My Prayer For You...

After I met Jesus and came to the knowledge that my sins were forgiven I mourned over the suffering and pain Jesus endured for me.  I fully understood my sins were forgiven and I was made to be in right standing with God through the shed blood of Jesus. But something I struggled with for several years was guilt and shame. Not until I heard a message preached by a dear Pastor friend did I realize not only did Jesus bear my sins on the cross, but also my shame and guilt where on that cross with Jesus.  This knowledge lifted a huge burden and struggle from me, this was another example of the deep love God has for me. I was able to move forward in the call God has on my life once I overcame the shame and guilt and realized the deep love God has for me. We gained power and strength from the knowledge of God’s love.

Today my heart’s desire is for you to comprehend the profound love God has for you.  Did you realize God is mindful of you?  “…I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;” Isaiah 49:17-16. He has you “engraved” or “cut” you in His palms.  This image amazes me, not only does He know we are His but I can imagine Him lifting His hands in heaven and all can see we are His because we are engraved in His palms!

You are always with God and God is always with you! He delights in you, “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17. I love the thought of God singing over me! This is so comforting and such a wonderful example of His love for His child.

When thinking of coming to the knowledge of God’s love, I am reminded of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians’.  I have prayed this many times for family and friends and today this is my prayer for you.  I hope you will meditate on the prayer and come to the full knowledge of the love of Christ and the power you have received. Personalize this prayer by inserting your name or the name of a loved one everywhere you read “you”.

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-25

Michelle Odom
Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27

Sluggardly or Diligent: You choose

Proverbs 13:4

“A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”

This verse speaks of two kinds of people, the sluggard and the diligent. The sluggardly one according to Webster is a habitually lazy person. Honestly I was kind of shocked to find out that there’s such a thing as being “habitually lazy”. Until now I had just placed all laziness into the same category and all lazy people into the same boat. But as I considered the Scriptures and this definition, I came to term with the fact that just like there are different categories of work or sin there could also be different categories of laziness. 

Also like sin, there’s “occasional” laziness and then there’s “habitual” laziness. I believe the difference is found in the attitude and the heart.

Occasional laziness may present itself in the form of deciding not to cut the grass that particular day or putting off cleaning the living room until tomorrow. We all have times when we’re occasionally lazy. It’s human nature or should I say sinful nature. With laziness the problem occurs when the occasional turns into the habitual.

Habitual laziness presents itself as never cutting your grass until forced by the Code Enforcement Agency or never cleaning your house until you’re threaten with having your children taken away due to the unsanitary environment. This kind of laziness is costly and can be deadly. It leaves you with a feeling of emptiness on the inside. It’s not what God desires for our life. His desire is for us to be fully satisfied. He desires for us to be diligent and not lazy.

The sluggard also desires the gains of the diligent. I have found this to be true in my own personal life. When I’m functioning in a sluggardly state I always find myself envying or lusting after what the diligent has honestly gained. No matter what I do, I’m left with a feeling of wanting more. I’m never full. Am I the only one or can anyone else relate to what I'm saying?

As we move forward let's make a commitment to be more diligent. Let's get full and crave no more. Let's not envy or desire what we haven't put forth the effort to obtain. Let's get busy and only occasionally find ourselves to be lazy. God bless.

Adraine Scott
Adraine is the president of Edvance Services LLC. His entire professional career has been spent helping others find their unique ways of learning and being. He has been able to accomplish this by serving as a youth minister, speaker, counselor, college and career minister, secondary education teacher, and business owner

Take Me To The River

One of the first Bible stories that truly spoke to my heart was the story of the woman at the well.  Many years back, I found myself seeking after God and had gone, almost reluctantly, with a group of ladies to a Christian women’s convention in Charlotte, NC.   I thought this group somewhat strange and wondered how I ever came to be with them. They were different, I thought at the time (not in a good way) from any people I had ever met.  My life changed that weekend as the Spirit of God broke me down – I found myself with tears streaming down my face many times.  Even though I was raised in church, I had finally encountered the Living God.

John 4:4-14 (The Message)

"To get there, he had to pass through Samaria. He came into Sychar, a Samaritan village that bordered the field Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob's well was still there. Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down at the well. It was noon.

 A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, "Would you give me a drink of water?" (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)

 The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, "How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" (Jews in those days wouldn't be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)

 Jesus answered, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water."

 The woman said, "Sir, you don't even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this 'living water'? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?"

 Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life."

This woman in Samaria was no different from the men and women of our day.  She had tried many things in this world, seeking happiness.  She had been married several times and was living with a man outside of marriage when she happened upon the Messiah one day.

Jesus had a conversation with this woman at the well.  He knew everything about her, for after all, He is the Son of God.  He also knew she was a Samaritan,  a group of people shunned by the Jews.  None of that bothered Jesus in the least.

He spoke to her of a River, a river of water unlike anything this woman could have ever imagined.  This River is a river of life, a spiritual river that meets our every need because it flows from the very heart of God to the heart of whoever will turn to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, in sincere repentance and recognition of Him as their Savior.

As believers in Christ, this river of life pours into us constantly.  The more we give from this river, the more flows into us.  We can give from this river lavishly, just as the Father gives to us lavishly.  This river was birthed from the heart of a God who loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die upon a cross and redeem us from the wages of sin. 

Do you know Him?  He will take you to this river and you will never thirst again.

Rhonda Roughton

Rhonda is founder of INK Ministries. INK Ministries' mission is to build up the body of Christ through writing, preaching and teaching with an emphasis on the New Covenant and who we are in Christ. "Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it." Habakkuk 2:2-3. This is a "hands-on" ministry as well as a writing ministry - moving in the gifts and power of the Holy Spiit to bring hope, healing and deliverance to all those who hunger for more of Him.

Winning Over Whining

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life….I have learned to be content in whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  - Philippians 2:14-16 ; 4:11-13

We all know them…..people who can always find something to complain about, who are never happy no matter the circumstances…..when it’s raining, they complain because the sun isn’t shining; when the sun is shining, they complain that it’s too hot; and so on.  These are people who infect all around them with the cancer of their discontentment and suck the life out of everyone and everything.  Sad thing is, sometimes these are the same people who claim to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Brothers and sisters, to quote a good King James expression, these things ought not so to be!

However, this is also not something new to our generation of believers.  It’s a temptation God’s people have been yielding to since the days of the OT (despite God just having recently delivered them from Egyptian slavery).  Here are a few examples:

     Exodus 16 – they complain b/c they are hungry

     Exodus 17 – they complain b/c they are thirsty

     Number 11 – they complain about their “hardships”

     Numbers 14 – they complain b/c the people living in the land of Canaan appear to be too big and powerful for them to defeat

     Numbers 16,17 – they grumble against the leadership of Moses and Aaron

How does God respond to their whining?  In some instances He provides them with what they were lacking and complaining about, food & water.  He makes clear, however, that He is not pleased with their grumbling.  In other instances, He brings judgment in various forms:  fire from heaven that consumes part of the camp; a declaration that only two men from their generation will live to see the Promised Land, while the rest will die wandering in the wilderness; fire from heaven that consumes 250 men who challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron; a plague that kills 14,700 who opposed the leaders God had placed over them.

Many would take issue with what seems to be overly harsh reactions on the part of God, but let’s consider some truths that may help to bring a better perspective:     

            Complaining demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s wisdom – it is a failure to recognize that every step of a believer’s life is ordered by God; it says, in effect, that we are not so sure if God knows what He is doing

            Complaining demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s power – we become fearful that God is not going to be able to rescue us this time and doubt begins to crowd out faith

            Complaining demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s goodness – while we may not say it out loud, we begin to question God’s love for us and whether or not our Father really has our best interests at heart

Paul, in the book of Philippians, exhorts believers to “do everything without complaining” and states that doing so is a sign of spiritual purity and maturity (“so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault”).  He understood that such an attitude would also have a huge impact on our witness.  Why should somebody else want something that can’t bring us joy or contentment?  They can lack those things without a relationship with Christ!

And lest you be tempted to think that Paul must have lived a charmed life and can’t relate to the “hardships” that you have to endure on a daily basis, read 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 where he speaks of prison terms, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, sleeplessness, hunger and so on.   And yet Paul states in verse 30 of that passage that he will “boast of the things that show my weakness.”  Notice, Paul didn’t say “complain”, he said “boast”.  How different is that from the way we want to respond when faced with negative circumstances?

So what was Paul’s secret?  What’s ours?  How do we come to the place where we can meet the challenge of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances”?  Truth is, there is no “secret”…because Paul has already given us the strategy that he relied on:
            Rest in the assurance that God will supply all your needs (not wants!)                                (Philippians 4:19) – trust His goodness!

            Rely on the strength that Christ brings (Philippians 4:13) – trust His power! (see also 2 Cor. 12:10)

            Realign your thinking with His through prayer  (1 Thess. 5:17 – notice this come right before Paul’s command to give thanks in everything) - trust His wisdom!

Next time you’re tempted to throw yourself a pity party, to have a whinefest, just remember….others are listening.  Are they going to want what you have based on what they’re hearing? 

God, help us to “shine like stars” and “hold out the word of life” (Philippians 2:15,16) as we keep our eyes fixed on You and Your promises (even when we think we have something to complain about), because that is what those around us really need!

Clark Hausman

Clark is the pastor of Moyock Assembly of God.

Obedience School

It has been said that there is only instant obedience, delayed obedience is disobedience.
There are several examples of instant obedience in the Bible, but one example is that of Abraham. In Genesis’ 22^nd chapter, Abraham is instructed by God to take his son Isaac, the one God had promised him, and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. The scripture doesn’t say that he questioned God or prayed for a number of confirmations. Scripture says that he rose early the next day and with his son, headed to the mountain which God instructed him to go. He loaded the wood on his son’s back and together they walked up the mountain. There Abraham built the altar, placed the wood on it, bound his son and laid him on the altar too. And as he drew the knife to kill his son, an angel appeared and God provided a ram. Abraham displayed an amazing faith in God through his obedience. His heart was turned toward God. He trusted Him with every part of his being.

There are times when I have to ask my daughters several times to do something for me. Eventually, they accomplish the task. However, by that time we are all frustrated with the situation. I’m tired of asking them over and over again. They’re annoyed I keep asking them when they have intentions of getting it done sooner or later, maybe.
I can only imagine how equally frustrated God becomes with His children.

God speaks to us through His word. He lays it out for us how we are to live a life pleasing to Him. But He also speaks to us. He instructs us to accomplish tasks for Him or to put things aside for Him. Do we follow His instructing with instant obedience or do we delay? We find excuses why we put it off or we pray and ask God for confirmations before moving forward. I know I’ve prayed prayers like this, “God, I know you’ve asked me to ____, but I just need some confirmation to really know that it was you!”

Instant obedience… What are we missing out on because we are okay with delayed obedience? What stops instant obedience: laziness on our part; a lack of trust in God; fear to step out in the unknown; and a self-seeking heart! If we would turn our hearts to God and seek a life that pleases Him, we would respond with instant obedience.

Crystal Owens
Crystal is a speaker for the Fabulous You Conference. She’s married with 2 girls. Crystal is currently teaching a weekly adult Bible study and a monthly Bible study for Women. She has a passion for reaching youth and a heart for missions.

Healthy Living

Not too long ago, I had a day where I felt extremely tired and had a headache, probably resulting from stress. My four year old asked if my head and brain hurt. I responded with yes. Then, I asked her, “What should I do?” Her immediate response was, “PRAY!” So, we prayed. I agreed with her as she took her little hand, laid it on me, and began to ask Jesus for healing. While I was happy that she knew exactly what to do, I was speechless because at four years old she was ready to take action and lead the prayer….

I can’t say that I have always sought prayer first when going through something. I have noticed that I seem to go through cycles. There are times in my life where I pray for EVERYTHING first and then follow-up with action. Then there are other times where I pray while I am acting…. And then there are times when I worry, worry, worry, and then pray. I haven’t always noticed quicker answers when I prayed first and then acted, but what I have noticed is this, when I am in a constant state of prayer about everything, I am at peace. I am not anxious. The bills do not seem as big, the sickness does not seem to last as long, and I am not as tired.

In Philippians 4:6-7, the scripture says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The Bible beckons us to PRAY first. Through prayer, lives are made whole, bodies are healed, and people are delivered. We are at peace. Stress and anxiety cause unnecessary physical ailments and if prolonged can lead to a suppressed immune system, digestive disorders, memory loss, or heart attack according to WebMD.

In order to live a life of physical, mental, and emotional peace we must be a people of prayer. Without prayer, we are more likely to worry and live a life of anxiety. Not only is it necessary for answers, it is necessary for our health.

Let’s be healthy, let’s pray FIRST about EVERYTHING.

Kasey Scott
Kasey is currently a high school English teacher, whose students are young ladies who are substance dependent and incarcerated. Kasey has a passion to reach into the lives of girls in desperate situations and show them the Hope that is available in Jesus Christ. She also is the VP and Director of Curriculum Design for Edvance Services, an educational services company she co-founded with her husband.

Heart vs. Knowledge

It’s that time of year again, my fold up chair, cooler, and cow bell all stashed in the trunk of my car. Being a football mom is hard work with remembering practice every night, snacks for every game and of course trying to memorize all of the kids names and numbers. I’ve learned a lot in my career as a team mom but the greatest thing I have learned has nothing at all to do with football at all ..... it’s about ones heart. See having a passionate heart trumps all the knowledge in the world.

There are many kids that come out to the football field each week out of obligation because Mom and Dad wanna “start’em young” but then theres those few that come out because they genuinely love the sport. These kids do just about anything to make the play, they may don’t know the technical term for what they are doing but they know the end result and have a goal in mind.

The Lord speaks to us about passion and knowledge on many occasions in the word. /Yet, one of the most well know verses is in Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list......”

See if it weren’t for David's passion, his faith, in the Lord do you really think he would have stepped up to fight Goliath? David was a shepherd and with all due respect I am pretty sure he never took “slay someone with a sling shot 101”. What David did have was a heart full of passion about what he was doing. He knew from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet that he had loved the Lord and that nobody not even an oversized warrior would stand in the way of him and the creator of all that is good! Often times we let things divert us from our passions. Thoughts of inadequacy, “not good enough”, I am not educated in that, all these are straight from the pit hell trying to derail you from the very thing you were created for. See when you stand firm in your passion and you serve out of love, you are a force to be reckoned with. There is nothing that will stop you not even the gnarliest linemen or the biggest warrior that will keep you from fulfilling your hearts desire.

So I challenge you daughters of the most high to live a life of passion not to walk a road where somewhere along the way your passion falls out of your pocket but to wear it proudly as “a seal upon your heart.”

Ashley Mcdougal
Ashley is the Children's pastor for 3N1 Church in Virginia. Her passion is to see the Church being Christ's Church consistently no matter where they are and of course Children!! For more info on 3N1 you can check out their website at http://3n1church.com.