Corinthians 9:10 - "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness."
To share in the harvest of the Lord, one must share in the work that makes the harvest possible.
Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Thank you, Lord, for all that you do in our lives. Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of being one with you.
Colossians 3:12 - "As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."
Lord, help us to remember that we are your chosen ones! Help us to don ourselves in the wisdom and love that only you can provide.
James 3:13 - "Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom."
Lord, help all of our actions be as you want them to be; give us the wisdom to know what actions we should take to glorify your name.
James 2:14-17 - "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead."
Lord, help us to better reach out and take action in your name; help our faith to grow by being there for those that need us.
Jeremiah 10:12 - "It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens."
To study the heavens is to marvel at the artwork of God!
Jeremiah 10:6 - "There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might."
There is only one God, and it is to Him we dedicate our lives.
Matthew 18:26-30 - "So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt."
We must be ready to forgive others in the same manner we ask others for forgiveness.
Matthew 18:21-22 - "Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times”."
Lord, give us the strength to forgive those that cause strife; help us to react to others in the way that makes you happy with our actions.
Psalm 103:11-12 - "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us."
The vastness of the heavens is incomprehensible; so, too, is our understanding of the true depth of God's love.
Psalm 103:8 - "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."
As we learn God's ways; God is so very patient and loving!
Psalm 103:1 - "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name."
The Lord is always a part of us; we can feel him in our souls, his love within our hearts.
Exodus 15:18 - "The Lord will reign forever and ever."
God has always been, always is, and always will be. God is infinite, as is His love for each of us.
Exodus 15:2 - "The Lord is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him."
You are the God of all creation; the God of all generations; the God of mercy and strength in trying times.
Exodus 14:19-20 - "The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.
Lord, how many times have you put a barrier between us and our enemies? How many times have you protected us without us even knowing you were there?
Romans 14:10 - "Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God."
How easy it is to forget that when we judge, we judge ourselves. When we poison another's day with strife, we receive the same back at us.
Romans 14:7-8 - "We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s."
Lord, every breath we take is given by you; in turn, every breath must be given for you.
Romans 14:5- "Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds."
How different each of us are, yet we are all loved equally by God!
Psalm 114:7-8 - "Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water."
Father, how powerful are your ways, yet how gentle is your heart to those that search for you in their souls.
Psalm 119:36 - "Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain."
Not my will, but your will be done.
Psalm 119:35 - "Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it."
To follow the rules the Lord has given is to rejoice in the knowledge of his loving approval.
Psalm 119:34 - "Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart."
Committing the Lord's laws to memory is one thing; acting upon them with true understanding is quite another.
Psalm 119:33 - "Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end."
Father, help me to follow your ways as you want me to follow them, not as I want to do so.
Matthew 18:18 - "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Lord, help us to remember that everything we do on earth is known by you; help us do what is righteous here on earth as in heaven.
Romans 13:10 - "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."
To love our neighbor is to love God himself; not doing so is rejecting one of God's own creations and, thus, God himself.
Romans 13:8 - "Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
We have no greater debt to pay than to love each other as Jesus has called us to do.
Romans 12:21 - "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Even in the darkest of times, let us respect the Lord by being a shining light for all to see.
Romans 12:17 - "Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all."
The faithful of the Lord respond to others in a way that transcends the harshness of the moment.
Romans 12:14 - "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them."
Lord, give us the strength to respond to others in the manner that lifts you up for all to see.
Romans 12:12 - "Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer."
May we always offer our prayers to the Lord in deep hope and faith, no matter the circumstances, no matter how much we must pray.
Romans 12:9-10 - "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor."
Father, help us to clearly see right from wrong, so that we may show others your way.
Ephesians 2:21-22 - "In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God."
Let us always remember that a church is not made of wood, nor brick, nor stone. It is made of love, and of prayer, and of open hearts.
Acts 2:44-45 - "All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need."
Father, help us to take inventory of what we have, giving you thanks and, in turn, giving to those in need.
Genesis 1:3-4 - "Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness."
Let us show our light to the world! Let us praise the Lord's name and shine love within darkness.
Proverbs 31:8-9 - "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Father, we must be your voice for those in need here on Earth.
Proverbs 30:5 - "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."
There is no greater protection or comfort than hearing the Word of the Lord.
Proverbs 28:6 - "Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be crooked in one’s ways even though rich.
The only true measure of wealth is that of the richness of God's love.
Proverbs 26:7 - "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me."
Lord, give me the strength to know that even as I am falling, you are actually lifting me up.
Proverbs 26:4 - "Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you will be a fool yourself."
Just because a fool calls, doesn't mean we need to answer them!
Psalm 138:8 - "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."
Your covenant with us is everlasting, our purpose throughout time fulfilled by your love that endures forever.
Psalm 138:7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.
I am never alone. Never! You are always by my side, guiding me along the spiritual path that keeps me from getting lost here on my earthly home.
Psalm 138:3
On the day I called, you answered me; you increased my strength of soul.
You always answer my call, O Lord; I need only to hear your words.
Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
O God, all the heavens were made by your hand; we thank you for always being here with us on our small planet amid your vast universe.
Proverbs 25:21-22 - "If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink."
It is easy to do well by someone you love; it is difficult, but required of us, that we attempt to do well by those who are against us. Our kind acts are not futile.
Proverbs 24:3-4 - "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."
As the church moves in dynamic transition, wisdom hovers on its path, ready to be grasped and understood.
Proverbs 22:9 - "Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor."
There is always something we can share - tangible or intangible – to lift the spirits of those in need.
Proverbs 22:2 - "The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all."
In a time of social strife, let us remember that we are all God's children.
Proverbs 21:30 - "No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel, can avail against the Lord."
To argue with God's wisdom is to lose the debate before our first thought is finished!
Proverbs 17:27 - "One who spares words is knowledgeable; one who is cool in spirit has understanding."
Lord, help us to understand that just because we may have an opinion,doesn't mean that someone else needs (or wants) to hear it!
Proverbs 16:9 - "The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps."
Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of having you as our step-by-step navigator on our journey through life!
Proverbs 16:25 - "Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right, but in the end it is the way to death."
Father, help us to temper our pride before walking down a path that leads away from you and your ways.
Proverbs 15:32 - "Those who ignore instruction despise themselves, but those who heed admonition gain understanding."
Each day we are challenged with new lessons to be learned; help us, Father, to not blindly pass them by!
Proverbs 15:22 - "Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed."
Lord, help us to be open to new knowledge; help us to keep our own stubborn attitudes from blocking the wisdom we require from others.
Proverbs 11:25 - "A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water."
Especially in this time of pandemic and struggle, let us be generous to those around us; let us share our God-given gifts with those in need.
Proverbs 11:17 - "Those who are kind reward themselves, but the cruel do themselves harm."
Father, help us to always remember that "what goes around, comes around"! Only by doing right by others can we receive blessings in return.
Romans 10:14 - "But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?"
Let me proclaim your Word in all that I say and do; help me to be a true lamp-bearer for the light that you offer the world.
Romans 10:13 - "For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.""
You are here for us, O God, regardless of nation or race or sexual orientation or gender. You are the God who guides us all along the narrow path that leads to eternity with you.
Romans 10:12 - "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him."
O God! How wonderful it is to know that we are all your children, no matter who we are, where we live, or what our situation may be.
Romans 10:10 - "For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved."
My faith in you is deep within my soul; I reach out to you in prayer, seeking forgiveness, to cleanse my heart of my iniquities.
Psalm 17:5 - "My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped."
Your paths are not always easy, but I stay firm in my resolve to be with you at the end of the journey.
Psalm 17:1 - "Hear a just cause, O Lord. Attend to my cry. Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit."
I come to you with a truthful heart; I pray to you knowing that nothing of me can be hid from you.
Psalm 105:3 - "Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice."
I pursue your Word, and you fill my heart with joy; I rejoice upon this path that I walk with You.
Psalm 105:2 - "Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works."
I sing to you and of you, O Lord! My soul accompanies my heart in a duet of praise in your name.
Psalm 105:1 - "O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples."
O God, help me to reach out to those around me; through my actions, may I reflect your deeds of love.
Psalm 143:8 - "Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."
I awake to the rising sun each day; I awake with faith in the Son that has risen for me.
Psalm 143:10 - "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path."
There is nothing more comforting than knowing that the Lord is our navigator and mentor on our journey through this life.
Psalm 143:6 - "I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah"
Only God can quench the thirst within my soul; only he can fill the vessel that is my heart.
Psalm 143:5 - "I remember the days of old, I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands."
The Lord has walked with me throughout my life; my memories are filled with the times He has touched my soul.
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness.
It is to you, O Lord, that I turn for wisdom in my time of need; it is to you that I turn for guidance.
Romans 8:35
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Nothing, nor anyone, can come between the love of Christ and each of us.
Romans 8:31
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
God stays with us. We abide in God. It is a sacred relationship by which we are upheld.
Romans 8:28
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Like small pieces of a large puzzle, the individual works of God may not be clear to us at first, but by seeking His goodness, the puzzle becomes clear.
Romans 8:27
And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
My thoughts are known to you, O Lord! The innermost chambers of my spirit are known by only you.
Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.
To be happy is to be one with the Lord; to walk in his ways brings joy to one's heart. In all that we labor, the reward is that of being fruit of his vine, nourished with His Word.
Romans 8:10-11
But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Death has no meaning to the Lord; he offers eternal life to all that follow his path to glory.
Romans 8:3-4
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Lord, help keep me on the path of everlasting life; help me to avoid the detours that the world may throw my way.
Romans 8:1-2
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Though the world is full of temptations and physical death, the Lord lifts my soul out of sin and past mortal death.
(courtesy from bibleversestogo.com)
Isaiah 55:13
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Like wheat separated from chaff, the Lord sifts our sin away to find good within each of us.
Isaiah 55:12
For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Nature sings with joy for the Lord; the world rejoices in His name!
Psalm 119:110-111
The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
Even in those moments when I feel the cruelty of some, your light shines upon me, covering the darkness with your love and wisdom.
Psalm 119:106
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances.
I have sworn an oath; only through God’s ways can I live the holy life I have been called to live.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
You fill my soul with everlasting light; your love and wisdom light my way.
Matthew 11:27
All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Without you, my Savior, I am lost; through you I find my Lord, my God!
Psalm 19:14 - "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
Whether contemplating in silence or speaking aloud, the Lord knows our innermost thoughts and feelings; nothing is hidden from God, our strength and our liberator.
Psalm 19:7 - "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple."
How simple are the laws that the Lord has provided us; how complicated we make them when our own egos and stubbornness step in our way.
Psalm 19:4b-5 - "In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy."
Time may change our understanding of how God’s universe works, but we see it with the same amazement as those of long ago.
Psalm 19:1- "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork."
Is there nowhere we can look that does not show God's creation? All things, from the smallest atomic particles to the greatest of galaxies show His glory!
Romans 7:22-23 - "For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members."
It has been said that we are not physical beings on a spiritual quest, but rather spiritual beings on a physical quest. The love of God is within us - we must learn how to transition that love to the human form he has given us.
Romans 7:15-16 - "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good."
There are times that doing what is right is indeed the harder choice for us to make. But doing what is right is what the Lord wants us to do and that means it is always worth the effort.
Psalm 145:14 - "The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down."
You care for your people, O Lord! The weak are strengthened and the poor in spirit become rich by your love.
Psalm 145:8 - "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."
Oh, what patience you have with me, O Lord! A boundless universe and yet you take the time to teach me your ways and to show me your mercy and love.
Psalm 13:5 - "But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation."
When we feel that we have lost hope, our faith lifts us up so that we may again uphold our trust in the Lord.
Psalm 13:1 - "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?"
In those times when we think God has forgotten us, pray and remember that He is always with us. Never hidden - always within our soul - if we only look.
Genesis 22:12-14 - "But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."
When you find yourself in a place of despair, know that God is close. Listen to his voice. It is there to guide you.
Romans 6:1-4 - "What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore, we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."
O Lord, teach me the wondrous depths of love, forgiveness, and my walk with Christ.
Psalm 86:10 - "For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God."
There is no one like you, O Lord! Your wonders surround us; the vastness of the universe reminds us of your power.
Psalm 86:5 - "For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you."
Although we may stumble in our love for Him, the Lord's love for each of us is unwavering and will never falter.
Psalm 86:4 - "Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul."
In times of sorrow and struggle, God is with us to help ease our burden and bring happiness to our heart.
Psalm 86:2-3 - "Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all day long."
Our very existence belongs to God; to trust in God is to trust in the one that made our lives possible -- the one that can make all things possible.
Psalm 86:1 - "Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy."
Whether poor in spirit or in need of earthly sustenance, the Lord leans toward us to hear our prayers.
Psalm 100:5 - "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
Our time on the Earth is but a passing moment, yet God's love will be with each of us for all eternity.
Psalm 100:4 - "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name."
We give thanks to God and praise him; not out of fear, but out of love and respect for the one that created our universe.
Psalm 100:3 - "Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
Too often in our daily struggles we forget that we are made by God; no matter where we walk on His Earth, he is there to shepherd our existence.
Psalm 100:1-2 - "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing."
What a joy it is to sing to the Lord! What a joy it will be to once again sing to Him together in our church home!
Matthew 10:16 - "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."
The world is not perfect, and God knows that. We are called to go forth knowing this is the case
and, with faith, we know that God will guide us.
Genesis 18:1-5 - "The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.”"
Loving God, the ways of being hospitable to a weary soul are lessons you teach. Thank you for instructing me in helping and caring for those I meet. Amen.
Matthew 10:19-20 - "When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
It is always important to remember that we must try to let God speak through us -- with compassion and understanding for each other.
Matthew 9:37-38 - "Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”"
Do not be so inundated with personal problems. Remember that you are called to guide others
to the comfort of our Lord.
Psalm 89:14 - "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you."
O God, always give me the strength to uphold your name! Give me the strength to be steadfast and faithful with my love to you. Amen.
Psalm 89:5 - "Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones."
O Lord, we raise our eyes to you. Thank you for the countless wonders to discover in the heavens that shout out your name! Amen!
Psalm 89:3-4 - "You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David: ‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah"
Your covenant remains intact! Forever will the descendants of David praise your name; forever will we follow your word.
Psalm 89:2 - "I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens."
Your love is always there, oh Lord! Thank you for sending your Spirit to us. We build our lives upon it. Amen.
Psalm 89:1 - "I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations."
O Lord, thank you for your endless faithfulness! How wonderful it is that countless generations to come will know your name! Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:13 - "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you."
Through the millennia, we praise your name; we continue to offer and receive your grace and love.
Psalm 8:3-4
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?
Countless number of galaxies in our known universe, and yet through the expanse of space you know my name!
Psalm 8:1 - "O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"
Your creation surrounds me; no matter where I turn on earth, your majestic glory is there.
Genesis 1:1-2 - "In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters."
Just as when the Holy Spirit entered as a wind to the apostles on Pentecost, so too the Holy Spirit was there in the beginning, bringing life to the world. And so too is the Holy Spirit here with us today, if we only open the windows of our hearts and the doors of our souls for it to enter.
Numbers 11:24-30 - "So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again."
O God, you place your Spirit within your children. We are each a part of you. Show us our gifts so that we may speak of your love.
John 20:19-23:
"When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.""
I think of you always in my presence, O God, and I am at peace. Thank you for being very real to me as I deeply comprehend your Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
We are all part of the body of Christ. To negate anyone is to turn away a part of the Spirit!
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
You provide each of us with a spiritual gift, O God; we pray that we may discern that gift and share it with the world in your name. Thank you!
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
O God, our church ministries may differ, but our goal is the same: to be one with you as you work through each one of us. We praise you for the gifts you have given to us. AMEN.
1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
Your spirit is with me! I call out your name with confidence and praise, because I truly know you and you truly know me!
Psalm 68:34-35 - "Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!"
All that I am, all that I will be, is through you, O God. My power comes from giving up my power. My power comes from you. AMEN!
Psalm 68:33 - "O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice."
O God, your voice is everywhere! It can be heard in our souls. It can be heard in the smallest particle. It can be heard in the farthest reaches of our cosmos. You, and only you, have been heard for all of time, in all places.
Psalm 68:32 - "Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord. Selah."
I sing to you, oh Lord! In my most heartfelt voice I sing songs of praise to the conductor of the universe!
Psalm 68:9-10 - "Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy."
You are my shepherd! I need only to call out to you to be led back to my flock - back to those I love.
Psalm 68:7-8 - "O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah:
The earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel."
How Great Thou Art, that even nature itself cries out with joy at the knowledge of your presence!
Psalm 68:4 - "Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds - his name is the Lord - be exultant before him."
Who else but God is worthy of constant praise? Who else but the creator of all - of eternity itself!
Psalm 68:1-3 - "Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God. But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy."
O God,
At times it feels as if my enemies have surrounded me. I rejoice in knowing you will give me the strength to carry on - that you know of my plight and are there for me. AMEN
Acts 17:30-31 - "While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
I draw ever closer to you, O God. You offer Light and life.
Acts 17:29 - "Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals."
You are a living God! Through you I have come to be; through you I shall live forever.
Acts 17:28 - "For 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'"
"... Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left..." (Saint Patrick)
Acts 17:26-27 - "From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him - though indeed he is not far from each one of us."
How ironic it is that we often search the world for life's meaning, only to find that the true purpose of our being is already within our very souls.
Acts 17:24 - "The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands."
God, even though I am physically separated from my church family, I remember that you live within me. In my solitude, you are with me wherever I praise your name.
Psalm 66:16-17 - "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.
I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue."
I will praise the Lord with all my heart; I will give thanks to God for all that he has done.
Psalm 66:8-10 -
"Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.
For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried."
You temper me with your words of wisdom. You calm my soul with Your love.
1 Peter 3:13-14 - "Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated."
You lead me in the path of righteousness. You lift me beyond my own fear to face each day unafraid. It is not in my name, but in Yours, that I work for what is right.
Psalm 31:15-16 -
"My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love."
Every second of my life belongs to you, O Lord. Every moment of my life is a gift from you. Let me never forget your love endures through all time.
Psalm 31:3-5 -
"You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God."
Even with life’s unexpected traps and snares, you are always there, ready to free me to follow your path to eternal safety.
Psalm 31:1-2 -
"In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me."
There is no greater strength than the fortress of God’s love. He hears my every need. He lifts my soul to safety.
1 Peter 2:9-10 - "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
We share the Earth that you have provided; we make our home together through the love that you have given us all.
1 Peter 2:6-8 - "For it stands in scripture: "See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner," and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do."
The path to the Lord’s house is clearly marked; it is only when I close my eyes to God that I stumble.
1 Peter 2:4-5 - "Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Lord, you are the foundation upon which my future is built; you truly are the architect of my existence!
Psalm 23:6 - "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord, Forever.
The Lord’s goodness and mercy shall lift me up throughout my life.
The Lord abides with me, and I with the Lord, as I encounter all my days.
Psalm 23:4-5 - "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over."
O God,
You are always with me. I need only look for Your guidance to know that You are here, even in the darkest of times. Even though I may feel the world and its challenges closing in, You fill my spirit with peace; You fill me with Your joy. Amen.
Psalm 23: 1-3 - "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake."
Loving God,
You know what I need, and you provide. I have faith in You. I know that I can rest in Your love and care. I will not thirst because of the living water you provide. You lead me throughout the good way. My soul is at peace. Amen.
Psalm 139: 13-14 - "For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
You made me. All I am I owe to you. You are the architect of my being, the caretaker of my soul.
Psalm 139: 7-10 - "Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast."
There is nowhere that God is not present. God is always and everywhere.
Psalm 139: 1 - "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me."
You have always known me, O Lord. My task is to know more of you.
Psalm 138: 6-7 - "Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life."
All are welcomed and loved by God. No matter what our stature in life, we are rich with the love of God.
Psalm 121: 7-8 - "The Lord will keep you from all harm; he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
No matter my course, I am never lost. I am never alone. You know my path, and you walk it with me.
Psalm 121: 1-2 - "I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
Loving God, I know that no matter where I look, if I open my eyes to truly see, there you will be. Amen.
Psalm 116: 12-14 - "What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people."
Lord, I will always remember to give you thanks for all that you have given me. For all that you do for me. For this life you have given me.
Psalm 116: 3-4 - "The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: 'O Lord, I pray, save my life!'"
Father, no matter how much distress and anguish I may face, I know that you understand my needs. You are with me. You will answer my prayers.
Psalm 116: 1-2 - "I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live."
At those times I feel the most ignored and shut out by the world, I know that you hear me, O Lord. You listen to my call.
Psalm 18: 6, 16 - "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. . . . He reached down from on high, he took me; he drew me out of mighty waters."
Lord, in my lowest of times, help me to remember that you are always above me, ready to reach down, to hold me in your love and lift me above the distress that I face.
Psalm 18:2 - "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge."
Father, you are the foundation of all in my life. Upon your love shall my faith continue to be built!
Psalm 17:8 - "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings."
Thank you, dear God, for always having me in your sight and providing me the refuge I need when I need it most. Amen.
Psalm 17:6 - "I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words."
O God, in a day and age of voicemails and automated help systems, it is so wonderful to know that You will always answer me when I call. Amen.
Psalm 16:7-9 - "I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure."
Be still, my soul, for your way comes from the Lord. He and he alone can provide the guidance you need to reach your destination.
Psalm 16:5-6 - "The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage."
No matter what the measure, no matter where worldly boundaries may lie, you are with me, O God. You set the guidelines of my life. Amen.
Psalm 16:1-2 - "Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."
Lord, help me to share with others the goodness that you share with me; help me to be the goodness that is you. Amen.
Matthew 14:23 - "And after [Jesus] had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone."
Even though there are times I feel alone as if in the wilderness, I know deep in my heart that you are with me. I am never alone. Amen.
John 20:19 - "When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”"
No walls, no doors, no fences, no barriers can keep you from being with me. Your peace is always with me! Amen.
Luke 23:55-56 - "The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment."
Lord, on this day I rest my body and soul, to awaken for your resurrection at the rising of tomorrow's sun. Amen.
John 3:16-17 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Father, thank you for sending your Son to your people on Earth, so that all might have eternal life. Amen.
Psalm 4:8 - "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."
Loving God, You are indeed my shepherd, I shall not want. I will sleep soundly, for your light shines over me, even in the darkest of nights. Amen.
Psalm 56:3 - "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."
Gracious God, I will not fear, for it is not my strength that will see me through, but your love that shall uplift me. Amen.
Psalm 127:2 - "…for he gives to his beloved sleep."
I shall sleep soundly knowing that your love, O God, will guide my soul to yet
another day. Amen.
2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God’s not given me a spirit of fear,
But a spirit of love, and of power, and a sound mind,
To live each day and glorify his name."
Whether aloud in song or inward in heart and mind, whether alone or with others, whether day or night, I give glory to thee, Oh Lord. Amen.
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."
Father, grant me the faith to have peace within and, in turn, the strength to share that peace with others. Amen.
Psalm 92:2-3 - "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High,
To proclaim your love at daybreak, your faithfulness in the night."
Lord, May I remember to give thanks to You at all times and in all things, just as You are with me in all times and in all things, day or night, rain or shine, good or bad. Amen.
Psalm 55:16-17 - "As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice."
God, you are always my saving grace, my life preserver when drowning in the challenges of life. Thank you for never turning a deaf ear to my calls for help and guidance. Amen.
Psalm 116:5-7 - "The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you."
Lord, grant me the faith to know that you have compassion that is beyond my comprehension, providing protection to me in ways I may not see with my eyes, nor sense in my mind, yet can feel in my soul. Amen.
Psalm 91:1 - Those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
O God, In the evening I find you very gently in my heart. I abide in your shadow and underneath your wing. I abide in your presence, now and always. Amen.
Genesis 1:5: - "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."
As darkness settles on me as a blanket, I know it is you, O God, who covers me. Amen.
Psalm 139:2-3 - "You discern my thoughts from far away O God. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways."
Tonight, O God, come close to me as I come close to you. You know my heart and my thoughts as I seek sleep this night. Still my mind as I close my eyes in rest. Still my mind. Amen.
Psalm 91:1-2 - "You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust .'"
Lord, grant us the faith and wisdom to remember that you are our refuge; you are with us. No one is alone. Amen.
