Month: April 2020

Sing: 1 Chronicles 16:23

23 Sing to God, everyone and everything! Get out his salvation news every day!

1 Chronicles 16:23 The Message

23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Share the news of his saving work every single day!

→ 1 Chronicles 16:23 (CEB)

Sing a joyful song to the Lord, express your adoration, open your voice in praise. For God is good, he is worthy of our exaltation and praiseful worship. When we sing our thoughts are quieted, and our hearts open to God with deeper feelings. God doesn’t judge our voice he just is waiting for us to make a joyful noise and share his salvation news with others. Let the heavens shout with joy! Holy, holy is our God!

How will you express your adoration to God today? Will you sing with joy?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we worship and praise You. We raise our voices to sing our love for You. Lord, we sing in thankfulness for Your forgiveness, salvation, and love. Like the bright open iris blossoms heralds, spring, help us sing open-hearted expressing our joy to You. In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen

Sing to the Lord – Hillsong Worship Lyrics

Righteous
Ruler of the heavens
Holy holy our God
Sovereign
Lord of all creation
Holy holy our God

Every tribe and tongue
Lift your voice as one
He is greatly to be praised

Sing to the Lord
Oh my soul
Let the heavens
Shout for joy
Great is our God
Great is our God

Nations come and
Bow before Him
Holy holy our God
Angels sing
Now and forever
Holy holy our God

The heavens shall declare
The glory of our great God

Jesus
Come let us adore Him
Holy holy our God

Lyrics from: LyricFind.com

Lead me: Psalm 143:10

You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path.

Psalm 143:10 CEV

You are my God, you hear me, You comfort me, You lead me in the right path. When we feel confused, overwhelmed, or lost, God is waiting to help us and direct us. God is for us He is good, He loves us, and His gentle Spirit will teach us and guide us through trying times. Let our hearts and minds be open to God’s direction. Lord lead me, show me what you want me to do.

Where do you need to pause and ask God’s for direction, to let His gentle Spirit lead you?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, you are our God, our strength, and protector. We thank you for your love, forgiveness, and guidance. Teach us to let your gentle Spirit lead us on the right path. Like the flowering almond lifts it delicate flowers toward the Sun, let us lift our faces toward Jesus Your Son and our Light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Sincere Love: Romans:12:9-10

9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Romans 12:9-10 The Message (MSG)

In this verse, the apostle Paul speaks of sincere love, a true love coming from the center of the heart. A love for others that includes compassion, actions of kindness, and charity. Not a self-serving love, but a humble, playing second fiddle love, a love which embraces everyone, especially those in need. We are reminded to run for dear life from evil including, unkindness, malice, and prejudice, and to hold on tightly to all that is pleasing to God.

What is holding you back from a sincere, open-hearted love toward others?

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank You for Your forgiveness of our sins and Your open-hearted love for us. Teach us to love You with our full hearts and to have sincere love for others. As the individual flowers of the rhododendron radiate from the center cluster, let us radiate love to those around us. Help us to embrace compassion and carry out acts of kindness. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Peace of Christ: Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

To let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts we need to have and maintain a relationship with God, to have a thankful, loving heart toward God a sense of unity with Him and our neighbors. To have faith in the Lord, His Word, and to trust Him always. It is an open door a choice for us to decide often moment to moment which path, to embrace ours or the Lord’s. His peace is always available.

In life, we are faced with numerous choices daily and often are stressed out looking for peace. Where do you turn to when you are confused or making decisions and need peace? Does the peace of Christ rule in your heart?

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, we praise and thank you for your love, patience, and forgiveness. Teach us to turn our faces and hearts toward you to follow Your path and to find the peace of Christ. Like the white blossom of the iberis grow close together, teach us to draw close to each other, and grow in compassion, love, and peace. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Transformed: Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

God is merciful and full of grace to us His people. In return, His wish is for us to renew our minds to be transformed, open to His guidance and Word. To open be open-hearted to turn to God for direction, to conform to do His will, what is good, acceptable, and perfect, learning to be more Christ-like. To focus on being good Christians pleasing in our actions and deeds.

During troubling times do you dwell on worldly problems, or is your mind transformed and focused on God?

Prayer: Our Father, we thank You for Your mercy and love. Help us to be transformed by Your love and guidance. Teach us to focus on being pleasing to You by following Your commandments, doing Your will. Like the bright yellow flowers of the Jerusalem artichoke blossoms reach united toward the sky, let us reach united toward Your kingdom. In Jesus’ Holy name. Amen

Mercy and Grace: Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16  (ESV)

Jesus our great high priest sympathizes with our weakness and has mercy on us when we repent our sins. Jesus was tempted but did not sin so He can sympathize with our weakness. He shed His blood for us allowing us, to come before Him with confidence. When we confess our sins, Jesus welcomes us like a father welcomes his children, and forgives us with mercy and grace. When we have needs and pray, Jesus is waiting at the throne of grace to help us.

When you are weak and weary, in need of mercy and grace, do you turn to Jesus?

Prayer: Jesus, our loving Savior, we thank you for the mercy, grace, and help that you loving give us. We praise you for the forgiveness and peace you offer us when we bring our troubles to You. Like the beautiful full open blossoms of the cherry tree, teach us fully open our hearts to the beauty of Your love and to share Your love with others. Amen

God Is With Us: Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Zephaniah 3:17 English Standard Version (ESV)

God is with us, and He loves us with an everlasting love. He rejoices over His people with gladness. The Lord’s love encompasses us which brings tranquility and quiet peace. God takes delight in His people. God’s love is unconditional He freely gives it to those who humble themselves and seek Him. Put your faith in Immanuel, God with us, Almighty and powerful, who can save us and rejoices over us when we do good and seek Him first above all things.

God is with us and takes delight in us when we seek Him. What is hindering you from feeling God’s love?

Prayer: Lord, help us to seek You and follow your Word. In times of trouble teach us to realize that You are with us and love us with an everlasting love. Like the bright yellow pansies seem to smile with joy, let us realize that You are for us, and rejoice over us with joy. Lord, teach us to put our faith in You and find peace. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

God Is Always with His People: Isaiah 43:1-2

Isaiah 43:1-3

1 But now, says the LORD the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel: Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched and flame won’t burn you. 

International Standard Version (ISV)

1 But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine.2 When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end –

The Message (MSG)

The Lord says to us, do not fear for, I am with you, you are mine. God, calls us by name, and He is with us when we are in rough waters. He restores our soul. When we are afraid and stuck in a difficult place it is not a dead-end because our God is with us. We need not be afraid for His light is shining, through, and the dark will not overtake us. For our Heavenly Father, has redeemed us, and He will never leave us. Our God is always with us, for we are His people.

God is with us always, for we are His people. Who do you seek when you are worried and afraid?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your love and compassion for us. Help us to seek you when we are afraid, overwhelmed, and in over our heads. Like the white camellia, the blossom’s center is gathered and enfolded, let us be gathered in Your name, centered on You, and enfolded in Your love. Our Father, teach us not to fear, but to reach out to You when we are in rough waters, to realize we are not alone You are always with us. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Kari Jobe – I Am Not Alone

 lyrics:
When I walk through deep waters 
I know that You will be with me 
When I’m standing in the fire
 I will not be overcome 
Through the valley of the shadow 
I will not fear I am not alone I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me 
In the midst of deep sorrow
I see Your light is breaking through 
The dark of night will not overtake me
I am pressing into You Lord,
You fight my every battle 
And I will not fear...