Romans 5:1,8:31 -- Gifts from God

Peace through our Lord Jesus Christ
If God is for us who can be against us?

Today the world isn't at peace.  People are deciding they'd rather destroy than build up.  Lord, You know we need food, shelter, love and work.  Please give us what we need; especially a grateful heart.

John 17:3 -- To live to 70, 150 or forever???

This type of question was asked at expo' in Vancouver.  People weren't that excited about the 150 mark but they liked the forever one.  I'm guessing that that was because forever includes heaven, and living the way God intended us to live.  So if we start now, living in God's Kingdom here on earth what does it look like?  Lord, would you give us Your eyes to see Your Kingdom, would You give us Your courage and Your Spirit to obey You as You share with us the next little thing You want us to do and most of all would You help us to delight in our relationship with You.  Your the best and I know You have the best planned for us today!

1 Peter 3:3-4 -- Shine the inner beauty

Jesus was always talking about what is on the inside.  What are our motives and what are you feeding the inside of your heart because ultimately this is what comes out.

I've seen some people however, who are taken advantage of because of their kindness and compassion.  Father, You've given then a tender heart.  Please help them to manage their own needs such that they don't love others more than then love themselves and help them to love You more than anything or anyone!

Acts 1:6-8 -- It's not for us to know when

Without a doubt God will fill us with His Spirit and allow us to be witnesses of the triune God through out the world but the time and the season to do this is not for us to know.  What we need to know is God's still small voice so that we may obey the next little thing He tells us to do.

"We must listen to the Spirit speaking and Spirit of the Lord obey
We must listen to the Spirit speaking and the Spirit of the Lord obey;
We don't need to know the where and where fore
We don't need to know the how and why;
We must listen to the Spirit speaking and the Spirit of the Lord obey"

James 1:19 -- 2 ears, 1 mouth!

God knew what He was making and knew we needed to listen more than we speak and definitely more than we become angry.  We each have our own perspectives so when we want to share and when we want to become angry it's good advice to slow down and listen first.

2 Samuel 22:31 and Ephesians 6 -- Our shield!

Reacting without knowing all the facts
Reacting out of fear; not love
Reacting ....

this is what humans tend to do; react yet reacting comes out of who we are on the inside.  If we believe we're in danger we defend ourselves...and these verses remind us that God is bigger than us and we need to start defending ourselves by using our shield...God Himself.  Picture yourself hidden under the wings of God Himself.  Picture yourself taking the firery  offense weapons and defending yourself with "that's not true; that's not who I am in Christ, that's not how God operates; that's not what the word of God says"

Thank You Lord for being our shield.  Please help us to remember this when we're tempted to come out from behind You and represent ourselves.

2 Peter 3:9 -- If God is slow maybe it's because He's waiting for us

I can remember Jesus's frustration after years of being with His disciples and they still didn't have the faith to heal the sick.  He knew His Father so well faith seemed so easy for Him and He tried to show them His Father through His own life and they still didn't get it.  Ultimately He left the Holy Spirit for them and us yet we too have a hard time understanding where God is working and how we can help him.

Father, help us to approach today with by seeing things from Your perspective not our own.  Thank You for being patient with each one of us; so patient that at times we get annoyed with You for taking so long yet You know what each of us need more than we know ourselves.  As You work in and through us please help us to see You and Your perspective more and grow in us Your heart of compassion.