“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.”
Lord, we are so thankful that we have a friend in you, a friend you never changes, a friend who loves us without conditions; and so this morning Lord, we come before you with all of our needs and our cares, because on you we could depend. Lord, we pray this morning that all who seek you early will find you, that you will fill us with your grace, that you will give us hearts to sing your praise. Lord, remove from us all the cares of this life which overshadows our praise for you. Lord, comfort those who mourn, those who are cast down lift up, and make them strong in faith and hope, show them how to give you thanks and praise in the midst of adversity, so that the time of joy will return and peace will abide in their hearts. All this we ask in the mighty name of Jesus, to Him be the glory now and forever. Amen!
We give thanks to you O God, we give you thanks, calling upon your name, and declaring all your wonderful works. Psalm 75:1
Dear Lord, we give you thanks for protecting us through the night hours and for awakening us to this brand new day. Lord, we know not what this day will bring forth, but we are trusting you for guidance, we are trusting you for provisions, and we are trusting you for courage to complete the tasks you set before us. Lord, we know that your goodness and mercy is everlasting, and we give you thanks and praise, we will declare your wonderful works so that others will believe. Lord, you shower us with so much blessings, show us how to use them rightly and to bring you honor and glory. Not our will Lord, but thine be done. Amen!
Scripture was written not to make us fearful, or to put a leash on us, but for guidance and for what is proper, so that we might serve the Lord without distraction.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, God has given us the freedom to choose, to serve Him without fear or shame, or distraction, and to use the Gospel to lead others to Christ. But Scripture warns us, that no one plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit. Even so, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the Gospel should live from the Gospel, but do so in way that will help to win souls for Christ. God has liken His word to food, and he tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 8, that food does not commend us to Him, for neither if we eat we are better or if we do not eat we are worse; but that we should beware, lest somehow, this liberty of ours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be embodied to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge the weak brother for whom God has died, perished. When you sin against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. All of us who are called to preach the Gospel, should present the Gospel without charge, without abusing the authority of the Gospel, we should become a servant to all, to win the more, and that is our reward. Praise the Lord!
Sing praises to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks in remembrance of His holy name, for His anger is but for a moment, but His favor is for life. Psalm 30: 4-5
Lord, because your anger towards us is but for a moment and your favor for life, we will bless you, O Lord, at all times, Your praise shall continually be in our mouths, our souls shall make boast of You, the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me this morning, and let us exalt His name for ever. Let us be mindful of all that He has done for us; the many sins He has forgiven, the doors He has opened, the disasters He averted, the diseases He healed, and for His continued guidance and protection from danger. Oh, taste and see this morning that the Lord is good, for many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all he has done for me, my soul cries out Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
“Amid the trials that I meet, amid the thorns that pierce my feet, one thought remains supremely sweet – Thou thinkest Lord of me.”
It’s reassuring to know that God knows the trials that we face and that he is with us. Helps us Lord to trust you when we encounter various trials, and understand that what was meant to hurt us that you will turn it around for our good. Lord, we will take one step at a time, and trust you to lead the way. Lord we would rather walk in the dark with you, than go alone in the light, we would rather walk by faith with you, than go alone by sight. Praise the Lord!
“Have you had a kindness shown, pass it on, it was not given for thee alone, pass it on, let it travel down the years, let it wipe another’s tears, ‘till in heaven the deed appears pass it on.” What will you pass on today?
All around us we are faced with opportunities to show kindness. Sometimes we could help by just sharing a loving word, or a smile. Yesterday, I was moved with compassion for this young black man who came on the train, a packed train, and just like Bartimaeus, he shouted out his name without shame, and he said, “I am down on my luck, could someone please help me with a dollar or two? My brothers and sisters in Christ, we are all one step away from that young man without steady employment, let us learn to pass it on. “Like the singing of a bird, pass it on, let it cheer another’s woe, you have reaped what others sow, pass it on. If you found the heavenly light, pass is on, souls are groping in the night, pass it on, hold thy lighted lamp up high, be a star in someone’s sky, be not selfish in your greed, look upon another’s need, if you live for self, you live in vain, live for Christ and you will gain.” Pass on a random act of kindness today and be blessed.
“Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.” Could you remember, the day, the hour, God saved you? I could, and I thank God every day for saving me.
‘Twas GRACE that taught my heart to fear God, and that same GRACE relieved all my earthly fears, Oh, how precious did that GRACE appear, the hour, I first believed. Since that hour, many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come through, but, ‘tis GRACE that brought me safe thus far, and the same GRACE will lead me home. Come, Lord Jesus! Make us ready to receive you. May all who are lost come to find you, and BELIEVE, and experience your love, joy and peace.
For a great and effective door has been opened to me and there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:9 When God opens a door for us Satan the thief comes through the window to try and block us, but God is with us. Rebuke him!
Whenever we try to do something good, especially the work of the Lord, we find many who try to derail our efforts; you don’t ask their opinion but they are quick to tell you why it’s not going to work. But, scripture reminds us to watch, to stand fast in the faith, to be brave and to be strong, and let all that we do be done in love and to the glory of God, for he who does the work of the lord will not be alone, and his labor will not be in vain; therefore, when God impresses upon our heart the work He has set before us, we should be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor will never be in vain. God knew beforehand that when He opens great and effective doors for us to walk through that there would be many adversaries, and that is why He said, lo, I will be with you always, I will never leave you nor forsake you. My brothers and sisters in Christ, if God has called you to do His will He has already equipped you, don’t allow the enemy to steal your tools, use them against him. Amen!
“But, He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Praise the Lord!
“All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet, He opened not His mouth, He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearer is silent.” God did this for us, yet, we are not willing to bear the shortcomings of our brothers and sisters. We are quick to judge, we are harsh with criticisms, we are evil in backbiting, we are swift to condemn and slow to forgive. But, God who is rich in mercy has borne our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, and we still beat Him with cruel stripes every day, but because of his mercy, by those same stripes, we are healed. Thank you Lord!
For all things are for your sakes, that grace having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet, the inward man is being renewed day by day, for our light affliction which is but for a moment, is working for us far more exceeding weight in glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but the unseen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” But are we faithful enough to understand these things? Do we trust God enough to bring us through the situations we face? Are we so overwhelmed by our afflictions, that we lose hope? My brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot lose heart, we cannot give up, we must be confident of this very thing, that all things happen for our sakes, that grace having spread through us, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.