Sunday, May 19, 2019

You Watched Me As I Was Being Formed In Utter Seclusion, As I Was Woven Together In The Dark Of The Womb.


You Watched Me As I Was Being Formed
In Utter Seclusion,
As I Was Woven Together In The Dark Of The Womb.
Scripture
Psalm 139
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!
Observation
Psalm 139 says that God saw me before I was born. If God saw me in my mother's womb before I was born and God watched as I was being formed. I was a somebody, I was a living person before my mother gave birth to me. I know that and I hope that you know that but a lot of people in our country refuse to believe that an unborn child is a person and seem to have no problem with killing the unborn.
Life is precious. It doesn't matter if the person is unborn and still in the womb, or if the person is old and barely alive. Life is precious. They need to be protected and valued.
Application
I will always support the pro-life movement. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and so are you!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, our country seems to be so divided on so many things. It is hard to believe that we are divided even over the value of a human life. Help us, Lord. I pray for Your intervention. We need your help. Don't let us continue down this path. I pray for godly leaders who will turn our country around. Raise them up, Lord. Raise them up!
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 4,5; 2 Chronicles 2; Psalms 101; 2 Thessalonians 3; I added: Psalm 19, Psalm 139, Proverbs 19



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Saturday, May 18, 2019

Give Me An Understanding Heart


Give Me
An
Understanding Heart
Scripture
1 Kings 3
5 That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
7 “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. 8 And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! 
9 Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. 11 So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— 
12 I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! 13 And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame!
Observation
Solomon had the opportunity to ask the Lord for anything – today people say, “Oh Lord if I could just win the lottery!”
Did you know that seven out of ten people who win the lottery have lost all of that money within a few years and are worse off than they were before they won? And they also say that it was the worse thing that ever happened to them!
I think a prayer request that would help us way more than winning a lottery would be asking the Lord for what Solomon asked him for, “Lord, give me an understanding heart!”
What you and I need today more than anything else is God's wisdom.
We need an understanding heart to be able to navigate safely through this thing called life!
Application
Lord, give me wisdom! Lord, give me an understanding heart!
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I do pray for wisdom. Give me an understanding heart. I know that more than anything else Your wisdom is what I need.
I pray for any person reading this blog today. Give them an understanding heart. Lord, if they are praying to win the lottery show them that having Your wisdom would be far much better for them than having riches. I do pray that you meet the needs that they have today.
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalms 78; 2 Thessalonians 2

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Friday, May 17, 2019

In Flaming Fire, Bringing Judgment On Those Who Don't Know God And On Those Who Refuse To Obey The Good News Of Our Lord Jesus.


In Flaming Fire, Bringing Judgment On Those Who Don't Know God
And On Those Who Refuse
To Obey The Good News Of Our Lord Jesus.
Scripture
2 Thessalonians 1
7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 
8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 
9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.

Observation

Someone asked me the other day if I believe in a literal Hell. They asked me, “Do you really believe that?” My answer, “I sure do!” The same Book that tells us about a wonderful placed called Heaven also tells us that there is a terrible place called Hell.
I had a young man, who I was talking to about his relationship with Jesus, tell me that he knew that he was going to go to Hell when he died. In response to what he said, I challenged him by saying, “Do you realize that you will be forever separated from your son and your wife and from God?” His son was only five years old at the time.
A week later I went back to visit with him again and he shared with me this story. He shared, “Eddy after you left, I couldn't stop thinking about what we talked about. For three nights I couldn't sleep. I was afraid. I didn't want to be forever separated from my wife and my son.
Finally, I couldn't take it any longer, I fell to my knees in the middle of the kitchen and I prayed and I asked Jesus to save me!” Needless to say, I was speechless! It was a totally unexpected conversion experience that I have not seen repeated since!
God is so good.
I have lost contact with this family but the last time I heard from them he and his wife were in full-time ministry and they were pastoring a church together.
Application
I will continue to share with people the Good News about Jesus.
How about you? Heaven or Hell?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray for my friend Greg and his wife Sheila and their son Greg. I pray that where ever they are I pray that they are continuing to serve you. Thank You for saving Greg. Bring other people into my life who need to hear about You.
I pray for any person reading this blog today. Bless them, Lord. I pray for their salvation. Show them that they can trust You and they can trust what You say in Your Word about both Heaven and Hell.
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 2; 1 Chronicles 29; Psalms 95; 2 Thessalonians 1


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Thursday, May 16, 2019

Always Be Joyful.


Always
Be 
Joyful.
Scripture
1 Thessalonians 5
16 Always be joyful. 
17 Never stop praying. 
18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Observation

How can you and I “always” be joyful? Notice I didn't ask, “How can you and I 'always' be happy”. Happiness is so fickle, it comes and it goes.
The least little thing can cause me to be unhappy, for example, an unkind word from Kathy (not saying she would ever do that), a bill from a doctor's office, a flat tire, a hangnail, a stubbed little toe, or rain when you were planning a picnic, etc..
But what about “joy”? Being filled with joy is something totally different than being very happy!
Our pastors spoke on “Joy” this past Sunday and one of the points that Pastor Bruce and Pastor Brian made was this: Our level of joy is directly related to our level of obedience to Jesus.
And I say, “Amen … so true!”
Always be joyful! Never stop praying! Be thankful in all circumstances!
Application
I will be joyful. I will never stop praying. I will be thankful in all circumstances!
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that the level of my joy is in direct proportion to my obedience to You. Help me walk close to You. Don't let me lose my joy by doing stupid sins that mess up our relationship.
I pray for people who are feeling down today. Help them to look up and rely on You. Meet the deep needs of their life. Show them that they can trust and depend on You for everything that is happening in their life.
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 1; 1 Chronicles 28; Psalms 91; 1 Thessalonians 5



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Wednesday, May 15, 2019

God's Will Is For You To Be Holy, So Stay Away From All Sexual Sin.


God's Will
Is For You To Be Holy,
So Stay Away From All Sexual Sin.
Scripture
1 Thessalonians 4
3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 
4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 
6 Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 
7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.
8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Observation
What do you think this verse and this passage means? Do we think God is serious? I do believe that there is a warning here for me and you. At least there is to me!
And if you are honest I think you would agree that this passage includes a warning for you too. So are we going to ignore it or are we going to put this passage into practice?
It comes with a huge warning in verse eight – so ignoring this warning and continuing to sin when God says that He avenges all such sins puts the guilty party in very dangerous territory.
Guardrails on the highway keep us from going over cliffs. They protect us from dangerous situations. You and I need to have guardrails for our lives and we need to pay attention to them.
1 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.
Application
I will maintain guardrails for my life.
How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to walk in purity. Don't let me do stupid sins. Guard my heart and my eyes. I remember what Job said in Job 31, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman ...” Give me the strength to maintain the guardrails in my life. Protect me from the evil one.
I pray for any person reading this blog today who is struggling with sexual sin. Give them victory, Lord. Don't let them make excuses or try to rationalize his or her sin. Help them to walk in purity.
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 25,26,27; 1 Thessalonians 4



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Tuesday, May 14, 2019

And May The Lord Make Your Love For One Another And For All People Grow And Overflow, Just As Our Love For You Overflows.


And May The Lord Make Your Love For One Another
And For All People Grow And Overflow,
Just As Our Love For You Overflows.
Scripture
1 Thessalonians 3
12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 
13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
Observation
If you are reading this blog right now – these verses that I have borrowed from the Apostle Paul, they are my prayer for you:
“May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy ...” 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
I think I will also add this prayer for you too, again from Paul, a prayer that he prayed for those in the church at Ephesus:
“Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you.
I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:15-20
Application
I will ask big when I am praying for people.
How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to ask big when I pray for the people that You put on my heart. I know that I serve a big God. Nothing is too hard for You.

I pray for those who are sick and for those recovering from surgery. I pray for healing. Show them that they can trust in You. May they sense Your presence and Your power. Use what they are going through to draw them closer to You.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 22,23,24; 1 Thessalonians 3



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Monday, May 13, 2019

What Will Be Our Proud Reward As We Stand Before Our Lord Jesus When He Returns? It Is You!


What Will Be Our Proud Reward As We Stand
Before Our Lord Jesus When He Returns?
It Is You!
Scripture
1 Thessalonians 2
19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! 
20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.
Observation
The Apostle Paul realized what was most important in life. It wasn't houses, cars, boats, or any physical possession – it was people. Kathy and I are rich, not because of how much money we have in the bank, but because of how many people we have as friends!
Yes, you are our pride and joy!
Invest in people – let's let them be our reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when He returns.
Application
I will invest time in those who God brings into my life.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me encourage the people I meet today to trust in You. I know that the people I see today at Mission Tampa are very valuable to You. Open their hearts to the Gospel. I want them to be in Heaven too.
I pray for anyone that may read this blog today. Help them to invest in the people around them. Give them Your heart for those who You bring into his or her life. Use them for Your Kingdom today.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21; Psalms 30; 1 Thessalonians 2



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Sunday, May 12, 2019

God Loves You And Has Chosen You To Be His Own People.


God Loves You
And
Has Chosen You To Be His Own People.
Scripture
1 Thessalonians 1
4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.
Observation
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you and I are pretty special! We have been chosen by God to be his people!
And, oh yes, you and I having been chosen by God has nothing to do with any accomplishments that we may have done. You and I are sinners. We both deserve to go to Hell.
But … because we have placed our faith and trust in what Jesus did for us on the cross and we have surrendered our lives to Him, we have the privilege of being children of God.
We have been blood-bought. We have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Let's act like God's chosen people.
Getting ourselves to church today to worship Him - should be part of this special Mother's Day!
Application
I will strive to live this day in a way that makes my Heavenly Father smile!
How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for saving me. I know that I didn't do anything to deserve it. I know that it is a privilege that comes with responsibility. I know that I am not supposed to keep how I got saved a secret. I know that I am saved for a reason. I know that I am to tell others how they can be saved. Give me the opportunity to tell someone about Jesus today.
I pray for all the Moms today. Bless them. I pray for all women today who may read this blog. Bless them, Lord. Bless them today whether they are Mom's or not. Encourage them today!
I pray for those who are grieving because they have lost their Mom. Comfort them today!
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 21,22,23; 1 Thessalonians 1



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Saturday, May 11, 2019

Give Your Burdens To The Lord And He Will Take Care Of You.


Give Your Burdens To The Lord
And
He Will Take Care Of You.
Scripture
Psalm 55
16 But I will call on God,
    and the Lord will rescue me.
17 Morning, noon, and night
    I cry out in my distress,
    and the Lord hears my voice.
18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe
    from the battle waged against me,
    though many still oppose me.
22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
    and he will take care of you.
    He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
Observation
Ever wake up and feel like you have been run over by a Mac truck? It is the way I feel at the moment! I think that is how King David must have felt when he wrote Psalm 55!
We might only think of King David as the heroic giant killer, but he had some real enemies later in life and he had plenty of things that caused him pain.
Psalm 55:22 is a great verse to memorize if you haven't already done so! King David knew who had his back. He knew that God was going to protect him and take care of him.
David's strength was his prayer life. It needs to be where we find our strength too.
Application
I will give my burdens to the Lord. He will take care of me.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for hearing my prayers. Thank You for always listening to me. I know that You are always ready to help me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out to You and I know that You hear my voice!
I pray for any person who may be reading this blog today. Help them to pray first. Help them to depend on You.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 19,20; Psalms 55; Matthew 28



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Friday, May 10, 2019


This
I Know:
God Is On My Side!
Fear! As I read my Bible every morning it seems like God is constantly reminding me, “Eddy, do not fear! Do not be afraid! I've got this!”
Scripture
Psalm 56
9 My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
    This I know: God is on my side!

10 I praise God for what he has promised;
    yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.

11 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me?
Observation
Fear! As I read my Bible every morning it seems like God is constantly reminding me, “Eddy, do not fear! I've got this!”
The Bible is full of verses letting us know that if our trust is in the Lord, we do not have to be afraid. The reason I believe that God repeats this over and over and over again in His Word is that every day that He allows us to wake up He also allows us to face new challenges.
These new challenges, I believe, help us grow in our faith.
If you listen to the Joy FM or some other Contemporary radio station who will hear this song, “Fear – Is a Liar” by Zach Williams. Maybe you need a reminder this morning: God is on your side!
Psalm 118:5-7
5 In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
    and the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?
7 Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
    I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
Application
I will trust in the Lord. I will not be afraid.
How about you?
Psalm 23:4
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Psalm 56:3
But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
Matthew 10:31
So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know one of the reasons that I need to read Your Word every day is so that You can remind me that You are on my side. I have no reason to be afraid.
I pray for those who are going through a difficult time right now. Help them to trust in You and help them to not be afraid. Use Your Word to encourage them. Give them the strength to face whatever they are dealing with today. Help them, Lord.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 18; Psalms 56; Matthew 27
> 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.



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Thursday, May 09, 2019

Don't You Realize That I Could Ask My Father For Thousands Of Angels To Protect Us, And He Would Send Them Instantly?


Don't You Realize That I Could Ask My Father
For Thousands Of Angels To Protect Us,
And He Would Send Them Instantly?
Scripture
Matthew 26
53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 
Observation
Yesterday, when I was visiting with patients at the hospital, I made it a point to remind each person that I was visiting with, of this important fact; God loves them, they are highly valued by God, and God is a good, good Father.
God is good. He loves me. He loves the person that I am praying for.
I pray for healing knowing that I am praying to the Great Physician and I know that He loves to heal.
When I pray to my Heavenly Father I know that He could respond instantly sending thousands of angels to rescue me or rescue whomever it is that I am praying for.
But He does not always heal when I ask or at least not in the way I ask and it is not because He is a mean God. It is because He is God and His ways are not my ways.
Just because I don’t understand … just because I can’t see how God is working, does not mean that He is not at work.
I will trust Him!

Application
I will continue to pray for the sick. I know that God loves to heal.
How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that You love to hear us pray. You are my Heavenly Father. I know that You love me. I know that I am highly valued by You. I also know that every person I meet is highly valued by You. You have no favorites. Help me to trust You in every circumstance. Help me to serve You in a way that makes You smile. Don't let me do stupid sins that mess up my relationship with You.
I pray for any person reading this blog today that may be sick. I pray for healing. Help them to trust You as they deal with their illness. May this be a time when they become even closer to You.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 17; Psalms 71; Matthew 26



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Wednesday, May 08, 2019

When You Did It To One Of The Least Of These My Brothers And Sisters, You Were Doing It To Me.


When You Did It To One Of The
Least Of These My Brothers And Sisters,
You Were Doing It To Me.
Scripture
Matthew 25
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Observation
What we do matters to God! How we live our life, how we serve those around us, oh yes, it really does matter to our Heavenly Father.
I don't know who I will see today, but I know that God has put them in my path, and He is watching to see if I am going to love and value them as He does.
The way to serve God is to serve the people that He brings into my life.
So I guess in a way every day is a test for me.
Okay, let's see how I do today!
Application
I will look at every conversation I have today with people at the hospital as a 'Divine appointment'.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to see the value and worth of every person today as I visit with them at the hospital. I pray for the right words to say as I talk to them. Help them to see Jesus in me.
I pray for any person who may be reading this blog today. Help them to serve You with all of their heart. Help them to stay away from stupid sins that would mess up their walk with You. Help me to do the same.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 15,16; Psalms 32; Matthew 25



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Tuesday, May 07, 2019

You Also Must Be Ready All The Time, For The Son Of Man Will Come When Least Expected.


You Also Must Be Ready All The Time,
For The Son Of Man
Will Come When Least Expected.
Scripture
Matthew 24
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 
44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
Observation
Are you ready? In Matthew 24 Jesus is telling us to live like He is coming back today! “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of man will come when least expected.” So am I living my life like Jesus is coming back today?
What am I going to do today that has eternal consequences? I am here on planet earth to be Jesus' hands and feet. And so are you!
So as I go through this day I will look to see where God is working and I will join Him.
God will bring people into our lives today who need to be pointed to Jesus!
Let's make God smile today by being ready!
Application
I will look for where God is at work today and I will join Him.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to serve You today. Help me to live like Jesus is coming back today. Direct me today to where You are at work. Don't let me miss an opportunity to touch someone's life with Your love.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 13,14; Matthew 24



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