Dead to Sin Prayer

My prayer is to be dead, today, from sin
  which threatens from within.
May I walk with Christ
  and not, by sin, be enticed.
May my actions, today, please you my Christ.
  Because of me, you were sacrificed.
I was saved and made dead to sin;
  from the old life I lived in.
Now Christ lives within.
May I please you my Christ
  whose love for me should be sufficed.
Because of me you were sacrificed.
  May my sins not make your death cheaply priced.
                                     Amen

This Land's A Mess

My prayer today:


Lord,

This is your land.
It's a mess because of man.
You blessed us with a land of beauty.
You set upon man upkeep duty.
You commissioned man to share your redemptive story.
But, in our lives, we failed to show your glory.
All is corrupt;
Evil seeks to erupt.
But Lord, this land is still your land.
I call on you to heal the souls of man.
Help your people, in your name, to take a stand.
This land's a mess.
But Lord, please, America bless.
Heal, Oh Lord, our soul;
Make us complete in you and whole.

Test

What Next - 2020

What is it about the year 2020?  Why? And what next?

  

We are only into the month of July, yet more unusual disturbing events have happened than probably ever before.  Among the first is the COVID19 pandemic which created a nationwide state of emergency shutdown.   People were told to distance themselves, wear a mask, and wash their hands.   Many have been told to harbor at home.  Many have lost jobs and are still unemployed.   

Why is this happening, we might ask?  There are many theories, but no true answer to solve the dilemma we face, except one.  Regardless of the cause, we can solve our panic by looking to God’s Word.  In Isaiah 41:10 we find encouragement.  “Fear thou not; for I am with thee:  be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”  Even if we are so unfortunate as to contact the virus, we who have accepted Christ has assurance of everlasting life.  John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  

Next we have protects in the streets with many not wearing masks and not distancing themselves at all.  Many of these protects are not peaceful; they are rioting, looting, burning buildings, and destroying our historical statues; statues that represent those who fought to provide freedom for this land and the people who live here.  How do we overcome?  We look to God’s Word.  He is our hope.  Within that hope, we need to continue to love and strive to be a peace with one another.   We find comfort in Psalm 31:24, “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

What next?  Just this week, we are hearing reports that there is a coin shortage with some stores not wanting to accept cash for payments.  There appears to be a continuing cycle of unusual events.  It is becoming scarier every day.  How can we overcome?  Again it is in scripture, time and time again, when the Lord says, “Fear not.”  And how do we fear not?  It is by knowing that God created the world.  He is in charge of the universe.  Whatever comes about, the world is in His hands.  Colossians 1:16, “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 

Throughout our concerns for health, continuing freedom, financial well-being, job security, and Christian fellowship we must maintain a heart full of hope and love for others.  1 Peter 3:8-9, “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

Fear Not

     I have not posted in quite a while and decided it was time I got back to writing what is on my heart.  I have been watching the news and what I am seeing is heart rendering.  All the rioting and looting, along with the concessions allowing it, makes me fearful.   It actually makes me afraid for the people, for the generations to come, for all those that will be harmed for lack of police protection,  and for Christians. 
     Isaiah 44 KJV helped settle my fearfulness because I truly know that God is in control.  He tells me in verse 2 KJV, "Fear not" or as in the TLB version, "O servant of mine, don't be afraid...my chosen ones, don't be afraid."  Then in verse 8, there is a repeat, "Fear Ye not..." (Don't, don't be afraid...You are my witnesses - is there any other God?  No! None that I know about!  there is no other Rock!)."
     When I have a Rock as solid and as true as my God, I have no need to fear. 

Ignore or Please

     We all feel neglected when we are ignored, and it offends us.  So what happens when we ignore God?
We become i-ll advised by our own wicked minds
We              g-rieve God
We              n-arrow down obedience to God
We              o-ffend our Father
We              r-est in our own weak strength
We              e-ven short change ourselves from what God has in store

     Yet what happens when we strive to please God?
We gain      p-eace
We              l-et go of our own misdirected plans
We              e-xtend helping hands to others and gain love
We              a-lways look to God
We              s-eparate ourselves from those against God's ways
We become e-ager to follow God's direction

Wisdom

     King Soloman asked in Proverbs, "How does a man become wise?"  He then went on to state, "The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord."  The book of Proverbs is filled with facts and ways to gain wisdom which is "far above rubies; nothing can compare to it."  Actually, I cannot add more about wisdom than is found in the book of Proverbs, but below is an anagram I developed on gaining wisdom.

W ord of God must be studied daily
I nvolvement with God is a must  
S tick to the path of righteousness; don't sidestep from it
O bey God's Word
M an knowing what is right and doing it

Proverbs 3:18 "Wisdom is a tree of life to those who eat her fruit; happy is the man who keeps eating it."  
About Wisdom:
Proverbs 8:23 "From ages past, I am.  I existed before the earth began." 
Proverbs 8:35 "For whoever finds me finds life and wins approval from the Lord."