Sunday, November 11, 2018

I Was Glad When They Said To Me, “Let Us Go To The House Of The Lord.”


I Was Glad When
They Said To Me,
“Let Us Go To The House Of The Lord.”
Scripture
Psalm 122
1 I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Observation
Is going to church something that you look forward to?
Is it a priority for you or are other things more of a priority?
In just a few minutes Kathy and I will get to enjoy the company of some of the best people on the planet. What makes them so special? It is their love for Jesus Christ.
Oh, we are all far from perfect, but we love Jesus and we are trying to live out our lives in a way that brings Him glory.
Why don't you get out of your pajamas and come join us!
Our church has 3 worship services this morning: 9:00am – 10:00am – 11:20am.
Christ Fellowship Church … 300 E. Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
Application
I will enjoy the fellowship of God's people at church today.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I am glad that it is Sunday. This is the day that You have made I will rejoice and I will be glad in it! Help me to focus on the people that you bring across my path. I know that You are at work in their lives and You have allowed me the privilege of helping some of them grow in Christ. Show me who needs to be encouraged. Show me who needs for me to pray for them. Thank You for our church and I praise You for what You are doing in the lives of so many!
Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 122; 1 Corinthians 9,10,11

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Saturday, November 10, 2018

People With Integrity Walk Safely


People
With Integrity
Walk Safely
Scripture
Proverbs 10
9 People with integrity walk safely,
    but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.

Observation
Integrity … am I a person of integrity. What is it? Do I have it? What does it look like?
If I am not a person of integrity right now, can I change? YES!
And Yes, integrity does matter! It is not something that you and I are not born with; it is a choice. You and I must choose every single day to be men and women of integrity.
Here are a few examples of integrity that I gleaned from an article that I found while browsing the internet. I have adapted them and personalized them for me.
My life reflects integrity when ...
  1. When I apologize to my children or grandchildren for disciplining them in anger or yelling at them.
  2. When I praise the accomplishments of others and downplay my own.
  3. When fighting with Kathy I don't resort to vicious name calling, or use cutting, hurtful remarks. (Proverbs 12:18) I will fight fair!
  4. When I don't drive aggressively. When I don't honk my horn or use bad hand gestures.
  5. When I give people the benefit of the doubt.
  6. When I volunteer and consistently show up … with a heart ready to serve.
Psalm 18:25
To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.
Psalm 25:21
May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.
Proverbs 20:7
The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.
Titus 2:7
And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.
Application
It is my desire to be a person of integrity.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that how I live my life matters to You. I know that You want me to be a man of complete integrity. I need Your help to be the person that You want me to be. Thank You for surrounding me with godly people. Thank You for allowing me to be a part of a church that helps me keep my focus on You.
I pray for any person that may read this blog today. Give them the strength and the courage to walk in a way that pleases You. Help them to be a man or a woman of complete integrity.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 35,36; 1 Corinthians 7,8; I added Psalm 10, Psalm 40, Proverbs 10

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Friday, November 09, 2018

Don't You Realize That Your Body Is The Temple Of The Holy Spirit, Who Lives In You And Was Given To You By God?


Don't You Realize
That Your Body Is The Temple Of The Holy Spirit,
Who Lives In You And Was Given To You By God?
Scripture
I Corinthians 6
18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 
20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Observation
What needs to change for us to honor God with our bodies?
Yes, I know that the Apostle Paul is talking about sexual immorality here, but I think, especially in our culture, keeping our bodies in good physical condition should be included too.
God never intended for any of us to be grossly overweight, drastically underweight, or extremely out of shape. I know that this is a struggle for many and especially for those who have health issues that exasperates the problem.
Okay, but let me get back to Paul's main topic – Sex.
Sex between a husband and wife is God's idea. And I might add that I think that it was one of His best ideas!
He intends for it to be something wonderful, something very special, something very intimate, something to be thoroughly enjoyed, but only between a husband and his wife.
So run lets from sexual sin!
And lets honor God with our bodies!
Application
I will run from sexual sin. I will honor God with my body.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to live like my body is Your temple. Keep me away from stupid sins. Help me to exercise self control.
I pray for men who have stepped over the line and who are having sex outside of marriage. Help them, Lord. Give them strength and the courage to run from sexual sin and run back to You and help them to run back to their wives.
I pray for men who struggle with pornography, Lord. Give them victory over this sin.
I pray for men and women who are living together, but who are not yet married. Help them, Lord, to make the decision, the commitment, to legally be husband and wife.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 34; 1 Corinthians 4,5,6

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Thursday, November 08, 2018

What The World Calls Smart, God Calls Stupid.


What
The World Calls Smart,
God Calls Stupid.
Scripture
1 Corinthians 3
18-20  Don’t fool yourself. Don’t think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God’s fool—that’s the path to true wisdom.
What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It’s written in Scripture,
He exposes the chicanery of the chic.
The Master sees through the smoke screens
    of the know-it-alls.
1 Corinthians 3
18 Stop fooling yourselves. If you count yourself above average in intelligence, as judged by this world’s standards, you had better put this all aside and be a fool rather than let it hold you back from the true wisdom from above. 
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As it says in the book of Job, God uses man’s own brilliance to trap him; he stumbles over his own “wisdom” and falls. 
20 And again, in the book of Psalms, we are told that the Lord knows full well how the human mind reasons and how foolish and futile it is.
Observation
I know someone who is smart. He is very intelligent. The problem is that right now he refuses to surrender his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. So no matter how smart he is or thinks he is, or how intelligent others think he is, he is actually stupid!
Any person who has heard the Good News about Jesus Christ and then refuses to receive Christ as his or her Lord and Savior, no matter how smart they think they are, they are actually in God's eyes, very stupid.
The man that I am thinking about right now, will really be smart one day, the day he surrenders his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe it is you who I am thinking about right now.
Who knows?
Application
I am praying for 5 people on my “impossible list” who either need to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior or that need to live out their Christian lives in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.
Maybe you are one of those on my list!
How about you? Do you have an “impossible list”? Are you praying for people that need a relationship with Jesus. Are you praying for some people that need to get back on the right path.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You and Kathy are the only ones who know the people that are on my “impossible list”. Lord, I am counting on You to change the hearts of those whom I am praying for. You worked in my life and helped me turn from sin and selfish living and turn to You and I know that You can do the same thing for them. Hurry Lord and do it quickly before they have wasted any more of their lives, living without You being number One in their lives. Thank You for saving me. Somebody must have been praying for me.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 33; 1 Corinthians 1,2,3

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Wednesday, November 07, 2018

You Who Are Godly Should Gently and Humbly Help That Person Back Onto The Right Path


You
Who Are Godly Should Gently and Humbly
Help That Person Back Onto The Right Path
Scripture
Galatians 6
1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 

3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

Observation
I like Galatians 6:3, “If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”
There are times, if we were to be totally honest, that this verse, sadly, describes you and me. When we think we are too busy to help someone else … it is just another way of saying … I am too important to be bothered by what is going on in your life.
The Apostle Paul reminds us … You and I are not that important!
Trying to help a fellow believer, especially one who has been overcome by some sin, is not a pleasant task. And yes, we can definitely get hurt trying to help the person back onto the right path, but we should still do it.
We should gently and humbly try to help that person back onto the right path, recognizing that we too, if we are not careful, could fall into doing the same sinful thing ourselves.
We are not supposed to shoot the wounded.
So who comes to your mind that needs your help?
Application
I will try to help my brothers and sisters in Christ when they have gotten off track.
How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that You have saved me so that I could be Your hands and Your feet here on planet Earth. Don't ever let me think that I am too important to help those around me who have been overcome by sin or who are in need of help. Give me the courage and strength to help them get back on the right path. I know that I am a sinner and I know that I am capable of being overcome by sin myself. I pray for men and women who need to get back on the right path. Bring people into their lives who will help them get right with You again. You are a mighty God. Nothing is too hard for You.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 31,32; Galatians 5,6

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Tuesday, November 06, 2018

I Am Praying Not Only For These Disciples But Also For All Who Ever Believe In Me Through Their Message.


I Am Praying Not Only For These Disciples
But Also For All
Who Ever Believe In Me Through Their Message.
Scripture
John 17
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

Observation
Jesus prayed for me a few hours before He went to the cross. If you are a follower of Christ then He also prayed for you at that very same moment!
And now He is continually interceding for us before our Heavenly Father in Heaven. He prayed for you and me 2,000 years ago and He has never stopped praying for us since! It is amazing isn't it!
Right now, at this very moment, Jesus is interceding for us! And He has given us the ministry of praying for others. Yes, He has given to us the ministry of intercession.
This Wednesday, our pastor, Bruce Moore, has asked us to pray for 5 people who do not yet have a personal relationship with Christ, or for people who maybe are believers but have allowed sin to dominate and control their lives.
The church auditorium will be open from 11 am to 1 pm Wednesday to pray for the people on our lists. He has also asked us to fast, to go without lunch tomorrow, as we intercede for the people on our list!
Hebrews 7:25
“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”
1 Timothy 2:1
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.”
Application
I will pray and intercede for those that God places on my heart.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I am praying for someone right now and I am asking You to help them. I know that there will not be any change in the direction of his life until he comes to You with a broken and contrite heart. I pray for his protection during this time of rebellion in his life. Open up his spiritual eyes so that he can see things from Your perspective. Soften his heart, Lord. Soften his heart. I want his life to bring You glory and honor. I want him to count for You.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 30; Psalms 120; Galatians 3,4; I added: Psalm 36, Psalm 136, Proverbs 6; John 17

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Monday, November 05, 2018

Each Morning I Bring My Requests To You And Wait Expectantly.


Each Morning
I Bring My Requests To You
And Wait Expectantly.
Scripture
Psalm 5
3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
    Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Observation

I don't know about you but my body clock has not yet changed time and I was awake at 4:45 this morning because my body thought it was time to wake up!
As I was lying there wide awake I did what King David did … I prayed!
It's possible that you might have even been one of the people that God brought to my mind for me to pray for. Who knows!
King David had a habit of starting out each day by spending time talking to the Lord and waiting expectantly for God to answer.
It is the waiting part that is hard for me.
I know that God hears my prayers. I don't doubt it. It is the waiting expectantly that is so hard for me.
How about you?
I pray for my kids. I pray for my grand kids. I would like to see God answering my prayers. I continually pray for them. I do see glimpses of God at work in their lives … but I am waiting expectantly to see God do so much more!
I am counting on it!
Matthew 7:7-8
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
James 5:16
So confess your sins to one another. Pray for one another so that you might be healed. The prayer of a godly person is powerful. Things happen because of it.
1 Corinthians 13
7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Application
I will never stop praying for my family, my extended family, and my friends.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, don't ever let me get so concerned for myself that I forget to pray to pray for my family and all of those that You put on my heart. I am counting on You. You are my Hope. My confidence is in You. You are Mighty. Nothing is too hard for You. I am praying for miracles within my family. More than anything else I want to see all of my family living for You. I wait expectantly for You to answer!
Daily Bible Reading: Job 28,29; Galatians 1,2; I added: Psalm 5, Psalm 35; Proverbs 5
> I have made it a habit to pray for those who read this blog! I enjoy lifting you and your family up to the Lord in prayer.
>>>>>>>>>>>
I just saw that I wrote this blog on Nov. 5, 2012
>>>>>>>>>>>
Jesus Gave His Life For Our Sins,
…In Order To Rescue Us
From This Evil World In Which We Live.
Scripture
Galatians 1
4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.
Observation
I was just watching the news and looking at how much damage hurricane Sandy did to the east coast. So many people in need … so many people needing to be rescued!
Jesus gave His life for our sins to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.
Have you been rescued? Only Jesus Christ can rescue us from the penalty of our sins … on Jesus can rescue us from this evil world.
Tomorrow is Election Day in our country. I am not losing sleep over who gets elected.
It would be great if the person that wins the election valued human life, believed in marriage between a man and a woman, and called on God for guidance and direction, but if that doesn’t happen I will still live my life just like I have since the day I gave my life to Christ. Jesus is my redeemer. He is my Savior.
I voted and I believe that we should do all that we can to vote in the best candidates, but I am leaving the results in the hands of my Heavenly Father!
Application
I will pray for God to put in the White House the person that will bring Him the most glory and the most honor in this evil world.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, tomorrow You will not be shocked or surprised by the outcome of the election. The person that is elected will be someone that You allow to take that position. You put people in power and You take them out. You are worthy of all honor and praise!
Job 28; Job 29; Galatians 1; Galatians 2

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Sunday, November 04, 2018

Don't Get Sidetracked


Don't
Get
Sidetracked
Scripture
Proverbs 4
27 Don’t get sidetracked;
    keep your feet from following evil.

Observation
One of the things about getting old is that it is so easy to get sidetracked.
I can walk out to the garage to do something, then something catches my eye that needed attention so I start messing with it and then I totally forget to do what I went out to the garage to do.
Or worse yet, I might walk out to the garage, or might walk from one end of the house to the other and totally forget why I made the trip. Of course, the latter is just be absent minded and not getting sidetracked!
Men, Satan wants to get you sidetracked. He doesn't want you and I to finish well. We have so many examples of men in the Bible who did not finish well.
As I have heard my good friend, James Hartley, say several times as he has had the opportunity to challenge groups of Christian men, “Men, we tend to be poor finishers. We need to finish well.”
Right now I am watching some people who started out well in their Christian walk, but they have now gotten sidetracked. They were growing in Christ, their marriages were doing great, they were enthusiastically serving the Lord, but then they got sidetracked, now things are not good at all, in fact, they are miserable.
All you and I have to do is to look a few verses above verse 27 in Proverbs 4 to find the answer to how to keep from being “sidetracked”. The answer is found in Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Lets guard our hearts! Our enemy, Satan, wants to get us sidetracked and he wants to keep us sidetracked!
Maybe you need to repent, asking God to forgive you. Maybe you need to get back on “track” to putting God first, others second and serving Him.
Application
I will guard my heart so I finish well.
How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to finish well. At the end of my life, when I stand before you I want you to be able to say to me, “Well done my good and faithful servant”. I pray for the men that I know. Help them to lead godly lives. Help them to be men of integrity. Help them to be the best husbands and the best dads. Don't let them get sidetracked.
I pray for a couple of guys right now who have been sidetracked and who are living lives that are contradictory to the message of Christ give these men the courage and the humility to repent. Help them to get back on track in their Christian walk. I pray for their wives as they live with these men that have been sidetracked in their Christian walk. Give these women the strength to hold on until their husbands get back on track and are back, once again, serving you.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 26,27; Mark 15,16; I added: Psalm 4, Psalm 34, Proverbs 4

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Saturday, November 03, 2018

But, You, O Lord, Are A Shield Around Me; You Are My Glory, The One Who Holds My Head High.


But, You, O Lord, Are A Shield Around Me;
You Are My Glory,
The One Who Holds My Head High.
Scripture
Psalm 3
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

4 I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain.

5 I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.

6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side.
Psalm 33
20 We put our hope in the Lord.
    He is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.

22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
    for our hope is in you alone.

Proverbs 3

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.

Observation
I was talking yesterday to Kathy about something that was troubling me and she reminded me of who I was in Christ by saying (and I am paraphrasing), “Eddy, you have done all that you can and you know that the Lord knows the situation. He's got this!”
As I read Psalm 3, Psalm 33, and Proverbs 3 this morning I was once again reminded that the Lord is my help and my shield.
Maybe, you, like me, find yourself in a situation and don't have a clue how it is all going to turn out; if that is case let me suggest that you do what I am going to do … I am going to hold on to all of God's promises and trust Him!
Application
I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart; I am not going to depend on my own understanding. I am going to seek his will in all I do. He will show me which path to take. I am putting my hope in the Lord. He is my help and my shield. He is my glory. He is the One who holds my head up high.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, if my life was suddenly problem free, then I would be robbed of the joy of depending on You for help. You are my Father. You care about me. You care about every detail of my life. I know that you never expected me to live this life without your help. Please give me King David's heart for you. Help me to trust you like King David trusted you. He always knew that you were right beside him through every difficult, perplexing situation. You are my shield. You are my glory. You hold my head up high. You are worthy of all praise! I will trust you!
Daily Bible Reading: Job 25; Mark 13,14; I added: Psalm 3, Psalm 33; Proverbs 3

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Friday, November 02, 2018

Of All The Commandments, Which Is The Most Important?


Of
All The Commandments,
Which Is The Most Important?
Scripture
Mark 12
28 ...“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 
30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 
31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Observation

The Bible is full of promises, but it is also full of commands for us to follow!
The religious man that approached Jesus with this question might have been trying to trap Jesus but Jesus' answer to the question has been permanently recorded in Scripture for us to live our lives by.
Do you want to experience life, life that is filled with joy, life that is filled with purpose, life that is filled with meaning, and life that is overflowing with abundance?
Do you? I sure do!
Mark 12:28-31 tells us how!
It is also the secret for having a wonderful marriage! By the say, today, Kathy and I begin the first day of our 50th year of marriage. Yesterday, we celebrated 49 years of marriage and so today we start on year 50!
So here is how you and I can experience life the way that God intended for us to experience it! It is pretty simple. Put God first, and everybody else second.
Looking back over 49 years of marriage, the worst times for us have been when Eddy (me, myself and I) selfishly demanded first place. And if you were to be honest, you might admit the same thing about your life.
Right now at this very moment, I know selfish men that are wrecking their marriages, and in the past I have seen selfish women do the same thing.
When God does not have first place in our lives nothing works right.
So finding a new partner is not the answer and neither is divorcing your spouse.
Finding a new job, making more money, buying something new, getting something bigger, something prettier, shinier, or escaping and living out in the woods, none of these are going to fill the emptiness in our life.
Only by daily living out these two commandments will you and I be blessed!
Application
I will try my best daily to keep God first, Kathy second, and everyone else third, and myself last.
How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to love you with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength and help me to love everyone else as much as I love myself. Don't let me be stingy. Don't let me be selfish. Give me Your heart for those around me.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 23,24; Mark 11,12

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Thursday, November 01, 2018

“What Do You Mean If I Can?” Jesus Asked. “Anything Is Possible If A Person Believes.”


“What Do You Mean If I Can?”
Jesus Asked. 
“Anything Is Possible If A Person Believes.”
Scripture
Mark 9
17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 

18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.
21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil  spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”
Mark 10
26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Observation
I love these two chapters in Mark!
If you are facing tough times and things seem impossible right now then these two passages are for you.
If Jesus is Lord of your life then these verses should encourage and strengthen you. If you have not yet committed or surrendered your life to Jesus Christ then these verses hopefully will encourage you to put your faith and your trust in Him.
In Mark 9 we see a desperate father turning to Jesus, begging Jesus to heal his son, and at the same time we find the father also admitting to Jesus that he was having a hard time believing that Jesus could heal his son.
Jesus showed this man that He could trust Him. Jesus showed this man that He had the power to heal. And this story, found in Mark 9, is for you and me.
Lord, help us overcome our unbelief!
Application
I will trust Jesus with all of the “impossibles” in my life!
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray for my friend Zane Edwards who has been injured in an accident. I pray for healing. Show him that he can trust in You. Thank You for doing the impossible in my life over and over and over again. You are a mighty God. Nothing is impossible for You!
I thank you for my wife Kathy. Thank You for allowing us to celebrate 49 years of marriage today! You picked out the best woman in the world to be my wife. You knew that I was going to need the very best to keep me on track! Bless her in a special way today!
Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 121; Mark 9,10

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