Delivered

Jonah 2 New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Jonah 2 Jonah Prays to the Lord  1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said,    "When I was in trouble, I called out to you.       And you answered me.    When I had almost drowned,       I called out for help.       And you listened to my cry.  3 You threw me into the Mediterranean Sea.       I was in the middle of its waters.       They were all around me.    All of your rolling waves       were sweeping over me.  4 I said, 'I have been driven away from you.       But I will look again       toward your holy temple in Jerusalem.'  5 I had almost drowned in the waves.       The deep waters were all around me.       Seaweed was wrapped around my head.  6 I sank down to the bottom of the mountains.       I thought I had died       and gone down into the grave forever.    But you brought my life up       from the very edge of the pit.       You are the Lord my God.  7 "When my life was nearly over,       I remembered you, Lord.    My prayer rose up to you.       It reached you in your holy temple in heaven.  8 "Some people worship the worthless statues of their gods.       They turn away from the grace       you want to give them.  9 But I will sacrifice a thank offering to you.       And I will sing a song of thanks.    I will do what I have promised.       Lord, you are the one who saves."  10 The Lord gave the fish a command. And it spit Jonah up onto dry land. Thank you God for your commitment. When I fell into a pit you were there to bring me out. I can see the light of day. Spiritually I have been saved. Lord you know what's best for me better than I know for myself. I strive to reach that place that you want to send me. Take away all restrictions that I have placed on myself and allow me to do your will. Lord you have delivered me from one difficult situation after another. I choose you Lord and I thank you for your discipline and grace. You are my salvation Lord. I trust you Lord. you are always there to keep me from harm even when I am running towards it. Thank you God for your blessings. Glory to God. Lord hear the prayers of you people, search our hearts and find a honest,true and clean heart that is truly ready to serve you Lord God Almighty. Let you will be done in my life. Thank you God.

Good Morning

Thank You lord for another day. I trust you Lord. Psalm 126:2-3 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. then it was said among the nations, The Lord as done great things for them. the Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Thank you Lord for doing great things in my life. I will bless your name and praise you today and everyday.

Reality

Lord, the reality of the situation always seems to overshadow the dream. What do you do when you know you are responsible for others and you can't just up and leave them? Have you actually prepared your room for another human being to co habit with you? Do I know what I would give away, throw away, or even just walk away from? Financial responsibilities are still going to be there. The mortgage, the car note,the student loans, the job? I have to pay the bills. He was never coming all this way from his city. I just felt that was not going to happen, though I did have a dream that it did happen. Was I just being selfish wanting him to come into my life? Was I not willing to go into his life? Then what would happen to my house? Let's be honest. How was that going to happen? How was the reality of financial, emotional and physical togetherness really going to happen? It was a dream. It was as if we were kids not facing the facts. Neither one of us has our own residence. We do not have the luxury of running off to some remote, isolated area to get to know each other. We have daily responsibilities. People who depend on us, daily. I'm a mess. I'm probably worse than your college roommate to live with. I would have loved to have planned for the future much better. Planning for the future is big business. When we fall short for whatever reason, we blame ourselves. I should have known better. When we take Advice from someone, a company, an investment, their actions in turn affect our prosperity, our health and our happiness. While we focus on the here and now, wisdom keeps us looking toward the future. The best plans that we can make seem to encompass only ourselves. When character affects the outcome of our plans, we know that as a planner of our future, our character will affect the outcome from God. I know I have made many mistakes along the way and probably will make more. Have I always placed God at the forefront of my decisions? Did I take into consideration God's will? Even now! Do I stay because I'm stuck or am I somehow still following a dream or purpose? How is it that I haven't let this go? It broke my heart to hear that decision, yet i fought to have just that outcome even though i wanted something different for myself. The selfish decision of just us two or the thoughtful, considerate decision for others. One thing for sure, I have prayed that God would, over time, take the desire from my heart. Help me to stop wanting you for myself in that selfish way and to know that I have to share you if I am going to be around you in any capacity. You are not mine. But I can pray for you and love you. I want nothing but the best for you and will protect you the best way I know how, from afar. I believe in your message and trust God to guide me. If I am still here it's because God wants me here so I will stay. If I am no longer able to work for God then I will find some place else to worship. Proverbs 20:28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe, through love his throne is made secure. Proverbs 21:2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

My Weakness

I hate it when you are sick. My heart goes out to you. I know you got a flu shot. You must take your vitamins every day. Especially an extra dose of vitamin c. Get your self some Florastor from the pharmacist. Please, please, please take care of yourself. Please. I just want to fuss over you. “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 NKJV

Good Enough

Complacency is today's watch word. Just getting along. Just keeping my head above water. Just doing what needs to be done to make it.am I believing for my greatness or am I willing to settle for the here and now. A bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush. I don"t know what I am believing for anymore. I don't know what to ask for. Not my wishes and desires. Not my dreams. I ask God to give me a clean heart. Remove any and everything that is not his will and desire. Show me what I need to do. How do I make this sacrifice and still find love? What is my focus, what should my attention be on? Draw it out of me, Lord. Guide me to your will. I will trust you. Guide me spiritually so that I am not content with the way things are and that I can stretch to a new comfort zone. Zephaniah 1:2-4 2 “I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land,” Says the Lord; 3 “I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks[a] along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land,” Says the Lord. 4 “I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place,

Difficulty Loving Everyone

Galatians 6:1-10 Bear and Share the Burdens 6 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load. Be Generous and Do Good 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. I ask God to help me be loving to people that I am in contact with on a regular basis. I struggle with this daily. Keep me close and continue to challenge me Lord. As long as I am here I know I have a purpose to fulfill. It's not over yet.

Honor and Worship

Isaiah 58:11-14 The Message (MSG) A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places  9-12"If you get rid of unfair practices,    quit blaming victims,    quit gossiping about other people's sins, If you are generous with the hungry    and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,    your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go.    I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—    firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden,    a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,    rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything,    restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,    make the community livable again.  13-14"If you watch your step on the Sabbath    and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy,    God's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,'    making money, running here and there— Then you'll be free to enjoy God!    Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob."    Yes! God says so!

Be willing to take a Stand

Luke 12:2-3 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. Luke 12:1-11 New King James Version (NKJV) Beware of Hypocrisy 12 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. Jesus Teaches the Fear of God 4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! 6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?[a] And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Confess Christ Before Men 8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. 11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.

What Should I Do?

Luke 10:27-28 New King James Version (NKJV) 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[a] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”[b] 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” Dear Lord, I seek you first. I am trying to be a true disciple. I want to be able to make the right decisions that will glorify you in all areas of my life. I never stop trying to reach you. I won't give up. It's not over for me. Walk with me today Lord. Know my thoughts and my heart's desire. Lead me away from temptation. Let my footsteps be with your footsteps. I pray for peace today.

Love must be Sincere

Romans 12:8-10 New International Version (NIV) 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[a] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Love in Action  9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

My Personal Relationship with God

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” John 13:34-35 NKJV I pray for courage and truth today. Keep me strong and faithful. Do not allow any temptations to enter into my existence. Do not let food be a distraction for hurt. Let love be a help and not a hindrance. I believe love never fails. Hear my prayer to not harden mt heart. Do not allow me to be cynical. Let love flow like a river. Be happy for those with a love and share in their joy. Thank you God for loving me. It's just one day.

Personal Presence

I thank God for his personal presence in my life. For his ability to reach out to me and make me feel special and unique. I honor you Lord and I worship you. John 12:1-3  1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Be Honest about Your Doubts

John 10 The Good Shepherd and His Sheep  1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.  7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV

Walking in Christ

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. God I thank you for today. I am blessed with my baby being home for a week. Thank your Lord for traveling mercies. Allow us to spend time together peacefully and with no regrets. We have to plan a wedding Lord and we are excited about joining together two wonderful people. I love you Lord. Help me to understand my spiritual gifts. Love is a gift and I am challenged to show it more to my classroom, my family and my faith community. Help me to remember that love protect, trusts hopes and perseveres. I trust in you Lord. I walk in the knowledge of my faith in God continues to grow and my interdependence and dependence is healthy and responsible. I love you Lord and I am trusting in you Lord. Order my steps today in love.

Prayer

“[Love for Enemies] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45 NIV Psalm 140 Psalm 140[a]     For the director of music. A psalm of David.  1 Rescue me, LORD, from evildoers;    protect me from the violent, 2 who devise evil plans in their hearts    and stir up war every day. 3 They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s;    the poison of vipers is on their lips.[b]  4 Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked;    protect me from the violent,    who devise ways to trip my feet. 5 The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;    they have spread out the cords of their net    and have set traps for me along my path.  6 I say to the LORD, “You are my God.”    Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy. 7 Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,    you shield my head in the day of battle. 8 Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD;    do not let their plans succeed.  9 Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;    may the mischief of their lips engulf them. 10 May burning coals fall on them;    may they be thrown into the fire,    into miry pits, never to rise. Footnotes: Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14. Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.

Controversialist

Good Morning Lord. Thank you for waking me up today. Pictue Day. Thank you Lord for placing people around me who like to stir the pot. Whether its the people they work with or the ones they are around socially, folks wonder what to do with them and what to do without them. Those that are arguing are happiest when they have controversy and just half alive when the atmosphere is congenial. It's not ego that takes presedence, it's because they love the truth and hate lies. Taking a stand against the established lies that are being held up as truths requires a controversialist. Going against the grain to speak the truth and to take a stand for justice. Critics will say we are working against the very thing we came to heal. Lord search my heart and mind. Know that I stand with you and I pray that you give me the help I need to take a stand when necessary. I am pleased for the congregation and ask nothing for myself individually. I love the Lord and pray that I can be a servant to God. I don't have the words needed to convey my joy in God's will. I pray thay I will be able to fully understand my role, but even without understanding, I will do what is asked of me. I love the Lord and will try with all my might and power to worship and obey Him. I will walk with Him and not against Him. Psalm 97:10 10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil,    for he guards the lives of his faithful ones    and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Luke 11:17-23   17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.    23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Blessings

Thank you Lord for your blessings. Thank you for waking me up today. Thank you Lord for hearing the prayers of your people and answering them. You are a good God. You reward us even when we don't deserve it. You give us the desires of our heart. Your word is our food for life. I am so very happy that you have given us the man of God that we needed. Not all can answer your call, but for those who can you will reward them in heaven. Glory be to God. Life allows us to make choices that will bring us closer to God. Let us always make the right choice. Fight the good fight of faith. God prepares us for his decisions even when don't know he is doing anything. The right decision is the God decision. If God is in it then you will succeed. I thank God I have prayers and desires. God answers prayers and if he can answer yours he can answer mine. I speak peace over my life. I have no regrets. A bird in the hand is more valuable than two in the bush. A sure thing is always a good choice. Better to stick with what you know, then to venture into the unknown with what you don't know. Life is a vapor. It is gone before you know it. Dare to Dream and follow that dream. Believe you can and spend your life doing just that. Know that God has a purpose for you in life and seek Him first. Thank you God for your insight and for your hand in my life. Lord I know you are protecting me and I trust you to know what is best for me. I walk boldly into my future. Thank you God for your protection and knowledge that I seek constantly. I know that you answer all prayers so my prayers are answered. Glory to God. I walk by Faith and not by sight. The Lord is my Shepard and I shall not want. Glory to God today and every day. I will praise you Lord today and everyday. I will bless the Lord and his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Taste and see that the Lord is good and his mercy endures forever and ever and ever. Be blessed today and be a blessing, I love you Lord.

Faith

 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.     Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.  8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” Burnout is real. We spread ourselves thin. We try to reach those that we know and love but they don't want to hear us. God give me the strength to keep my faith strong. Teach to those that want to hear and those that don't let me just keep it moving. Be blessed today and be a blessing to someone, if they will let you. I love you.

Worship

Let us worship him and tell others about Christ, Our Lord. Let us honor and adore Him for he is worthy to be praised. Let us tell others of Gos's goodness in our lives. He has done great things for me all of these phrases are from songs that show worship to our Lord Jesus Christ. Ord I worship you. Whatever is going on in my life, I will worship you. No matter how tired I fee, or how difficult it seems, I will worship you. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Give God the glory today, worship him for he is worthy to be praised. Be blessed today and be a blessing to someone. I ove you.

Friends

Bless is the Lord. Thank you Lord for today. I take nothing for granted. I continue to strive towards your goal Lord. Without you I don't know where I would be. I don't want to go anywhere without you in my life. You are my friend. Speak truth in my life. Maintains friendship requires effort. It is not a given. It's easier to lose a friend than it is to keep one. Neglect, indifference and contempt are easy ways to lose a friend. Nurture, groom and use patience to keep a friend. Encourage each other. Be a friend. Show some love. God bless you today. I love you. Proverbs 27  1 Do not boast about tomorrow,    for you do not know what a day may bring.  2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;    an outsider, and not your own lips.  3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.  4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,    but who can stand before jealousy?  5 Better is open rebuke    than hidden love.  6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,    but an enemy multiplies kisses.  7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,    but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.  8 Like a bird that flees its nest    is anyone who flees from home.  9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,    and the pleasantness of a friend    springs from their heartfelt advice.  10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.