Pass It On!
Father, Your are so faithful and I praise Your holy name! I am so undeserving but You love me despite my failings. Thank You for waking me this morning – You help me in so many ways – You deserve all of my love!
Philippians 2:19-24 (<<click here)
Where I am at at this time this passage is difficult to workout. Lord, it seems that it is dealing with a mindset of passing on the mantel of responsibility at church, at work and for the most part at home. I really don’t have anyone to pass on to. Help me to see if there is and if not bring individuals into my life that I can mentor.
To some degree, there may be some at work, not so much to pass along skills of the trade but otherwise – a couple names come to mind and possibly others. Lord, please help me to take advantage of “teachable” moments – even with other people with which I interact. Guide my thoughts and motives and actions by Your directions. Use me as would benefit Your kingdom and Your agenda.
May 24th, Sun, 6:13 am
Clouds Obscuring the Moon
Father, I would ask that You would continue to draw me into Your presence. My bed was enticing but I want to see what You have for me today. I earnestly pray that I will never grow weary of our time together.
Philippians 2:14-18 (<< click here)
Lord, I love the symbolism that is brought out in my study Bible, that I am called to not let the cloudiness of complaining and arguing to hide the light of our response to Your Word. Or maybe a little better way to say it is that if we let negative emotions control us it’s sort of like us being the moon, which reflects the light of Your Son and then letting clouds (negative emotions) obscure the light that we are to reflect. It diminishes our light, our witness and instead of drawing people to You the focus is shifted to our negative emotions.
You’re helping me address this in my public life (work, church) but I’m definitely squelching Your aid in my private life. It’s bad enough that I let the negative dictate my “reflection” when I’m alone (driving comes to mind) but it’s really bad when it happens and I’m around Karen. She way too often gets an obstructed view of You in my life – sometimes a little but many times it is so strong that it leaves us in total darkness. This is a “me” thing that I cannot bring under control by myself – I’m blind and weak Only Your intervention can help me get a handle on it. Lord, please “pierce the darkness” in this area of my life with the radiant glory of Your presence and Your love in my life – shine through!!
Lord, I want to be an uplifting (i.e. lifting up to You!) influence in my role as a husband. We have too much darkness in our lives which we have little control over (work, family issues, health, etc.) So I don’t need to add to it. Shine through me, please, I pray. Help me to reflect Your glory, Your mindset in a crooked world.
May 20th, Wed, 6:26 am
Overcoming the Impossible
Father, thank you for helping me get to sleep this morning. When my thoughts turned to You I was finally able to do so.
Lord, I am so glad that You have directed my life in these ways. I realize I am far from perfect but You have done miraculous things in my life. I give credit to You because I can see You working in me. You truly have given me the desire and power to do what pleases You in my life. And it is my prayer each and every day that it will continue to be so. Help me to be obedient and faithful, to listen attentively and to be what you want me to be.
May 19th, Tues, 6:35 am
Needed in the Trenches
Father I sure didn’t like missing our time together the last couple of days. But I do thank You for better sleep last night even with a couple of interruptions. (I do pray for the little girl that was abducted late last night.) Help this to be a good day – good in that I will let my light shine for You in how I live and interact with others.
Lord, as I live out my life in relationship with You, may I become more and more like You each and every day. Enable me to sacrificially give of myself in serving others. My work, even my work of the church will get done. Please help me to balance it out with hands on ministry to people. Regularly I proclaim that as Your followers that our living that out has to involve more than the hour a week that we spend together behind those four walls. Part of that is daily spending time with You and I am so grateful for our time together but I truly believe that I am also called to minister physically to those in need. No more excuses about lack of time, I must set aside time. Time is there, it boils down to how I use it. You need me to be Your hands and I can’t do that from home. Yes, You can and have used me via text and phone but You need me in the trenches as well. Prompt me to do so and help me to heed Your call! Thank You for Your love and direction!!
May 18th, Mon, 6:00 am
Life in a Bubble
Father, help me to make the most of our time together this morning. As I open Your word, speak to me. I open my heart and mind to You. (Sorry for the FB tangent…You’ve got my undivided attention now.)
Unity – standing strong – spread the Good News – not intimidated by enemies – persevere in struggles
(This is why Facebook and replying to texts [even from Mom] need to wait – my brain is rolling but not in the right direction!)
I know I’ve had struggles but looking back on them even all the pastoral transitions seem so small. Sometimes it seems that I’ve lived in a bubble. I’m not complaining whatsoever, Lord. You have surely blessed me and my family. Help us all to never forget where those blessings have come from. We didn’t earn it, we didn’t deserve it. It wasn’t a reward for perfection (for we surely aren’t!) All the praise goes to You, Lord! Thank you for Your watch-care and Love!
I realize that this morning I got distracted and didn’t listen when You called to come together (forgive me) but I am grateful that You spoke yesterday and You enabled me to respond and act. Thank You for the privilege of praying with and encouraging a gentlemen from church in so much pain (please touch him, Lord!) and for encouraging me to speak with a friend at work (help her to come to You to stand strong in You, to defeat the enemy of pain and hurt and the struggles of life so big for a lady her age. Touch her today, Lord, let her know of Your love and care in a tangible way.)
Help me to be more attuned to You each and every day! Love You!!
May 15th, Fri, 7:50 am