Prayer Each Day - in times of trial

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1

God’s love remains constant.  We must never forget that God intends for us to use our setbacks as stepping stones on the path to a better life.  When tough times arrive, we have a clear choice:  we can begin the difficult work of tackling our troubles…or not.

When we summon the courage to look Old Man Trouble squarely in the eye, he usually blinks.  But, if we refuse to address our problems, even the smallest annoyances have a way of growing into king-sized catastrophes.

As believers, we know that God loves us and that He will protect us.  In times of hardship, He will comfort us; in times of sorrow, He will dry our tears.  When we are troubled, or weak, or sorrowful, God is always with us. 

God will not permit any troubles to come upon us unless He has a specific plan by which great blessings can come out of the difficulty.  Peter Marshall

As we wait on God, He helps us use the winds of adversity to soar above our problems.  As the Bible says, “Those who wait on the LORD…shall mount up with wings like eagles.”   Billy Graham

Heavenly Father, You are my strength and my refuge.  As I journey through this day, I know that I may encounter disappointments and losses.  When I am troubled, let me turn to You.  Keep me steady, Lord, and renew a right spirit inside of me this day and forever.   Amen

Prayer Each Day - A World of Temptation

A Great Blessed Year Of LIFE TO ALL:  A World of Temptation

The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations.  2 Peter 2:9

Seductive images are everywhere; subtle messages tells you that it’s okay to sin “Just a little”  (Wrong); and to make matters even worse, society doesn’t just seem to endorse godlessness, it actually seems to reward it.  Society spews for a wide range of messages, all of which imply that it’s okay to rebel against God.  These messages, of course, are extremely dangerous and completely untrue.

When it comes to fighting Satan, you are never alone.  God is always with you, and if you do your part He will do His part.  A good starting point is simply learning how to recognize the subtle temptations that surround you.  The images of immorality that are intended to hijack your mind, your heart, your wallet, your life, and your soul.  Don’t let them do it. 

Satan will work 24/7 against you, causing pain, heartache, trauma, and tragedy in more ways than ever before.  You, as a man of God, must remain watchful and strong—starting today, and ending never. 

The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.  Corrie ten Boom

Lord, life is filled with temptations to  stray from Your chosen path.  But, I face no temptation that You have not already met and conquered through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the One who empowers me with His strength and His Love.  Amen

What I Want In A Man!

What I Want In A Man!

What I Want in a Man, Original List:
1.  Handsome
2.  Charming
3.  Financially successful
4.  A caring listener
5.  Witty
6.  In good shape
7.  Dresses with style
8.  Appreciates finer thing
9.  Full! of thoughtful surprises
10.  An imaginative, romantic lover


What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 32):
1. Nice looking
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner
4. Listens more than talks
5. Laughs at my jokes
6. Carries bags of groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries
10. Seeks romance at least once a week


What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 42):
1. Not too ugly
2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car
3. Works steady - splurges on dinner out occasionally
4. Nods head when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down
10. Shaves most weekends


What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 52):

1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed
2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public
3. Doesn't borrow money too often
4. Doesn't nod off to sleep when I'm venting
5. Doesn't retell the same joke too many times
6. Is in good enough shape to get off couch on weekends
7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear
8. Appreciates a good TV dinner
9. Remembers your name on occasion
10. Shaves some weekends


What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 62): 1. Doesn't scare small children
2. Remembers where bathroom is
3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep
4. Only snores lightly when asleep
5. Remembers why he's laughing
6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself
7. Usually wears some clothes
8. Likes soft foods
9. Remembers where he left his teeth
10. Remembers that it's the weekend



What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 72):
1. Breathing !
2. Doesn't miss the toilet !

Prayer Each Day - Putting God First

A Great Blessed Year Of LIFE TO ALL:   Putting God First

One of the quickest ways to build character—perhaps the only way---is to do it with God as your partner.  Have you made God your top priority by offering Him your heart, your soul, your talents, and your time?  Or do you just give God a few hours on Sunday morning? 

Those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth.   John 4:24

Some folks choose to worship God and, as a result, will reap the joy that He intends for His children to experience.  Other folks, folks who are stubbornly determined to do it “their way” distance themselves from God by worshiping such things as earthly possessions or personal gratification…and when they do, they suffer. 

Does God rule your heart?  Make certain that the honest answer to this question is a resounding yes.  If you wish to build your life on the Creator, then put Him first in your life.  No exceptions.

One with God is a majority.   Billy Graham

We become whatever we are committed to.  Rick Warren

Dear Lord, today I will honor You with my thoughts, my actions, and my prayers.  I will seek to please You, and I will strive to serve You.  Your blessings are as limitless as Your love. And because I have been so richly blessed, I will worship You, Father, with thanksgiving in my heart and praise on my lips, this day and forever.   Amen

Prayer Each Day - Good Morning

He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.  The Lord God has opened my  ear.   Isaiah  50:4-5

Do you have a standing appointment with God every morning?  Is God your first priority, or do you talk with Him less frequently than that?  If you’re wise, you’ll talk to God first thing every day, without exception.

Warren Wiersbe writes, “Surrender your mind to the Lord at the beginning of each day.”  And that’s sound advice.  When you begin each day with your head bowed  and your heart lifted, you are reminded of God’s love, His protection, and His commandments.  Then, you can align your priorities for that coming day with the teachings and commandments that God has placed upon your heart.

Each day has 1,440 minutes---can you give God a few of them?  Of course you can---and of course you should.   So if you’ve acquired the unfortunate habit of trying to “squeeze” God into the corners of your life, it’s time to reshuffle the items on your to-do- list by placing God first.  And if you haven’t already done so, form the habit of spending quality time each morning with your Creator.  He deserves it…and so, for that matter, do you.

We  must appropriate the tender mercy of God every day after conversion or problems quickly develop.  We need his grace daily in order to live a righteous life.   Jim Cymbala

A person with no devotional life generally struggles with faith and obedience.  Charles Stanley

Meditating upon His Word will inevitable bring peace of mind, strength of purpose, and power for living.   Bill Bright

Lord, help me to hear Your direction for my life in the quiet moments when I study Your Holy Word.  And as I go about my daily activities, let everything that I say and do be pleasing to You.  Amen

The Right Kind Of Attitude

Great Blessed LIFE TO ALL:  The Right Kind Of Attitude

A cheerful heart has a continual feast.  Proverbs  15:15         

 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus.  Philippians  2:5

Of course you’ve heard the saying,  “Life is what you make of it.”  And although that statement may seem very trite, it’s also very true.  You can choose a life filled to the brim with frustration and fear, or you can choose a life of abundance and peace.  That choice is up to you---and only you---and it depends, to a surprising extent, upon your attitude.

What’s your attitude today?  Are you fearful, angry, bored, or worried?  Are you moping around with a frown on your face that’s almost as big as the one in your heart?  If so, God wants to have a little talk with you. 

God created you in His own image, and He wants you to experience joy, contentment, peace, and abundance.  But, God will not force you to experience these things; you must claim them for yourself.

The quality of your attitude will help determine the quality of your life, so you must guard your thoughts accordingly.  If you make up your mind to approach life with a healthy mixture of realism and optimism, you’ll be rewarded.  But, if you allow yourself to fall into the unfortunate habit of negative thinking, you will doom yourself to unhappiness, or mediocrity, or worse.

The next time you’re tempted to waste valuable time gossiping or complaining, resist those temptations with all you’re might.  And remember this character-building tip:  You’ll never whine your way to the top….so don’t waste your breath.

Lord, let me be an expectant Christian.  Let me expect the best from You, and let me look for the best in others.  If I become discouraged, Father, turn my thoughts and my prayers to You.  Let me trust You, Lord, to direct my life.  And, let me share my faith and optimism with others, today and every day that I live.  Amen

(From the Daily Prayer a friend emails me each day)

Have Children - Live Longer

     I heard on the radio that a  recent study shows that - Being a parent (whether by birth or adoption) decreases a woman’s risk of premature death.  

     A small surprise considering how tired and worn we moms often feel.    (Does it just seem longer sometimes?)

     How much do you think this is because of behavior changes? 

     For instance, I gave up rafting down the American River when I became a mom.  I was now too valuable to a very important person to take unnecessary risks, although slight. 

     

Daily Prayer - Accepting Life

Great Blessed LIFE TO ALL:   Accepting Life

God will make a way, where there seems to be no way----a song of the past—I learned—which touches my heart deeply---Don Neely

If you’re like most men, you like being in control.  Period.  You want things to happen according to your wishes and according to your timetable.  But sometimes, God has other plans…and He always has the final word.

Oswald Chambers correctly observed  “Our Lord never asks us to decide for Him;  He asks us to yield to Him…a very different matter.”  These words remind us that even when we cannot understand the workings of God, we must trust Him and accept His will.

A man’s heart plans his ways, but the Lord determines his steps.  Proverbs 16:9

All of us experience adversity and pain.  As human beings with limited comprehension, we can never fully understand the will of our Father in Heaven.  But as believers in a benevolent God, we must always trust His providence.

I am truly grateful that faith enables me to move past the question of “Why?”   Zig Ziglar

Dear Lord, let me live in the present, not the past.  Let me focus on my blessings, not my sorrows.  Give me the wisdom to be thankful for the gifts that I do have, and not bitter about the things that I don’t have.  Let me accept what was, let me give thanks for what is, and let me have faith in what most surely will be; the promise of eternal life with You.   Amen


(a co-worker sends me Daily Prayer emails - Thanks, Don N)

Elk Grove Nativity Dec 7-9