Psalm 147:4 NAS
He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.
On any given night you can step outside,look to the sky, and see the stars shining brightly. That is, if there aren't any clouds. In junior high I had Astronomy, a chance to study the stars and planets. I'd sit outside with my friends and we'd see if we could pick out the Big Dipper, the North Star, Cassiopeia, Pegasus, and Andromeda. I could go on and name all of them but you know what I'm talking about.
Lovers sit and stare at the stars making wishes. Little children sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". Some people let the stars guide their lives as they read their horoscopes daily.
The Bible talks about stars. Revelation 22:16 says "I", Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things 'for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star." Jesus Christ our Savior is the Bright Morning Star.
Jude 13 tells us "Wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam, wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. Jude 5-16 gives us insight into false teachers. He also tells his readers to keep yourself in the love of God.
The Twelve Stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Revelation 12:1 "And a great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothes with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Israel, God's chosen people.
The book of Revelation also talks about the number seven. The seven stars, seven lamp stands, seven angels who had seven plagues, and the seven Spirits of God. All warnings from God telling us of the end times. Still giving us time to repent, confess our sins, and accept Christ as our Savior.
After studing the book of Revelation I have a new insight when I look up into the heavens at night. Each star has a new meaning.
Dear Father thank you for Your word and the beautiful stars that shine each night. Your way of telling me "I love you. Here is another gift for you" Amen.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
COURAGE
Psalm 138:3 NAS
On the day I called Thou didst answer me; Thou didst make me bold with strength in my soul.
All my life I've tried to avoid conflict. I don't like arguing, and most especially I do not like to fight. I just don't understand why some people like to provoke others into physical altercations. I remember asking my mother when I was young. "Why do people have to be so mean to each other?"
Her answer was always the same. "I don't know."
Too many times I backed down from confronting someone because of a wrong doing. I just knew that person would want to belittle me with words or even physically. I was afraid. Belittling a person with stinging words can be just as harsh as physically attacking you. Broken bones will heal but harsh words can never be retracted and will sting forever.
Our military troops show great courage. They are ready to give their life for others. So you and I can live in a free country, to worship in the church of our choice, go to the schools we select, or vote for the person we feel will lead our great nation. These men and women have courage beyond our understanding.
John 16:33 tells us "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." Jesus is telling us through Him you can have courage. All you have to do is ask Him to be with you in tough times, when you are being harassed, when you feel persecuted, or feeling anxiety. He will fill you with His presence and give you peace.
Dear Heavenly Father I pray each day You lead and guide me through all my trials. Amen.
On the day I called Thou didst answer me; Thou didst make me bold with strength in my soul.
All my life I've tried to avoid conflict. I don't like arguing, and most especially I do not like to fight. I just don't understand why some people like to provoke others into physical altercations. I remember asking my mother when I was young. "Why do people have to be so mean to each other?"
Her answer was always the same. "I don't know."
Too many times I backed down from confronting someone because of a wrong doing. I just knew that person would want to belittle me with words or even physically. I was afraid. Belittling a person with stinging words can be just as harsh as physically attacking you. Broken bones will heal but harsh words can never be retracted and will sting forever.
Our military troops show great courage. They are ready to give their life for others. So you and I can live in a free country, to worship in the church of our choice, go to the schools we select, or vote for the person we feel will lead our great nation. These men and women have courage beyond our understanding.
John 16:33 tells us "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." Jesus is telling us through Him you can have courage. All you have to do is ask Him to be with you in tough times, when you are being harassed, when you feel persecuted, or feeling anxiety. He will fill you with His presence and give you peace.
Dear Heavenly Father I pray each day You lead and guide me through all my trials. Amen.
FORGIVENESS
Job 42:10 NAS
And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.
I've hear this over and over. "I'll never forgive so and so for what they've done." I thought that myself at one time. I felt hard and bitter towards the other person. How could they have treated me like they did? I thought he loved me.
I was a Christian but had drifted away, living my own life, doing what I wanted to do. Caught up in the ways of the world. After my bitter divorce I sought refuge in my church again. I started going to church services and Sunday school. Learning all over again what God says about forgiving others.
I had sins in my life that I needed forgiveness for. How could I forgive someone else if I still had sin in my life? I finally let go and asked God for forgiveness, to take the bitterness from my heart, and let me forgive my ex-husband. I felt like the weight of the world had been taken off my shoulders.
Now when I hear my children or a friend say they could never forgive someone, I'm the first to to say I had to ask forgiveness first before I could forgive.
Dear Father thank you for forgiving me. Amen.
And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.
I've hear this over and over. "I'll never forgive so and so for what they've done." I thought that myself at one time. I felt hard and bitter towards the other person. How could they have treated me like they did? I thought he loved me.
I was a Christian but had drifted away, living my own life, doing what I wanted to do. Caught up in the ways of the world. After my bitter divorce I sought refuge in my church again. I started going to church services and Sunday school. Learning all over again what God says about forgiving others.
I had sins in my life that I needed forgiveness for. How could I forgive someone else if I still had sin in my life? I finally let go and asked God for forgiveness, to take the bitterness from my heart, and let me forgive my ex-husband. I felt like the weight of the world had been taken off my shoulders.
Now when I hear my children or a friend say they could never forgive someone, I'm the first to to say I had to ask forgiveness first before I could forgive.
Dear Father thank you for forgiving me. Amen.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
PROMISES
II Peter 1:4
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
When our children were small they'd ask to do something, or want to go somewhere, and I'd say later. They would be persistent until I'd said okay, then they'd add. "Promise." Without thinking, I'd say yes. Sound familiar?
Most of the time I knew I couldn't, or wouldn't, keep that promise and when I didn't my children cried. They were broken hearted. They began distrusting me because I didn't keep my promises.
Throughout the Bible God has made promises to us. He promised a Messiah who would deliver us from our sins. He sent Jesus who was crucified and died for each one of us.
God made a promised to Abraham and Abraham waited patiently for God to fulfill it. In Hebrews 6:13-14 it says "For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, 'I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU, AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU'." And God did bless Abraham.
Hebrews 7:22 says So much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Verse after verse tells us God keeps His promises. Praise the Lord. There is no greater promise made to us than by grace through faith you are saved. I am going to spend eternity with My Lord and Savior.
Dear Lord thank you for Your promises, for life everlasting. Forgive me where I fail you. Amen.
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
When our children were small they'd ask to do something, or want to go somewhere, and I'd say later. They would be persistent until I'd said okay, then they'd add. "Promise." Without thinking, I'd say yes. Sound familiar?
Most of the time I knew I couldn't, or wouldn't, keep that promise and when I didn't my children cried. They were broken hearted. They began distrusting me because I didn't keep my promises.
Throughout the Bible God has made promises to us. He promised a Messiah who would deliver us from our sins. He sent Jesus who was crucified and died for each one of us.
God made a promised to Abraham and Abraham waited patiently for God to fulfill it. In Hebrews 6:13-14 it says "For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, 'I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU, AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU'." And God did bless Abraham.
Hebrews 7:22 says So much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Verse after verse tells us God keeps His promises. Praise the Lord. There is no greater promise made to us than by grace through faith you are saved. I am going to spend eternity with My Lord and Savior.
Dear Lord thank you for Your promises, for life everlasting. Forgive me where I fail you. Amen.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
SEASONS
Galatians 4:10 NAS
You observe days and months and seasons and years.
Spring, summer, fall, and winter. These are the seasons of the year. Spring brings forth new creation, flowers spring from the ground, buds start popping all over the trees, and animals give birth to their new.
Summer time and the living is easy. Taking time to enjoy the family at the beach or mountains. Then comes fall. Leaves start turning colors, it starts getting colder and night approaches earlier. You leave for work in the dark and come home in the dark.
Snow, blizzards, freezing temperatures, and winter coats. Winter arrives and we stay huddled up in our homes trying to keep warm. We watch as the children bundle up to go out and make snow angels and break off the long, frozen, ice cycles to lick like pop cicles.
So too are the seasons of your life. I think Psalm 74:17 says it very well. "Thou hast established all the boundaries of the earth; Thou hast made summer and winter." God has declared the seasons of our universe along with the seasons of our lives.
He gave us life to enjoy here on earth, to live each season to the fullest, until it is our time to meet Him in heaven, and relish eternity with Him.
Dear Father I await with great anticipation of spending all eternity with You. Amen.
You observe days and months and seasons and years.
Spring, summer, fall, and winter. These are the seasons of the year. Spring brings forth new creation, flowers spring from the ground, buds start popping all over the trees, and animals give birth to their new.
Summer time and the living is easy. Taking time to enjoy the family at the beach or mountains. Then comes fall. Leaves start turning colors, it starts getting colder and night approaches earlier. You leave for work in the dark and come home in the dark.
Snow, blizzards, freezing temperatures, and winter coats. Winter arrives and we stay huddled up in our homes trying to keep warm. We watch as the children bundle up to go out and make snow angels and break off the long, frozen, ice cycles to lick like pop cicles.
So too are the seasons of your life. I think Psalm 74:17 says it very well. "Thou hast established all the boundaries of the earth; Thou hast made summer and winter." God has declared the seasons of our universe along with the seasons of our lives.
He gave us life to enjoy here on earth, to live each season to the fullest, until it is our time to meet Him in heaven, and relish eternity with Him.
Dear Father I await with great anticipation of spending all eternity with You. Amen.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
WINGS OF EAGLES
Isaiah 10:31 NAS
Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary.
Just writing those verses gives me something to eagerly look forward to. To fly like an eagle, soar above the ground, high as the clouds in the sky. I'll be able to run, something I've never been able to do very well. And I will never get tired. I feel like a lady in waiting!
The Native Americans revere the eagle. His majestic wings spread as he soars high above the mountains and plains in search of prey.
How much more honored are we when our Father lifts us up on the wings of an eagle. He wants to give us good days, health, wisdom, and love. Because He first loved us before we were even created, when we were in our mother's womb, He loved us. He wants to give us His all. All we have to do is ask. Ask Him to live within us, ask Him for help when we see no way out of our despair, ask Him.
Psalm 103:5 Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Dear Father I love you. Forgive me when I fail You. Lead and guide me to do Your will and not mine.
Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary.
Just writing those verses gives me something to eagerly look forward to. To fly like an eagle, soar above the ground, high as the clouds in the sky. I'll be able to run, something I've never been able to do very well. And I will never get tired. I feel like a lady in waiting!
The Native Americans revere the eagle. His majestic wings spread as he soars high above the mountains and plains in search of prey.
How much more honored are we when our Father lifts us up on the wings of an eagle. He wants to give us good days, health, wisdom, and love. Because He first loved us before we were even created, when we were in our mother's womb, He loved us. He wants to give us His all. All we have to do is ask. Ask Him to live within us, ask Him for help when we see no way out of our despair, ask Him.
Psalm 103:5 Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Dear Father I love you. Forgive me when I fail You. Lead and guide me to do Your will and not mine.
BIRTH
Ecclesiastes 7:1 NAS
A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth.
Our country has gone through a resurgence over the election of our officials this week. People are tired of the false claims they were promised when their candidates were elected. Everything is not coming up roses.
Our fore fathers forged a new territory when they landed on the shores of the east coast over three hundred years ago. They were looking for freedom to worship, freedom to elect officials that have the people and their country first and foremost. They were tired of the tyranny they faced in their homeland. They set pen to paper and gave credence to the constitution that would govern this great land. Like a woman giving birth to a new life they gave birth to a new nation. A nation that honored God in schools, in song, and on the capital steps.
This brings to mind how God formed the earth, sea, stars, sun, and moon. The birth of the world you might say. He spoke and their were great eruptions as the mountains rose above the land. Volcanos spewed great smoke and burst forth, throwing rough volcanic rocks as they slid down the new mountain side. Waters rose becoming vast seas while rivers gorged ravines and canyons throughout the lands. Oh to have watched God's hand as he made all this happen. How great and magnificent is our God.
Isaiah 66:9 says, "Shall I bring to the point of birth, and not give delivery? Or shall I, who gives delivery, shut the womb? says your God.
Our God stands watch, hears every prayer, sees all things, and tells us that His hand made all things. He looks for the humble and contrite that tremble at His word. He hears the falsehoods spoken and people turning against each other. Turning the tide at this election may just bring people back to what started our country to begin with. Putting God first and country second. Working together to help each other. With prayer anything can happen.
Dear Father I pray that each one of us get on our knees and ask God for guidance to put our country back to the country it once was when our ancestors established it. Amen.
A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth.
Our country has gone through a resurgence over the election of our officials this week. People are tired of the false claims they were promised when their candidates were elected. Everything is not coming up roses.
Our fore fathers forged a new territory when they landed on the shores of the east coast over three hundred years ago. They were looking for freedom to worship, freedom to elect officials that have the people and their country first and foremost. They were tired of the tyranny they faced in their homeland. They set pen to paper and gave credence to the constitution that would govern this great land. Like a woman giving birth to a new life they gave birth to a new nation. A nation that honored God in schools, in song, and on the capital steps.
This brings to mind how God formed the earth, sea, stars, sun, and moon. The birth of the world you might say. He spoke and their were great eruptions as the mountains rose above the land. Volcanos spewed great smoke and burst forth, throwing rough volcanic rocks as they slid down the new mountain side. Waters rose becoming vast seas while rivers gorged ravines and canyons throughout the lands. Oh to have watched God's hand as he made all this happen. How great and magnificent is our God.
Isaiah 66:9 says, "Shall I bring to the point of birth, and not give delivery? Or shall I, who gives delivery, shut the womb? says your God.
Our God stands watch, hears every prayer, sees all things, and tells us that His hand made all things. He looks for the humble and contrite that tremble at His word. He hears the falsehoods spoken and people turning against each other. Turning the tide at this election may just bring people back to what started our country to begin with. Putting God first and country second. Working together to help each other. With prayer anything can happen.
Dear Father I pray that each one of us get on our knees and ask God for guidance to put our country back to the country it once was when our ancestors established it. Amen.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
DISEASES
Matthew 4:23 NAS
And Jesus was going out in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.
When you think about disease you think of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, cardio- vascular disease, birth defects, autism, and multiple sclerosis. There are all kinds of infectious diseases like HIV, gonorrhea, and the list goes on and on. I think you get what I'm talking about.
There is another kind of disease we don't talk about much. The compulsive problems a lot of people face, and it seems like we are hearing more and more each day about it. You can thank our news media for spreading details, and then they turn around and tell how you can get help. These disorders plague our children, teenagers, and adults alike. Problems like obesity, bulimia, hoarding, and people that are afraid to go out of their homes. There is another kind of disorder that is becoming more and more obvious each day and that is gossiping and telling lies about your neighbors.
Politicians degrade each other, tell falsehoods, and undermine their opponents. Teenagers gossip and bully someone in their class that is different. Some of this has lead to the death of one or more. It seems like people are looking for something missing in their lives. Perhaps it is the love or approval from a parent, a spouse, or a friend. Maybe they feel they should have gotten the job that someone else got. They grow up feeling they just don't fit in.
Ezekiel 34:4 says Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.
We are not looking to the One that can help. The One that can heal all open wounds, the sick, the down trodden, the lonely, and heart broken. A good example of prayer to our Heavenly Father in time of need is Psalm 55: 1-23. You can cast your burden upon the Lord and He will give you comfort and peace. No matter where you are, who you are, you can ask Him to dwell within you.
Dear Lord help me to fight this disease that has been afflicted upon me. I do not want to lie, cheat, steal, or bear false witness against anyone. I pray for your peace and comfort against this disease that has taken a hold of me. I pray these things in Christ Jesus. Amen.
And Jesus was going out in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.
When you think about disease you think of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, cardio- vascular disease, birth defects, autism, and multiple sclerosis. There are all kinds of infectious diseases like HIV, gonorrhea, and the list goes on and on. I think you get what I'm talking about.
There is another kind of disease we don't talk about much. The compulsive problems a lot of people face, and it seems like we are hearing more and more each day about it. You can thank our news media for spreading details, and then they turn around and tell how you can get help. These disorders plague our children, teenagers, and adults alike. Problems like obesity, bulimia, hoarding, and people that are afraid to go out of their homes. There is another kind of disorder that is becoming more and more obvious each day and that is gossiping and telling lies about your neighbors.
Politicians degrade each other, tell falsehoods, and undermine their opponents. Teenagers gossip and bully someone in their class that is different. Some of this has lead to the death of one or more. It seems like people are looking for something missing in their lives. Perhaps it is the love or approval from a parent, a spouse, or a friend. Maybe they feel they should have gotten the job that someone else got. They grow up feeling they just don't fit in.
Ezekiel 34:4 says Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.
We are not looking to the One that can help. The One that can heal all open wounds, the sick, the down trodden, the lonely, and heart broken. A good example of prayer to our Heavenly Father in time of need is Psalm 55: 1-23. You can cast your burden upon the Lord and He will give you comfort and peace. No matter where you are, who you are, you can ask Him to dwell within you.
Dear Lord help me to fight this disease that has been afflicted upon me. I do not want to lie, cheat, steal, or bear false witness against anyone. I pray for your peace and comfort against this disease that has taken a hold of me. I pray these things in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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