Give Me a Faith Boost, Lord

Joshua 3:15-16

It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.

Wow! I love reading stories like this about your power, Lord! It's a great reminder that making the flow of a river stop and even giving the people dry ground to walk on is no problem for you. After all, you created the water and gravity and the ground!

I love that it says that the riverbed was dry. Not muddy like it normally would be after water had just been there. The priests had to get their feet wet and step out in faith, that's when you moved displayed your great power.

But you made sure that the timing and circumstances were such that there could be no doubt that you were the one who did this. You needed to give the people a fresh sampling of your power. It strengthened the faith of the Israelites and showed their enemies that you were fighting with and for them.

When I read these stories, it gives me a faith boost. It reminds me that your power is absolute and limitless. You fight for me against my enemies, so what have I to fear?? I should be one of the bravest of all people! Yet it is usually very difficult for me to take those first steps of faith and obedience and get my feet wet.

Lord, please remind me that I have nothing to fear when you are with me! Especially when I am walking in obedience to you. The times when I should be absolutely terrified are when I am listening to the voice of my sinful nature! That voice only wants my death and destruction while you want to give me abundant life. Thank you for the wonderful words of encouragement this morning, Lord!! I love you so much! In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSE

Joshua 1:8

"Study this book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in everything you do."

Joshua 1:8

Isaiah 45:18-19

"I am the Lord," he says, "and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right."

Isaiah 45:18-19

YEAR VERSE

Psalm 37:3-5

Trust in the LORD and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the LORD.

Trust him, and he will help you.

Psalm 37:3-5

Heal My Short-sightedness, Lord!

Luke 19:42

"How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes."

Jesus, your Triumphal Entry was an announcement that you are the long awaited Messiah. The people recognized it as such but at the same time failed to recognize the true message you were proclaiming.

They were short-sighted, looking for a Messiah who would give them military and political freedom. We humans are so short-sighted! We tend to focus on the things we can see and touch, the non-eternal. Please shift my focus to the eternal. 

The people wanted the kind of peace that means an end of fighting and a state of security and order within a community. You wanted to give them a much greater peace! You wanted to give them peace with God!

Clearing the Temple was yet another proclamation of your Lordship, over the Temple and Jerusalem. When I asked you to be the Lord of my life, you cleaned my temple. Now it is my job to keep the temple clean by bringing you all my "trash". 

The ONLY way to dispose of it is to give it to you. I can try all sorts of other ways to get rid of my trash, therapy, yoga, meditation, running, eating, shopping, drugs, and the list goes on. YOU are the only one who can properly dispose of my trash and make me completely clean again. It is only when I cry out to you without holding back that you are able to do this.

Lord, please help me to keep short accounts with you! Help me to keep running to you and crying out to you without holding back. Like a child running into the arms of her daddy and telling him all her fears, worries, and frustrations. I love you so much, Abba!! In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSE

Joshua 1:8

"Study this book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in everything you do."

Joshua 1:8

Isaiah 45:18-19

"I am the Lord," he says, "and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right."

Isaiah 45:18-19

YEAR VERSE

Psalm 37:3-5

Trust in the LORD and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the LORD.

Trust him, and he will help you.

Psalm 37:3-5

God's Word Makes Me Strong and Corageous

Joshua 1:8

"Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."

I must stay in the word if I am to grow and prosper spiritually. Without the word I shrivel up and die spiritually, like a plant without the sun or water.

Your word gives me courage and makes me strong. It helps me to stay obedient to you. It shows me how to live and points out things in my life that need to change.

Thank you for your word!! I'm so glad that you gave us your word and your Holy Spirit to help us understand it. Please guide me as I teach A. to read the Bible. Give her a passion for your word as we read it together. In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSE

Joshua 1:8

"Study this book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in everything you do."

Joshua 1:8

Isaiah 45:18-19

"I am the Lord," he says, "and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right."

Isaiah 45:18-19

YEAR VERSE

Psalm 37:3-5

Trust in the LORD and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the LORD.

Trust him, and he will help you.

Psalm 37:3-5

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Deuteronomy 33:26-27

"There is no one like the God of Israel.

He rides across the heavens to help you,

across the skies in majestic splendor.

The eternal God is your refuge,

and his everlasting arms are under you."

The eternal God is my refuge, his everlasting arms are under me. When I am in need, he comes riding across the skies to help me, across the skies in majestic splendor. There is no one like the God of Israel. You are MY God!!

I trust in you! My heart is safe with you.

Lord, when I am afraid, help me to trust in you. We desperately need a breakthrough at work. But if you have a different plan, let me trust in you. My FIL's salvation is much more important than the success of the business. Please open his eyes to see and give him ears to hear. Draw him to yourself Jesus!

Be with A. I pray that the Holy Spirit would not let her get away with anything. Help me to give her your words, Lord. Thank you for her confession of faith in you! Help her to now learn to live that out. Help me as I disciple her. In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSE

Isaiah 45:18-19

"I am the Lord," he says, "and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right."

Isaiah 45:18-19

YEAR VERSE

Psalm 37:3-5

Trust in the LORD and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the LORD.

Trust him, and he will help you.

Psalm 37:3-5

We Have a New Sister in the Lord!!

I am on cloud 9!!! The girl from across the street, who I have been praying for, came over this morning to tell us that she prayed to accept Jesus!!! The Lord used the death of her dear friend to facilitate this. The young man who I posted about a couple days ago. She went to his funeral yesterday and the pastor talked to her about the "Key to Salvation" as he called it. She told him that she wanted to know Jesus so he helped her pray the prayer of salvation.

I had prayed just this morning for God to send me someone to disciple. So I knew he had answered that request. I asked her if I can disciple her and she said yes. I gave her my Salt & Light booklet and told her to start with day one. I had already given her an NIV Bible and told her that I am going to get her a journal. We are going to meet on Saturday afternoons. Please pray that God puts questions in her mind and answers in my mouth. I am so excited but also worried that I will say the wrong things. I want to only share God's words with her!!! As long as I am sharing HIS words, I can't say the wrong thing.

He Makes it Easy

Deuteronomy 30:11-14

"This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. It is not kept up in heaven, so distant that you must ask, 'Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?' It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, 'Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?' No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it."

Lord, thank you for making it so simple to come to you! It is our enemy that tries to make it sound so complicated and seem impossible. You tell us that you would not have told people to seek you if you could not be found. You speak only what is true and declare only what is right.

Isaiah 45:18-19

"I am the Lord," he says, "and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right."

I pray for those who have not yet found you. Please allow them to realize that they have been lied to. Some are convinced that they have found you when all they have really found is an impostor who will vanish like smoke at the time of their greatest need. Open their eyes to see their mistake!

Others tell themselves that they don't need you. They have bought into the lie that there is no hell and no heaven. If they are wrong then their eternal soul is at stake! Show them their desperate need for you!

Please allow me to be a part of leading people to you. Put your words in my mouth. Remind me of the verses I have memorized and use them to speak to people. I want to bring as many as I can to heaven with me!! In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSE

Isaiah 45:18-19

"I am the Lord," he says, "and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right."

Isaiah 45:18-19

YEAR VERSE

Psalm 37:3-5

Trust in the LORD and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the LORD.

Trust him, and he will help you.

Psalm 37:3-5

We Urgently Need to be Sharing the Gospel

My heart is heavy this morning thinking about Matthew, the young man who sometimes lived across the street from us. I found out yesterday that he died in his sleep some time last week, from an over dose of drugs. I pray that he truly knew the Lord. Only God knows his heart. 

I had the wonderful privilege of sharing the gospel with this young man one time. He told me then that he occasionally attended a Baptist church in the area. He was so excited to hear the gospel and told me that he had others he wanted to tell. I gave him a Bible which he promised to read.

My message to my believing friends is this: if the Spirit is prompting you to share the gospel with someone, don't wait! Do it right away! Proverbs 6:4 "Don't put it off, do it now. Don't rest until you do." 

You just don't know if you will get another chance to share with that person. They may enter eternity before you get another chance. We have a message that urgently needs to be shared with everyone the Lord prompts us to share it with!! So lets get out there and share it!! I love you all!! 

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We Reap What We Sow

Deuteronomy 29:29

"The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions."

Lord, there is no way that we can know and understand all there is to know and understand about you. You are infinite and we are finite. However, you have told us more than enough so that we have no excuse not to follow and obey you. You even sent your only Son to die in our place so we can have a relationship with you! It is only our stubborn pride that keeps us blind and believing the lie that tells us, "I am save, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart." Deuteronomy 29:29

Galatians 6:7-8

Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Lord, I want to live to please the Spirit not my sinful nature! I want to harvest the blessings you spoke of in Deuteronomy, not the curses. Holy Spirit, please empower me to live to please you. I can only do this with your help. If I try to do this in my own strength, I will always fail miserably. In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSE

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

YEAR VERSE

Psalm 37:3-5

Trust in the LORD and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the LORD.

Trust him, and he will help you.

Psalm 37:3-5

I am No Longer Under a Curse

Deuteronomy 27:26

" 'Cursed is anyone who does not affirm and obey the terms of these instructions.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen' "

Galatians 3:10-14

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law." So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." This way of faith is very different from the way of the law, which says, "It is through obeying the law that a person has life." But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

This picture is borrowed from Knowing Jesus.com

I praise you, Lord, that I don't have to rely on obeying the law to make me right with you! Thank you, Jesus, for rescuing me from the curse pronounced by the law. Now I obey the law not to avoid a curse, but out of love for the one who saved me from the curse! I love you so much, Lord!! In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSE

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

YEAR VERSE

Psalm 37:3-5

Trust in the LORD and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the LORD.

Trust him, and he will help you.

Psalm 37:3-5