Work of the Faithful
Father, thank you for a good night’s sleep. As I humbly come into Your presence I am acutely aware of my shortcomings. The Great Deceiver popped off a few rounds and I was hit. My “shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16) dropped. I come before You asking for Your forgiveness and for the fortitude in standing strong against future assaults. Even when I stumble You are there to lift me up and set me on the narrow way once more. Praise Your holy Name – thank You for Your mercy and grace!
I Thessalonians 1:1-7 (<<click here)
Lord, I am extremely grateful for the churches I have the privilege of serving. Verses 2 & 3 of this passage, communicate a lot of how I feel being a pastor. I have wonderful people with which to walk this journey and I am thankful for them and their companionship. Living on this old earth we all need lots of prayer to keep us strong and get us through each day. I pray for them and I know many pray for me. When I pray, I “think of [their] faithful work.” Over the years we have consistently supported local ministries to help the needy, we’ve gotten behind impacting faith based films in our local community (FIREPROOF and COURAGEOUS) and been there for evangelistic events in our surrounding area (Will Graham Celebration). We pray for many people, both those close to our hearts and those we may not know – lifting up those ravaged by disease, those struggling with relationships and those struggling with the many spiritual issues in their lives. Their “loving deeds” include meals for the bereaved, letters of encouragement to those who are sick or recovering from procedures, “cheer” plates of goodies encouraging those unable to get out to church any longer, as well as, weekly contact with bulletins and CD recording of our services Lord, thank You for such loving caring people with which to serve!
And Lord we thank You for the “enduring love” You have given us. No matter what trial we may have to endure, no matter what losses we may suffer – You are there to sustain us through it all. Thank You for Your love and care!
July 6th, Mon, 5:33 am
Love Multiplies, It Doesn’t Divide
Father, I plead of You help me to never grow weary of our time together! May it always be refreshing, fulfilling, encouraging and inspirational. As the years go by may I collect many journals and when I look back please let me see what I have matured and changed for the better because You have continues to work in my life. May my passion and desire for relationship with You only broaden, deepen as the days and months roll by! As the old hymn goes…
Deeper, deeper in the love of JesusDaily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom
More of grace to know
O deeper yet, I pray
And higher every day
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In thy precious, holy Word. – Charles P Jones, 1900
AMEN!
Colossians 4:7-18 (<<click here)
Paul’s closing of his letter to Colosse is full of encouragement. Even though he was imprisoned he was surrounded by many faithful friends who mutually supported each other and lifted up the Church. Lord, help me to continue to surround myself with those who would lift up Your kingdom, as well as, myself. And help me do the same for Your kingdom and them. Love, and sometimes tough love, should permeate it all. With You infilling us all, we are to encourage one another to keep the faith. We are to fervently persevere in prayer for one another. Being a hermit may work for a few but we are called a body for a reason – to work together, weak and strong, to build Your kingdom. Please give us wisdom and strength and patience and courage. And Your love must saturate it all – too much damage can be done without it. The love with which You infill us is a multiplier – without it division is inevitable. Help me, Lord, help us, Lord to be filled with You and to be about Your business.
July 5th, Sun, 6:09 am
The Crumbling of the Church
Seasoned with Salt
Good morning, Father! It is early and I’m still a bit bleary eyed but I am glad that once again I have the opportunity to come and sit at Your feet. I know You love me and absolutely nothing can separate me from Your love! (Romans 8:38-39) Please, bless our time together, may it be profitable for my soul. I give myself over to You – teach me, motivate me and make me act according to Your will.
Colossians 4:5-6 (<<click here)
Dictionary.com defines “wise” as “having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right, processing, discernment, judgment or discretion.” Lord, You direct us to live in this mindset. I cannot say that I have always succeeded in doing so. I truly believe that You are constantly working with me to be more wise in my day to day interactions with others. Discernment is a trait with which the Holy Spirit surely helps me. At work, at church or at home discernment helps things go along much more smoothly. Thank You for helping me to see things that makes for wise interaction. Help me to make the most of every opportunity you bring my way.
After You help me to apply wisdom, discerning the situation in which I find myself, help me to be gracious. So many times extending grace to others has diffused a potentially volatile situation. Being kind and courteous goes a long way. In doing so what I then say is much more attractive to those with whom I am interacting. This whole directive is beneficial in working with others overall but Lord help me to think this way in sharing You with others.
I really don’t think I would enjoy French fries nearly as much without salt. Salty things appeal to my palate. In fact I often crave salty things – chips, crackers, nuts, etc. Where the New Living Translation translates a portion of this passage as “attractive” others translate it as “seasoned with salt.” Lord, help me to be SALTY! May others crave my presence because I am seasoned with You. Enhance my interactions so much so that people are directed to You. Bless me today and in the days ahead with “saltiness” so I might have a “right response for everyone”.
July 4th, Sat, 5:45 am
Seeing Through Your Eyes
Father, this morning, as I think back over the past few months, I once again acknowledge that I owe everything I am to You. This time that we have together was at one point only something I longed for, then it became something with which I struggled. Only because of You was I able to overcome things that were holding me back, things that were constantly entangling me! Thank You, Father! Life is not perfect, I still have my struggles but it is different now. In Your strength alone am I victorious. Praise Your holy Name!
Colossians 4:3-4 (<<click here)
Lord, You would think that being Your follower for all these years, that being a minister for so long, that this would be a normal activity in my life – but it isn’t. There may be factors but for too long they were basically just excuses…
In these verses, Paul asks that the Colossians pray that God will give he and those with him many opportunities to share God’s “mysterious” plan concerning Christ. His objective was to make sure that it was no longer a mystery for he wanted all to realize Christ’s Good News of salvation from sin. He then asks for prayer that he will proclaim this Good News as clearly as he should.
Lord Jesus, You have been working with me in this area. On this front, I am still a newbie but You are patiently working with me. Please forgive my failings to take advantage of opportunities given – my hesitancy, as well. Please continue to bolster my confidence in You. In my own strength and wisdom, I am doomed to failure! Only through Your strength and wisdom will success be found! I would ask that more and more I would see others as You see them. I know You are at work in my life. When my preconceived mindsets kick in I feel You pulling up on the reigns and You encourage me to stop and think. Then help me to act as You would act.
Thank You for the opportunity and the courage to act this past week at work. I did not know the gentleman in our break room, I had seen him before but had not spoken to him. When he sat down and began to eat, I really didn’t think much about it, but as time passed I believe You allowed me to see him through Your eyes. He said nothing but he communicated despair, heartache, loneliness. He did not weep but the way he touched his face and combed his fingers through his thinning hair spoke to me; seeing what You saw almost brought me to tears! And then You clearly spoke to me and boy did I struggle! You said, “Speak to him.” My mind raced! There are other peoples in here – what would they think, what am I supposed to say?! ‘Hey, you look like you’re in despair. Want to talk?” I tried to fend it off but You pushed on. I packed up my things and put them away and before I left, I sat across from him and introduced myself. He was a men’s clothing rep who was in the store regularly. I shared my appreciation for reps and all they do and that was it. I broke the ice – I had made contact. It scared me to death but Lord, You helped me! Afterwards, I sincerely prayed that I would see him again, soon, and that You will use me to touch him. Lord, help me to “proclaim [Your] message as clearly as I should” with him and others You bring my way.
Thank You, Lord for Your loving patience!
July 3, Fri 5:27 am
This video does a great job of communicating this mindset!