Daily Word of God - Romans 8:27

Romans 8:27 New Living Translation (NLT)

And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

Daily Word of God - Jeremiah 17:9-10

Jeremiah 17:9-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
    and desperately wicked.
    Who really knows how bad it is?
10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts
    and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
    according to what their actions deserve.”

Daily Word of God - 2 Samuel 22:37

2 Samuel 22:37 New Living Translation (NLT)

You have made a wide path for my feet
    to keep them from slipping.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Set Your Mind on Him

In order to have that peace of mind that surpasses all understanding and the promise of eternal life, we must keep our focus and mind centered on Him. When we do that, we are able to continue in our daily walks with Him. We then develop knowledge of God and are in tune with His will and purpose in our lives. It is when we start focusing on other things that we get into trouble and then we begin to falter in our daily walk and we say, “I don’t know what God is doing in my life.” We question His will daily and fail to hear the voice of the Master when He calls us. All of this started with not getting our minds and hearts right and focused on Him.

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 4:12

Proverbs 4:12 New Living Translation (NLT)

When you walk, you won’t be held back;
    when you run, you won’t stumble.

Daily Word of God - 2 Chronicles 6:40

2 Chronicles 6:40 New Living Translation (NLT)

O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the prayers made to you in this place.

Daily Word of God - Nehemiah 1:11

Nehemiah 1:11 New Living Translation (NLT)

O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.”

In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.

Daily Word of God - Acts 13:22

Acts 13:22 New Living Translation (NLT)

But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

Daily Word of God - 1 Samuel 16:1

1 Samuel 16:1 New Living Translation (NLT)

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”

Daily Word of God - Acts 2:39

Acts 2:39 New Living Translation (NLT)

This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.

Daily Word of God - Isaiah 57:18-19

Isaiah 57:18-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

18 I have seen what they do,
    but I will heal them anyway!
    I will lead them.
I will comfort those who mourn,
19     bringing words of praise to their lips.
May they have abundant peace, both near and far,”
    says the Lord, who heals them.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 37:25

Psalm 37:25 New Living Translation (NLT)

Once I was young, and now I am old.
    Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
    or their children begging for bread.

Mid-Week Message - Twice His

There once was a little boy who loved boats.  He loved them so much that he made one for himself.  He took great care in forming each little piece of it and when it was done he was excited to take it out to sail.  On the big day, he lovingly placed it into the water and felt great pride when it sailed perfectly.  Before he could retrieve it, the wind increased and the poor little boat was swept away.  The little boy was heartbroken.  

Several years later, as he was walking in front of an antique store, he spied his creation in the window.  He entered the little shop and asked to see it.  As he held and examined it, he knew for sure that it was the same vessel that he had formed with his own hands.  He paid the shopkeeper the price he was asking and as he walked out of the door, he spoke to the boat and said, "Now you are mine twice.  First I made you, then I bought you."

Maybe you have heard this story before.  I like it because it is a good way to show God's love for us. Psalm 139:13-16 tells us, 

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  

The Genesis account of creation teaches us that God formed man from the dust of the earth.  This passage in Psalms is beautiful in showing us how active God remains in the creation of His children. If I had to choose a favorite scripture, this would be it.  

We also know that we were bought with the blood of Christ.  What a great price was paid for those that He made with His own hands. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says this, 

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

"You were bought at a price."  First He made us, then He bought us. We are His twice.  I don't know about anyone else, but this makes me feel incredibly valuable to Him.  The boy could have walked on by the antique store, or decided that the price was too high to pay. Likewise, God could have decided that we weren't worth the death of His Son, that it was too high a price to pay.  But, like the boy in the story, He loved His creation enough to do what was necessary to have it back.  

Do you feel valued today?  Almighty God says you are worth the most precious gift He has.  Think about that for awhile.  God bless you.  

Daily Word of God - Hebrews 13:5

Hebrews 13:5 New Living Translation (NLT)

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.
    I will never abandon you.”

Daily Word of God - Psalm 55:22

Psalm 55:22 New Living Translation (NLT)

Give your burdens to the Lord,
    and he will take care of you.
    He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 16:3

Proverbs 16:3 New Living Translation (NLT)

Commit your actions to the Lord,
    and your plans will succeed.

Daily Word of God - 1 Kings 3:13

1 Kings 3:13 New Living Translation (NLT)

And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!

Daily Word of God - Ephesians 3:20-21

Ephesians 3:20-21 New Living Translation (NLT)

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Daily Word of God - Acts 18:5

Acts 18:5 New Living Translation (NLT)

And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Experience God’s Abundance

God blesses each and every day of our lives. We are truly blessed by Him. When you think about it, each day and moment are blessings. The gift of His son as atonement for our sins and transgressions is undeserved, but He freely gives each of us that gift. Does God expect anything in return for His goodness and mercy? Yes, He does. He expects us to love and worship Him every day and to love those around us. The other part is that God does bless us by providing miracles in our lives that never cease to amaze and bewilder us. When we have financial problems, God provides. When we struggle spiritually, God provides. When we have any problems in our lives, God provides the answer that meets our specific needs and desires. Why would we ever think that God would not provide for us abundantly? He does give us what we need daily, but He also gives us more than we can even imagine.

Daily Word of God - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

Daily Word of God - Psalms 5:11-12

Psalm 5:11-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
    that all who love your name may be filled with joy.
12 For you bless the godly, O Lord;
    you surround them with your shield of love.

Daily Word of God - Genesis 12:1

Genesis 12:1 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you."

Daily Word of God - Nehemiah 9:7

Nehemiah 9:7 New Living Translation (NLT)

You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham.

Daily Word of God - Isaiah 46:9

Isaiah 46:9 New Living Translation (NLT)

Remember the things I have done in the past.
    For I alone am God!
    I am God, and there is none like me.

Daily Word of God - Mark 12:32-33

Mark 12:32-33 New Living Translation (NLT)

32 The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”

Daily Word of God - Deuteronomy 4:35

Deuteronomy 4:35 New Living Translation (NLT)

He showed you these things so you would know that the Lord is God and there is no other.

Daily Word of God - 1 Kings 18:21

1 Kings 18:21 New Living Translation (NLT)

Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.

Mid-Week Message - Why Are You Crying?

He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" John 20:15a (NIV)

In my opinion, this is one of the most tender moments in scripture.  After Jesus had risen, but before He had appeared to anyone, Mary Magdalene was outside the tomb weeping because she did not know where He was.  He came up behind her and asked her why she was crying.  When she told Him she did not know where they had taken her Lord, He said her name and then she knew who He was.  

We all have our moments when we feel incredibly sad and alone.  Maybe we, as Mary, miss someone. Maybe we are worried, confused or grieving.  No matter what the reason, our tears fall. If you are fortunate enough to have someone around that notices you are crying and comes to comfort you, be thankful.  Many people cry in solitude with no one there at all.  Many are dismissed when they sob and are considered overly emotional or hormonal.  Some experience anger toward their tears when the person or persons with them feel frustration, disgust or embarrassment rather than compassion.  

Here is the wonderful news.  Just as Jesus was near Mary, even though she wasn't aware of it, so is He near us. Remember that He said He would send a "comforter" and that He would be with us always.  We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us and to take our most heartfelt thoughts to the Lord even when we cannot come up with the right words.   Our tears are so important to the Almighty that scripture says in Psalm 56:8, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book."  How precious is that?  Can your parents, your husband, your friends, or even you number your tears and remember why and when each one was shed? 

Wherever and however you find yourself today, let me assure you that you are not alone.  Jesus is always beside you.  Always.  If the day is joyful, rejoice to Him.  If the day is tiring, lean on Him. And by all means, if you feel sad or in pain and need to cry, go ahead. He'll be right there catching each tear as if it was a precious gem. God bless you.

Daily Word of God - Hosea 10:2

Hosea 10:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

The hearts of the people are fickle;
    they are guilty and must be punished.
The Lord will break down their altars
    and smash their sacred pillars.

Daily Word of God - 2 Kings 12:2

2 Kings 12:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 14:34

Proverbs 14:34 New Living Translation (NLT)

Godliness makes a nation great,
    but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Daily Word of God - James 1:27

James 1:27 New Living Translation (NLT)

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 21:13

Proverbs 21:13 New Living Translation (NLT)

Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
    will be ignored in their own time of need.

Daily Word of God - 1 Thessalonians 2:4

1 Thessalonians 2:4 New Living Translation (NLT)

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Bearing the Burdens of Others

When you walk outside of your home each day, you enter into a world filled with laws. Traffic laws, criminal laws and civil laws and their reminders surround us. We are told where to drive and how fast we can go. Other laws protect our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Laws that we put in place are designed to not only protect us but also tell us how we should treat one another. 
One of the things I have seen in my career is the rules that corporations put into place to govern our actions when it comes to other employees. Those rules are designed to make sure that we know how to treat one another.

Suppose we were to just simply follow the teachings of Christ Jesus. Would we be better off and would the world be a happier place?

Daily Word of God - Psalm 139:23

Psalm 139:23 New Living Translation (NLT)

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Daily Word of God - Hebrews 4:13

Hebrews 4:13 New Living Translation (NLT)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Daily Word of God - Jeremiah 23:24

Jeremiah 23:24 New Living Translation (NLT)

Can anyone hide from me in a secret place?
    Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?”
    says the Lord.

Daily Word of God - Romans 8:5

Romans 8:5 New Living Translation (NLT)

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

Daily Word of God - Galatians 5:16-17

Galatians 5:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

Daily Word of God - Isaiah 12:4-5

Isaiah 12:4-5 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 In that wonderful day you will sing:
    “Thank the Lord! Praise his name!
Tell the nations what he has done.
    Let them know how mighty he is!
5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things.
    Make known his praise around the world.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 68:4-5

Psalm 68:4-5 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!
5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

Daily Word of God - 1 Chronicles 22:19

1 Chronicles 22:19 New Living Translation (NLT)

Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.

Mid-Week Message - Legacy

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (ESV)

There's one word in the English language that means more and more to me as I grow older.  That word is legacy.  As I witness the passing of more and more friends and become more aware that my own time on this earth is going to end, I think more of what I will leave behind.  

My own parents had to be admonished to use their money for themselves.  My father worked incredibly hard his whole life.  He left home at the age of nine.  He moved into a room above a cafe that some friends owned.  During the day, he went to school.  After school, he worked in the cafe. He lived that life until he was eighteen when he joined the army, then upon being honorably discharged, he went to work for Southwestern Bell and worked there for thirty-five years until he retired.  It was a hard life for him.  He had very tired, but beautiful, green eyes and worn and calloused hands.  He took great care of his family and put away what money he could.  Before his death he often spoke about leaving something (meaning money) behind for his children.  We assured him we would rather he use the money to do things that made him happy.  He worked hard for it.  We wanted him to have a little enjoyment in what life he had left.

I believe he was thinking of his legacy.  He wanted to leave something that we could use.  He also left us various items that he had labeled for us and placed in the cedar chest he had made early in life.  What he didn't understand was that the legacy he left was the great love he showed each of us, his humor which each of us has a bit of, and the name that he carried.  He was an honorable and honest man who was very well respected.  Most of all, he loved the Lord.

As I began thinking about what legacy I would leave for my daughter, the most important thing I could think of to leave was something that would point her to Jesus.  I have made many mistakes in my life.  I have had many struggles.  But the one thing that has enveloped me is the love that comes from above.  As a pre-schooler I was taken to church the first time by a neighbor named Betty Allen in Amarillo, Texas.  I fell in love with the Lord and I have never turned back.  He has been there for me every second of every day of my life and I look forward to seeing Him in person one day and spending eternity praising and thanking Him. Because of this, I chose to leave behind something dear to me....my Bible.

Several years ago, I began writing notes to her in my Bible. I tied them to verses and passages that I felt would be encouraging.  It gave me a chance to show her the Way.  To point her in the right direction when she encountered difficult or confusing times. There is nothing I want more for her than for her to know the Lord as I have known Him.  For her to experience the deep affection that He has for her and to know that she can always turn to Him, no matter what.  If she will take it to heart, that will be the greatest legacy I can leave.  And someday who knows?  Just maybe she will pass it on.  

Daily Word of God - Jeremiah 29:13

Jeremiah 29:13 New Living Translation (NLT)

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Daily Word of God - Isaiah 35:8

Isaiah 35:8 New Living Translation (NLT)

And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
    It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
    It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
    fools will never walk there.

Daily Word of God - Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

13 You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Daily Word of God - Revelation 5:13

Revelation 5:13 New Living Translation (NLT)

And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
    belong to the one sitting on the throne
    and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

Daily Word of God - 1 Chronicles 29:11

1 Chronicles 29:11 New Living Translation (NLT)

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.