THANKFUL

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

May we never forget, Lord, what happened eighteen years ago today, how evil slapped America into reality. We witnessed how unrestrained hatred for all things good and right snuffed out the lives of nearly 3000 innocent people, whose only fault was just going about their daily routines. It’s not like we weren’t given any wakeup calls. The bombing Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, the destruction of the U S embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, the attack on the U S S Cole, all by Islamic terrorist. Yet we sluffed it off. Meh! Let’s just move on. In our false sense of security, we ignored these warning, since terror attacks happened in countries far away. Then September 11, 2001.

We called on you for mercy, Lord God. We filled the churches, prayed as never before. We waved our American flags, chanted U S A nonstop at all events . . . then we forgot. The pain subsided, and as a nation, we returned to our divided ways, arguing among ourselves over senseless things, fussing when we couldn’t have our way, griping how our government was the worst in the world. Again, we turned our backs on you, Lord God, and decided we no longer needed you—we could run our lives just fine again. And you let us have our way.

Big mistake! We need you more than ever, Lord Jesus. We need a spiritual renewal in our country, but first, it must begin in each of us. Forgive our sins. Change our hearts. Heal our nation. Raise up leaders who will govern with godly wisdom and integrity. Drive out the scoffers who oppose every effort made to bring you back into our society. Give people the courage to speak the truth in the face of lies about you, Lord God, and about our country and its founding. Bring confusion and chaos to those who wish to rewrite our country’s history with a false narrative, that their lying works will fail.

May we never forget the horrific events of 9/11 and those who stepped into eternity that day. Bless their families and friends. Bring peace and closure to their pain. Heal their memoires.

And may we never forget your sacrifice, Lord Jesus, to take our sins away and give eternal life to all who call on you in repentance.

Have mercy on us again, Lord Jesus. Amen

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

As we follow you, Jesus, we want to know you more. We may have a concept of who you are, but unless we spend time with you, studying your word, we may have wrong impressions of you. Open our heart to know your heart. As we read your word, the Bible, open our understanding of your character and goodness. You’re a good God, full of mercy and grace, ready to forgive our transgressions and remove our iniquity.

All other religions require those participants to perform, to strictly keep extreme behaviors, to maintain regulations and rules. Every human effort must be made in order to gain their gods’ favor, or you’re condemned for your lack of perfection. No wonder so many get frustrated and give up hope for salvation when they try to earn eternal life on their own. They face eternity with fear.

Not so with you, Lord Jesus. You and God the Father are one, and you give your Holy Spirit to all who come to you in repentance. We are saved from our sins and given eternal life only by placing our trust in you, Jesus (Ephesians 2:8,9).  No amount of human efforts can save us, to make us good enough for salvation. I’ve seen the pride of those who boast about their holiness, claiming to keep the Commandments. They are just blowing smoke. We will never reach perfection, no matter how hard we try. I tried and fell on my face, as have many other frustrated people attempting a similar approach for salvation. The psalmist David knew your character when he prayed “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you” (Psalm 86:5). Spark an excitement in our spirit to walk closer with you, Jesus.

Continue your work of grace and mercy for all who call on you during stages of illness and daily living with afflictions. No matter our medical or physical circumstances, you are faithful, holding us every minute, every day. You, Lord Jesus, ignite our spirits to worship despite the mountains before us, or the dark valleys ahead. You have led us over and through before and there is no reason to believe you would ever abandon us.

Desiring to know more of your heart, Jesus. Amen.

Monday, September 09, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, in the chaos of this broken world, people look for meaning. What is my purpose in life? Am I significant? If a “higher power” exists, do I matter to him? Our humanity raises these questions since, in our fallen nature, we base our worth by our relevance in family and society. Does anyone love me for me? Or do I have to perform to gain other’s love? I can’t find happiness, but what can I do? I’m helpless to change what I want to change, repeatedly falling into the same traps time and again.

Lord, that was us. It seemed we were helpless to control what we wanted to change, just falling into the same traps time and again. But then, by your grace, we were drawn to you in repentance and found the answers to the questions we asked. You came into our life and changed our heart to give us a new beginning in life. But what drew us to you? It was the God-changed life of another believer. There is something about the Christ-centered life of a believer that draws others who want to change. Lord God, we are walking, talking billboards of your grace and power to transform lives in a world that is looking for something that can rescue them from themselves. And that something is a personal relationship with you, Lord Jesus.

What is our significance? What is our worth? Have we found our meaning in life? In this entire universe, does my life matter? Scripture states that when we were loss and alienated from God, Jesus paid for our sins and gave his righteousness to all who believed (Romans 5:8). So, yes, we matter to God. Yes, we have significance through Jesus. Yes, we are worthy—Jesus paid our sin debt by his sacrifice on the cross.  

Burn into our spirit how we find our total identity in you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Friday, September 06, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, we’re amazed why you use flawed, weak humans, tending to wander off and do our own thing. Yet when we came to you in repentance, your Holy Spirit came and took up residence inside our spirit. He didn’t temporarily rent a room in our heart, no, he bought our whole house, sealing us forever with you. Why you trusted us with your Holy Spirit, since in our humanity we’re just “clay jars,’ leaves us humble. But you placed your Spirit within us so that people will not mistake your power working in and through us as being from our puny human efforts. No, they will see plainly it is you, Lord God, working through us to do your work here on earth (2 Corinthians 4:7). When it comes to spiritual matters, those who know us best see the many cracks in our clay jars. We regularly make bone-headed choices and act like a real ding-a-ling from time to time. How can we take credit for what you do through us? Your half-brother James witnessed those who would “steal your glory” and issued a stern warning: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Lord, without your Holy Spirit, we struggle with obedience, since the enemy of our soul works overtime against us. You said, “If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him—we’ll move right into the neighborhood!” (John 14:23 MSG). By your grace, we pray your power works in and through us to those in our world.

Demonstrate your power in our friends and loved ones who face medical and physical issues. Pour out your grace in abundant measures as they stare these challenges in the eye. By faith, they declare, “By God’s power, together we will move these mountains. Disease and afflictions may attack my body, but they will never conquer my spirit, which is one with Christ Jesus!”

Bless and provide for our friends enduring Dorian. Show your favor to them, protect their lives and property. Be the great I AM those dear souls need you to be. May people see your mercy, goodness and provision despite the devastation done by this storm. And may this storm lead people to you, Lord Jesus.

Wanna stay humble, Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, September 05, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, all who follow you must go through trials, some of which are fiery trials. All who follow you experience problems. Jesus, you said we would have troubles, and you weren’t kidding. But our hope is in you since you said to be of good cheer, since you overcame the world (John 16:33). Later you half-brother James opened his great book by saying, “Consider it pure joy, my friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors” (James 1:2—3 MSG—Message Translation). Reading that passage for the first time leave many wondering what is in store for those who follow Jesus? We enjoy all the blessings and good feelings that accompany your followers, but who among us want these trials and problems? James expounds on his statement: “So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it [life’s stuff] do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way (v4).

Lord, help us remember you are in control and have our backs, You’d never dump on us and leave us hanging, but you intend for challenges to draw us closer to you to reveal how you work through our faith. Professional fisherman-turned-preacher, Peter, stated it another way: Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine” (1 Peter 1:7 MSG). (emphasis mine)

Since we are a work in progress, help us keep a godly attitude when we endure trials. Let us look for you at work in these situations. And put spiritual duct tape on our mouth if we (read I) complain. May we be like the three Hebrew children who were thrown in the fire yet emerged unharmed. Daniel wrote, “. . .they didn’t even smell like smoke” (Daniel 3:27).

Thankful you keep us from smelling like a smokestack, Lord Jesus. In your name, Amen.

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, every time I neglect spending time with you, my thoughts invariably turn negative. I only see the worse in people. In fact, their flaws jump off the page at me, and a critical spirit gains a foothold. They can do no right! Can you believe what they are doing, Jesus? Just look at ’em.

But when I’m closer to you, Jesus, I’m still aware they have flaws, but I overlook them. You open my eyes to see them as you do. I see them as deeply loved and wanted, not flawed and continually stumbling. I see them as a soul that needed your nail-scared hand to reach down to rescue them, since they were drowning in their sins and could not save themselves. I see you longing to have a relationship with them through faith in you, Jesus. I see them joyfully dancing in your presence when they realize they are forgiven and forever belong to you.

Then you do the most marvelous thing, Jesus.

You open my eyes to see how you see me. You know my flaws, my weaknesses, how at times my actions reflect anything but you, yet you still love me. Every time I fall for the enemy’s deception, it doesn’t slip past you. You see me as loved and accepted. You see me as useful in your kingdom and as someone you want to spend time with. You see me as a child of the most-high God, bought and redeemed by your shed blood on the cross. Your nail-scared hand still holds me.

You never let go of those who look to you for strength and endurance when illness or afflictions are part of their life. They know a faith that endures, a comfort that is real, a peace that calms anxieties and fears. They know your gentle yet powerful presence when they face a mountain they were never intended to climb alone.

May we always see others and ourselves as you see us, Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, September 03, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Thank you, Lord, that we can approach you at anytime, anywhere, without restraint. You welcome all who come to you with a sincere heart, whether we are rejoicing in your goodness, or our hearts are heavy from life’s stuff hitting us like a freight train.

We come to you for strength and comfort when the events happening around us make no sense and leave us weak and vulnerable. As your followers, some questions remain unanswered, yet your Spirit within us leads us to hold on to your promises. By doing so, you build mountain-moving faith in us. You hold our hand when we walk through the darkness, as some are doing now. You see our anger at circumstances beyond our control, yet as we lean into you, you breathe your peace to our discouraged souls.

We praise you with thanksgiving for your blessings and goodness, how you were with us through life’s storms that all your followers must go through (John 16:33). Once the storm has passed, the crisis resolved, your Spirit gives us peace to see how you orchestrated events and situations for our good. Once again, we see how we can place our confidence in you, Lord God (Ephesians 3:12–13). You have never let us down, and all who follow you never regret their submission to you.

Lord God, have mercy on the families and friends of those killed and wounded by the senseless shooting in Midland–Odessa. Bless and comfort the families and friends of those poor souls, loss in the tragic boat fire in California. Bless, protect and provide for our friends on the east coast, preparing for hurricane Dorian. May these tragic events in this broken, fallen world cause people to call out to you and spark a spiritual renewal our country so desperately needs. When we have no answers, we have you, Jesus. Our hope rests in you.

Holding to you, Jesus, even in our darkest hours. Amen.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit to live within us. We deeply flawed people could never make it without your grace and the Spirit’s guidance. Your Spirit links us forever to you and other believers.

When life’s stuff shows up at our door, or mountains suddenly rise from seemingly out of nowhere, or the devil attacks our faith relentlessly, your Spirit sustains us to persevere amid the trials. When fear shouts what-ifs or if-onlys to intimidate our faith, your Spirit erases these doubts. Since grief strikes believers and nonbelievers alike, your Spirit floods our hearts with comfort when the world can’t figure out why we aren’t falling apart. Your unexplainable peace amid chaos and confusion is something that those who rely on their own strength cannot understand. How do we explain the sudden boldness to share your message of grace and forgiveness with skeptics unless your Spirit is giving us the power? When sickness or afflictions are part unwanted companions, your Spirit strengthens us to persevere, even when the diagnosis is unfavorable.

Equip each believer use the gifts and talents you have given them to bless, help, and encourage other believers in their journeys of faith (1 Peter 4:10). Help us share our story how you changed our heart and gave us a second chance in life. Since your Spirit works wonders with our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9), let us allow your power to work through us so people are drawn to you, just as we were.

May your Spirit rise among our loved ones and friends who face medical and physical challenges. How sad for those whose hope relies on their own efforts and strength. You are our hope, Lord Jesus, in this broken world. You do the impossible. All things are possible with you (Mark 9:23).

Following your Spirit’s leading, Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Thank you, Lord, for being at our side, all day, every day. Once we come to you in repentance and you seal us forever with your Spirit in our inner man, we are glued to you. Your word says the presence of your Spirit within us guarantees our eternal security with you in heaven (Ephesians 1:14). No matter how we try, we cannot shake your Spirit, who makes us one with you. (Why would we want to?) How humbling to know you trust flawed, tend-to-wander-sin-prone people with your message of grace and forgiveness to share with others looking for purpose and meaning in life. Lord Jesus, when you are the Lord of our life and your Spirit consumes us, your love cannot help but spill out of us onto others. There’s no hiding it! And thank you for placing other believers in our lives to keep us encouraged in our faith.

If we get the bighead and start thinking we are more than what we are, we’re thankful your Spirit reminds us how your grace saved us and not our attempts at being a goodie-two-shoes. May we develop the same attitude John the Baptist had when he spent time with you, Jesus. As recorded in John chapter 3, we have only what has been given to us from above, therefore, God must increase in my life, and my prideful self must be placed on the back burner. Let us draw closer to you, Jesus, as we travel this path of faith, so that your desires become our desires (Psalm 37:4).

Bring emotional, physical and spiritual healing to those who call out to you. Send your Spirit to raise the spiritually dead to renewed life in you. Comfort those who grieve from the sorrows in this fallen world. May all who call on you find the hope the desperately need.

Protect our friends from the ravages of hurricane Dorian bearing down on them. Protect their lives and their properties. Give them wisdom to make wise decisions for their safety and preparation. When the storm has passed, raise your church up to be all the people need you to be. May this storm cause people who never gave you a second thought to call out to you. Open their spiritual eyes to see who you really are, Jesus. May your grace and mercy draw all people to you.

Forgive our sins. Heal our nation. Start a spiritual renewal in each of us.

Praying you increase in my life, Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

I admit, Lord, sometimes I don’t feel like worshipping. I throw a pity party for myself and invite all my friends, but the devil is always the first one to show up. He puts the lampshade on his head and invites me to join in his negativity. I wallow in self-pity a while and then your Holy Spirit says, What are you doing? I’ve had enough of this. Bring me your pain, your hurts and disappointments, your sadness–then get up! Worship me!

Like the psalmist recorded his lament: “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping . . .” (Psalm 39:12). All who follow you, Lord Jesus, get down in the dumps from time to time. It’s nothing new in this fallen world. “Why are you downcast, oh, my soul,” King David–a man God described as one after his [God] own heart–wrote. “I will yet praise you for my hope lies in you, Lord God my Savior” (Psalm 43:5).

The cure for coming out of the blues is to offer you unrestrained praise in our worship of you, Lord Jesus. Who are we to withhold praise to you? For all you have done, for who you are, how you redeemed us from the kingdom of darkness to your kingdom of Light. We can’t help but give you praise. May we have an attitude of gratitude for all you’ve done, Lord God.

May we offer our praise even when illness hangs around. Especially give us the grace to praise you when the doctor’s report isn’t what we expected. In praise and worship to you, we find the peace that only you give. We embrace your assurance that all will be well, just trust. And trust we will in your goodness.

Praising you, Lord Jesus, in unrestrained worship that chases the blues away. Amen.