1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life[a] was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from[c] faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,[d] that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[e] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[f]
I think most of us have a "type" of person we witness to. Maybe we are comfortable witnessing to children or to teens. Maybe it's poor people or people we know we will never see again.
In Paul's time, people witnessed to Jews. They were God's chosen people! Paul broke the mold. He witnessed to ALL people, Jews and gentiles, Greeks and non-Greeks. He didn't differentiate. He longed to witness to others and build them up and be built up by them.
What would it look like to today if we lived by verse 16? "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. How many more peope would we witness to? How many oppurtunities are we given that we walk away from b/c they don't fit our "type"?
I know there are a lot of people I don't speak up to and it's my goal to change that! I am very comfortable with children and teenagers but not so much with adults. This week I am going to look for at least one oppurtunity to share God's love and saving power with an adult! Will you joing me in the challenge to step out and share God's Word???
Father, Please give me strength and wisdom to see the oppurtunities you place before me. Thank you for your saving grace! Amen
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Genesis 3
Genesis 3
The Fall
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 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. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16 To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
20 Adam named his wife Eve,because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
The first sin! The fall of man! And it all gets blamed on the woman.
I sometimes wonder what life would be like if sin had never come. Would we all still be in The Garden? What would childbirth be like? What would serpents look like? would there be no weeds? Look at all the things that immediatey changed because of sin.
Life would be totally differnt. There were so many chances for stopping this. Eve could have chosen not to ever listen to the serpent. She could have just chosen to say no. Adam could have stopped her. He could have not eaten it himself. Why did it happen like it did?
Were man and all animals able to communicate prior to that sin? I just wonder because if not and the serpent came up and started talking to Eve, I would think it would frighten her.
There are a lot of ifs here and it's all speculation. We won't know till we're face to face with God and the blank spaces are filled. For now, I chose to try to avoid and say no to all the serpents in my life. I chose to walk away from sin. I pray you do to.
Father, Help me close my ears to those who try to deceive me and lead me away from you. Give me wisdom of when to say no. Amen.
The Fall
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 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. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16 To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
20 Adam named his wife Eve,because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
The first sin! The fall of man! And it all gets blamed on the woman.
I sometimes wonder what life would be like if sin had never come. Would we all still be in The Garden? What would childbirth be like? What would serpents look like? would there be no weeds? Look at all the things that immediatey changed because of sin.
Life would be totally differnt. There were so many chances for stopping this. Eve could have chosen not to ever listen to the serpent. She could have just chosen to say no. Adam could have stopped her. He could have not eaten it himself. Why did it happen like it did?
Were man and all animals able to communicate prior to that sin? I just wonder because if not and the serpent came up and started talking to Eve, I would think it would frighten her.
There are a lot of ifs here and it's all speculation. We won't know till we're face to face with God and the blank spaces are filled. For now, I chose to try to avoid and say no to all the serpents in my life. I chose to walk away from sin. I pray you do to.
Father, Help me close my ears to those who try to deceive me and lead me away from you. Give me wisdom of when to say no. Amen.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Genesis 2
Genesis 2
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Adam and Eve 4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth[a] and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams[b] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the LORD God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin[d] and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.[e] 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam[f] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[g] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib[h] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
This passage seems to be a more detailed account of what happened in the first chapter of Genesis. We see the other work that happened on those days. The naming of the animals, the making of woman.
I love that we see God rest on the 7th day. It gives us precedent for what we are to do. Do you really think that the Almighty needed a day of rest? Do you think He gets tired? I don't. I think it was to demonstrate that we should sit back a day and thank Him for His creation and stand in awe of Him.
Think back in time to what Sundays used to be! Close your eyes and go back! People took the day off. There were such things a Blue Laws. They governed what could happen on a Sunday so that people could have the Sabbath off. They are mostly a think of the past now, unfortunately. A lot of people disagree with me on that and that's okay. I just think that there should be a day of rest. A day where families can spend it together and go to church and enjoy talking about God. A chance to see His creation and be thankful for it.
We are such a busy society now that we dont take that day of rest. Some people choose not to and others cant because they are made to work from lack of Blue Laws.
Try taking time out for God this Sunday! Not just going to church and sitting in a pew...really spend some time with Him. Thank him for all He's done.
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Adam and Eve 4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth[a] and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams[b] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the LORD God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin[d] and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.[e] 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam[f] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[g] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib[h] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
This passage seems to be a more detailed account of what happened in the first chapter of Genesis. We see the other work that happened on those days. The naming of the animals, the making of woman.
I love that we see God rest on the 7th day. It gives us precedent for what we are to do. Do you really think that the Almighty needed a day of rest? Do you think He gets tired? I don't. I think it was to demonstrate that we should sit back a day and thank Him for His creation and stand in awe of Him.
Think back in time to what Sundays used to be! Close your eyes and go back! People took the day off. There were such things a Blue Laws. They governed what could happen on a Sunday so that people could have the Sabbath off. They are mostly a think of the past now, unfortunately. A lot of people disagree with me on that and that's okay. I just think that there should be a day of rest. A day where families can spend it together and go to church and enjoy talking about God. A chance to see His creation and be thankful for it.
We are such a busy society now that we dont take that day of rest. Some people choose not to and others cant because they are made to work from lack of Blue Laws.
Try taking time out for God this Sunday! Not just going to church and sitting in a pew...really spend some time with Him. Thank him for all He's done.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Genesis 1
The Beginning
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
There was nothing but God and then there was Earth and all in entales! WOW! Can you even imagine the power that God has!!! I know I would love to be able to speak things into existence. But I can't! Only He can.
I wonder what it was like for God as He created everything. There are so many beautiful creatures in the world that He specifically chose to make. Then there are things like mosquitos. Why? I don't think we will ever know.
What would your world look like? Would you have made predators? Would you have made a night? Or would your creation never get tired and need sleep? Would have temperature variations or a constant temp?
These are all things God controls! What I get most out of this first chapter of Genesis is the amazing POWER OF GOD! I want to be on the side of someone with that much power! Not on the side of His enemy!
God, please help me see everything as your creation. I thank you for all you created. Please help me to remember your power and to trust in You! Amen.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
There was nothing but God and then there was Earth and all in entales! WOW! Can you even imagine the power that God has!!! I know I would love to be able to speak things into existence. But I can't! Only He can.
I wonder what it was like for God as He created everything. There are so many beautiful creatures in the world that He specifically chose to make. Then there are things like mosquitos. Why? I don't think we will ever know.
What would your world look like? Would you have made predators? Would you have made a night? Or would your creation never get tired and need sleep? Would have temperature variations or a constant temp?
These are all things God controls! What I get most out of this first chapter of Genesis is the amazing POWER OF GOD! I want to be on the side of someone with that much power! Not on the side of His enemy!
God, please help me see everything as your creation. I thank you for all you created. Please help me to remember your power and to trust in You! Amen.
Monday, February 28, 2011
James 5: 13-20
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
The power of PRAYER! I know it, I've lived it! There is no greater power on earth than that of a person praying.
So why don't we do it more often? I am not innocent in this. I find myself at the end of the day going to bed and realize I haven't talked to God today! I will be in a situation where someone has asked me to pray for something or one of my children are sick and need prayer, only to realize that I am asking God for a miracle but haven't talked to Him or thanked Him in days. How come? I can't go a single day without talking to my best friend. Why is it that I don't talk to God as much? It's because I am lazy and treating God like a genie in a bottle!
Today that changes! I want to wake up praising His name and go to bed doing the same thing. I know the power of prayer (I have two miracle children that the doctors said I couldn't have!) I have been prayed over the way this passage talks about! Now it's my turn to go pray over others.
I have been trying to change the way I answer the call for prayer. I used to just say, "Yes I'll pray for you". Do you know how often I forgot? Too many times. Now, I try to immediately pray for the person and situation. Talking to God is an awesome thing to do!
Turn off your TV, Computer, Phone, etc and get on your knees in front of God and see what He can do in your life!
Father, Thank you that you hear me even when I don't deserve it. Thank you for always answering prayers even if the answer is not what I want to hear! I am sorry for the times I have ignored you. Please forgive me! Amen
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
The power of PRAYER! I know it, I've lived it! There is no greater power on earth than that of a person praying.
So why don't we do it more often? I am not innocent in this. I find myself at the end of the day going to bed and realize I haven't talked to God today! I will be in a situation where someone has asked me to pray for something or one of my children are sick and need prayer, only to realize that I am asking God for a miracle but haven't talked to Him or thanked Him in days. How come? I can't go a single day without talking to my best friend. Why is it that I don't talk to God as much? It's because I am lazy and treating God like a genie in a bottle!
Today that changes! I want to wake up praising His name and go to bed doing the same thing. I know the power of prayer (I have two miracle children that the doctors said I couldn't have!) I have been prayed over the way this passage talks about! Now it's my turn to go pray over others.
I have been trying to change the way I answer the call for prayer. I used to just say, "Yes I'll pray for you". Do you know how often I forgot? Too many times. Now, I try to immediately pray for the person and situation. Talking to God is an awesome thing to do!
Turn off your TV, Computer, Phone, etc and get on your knees in front of God and see what He can do in your life!
Father, Thank you that you hear me even when I don't deserve it. Thank you for always answering prayers even if the answer is not what I want to hear! I am sorry for the times I have ignored you. Please forgive me! Amen
Friday, February 25, 2011
James 5: 7-12
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
Patience, something most people would say they need more of. I know I repeatedly pray for more patience. Why is it so hard to be patient? I believe it's b/c we want to be in control and when we are having to wait on something we lose control.
Have you had to perservere through anything? I have. Sometime life seems so hard and unfair. That is when the patience comes in. Life will be full of storms...and we have to know how to handle them. The only thing that seems to help me is going to God. When I try to pull away during a storm everything looks gray and I can't see the end. When I try to draw nearer, things still look gray sometimes but you know there is an end
Finally, just don't swear!
Father, today I pray for that I would be more dependent on you. I want to give you control of my entire life so that when I face the storms I never face them alone. My desire is to have the patience that comes from not worrying about my life but resting in your assurances. Amen.
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
Patience, something most people would say they need more of. I know I repeatedly pray for more patience. Why is it so hard to be patient? I believe it's b/c we want to be in control and when we are having to wait on something we lose control.
Have you had to perservere through anything? I have. Sometime life seems so hard and unfair. That is when the patience comes in. Life will be full of storms...and we have to know how to handle them. The only thing that seems to help me is going to God. When I try to pull away during a storm everything looks gray and I can't see the end. When I try to draw nearer, things still look gray sometimes but you know there is an end
Finally, just don't swear!
Father, today I pray for that I would be more dependent on you. I want to give you control of my entire life so that when I face the storms I never face them alone. My desire is to have the patience that comes from not worrying about my life but resting in your assurances. Amen.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
James 5: 1-6
Warning to Rich Oppressors
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
What does this mean? Does it mean that anyone who has a lot of money is condemned? NO! It means that anyone who has a lot of money and holds on to it and never gives back needs to check themselves!
What do we do with our money? Do we tithe? Do we give to the poor? Or do we keep putting it in the bank and holding on to it all for a future day? I know that having a savings account is an important thing for everyone but if you have one that's filled with money and never give back to God that's not right. God gives us all we have! We need to give back. We need to help clothe, feed, shelter His people!
Can we get someone to listen to us about their spiritual needs if we are not helping meet their physical needs. Imagine you are hungry and thirsty...would you listen?
Use the money you have WISELY! The more you give joyfully to God, the more He blesses you with in return.
Father, Help me to remember that apart from you I am nothing and I have nothing. Give me wisdom about where to use my money. Thankyou for all you give! Amen.
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
What does this mean? Does it mean that anyone who has a lot of money is condemned? NO! It means that anyone who has a lot of money and holds on to it and never gives back needs to check themselves!
What do we do with our money? Do we tithe? Do we give to the poor? Or do we keep putting it in the bank and holding on to it all for a future day? I know that having a savings account is an important thing for everyone but if you have one that's filled with money and never give back to God that's not right. God gives us all we have! We need to give back. We need to help clothe, feed, shelter His people!
Can we get someone to listen to us about their spiritual needs if we are not helping meet their physical needs. Imagine you are hungry and thirsty...would you listen?
Use the money you have WISELY! The more you give joyfully to God, the more He blesses you with in return.
Father, Help me to remember that apart from you I am nothing and I have nothing. Give me wisdom about where to use my money. Thankyou for all you give! Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)