Team Players

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

I Corinthians 3:6-8 NKJV

This scripture made me realize that we are to be team players and not to be patting ourselves on the back. Our works do not get us into heaven, but our works are to be done in faith and glorify God.

We are partners in the family of Christ---brothers and sisters---so we should not think more highly of ourselves. We are to be humble before God and one another.

Prayer:

Father, please help us to strive each day to reach out to others. To give the good news, be a listening ear, cry with one another and laugh with one another. Whatever the need may be help us to be the 'light' that is shed upon it. Most importantly we want our actions and words to glorify You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Isaiah 43

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

Isaiah 43:1-7, 11, 25 ESV

I love this Chapter of Isaiah. 

Father God You love me and have called me by name. When I go through rough times You are there to lift me up. You have saved me and pulled me from the road of destruction. You have told me not to fear because You are always with me. You formed me. You made me into what I am today. You have blotted out my sins and You see me clean. You see me as a new creation through the blood Your Son shed for me. 

Thank You father. I praise You and give You Glory.

Prayer: 

Father, 

I pray that You will touch lives this day and that they will know Your insurmountable love for them. That You take them out of the miry clay. Call them by name and show them what Your Son Jesus did for them.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

"Pero ahora, así dice el Señor, el que te creó, oh Jacob, él que tú, oh Israel:"no temáis, porque yo he redimido; Te he llamado por su nombre, eres mío. Al pasar por las aguas, yo estaré contigo; y a través de los ríos, que no se te abruman; cuando caminas por el fuego no será quemado, y la llama no te consumirá. Yo soy el Señor tu Dios, el Santo de Israel, tu Salvador. Doy a Egipto como su rescate, a CUS y a Seba a cambio de. Porque eres precioso a mis ojos y honrado, y te amo, daré a hombres a cambio de ti, pueblos a cambio de su vida. No temas, porque yo estoy contigo; Traeré tu descendencia desde Oriente y de Occidente se reunirán. Diré al norte, dar para arriba y hacia el sur, no retener; trae de lejos mis hijos y mis hijas desde el extremo de la tierra, todo el que es llamado por mi nombre, que he creado para mi gloria, quien formado y hecho."

Yo, yo soy el Señor, y además de mí no hay ningún Salvador.

"Yo, yo soy el que borro tus rebeliones por amor a mi, y no recordaré tus pecados".

Isaías 43:1-7, 11, 25 ESV

Me encanta este capítulo de Isaías. 

Padre Dios me amas y me han llamado por su nombre. Cuando voy a través de tiempos difíciles usted está allí para que me levante. Me salvó y me sacó de la carretera de destrucción. Se me han dicho no debe temer porque tú estás siempre conmigo. Se me formó. Me has hecho en lo que soy hoy. Ha borrado mis pecados y me ves limpiar. Me ves como una nueva creación a través de la sangre derramado de tu hijo para mí. 

Gracias Padre. Yo te alabo y te glorifiquen.

Oración: Padre, pido que se le toque vive este día y que sepan su amor insuperable para ellos. Que los saque del barro cenagoso. Llamarlos por su nombre y muestran lo que hizo tu hijo Jesús por ellos.

En nombre de Jesús.

Amén.

Pondering Psalm 139:1-16

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall 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 dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Psalm 139:1-16 ESV

 

I read this Psalm and know that I am loved. People of the world may reject me, but never My Lord. 

Perhaps family or friends may even reject us. Church members may even be among those, but God sees us in a totally different way. He knows our hurts and He shows us compassion and unconditional love.

Then I think of those little ones that are aborted out of rejection and selfishness. My heart aches over that and I know God cries for them. "He formed our inward parts," meaning we are his creation. He knew us before we were even formed in the womb. Abortion is murder! I don't believe our Founding Fathers would of stood for this.

Then there are those times that I may want to just hide away, but I can't because God always knows where I am. Jonah could not run and hide. Adam and Eve could not hide after they sinned. I cannot pretend that the confines of walls and a roof could keep me hidden. He sees through every nook and cranny. You know, I am thankful that He does. I am protected.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You that You know our every thought and You know each tear we have shed. I thank You as You hold us in the palm of Your hand.

Father, protect the innocent babies yet to be born. 

Protect and gather up, in Your arms of love, those whom have felt rejected

and abused.

Be with us when we feel like hiding and allow the Holy Spirit to show us Your divine direction.

In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

"Oh Señor, usted me buscó y me conocen! Sabes Cuándo me siento y Cuándo me levanto usted discernir mis pensamientos desde lejos. Buscar mi camino y mi mentira abajo y conoce todos mis caminos. Incluso antes de una palabra en mi lengua, he aquí, oh Señor, tú sabes en conjunto. Me dobladillar a en, detrás y antes y pone su mano sobre mí. Tal conocimiento es demasiado maravilloso para mí; es alta; No puedo alcanzarla. ¿Dónde me iré de tu espíritu? ¿O dónde huiré de tu presencia? Si ascienden al cielo, allí estás! Si hago mi lecho en el Seol, allí estás! Si tomo las alas de la mañana y habitan en las partes interior del mar, aun allí tu mano me dará lugar, y que su mano derecha se me. Si digo: "seguramente me cubrirá la oscuridad, y la luz de mi noche," incluso en la oscuridad no es oscura la noche es luminosa como el día, para la oscuridad es como la luz con usted. Porque tú formaste mis entrañas; usted me punto juntos en el vientre de mi madre. Te alabo, porque soy formidable y maravillosamente hecho. Maravillosas son tus obras; mi alma lo sabe muy bien. Mi marco no estaba oculto de ti, cuando me se hicieron en secreto, intrincado tejido en las profundidades de la tierra. Tus ojos vieron mi sustancia sin formar; en su libro fueron escritos, cada uno de ellos, los días que se formaron para mí, cuando aún no había ninguno de ellos."

Salmo 139:1-16 ESV

 

Leí este Salmo y saber que soy amado. Gente del mundo puede rechazar mi, pero nunca mi Señor. 

Quizás familiares o amigos pueden incluso nos rechaza. Miembros de la iglesia pueden ser incluso entre las personas, pero Dios nos ve de una manera totalmente diferente. Conoce nuestras heridas y nos muestra compasión y amor incondicional.

Entonces pienso en aquellos pequeños que son abortados de rechazo y egoísmo. Mi corazón dolores sobre eso y sé que Dios llora por ellos. "Él formó nuestras partes internas," lo que significa que son su creación. Nos conocían antes incluso nos formamos en el vientre. El aborto es asesinato! No creo que nuestros padres fundadores sería de estado parado para esto.

Luego están esos momentos que puedo quiero a esconderse, pero no puedo porque Dios siempre sabe donde estoy. Jonás no podían correr y esconderse. Adán y Eva no podían ocultar después de que pecaron. Yo no puedo pretender que los confines de las paredes y un techo podrían mantenerme oculto. Él ve a través de cada nook y cranny. Sabes, agradezco que lo hace. Estoy protegido.

Oración:

Padre, te doy gracias que conoce cada pensamiento nuestro y sabes cada lágrima que hemos derramamos. Le agradezco que nos sostienes en la palma de su mano.

Padre, proteger a los inocentes bebés aún por nacer. 

Proteger y recoger, en tus brazos de amor, de aquellos a quienes se han sentido rechazados

y abusados.

Estar con nosotros cuando nos sentimos como escondite y permitir que el Espíritu Santo para mostrarnos su divina dirección.

En nombre de Jesús oro. Amén.

A Dwelling

Joshua 24:15 b

"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. "

Do you dwell in a house? You see the house is strictly a house. It is a building with walls and coverings and that is all.

Now what if it had love in it? Now it is no longer strictly a house, but a home. Let us take it even further. What if your home also has the love and grace of God in it? Now your house is even more than a home it has now become a haven. So what is your dwelling? 

Prayer:

Father, fill our dwellings with love and grace and let us be havens for all who enter. Let your glory shine throughout our dwellings and may they bring honor to Your name.

In Christ we pray.

Amen.

Our Hearts

Hebrews 4:12

"Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts or not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. "

We need to check our heart motives before setting out on any endeavor. Our faith must be strong in Christ and not unbelieving. The voice we hear must be clear and true and filled with light. We are not to allow any darkness to enter. We do not harden our hearts to the voice of God.

Father,

Keep us on the straight and narrow path. Continually help us to recognize Your voice. Let our ears be open to the truth of Your word and not to the evils of this world.

In Jesus name.

Amen

Listening Ears

Proverbs 12:15 

"Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others."

To whom do we listen to? We need to make sure what our ears here are words of wisdom and not destruction. Advice given must be based on biblical standards. Always make sure that what you received lines up with the word of God.

Even though, our brothers and sisters in Christ, may have all good intentions, we must be able to distinguish whether they are mature enough to advise us in specific areas.

Friends want to comfort us with warm and fuzzy replies. A true friend tells you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear.

The reason why companies have a Board of Directors is because there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. They oversee the ins and outs of the company, in other words, checks and balances.

Even in our personal lives we need to have checks and balances and the Bible is our key.

Be willing to except godly wisdom and knowledge. Be discerning in whom you receive from.

Prayer:

Father, when we have issues please remind us to first go to your word, pray, and consult wise counsel. In Jesus name amen.

Other Scriptures:

Proverbs 12:26

"The godly give good advice to their friends; 

the wicked lead them astray."

Proverbs 15:22

"Plans go wrong for lack of advice;

many advisers bring success."

Proverbs 19:20

"Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life."

All Scriptures were from the New  Living Translation.

Transformation

Romans 12:2 says, "and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

This comes by reading the word of God. The Bible is our blueprint for living a righteous life.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have come new."

(II Corinthians 5:17)

Let us think about a butterfly. Butterflies are beautiful, but they don't start off that way. The butterfly has to endure different stages.

Stage one-small, round, oval or cylindrical egg.

Stage two-larvae (caterpillar); this is the stage where the caterpillar eats continuously. This is so the caterpillar will be able to grow quickly.

Stage three-Pupa (chrysalis); The caterpillar is now at full-size and then it forms itself into a pupa. It is inside the pupa that everything is going on.

Stage four-the caterpillar did all its changing inside of the pupa, metamorphosis.

The butterfly now emerges from the pupa. The transformation is complete. A new creation has been born.

We are like new born babies desiring milk because it is more digestible. So we digest the word, but are not yet chewing upon it. (1 Corinthiansans 3:2)

Then we begin to grow and desire to know more and more. We now want the meat of the word. You see,  we go through stages too. Unlike, the butterfly, we do not truly emerge until we reign with Christ in heaven. It is an ongoing experience and there will be times we may even have to go back to basics. (Hebrews 5:12)

As we continue to grow in the word of truth we will put on new clothing. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no Law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

We grow more into the attributes of Christ. Hallelujah!

Prayer: I thank you for the ability to grow in you with the help of the Holy Spirit within us. I pray that we all will strive towards the mark of excellence and that we would one day here, "…well done, good and faithful servant. " (Matthew 25:21)

Other scriptures:

2 Corinthians 5:27

2 Corinthians 3:18

1 John 3:2-3

Philippians 1:6

(There are many more scriptures)

 

Before any transformation can start within you you must first accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord. This must be done with the heart and not the mind. It means you must truly accept and know that Jesus Christ is the son of God and died on the cross for you and that he took upon himself your sins and sicknesses.

(1 Peter 2:24)

All scripture used were from the New King James version.

Comfort

Psalm 138:6-7

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me; 

Thou wilt stretch forth Thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, 

And Thy right hand will save me.

The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;

Thy loving kindness, O Lord, is everlasting;

Do not forsake the works of Thy hands."

You know Lord that my heart has been broken, but not severed. I have seen loss and yet I am not forsaken because You are always at my side. Your words will accomplish the plans You have set forth for me.

 

I pray Lord that You will reach down and comfort all those who are also going through grief and sorrow. It is only by Your hand that we get through these tough times. 

Amen.

God's Children

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

Ezekiel 36: 25-26

I absolutely love these lines of Scripture. Yes, I am Jewish by birth, but it's so much more than that. 

You, O Lord, are definitely speaking to the Jewish people in these verses, but it is my belief that I and all believers in Christ, Messiah, can claim these words. As believers we are also Your people.

If I feel myself becoming hard in an area or off track all I have to do is pray these words. I make it personal.

(Romans 11: 16 - 21; 8: 17 and 2 Corinthians 5: 17)

Thank you, my Lord, for Your words of  truth. They bring life to my very being. You hold me up when I am too weak and bring me into your loving arms.

Amen.