All Nature Sings!

Luke 19:39-40

New King James Version (NKJV)

39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”



Have you looked around at God's creation lately?  I mean really stopped and appreciated the beauty of it? Have you heard the stones cry out? I have a good friend and prayer partner that is teaching me to do that very thing! I meet with this friend on a weekly basis for prayer. She never fails to thank God for His creation and the way creation sings praises to God. It can be snowing so hard that you cannot see across the street and my friend will thank God for the beauty and the uniqueness of each snowflake.  Take time today to stop, quiet your thoughts and listen! see the intricicise of a flower, a leaf or a blade of grass. Marvel at the strength of an ant. Listen to the music a bee's wings make as they ensure the flowers and trees continue. Join the birds in singing praises to the King of kings! Don't let the stones cry out on your behalf!

Father, Creator, all of creation sings Your praises and You reply with the beauty of a rainbow and the colors of a sunset or sunrise! Teach me to hear all of nature singing Your praises. Teach me to join in the song! I do not want the stones to have to cry out on my behalf! I love You LORD! In Jesus mighty name, amen!
 
   
 

"I am NOT having a good day" Part 1

Daily Devotional

Brought to you by Prayer Warrior Jonathan Vasgar

"I am NOT having a good day" Part 1 
 Open Mouth, Insert Foot

 (Please note I will have two versions of this, one using KJV, the other NKJV. If you prefer KJV, please find it on my page)
 

Genesis 37:2-4 'This [is] the history of Jacob. Joseph, [being] seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad [was] with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of [many] colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.'

There's a whole lot to be found about Joseph. Some might say he had a rather unfortunate life, yet as we shall see, it's often in the darkest circumstances that light comes pouring through. But, I don't want to get ahead of myself. Let's begin!

So, for those of you not too familiar with the story, Joseph was the great grandson of Abraham. He was not the youngest in his family, but was close. However, he was the oldest of Rachel's sons. Rachel was Jacob's (Israel) favorite wife, therefore Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. He had given his son a coat of many colors to show how favored he was, which as you can see, made his brothers angry. So angry, they hated him. It got worse though. You see, Joseph was young. Impetuous. And, a bit of a braggart.

Let's take a look at what happens: Verses 5-11 tell us, 'Now Joseph had a dream, and he told [it] to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: "There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf." And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me." So he told [it] to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What [is] this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?" And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter [in mind].'

Yes, this would come true later on, but that's not the point. Notice how Joseph rubbed his dreams in his brothers' faces. He lorded it over them. He knew he wasn't liked and that he was the favorite, so he decides to tell them his dreams about how he'd be the ruler over them! He took the dreams God had given him and rather than see how he could become the man that would be the leader, he goes and spreads it loudly.

We are sometimes that same way. I know I can be. Someone gives you a high compliment at church and the next thing you know, you are telling EVERYONE how wonderful you are. Being a braggart is not the way to handle things at all. Not according to God who says in Matthew 6:3-4 '"But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.' Let God handle your reward, you don't need to make a big show of giving in church or showing everyone how wonderful you are because you serve in a certain position. James 4:6 "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." God doesn't want us to grow proud, He wants us to be humble. If God is using you in a great way, AMEN! But, don't let it become your sole focus. So focused on getting accolades, you miss out on God's blessings. On being a blessing to others!

Do you want to leave a legacy or a tragedy? We will focus on how God starts to use Joseph next, but before you can be used, sometimes you have to be broken...

My prayer for you is that you find the spot where God can use you, whether it be behind the scenes or in front of life's camera, but that you know it's God that put you there. Let His love flow through you. Leave that kind of legacy!

 

 

I give you Glory Glory

Today's Devotional
Brought to you by Prayer Team Member Bobbi Heffel

After a day of sneezing, coughing and chills I awoke this morning feeling much better with this song on my heart. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO_0VLEDcOg&feature=related

By Klaus from the Worship CD Glory, recorded Live at CFNI in 2008 

It was your words

It was your cross

Just a moment there you set me free

I give you GLORY GLORY

Jesus

You saved me

And rescued me

With a crown of thorns, you became my king forever

It was your words –

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance

(to the full, till is overflows).

 John 10:10b (Amplified Bible)

It was your cross – sin and death were defeated

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Isaiah 25:8

“Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Hosea 13:14

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 (NIV 1984)

Just a moment there you set me free –

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

                2 Peter 3:7-9 (NIV 1984)

I give you GLORY GLORY – You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

 Revelation 5:11-13 (NIV 1984)

Jesus – Son of God

But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Hebrews 1:2-4 (NIV 1984)

You saved me – no man come to the Father except through the Son

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 John 14:6 (New King James Version)

And rescued me – I was lost in self and sin

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6

With a crown of thorns, you became my king forever –

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

Matthew 27:28-30 (NIV 1984)

It was your words

 It was your cross

Just a moment there you set me free

I give you GLORY GLORY

PRAYER

Lord, I am humbled at all you went through so that we may enter into your kingdom. You have given such great sacrifice and love that I am in awe. Thank you could not even began to be enough to express how great full we are for all you have done and will do. May you be pleased as our hearts  sing praise to you.

Daily Devotional

Brought to you by Prayer Team member Bobbi Heffel

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine


John Chapter 2

2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.



After rereading this passage I was amazed at how many lessons jumped out at me.

This was not a life threating issue, but would cause a great embarrassment yet, Jesus was compelled to act on their behalf. ~ He has compassion on our pleas.

The wedding party didn’t come to Jesus in a frenzy asking him to help but someone with a close relationship to Jesus that asked on their behalf.  ~We can make requests to God on the behalf of others.

Mary didn’t just make a request of Jesus, she made preparations, she gave instructions the servants. She expected something to happen.  ~This reminds me of that saying, don’t just pray for rain go on and make the fields ready for it.

Can you imagine yourself trying to arrange for more wine in short order? I just love Jesus’ actions here. He doesn’t get all flustered or try to figure out how this will be accomplished. With confidence he instructs the servants to fill the ceremonial water jars to the brim with water. With that done he tells the servants to draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet. Can you imagine what that servant thought!?   ~Am I willing to do what Jesus asks of me without question when it makes no sense to me?

When Jesus acted, he didn’t just fix the situation he went beyond what was requested or expected and provided the very best. ~ God desires His best for us.

Prayer
Lord, Thank you for your Holy word through which you reveal yourself to us. Thank you that we can read example after example of how you love and care for us! AMEN

Song

Jonah 2
New King James Version (NKJV)
2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. 2 And he said:

“I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,
And He answered me.
“Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
And You heard my voice.
3 For You cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the floods surrounded me;
All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.
4 Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight;
Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;
The deep closed around me;
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,
O Lord, my God.
7 “When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord;
And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple.
8 “Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their own Mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.”
10 So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Yesterday we saw Esther, a beautiful young orphan who had been crowned queen, then asked to do an impossible task. Although she was afraid she knew her strength came from the LORD so she asked others to pray with her so she would have courage to do what God wanted her to. The truth is not all of us are Esthers. Many of us chose to run if the task is too frightening, too difficult, or might require more than we are willing to give.

It is not comfortable to admit but many times I have been more like Jonah. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell them that they were sinning and God was not going to stand for it any longer (Jonah 1:1-2). Jonah did not want to do what God had asked him to do. Nineveh was the center of the Assyrian Empire, enemies of the Israelites. Jonah was probably afraid of the consequences that could come from delivering such a message to one's enemy. Chapter 4 of the book of Jonah gives us some more insight into another reason Jonah is reluctant to go; he knows God is "a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and [when sinners turn to You and meet Your conditions] You revoke the [sentence of] evil against them." (Jonah 4:2b AMP). Jonah finds a ship headed in the opposite direction and sees it as a perfect escape so he takes it.

We often find ourselves in the midst of raging storms when we are out of God's will; storms that not only affect our lives but the lives of those around us as well. Just like Jonah we can be oblivious to the raging storm we have caused until someone points it out to us, then we have a choice, apologize and admit our wrong doing or continued denial. The good news is that when we admit our wrong doing God rescues us! God did not allow Jonah to drown when he took ownership of his sin. He sent a big fish to rescue Jonah from drowning, then when  Jonah repented and was ready to submit his will to God, God had the fish spit Jonah onto dry land.  Did you see the rescue was a big fish? Most of us would not see three days in the belly of a fish as being rescued but Jonah 1:6 assures us that Jonah did. Take heart Beloved, even if you are enduring a raging storm of your own making or find yourself in a pit you dug yourself, God loves you  and longs to rescue you! Fall on your knees in prayer, confess all to the One who made you and loves you more than any other then give Him thanks even if the rescue does not seem like a rescue right now! God is faithful!

Father, You rescue me from the pit and set my feet on solid ground. Your mercy and compassion are unmeasured.You call to me and pursue me even when I am running from You, that is how great Your love is for me! Father help me to hear Your voice and respond obediently and when I don't help me to be like Jonah and recognize my folly immediately and turn back to You! You alone are God, You alone are my salvation! In Jesus saving name, amen.

Today's Devotional brought to you by Prayer Warrior Michelle Simpson

Love Requires Sacrifice

John 15:12-14

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

Love one another as Jesus loved us. What does that look like? Jesus gave up everything that we may have an opportunity to have eternal life in heaven. He enjoyed unbroken fellowship with His Father in heaven, He walked streets of gold, could be everywhere and knew everything, nothing was beyond His reach. In heaven Jesus never knew want or need, never knew physical pain or dependency. He was not confined to a physical body. He gave up all of that to come to earth, be confined to flesh, know what it means to hunger and thirst, know the pain of scrapes and cuts and knew the pain that could be inflicted by one person on another. He experienced the pain of separation that death causes, the pain of betrayal of a friend, the deep love of family and the hurt when family doesn't understand you. Jesus came to earth to lay down His life that we might have life. When He did that He experienced something that He had never experienced, the pain of separation from His Father, God. 


Jesus understands the sacrifice of love. This command that He gave us was not given without understanding what it could cost each individual person. This kind of love we are incapable of achieving on our own. We must be willing to put others needs ahead of our own (Romans 12:10), instead of looking for ways to benefit ourselves. God asked Abram to sacrifice his son of promise, the son of his old age as a demonstration of his faith. Abram was willing to do this trusting all the while that God would provide (Gen. 22:1-8). What have you been asked to give up in the name of love? If God is the One asking you to give it up He will give you the strength to do it. The person you give it up to or for may draw closer to God because of your obedience and God will bless your obedience as well!


Father, Creator, Savior, Lover of my soul, thank You for loving me so sacrificially! Teach me to love others like You love! Help me to love sacrificially, compassionately and forgivingly! In Jesus loving name, amen.