Repentance

Zephaniah 2:1-3

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

A Call for Judah to Turn Away From Sin

2 Gather yourselves together!
Yes, gather together, you shameless nation,
²     before the decree is carried out
        and the day passes like windblown husks,
    before the Lord’s burning anger comes to you,
    before the day of the Lord’s anger comes to you.
³ Search for the Lord, all you humble people in the land
    who carry out his justice.
Search for what is right.
Search for humility.
    Maybe you will find shelter on the day of the Lord’s anger.

Lord many in this world fall short of what you have called us to be.  There is lots of violence toward each other, mean talk toward each other, people just plain being evil to one another.  Father i pray for revival around the world.  Strengthen us beleivers so that we might be light to those around us.  Bless those already speeking the good word in though places.  give them strength and an open audience to receive the word.  Lord i too fall short of your expectations.  if there be any offensive way in me lord remove it, that i might be an example of your grace to all those i encounter.  Give me the strength and words to say when confronted with a person who is living far apart from you.  Give me the words to say to reach that specific individual!

in your name i pray,  amen

Hillsong UNITED - Came To My Rescue (Be Lifted High)

Salt

Matthew 5
13 you are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it salty again?  It will be thrown out and trampled under foot as worthless.
14 you are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a blanket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  16 in the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father.

Lord I pray that I never put my light under a blanket.  I pray instead that I shine it openly and brightly for all to see!

paths

A path is an expression of a habit, Evidence of a journey often made.  A habit made visible where others can follow.  Most of us think of a path made by footprints, but there are paths in the mind, both good and bad.  They are made by repeated words and actions...Some sharp as daggers, others kind and gentle.  We all leave paths in the journey with us.  It is up to us to see the path leads somewhere worth going.

James spruill



The above statement is taken from one of my favorite sermons.  It holds so true in every situation. We all create paths in our journeys through life.  It breaks my heart to see so many broken families...children that don't have fathers or mothers.  Still other families that have both parents...but those parents are too busy with their cariers to stop and see what is actually more important.  I saw a video the other day showing 9-11 through the eyes of the firefighters...I don't often cry, but that one made me sob.  Those courageous men and women that rushed in to save the lives of those still in the towers, most of them knowing full well that they might not make it back out...still they rushed in.  We should all be this way.  Even when life seems too hard...we need to trust that god always has our back. 


Hevenly father, I stand in awe of all you are tonight.  I had the pleasure of making over a room this afternoon/evening for a family that probably couldn't have afforded to hire someone to do the things that myself and the other members of my life group accomplished.  I pray that the work we did for this family truely blessed them in more ways than just improving a bedroom.  I pray that we left an impression that this is what godly people do for others.  We expect nothing in return.  I lift us this family to you father i pray they were truely blessed!

in jesus name
amen!


hillsong - shout to god

death couldn't hold him down!

They falsely accused him...mocked him...tried him...beat him...nailed him to the tree...

Luke 24

New Living Translation (NLT)

The Resurrection

24 But very early on Sunday morning^[a] the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ² They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. ³ So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

⁵ The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? ⁶ He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man^[b] must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
⁸ Then they remembered that he had said this. ⁹ So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. ¹¹ But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. ¹² However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings

the chief preiests thought they had rid themselves of him for good...little did they know that no tomb ever made could hold him!  Some might wonder what any of this has to do with them...I say everything!  He was sent here to free everyone from their bondage to sin, he was sent so that none of us would have to die, he was sent for you and for me!  It doesn't matter who you are, where you live in the world, god loves us all.  He hung on the tree while we were yet sinners.  He Triumphed over sin!

 Lord I am so thankful that the grave couldn't hold you down!  I am so thankful that the grave couldn't hold you down!  I pray for all those in my circle of influence, i pray that you would meet them where they are.  I pray that you would make my flame so bright that they couldn't help but come to you!

all this i pray in you name
amen

hillsong - shout unto god
all i need is you

presence

how often do we sit and think about our presence through the eyes of our children?  do they see jesus in us...or are we just in their life to provide for them?  i often think about how i am leading my children,  am i being a godly example to them?  we have been called to feed our sheep...to be an example of jesus to them.

my prayer is that i am always an example of jesus love to them, to be light to them, always be the father god wants me and has called me to be.


amen

Feeding sheep

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” (John 21:15-19 NLT)


How often do we sit and think about how we interact with others. How we treat others should be a direct reflection of how much we love Jesus. He called all of us to feed his lambs, to care for his sheep, to feed his sheep. We are to be his hands and feet. It could be a random act of kindness person we don't know. It could be carrying your children to bed, or reading to them.

I pray that I am always mindful that how I treat others is the something as doing it to you. I pray all fathers feed our sheep in a manner that you would!

Servant

Mark 10:42-45 GWT
Jesus called the apostles and said, “You know that the acknowledged rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone. It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”
Lord teach us to never lord our authority over others, but always approach situations as a servant.  Give us your mindset as we walk through life.
Amen