Call Him, As If Your Soul Depends On It

Good Morning!! Throughout the Gospels, someone was always crying out to Jesus, for help. Some cry aloud, others silently. Still others look long, and pray hard. One such seeker, blind Bartimaeus, continuously cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" Can you imagine, how often he must of had thoughts of what his life would be like, if only he could see?

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"—Mark 10:47,48 (NIV)

You can almost sense his hopes rise, as he heard what Jesus had done for others. Making the lame walk, and the blind to see. I can hear him calling now; " Jesus!",...believing that Jesus could never put off such an authentic call for help,...and because of that faith, Bartimaeus is no longer blind!

There is a name,...Greater than any other,...one that heals, comforts and saves,...that name is Jesus!!

Come by here Lord,...do not pass us by. You are our savior, be our vision,...we want to be healed. Amen.

"Once we've tasted being alive, how can we so easily go back to being dead?"

Heaven, At Any Price

Good Morning!! We place a value on just about everything,...and if what we're willing to pay matches what someone else is willing to sell for,...then we buy it. There are even rare times when we will pay more,...but only if we are sure it's worth it. The rich young ruler, wanted the Kingdom of Heaven,...that is until he saw the price. "Give up your wealth, come follow Me," Jesus said,...but in sorrow he turned away.

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."—Mark 10:26,27 (NIV)

So many today, want to be a citizen of God’s kingdom,...but don't want to give eternal life first place, over the present "good life" the world offers. We want to get to Heaven, we just another way to get there,...a way that allows us to not give up what we value more.

Make no mistake,...God wants, and expects, to be #1 in our hearts.

Holy Spirit, help us choose to be Christians wherever we work, play and rest. Let us see God at the head of all things in our lives. Amen.

"Once we've tasted being alive, how can we so easily go back to being dead?"

Don't Just Ask,...Ask God

Good Morning!! Follow the example of our Savior, who took time out to pray. We must learned the value of stealing away to God. After a hard day’s work that has imprinted upon us that they were "no body",...we just need to hear a voices that says we have value,...that we are loved. With God "nobodies" become "somebodies". Our souls find freedom, our hearts find peace, and our minds find rest.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.—Acts 16:9,10 (NKJV)

Some of you are facing major crossroads in life,...or you're about to. You may have either consulted, or considered consulting, a physician, an attorney, a banker, a close friend or co-worker. You've dreamed, schemed and screamed. In most cases our first greatest hope, God,...has largely been ignored. Please take this simple bit of advice,...take whatever is bothering you to your Father in Heaven,...only He can and will, set you free.

We need the release of our souls, from all that makes us less than God created us to be.

Sweet Spirit of God, help us to seek and accept the freedom that our Heavenly Father provides, when we stand apart from the world,...with Jesus. Amen.

"The prudent see danger and take refuge,...but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."

Giants Are No Match For Our God

Good Morning!! David was able to face, and defeat the giant, because he knew that he was an instrument of God. The battle was God's,...and He would deal with Goliath,...through David. And the same goes for the giants that stand before us,...keeping us from the Joy that has been promised. Whatever giants we're you facing, Fear, Doubt, Lack of self-worth, Divorce, Rising debts, or even Illness,...understand; there is no giant too great when you have God on your side. But, like David, you must step out in faith,...and make the courageous choice to face it, head on.

Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God."—1 Samuel 17:36 (ESV)

Here are some suggestions: 1) Look at all facts, and alternatives. 2) Take your time; don’t make decisions while emotionally upset. 3) Ask yourself, "Is it wrong or right?...and where is God in it?" 4) Seek God’s guidance through prayer and Bible study. How will you know when you have the right answer? I've found that when I follow the above steps, I sometimes see a door of opportunity opening,...and sometimes a door will close. But I feel certainty when the right choice eventually comes to me,...I have a feeling of peace about it.

"The bigger they are,...the harder they fall."

Father God, let us never forget the promise of Jesus: "Lo, I am with you always." In His name we pray, Amen.

"The prudent see danger and take refuge,...but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."

Want To Be More Loved? Then Be More Loving

Good Morning!! If you question the reactions you get from those close to you,...ask what do they see in you? Naomi must have been a loving person. Both of her widowed daughters-in-law wept at the thought of leaving her. Orpah went back to her own family,...but only after Naomi insisted. Ruth refused to leave, crying, "....where you go I will go and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" (v. 16b). What did they see in Naomi, that caused them to trust, and love her so?

And they said to her, "No, we will return with you to your people."—Ruth 1:10 (ESV)

Perhaps it was the unselfish caring that Naomi showed to them, first. Instead of complaining over her own loss,...she was thinking of what was best for them. I hope that our children, grand-children, and their mates will find those same qualities in us. My friend Dorthy Cherry once told me; "Nobody cares how much you know,...until they know how much you care." Now is the perfect time, to do something different. Be that person that others can't help but to love,...in all that you do, show the Jesus in you.

"JOY " is spelled; "J " for Jesus, "O " for others, and "Y " for "yourself."
When this is the order of our priorities, we’ll have JOY.

Our Father in Heaven, help us see the needs of others,...and respond to them, with love. Amen.

"The prudent see danger and take refuge,...but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."

Start Looking For The Good

Good Morning!! We often start the new year with visions, of how different things will be this year, as apposed to the last one. We don't just want things to be better,...we expect them to be. But the first thing we should what to see changed this year, is how we see things. Our attitudes can have the most effective, and lasting change, we will ever see. Every day is a new day,...don't let yesterday spoil it. Wake up with Psalm 118:24. Even if things aren’t going as you'd like, speak it, sing it,...and hear God, over the world.

This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.—Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

The Lord has promised: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isa. 41:10 niv). And Jesus promised, "Lo, I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matt. 28:20b). No matter what unfair, unjust thing happens to us, if we believe in God's promises, we'll come through it successfully,...just as our God intended.

We see best, what we look for most. So, look for the good.

Lord, we know that life can be unfair. But we rely on Your help, to see us through the storms. We thank You, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"The prudent see danger and take refuge,...but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."

Choose The Better

Good Morning!! We are at the beginning of a brand new year. This is the time most of us begin to make resolutions: Someone is going to stay on a diet; Somebody is going to start walking or running three miles a day; Someone else is going to study the Bible, and spent time each day with the; and on and on. Then there is cookies, cakes and pie; Somebody reaches out and shuts off the early alarm; Someone has something that just has to be done, right away,...and just can't find the time they thought they'd have. Resolutions broken!

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.—Genesis 3:1 (ESV)

But we can ruin our new year if we choose to break one important promise. It is our promise to obey God and make Jesus Lord of our life. Temptation can look beautiful. It’s important for us to learn where God would have us put our priorities. Do we choose to please God?...or do we come first? Will our choices bring us a happy new year?...or will we choose to lose?

A new year, means a new chance for new choices,...better choices.

Holy Spirit, help us to choose to obey our Father's Word,...and heed Your guidance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

"The prudent see danger and take refuge,...but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."