of joy.
⁹ You take care of the earth and water it,
    making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water;
    it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
    for you have ordered it so.
¹⁰ You drench the plowed ground with rain,
    melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
    and bless its abundant crops.
¹¹ You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
    even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
¹² The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
    and the hillsides blossom with joy.
¹³ The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
    and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
    They all shout and sing for joy!

Observation

Psalm 65 is a great Psalm to read on a day like today! After the rains we had this week the sun is now shining down and Spring is in the air! Better take advantage of it because summer comes quickly to those of us that live in Florida!

Everything is shouting for joy!

Lets take time to get outside today and enjoy all that God has made!

 From where the sun rises to where it sets,
    you inspire shouts of joy.

Application

I will go outside in just a minute and enjoy God’s wonderful creation!

Prayer

You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas. You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength.  You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations.  Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy. Psalm 65:5-8

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He Puts A Little Of Heaven In Our Hearts So That We’ll Never Settle For Less

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Ruth 1; Ruth 2; Psalm 53; Psalm 61; 2 Corinthians 5

He Puts A Little Of Heaven

In Our Hearts

So That We’ll Never Settle For Less

Scripture

2 Corinthians 5

The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.

^6-8 That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.  But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. 

Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. (MESSAGE)

⁵ This is what God himself made us for. And he has given us the Spirit as the first payment to guarantee the life to come.

⁶ So we always have confidence. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord. ⁷ We live by what we believe will happen, not by what we can see. ⁸ So I say that we have confidence. And we really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord.  

⁹ Our only goal is to always please the Lord, whether we are living here in this body or there with him. (Easy To Read Version)

Observation

God has given us a little taste of Heaven by allowing His Holy Spirit to live in us. So no matter what our conditions are here on earth we make it our goal to please Him. (Eddy Paraphrase!)

I love 2 Corinthians 5!

Here is one of my favorite verses in this chapter, 

 ^“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:20  

 Application

I will strive to please God and be the best ambassador possible for Christ that I can be. How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit. We already get to experience a taste of Heaven right now and it gives us the desire for what is in store for us in the future. Help me to be the best Ambassador that I can be. Help me speak clearly on Your behalf.

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That Is Why We Never Give Up. Though Our Bodies Are Dying, Our Spirits Are Being Renewed Every Day.

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Judges 19; Judges 20; Judges 21; 2 Corinthians 4

That Is Why We Never Give Up.

Though Our Bodies Are Dying,

Our Spirits Are Being Renewed Every Day. 

Scripture

2 Corinthians 4

¹⁶ That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. ¹⁷ For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸ So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Observation

Giving up … is not an option for those of us that live for Christ! Our bodies are dying. So true! But our spirits are being renewed every day.

So our present troubles are small and won’t last long. Yet they will produce something glorious that will last forever!

We must look beyond the troubles we are experiencing now and fix our gaze on the things that are invisible. Because the things that we cannot see right now are the things that will last forever.

Application

 I will not give up. I will fix my gaze on the things that I cannot see and I will not let any current troubles/circumstances dominate my thoughts or my life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Help me to trust totally in You for everything. Remind me when I begin to worry that my current troubles are small potatoes compared to what I am going to experience later with You. I know that what I am going to experience far outweighs anything that I may go through right now!

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