Verse of the week - 20th January 2019
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
Thought on today's verse...
While I approach God with reverence and awe because he is the holy and majestic God, I don't have to fear his presence. Because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I know God is my Abba Father. He longs for me to draw near him. He has shown me his heart by sending Jesus. He has shown me his love by having Jesus die for me. If he loves me that much, then I can trust that his desire is to save and bless me. I don't have to fear his presence or his judgment. As his child, his love has driven fear from my heart and replaced it with love from his abiding presence, the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you for your overwhelming love demonstrated to me in Jesus. I thank you for providing the atoning sacrifice for my sins and for adopting me into your family. Father, please cast all fear from my heart and help me walk confidently with you and for you, with character and purpose. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 13th January 2019
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:4
Thought on today's verse...
When all is said and done, there really isn't a whole lot we can trust. Most of us have been hurt at one time or another by a friend who has betrayed our trust. The world economy is volatile and things can turn sour in just a few days. The weather shifts and changes by the hour. But in our world of change, in our heartbreak and disappointment, there is one constant. We can trust God. We don't have to fear change. He is our anchor that holds in the strongest storms. He is our strength in our worst battles. His word and his promises speak of good things for us. We don't have to be afraid, we can trust in him.
Prayer
Almighty Father, my Deliverer and Strength, with your help and presence I will not fear the days ahead. I praise you for sustaining your people Israel through history. I praise you for preserving your Word, the Scriptures, through persecutions and purges. I praise you and will not be afraid because my life and my future are in your hands. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 6th January 2019
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:9-10
Thought on today's verse...
I guess for those who find themselves in places they shouldn't be, the abiding presence of God might be a bit terrifying. But I find great comfort in knowing that no matter where I go, from the moment of my conception to the day of my death, God is always there. He is there to guide me and sustain me. Even when I'm in places I am not supposed to be, doing things I am not supposed to do, he is still there. I can turn to him in repentance and receive his grace. I can turn to him in need and receive his strength. I can turn to him and know I am not alone.
Prayer
Thank you, Father, for loving me and personally knowing me. Thank you for the assurance that I won't have to face a day without you. Thank you for the comfort of knowing that I will never face my sorrows alone. Thank you for being the strength that sustains me when I don't have the strength to go on. Thank you that when tomorrow dawns, I will be with you no matter what happens during the night. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 30th December 2018
[Jesus said,] "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Thought of the week
This world is a place of struggle. Yes, we can live above the struggle for awhile. We can find a way to simply ignore or re-label the struggle for a time. But in the end, the struggle will find us. But in the midst of struggle, we can remind ourselves that our victory is secure. Jesus has won! We will share in his great triumph. In case you didn't know, the final outcome is already determined and Christians "win big" through Jesus. And this victory is a forever win!
Prayer
Thank you, God, for giving me the victory through Jesus Christ my Lord. I greet the future with anticipation because I know each day brings me closer to you and the glorious future you have planned for all of your children. Until then, I pray that I may never lose sight of that victory and yearn for the day of its arrival! In the name of Jesus, the triumphant Rider on the white horse, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 23rd December 2018
[An angel of the Lord said,] "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:11-14
Thought of the week
The sign to the shepherds was a baby in a feed trough. Pretty potent sign isn't it! The Almighty Creator of the universe sleeping where the sheep and goats have eaten their grain and hay. That God would love us so much as to reduce himself to such an inauspicious beginning reminds us why the angels praise him so. He is glorious and yet he chose not to hide or protect that glory, but instead he shared it so we could find it, too!
Prayer
God of the manger and Ruler of the constellations, I join my heart and my voice with the angels in praise to your glorious and holy name. Your sacrifice is so profound I am awe-struck. You could have chosen any sign to show Jesus to the shepherds, but you chose the manger. Thank you for revealing yourself in such a common place so I could find your sign and come home to you. I pray in Jesus' name with all my love. Amen.
Verse of the week - 16th December 2018
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. Psalm 130:7
Thought of the week
What do we have here that is unfailing and inexhaustible? Nothing except God's unfailing love. Even when we disappoint, hurt, offend, or rebel against him, he still loves us. While we were sinners he sent Jesus to redeem us from sin and death. Why trust anything or anyone else with our future? Let's lean on God's unfailing love!
Prayer
Abba Father, loving God, I place my hopes, dreams, and future in your hands. I trust that you are at work for my eternal good. I believe that you alone offer freedom from all that enslaves me. Thank you for your forgiveness of my sins and your promise of life forever with you. But most of all, dear Father, thank you for your unfailing love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 9th December 2018
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Thought of the week
What do you see most clearly today? Is it what is seen or what is unseen? No matter our belief system, we ultimately have to trust what we can't see. Even the most atheistic scientist trusts gravity, breathes air, and depends upon principles s/he cannot see until they produce results in the tangible world of human perception. But as Christians, we don't believe the seen world is as real as the unseen world. The seen world is subject to disease, disaster, decay, disorder, and death. I don't know about you, but if it isn't any more permanent than that, it's not very real. I want something to hang on to. That requires I look past the seen to find my Father who is unseen. He is the one who guarantees the unseen!
Prayer
Eternal Father and God of all peoples, help me see more clearly the spiritual, eternal, and real world of the unseen. I am not seeking novelty, nor am I on some quest for the bizarre. I only want to know you, your truth, and your character so I may more appropriately display them to others and help them come find you in the world of the unseen. Please grant me greater success at reaching others, to your glory. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 2nd December 2018
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 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. Hebrews 1:1-2
Thought of the week
God is a speaking God. He loves us and has chosen to get his message to us in words. First there were the patriarchs and great prophets. Then there was the written record in the Scriptures. But God's greatest message, his most powerful words, were not really words at all, but a person named Jesus of Nazareth, who is Christ and Lord of all. For us, his Church, to be what he wants us to be, we must not just look at Scripture, we must also look at him. He is the key to understanding what Scripture means and how it is to be lived.
Prayer
Holy Father, help me to see Jesus and his work and purpose more clearly as I open your Book and seek to understand your will. Fill me with your Spirit, so that I may greet each decision awakened to the answer to "What would Jesus do?" In the name of Jesus, my Lord and Saviour I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 25th November 2018
The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives. 2 Peter 3:10-11
Thought of the week
Holiness is that forgotten character virtue that is the Christian's reflection of God, his or her holy and righteous Father. In a day when grace is so easily cheapened, when anything goes just as long as we want to be buddies with Jesus, Peter's words should shock us into reverence — the holy commitment to set our lives apart from the evil and satanic sludge that defiles our world and to offer our bodies, hearts, and minds to do his will and reflect his character.
Prayer
Holy and Righteous Father, teach me to do your will and reflect your character while offering your grace to others. May the movements of my heart, the thoughts of my mind, and the actions of my life be pleasing to you and reflect your holiness and grace. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 18th November 2018
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 and 26
Thought of the week
Our thanksgiving arises from the nature of God and his glory and goodness. The steadfast reason we give thanks is because God is good and his love is inexhaustible, beyond decay, and never ending.
Prayer
O great Lover of my soul, thank you for sending Jesus as the demonstration of your love. I love you Father. I love you for who you are and what you have done. I love you for what you have promised. I love you for the blessings you shower upon me. I love you for giving me hope. I love you because you first loved me. I love you because you are worthy of all love. But I confess that my love is not as strong as yours, so please, fill me with your love by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, your Son and my Saviour, I lift my heart to you. Amen.
Verse of the week - 11th November 2018
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8
Thought of the week
Giving thanks is more than being thankful to God, it is letting others know of his gracious works so they too can come to know him as Father, Redeemer, and Victorious Lord. Then others can join their voices with our own in a chorus of thanksgiving from the hearts those God's love has redeemed.
Prayer
Holy God, Almighty King, bless all those who serve you in difficult places today. I especially am thankful for all the missionaries in other cultures sharing the grace of Jesus with people who need to know you as Abba Father. Empower their words, protect their lives and families, and bless their efforts with fruit. Please help me to understand that true thankfulness involves sharing your grace with others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 4th November 2018
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
Thought of the week
We sing when we are happy. We sing when we are heartbroken. Today we sing out of gratitude. God is not only worthy of all of our praise, he is worthy of all of our thankfulness. But the basis of all our songs is Jesus, and the proclamation of the good news that brings life to us through him. As that message, that word of Christ fills our hearts, we are tuned to be thankful children of the Most High.
Prayer
I am so thankful today, Lord, for all the many blessings you have poured into my life. Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness give me hope for the future. Your gift of Jesus gives me life today and promises life tomorrow. The incredible physical blessings, as well as the blessings of family and friends are wonderful. But the greatest of all blessings is the assurance that I will one day see you face to face and share your glory presence forever. In Jesus' name I thank and praise you. Amen.
Verse of the week - 28th October 2018
Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28
Thought of the week
We are receiving the triumphant and glorious victory of God in his Kingdom. We will join with the angels and the saints of old and live with the Father forever in victorious and never ending joy. But this Kingdom doesn't just begin when Jesus returns. This Kingdom has started now in his Church, his people, those in whom God's will is cherished and obeyed. So our worship should be filled with awe that the holy God of Israel is also the lowly God in Jesus who has redeemed us and made us to be a holy people unto himself. What else can we do but worship with heartfelt thanksgiving and wonder struck awe.
Prayer
Holy and Righteous Father, all things are yours. Thank you for sharing your blessings, your promises, your hope, and your victory with us in Jesus. Please help me to live a more thankful, victorious life before my unbelieving friends and as an example to my children so they may come to share your glorious Kingdom and ultimate victory. In Jesus' mighty name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 21st October 2018
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
Thought of the week
Everything! All! No matter what we say, no matter what we do, it is to be offered as a gift of thanks to God with Jesus' name, power, and honor attached! This makes all of life our worship and thanksgiving to God. There's no such thing as going to worship, if we live, if we talk, if we act it's worship and should always involve thanksgiving. So how has your worship been lately?
Prayer
Almighty and Most Holy God, I want all of my life to be lived out to your glory, a living testament of thanks to you for the grace you have given me in Jesus. While I do not always do this as well as I would like, I lovingly offer you my words, my actions, my heart and my mind to bring you glory by doing your will. Please, use your Spirit to remove the areas of self-deception from my life so that weakness and hypocrisy will not rob my discipleship of its intended worship of your majesty. In the name of Jesus, my gracious Lord, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 14th October 2018
Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Thought of the week
Some things you don't change, swap, or update. In an age when computer processors make major leaps every few months and software companies release new upgrades every year, we get programmed into looking for the new and improved version of everything. The simple but profound truth is that Jesus is Lord. No update needed. No rival worthy. No change necessary. In fact, if we stray from this as the basis of our life, we put all we hold dear at risk. But if we continue, if we grow, if we root ourselves in this truth and make it the undergirding reality of our lives, then our future is secure and our victory assured!
Prayer
Holy God, I thank you for the simple, challenging and enduring truth of Jesus' Lordship. Through you Spirit, I pray that you will conform my life to more closely reflect his lordship in my work, my family, and daily influence. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 7th October 2018
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Thought of the week
The Holy Spirit is God's abiding gift, God's seal and promise. The Spirit is our assurance that what he began with Jesus' sacrificial death and our participation in it through faith and baptism, he will bring to completion at Jesus' return. But the world cannot understand this great promise, just like it cannot understand much of Scripture. Without the gift of the Holy Spirit, their eyes only see what they can touch with their fingers and cannot fully see what is true in God's heart and revealed in his Word.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for sending Jesus. Jesus, I thank you for sending the Spirit. Spirit, I thank you for never leaving me alone. As I am filled with the Spirit, O Lord, so fill me more and more until my will and my life more perfectly reflect your desires and character. Use me to bless others just as your presence now blesses me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 30th September 2018
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John 3:20-21
Thought of the week
Truth is seen in what it does and whom it seeks. Let's live as children of light and seek after the Father who dwells in inapproachable and glorious light so we might be the light of the world.
Prayer
Father of every heavenly light, I ask you to correct me gently as I place myself, my imperfections, failures and sins in your presence. Forgive and cleanse me by the blood of Jesus so that I might be spotless and holy and blameless in your sight. O Lord, I don't just want to be forgiven, I want to be useful to you and your church. Please help me find my way to usefulness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 23rd September 2018
This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-10
Thought of the week
I don't know about you, but my most difficult decisions are not about choosing between good and bad. I usually know what is good and what is bad, especially when bad involves evil. My toughest choices are when I have to choose between good, better, and best. My love for God usually overcomes my weakness and I choose good over bad. But unless I've placed myself before God's word and surrendered my heart to him in prayer, I have a very tough time choosing between good and best. Yet I'm convinced that much of what God would love to do through us today goes lacking because we've settled for good when he longs to lead us to best!
Prayer
Gracious and Almighty God, teach me your ways and give me your heart as I strive to not only love you, but to know your will and have insight into your ways. Help me to know the best things to do today and use my time in the best way possible to live out your will in my work, with my family, among my friends, and especially before those who do not know Christ as their Saviour. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 16th September 2018
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
Thought of the week
For most who can read this Internet message, the sentiments of this verse seem foreign. But among those who closely study persecution, believers in Christ are enduring perhaps the greatest amount of persecution in the history of Christianity. For those of us who live in cozy places where belief is tolerated and Christians are just considered "unhip" or a bit out of touch, we need to be thankful that our lives make enough of a distinction from our culture to be noticed, even if it's a bit unfavorable. But at the same time, we need to pray for other believers throughout the world who are undergoing the wrath of hell for the faith.
Prayer
Great Deliverer, we have many who call on your name with faith in Jesus who face persecution and hardship every day. I pray that they will not lose heart and give up their confidence. I pray that you will bring deliverance from this time of persecution. I pray that their sufferings will be the source of powerful witness so others will come to see the great value of Jesus and our allegiance to him. This I pray in Jesus' precious and holy name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 9th September 2018
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25
Thought of week
Fear is such a paralyzing emotion. It robs us vitality, decision making ability, and strength. Courage helps us step out of fear's paralysis and turn its nervous edge into power. But this kind of courage comes to us fully only when we know that all Satan and his allies can really have of us is our bodies. He cannot take our mind, our attitude, our faith, and most of all, he cannot take our relationship with God given to us through Jesus.
Prayer
O God my Savior and great Redeemer, thank you for triumphing through Jesus over all that I fear. You have not only given me a hero I can trust, but a hope by which I can live victoriously. In the name of my Conquering King, Jesus, the victorious Rider on the white horse, I thank you. Amen.
Verse of the week - 2nd September 2018
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
Thought of the week
The great truth about Jesus' empty tomb is not that just that he is risen, but that he is living! His victory over death wasn't short lived, it was ultimate. He now lives to make intercession for us until he can return and bring us to his home. Our life is hidden with him so that no one and nothing can take it from us. When he appears, we will get to share in his never ending glory. How can we not praise God for such grace!
Prayer
Almighty God, I praise you from the bottom of my heart for your incredible and glorious grace which has brought eternal victory out of mortal anguish. Thank you for paying the price to make it so. You are marvelous beyond my words. You are worthy of more praise than all your children's voices together can tell. My hope will live forever because he is risen and reigning as Lord. To you be all honor, glory, and majesty forever, and ever, in the name of Jesus your Son and my Lord, Amen!
Verse of the week - 26th August 2018
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1
Thought of the week
Don't you have your hands full with today? Don't you find yourself distracted from the urgent and important things of today when you worry about the problems of tomorrow? Don't you occasionally find yourself missing an opportunity today while fantasizing about all the possibilities down the road? Isn't it a waste of time to be anxious about those things over which you have no influence? So why worry so much about tomorrow, and next week, and...? Let's walk with God today and trust in his faithfulness for us tomorrow.
Prayer
Holy God, give me the strength to seize the moment and live the life today that will please you and bless others. Help my heart feel the urgency of today and act with boldness, kindness, and salvation instead of worrying so much about what may happen tomorrow or next week. Give me the immediacy of the moment I see in your son's ministry when he walked the earth. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 19th August 2018
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12
Thought of the week
This statement is both a reminder of God's glorious grace and also of our need to share that grace with others. Life is such a precious gift, it would be a shame for anyone we know and love to miss out. God gave up the life of his Son so that in finding him, we too could share in his life.
Prayer
Father of all nations, resurrect in your people a desire to spread your grace to every language, tribe, nation, and people. Empower us with your Spirit so that we will speak the Gospel of Jesus with boldness and respect to a world who does not know him. Use us to help others come to life in the Son! Through the name of Jesus your Son, we pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 12th August 2018
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Thought of the week
Where can we go when all the walls fall and all the armies crumble and all hope is lost? To the eternal God, who is our Father. He preserved Israel through the most difficult of times, protected the Bible from those who would eradicate it, and has led his Church through troubles and triumphs through the centuries. He will do the same with us until he brings us home to himself.
Prayer
My Rock, My Hope and My Protector, I thank you for preserving my life. I thank you for hearing my cries for help and healing. I thank you for guiding my feet into ways that have been a blessing. Please, O God, stay close by as I face the stresses and challenges in my life. Through your Spirit, enable me to grow and be an example to others as I pass through life's storm. In the name of Jesus, my Saviour and Lord, I ask it. Amen.
Verse of the week - 5th August 2018
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7
Thought of the week
In a universe so vast, what is our little planet? In a planet so diverse and so full of life, what are simple everyday people? Among all the billions of people alive and who have lived before us, what significance do I have? Jesus reminds us that our significance is great — not because we are so important, but because we are known personally by God. We don't have to be afraid; we are known and loved by the One who is and was and is to come!
Prayer
Eternal God, Almighty Father, Tender Shepherd, you already know my heart. You know where I struggle with sin; please empower and forgive me. You know my fears; please encourage and strengthen me. You know my immaturity; please nurture and mature me. You know my weakness and disease, please comfort and heal me. Holy God, I am both awed and comforted that you know me and love me. Thank you! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 29th July 2018
For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4
Thought of the week
Jesus left heaven and made himself a servant. He did so to enable the last to be first, the servant to be the greatest, and the least to be the most important. The arrogant, the abusive and the powerful have found it easy to reject the call of Christ for centuries — after all, Jesus died for the sinful and the weak and they're "important" and have no need for a Saviour. However, those who are humble find Jesus to be Saviour, Conqueror, King, and Friend. The Lord delights in such people and glad to share his salvation with them.
Prayer
Precious Servant and Almighty King, thank you for serving us at great cost and showing us that we can reign with you. I look forward to the day every other knee will join mine as I bow before you as my Lord. Until that day, I pray that you will use me to bless those so often forgotten by our busy and glamour-intoxicated world. To our God be glory and praise for sending you, Jesus my Lord. In the holy name of Jesus I offer my praise. Amen.
Verse of the week - 22nd July 2018
The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us. Isaiah 33:22
Thought of the week
When we think about God's being our judge, we normally think of falling into judgment. Isaiah reminds us that God's being our judge means that he will be there to judge us based on his will, his rule, and his grace. He is on our side and is looking to save, not condemn. Using the New Testament idiom, when we stand before our Judge we see instead our Father.
Prayer
Holy and Righteous Judge, I am glad that my fate, my future, and my life is in your hands. I know about your love for me because of the gift of Jesus. I know about your desire to save me because of your loving grace. I know your demand for holiness is met by the sacrifice of your Son. So God, I gladly and willingly trust my life, my soul, and my eternal future to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 15th July 2018
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. Psalm 119:160
Thought of the week
The requirements of morality and holiness are not temporary or fleeting because they reflect the nature of our Holy God who is eternal. They don't shift with the wishes of culture, but are true across cultures and times and wishes. We do not adapt God's will to our times, but we redeem our times by adapting our wills to his truth.
Prayer
Righteous God Almighty, may my life reflect your character and nature in compassion, holiness, and justice. I know you are forever and I want to invest my life in what lasts. Give me wisdom to see through the fleeting temptations of today and to do what honors you beyond my lifetime. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 8th July 2018
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130
Thought of the week
Sometimes the right path is not so difficult to find; we just need to know where to begin our search — the reading of God's words. The right way is very seldom just the property of the bright, wise, and scholarly; it can be very clear for any of us if we will choose to look for it!
Prayer
Holy Father, thank you for making your will known through your words in Scripture. Bless me as I open your Word. May I find not only the answer to my questions, but may I find you and your precious will. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 1st July 2018
This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it — the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:2-3
Thought of the week
In a universe of billions of stars, think of the power of God who made them and knows each of their names. Think of all he knows that we don't. Think of all he has seen that is not in our history books. Think of all he has done and can do. Add to this that he invites us to speak to him about the things of our heart and you understand the great expanse of his grace and the very limited knowledge of our minds.
Prayer
Almighty God, there are so many things about which I am grossly ignorant. There are so many things in my world that I can't keep up. There are so many things about you that I long to know but I can't begin to comprehend. Please, dear Father, give me more of you: Help me know more about you so that I may personally know you more completely. You are beyond me, so please deal gently with me as you reveal yourself. I look forward with anticipation to knowing you face to face in heaven, the Unsearchable and the Almighty God, my Abba Father. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 24th June 2018
The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
Thought of the week
Have you ever wondered how many potentially good friends you may have lost simply by judging them on your first impression of them? I'm amazed at how the first impression very seldom tells us much of substance about another person. We're not really going to be able to evaluate people properly until the Lord reveals at judgment what is really in their hearts. Don't you think that we should give them time to reveal what is in their hearts before we make a decision about them?! Let's don't just look on the outward appearance!
Prayer
Father, you alone know each heart. Please help me be more patient with others before forming an opinion about them. Please give me eyes to see them as Jesus does. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 17th June 2018
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
Thought of the week
What we know and what we believe are not all that significant if they do not show up in the way we live our daily lives. Pure and simple, faith not lived out in everyday life is not faith; it is facade. Just as Jesus had told us to put into practice what we have learned from him, his brother James reminds us the same thing: when we learn the truth of God's word, there is only one thing left for us to do: put it into practice!
Prayer
Holy God, help me put into practice what I know is your will and your truth today. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 10th June 2018
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
Thought of the week
Love that surpasses knowledge. That's very difficult to explain, but when you have loved your spouse for decades and he or she is as close to you as any bodily organ, you experience what this means. When you love a child and do what you never dreamed you could do for another human being, you understand this phrase. And when you stand before God, adopted as a full heir of all his great riches, a full sibling to Jesus Christ the Lord, and know you are seen as holy, without reproach, and blameless, you begin to understand this phrase.
Prayer
Holy and incredible God, help me to know in my soul the love that is greater than words and knowledge so that I may not only be like you, but that I may know you in experience just as I know you in faith. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 3rd June 2018
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
Thought of the week
How can I not forgive a brother or sister for whom Christ died, when I know what God paid to forgive me?
Prayer
Father, I commit today to release any grudge or bitterness that I have against one of your children. I am sorry for not reflecting your grace and mercy which you lavished on me. Abba Father, I need the help of your Holy Spirit to relinquish my claim on the wrongs committed against me and to treat those who have hurt me as full siblings in your family. Please empower me as I commit to follow your example in forgiving, even when it is hard. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 27th May 2018
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19
Thought of the week
Have a brake on your tongue; hit the throttle on your ears. Let your angry email sit three days before responding and make sure you read it and edit it before you send it. Keep you mouth shut and your ears open. They all say the same thing. Now if we would just do it, wouldn't the Christian community so much more blessed!
Prayer
Mighty and Holy God, you are incredible — beyond my comprehending. How you put up with all the drivel, senseless and hurtful speech that I and your other children spew out is beyond my understanding. I ask that you release the Holy Spirit to convict my heart and guard my lips from any form of hurtful speech. I want my voice to be as much yours as my heart is. This I pray through Jesus. Amen.
Verse of the week - 20th May 2018
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17
Thought for the week
How do you view God? Is he someone looking for a way to condemn you? Is he an out of touch old man who doesn't really know what it's like in our modern world? Is he too holy to soil himself with the concerns of mere mortals and has left it up to us to work everything out for ourselves? No. NO. NO! God chose to enter our world and experience it from the side of mortality. God chose to enter our world, not to condemn us, or it, but to redeem it and each of us. Jesus is the great reminder that God longs to save us, not condemn us. Thank God for God! Thank God for Jesus who was and is God with us.
Prayer
Holy and Heavenly God, thank you that you live with those of us who are contrite and repentant and who long for your presence. You know we are only mortal, but you love us. You know that we are flawed, but you redeemed us. You know that we are not perfect, but sent Jesus as the perfect sacrifice to save us. Thank you. Through my Savior I offer my sincerest gratitude and praise. Amen.
Verse of the week - 13th May 2018
I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24
Thought for the week
How important is grace? Paul said that telling about that grace was more important to him than his life! In fact, that was his life after his conversion to Jesus!
Prayer
Almighty God, Holy Father, thank you for your lavish grace demonstrated and fully expressed in sending Jesus to die for me. As your child, and in thanks to your sacrificial gift, I pledge to you my life, my love, and my all. Through Jesus. Amen.
Verse of the week - 6th May 2018
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15
Thought for the week
We are not alone. God has given us each other to live our lives for him and get us back home to him. Along the way, we want to share each others burdens, soar on each others joys, and love each others hurts. There is no such thing as a solo Christian.
Prayer
Loving Father, lead me to the people today who need their burdens lifted and their joys shared. Let me be your presence in the world of your children today. This I ask in Jesus name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 29th April 2018
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Thought of the week
Victory! Ultimate Victory!! If you don't have the answer for life's biggest test, death, then you have no victory. The Super Bowl and World Series are played every year. The champion is a victor for only one year. But a Christian is a champion forever because in Jesus, a Christian has victory over death.
Prayer
Thank you God for giving me victory in Jesus Christ. In my daily struggles with sin, please make his will triumphantly present in me now, just as it will be when he raises me from death and brings me home to you. Through my Triumphant King I ask it. Amen.
Verse of the week - 22nd April 2018
Jesus said, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:28-30
Thought of the week
"He's got the whole world in his hand." Yes, the song may be true, but in a much more special way, God holds his children of faith in his hand. As long as their lives are entrusted to him and his grace, no one or nothing can steal them away.
Prayer
O Lord, thank you for your steadfast and secure love. Thank you for the assurance that my future rests in your hands. Thank you for holding me in your protective grace. May I live today with confidence and joy knowing that no matter where I find myself, you are there to uphold and sustain me. For this grace, I thank you in Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 15th April 2018
Since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20
Thought of the week
The touch of the Masters hand is all around us. We see it in the order, beauty, and dazzling variety of creation. The great expanse of space, with its billions of stars, along with the incredible world of the microscopic are all testimony to an Orderer of great creativity. God has left his fingerprints all over his world so we can know that he has been here and will not abandon the work of his hands.
Prayer
O God, thank you for your creation. Thank you for its beauty and variety. Thank you for the changing seasons and the beauty of Spring. But most of all, thank you for choosing to show yourself to us, your creatures. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 8th April 2018
It is written, "As surely as I live," says the Lord, "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God." Romans 14:11
Thought of the week
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." "Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!" Yes, every knee will bow. But ours already do. We live in anticipation of the day when all peoples will bow before our King. Until that day, let's do all we can to make sure as many as we can influence bow before Jesus on that Day in joy and not on in fear!
Prayer
Father, I thank you for saving me. May my anticipation of the day of Jesus' victory move me to be your agent of reconciliation so others are ready for that day and will welcome it with joy. Give me eyes to see those who need to come to Jesus today. Through him I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 1st April 2018
You know that is was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19
Thought of the week
If value is determined by price, we are incredibly valuable. God took the most precious treasure of heaven to buy us out of sin and death and adopt us into his family. Silver and gold pale in comparison to that value.
Prayer
Holy God, may I live each day more aware of my inestimable value to you. May my words, thoughts and actions be permeated with your sense of my worth — not so that I may seem important to others, but so that I may live in holiness and honor to your precious gift to me. Through him I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 25th March 2018
God has chosen you to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. Colossians 1:27-28
Thought of the week
Christ lives in me. Until I can become completely like him through the power of the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18), he lives in me. Until I can go home to be with him he lives in me (John 14:1-21). Everywhere I go and everything I do, he is in me. Our goal is to have him formed more perfectly in us, not just live in us. Of course, that will be done by his power and through the gift of his Spirit!
Prayer
O God, may the presence of Jesus within me stir me to do your work today. May your abiding grace, through the presence of your gracious Son, call me to your character and your concerns. O Jesus, please make my heart like our Father's. Amen.
Verse of the week - 18th March 2018
Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25
Thought of the week
Jesus didn't just come and die for us. He wasn't just raised to give us life. No, as incredible as those gifts are, he adds another blessing to all he has done for us: until he can come and take us home to God, Jesus lives to ask God for grace in our behalf. Jesus is not only our Savior, he is our defender and brother at the Father's side!
Prayer
Precious Saviour, my Jesus, how I love you. You sacrificed heaven for me. You gave up dignity to redeem me. You destroyed death to assure me. But today, I am most thankful and most aware that every prayer I offer and every step I take you are in the Father's presence to bless me. Thank you. Amen.
Verse of the week - 11th March 2018
The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10
Thought of the week
"The Friend of Sinners." Of all the things Jesus was called, I believe that was his favorite. Come to think of it, I believe it's my favorite, too!
Prayer
Father, while I know you hate sin and the havoc it creates in our lives, I am so thankful that when you came to earth you were not our judge but our Savior, you were our friend. I promise to live today more aware of your love for the lost because I know what it means to be found. Through Jesus my Lord, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 4th March 2018
Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Thought of the week
Never alone! What a promise. God will go with him, and us, through all the seasons of life, through all our ups and downs, through temptations and triumphs, even through death (cf. Psalm 139). So we can take courage and feel his strength. We are not alone!
Prayer
O God who is and was and is to come, thank you for being there and staying there when all others forsake and leave. You are the one constant in my life so full of change. Help me become more steadfast and faithful in my commitments and relationships to honor you and to learn more about you. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 25th February 2018
"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
Thought of the week
No matter how hard we try to perceive the awesomeness of God, he is still God and we are not. We must forever remember that the original, and still primary, sin was to try to become like God in terms of knowledge and understanding. We are to know God, but we can never fully know everything about him. We are to take on his character, but we cannot approach his majesty, righteousness, or holiness on our own. This is both exciting and frustrating. But, the promise remains that one day we will be like him and see him as he is (1 John 3:1-3) and know fully even as we are fully known (1 Corinthians 13:11-12).
Prayer
Tender Shepherd, thank you for being so patient with me when I cannot fully understand and appreciate your holy and transcendent character. Thank you for sending Jesus so I can know you better and trust you to know me better than I know myself. I look forward to seeing you face to face when Jesus comes to bring me home. Until that day, please know I love you. In the name of Jesus I offer my thanks and praise. Amen.
Verse of the week - 18th February 2018
He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. Job 23:10-11
Thought of the week
How we long for this to be our true confession. We are not yet gold, but long to be. We are not yet fully following his steps, but are trying. We have tried to not turn aside, but we sometimes falter. Thank God for his grace until our intentions and desires are fulfilled in our discipleship!
Prayer
Magnificent Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, I confess my sin and my inadequacy in following your paths. Forgive me as I commit my life to serve you in holiness and joy. Thank you for your grace which covers my sin and perfect in me the character of Jesus. Through him I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 11th February 2018
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26
Thought of the week
What can truly fulfill and sustain us? Maybe the best way to answer that question is by asking another: What can we keep when our bodies are placed silently in their graves at death? Only our relationship with God and his people lasts beyond the grave. If he is what lasts, then how can we displace him for anything that doesn't?
Prayer
Mighty God, Strength of Israel, Keeper of the Covenant and Fulfillment Maker of every prophecy, you are my hope, my strength and my future. I live this day in wide open amazement that the Keeper of the Universe knows my name, hears my voice, and cares for me. Thank you for being my past, my present, and my future, the Great I Am. Through my Saviour I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 4th February 2018
God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
Thought of the week
Power! We like that concept. When it is godly power, might does make right because godly power is accompanied by love and self-discipline. These three together make a person's life effective, constructive, and corrective. Live life to its fullest: not as a closet Christian afraid of standing true and firm, but one who lives by God's power, shares God's love, and displays God's virtues.
Prayer
Holy God, you are without compare in your majesty and might. I have no right to come into your presence and yet you have invited me here by your love and your grace. You are my Rock, my Fortress, and my Strength. I depend upon your guidance and your mercy to sustain me through my storms and reclaim me from my stumbles. Holy God, you are without compare and I worship you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 28th January 2018
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18
Thought of the week
"Talk is cheap!" "You can tell me with your words, but I'll show it with my life." "Put your life where your mouth is." We know the slogans; now let's love in truth. In a world where barter has replaced sacrificial and steadfast love, let's go against the grain and truly love in our words and actions.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess to you that at times I am selfish. Other times my intentions are good but my follow through and faithfulness are lacking. Use your Spirit to empower and enable me to be what I hope to become to your glory. May your love be seen in my actions of genuine concern today. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 21st January 2018
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3
Thought of the week
"Hang in there!" There are few traits more important than perseverance. Most important accomplishments in life happen because of perseverance. Most "luck" occurs when we've persevered long enough for the "magical moment" to come along — in other words, I don't believe in luck. Edison said it best: life's greatest feats, the world's greatest discoveries, his own most fantastic inventions are "1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." "Hang in there!" and see the glory of God come through in you, not because of luck, but because of God's grace, love, and Providence!
Prayer
Unchangeable and Unshakable God, through the friends you have sent into my life and by the power of your gift, the Holy Spirit, help me to stand up under trial and prove my character true with perseverance when under fire. Give my faith courage and endurance so that my life shows forth your enduring strength. I pray in the name of him who remained faithful even unto death, Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Verse of the week - 14th January 2018
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galations 6:7-8
Though of the week
Isn't it incredible how huge trees grow out of tiny seeds! This principle runs throughout all of life. We can never completely get away from the seeds we sow. So let's don't try to fool ourselves while we're trying to do a "snow job" on God. Let's make sure the seeds we sow are the ones we want sprouting up!
Prayer
O Eternal God, who lived before time began and who will be the Great I AM when time is no more, bless the seeds I sow that they may bear fruit to you and bless those I love. Through Jesus, the grain of wheat who died and was buried so that true life may flower forth. Amen.
Verse of the week - 7th January 2018
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
Thought of the week
We are creatures of the earth. Yes, we are much more than that, but occasionally we need to be reminded of that! We can't truly understand existence before time, yet before the beginning of time as we know it, God existed — he has revealed himself as "I Am," the one who was and who is and who is to come. Before there was an ordered universe to provide the basis of our existence, God is "I Am." He had existence before, beyond, and without our created universe. We can't even truly comprehend this in its entirety. That's why every new beginning — whether it is a day, a week, a year, or a millennium — should begin with God. He alone is the ultimate Genesis, our beginning.
Prayer
Almighty Creator and God of all of the universe, I praise you for your incomparable power and your incomprehensible glory. As I begin this new year, I know that my future rests in your will, your grace, and your salvation. Please go with me as I journey toward this future. Please be glorified in the way I live my life today, this year, and for as long as you give me earthly life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 31st December 2017
Be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2
Thought of the week
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. If we are to sincerely flatter God by being like him, imitation may be the most costly form of flattery as well. You see, love for God is never something that occurs just in our minds or our hearts. Love is something we do for another — it is action. John said in 1 John 4 that we must love in both our deeds and our words. Love means to give ourselves up — what we want, our rights, our desires — to honor God and serve others. This is a kind of love that can change the world, or a marriage, or a family.
Prayer
Abba Father, I will never fully understand how you could love me so much that you would allow your son to die for me, as my sacrifice. Please help me love others sacrificially. I know the power to do this is not within me, so please pour your love into my heart so that I may share that love with others. Through Jesus, my brother and my sacrifice, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 24th December 2017
Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13
Thought of the week
When Jesus came the first time, he came to reveal God (John 1:18). As wonderful, powerful, and gracious as he was in his earthly ministry, he did not fully reveal all who he is. Our hope is tied to his return. When he comes this time, he won't come to reveal God, but to reveal himself — the conquering Lord, the Rider on the white horse. Every knee will bow. We will get to see him as he really and fully is — Immanuel in power and grace, triumphant in every way. When we set our hope on Jesus' grace when he returns, we can be confidently ready for active service to our king today. We can live under his leadership with obedience and praise today.
Prayer
O Almighty God, I long for the day when I get to see Jesus face to face coming with the angels in power. Until that time, fasten my heart in hope to the glory Jesus will share with me on that day, and please empower me to live as one who knows that victory is mine in Jesus. Jesus, through your powerful name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 17th December 2017
Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17-17
Thought of the week
Do you find it easy to replace service to those in need with religious rituals? I know I do! But God wants us to not get so caught up in talking about him and celebrating his deeds, that we forget we're suppose to care for others like he does. Whether it is Jesus defining his ministry in Luke 4:18-19 or James talking about the kind of piety that pleases God (Jas. 1:26-27), we must realize true faith is treating others as God would. Today's verse defines what God does and instructs us to live in the same way.
Prayer
O Great God of all comfort, open my eyes today to see those who need your love and give me the attentiveness, time, and compassion to serve them. May Jesus' work be seen in my life today. Amen.
Verse of the week - 10th December 2017
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age... Titus 2:11-12
Thought of the week
In a world which has no absolutes, in a world in search of moral standards, salvation by the costly grace of God beckons us to change our lifestyles in response to God's grace. Anyone who receives grace and refuses to pursue righteousness demonstrates his/her ignorance or hardness of heart. In our day, in our time, to be saved means to pursue righteousness — not so that we may earn our salvation, but so that God's saving grace will not be fruitless in us.
Prayer
Holy Father, I confess that I live in a confusing time. Satan is always distorting the distinction between right and wrong, good and evil, moral and immoral. Because you have been so gracious with me, may my life today reflect the righteousness you gave me through Jesus. "May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart, be pleasing in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer." Through Jesus, my atoning sacrifice I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 3rd December 2017
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" — which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:22-23
Thought of the week
God had repeatedly promised it. Men, women, and angels had long anticipated it. Now, in Jesus, it happens. God is with us. Jesus is Immanuel. We live on a visited planet, touched by the very presence of God among us. And it was just as the prophets of old had said.
Prayer
LORD God, my heavenly Father, thank you for keeping your promises, especially when it was so incredibly costly for you to do so. I want to know you better, O God, not just as someone I study, but as someone I encounter in my daily life. Please make your presence known as I seek you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 26th November 2017
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God... John 1:12
Thought of the week
Isn't it incredible that we are called children of God!? But that is exactly what we are! (cf. 1 John 3:1-3) We are God's children. Our Father created the universe with its billions and billions of planets. Our Father paints a new sunset everyday and chases away the darkness every morning. Our Father not only loves us, but claims us as his own and will bring us to his eternal home. Why? Because we heard his message in Jesus. Because we received his grace offered in his Son. Incredible! Glorious! Grace!
Prayer
Abba Father, thank you for claiming me as your child through Jesus, in whose name I praise and thank you. Amen.
Verse of the week - 19th November 2017
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:11
Thought of the week
Jesus came to his own things — the world he had created and the land he had promised his people — and his very own people didn't receive him. Sometimes we are blinded by our desires and dreams for Jesus and we really miss what he wants for us and from us. Let's not let the following be true in our lives. "Jesus came to me, but I wasn't ready to receive him. I had other things I wanted to do and other things I wanted to experience before I fully surrendered my heart to him." Each time we put off surrendering our will to Jesus, each time we push him away as Lord, we allow our hearts to harden and it becomes easier and easier to push him away. Now, while our hearts are still attentive to his grace, let's renew our commitment to him afresh and completely offer him hearts and lives for his glory and grace.
Prayer
Holy God, I surrender my heart to your will. Precious Jesus, now more than ever in my life, I recognize you as my Lord and want to serve you with my life. Please forgive me for the times that have resisted your leading or turned away from your demands. I know you left everything, and gave up everything, to save me. So now, please mold me into the person you want me to be and use me in ways that bless others and bring you glory. Amen.
Verse of the week - 12th November 2017
No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only [Son], who is at the Father's side, has made him known. John 1:18
Thought of the week
Jesus is God's greatest message. He not only proclaims and declares God's love, mercy, and grace, he has made it known. Only Jesus can display God to us fully, for he is one with the Father. Yet when we "see" Jesus ministering in the Gospels, we see God. If we want to know how God feels about us, all we have to do is look at how Jesus ministers to others. If we want to know what God would do for us, we can notice what Jesus does to bless others. Jesus is our window to the Father's heart. So as this year winds down, and as you stand in the afterglow of Christmas, why not make a commitment to get to know Jesus better in this coming year by spending more time with him in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). If you do, you will better know God!
Prayer
Thank you, Father, for giving me a window to your heart through the life and ministry of Jesus. Please bless me as I seek to know you better by knowing, understanding, and following Jesus more passionately. I pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.
Verse of the week - 5th November 2017
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3
Thought of the week
"Fast away the old year passes..." But we can be new and fresh and clean (cf. 2 Cor. 4:17). Kingdom people are those who have been born fresh and new through the power of the Spirit and the grace of God (cf. John 3:3-7; Titus 3:3-7; John 1:11). So as we close out the old year, with its good things and bad, achievements and failures, successes and disappointments, let's approach the New Year as Kingdom people. God's mercies are new every morning and our lives can be made new everyday by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Yes, we have been born again. But each sunrise offers us the opportunity to be made new, to live in a fresh new way, as God's grace rekindles our hopes and the Holy Spirit makes us new as we trust in Jesus our Lord.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you are holy and righteous. I confess that as hard as I have tried and as much as I have wanted to be holy and righteous, without your grace and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, I fail. Thank you for your forgiveness. Please make me new. As I stand on the threshold of a new year, please empower me beyond my weaknesses and besetting sins. Open my eyes to your work in the world around me and use me in your work of grace. Fire my passion to live fully for your Kingdom and my King, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 29th October 2017
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Thought of the week
We all like "do-overs" or second chances. God does much better than that! He allows us to become new again. Being the "God of new things" he can even make us new. Beyond forgiveness, beyond cleansing, he makes us holy through Jesus. Let's use the opportunity of a New Year as a springboard for living a life fresh and new and alive for God!
Prayer
O LORD, thank you for a New Year and a fresh start. Please give me wisdom and strength to serve you with integrity and faithfulness in this coming year. I pray that your work be done in my life as I offer myself, my plans, and my future to you. I pray this through Jesus my intercessor and Lord. Amen.
Verse of the week - 22nd October 2017
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12
Thought of the week
So often we look up and time has passed us by. The things we promised ourselves we'd accomplish and the deeds we told others we'd do get left undone. Before we know it, days have become weeks, and weeks months, and months years. We find ourselves unable to do what we once assumed we could do any time we want. We must ask the Spirit of God to help us see and seize the opportunities the LORD places in our path.
Prayer
Father, I confess that so often I leave undone what needs to be done. Please help me see your plans in each of my days and live in a way which not only honors you, but also blesses those you want me to reach. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 15th October 2017
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. Micah 5:4-5
Thought of the week
When Jesus proclaims that he is the ''Good Shepherd," he means that he will lay down his life for us! For us, however, it means all that Micah promised — strength, majesty, security and peace.
Prayer
Loving and eternal God, thank you so very much for sending Jesus to be my sacrificial Shepherd. In a world gone crazy, his strength sustains me, his majesty overwhelms me, and in him I find my security and peace as I face the future. In the name of Jesus I thank you. Amen.
Verse of the week - 8th October 2017
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10
Thought of the week
While even the most fierce hunters cannot ensure their security and nourishment, those whose hunger is for God will find themselves nourished, blessed, and sustained.
Prayer
Thank you, Father, for the promise that you will never leave me or forsake me even though friends and partners may betray and forsake me. I confess that it is sometimes hard to fully comprehend, much less believe, that you are always faithful. Confusing and hurtful times come and I waver in my confidence in your grace. Please forgive me and renew my hope. I do believe, dear Father, that you love me like no one else can. I do believe, Almighty God, that you care about my wounds and worries. I recommit my heart this day to trust in your daily care, provision, and grace for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 1st October 2017
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock Eternal. Isaiah 26:4
Thought of the week
When we see mountains we feel small, knowing not only how much larger it is than we are, but also how much longer it has been here than we have been. But the Lord was long before any mountain and will be long after it has melted into nothing. He is the only rock of security and stability. All the forever's we have are found in him.
Prayer
Eternal I Am, who is and was and will be forever, I trust that you are and will always be my God, my Redeemer, my Saviour, my Shepherd, and my Father. I commit all my tomorrows to you. In the name of Jesus my Lord I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 24th September 2017
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
Thought of the week
While I approach God with reverence and awe because he is the holy and majestic God, I don't have to fear his presence. Because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I know God is my Abba Father. He longs for me to draw near him. He has shown me his heart by sending Jesus. He has shown me his love by having Jesus die for me. If he loves me that much, then I can trust that his desire is to save and bless me. I don't have to fear his presence or his judgment. As his child, his love has driven fear from my heart and replaced it with love from his abiding presence, the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your overwhelming love demonstrated to me in Jesus. I thank you for providing the atoning sacrifice for my sins and for adopting me into your family. Father, please cast all fear from my heart and help me walk confidently with you and for you, with character and purpose. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 17th September 2017
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
Thought of the week
Love that surpasses knowledge. That's very difficult to explain, but when you have loved someone for a long time and he or she is as close to you as any bodily organ, you experience what this means. When you love a child and do what you never dreamed you could do for another human being, you understand this phrase. And when you stand before God, adopted as a full heir of all his great riches, a full sibling to Jesus Christ the Lord, and know you are seen as holy, without reproach, and blameless, you begin to understand this phrase.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to know in my soul the love that is greater than words and knowledge so that I may not only be like you, but that I may know you in experience just as I know you in faith. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 10th September 2017
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Romans 6:11-12
Thought of the week
If we have been cleansed from perversity, if we have died with Christ in baptism and have been cleansed thoroughly and completely by the Holy Spirit, then let's live for God! Let's resist sin, and our inclination to sin, with all our might, knowing that as we do, the Holy Spirit will empower us to a much greater righteousness than we could ever live on our own. Let's begin each day with a conscious decision to be dead to our sinful past and alive to the goal of the holy character of God!
Prayer
Loving and Righteous Father, Almighty God, help my heart remain firmly committed to your will and more fully conformed to your holy character and grace. In the name of Jesus, my Saviour and my Lord. Amen.
Verse of the week - 3rd September 2017
The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:9
Thought of the week
"Tell the truth the first time and then you won't have to remember what you said." That's what God's wisdom is trying teach us in this passage. Be a person of integrity. Then, when someone finds out your secrets, you can feel secure knowing that you have lived for godliness. However, a perverse and deceitful person has to constantly worry that someone will find him out. There is no security or assurance in crooked paths, only the certainty of getting tripped up and caught. When the secrets of evil that have been whispered in dark places get shouted from the rooftops, those who have lived for the Lord can be secure, knowing that what gets shouted about them is said with the voice of God: "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Prayer
Please forgive me, dear God, for those times that I have been secretive and dishonest. Purify me of deceit. Help me speak only what is true and appropriate. Transform my evil secrets, through your holy grace, into a holy character that is the same both in public and private. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 27th August 2017
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 11:9
Thought of the week
While these words were spoken to Joshua when he took over for Moses, they are also applicable to us. Take a moment and read Psalm 139 out loud and see that God's promise to be with us is for all who truly call upon him. Listen to Jesus' words in Matthew 28:18-20, as he promises his disciples to "be with them always, even to the close of the age." Remember God's promise, reiterated from an Old Testament blessing in Hebrews 13:5, "Never will I leave you, never will I desert you!" Let's be strong; our God, our Father, our Shepherd is always near, even if it doesn't seem so. We cannot go anywhere without his presence being near us and in us. We are not alone. We don't have to be afraid. In fact, not even death can separate us from his love (see Romans 8:35-39).
Prayer
Be near, dear Father, not only in your promise and not only with your presence, but also in my awareness. I need to know you are near when I respond to the incredible opportunities before me. I need to be confident in your help and sustaining love as I face the rigorous challenges in my life. I trust in your unfailing love. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 20th August 2017
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Thought of the week
What is the greatest tool to repair the human heart? ...by-pass surgery? ...angioplasty? ...artificial heart? ...transplant? How about the Word of God? You see, while these other techniques can be of great aid to the physical heart of people, God's tool for heart surgery is his Word. This sharp scalpel can reach the soul and spirit as well as being a physical blessing. So how much of your heart are you offering to God, and his powerful heart-healing tool to touch? As you open God's Scripture, as you hear the message of God preached, why not ask for the Holy Spirit's help to help you understand, apply, and put into practice what is being taught? Let's offer our hearts to the Great Physician to do his work in us!
Prayer
Holy God, I ask that as I open your Scriptures and hear your Word preached and taught, that the Holy Spirit penetrate my heart and convict me of sin, discomfort me in areas where I need growth, and stir me in areas where I need motivation to be more like Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 13th August 2017
For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:9
Thought of the week
The Bible cries out with one recurring truth: God quenches the thirst and satisfies the hunger of those who seek him. So often we try to soothe the ache in our soul and fill the emptiness in our heart with what is only a temporary satisfaction that only God's presence can fill. Let's refuse every false satisfaction and seek the LORD!
Prayer
Forgive me, dear Father, for trying to find the satisfaction for my soul's hunger in what is not truly sustaining. (Confess the area of temptation that most often causes you to stumble in this area — sex, status, possessions, economic security, chemical dependency, abusing food, body identity, etc.) As I seek you, dear LORD, please make your presence known as you satisfy my spiritual thirst and satiate my soul's hunger. In the name of Jesus, my Lord. Amen.
Verse of the week - 6th August 2017
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalm 23:2-3
Thought of the week
Some of us won't slow down for anything! Well, almost anything. When we get "too full of ourselves" and too caught up in our own plans, the LORD, our Shepherd, slows us down and makes us lie down. Our Shepherd knows we need rest, nourishment, and refreshment and helps us, yes and even sometimes makes us, find "green pastures" and "still waters." He then leads us in the direction of his righteousness and holiness once we are rested and refreshed. Isn't it interesting that God's order for our life is always grace and then glory.
Prayer
Thank you, dear Father, for slowing down my frantic life and leading me to times of refreshment, rest, and nourishment. I trust that you will lead me to what I need as you mature me to have more and more of your righteous character. Please forgive me for getting too busy to hear your voice and to respond to your grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 30th July 2017
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour... Isaiah 43:2-3
Thought of the week
In the context of this passage, God reminds his people that they are precious to him. He formed them and redeemed them. He is not about to abandon them. No matter what challenges or difficulties they face, he will be with them to deliver them and bring them to safety and victory. We can accept this same promise; we also have the benefit of history to show God's faithfulness. We can see how God did preserve his people and redeemed them time and time again from their bondage to their enemies. God will not forget his children! We know it by promise. We know it by history. We know it by faith!
Prayer
Thank you, Almighty God, for always being near. I know that there are many times when I am not aware of your nearness or of your providence at work or of your miraculous moving in history. Nevertheless, I do believe, dear Father, that you are near even when I feel alone and your presence seems so far away. In those times, dear God, please give me confidence and perseverance to stand through the times of trial so that I can also share in your times of triumph. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 23rd July 2017
For this is what the high and lofty One says — he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15
Thought of the week
Jesus' coming to earth is wholly and holy consistent with the LORD God who reveals himself in the Old Testament. God is high and holy. God is righteous and majestic. Yet the LORD God is the God of incarnation — the LORD who sees our needs, hears our cries, and comes down to help us. God loves people, especially people who come to him knowing that they need his love and grace. To those who seek him with passion, humility, awe, and reverence, God brings revival that touches the spirit and heart.
Prayer
Heavenl Father, thank you for loving me and coming to save me in Jesus. Father, I do come humbly to you asking that you fill me with your Spirit in a more powerful way and revive my heart and stir my spirit to work for your glory in my life today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 16th July 2017
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:3-5
Thought of the week
Finding fault in someone else is so easy for most of us. Finding fault in ourselves is much trickier. Jesus reminds us that we must deal with the shortcomings and sins in our own lives before we start telling others how to live. Seems pretty simple, doesn't it? But we all know it isn't.
Prayer
Father, please forgive me when I am severe, harsh, and judgmental toward others. I know there are problems in my own life that need the work of your Holy Spirit. I confess that there are routine sins that I find myself excusing more and more. Please, dear LORD, forgive my sin and empower me to move beyond it. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the Week - 9th July 2017
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16b
Thoughts on this weeks verse...
So many hearts, hopes, and homes are broken by sin. This brokenness infects our culture and invades our lives. God has provided both a deterrent to sin and a means of forgiveness for its guilt: honest and genuine confession of our sin. At the heart of confession is a passion to see sin for what it is in the eyes of God and to be anguished for our participation in it. No wonder God wants us to confess our sin to each other and then come to him for each other's healing from sin and its damage. No wonder God grants such power to the prayer of a righteous person interceding for one led to confess. Let's confess our sin and leave it behind.
My Prayer...
O loving Father, God of holiness and grace, please forgive me for my sin... (list specific sins you need to confess before God). Please lead me, dear Father, to the group of your children with whom I can lay down my burden of sin in confession and know that they will pray for my forgiveness and lead me to greater confidence in the power of your grace and the might of your Spirit to help me overcome the sin in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 2nd July 2017
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
Thought of the week
Seek! That is the focus word in this verse. This word is a robust word, describing a passionate pursuit of something to make it our own. The Kingdom, and the righteousness of those in this Kingdom, is not our wish, our hope, our dream — it is our passion. We will pursue it at all costs. We will pursue it with passion. This will be our consuming effort until we make it our own, or better yet, find it our home!
Prayer
Forgive me, dear God, for letting my passion for your Kingdom and your character get pushed to the side. Awaken me each morning with a sense of passion for your work and your will for that day. Father, I want to be a passionate seeker, please make me restless for your Kingdom as my home. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 25th June 2017
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever... Psalm 37:28
Thought of the week
God is committed to his people. He loves justice, and those who pursue it. He will not forget his people, those who seek to honour him by displaying his character in their lives. God has promised that he will honour his promises to his people and preserve them with his protecting power, forever. As God has promised elsewhere, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you!"
Prayer
Eternal and Faithful Father, thank you for your great promises. I am thrilled at the reminder of your faithful presence in my life. I fully believe that I can entrust my future to you and that you will bring me into your presence with victory and great joy. Thank you for my sure and steadfast hope. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 18th June 2017
Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. Proverbs 10:6
Thought of the week
Righteousness brings us great blessings. Violence becomes its own vile reward, bringing to those who use it what they have done to others. So what's our choice? Blessing or violence? Encouragement or a foul mouth? So what's the real choice? Letting God define character and not someone else.
Prayer
Holy God, I want to the live the kind of life that pleases you — a life of righteous character and gracious compassion. Father, I want to bring your Kingdom and your grace to others. I want to help others see that violence is destructive to themselves, to others, and also to the little children. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 11th June 2017
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'" The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:37-40
Thought of the week
When we help those who can't help themselves — those who have gotten themselves in trouble, those who have been falsely accused, those who are facing death — we are helping Jesus himself. What would Jesus do? He would be helping someone find God out of their hopelessness and despair.
Prayer
Father, please give me wisdom to see my opportunities to serve your people as I try to help them understand your incredible grace. In the name of my Redeemer, Saviour, and Friend, Jesus. Amen.
Verse of the week - 4th June 2017
Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Proverbs 3:25-26
Thought of the week
What guards your heart from fear? Only one protector is sure and faithful, his name is the LORD. He is our confidence and protector. As Paul said so powerfully long ago, prayer and the Holy Spirit are our assurance of God's deliverance. Either we will be delivered from death to serve God powerfully or we will be delivered through death to share with him in eternity. We will not be snared when our fate and future remain in God's hands!
Prayer
Almighty Deliverer, please give me courage to live for you with passion, no matter the cost. I trust in you to deliver me. In Jesus' name I confidently pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 28th June 2017
'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3
Thought of the week
This was originally spoken to Jeremiah about the fate of Jerusalem. However, this promise is true in special ways for us as well. God wants us to call to him. God often waits for us to ask before he blesses us what he longs to give us. Yet we lack the ability to comprehend and receive all the great truth about God. He is simply too big and too glorious for us to fully apprehend him in his grace.
Prayer
Father and Almighty God, you are breath-taking and beyond my ability to comprehend. Dear Father, please bewilder the world by coming on a day everyone least expects it. I do long to know you better, dear Father. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 21st May 2017
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Proverbs 31:8
Thought of the week
Christians in every era are called to defend the rights of the weak, speak up for the disenfranchised, and protect the life of those who are vulnerable. This comprehensive call is the great reminder that the blessings, rights, wealth, and power we may have is not ours alone; it is a gift from God to be used to bless those who have no power to speak, to defend, or to protect themselves.
Prayer
Father, rouse in your people, rouse in me, a passion to stand up for those who are vulnerable to abuse, to abandonment, and to attack. Please use us, and especially Father, please use me, to be a redemptive force in the time and the circle of influence in which I live. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 14th May 2017
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:28-29
Thought of the week
God is eternal. He has unlimited power. His supply of strength is limitless. He blesses and shares his grace without growing tired. Most importantly, he longs to share his power and grace with us daily.
Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, loving and generous in your mercy, thank you for giving me strength in my weariness, guidance in my confusion, and hope in my despair. Please bless me with courage to follow your will and trust in your presence through the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 7th May 2017
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Thought of the week
God wants us to seek him. In fact, he made us to seek him! Unfortunately, however, we often seek God along with the other things that draw our eye for a moment or two. We must never let anything detract from God having first command of our heart. Only God is worthy of our full devotion.
Prayer
Righteous God and Holy Father, please bless me with an undivided heart, one that seeks you as the first and ordering priority of my life. Forgive me, dear Lord, for letting other things distract my focus from you and interfere with my service to your Kingdom. Fill me with a holy passion for Kingdom matters above all other concerns and interests. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of of the week - 30th April 2017
To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:20
Thought of the week
What will we share in eternally with God? His glory! What led Israel through the wilderness and shown upon the face of Moses? His glory. What is too wonderful and marvelous for us as humans to behold? His glory. So what should we do when we are seeking to honor God? Give him the glory that is due him. Praise him in glorious songs. Bring honour to His holy name!
Prayer
Wonderful and glorious God, you are majestic in holiness, patient with my imperfections, tender with my brokenness, and emphatic about my participation in your family. Please bless me to worthily bring praise to your throne of grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 23rd April 2017
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Thought of the week
Let's get our minds out of the gutter and get our hearts set on God's glory.
Prayer
Dear Father, you are marvelous and glorious, perfect in every way and beyond my comprehension. Please awaken the character of your holiness within me by your Holy Spirit. Please help me see and focus upon the good and glorious things you place in my path today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 16th April 2017
Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 1 Corinthians 15:24
Thought of the week
Closing time! That's when everything is counted, the doors are locked, and the final tally is made. Jesus is Lord of closing time. Even though he won the victory over death and sin while he was here, we're still waiting to get swept up into in his victory march. But, that day is coming. Every knee will bow! Every evil power will face destruction. The hearts that are yielded to God, however, will be placed into his loving and mighty hands forever. Our Lord reigns!
Prayer
Almighty God, Father of grace and mercy, I appreciate your tenderness and patience with me. However, Father, I am also comforted to know your power and might. I am heartened to know that Jesus will assert his rule and destroy everything false, malicious, evil, and wicked. May that day come, soon! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 9th April 2017
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:2
Thought of the week
What saves us? What God did for us in Jesus! Let's make a commitment to let nothing make us relinquish our trust and dependency upon that hope, that Gospel by which we are saved. There is no other name, no other Gospel, no other message that can give us salvation. (see Acts 4:12; Gal. 1:3-9; Col. 2:6-16) We don't need to add anything else to it. We must never let anyone take anything away from it. Let's hold firmly to this faith, this trust, in God's grace given to us in Jesus!
Prayer
Father, I trust in no other God but you. I trust in no other Gospel but the story of your love and grace in Jesus. As the old hymn so beautifully puts it, I ask dear Father that I may "never, ever, outlive my love for Thee." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 2nd April 2017
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19
Ephesians 3:17-19
Thought of the week
Paul wants us to be solidly connected to each other in love. More than being able to understand all the unfathomable mysteries of the universe or the deep teachings of Scripture, knowing and sharing the love of Christ enables us to bring God's full blessing to others. While knowledge can be good, love is greater still. While power can be helpful, love is more helpful still. While experience can teach us many things, love teaches us to use what we know to bless. Let's be a people whose lives are lived in the environment of love.
Prayer
Father, pour your love into my heart through the Holy Spirit and pour it out into the lives of those around me through me. Make me an instrument of your grace so that your love will be felt in clear and unmistakable ways by those whom my life impacts. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 26th March 2017
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27
Thought of the week
The Cross is such an offensive symbol when viewed in its most basic and raw form. For God to become human flesh and live among us is unbelievable enough. For God to be subject to the vagaries and rigors of mortality and human needs is unthinkable. For God to endure the indignities and inhumanities of the Cross is preposterous. But, that is the Gospel. What appears to be foolish, weak, and offensive has the power to re-make us and inspire us to unparalleled faith. When we come to the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, we come to the impossible which was accomplished by God's grace for us and in us. Only God would bring us salvation in such a way.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I know that the Cross may be silly to some people. I know that many people who wear the Cross as a symbol don't honour it. But Father, I confess that Jesus' willingness to go to the Cross for me is powerfully convicting and amazingly reassuring. Thank you for this gift of love and sacrifice of grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 19th March 2017
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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
Thought of the week
What is your biggest dream? God longs to do more than that through you! The real question is whether or not you will believe it, receive it, share it and then give him the glory for it!
Prayer
God, you are glorious, generous, and gracious. You have blessed me physically and spiritually with so many wonderful touches of your grace. I praise you for your faithfulness. I thank you for your grace. I exalt your name above every other name and hold it as a personal treasure. Please be glorified in me — my speech, may actions, my influence, my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 12th March 2017
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
Thought of the week
As my heart delights in God, God's will, and God's purposes, I find an amazing truth at work: when I desire what God wills, God enjoys giving me the desires of my heart. An old hymn used the phrase, "'til I am wholly lost in Thee." When that happens, when our will is yielded to God and our heart delights to honor him, then God is longingly waiting for us to request the desires of our heart so he can bless us!
Prayer
Dear Lord, God of our Fathers and great Giver of every perfect gift, thank you for longing to bless me and pour the riches of your grace upon me. Please touch my heart to desire your will and then to boldly ask you to accomplish it to your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 5th March 2017
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Romans 8:11
Thought of the week
If we belong to Christ, we know the Spirit of God lives in us (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19-20). Because of the Spirit's presence, we know that we are eternal! The Spirit is God's down payment guaranteeing that our future is with him (2 Cor. 1:21-22; 2 Cor. 5:5). What's more, even while we're living for Christ now, the Spirit gives us life in our physical bodies as we use them for God's glory (Rom. 12:1).
Prayer
Father, animate my body with your Spirit so that what I do not only brings you glory, but it also reflects your character and grace. To you, O Father, be all the glory for your presence and power that is at work within me, your child. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 26th February 2017
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Isaiah 41:10-11
Though of the week
Not only does God's blessing rest on us, his presence goes with us. We cannot ever be in a place where he is not with us (see Psalm 139). His presence and power will uphold us and strengthen us. No matter what may happen in our physical bodies or our physical worlds, God has given us the ultimate triumph over every enemy and all wickedness in Jesus. Even Jesus' doubters and enemies will worship our Lord and kneel at his feet and will recognise that our faith is not only appropriate, but it is victorious (1 Thess. 1).
Prayer
Thank you, dear Father! You are not only the God of the heavens, but you are also my God. You know me and care about me. You hear my cries for help and mercy. You share my struggles and burdens. Please deliver me from every enemy, both physical and spiritual, and give me boldness to stand firm in my faith in you. In Jesus' name I ask this. Amen.
Verse of the week - 19th February 2017
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1
Thought of the week
Are you judgmental? Do you assume you can judge the intent of another person's heart? Are you critical and negative about the actions of others? Jesus wants us all to realise that we cannot know the motivations of someone's heart. When we are unfairly harsh or bitingly critical in our judgment of others, we are setting the standard by which God will judge us. I don't know about you, but I'm not willing to exchange God's grace for my unreasonable harshness. I'm going work harder at viewing others with mercy and grace.
Prayer
Dear God, please forgive me for being unfairly harsh and critical in my assessment of others. Thank you for being so rich and free with your mercy and grace lavished on me in Jesus. Please help me to be more gracious and merciful in the way I assess the intent and motivation of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 12th February 2017
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:21
Thought of the week
John reminds us again and again. We must love our brothers and sisters in Christ. This reminder, however, is the clincher. If we love God, then we must love his children and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Notice that the word isn't "should" or "will try" or "want to." No, we must. The Bible is careful not to put many "must do" or "thou shalt" commands in Scripture. So God's point is clear. Love of each other is not optional, negotiable, or even something to be delayed. God sent Jesus to die for the sins of all of God's children. How can we not love those for whom Christ gave so much? As Paul will say to the Corinthians, "God's love compels us!" We MUST love.
Prayer
Sovereign LORD, forgive my sometimes selective practice of loving your children. I ask you now to bless, to nourish, and to sustain my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to pray in particular for several of your children who have great trials and burdens... (please list some of those you know who need God's help). In addition, dear Father, please use me to minister to them in tangible ways. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 5th February 2017
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 29:2
Thought of the week
Giving glory, ascribing glory, is not an easy thing for us to do. Let's admit it. We're much more used to asking from God rather than blessing God and calling others to him. So let's use this week to pray prayers of thanksgiving and praise, glorifying God's holy name.
Prayer
Father, you are marvelous and magnificent beyond my description and understanding. Thank you for sending Jesus to help me catch a glimpse of your glory. Thank you for sustaining me and those I love. I thank you in Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 29th January 2017
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9
Thought of the week
Showing love is about sharing life with someone else. No one quite epitomizes this principle like Jesus! His sacrifice, however, is what saved us and brought us to our new life in Christ. Now God wants us to show his love to others by sharing it in ways that they can understand and appreciate.
Prayer
Holy LORD, my heavenly Father, thank you for today. Help me share my life with someone else who needs to experience your grace. Please help me notice those who are wounded and please give me the wisdom on the best way to lead them back to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 22nd January 2017
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8
Thought of the week
An unloving person doesn't know God. It's that simple. Enough said.
Prayer
Father, please bless me with a loving heart and a lifestyle that generously shares your love with others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 15th January 2017
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
Thought of the week
The old song says, "Where oh where is love?" Love is with God. Love comes from God. Love is the key attribute of God. Love is from God. Love is of God. You want to be more loving? You want to find greater intensity in your love? You want to know how to love others who are hard to love? Look to God. But, where do we see God most clearly? Jesus! So look at how God has demonstrated his love through Jesus and do likewise!
Prayer
Holy God, I want to show that you are my Father by loving others more perfectly. Please bless me as I seek to follow Jesus' example in treating others with love. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 8th January 2017
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84:11
Thought of the week
God doesn't hold back on his goodness! In fact, the Father loves to give his children gifts. These gifts are all encompassing. These gifts are gladly given. How do I know? Three ways: 1) I've been repeatedly blessed; 2) I've seen what God has done to bless his people through the centuries; and 3) his Word promises this to be so.
Prayer
Father, I want to thank you for the many blessings you have poured into my life. Thank you most of all Father, for the gift of your Son and my Saviour, Jesus. In his name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 1st January 2017
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
Thought of the week
"What are your plans for today?" If you are like me, you prayerfully try to plan your day. You make appointments with people in the future so you can address their needs, hear their concerns, or discuss issues and projects. But, we need to always live humbly, recognising that none of our plans will be of value unless those plans come from the Father!
Prayer
Holy God and righteous Father, please bless me as I seek to discern your will in my decisions today. I recognise that each breath that I take is a gift and that each success is because of your grace. Please use me to your glory and help me find your path for my life. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 25th December 2016
They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed. Psalm 25:5
Thought of the week
This Psalm of despair, referred to by Jesus from the Cross, is also a Psalm of hope and faith. The history of God's faithfulness with his people Israel is an ongoing reminder that we can trust him to deliver us. While in our human reckoning of time God's answer may be slow in coming, his track record in history reminds us that he will answer, deliver, and bless his people in his time. In our worst of nightmares, we can be reminded that God is faithful and is attentive to our cries of despair, lament, grief, agony, and fear.
Prayer
I ask, dear Father, that you bless your people everywhere who find themselves in difficult situations. Empower them with your Spirit and bless them with a change for the better in their dire situation. Please hear the cries of your people and act swiftly for their protection, preservation, and vindication. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 18th December 2016
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Psalm 1:4
Thought of the week
No matter the temporary apparent benefits of wicked schemes and evil power, all these efforts end at the grave and are swept away leaving the wicked with nothing to show for their efforts as they stand before the righteousness and justice of God.
Prayer
Dear Father, please help me resist the temptation to idolize or exalt those who succeed through evil devices, schemes, methods, and plans. Help my heart seek your Kingdom and righteousness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 11th December 2016
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:3
Thought of the week
Some kinds of earthly delight can feed our hearts for a short time, but when difficulties come, our hearts will wither in the drought. Delighting in the LORD and in his will for us, however, provides us with ongoing and ever-fresh joy. Out of this lifestyle comes both short-term and long-term benefits and a resiliency that withstands life's worst droughts.
Prayer
Dear God, Holy One of heaven, I do find my delight in you and your ways and find refreshment in your abiding Spirit. Please give me the wisdom to seek your will every day of my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 4th December 2016
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Corinthians 11:30
Thought of the week
One of Paul's recurring themes throughout 2 Corinthians is that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. In 1 Corinthians, he emphasises that the strength, wisdom, and power of God are shown in what is normally a sign of weakness and humiliation — the Cross (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5). Paul wasn't a wimp — remember all that he endured and kept on serving the Lord (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). He just knew that even with all his training and talent, he wasn't skilled, smart, or strong enough to do all that needed to be done for the Kingdom of God. But he knew that when we recognise our insufficiency, God takes our weakness and uses it powerfully when we offer ourselves to him!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all those times that you have strengthened me when I was under trial, given me wisdom when in a difficult situation, or empowered me when I faced situations and opportunities greater than my ability to handle. I recognise that you saved me by your grace; but each day that I serve you, I am again reminded that your grace continues to propel me through my service to you. Thank you, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 27th November 2016
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1
Thought of the week
Our worship isn't confined to Sunday! Each day that we offer ourselves to Jesus as his servants, we also are offering him our worship. Every time that we consciously resist evil and choose good, we are offering pleasing and acceptable worship to God. Isn't it exciting that worship doesn't happen just in a church building! Isn't it incredible that each day our decisions and actions are a crucial part of our worship to God!
Prayer
Holy LORD, God Almighty, please accept the offering of my thoughts, my words, and my actions today, and each day that follows, as my loving worship to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 20th November 2016
As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. Joshua 11:15
Thought of the week
Joshua is one of my favorite Bible heroes. He was a great servant to Moses. He refused to be swayed by his peers or by the crowd when he spied out the Promised Land. He followed in the footsteps of a great leader and was a great leader himself — not an easy task! Joshua was vigorous and vital even in his old age. Most of all, Joshua was obedient to God and did everything that God had commanded him to do, as well as what God had commanded Moses that he should do. In other words, Joshua was faithful!
Prayer
O LORD God, my Abba Father, when the story of my life is told, may I be viewed as one who was faithful to all that you have asked of me. I want to serve you with an undivided heart and a life that brings you the glory and praise you deserve for your generous grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 13th November 2016
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14
Thought of the week
While we wait for God's great victory for us to be fully realized, we also need to know that we are in a battle. God will win this battle through Jesus Christ. The final outcome is certain. Christ has already won the decisive battle. However, let's not be fooled; the evil one will do everything he can to deceive all people and confuse the lost. Let's stick with God's plan — living his truth, listening for his voice in Scripture, and following the lead of his Spirit.
Prayer
Holy LORD, please give me the ability to discern truth and resist the deception of Satan. Please empower me by your Spirit as I seek to live victoriously for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 6th November 2016
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. Hebrews 11:13
Thought of the week
I'm not good at waiting for much of anything. I'm like the kids who have seen the catalogues for Christmas toys and are anxious for the big gift day. God does have a great Gift Day ahead for us. On that wonderful day, all our waiting will be over and our faith will become sight. Let's follow the example of these great heroes of faith, and welcome that day from afar, by anticipation, praising God for his victory through Jesus Christ in our lives.
Prayer
Victorious King, Ruler of the Ages, I praise you for the resurrection that lies ahead for me. I thank you in advance for the day I get to see you face to face and join the great celebration of heaven. Until that day, please use me to help others glimpse the character and joy of your great victory. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 30th October 2016
A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. Proverbs 11:12
Thought of the week
Wise folks don't have to prove their wisdom by disrespecting others and putting them down. Instead, they hold their tongues and let their lives speak what is good, honorable, righteous, and true. In a world of sarcasm and in a culture that is attracted to the person who can put down others with quick and razor-sharp "put downs," we are called to bring a blessing with our words (Ephesians 4:29).
Prayer
Holy Father, give me wisdom in the way I use my speech. May it be a blessing to others and a source of praise to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 23rd October 2016
In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 1 Corinthians 11:11
Thought of the week
"We are all one in Christ Jesus!" Paul told the Galatians (Galatians 3:26-29). Satan, however, constantly tries to divide God's people. One of his most effective means of division has been to divide men and women — whether in families or churches. Paul reminds us that if Jesus is our Lord, we recognize we need each other and we are committed to placing value on each other. Rather than letting Satan divide us through our differences, we choose to unite around our Saviour!
Prayer
Dear Lord, in whose image I am made, please give me the courage to value and esteem all others as you value me. Please do not let racial, social, or gender differences interfere with me valuing each person you bring into my life. Give me the eyes and heart and words of Jesus to bless and value them as my Saviour would. In the name of Jesus' our Saviour I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 16th October 2016
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:9
Thought of the week
What a glorious time of blessing! We will know God personally. But not just us, the vast chorus of the faithful will sing a song of joy because they know God. Let's anticipate that day and join our hearts together in pursuit of God. Let's not settle for merely a factual knowledge about God, but let's come to really know him by sharing in his work, by sharing in his character, and seeking his presence in our lives.
Prayer
Dear Father, please be near to me today. I need to be aware of your presence no matter what today brings. I want you to be my eternal Shepherd who watches out over his sheep and the one whom I know as my Redeemer, Savior, and Friend. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 9th October 2016
For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face. Psalm 11:7
Thought of the week
Can you think of any greater promise for those who seek to be righteous and just? We will see God face to face! Incredible. What a blessing! What a future! What an incredible Father! So let's seek our Abba Father, the LORD God, with all heart and soul and mind and strength until that day that we get to see him as he is, face-to-face with God in all his glory (1 John 3:1-3).
Prayer
Dear Father, Almighty King of the ages, thank you for your great and precious promises. I truly look forward to the day that I get to see you face to face and share in your eternal presence! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 2nd October 2016
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Thought of the week
And just why do we serve God? ... Fear? ... Sense of obligation? ... Because our parents did? How about because we want to please God and bring the Father joy? How about because of we believe in what God has done and will do for us? We believe that God sent his Son Jesus to die for our sins so we can be forgiven, cleansed, and adopted as his children into his forever family. What's more, we believe that God longs to share his blessings with us and loves to reward those who believe in his grace and love. We believe and so we earnestly, diligently, and passionately seek him!
Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for my faith and all those who helped me come to know you and your grace. Please bless me as I seek to share this faith with my family and friends. Thank you for the confidence that my life is secure in your love and victorious because of your power. In Jesus' name I offer you my thanks, my praise, and my heart. Amen.
Verse of the week - 25th September 2016
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3
Thought of the week
Where did it all come from? Where did matter, energy, and time come from? How did our universe come to possess order and structure, when all we know about our existence moves to decay, disorder, and death? By faith, we know it came from the articulated design of our Heavenly Father!
Prayer
Thank you, dear God, for the wonderful world that you made. Thank you for the principles of order that govern our world and help us understand it. My heart soars at the variety and majesty of your creation. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 18th September 2016
In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:14
Thought of the week
One of the great tragedies of our modern world is that while some who preach and teach the gospel are charlatans and cheats, the vast majority of God's servants work just barely scraping by financially. Why not find some underpaid and forgotten Kingdom servant and share a little of the blessings God has given you?
Prayer
Holy Father, I thank you for your servants who share your message all over the world. Father, I want to especially thank you for all those who minister in the Free Church of England, I ask you to bless them with good health, a faithful and loving family, and the proper support to do your work in a way worthy of your cause. Please use me to bless and encourage them of your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 11th September 2016
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Ecclesiastes 9:18
Thought of the week
Just a little leaven and the whole lump is changed. A sinful person can have the same effect on a whole group of people committed to God. So let's be wise and reverence God by obeying him and his Word. Let's be insightful in the way we deal with sin and temptation in our lives. Also, let's be sure to remember that we are at war with the evil one. Then let's praise God, because our Saviour has already defeated our enemy and the Holy Spirit empowers us to stand up to Satan's attacks and resist his temptation.
Prayer
Loving Father, please give me wisdom to see through the deceptiveness of the devil's schemes while I seek to live your truth and display your character in my life. Thank you for your power at work in me and in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 4th September 2016
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. Acts 9:4-5
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. Acts 9:4-5
Thought of the week
When Paul teaches that the Church is the Body of Christ, he isn't being theoretical. The Church is Jesus' presence, his Body in this world. What is done to the Church as a collective group of people is done to Jesus. What is done to individual Christians is done to their Savior. Jesus is present in the world through us! The saying is true: the only Jesus many will see today is the Jesus they see through you and me.
Prayer
Dear Father, please "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, all His wonderful passion and purity; May His Spirit divine, all my being refine; Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me." In the name of my Saviour I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 28th August 2016
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25
Thought of the week
I'm not good at waiting. But, my hope in the Lord gives me patience that is beyond my human tendency. As much as the Lord has blessed me, I'm fully confident that I can't even imagine the good things he has in store for me. So while I wait, I try to stay busy; busy loving my Father in heaven and sharing his grace with others.
Prayer
Almighty God, the Great Leader of Israel, thank you for our spiritual leaders. Bless their families with faithfulness, their lives with health, their influence with Godly impact, and their leadership with willing followers. May you, dear God, be praised and glorified by the unity of your people. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 21st August 2016
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Thought of the week
The real issue in our lives is not God's faithfulness, but ours. The history of God's faithfulness to Israel and to his promises is found in the Scriptures. We can depend and rely on him to do what he promises, despite the apparent circumstances of our lives. The real issue is whether or not we choose to truly love him and live for his purposes when life becomes unbearable and faith becomes hard. This verse is no platitude, but the life-ring of hope for those with gritty faith who choose to persevere when there is no easy reason for doing so. Faith is rooted in a Saviour who triumphed over death, Satan, and sin on the third day while we find ourselves caught up on the second day waiting for the dawn of our full salvation.
Prayer
Give me courage, faith, and character, O Lord, and may I never outlive my faith and hope in you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 14th August 2016
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matthew 8:27
Thought of the week
What kind of man? Ah, much more than a man, he is our Lord, King, Messiah, Shepherd, and Saviour.
Prayer
Tender Shepherd and Abba Father, thank you for emptying heaven of your choicest glory and sending Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour. As I face the storms in my life, please give me the courage to stand bravely in faith, trusting that my Saviour will still the winds and the waves and bring me safely home to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 7th August 2016
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27
Thought of the week
Sometimes our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling and fall to the floor. Other times, we are overcome with emotion and the words of our prayers can't capture what's in our hearts. Thank God for the assurance that the power of our prayers is not dependent upon our words, but upon his grace given us by the Holy Spirit's intercession!
Prayer
Holy God and Loving Father, thank you for giving me the gift of the Holy Spirit, through whom I have the ultimate assurance that you hear my words, my thoughts, and my heart when I pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 31st July 2016
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 1 Thessalonians 5:12
Thought of the week
What are you doing to bless the lives of your spiritual leaders? Do you pray daily for them? Do you send them notes of encouragement? Do you thank them for their loving attention? Do you respond to their rebukes and take heart in their affirmations? Leaders don't need to be followed blindly, but often they get no support for their efforts. Let's make their work a blessing and not a burden! (Hebrews 13:17)
Prayer
Almighty God, the Great Leader of Israel, thank you for our spiritual leaders. Bless their families with faithfulness, their lives with health, their influence with Godly impact, and their leadership with willing followers. May you, dear God, be praised and glorified by the unity of your people. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 24th July 2016
"Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever." 2 Samuel 7:29
Thought of the week
God had blessed King David incredibly — from a shepherd boy to King, from an errand boy to a war hero, from a small town to the leader of a great empire. David's concern, however, was that God stay close to him and his descendants, and uphold the promises he had made to David. More than any other discovery in his life of service, David had learned that the future, that every battle, and that any real hope lie in the presence of the LORD God of Israel. When God speaks, he keeps his word. When God acts, he acts to redeem. So David asked that God do what he longs to do, bless his people and keep his promises.
Prayer
Trustworthy and honourable God, my Father who has sustained me and blessed me, thank you for your presence in my life and your promises for my future. Bring me into your presence with great joy, just as you have promised, so that I can dwell in your house forever. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 17th July 2016
For this world in its present form is passing away 1 Corinthians 7:31
Thought of the week
This often repeated theme in the New Testament and from the lips of Jesus should be the great reminder that we shouldn't spend our lives working for what is temporary.
Prayer
Lord God Almighty, the Alpha and the Omega, the Eternal I Am, thank you for being what everything else in the world cannot be. Please awaken my heart to things of eternal significance and open my eyes so I can see through the things that are transitory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 10th July 2016
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27
Thought of the week
In our busy world, we often let ourselves get preoccupied with worrisome and inconsequential things. What does this get us? Far from making our lives more productive or adding to our longevity, we know for a fact that worry hastens our demise and robs our days of joy and grace
Prayer
Father, thank you. Thank you for making the earth hold its orbit and my heart have its beat. Thank you for giving me a future beyond the boundary markers of my mortality. Thank you for pouring your grace and numerous blessings into my life. Forgive me, Lord, when I do not count these blessings enough and begin to worry how I might acquire more or fear losing those things that I have. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 3rd July 2016
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:28
Thought of the week
Outside the example of Jesus, this command makes no sense at all. But, Jesus shows us the importance of leaving our destiny in the hands of our Creator and Father. Suddenly, this makes perfect sense. What is the best way to defeat an enemy? Certainly it's not to beat or kill that person. No, the way we defeat our enemies is by having Jesus' grace capture their hearts and having their character conform to that of our King!
Prayer
Loving and gracious God, please soften my heart and toughen my resolve so that I can love as Jesus loved. Make my life redemptive, even to those who oppose, abhor, ridicule, and hate me. Use me, dear Father, to bring others to the grace of Jesus. In his name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 26th June 2016
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:29
Thought of the week
"What do you do for a living?" It is one of the most commonly asked questions in many cultures. We define each other in large measure by the work we do. God, however, defines us by his grace. So the work God has for us, the way he wants us to "make our living," so to speak, is by fully trusting in Jesus. This is the orientation point for each of our lives!
Prayer
Lord God Almighty, Ruler of Heaven and earth, I believe, but help my unbelief. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 19th June 2016
This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Jeremiah 7:3
Thought of the week
We often take for granted what we have, where we live, the friends who bless our lives, and the family that gives us a place to belong and grow. All of these are gifts to us from God. We don't deserve them. We don't earn them. But, we can surely destroy them. God wants us to live obediently, not just to please him, but also to protect ourselves and those we love. So let's reform our actions and live for him and not for ourselves.
Prayer
Almighty and Holy Father, please forgive me of my sins. Please bless me and empower me as I seek to turn my life around to live passionately for you and your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 12th June 2016
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:2
Thought of the week
Jesus is concerned that we not have a critical spirit toward others, especially about their motives as to why they did something. We can't assume to know another person's heart; only God can. When we are unfairly critical, overly harsh, or unduly judgmental, we need to remember that God will use that same standard on us. I don't know about you, but I need grace. So do those I love. I'm going to try very hard to be as gracious toward others as I'm trusting that God is going to be gracious with me.
Prayer
Forgive me, Abba Father, for the times that I've been far more critical of others than I should be. Arouse within me a passion to be gracious toward others so that they can see your graciousness shining through me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 5th June 2016
O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me... Psalm 7:1
Thought of the week
Who or what is pursuing you? Is it a past mistake? Is it an old enemy? Is it your conscience? Is it a nagging sense of guilt? Is it someone who wants to do you physical harm? Is it a physical illness? In the middle of all the storms and struggles of life, where do you go to find peace and security? There is only One who can be a true and lasting refuge. Just One!
Prayer
Father God, you are my refuge and source of strength when my courage is gone and my soul is weary. Please, dear Father, destroy all the forces and powers and enemies that pursue me and seek to take me captive and draw me away from you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 29th May 2016
But Moses said to the LORD, "Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?" Exodus 6:30
Thought of the week
Moses had to learn the same lesson most of us have to learn: folks really don't care that much about what we say. If the truth be known, most of us can't say it very well, anyway. But, when we offer ourselves to the Lord, he truly works through us and uses us in mighty ways. Ol' Stammerin' Mo' is the great testimony that God can take a shepherd with faltering speech and turn him into the greatest leader of his time. Don't you think we had better ask what God wants to do with us, and get to doing it!
Prayer
Loving Father, please use me in your service. I recognize that all the gifts, abilities, and experiences that I have came from you. All my capabilities are given to me so I can bring you praise. So please enable me to use my abilities for your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 22nd May 2016
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Thought of the week
Jesus was perfect, spotless, holy, righteous, and clean. Yet he became what he hated, sin. Why would he do such a thing? Because he loved us and wanted us to be what he is today, the righteousness of God.
Prayer
Almighty and loving Father, thank you for making me holy — your righteousness — by the sacrifice of Jesus. Thank you, dear Savior, for paying such a horrible price, not just by dying on the cross, but also by becoming my sin and carrying away my guilt. All praise to you, dear Father, for your plan, and thanks and glory to you, dear Jesus, for your loving sacrifice. Amen.
Verse of the week - 15th May 2016
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Thought of the week
Where the Holy Spirit lives, human character is changed and spiritual fruit can be seen. Certainly this maturity isn't found overnight! It is, however, noticeable over the long haul of life. What fruit is the Spirit bearing in your life? In what ways have you matured? In what areas do you want the Spirit to exercise greater control? Why not take a moment and consciously yield those areas in which you struggle to him now, as you pray?
Prayer
Almighty and ever-present Father, thank you for empowering positive changes in my life as I seek to be more like Jesus. Please bring to full maturity the fruit the Holy Spirit is growing in my life. You know very well that I continue to struggle with __ in my life. I intentionally turn over that part of my life to your Spirit to redeem and fully sanctify. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 8th May 2016
Cast all your burdens on him [God] because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Thought of the week
Isn't it absolutely incredible that the God who made the universe cares about us and our needs, hurts, and fears! So let's trust that he will do what is best for us and show it by living for him!
Prayer
Father in heaven, thank you for valuing me so highly. While I know some of the ways I fall short of what you want me to be, and many reasons why you might not want to choose me as your beloved and holy child, I thank you that you love me so richly and value me so highly! Please work powerfully in me through your Holy Spirit to make me more like you, not for my glory, but for yours. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Verse of the week 1st May 2016
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Thought of the week
God didn't wait till we were "good enough" to bring us his salvation. Instead, he came when we were most lost and needed his grace the most. But then, that's what love really means by God's definition. It's more than something declared or felt, it's something radically demonstrated.
Prayer
Holy and loving Father, thank you for demonstrating your love in such powerful and sacrificial fashion. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 24th April 2016
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." Galatians 4:6
Thought of the week
The first vocalisations of many babies are the syllables "ab, ab, ba, ba." Not surprisingly in Jesus' day, that was the name babies used for their fathers. When God saved us, he gave us his Spirit. The Holy Spirit blesses us in many ways, but one of the key blessings is his work with us in prayer. He intercedes for us when words won't do (Romans 8:26-27) and he helps us approach God with familiarity, dependency, and respect as we call God our Abba.
Prayer
Father in heaven, thank you for valuing me so highly. While I know some of the ways I fall short of what you want me to be, and many reasons why you might not want to choose me as your beloved and holy child, I thank you that you love me so richly and value me so highly! Please work powerfully in me through your Holy Spirit to make me more like you, not for my glory, but for yours. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Verse of the week - 17th April 2016
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Galatians 4:4
Thought of the week
Wow! What a rich passage full of many wonderful thoughts. Let's put it in cornbread English so that we can not only read it, we can also believe it. God made history ready for a savior and then sent his Son. That Son had to deal with all the difficulties of the Law and faced all the frailties of being a human. Our Father bought our freedom at the terrible cost of his Son's life on a cross in front of a mob that was jeering and jealous of his popularity. He did this so that you and I could be his honored children, entitled to all of his wonderful inheritance. To put it succinctly: God's plan, God's Son, God's ransom, Our glory.
Prayer
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all the pain it caused you to send Jesus and to see him persecuted, ridiculed, and crucified. Thank you for redeeming me from my sinful condition, for buying me out of the death that would have been the consequence of my sins, and for giving me the gift of freedom in Christ and the gift of family all around the world through Jesus. To you belongs all glory, honour, and praise for your marvelous grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 10th April 2016
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3
Thought of the week
Effort, sweat, and dedication seem to have become the profanity of western Christianity. To our age of grace-abusers, the Holy Spirit reaches out with his truth and reminds us that relationships on earth, even those in Jesus' Church, are going to require a lot of effort, gritty love, personal sacrifice, and rigorous determination. If we read Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17, how could we not make every effort to keep his Body unified and our relationship with his people loving and patient? Since our salvation was purchased at the cost of Jesus' sweat and blood, how can we balk when our best efforts are required to preserve the unity of his family?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, forgive my impatience with others and lack of forgiveness for them. Stir your Spirit within me to curb my tongue, soften my heart, and extend more of an effort to others who need your blessing. Please use me to be a peacemaker in your Kingdom, O Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 3rd April 2016
Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1
Thought of the week
At first, this cry for help seems very demanding. However, closer inspection shows that this is really the cry of desperation. Have you been there? I surely have and I regularly hear from folks who are there now. But, read how this Psalm ends! What is the secret to surviving a long agony? I believe three things are important: 1) honesty in our prayer life with God, 2) confidence that God hears and cares even when our prayers sizzle with pain and frustration, and 3) genuine praise for God included in our prayers even when things seem bleak. It's not a magical formula, but it is a Spirit-inspired one — check it out in Psalm 4!
Prayer
O God, please hear my cry for relief, as well as the relief of those I love, from agony, burdens, and suffering. Please answer in amazing and miraculous ways so that we may not only be relieved, but so that you may be glorified as well. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 27th March 2016
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence. Proverbs 3:31-32
Thought of the week
While many are seeking a cure for the rampaging violence that destroys lives, threatens schools, and makes our streets unsafe, why has no one bothered to remind us what God's wise servant taught us centuries ago? Let's not let any person, real or fictional, be our hero if his or her fame is built on violence. The son of Israel's most famous warrior understood this better than anyone. Surely the Son of the Most Powerful on High said it best: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
Prayer
Almighty God, save us from the violence of our culture and the worship of violence that pervades our land. Please give us heroes who are true peacemakers. In addition, dear Father, please give us eyes to see them and the courage to honor them. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.
Verse of the week - 20th March 2016
He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30
Thought of the week
For John the Baptist, this ultimate formula for greatness did not take many words. What's your formula? Paul told the Galatians that a similar formula was needed for them (Galatians 4:19). He told the Colossians that this is what he expended every ounce of his energy to have happen in the lives of Christians (Colossians 1:28-29). Paul told the Corinthians that this was what the Spirit was doing in their lives (2 Corinthians 3:18). So, don't you think that maybe this is the real formula for your life?
Prayer
Dear Father in heaven, in my heart and in my life may Jesus become greater and I become less. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.
Verse of the week - 13th March 2016
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
Thought of the week
What an incredible thought! We are dearly loved as God's chosen and holy children. No wonder God calls us to a lifestyle of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience! Think of how often our Father needs to use these qualities with us! How can we not share with others what God so abundantly shares with us?
Prayer
Father in heaven, thank you for valuing me so highly. While I know some of the ways I fall short of what you want me to be, and many reasons why you might not want to choose me as your beloved and holy child, I thank you that you love me so richly and value me so highly! Please work powerfully in me through your Holy Spirit to make me more like you, not for my glory, but for yours. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Verse of the week - 6th March 2016
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6
Thought of the week
Ouch! We've known the way of sin for thousands of years. Yet we sometimes still follow the same path. We're lured by something pleasing to our eyes. We pause for closer inspection of it, allowing ourselves to be caught up in its desirability. We dabble in it and play with it. We then participate in the sin. Finally, we involve others in sin. You'd think we would have learned the pattern and would have stopped by now. So with the help of the Holy Spirit, why don't we start trying to do just that?
Prayer
Father, please forgive me for my rebellious and sinful heart. I want to live wholly for you. I don't want to be captured by the allure of sin or tempted by worldly passions, but I do want to passionately live a godly life for your glory. In Jesus' mighty name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 28th February 2016
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26
Thought of the week
By this definition, a whole lot of people claiming to be believers are really spiritual corpses. For faith to be real, it must express itself in service. Faith not only moves mountains; it moves believers to act in ways that honour God and blesses others, demonstrating their thankfulness for God's incredible grace.
Prayer
Faithful Father, please forgive me for the times I've been lazy in my spiritual walk. Help me see the many opportunities for service you give to me each day, and then empower me to act in those opportunities in ways that blesses others. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 21st February 2016
Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. Surely the LORD has done great things. Joel 2:21
Thought of the week
This reassurance from God is given to a people facing desperate times, which were brought on by God to lead them to repent. Their land lies desolate and decimated from drought, plagues, and poor harvests. God, however, is now promising to bless them if they will return to him with all their hearts. The LORD, the covenant God of Israel, will do great things to bring his people to deliverance through their repentance and his gracious power. The land can rejoice and be glad. So should his people! So should we! Because of Jesus, we know that "the LORD has done great things" for us!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your incredible work in our world. Thank you for your incredible work in my little part of that world. Thank you for your deliverance in Jesus. Thank you for the victory over death. Thank you for the incredible outpouring of your grace and mercy. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the Scriptures which your Spirit inspired and uses to teach us. Thank you for a family of friends in your Church. Thank you ... in Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 14th February 2016
The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear. Isaiah 2:17-18
Thought of the week
Sometimes when we get "too big for our britches," we find ourselves humbled by a natural disaster, world war, incurable disease, economic depression, or widespread social disorder. Our arrogance can be a predictor of our own impending disasters. Is there a general principle of our universe at work here? ("Pride goes before a fall.") Or is this the active discipline of God at work? I guess the answer is "Yes!" to both of these questions. Both God and his world remind us that there is so much about our lives we can't control. This passage, however, goes beyond the general principles and it promises an ultimate day when human arrogance will be eliminated and all false gods disappear. On that day, God's children will rejoice and be glad! Until then, let's walk humbly with our God.
Prayer
Dear Father in heaven, please humble me gently. I don't want to lose my keen sense of your presence by becoming too full of myself. Neither do I want to bring disaster upon myself or those I love. Give me an undivided heart of devotion to you out of appreciation for your grace. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 7th February 2016
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. Philippians 2:14-15
Thought of the week
We shouldn't be surprised that unbelievers around us have a different set of values than we do. After all, a star isn't surprised to find that it shines in the great expanse of darkness surrounding it. You see, a star and a disciple of Jesus share one basic purpose: shining our light in the darkness, no matter how great that darkness!
Prayer
Holy and righteous LORD, I can only anticipate the day I see your glory and stand in your presence. Please give me the courage and integrity to be a light to those around me overwhelmed by the darkness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 31st January 2016
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Thought of the week
We are dead, but more alive than ever before. We are crucified and humiliated, yet glorified as never before. You see, Christ lives in us. He works through us to bless others. So the life we live now in our limited bodies is not limited — it is the work of Christ. The life we live now is lived by faith in the one and only Saviour, who has shown his love by giving himself to redeem us.
Prayer
Almighty and Holy God, thank you for sharing your life and power with me and through me. Thank you for joining my life to Christ. Thank you for joining Christ to my life! May his love, grace, and power be seen in my actions and character. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 24th January 2016
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD. Hosea 2:19
Thought of the week
God longed for Israel to be faithful to him. Despite the unfaithfulness in the past, God offered his people forgiveness and hope that they could be restored to relationship with him again. If God was willing to pay such an incredibly high price to do this, shouldn't we do the same with each other? But, let's go one step further; let's be faithful to each other and to God in the first place!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, God of compassion, please give me a more forgiving and sensitive heart. In addition, dear Father, please give me a faithful heart that will not stray from the pledges and vows I have made to you and to others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 17th January 2016
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18
Thought of the week
Two powerful principles are presented here. First, God looks out for us and blesses us with what we need most. Second, God made us for relationship: relationship with him and with a husband or wife. Yes, Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 both emphasize that some are gifted to be single, but most of us are made to be complete with another. Marriage and a godly husband or wife are a gift from God. Let's live like they are!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I want to thank you for looking out for my needs. So many times I ask you for what I want, not what I need. Thank you for doing what is best for me and not what I want! Now, dear Father, please help me treat the significant people in my life as gifts from you. In the name of Jesus, your ultimate gift, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 10th January 2016
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. - Hebrews 1:3
Thought of the week
We talk about Mother Nature, but did you know that Scripture identifies Jesus as the power behind the order of our universe? He sustains our world by his powerful word. Not only did he save us by the sacrifice of his life, but he also sustains us by his word. He sustains us spiritually by his word of teaching and sustains our world by his word of power and grace.
Prayer
Please be with me, Almighty God, as I commit to live for you based on Jesus' word. Help me as I seek to understand it and apply it. More than that, dear Father, please help me to come to know you through his words. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 3rd January 2016
If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
Thought of the week
As we draw near to the Lord and live for him, two amazing blessings come our way. First, we find that our sins are forgiven and we're cleansed of those sins thanks to the loving sacrifice of Jesus. Second, we find that we are not alone in this wonderful cleansing. True fellowship among believers is built when folks seeking the Lord find each other in his presence. This fellowship isn't forced or contrived, just heavenly.
Prayer
Almighty and holy God, I want to honor Jesus' sacrificial death by living a life that is pure, honorable, and holy. Thank you for providing my cleansing through Jesus' blood and leading me to others who live for you. Please intensify my hunger to know you, your Son, and other believers more. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 27th December 2015
My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. Proverbs 1:10
Thought of the week
The real issue isn't "if" but "when"! Our children face tremendous peer pressure. We do, too! We must help them resist the enticements of this pressure. Also, we must never tire in resisting them ourselves.
Prayer
O God, I do face temptations and enticements. Please guard my heart, my life, and my example. Help me be a person of character and integrity. In addition, please enable me to lead, protect, guard, and warn my children — both those who are my children in the flesh and those in the faith. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 20th December 2015
Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9
Thought of the week
Paul wrote these words to the Christians at Colossae, but he had never been there. Despite his lack of "in person" knowledge, he ministered effectively to the Colossians. He prayed specifically for them to better know God and his will for them. What a great idea! Let's find a mission church (inner city, overseas, hostile environment) and start praying consistently for that congregation, asking God to help them know him and his will more perfectly.
Prayer
Holy and all powerful God, bless my church family with a deeper knowledge and appreciation of your nature, character, and grace. In addition, please bless St Andrew's with growth, health, and most of all, knowledge of you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 13th December 2015
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
Thought of the week
We need to be reminded, just like Joshua and the Israelites, that God gave us his Law to be a blessing to his people. The Law was given to help Israel live the will of God in their daily lives. If they would live God's way, he promised they would be blessed. In addition, God is the Creator. He knows the best way for humans to live in harmony with the principles of his universe. His Law was not intended to hinder or interfere with the happiness and experience of his people. Instead, it was to help them prosper and find success in life. As Paul repeatedly reminds us in Galatians, we are no longer under Law. But, as we live by the Spirit, the character that is produced reflects the character of Jesus, the one who fulfilled the Law and brings us the blessings God has intended all along. Bottom line: Following God's will and living his character is a blessing to us!
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for speaking your will in human words so I can better know how to live for you. I know obeying your will blesses me and those around me. Empower me with your Spirit so that your character and grace will be fully realized in my life and my example. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 6th December 2015
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
Thought of the week
Are you walking in light or darkness? Can you clearly see your path, or do you find yourself stumbling along an uncertain path? Jesus wants us to boldly follow him. The way may not always be easy, but the destination is assured, and your way can be certain. Most of all, you won't ever have to have a night light — you're assured that even in the deepest darkness, you will have his light, the only light that gives life.
Prayer
Wonderful and tender Shepherd, please give me a faithful heart. Even in my deepest moments of darkness and despair, I want to be able to find your Light and to share his life with others. In the name of the One who is never darkness, Jesus the Light of the world, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 29th November 2015
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. Philippians 2:14-15
Thought of the week
I guess it's only natural to think that the problems of our own time in history are due to the pervasive depravity of our own time. Thankfully the Bible repeatedly reminds us that God's people have always had to swim upstream against culture. As children of God, we are to be bright stars in the dark night sky of our secular culture. Rather than constantly complaining about our worldly culture or our time in history, let's light the path for others to see another way to live.
Prayer
Almighty God, thank you for calling me to such a high and holy task. I want to shine like a star against the darkness of the culture around me. Please help me as I seek to live a holy life that has a redemptive influence on those around me who do not know Jesus. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 22nd November 2015
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14
Thought of the week
What's the secret of having a good day? How about waking up and recognizing that we begin each day just as we ended the previous one — we are in the grip of God's unfailing love. That should make our hearts stir with love and our voices sing with joy. This song should stir God's Spirit within us and lead us to a deep and profound thanksgiving that gladdens all of our days. So rather than waking up tired, cranky, and dreading another day, let's begin this day with a reminder of God's grace in our daily lives and a reminder of God's promises in our hearts. Then, I don't think we're going to have any problem singing the rest of the day!
Prayer
Glorious Master and Eternal Father, thank you for pouring your love and joy into my heart through your Holy Spirit. Fill my heart and satisfy my life with a sense of your abiding and unfailing love. In the name of my loving Savior, Jesus. Amen.
Verse of the week - 15th November 2015
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37
Thought of the week
Are we really conquerors despite "trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword"? Yes! That is the ultimate Christian assurance. Nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ. The Evil One and his allies can kill our bodies, ruin our finances, wrack our bodies with pain, and seek to destroy our relationships. However, the Evil One cannot have our hearts when they are surrendered to Jesus. And when our hearts belong to Jesus, so does our future! The empty tomb of Jesus assures us that our future with him is glorious, victorious, and unending.
Prayer
Gracious Father, I find it incredible that you put all my past sin in the grave of your crucified Son and have raised me up to new life in him. Inspire me to find meaning, joy, and victory in Jesus. Strengthen me with your Spirit and conform me more perfectly to my Lord. Please empower me to live fully trusting that all of my sin is dead, buried and gone. Please give me the confidence that my new life is bound up with Jesus and his future. Jesus, I thank you for this hope and offer this praise in your name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 8th November 2015
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3
Thought of the week
When was the last time you found a new brother or sister in Christ and told that precious person all the things they were doing right? Don't you think that's too long, and that you should let them know today? Let's be more committed to encouraging and affirming others who are in Christ as well as giving thanks to God for them.
Prayer
Saving Shepherd, thank you for the new Christians in our church and in my life. Bless them and protect them from the Evil One and use us, your children and their brothers and sisters, to be there to help and encourage them on their journey to perfection in Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 1st November 2015
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11
Thought of the week
In baptism, we are united with Christ in his death. Our old sinful selves are crucified with Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are alive in Christ — the one whom sin could not master and death could not conquer. His life is now our life. His victory is our victory. His future is our future. Let's set our hearts to live based upon this certainty!
Prayer
Gracious Father, I find it incredible that you put all my past sin in the grave of your crucified Son and have raised me up to new life in him. Inspire me to find meaning, joy, and victory in Jesus. Strengthen me with your Spirit and conform me more perfectly to my Lord. Please empower me to live fully trusting that all of my sin is dead, buried and gone. Please give me the confidence that my new life is bound up with Jesus and his future. Jesus, I thank you for this hope and offer this praise in your name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 25th October 2015
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
Thought of the week
Who are your closest friends? Good friends are hard to come by in a world of superficial acquaintances and shallow relationships. "Hanging with the crowd" can give us a false sense of belonging, but often leaves us wounded and alone in times of trouble. Open, honest, supportive, and loving relationships don't happen without investment. Ask the Lord to lead you to close friends in his family. Minister to and serve those around you. Listen to their requests, faithfully upholding them in prayer. Spend time in Christian service with other servant believers. Join yourself to a Bible study or accountability group. As you do, trust that God will give you that "stick-through-thick-and-thin-friend." Companions are easy to find, but can be unreliable. Development of Christian friends is an investment of effort and time, but they are friends with whom we will share forever.
Prayer
Precious God, I thank you for my friends. Please, dear Father, lead me into the life of someone this week who needs me to be his or her friend. Bless all those who read Today's Verse with a Christian friend that will help them in their walk with you. Thank you so much, dear Father, for my greatest friend, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 18th October 2015
"`If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Mark 9:23
Thought of the week
Jesus is the ultimate one "who believes." All things ARE possible for him. Guess what? He longs to do great things through us, too! In fact, he promised he would do even greater things through us than he did himself because he is now at the Father's side helping us! (See John 14:12-14) So isn't it time that we quit talking about what we can't do, and start believing in the one who can do great things? Paul put it this way: God can do "more than we can ask or imagine by his power at work in us." Ephesians 3:20:21
Prayer
Great Almighty God, Ruler of the nations, Creator of the universe, and Lord of all things, please forgive me. Forgive me for my wimpy and limited prayers. Forgive me for getting involved in petty quarrels over mundane and irrelevant things. Forgive me for my spiritual lack of vision. Please stir me by your Spirit. Please open my eyes so that I can see what you long to do through me. Please empower me to be a powerful witness to our world trapped in darkness. Please give me incredible dreams for your Kingdom, then astound me by doing far more than I ever imagined. In the name of Jesus, and to your glory, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 11th October 2015
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 1 Timothy 1:12
Thought of the week
We minister by grace. We are saved and made holy by God's grace given us in Jesus. We are declared holy and blameless before God because of the grace of Jesus. We are given a gift to use in ministry for the Church because of the grace of Jesus. We are given strength from the Holy Spirit to persevere during difficult times because of the grace of God in Jesus. So what ministry we find ourselves capable of performing, what opportunities we have to serve and make a difference in people's lives, and what power we have in fulfilling our ministry are all given to us. It is not something to boast about. The Lord's power is made perfect in weakness as we offer ourselves to him to be used for his glory.
Prayer
Glorify your name, O God my Eternal Father. Thank you for Jesus who has redeemed me, gifted me, strengthened me, led me, and empowered me to serve. May you be glorified in all that I say and do. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 4th October 2015
This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:5-6
Thought of the week
Do you want to know who walks with Jesus each day? Look for folks whose lives look like his! Do you want to walk with Jesus? Look at his life in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). See how he treated people; then do the same! Notice how he defeated Satan and overcame temptation. Trust that you can do the same! As you do these things, you will find that Jesus is not only walking with you, he is also working through you!
Prayer
Stir my spirit, O God, and empower me with your Spirit to live a life of integrity and purity like Jesus. Please give me a heart for people, dear Father, like your Son Jesus has. Help me to not only see their needs and hear their cries, but to also respond with love and compassion. In the name of my Savior Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 27th September 2015
Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O LORD. Psalm 93:5
Thought of the week
So many of the material things we pursue are temporary. Their usefulness lasts only a matter of months or at most a few short years. Even our lives, and the lives of those we love, are short. But God's character, his defining quality ("Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!"), and his demands for our holiness are forever. So as we build our lives, let's build on a secure foundation — the will of God and a commitment to share in his holiness.
Prayer
Holy God, I thank you for making me holy and forgiving my sin by your grace. Fill me with your Spirit and bring forth the Spirit's fruit in my life so that it reflects your grace and your character. Give me a hunger to know your will and to seek your truth and an ability to understand and apply it to my life. I want to build my life with you as its center and its goal. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 20th September 2015
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17
Thought of the week
So much of what we pursue is fleeting. Once we acquire it, we have to try to preserve it because we know it will soon be gone. God has promised us that just as he is eternal and will live forever, so also are those who pursue a relationship with him and are committed to do his will. So let's sit down and look at how we spend our time, our money, and our efforts and ask if what we are pursuing is really something that is worth having. Then let's ask one more important question: "Even if it is worth having, is it going to last long enough to make a difference?"
Prayer
Eternal Father, please give me the courage to be honest about what I am pursuing with my life. I want it to count for your cause. I want to make a difference for good. Some of that desire, I confess, is self-serving. However, dear Father, I truly do want to have a life that impacts others for good and that brings you honor. I don't want to waste my time chasing after things that won't last and don't matter. Please give me the spiritual wisdom to follow your will and find your life rather than chasing the shadow values of my culture. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 13th September 2015
Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might. Psalm 21:13
Thought of the week
What is our role in the grand scheme of things? In Psalm 21, the Spirit emphasizes our importance as God's "cheerleaders." We ask God to reveal himself in glory. We urge God to make his strength known to all people. We marvel in amazement at his great deeds. We praise God for all the incredible things he has done for us.
Prayer
Dear Father in heaven, exalt yourself and your name above all things. I rededicate myself to daily praise and thanksgiving for all that you have done, all that you are doing, and all that you will do in the future. To you, the only true God, the Alpha and Omega, I offer my heartfelt praise and my songs of joy. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 6th September 2015
The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Thought of the week
The Bible repeatedly reminds us that we are in a spiritual war with forces that are strong, malicious, and evil (Ephesians 6:10-12). We should steer clear of every appearance of evil. We shouldn't involve ourselves in anything related to Satan and his work. But we also need to remember that our Lord is greater than Satan and all of his evil angels. He is faithful. He will not abandon us to our enemy. He will strengthen us and protect us from attack if we will let him!
Prayer
Almighty God, thank you for giving me victory over Satan through the sacrifice of your Son, his resurrection from the dead, and his promised return to take me home to heaven. Please strengthen me and empower me to overcome temptation and resist the deceptive enticements of the Evil One. O Lord, it is only you that I want to worship, serve, and obey. To you belongs all glory forever, and ever, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Verse of the week - 30th August 2015
Now go; I (the Lord) will help you speak and will teach you what to say. Exodus 4:12
Thought of the week
Sometimes small things can hold us back. The Lord wants to reassure you that He is with you. He will lead you and guide you and show you the way. Don't hesitate or hold back, do what He has told you to do.
Prayer
Lord, I am ready and willing to follow your leading in my life. I realise that with you I am able to do more than I could ever have imagined. Amen
Verse of the week - 23rd August 2015
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us! 1 John 4:10
Thought of the week
You and I were created for relationship with the Lord. The nature of this relationship is one of love. It is based on the fact the he loved us first. He loves you and desires a relationship with you.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your love that constantly reaches out to me. I receive your love and I declare that I love you. Amen
Verse of the week - 16th August 2015
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. Lamentations 3:40
Thought of the week
The door to God is always open. Like the prodigal son. we can return at any time. Life can take us off course from time to time. But His arms are wide open and He is ready to receive us again.
Prayer
Lord, I choose to return to the safety and security of your loving and faithful embrace. Amen
Verse of the week - 9th August 2015
He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. Psalm 23:2-3
Thought of week
When we are exhausted, depleted, and the edge of burn out, we need to have our souls restored! But who can restore our souls? Only the One who will lead us beside still waters! The Lord is our Shepherd. He alone can fully bring nourishment and replenishment that we need. Yet why do we sometimes find it hard to set aside time to be with him? Could it be that we keep our lives so busy that we miss out on the one thing that matters most?
Prayer
As you have shown me time and time again, dear Father, I know that being with you restores me in a place within my heart that no one else can reach. Forgive me for seeking nourishment and refreshment from places that are unholy and unhelpful. Reinvigorate me with your presence and power so that I can serve you more victoriously. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 2nd August 2015
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8
Thought of the week
We should hold onto the Lord as if our lives depend on it. His strong right hand will hold you securely. Our hearts and souls should follow hard after God. He will support, undergird and lift you up.
Prayer
Lord, I choose you above all the things that life can offer me. Hold me up, sustain me and carry me I pray. Amen
Verse of the week 26th July 2015
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. Psalm 121:8
Thought of the week
The Lord is the one who undertakes to keep and guard you. he is watching over your every move. Nothing can separate you from His loving care. He surrounds you with His loving kindness.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that you watch over, protect and guard my life. I rest secure in the knowledge that you know every aspect of my life and my future. Amen.
Verse of the week - 19th July 2015
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9
Thought of the week
Genuine love involves hate. Genuine love means we hate evil. We detest it creeping into our hearts and ruining our relationships. We abhor it's effects on those we love. We are repelled by the eternal destruction it causes in those whose lives are tender, or weak, or wavering. So the very best thing we can do for those we love is to cling to what is goo and stay far away from evil and wickedness.
Prayer
Loving Father, may my life be a source of goodness and joy in my family and with my friends. Please give me wisdom to see what is good and the courage to pursue it with passion. Please protect me from the evil one and forgive me when I have followed his temptations. Please purify and cleanse me so that my life may be lived holy, and wholly, to you. Amen
Verse of the week - 12th July 2015
Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise? Psalm 106:2
Thought of the week
Almighty! That's one of the names for God. He is everything we can imagine that is good, right, and holy. But he is so much more! He is more than we can declare. Even our greatest moments of praise are great understatements of his glory.
Prayer
Dear Lord, you are worthy of all glory, honour and praise! Thank you for hearing my feeble attempts of praise and being pleased and blessed with my love and my effort. You are too marvellous for my words and beyond my mind's comprehension. I gladly rest my hope and future in you! In Jesus' name AMEN
Verse of the week - 5th July 2015
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. Micah 5:4-5
Thought of the week
When Jesus proclaims that he is the 'Good Shepherd,' he means that he will lay down his life for us! For us, however, it means all that Micah promised - strength, majesty, security and peace.
Prayer
Loving and eternal God, thank you so very much for sending Jesus to be my sacrificial Shepherd. In a world gone crazy, his strength sustains me, his majesty overwhelms me, and in him I find my security and peace as I face the future. In the name of Jesus I thank you. AMEN
Verse of the week - 28th June 2015
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:4
Thought of the week
When we honestly evaluate where we use our time, how we spend our money, what we think about most often, and where we put forth our best efforts, what do we find? Is God our consuming passion? Is he our first love?
Prayer
O mighty Lord, it is hard not to be able to see your face, yet I know my imperfection makes that impossible in light of your awesome holiness. Until that day I see you face to face in heaven, please make your presence known in my life as I seek you with all my heart. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Verse of the week - 21st June 2015
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. - Proverbs 17.9
Thought of the week
It is easy to become offended with others. But when we move past this and give forgiveness, love prospers. When we focus on our offences it divides and destroys us. Choose the route of forgiveness and let love concur all.
Prayer
Dear Lord, forgive me for those times when I have taken offense towards others May I walk in forgiveness and may I enjoy the freedom that it brings. Amen
Verse of the week - 14th June 2015
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11
Thought of the week
The Bible uses the term "shepherd" for all kinds of good leaders. But only One is the quintessential Shepherd. He shows us that the heart of godly leadership is sacrifice not status, service not selfishness. We follow this Shepherd because we know he values us above his own life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I am humbled to silence bu you plan to have Jesus be both Lord and Lamb, Shepherd and Sacrifice. Thank you for giving me life by his death and leadership by his example. I offer you my undying thanks in Jesus' name. Amen
Verse of the week - 7th June 2015
Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13
Thought of the week
How serious are we about sin? The Bible reminds us how seriously God views it. The power of sin to entice us, entrap us, and ultimately engulf us in its power can be offset by loving Christian friends who encourage each other daily.
Prayer
Father, I know sin's power is deceptive. Help me see those who need my encouragement today, so that together, we can help each other escape sin's traps. In the name of Jesus, who withstand all of Satan's tests, I pray. Amen
Verse of the week - 31st May 2015
They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned... strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. Acts 14:21-22
Thought of the week
Let's make a commitment to do better at helping our new brothers and sisters in Christ grow in Christ. The apostles didn't just lead people to Christ, they also encouraged and strengthened them in their faith.
Prayer
Holy and loving God, thank you for those precious people who nurtured me when I was a young Christian. Please use me to bless the new Christians in my church family. In the name of my brother and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Verse of the week - 24th May 2015
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
Thought of the week
"I blew it!" Come to think of it, we've all blown it! We don't measure up. We're not divine. We might be decent, but decent won't save us. Only the divine, the truly righteous, make it past the grave and into glory. Thank God is freely given and the price for our sin was paid by Jesus. While I "blew it," He renewed it!
Prayer
Kind and Loving Father, thank you for being so generous with your grace. May I be as passionate for your righteousness as you were in redeeming me from my sin. Through Jesus I ask this. Amen.
Verse of the week - 17th May 2015
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23
Thought of the week
The Lord wants to direct the very steps we take daily. He wants to direct the feet of those who love and serve Him. Don't try to do it on your own. Give Him every detail of your life and He will show you the way.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are my Good Shepherd. You know the way that is right for me and You will lead me every step of the way. Amen
Verse of the week - 10th May 2015
Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving. Come into His courtyards with a song of praise. Give thanks to Him; praise His name. Psalm 100:4
Thought of the week
You and I can know His presence in our daily lives. We can decide each day to simply enter in to His presence. We can do this as we become thankful and begin to praise Him. Choose to be thankful and live a life of praise each day.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your hand in my life. I praise you holy name because you are my Heavenly Father and I am forever grateful to you. Amen
Verse of the week - 3rd May 2015
Let's go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet. 2 Kings 6:2
Thought of the week
The Lord wants to bring you into a new phase. There is something new He has for us as we face the future. New means something fresh and not just more of the old. Let Him lead and guide you into the new things He has for you.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the new things that you have prepared for me. I step forward with boldness and confidence. Amen
Verse of the week - 26th April 2015
By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16
Thought of the week
One of the great joys of life is the joy of being a blessing to others. We've received love from God and so we can give love to others. Look for opportunities to be a blessing. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Prayer
Lord, may my life be a source of blessing to others. Give me a love and a concern for those around me. Amen
Verse of the week - 19th April 2015
I always keep the Lord in front of me. When He is by my side, I cannot be moved. That is why my heart is glad and my soul rejoices. My body rests securely. Psalm 16:8-9
Thought of the week
When our priorities are right we can rest secure. We can know the joy of His presence no matter what is happening. When our focus is on Him we can have a sure trust and confidence. The result is joy and rest in the knowledge that He is with us.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that you are always with me. Because of this great fact I can rest secure and nothing needs to come and shake or rattle my security in you. Amen
Verse of the week - 12th April 2-15
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
Thought of the week
Seek - pursue relentlessly - God's Lordship over your life and the righteousness that he demands in your in your daily life. The other stuff you pursue is all temporary. Only God and his Kingdom remain. In the process of pursuing God's kingdom and his righteousness, you will find that the God who gives you his Kingdom and righteousness, also will bless you with the things in this life that you need.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, only in you do I find what satisfies my soul's desires. The things that have captured my eye are boring after only a short while. The artificial things I have pursued, all of my addictive pursuits, have left me empty and enslaved. I find hope and help only in you. Please be near to love, correct, discipline, lead, and mold me to your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. AMEN.
Verse of the week - 5th April 2015
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. John19:38-39
Thought of the week
The power of the Cross is demonstrated in the lives of these two men, neither of whom showed himself fully to be a disciple of Jesus in his ministry. Now in the death, they make sure he is given a proper burial making themselves unclean for the Passover and proving themselves loyal to the Lord at the worst time for them to do so. The Cross touched them when nothing else could, just like it has touched us!
Prayer
Righteous Father, I know the cross was a brutal symbol of being cursed. Yet to me it is as precious as it is brutal and it is as beautiful as it was hideous. Through the Cross, you saved me from my sin and showed how much you loved me. Thank you! Please use my life in some small way to glorify you and your indescribable gift at Calvary . In Jesus' name I pray. AMEN
Verse of the week - 29th March 2015
Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6
Thought of the week
This verse is an awesome promise for you and me. His loving kindness is always available to you. His goodness and mercy will follow you each and every day of life. Believe it, it is His very nature and character towards you.
Prayer
Lord, help me to see and realise that your goodness, love and mercy will accompany me as I face each day of the life you have given me. Amen
Verse of the week - 22nd March 2015
Because of the Lords's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22
Thought of the week
The Lord will not in any way fail you. Time and time again He will come through for you. 'I am faithful!' declares the Lord. I am with you and I will save you.
Prayer
Lord, your great love for me overwhelms me. Thank you that you will not in any way fail or abandon me. Amen.
Verse of the week - 15th March 2015
Behold, I am making all things new. Revelation 21:5
Thought of the week
The Lord is the only one who can make things new again. He can take what is damaged and hurt and completely restore it. He can take impossible circumstances and turn them around. He can bring life and hope into any situation.
Prayer
Lord, please come by Your Spirit and renew and revive my life, my hopes and my dreams. Amen.
Verse of the week - 8th March 2015
God is utterly dependable! 1 Corinthians 1:9
Thought of the week
He is dependable because He is faithful to do what He says. He faithfully keeps His promises. he will in no way fail or abandon you. He will not leave His promises unfilled or His work unfinished.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I choose to rest in Your unfailing love and utter dependability. Amen
Verse of the week - 1st March 2015
Be happy because of the hope you have. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time. Romans 12:12
Thought of the week
Because we have God in our lives we have hope and we can rejoice. This hope will sustain you and I even when we face troubles. At the end of what you are facing God has a plan. Bring every care and concerns to Him and He will see you through.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that you have a plan in everything. I believe in your plan for my life and I pray that you will help me as I move towards what you have prepared for me. Amen.
Verse of the week - 22nd February 2015
God makes everything come out right; he put victims back on their feet. Psalm 103:6 (The Message)
Thought of the week
The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. He works on behalf of those who are oppressed. He wants to see us back on our feet and moving forward again. He will put you back on your feet and cause things to work for your good.
Prayer
Lord, you are a just and righteous God. Vindicate me oh Lord and cause all things to work together for my good. Amen.
Verse of the week - 15th February 2015
I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you - John 14:20
Thought for the week
The Lord wants his involvement in our lives to be a reality. As a child of God you are a part of Him. And he wants to live within you day by day. The Lord wants to be with you and in you.
Prayer
Lord, I open up my heart and life to you right now. May I know what it means to be in you and may you be a living reality in me. Amen.
Verse of the week - 8th February 2015
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Ephesians 6:24
Thought of the week
What do you have that lasts forever? Not much unless it is connected to the Lord Jesus Christ. So many things we love and pursue are hollow, fleeting, shallow, and vain. But grace comes; grace stays; and grace lives with those whose love is the Lord Jesus Christ. Neither time nor the grave can strip away our grace in him when he is our Lord and he is our love.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that you loved me long before I knew anything about you. I confess that despite your overwhelming love for me, I have strayed from your will. But Father, deep within my heart I love you and thank you for sending your Son Jesus. His sacrifice and your mercy have not only given me hope, but they have given me confidence to face whatever lies ahead today. Please fill my heart with love for you and your Son by the power of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Verse of the week - 1st February 2015
I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30
Thought of the week
God's people and God's ministries are constantly under attack. Satan does not sit idly by while his kingdom is plundered. But those on the front lines of ministry do not need to fight alone. You can help them. You can 'join the struggle' by praying to God to them. I know at St Andrew's we truly need your prayers for protection, for power and for wisdom.
Prayer
Almighty and Sovereign Lord, please bless and protect and empower these servants who are on my heart today... Lord, please bless the ministers of your church and deliver your children under oppression and persecution. In Jesus name, Amen.
Verse of the week - 25th January 2015
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. Ephesians 3:20
Thought of the week
As children of God, His power is at work in us. Because his power is at work in us, much more can be achieved. When he empowers us awesome things can happen. May he empower you and do through you more than could have been imagined.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that your power is at work within me. Amen.
Verse of the week - 18th January 2015
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:4
Thought of the week
When all is said and done, there really isn't a whole lot we can trust. Most of us have been hurt at one time or by a friend who has betrayed our trust. The world economy is volatile and things can turn sour in just a few days. The weather shifts and changes by the hour. But in our world of change, in our heartbreak and disappointment, there is one constant. We can trust God. We don't have to fear change. He is our anchor that holds in the strongest storms. He is our strength in our worst battles. His word and his promises speak of good things for us. We don't have to be afraid, we can trust in him.
Prayer
Almighty Father, my deliverer and strength, with your help and presence I will not fear the days ahead. I praise you for sustaining your people Israel through history. I praise you for preserving your Word, the Scriptures, through persecutions and purges. I praise you and will not be afraid because my life and my future are in your hands. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 11th January 2015
For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 2 Corinthians 4:5
Thought of the week
Our message is not ourselves. Jesus is Lord. One day all of creation will acknowledge and praise him. But for the people around us to praise Jesus today, they need to see him alive in us. We serve others in Jesus' name. We are his body - his hands of compassion, his heart of mercy, and his voice of tenderness. So let's lift up Jesus - not just by telling others about him, but serving others as his presence in the world.
Prayer
God of grace, thank you for the privilege of sharing your love with others. Thank you for saving me from my sin. Thank you for saving me for service to bless others for Jesus' sake. In the name of Jesus, my Saviour, I pray. Amen
Verse of the week - 4th January 2015
Praise the Lord; praise God our Saviour! For each day He carries us in His arms. Psalm 68:19
Thought of the week
The picture of the Lord carrying us is very reassuring. You don't have to carry yourself and your burdens. He wants to carry and sustain you. Thanks be to the Lord, who daily carries our burdens for us.
Prayer
Lord and Heavenly Father, I give you all the burdens and weights that I am carrying. Carry me in your arms during 2015 I pray. Amen
Verse of the week - 28th December 2014
'Don't be afraid Mary', the angel told her, 'for you have found favour with God!' Luke 1:30
Thought of the week
There is no greater joy than finding favour with God. The Lord's favour and blessing on our lives is the greatest wealth we can have. When we know this as a reality, there is no need to fear. May His favour and blessing rest on you!
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for your favour and blessing in my life. I choose to live my life to honour and please you. Amen
Verse of the week - 21st December 2014
Once again I will build you up, and you will be rebuilt, my dear people... Jeremiah 31:4
Thought of the week
Our lives can be compared to a building. Aspects of our lives can get broken over time. But the Lord wants to come and start the rebuilding process. When He rebuilds something, it is guaranteed to stand.
Prayer
Lord, come into all those broken and damaged areas of my life and rebuild every aspect I pray. In Jesus' Name Amen.
Verse of the week - 14th December 2014
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. Revelation 3:20
Thought of the week
Jesus goes from heart to heart asking if he might enter... Every so often he is welcomed. Someone throws open the door of his or her heart and invites him to stay. And to that person Jesus gives this great promise. 'In my father's house are many rooms...' What a delightful promise he makes us! We make room for him in our hearts and he makes room for us in his house.
Prayer
"God, I recognise that I have not lived my life for You up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. I need You in my life; I want You in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of Your Son Jesus Christ in giving His life for me on the cross, and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, Lord. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my Lord, and my Saviour. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow You all the days of my life. Those days are in Your hands. I ask this in Jesus' precious and holy name. Amen."
Verse of the week - 7th December 2014
'Do not be afraid, Mary,' the angel told her, 'for you have found favour with God!' Luke 1:30
Thought of the week
There is no greater joy than finding favour with God. The Lord's favour and blessing on our lives is our greatest wealth. When we know this as a reality, there is no need to fear. May His favour and blessing rest on you!
Prayer
Lord, thank you for Your favour and blessing on my life. I choose to live my life to honour and please you. Amen
Verse of the week - 30th November 2014
Your hands made me and fashioned me. Psalm 119:73
Thought of the week
The very hands of God have formed and shaped you. He does not make junk. His hands have formed you and His hands have held you together. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made you, and you are His.
Prayer
Lord, I am the work of Your hands. I am Yours and You are the maker of mu soul. Into your hands I place my life, knowing that my future is secure and preserved. Amen
Verse of the week - 23rd November 2014
Once again I will build you up, and you will be rebuilt, my dear people... Jeremiah 31:4
Thought of the week
Our lives can be compared to a building. Aspects of our lives can be broken over time, but the Lord wants to come and start the rebuilding process. When He rebuilds something, it is guaranteed to stand.
Prayer
Lord, come into all those broken and damaged areas of my life and rebuild every aspect I pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 16th November 2014
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Thought of the week
Sometimes the process of life can leave us defiled. But we should constantly desire a 'clean heart' and a 'right spirit'. This is something that we can ask God to do for us. Let Him come to renew and to create something new in you.
Prayer
Lord, I invite You to come right now and work within my heart and spirit. Remove those things that do not please You and renew my heart and spirit now I pray. Amen
Verse of the week - 9th November 2014
Never stop praying (Pray without ceasing)! 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Thought of the week
We should never give up on this vital aspect - prayer. we are encouraged to pray without ceasing. We may need to be patient and wait for the answers. Take your worries and concerns and make them a matter of prayer.
Prayer
Lord, I take this moment to present to You my cares and concerns. Instead of worrying, help me to pray about everything and thank you for what You are going to do in my situation. Amen
Verse of the week - 2nd November 2014
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12
Thought of the week
The Word of the Lord is powerful and living. Never underestimate its power when applied to your life, it has the ability to bring life and cause change. So take the Word and apply it to your life each day.
Prayer
Lord, I receive your living and powerful Word into my life today. I pray that my life will be changed in response to Your Word. Amen
Verse of the week - 26th October 2014
My Sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27
Thought of the week
God wants to come and lead and guide you in this new day. As sheep, we can know and hear His voice. He knows you and He leads you to the green pastures He has prepared for you.
Prayer
Speak Lord, this child of Yours is listening and longing to hear you speak. Guide me and protect me in all I do. In Jesus' Name. Amen
Verse of the week - 19th October 2014
To choose life is to love the Lord your God, obey him, and stay close to him. Deuteronomy 30:20
Thought of the week
He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground... All were silent as the Creator reached in himself and removed something yet unseen. "It's called 'choice.' The seed of choice." Within the man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of his self. The God of might had created earth's mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chose to love had created one who could love in return. Now it's our choice.
Prayer
Father God, Life is made up of choices. We choose to do something and in doing that we automatically choose to leave something else undone. There are so many demands on my time and talents. I know I can make wise decisions if I allow you to guide me. I do pray that your word will be my guiding light and show me the path I need to take. Amen
Verse of the week - 12th October 2014
I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD who calls you by name. Isaiah 45:3
Thought of the week
God has got hidden treasures and secret riches. These are things you could never have dreamt of or imagined. Don't be limited by what you think God can do. Believe that He has knowledge of things yet to be discovered.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that You know all things. You know what I will need even though I have not yet realised it. I will trust You in all these things. Amen.
Verse of the week - 5th October 2014
And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18
Thought of the week
We are called to be peacemakers and to plant seeds of peace by the way we live our lives. The harvest on this investment will be enviable. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Prayer
Dear Lord, May I be an instrument of peace in Your hands. Use me and use my life as a peacemaker after Your own heart. Amen.
Verse of the week - 28th September 2014
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Thought of the week
God wants you to "to think and act like Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). But how? The answer is surprisingly simple. We can be transformed if we make one decision: I will submit my thoughts to the authority of Jesus.... Jesus claims to be the CEO of heaven and earth. He has the ultimate say on everything, especially our thoughts.... To have a pure heart, we must submit all thoughts to the authority of Christ. If we are willing to do that, He will change us to be like Him.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I am not worthy to stand before Your throne of Grace! Take full control of my thoughts and let Your power rule over me. I thank You for helping me and strengthening me to lead a victorious life. In Jesus' name - I pray. Amen
Verse of the week - 21st September 2014
The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat. Refuse to give in to him, by standing strong in your faith.
1 Peter 5:8-9
1 Peter 5:8-9
Thought of the week
For most of us, thought management is, well, unthought of. We think much about time management, weight management, personal management.... But what about thought management? Shouldn't we be as concerned about managing our thoughts as we are managing anything else? Jesus was. Like a trained soldier at the gate of a city, he stood watch over his mind. He stubbornly guarded the gateway of his heart.... if he did, shouldn't we?
Prayer
Lord, help me to manage my thoughts, to stand strong in my faith and to protect myself from the devils schemes. Lord bless me this day in Jesus' name. Amen.
Verse of the week - 14th September 2014
The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us. Psalm 118:27
Thought of the week
You can have confidence in the Lord your God. He is the rock on which you can build your life. His desire is that His grace, mercy and favour would shine on you. So receive His light and walk in it all the days of your life.
Prayer
Lord, let Your light shine on me. May I walk in Your light each and every day! Amen
Verse of the week - 7th September 2014
The same is true of the prostitute Rehab who welcomed the spies and sent them away on another road. She received God's approval because of what she did. James 2:25
Thought of the week
God has a purpose and plan with each one of us. we may have made mistakes, but He still has a plan for us. As we embrace Him, He will reveal His plan to us. He wants to honour you for what you have done.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for Your purposes and plans for my life. I rejoice in knowing that even though I have made mistakes, You still have a plan for my life. Amen.
Verse of the week - 31st August 2014
You will be my witnesses - in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world. Act 1:8
Thought of the week
We are witnesses. And like witnesses in a court, we are called to tesify, to tell what we have seen and heard. And we are to speak truthfully.... Period. There is, however, one difference betwen the witness in court and the witness for Christ. The witness in court eventually steps down from the witness stand, but the witness for Christ never does. Since the claims of Christ are always on trial, court is perpetually in session, and we remain under oath.
Prayer
Lord, Help us to me more like You. Help us to remain faithful and obediant to Your holy word; to speak to the truth and to be Your witnesses here on earth. May we stand firm while on trial and remember always that we are under oath. Amen.
Verse of the week - 24th August 2014
You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 1 Peter 1:8
Thought for the wek
What a joy it is to love the Lord. He is with you even though you cannot see Him with your physical eye. He is with you no matter what you are facing at the moment. You can trust Him and this is your privilege as His child.
Prayer
Lord, I declare my love, trust and dependence on you today. Knowing that you are with me gives me great joy and confidence. Amen.
Verse of the week - 17th August 2014
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time - to show us His grace through Christ. 2 Timothy 1:9
Thought of the week
The Lord has a plan and His plan is to show you His grace. From the beginning of time, He wanted this to be a reality. He reaches out to you with His love, kindness and grace, not because we deserve it, but simply because He loves us.
Prayer
Lord, I receive and embrace those things that you have pre-prepared for me to enjoy as a simple gift out of your mighty hand. Amen.
Verse of the week - 10th August 2014
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10
Thought of the week
Knowing God needs to be more than just head knowledge. We have to know Him for ourselves as a living reality. When we know Him in this way, then we can really trust Him. His door is always open to receive those who long to know Him.
Prayer
Lord, I take this moment on this day and commit my life into Your hands. May I know You as my Saviour and my Lord. May I trust You so completely that there will be no room for doubt. Amen.
Verse of the week - 3rd August 2014
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Isaiah 26:3
Thought of the week
It is only God who can cause 'perfect peace' to be a reality in our lives. We can know this peace even in the storms that swirl around us. As a city is kept secure bt a strong garrison, so He will guard you. Trust in Him and fix your thoughts on Him alone.
Prayer
Lord, I desire that perfect peace that you offer me today. I am determined to trust and depend on you with the full knowledge that you can bring me through any storm I may face. Amen.
Verse of the week - 27th July 2014
'The Lord has done this for me,' she said. 'In these days He has shown His favour and taken away my disgrace among the people. Luke 1:25
Thought of the week
What has the lord done for you? We must remember to be thankful and celebrate what He has done. Today He wants to show you His favour. Today He wants to remove any reproach or disgrace you face.
Prayer
Lord, I celebrate and thank You for all You have done for me. I receive Your favour and mercy afresh today. Amen.
Verse of the week - 20th July 2014
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2
Thought of the week
He is your rock and your place of safety. If you feel overwhelmed, look to Him alone. He is the faithful God who sees us through it all. He is the power that will save you in your situation.
Prayer
Lord, I choose to believe you. I choose you as my rock and my security. I know that I can rely and depend on you. Amen
Verse of the week - 13th July 2014
I will also give you what you did NOT ask for - riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!
1 Kings 3:13
1 Kings 3:13
Thought of the week
God can bless you with the things you have never asked for. In His character, He wants to be good to you. King Solomon chose wisely and God blessed him with everything. When we put HIM first, He adds everything else.
Prayer
Lord, You are a good God. You give me what I don't deserve and you bless according to your mercy and not according to what I deserve. Amen
Verse of the week - 6th July 2014
"For I am the LORD your God......." Isaiah 43:3
Thought of the week
Be reassured today and know that the Lord is YOUR God. You have not missed the mark. His favour and loving kindness is reaching out to you. True believers are precious in God's sight and His delight is in them.
Prayer
Lord, You are my Lord and you are my God. May this wonderful fact be a new and fresh reality in my life today. I pray that I will never again doubt your goodness and love towards me. Amen
Verse of the week - 29th June 2014
...but God knows your hearts... Luke 16:15
Thought of the week
God knows what is going on in your heart. He sees your true intentions and motives and others may judge what is going on in your heart. But only HE really knows your heart and He loves you.
Prayer
Lord, it is such a comfort to know that you know my heart completely. You understand me and you know ehy I do the things I do. When I entrust my heart to you, I know it is in safe hands. Amen
Verse of the week - 22nd June 2014
May the LORD show you his favour and give you His peace. Numbers 6:26
Thought of the week
God wants to bless you personally and individually, He wants to show His favour towards you. He wants to bless you with the peace of knowing He cares for you. As a result you can walk through life knowing His peace each day.
Prayer
Lord, I receive your blessing and favour in and on my life. May I know the peace that passes all understanding and may I realise that it comes from you. Amen.
Verse of the week - 15th June 2014
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings. Hebrews 10:22
Thought of the week
We have the joy and the privilege of drawing near to God. We also have the choice to make Him the object of our hopes and dreams. He is not looking for the perfect, just the sincere. So with full assurance you can pursue Him.
Prayer
Lord, right here in this moment I draw near to You. I need You every day and every hour. I give You my heart and I give You my all. Amen
Verse of the week - 8th June 2014
As for God, His way is perfect: The LORD'S word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. 2 Samuel 22:31
Thought of the week
We may not always understand things, but God knows. He will carry through the darkest of storms and hold you in His arms and shield you. He is the joy of life and the song in the night.
Prayer
Lord, You are my shield and defense. Your ways are perfect and your timing is impeccable. Carry me and hold me in Your arms. Amen.
Verse of the week - 1st June 2014
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses... to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
Thought of the week
We need the power of God's Spirit on our lives. When this happens everything changes and as a result we become effective and empowered by God. Don't try to do it on your own, ask the Holy Spirit to come upon you.
Prayer
Lord, may Your Holy Spirit come upon me and may my life be changed and may I, as a result, become a witness for You. Amen
Verse of the week - 25th May 2014
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Thought of the week
It is love that makes all the difference in the world in which we live. Love can melt even the hardest of hearts. It can change situations and circumstances. It does not expose, but love brings protection and covering.
Prayer
Lord, it is so easy to see others faults. Help me not to be a fault-finder, but help me to be a blessing in the lives of those that I come in contact with today. Amen.
Verse of the week - 18th May 2014
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1
Thought of the week
Every aspect of our lives is known to God. He knows your struggles and the battles within. In His knowledge He also understands us. The fact that HE KNOWS and understands is a joy and a comfort.
Prayer
Lord, it is a great comfort to me to know that YOU know everything about me. You are the all-knowing God and You know my desires and the longings of my heart and because of this I can trust You. Amen
Verse of the week - 11th May 2014
You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:11
Thought of the week
God has a plan and purpose for your life. He has a path and a destiny for you and your family. The best part of the plan is that He promises to be with you! You don't need to walk alone, His presence is there and it brings joy.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that I will experience and enjoy Your presence in my daily life. Fill me now with the joy that comes from knowing that You are with me and that You have every detail of my life securely in Your hands. Amen
Verse of the week - 4th May 2014
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait on him! Isaiah 30:18
Thought of the week
Your faithful God wants to show you His love and kindness. Expect the best from your Heavenly Father. He wants to be gracious to you and show you compassion. Stretch out your arms and receive Him and all He has for you.
Prayer
Lord, you are my faithful, gracious and compassionate God. You have blessed me and I receive your love and kindness towards me. Amen.
Verse of the week - 27th April 2014
'The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom' 2 Timothy 4:18
Thought of the week
The Lord's plan is to rescue and deliver you. We all face evil attacks of many kinds. But the Lord wants to bring you through those things in victory. So do not fear the journey, for your destination is assured.
Prayer
Lord, rescue me and deliver me from every evil attack I pray. Give me the confidence to trust and believe in You in the particular race that I need to run. Amen
Verse of the Week - 20th April 2014
'I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me' Galatians 2:20
Thought of the week
As a child of God, His Son lives within you. Christ died so that you and I could experience this reality for ourselves. It should change the way we live our daily lives. So live by faith in the One who loved and gave Himself for you.
Prayer
Lord, this day I give you thanks in my heart, I remember Your work on the cross and Your death so that I could live. I choose to believe and live by faith in Your Son, my Lord and Saviour. Amen
Verse of the Week - 13th April 2014
'Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.' - Colossians 3:2
Thought of the week
What we focus on is very important. They say we become what we focus on. So don't be consumed with the issues you are facing. Remember God and remind yourself that nothing is too hard for Him.
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for allowing things I am facing to overwhelm me. I place my hope, confidence and trust in You right now. Amen.
Verse of the Week - 6th April 2014
In the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock - Psalm 27:5
Thought of the week
We all face troubles of some sort or another, but in it all we can enjoy the companionship of God Himself. We can live within His shadow (This speaks of protection). God will extend His shadow over the man who places himself under His protection.
Prayer:
Lord, may Your presence abide and stay with me. Hide me, protect me and keep me safe until the storm passes by. Amen