day 157

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. -Psalm 32:8 NKJV
If you were blindfolded (as some of you saw in chapel yesterday) wouldn't you want to be guided by someone who could see it all, who knew everything that could potentially harm you? It's easier to trust somebody that's confident in what they do. You still might miss and aim in the wrong direction, or run into the wall, or totally walk past something important. God sees the entire court, all the time. He is there to coach you through it all. He won't run ahead and leave you to your own devices, unlike Satan. Listen. God's trying to talk to you. He's saying, "Come one, this way. I've got you. Don't let go; I never will. We're in this together. Follow me. I know exactly where I'm going. Come home." It's like a game of Marco Polo: you can't see anything, you may get some water up your nose, but you follow the voice anyway and gain victory.
Prayer requests?

day 156

Dear friends, don't let this one thing escape you: with the Lord one day is like 1,000 years, and 1,000 years like one day. -2Peter 3:8 Holman CSB
Every day you keep God waiting, that's tremendous amount of time. I did some calculations, and if you make God wait for you one day, you're keeping him waiting for about 8,660,000 hours. That's a huge number! Math is not my strongsuit, so this could be a wrong number, but still. That's a very long time. And our God is SO patient with us! After a week or two, I get tired of waiting for people. God's patience is just mind blowing. So the next time you get mad and say, "I don't want to talk to God today," or "I've had a really busy day, there's just no time," or flat-out "I'm ignoring God," take time and think about how long that is. Would you like to be ignored for that long? Would you be patient if EVERYBODY kept blowing you off? Talk to God. Time's up. Enough is enough.
Any prayer requests?

Day 155

Usually when you think of depositing something you think of going to the bank. There are four other types of deposits: 1)the Holy Spirit being deposited in you
2)you being deposited in the place you're at [both broad and specific]
3)the Word of God being deposited in you
4)you and your gifts deposited to others
These are all good types of deposits, but if they're ignored and pushed to the side, what good can they do? What do you hold onto that keeps you from experiencing God's promise? Is it your pride, expectations, prejudices, traditions? Don't let your expectations, judgements and desires get in the way of what God's plan is for you. When was the last time you consulted God for something? When was the last time you asked God about your own mission in life? Hmm. Something to think about.
Prayer requests?

day 154

Sorry there hasn't been a devo the past couple days. This one is from a book I have:
You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemies." But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. -Matt. 5:43-44 NCV
It's hard to feel good about yourself while you're carrying around a heart full of bitterness. That's one reason (but not the only reason) that you should be quick to forgive everybody. If there exists even one person whom you have not forgiven (and that includes yourself), follow God's commandment and His will for you: forgive that person today. And remember that bitterness, anger, and regret are not part of God's plan for your life. Forgiveness is. If you sincerely wish to forgive someone, pray for that person. And then pray for yourself by asking God to heal your heart. Don't expect forgiveness to be easy or quick, but rest assured: with God as your partner, you can forgive...and you will.
"Mercy imitates God and disappoints Satan." -St. John Chrysostom
"Our Lord worked with people as they were, and He was patient--not tolerant of sin, but compassionate." -Vance Havner
When other people have made a mistake...it's a mistake not to forgive them.
Any prayer requests today?

Day 153

¡¡HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
"Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks beecause He's given Jesus Christ His Son
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ His Son
And now let the weak say 'I am strong!'
Let the poor say 'I am rich!' because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks"
May the dear Lord continue to bless you richly<3

day 152

Psalm 113:1-3
Praise the Lord. Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
No matter what your are going through, praise God. Maybe your homelife isn't the greatest--lots of fighting and hurt. Maybe your job area isn't even close to ideal. God gave you a family. God has blessed you with a job. God will provide for you; He always has, always does, always will. Be thankful for the things you've been given. People have similarities in their life, but all of the finer details are personalized. In every single situation, there is always something good. Always.
Any prayer requests?

day 151

Psalm 43
Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then will I go to the alter of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
The only way those bad things in your life will get fixed is by running into God's open, loving arms. The only way those good things in your life will get even better is by sticking with God. He is the answer to it all. The truth will set you free. Why wouldn't you find it and hold onto it and share it with others? Hmm.
Prayer requests?

Day 150

James 4:11-12
beothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, butting sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge?
A definition of judging that would be really well is: letting God know you're better than Him; He's not cut out for His own job. How dare we judge! You wouldn't be too happy if someone shoved you out of the way and just started taking over. Especially if everyone did it multiple times a day and didn't even acknowledge it. Just kept interrupting. They didn't acknowledge you or apologize for it. That's God's job. Give it back.
Any prayer requests?

day 149

Romans 12:12,14,17-19
Be joyful in hope, patient in affiction, faithful in prayer. Bless those who persecute you; BLESS and do not curse. Do NOT repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Hope? Yeah! Hope. God will get you through it all. You and God have different to-do lists. Getting back at people and giving them "a taste of their own medicine" is NOT on your list. God knows both sides of all situations and will deal with each person accordingly. Pray for people who do wrong to you. Don't wish ill on even your own worst enemy. Always be joyful--not happy, but joyful--pray without end.
1Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
How often have you asked God what His plan for you is? Are there any prayer requests today?

day 148

"Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -Handel's Messiah
All of our strengths come from God. All of our strengths ARE God. Nothing bad comes from Him. Are you the type of person who likes to show off or prove your strength? Well, doing it by yourself will work against you. The best way to show how strong you are is when you're weak. Weaknesses are great, because that's when God's light radiates through you and great things happen.
Prayer requests?

day 147

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
-Number 6:24-26
Have a great weekend! Prayer requests?

day 146

2Corinthians 12:7-10
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said, "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
In times of weakness God works best. He can really do His job, and the result it great. You don't need to prove your strength to others. You don't need to prove it to yourself. In doing that you don't accomplish much. It's your own power, which compared to God's, is nothing. Doing things YOURSELF only makes you weaker.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean NOT on YOUR OWN understanding

day 145

Proverbs 24:1-12,19-22
Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory man advisors. Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say. He who plots evil will be known as a schemer. The schemes of folly are sin, in times of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked
will be snuffed out. Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?
Any prayer requests today?

day 144

Powerful so powerful
Your glory fills the skies
Your mighty works displayed for all to see
The beauty of your majesty
Awakes my heart to see
How marvelous how wonderful you are...
You opened my eyes to your wonders anew
You captured my heart with this love
Because nothing on Earth is as beautiful as you
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen
-Beautiful One and the Doxology
God has each one of you in every place you go to for a reason. He shows us many wonderful things everyday that we don't realize, or that is taken foor granted. We need to praise Him in everything we do. Everything you do should be done in the Almighty name of God. If it isn't, some changes need to be made ASAP. No kidding.

day 143

2Corinthians 1:21-22
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He annointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Matt. 25:26-27
"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest."
The master is upset because his servant did nothing with what he was given. God put his own Spirit inside us and there is an expectation of growth to take place in us. It is quite unacceptable to keep doing what you did before you got saved and act like it's okay. Own up to your wrongdoings and ask God for help to fix it.
Any prayer requests?

day 142

"Unless someone like you care a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not."
John 15:4,6-17
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that you joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's
friends. You are my friends is you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
That's a long passage, but quick comment: asking in Jesus' name is key. It's a shorter way of saying "God, if this is in your will to happen then let it be so and if not, You know what's for the best."
Prayer requests?

day 141

Proverbs 2:11-22&3:5-8
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.

Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.[a]
Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.

Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
For the upright will live in the land,
and the blameless will remain in it;
but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful will be torn from it.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
Any prayer requests?

day 140

"If you move just a little bit closer you
can put your head on my shoulder
So baby hold on
just another day or two
I can see the clouds are
moving faster now
and the sun is breaking through
If you can hold on, to the one that's holding you
there is nothing that can
stop this crazy love
from breaking though"
-TobyMac
With the results of the election, some people may be happy while some may not be. As pointed out by my father, now we really have to hold onto our faith in Jesus and hold onto the fact that this is not our home. We are passing through. It's temporary. We are to respect authoritative figures as well and we should pray for them. Pray for their leadership and that God's Will will be done through any and all situations. They have a great responsibilty. Let's support through prayer. Not by going against them and making their job harder. Action=reaction.
Prayer requests?

day 139

Proverbs 30:5-6
"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
God sees and hears everything you do. There's no point in hiding, because well, He sees you. It's said that God will hold you accountable for unsaid words, but the shame applies for said ones. People twist God's Word until it agrees with them. They don't look at it from God's perspective or ask for His guidance when reading. That's a HUGE problem. Don't add to God's Word or take away from it. He doesn't need your opinion. He needs your love, faith and obedience.
Deuteronomy 12:32
See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.
Prayer requests?

day 138

Awesome new quote I heard from a cousin: "Know God, know peace; No God, no peace."
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Amen. Pretty plain and simple today. Jesus gives us his peace abd his givings are WAY better off than what the world has to offer. Don't let your hearts be troubled any. Don't be afraid.
Any prayer requests?

day 137

5 Good Things to Remember:
1. Free your heart from hatred
2. Free your mind from worries
3. Live simply
4. Give more
5. Expect less
Nobody likes it when something is clogged. Nobody likes having a brain fart. So get rid of the crap that causes these things. You know those "gifts" that just keep on giving? Well, give them back. To Satan. Where they all came from. The devil borrows you. Spits you out like you're nothing until you come back to him. But God bought you. You are His. He is yours.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Prayer requests?

day 136

Everybody gets hurt one way or another. It's inevitable. People heal at different rates. Sometimes you don't even want to heal because you'd rather just stay wallowing in self pity. Healing. It's time. The faster you let go and lett God, the faster your problems can be handled and taken away. Wallowing slows down the process you're really looking for. If your scared for change to happen, would you REALLY be happier in this pile of darkness and hurt and just plain crap? Really?! Do yourself a favor and get the help you need. Let God do it. The saying, "you got yourself into this mess, so you get yourself out of it" does not really work. The BEST thing you can do quick with the wallowing and self pity and just get rid of the baggage. Nowadays we are SO lazy. We don't want to work. We don't want to lift heavy items. Well you are right now! So drop it! Let go of it! Good golly, take
advantage of God's offering to take it away!!!
Any prayer requests?

day 135

"So Napoleon, what are you gonna do today?"
"Whatever I feel like, gosh!"
This is the attitude of WAY too many people. What we should be saying is, "Whatever God wants me to do, duh!" Maybe guys wouldn't say it quite like that, and maybe girls wouldn't either, but you get the point. We should have a desire to do God's will and to LIVE by it. Breathe it. Spread it.
Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Any prayer requests?

day 134

"Somebody tell him that the lost are saved
Somebody tell him that his debt's been paid
And let him know, love is calling out his name
Somebody tell him, he's a child of the King
And there is an end to this suffering
And hope that never fades, through grace that's made a way
Somebody tell him, somebody tell him now."
Although it is the best kept secret, we can't just hog Him for ourselves. Be like Jesus and share the love. We are called to go out and make desciples of all nations. I know that near the beginning when God says to be fruitful and multiply He was talking about populating the earth since there was well, pretty much nobody. But we need to be fruitful--fruit of the Spirit, you know--and multiply--expand the Kingdom of God and show people how much open-armed room there is!