Lots of Thanks

Father God,

Thank you so much for the life that I have, I am seeing that I take so much for granted & I wanted to thank you for blessing me in so many ways..... I have a home to live in, food on the table, cars that run well, a job to go to, my marriage is building, my faith is strong, my church is biblical, and great family and friends. Father, I know that I grumble alot, please forgive me, when I don't see all of the good works that you have put in place for my life. Thank you SO much for your grace and your Son - I can't imagine the pain that you had to go through to loose him & yet you are joyous because now I am yours. Jesus, thank you for the pure love that you show and shared as you died for me, that's mind blowing.

Father, You know of the many needs of my heart - the many people that I am thinking about and in prayer for, I can't list them all here today, but I pray for your grace in strengthening marriages, your power in healing sick bodies, your love for mending broken hearts, Lord. Only you can do all these things & I pray that your good and precious will be done, even when we don't understand things Lord, calm our hearts and lead our feet.

Lord, you are such a good and faithful God and I praise and pray to you, In Jesus's Name - Amen.

National Day Of Prayer

Today is national day of prayer!

Here are a few fabulous links:
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/ - Click hear todays' broadcast in the middle. Then look for the broadcasts from May 6 and May 7 - They are both recorded prayers that people called in, they are amazing and touching to hear so many hearts and voices reach out to God. I don't remember which day it was on, but my favorite has to be the lady praying the many name of God - it was beautiful and calming to my spririt.

http://www.ndptf.org/home/home.html - The offical National Day of Prayer website, and may I say I just love Beth Moore, this year's honorary chairman.

And here is my prayer, for our nation:

Lord, As I have listened to many people's prayers today, I was reminded of who good You are. I want to thank You- for being so caring and loving toward us. That You listen to our every prayer, is an awesome thing, such a powerful thing to have the opportunity to go and talk straight with You Lord. Thank you for listening, every day, every prayer.

Father, I know that each of us has tripped up in our lives and I just want to praise Your name, for being so forgiving. That You can brush away our sins with Your Son's blood, is no little, simple thing. You are so so good to us Lord, to each of us and together as a group of Americans, and whole as the world all children of you God.

Today, I pray that You will put pressure on the hearts of our great nation's leaders. They they will go to You everyday for thier strength and that You will give them courage to do what your word says is right. Father, we need forgiveness as a nation, for the many sins that we have allowed to go against you and your word, Lord forgive us. I also plead that You will continue to protect us and once again shine Your face upon us. Not letting us wander in the wilderness, but calling us home to Your arms. Father help remind us that "being nice" isn't always the right solution, but acting in a way that we can show people Your Word and Your Son is.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Desert week3

Notes from Sunday:
Life is too complex - everything fits together. God is in control.
Victory over circumstance.
Joseph's story: seeking more of God, knowing God is currently working, He doesn't take breaks.

Integrity internal consistencey, whole, undivided - No Jeckel/Mr. Hyde syndrom, honest, strong moral principles

Joseph refused, ran away from temptation
How? Choose sides early, know what temps you, tell someone & run, call sin what it is, don't compromise, compromis is a killer.

Faithfulness Brokeness.
You are here because you need to learn something here, you couldn't learn somewhere else. Faith - trust Him & Him alone in the story teller not the story.
Tested = growth James1:3-4
Perserversance Mark 8:34-35

These are my notes from Sunday- you can listen to the podcast here http://www.northmetrochurch.org/

March 12 - Psalm 6 Prayer for Recovery from Grave Illness

Psalm 6
1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage. 2 Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. 3 I am sick at heart. How long, O Lord, until you restore me? 4 Return, O Lord, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love. 5 For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise you from the grave? 6 I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. 7 My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies. 8 Go away, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer. 10 May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified. May they suddenly turn back in shame.

Lord, I pray for Joe, in his recovery. Lord, I don't know what he must be feeling, but I am sure that this Psalm says it all. Father, you love to hear your word spoken back to you, so please hear my prayer. "O Lord, don’t rebuke Joe in your anger or discipline Joe in your rage. Have compassion on Joe, Lord, for he is weak. Heal Joe, Lord, for his bones are in agony. Joe is sick at heart. How long, O Lord, until you restore him? Return, O Lord, and rescue Joe. Save Joe because of your unfailing love. For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise you from the grave? Joe is worn out from sobbing. All night Joe floods his bed with weeping, drenching it with his tears. Joe's vision is blurred by grief; Joe's eyes are worn out because of all his enemies. Go away, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard Joe's weeping. The Lord has heard Joe's plea; the Lord will answer our prayer. May all Joe's enemies be disgraced and terrified. May they suddenly turn back in shame." Lord, your power is so great, make this cancer turn back in shame, Lord, please make it run. Don't let it return, for he has so much to do still in life, we love him very much & pray that you will heal him. Let your amazing Glory shine through and give him a cure that can only be explained by YOUR Awesomeness. Remind, all of us that our bodies are yours, created by you and held precious by you, that we should care for them in respect. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen

March 9- Psalm 5 Trust in God for deliverance from Enemies

Today I am continuing on my Psalm readings, with Psalm 5.

Psalm 5
1Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
2Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
3My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
4For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
11But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Noticed in this Psalm that David said that "you hear my voice in the morning", meaning that he's talking to God before he does anything else. And that David, knew that only through God's love is he worthy of being with God.

Lord, I am so greatful that you hear our cries and our prayers. I thank you that I do not have enemies like David had, that were after his blood, however, still protect me from enemies that have no truth in thier mouths. Protect me and my heart from harsh words this week, let me lean and grow on you Lord, and your "abundance of your steadfast love." Lord, please be with Gus today, protect him and give him peace in his activites supporting our country in Iraq. Please be with the congergation and family of the pastor who was killed this weekend, Lord we don't understand, but show us your glory in this story, let his life be coninuted to be used by you. Lord, guide David and Jered's hands as they repair Mark's car today, let them be quick and effiecent, so that they can enjoy the afternoon off. Lord, heal my foot, that it will be only brusied and that I can walk on it normally tomorrow. I praise you that you hear my cries in the morning, in Jesus's name, Amen.

March 5 - Psalm 4 Confident Plea for Deliverance from Enemies

Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people ruin my reputation? How long will you make groundless accusations? How long will you continue your lies?
3 You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him.
4 Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.
5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the Lord.
6 Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord. 7 You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. 8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
7 You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%204;&version=51;

One of my favorite verses Ps4:8 - Remember it when you are tired and can't sleep.
AND I really need to remember verse 4 - I know I sin a lot out of anger & a hurting heart. It's not fair and it's not right, Lord please press these words into my heart, so that I may remember them.

Lord, today I pray for the people of Israel, Angela's friends & her recovery, Heather's Mom & her health, Joe & his health, Cindy & Abby, for your hand to press on what's best for Abby. Lord, I pray that you guide our nations rulers to make good Godly decisions. I am scared of what has been happening in our goverment, Lord only you can make a difference in thier hearts. I pray that David and Sue are getting better, and many other silent prayers that only you can hear.
"Answer me when I call, O God of my right!" Amen

March 4 - Psalm 3 Trust in God Under Adversity

Psalm 3
1Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
2Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
5I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
6I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
7Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%203;&version=9;

Lord, I do feel adversity. I do feel talked down to and put down. Lord, I praise you for your strength, that you carry me, life me up and hold me in your arms. You are my shield, you protect me from harm - my mind is stable in you Lord! I can think clearly and get done what is needing attention from me today.

Lord, I pray for the people of the world that are feeling adversity of any kind. Lord, show your presense and your power to them today. Let them know that you are a BIG God and that you can DO. Be with those that are doubting themselves and doubting you. Give them strength and mercy in this unstable world. Amen