Over the past few days, while I have been sick *and forced to be quiet* I have had a lot of time to think and reflect.

I think we may have played into the enemy’s hands (not meaning to), but none the less I fear we have.

Consider this ~

The last few years, the main focus of the church has been much talk of the rapture and most people seem to believe in a pre-trib rapture.

The government continually talks about global warming, climate change, the end of the earth’s resources, weather patterns becoming more severe….blah, blah (insert more of the same).

There are those who continually talk about the Mayan calendar and the end of all things in 2012.

Then there are the Planet X people, who believe the 10th planet (that comes through our solar system every 3600 years) is due to come through causing great calamity and unparalleled catastrophe.

Now consider how all this would sound (and effect your judgment) if you were a teenager ~

Looks like the end is coming….

Will I ever have the opportunity to marry, have a family, a career?

Will there even be a world left for me to live in?

Teenagers (and everyone else) are constantly being bombarded with talk of the END of the world as we know it. It has to be depressing.

Where is their hope? If they are a Christian, yes, they have the rapture, but without also being deeply rooted in the Word of God, will that sustain them and give them the hope they need to be overcomers through Christ? Seems, even many of the Churches teach and preach more on their individual doctrines rather than teaching the basic fundamentals of the Word of God.

(And what if the rapture doesn’t take place?)

Psalm 11:3 warns us, “If the foundations are destroyed,What can the righteous do?”

(I am not going to go into the fact many of the newer versions of the Bible, leave out over 200 verses, thus giving a different meaning to certain sections of scripture.)

We need to consider ~

Are we giving our children and young adults “hope” or are we adding to their discouragement? Because, I believe if they are not planted on a firm foundation, we are only adding to the problem.

For those who do not have the hope of the rapture, nor the foundation of the Word to guide their lives, the world is basically giving them no hope! What affect will this have concerning their decisions on a daily basis? Why try to achieve? Why do the best they can? For what? In their thinking, if the world is going to end in a couple of years, why should I wait – ’til marriage? Why shouldn’t I – drink, do drugs, etc.? Why should I obey laws? What difference does it make?!

I believe our youth are continually hearing discouragement and despair. And I believe this plays right into Satan’s plan. After all, he came to “steal, kill and destroy.”

I feel like I have bit off a big chunk of meat that is difficult to chew. I would love to hear your comments. Does anyone else see the problem here?

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I recently had the opportunity to review Keri Wyatt Kent’s latest devotional, Simple Compassion. If you are looking for a new devotional with a fresh new look for the New Year, this is the one I would pick.

The following is my review:

Would you like to start 2010 with a new outlook, a fresh plan? Pick up a copy of Keri Wyatt Kent’s latest devotional, Simple Compassion. Released just in time for the New Year, Simple Compassion will help you take inventory of those areas in your life, where small changes will produce big dividends.

I am very excited to be a part of the Simple Compassion Social Media Tour. For sometime I have been aware of the fact it is time for me to make some positive choices. Receiving this devotional to review has had a tremendous impact on my life.

With fifty-two devotions, Kent walks you through the year, one small step at a time, showing you how you can make a difference in your neighborhood, your community, and your world. This is a “thoughtful, unhurried approach” designed to allow you time to reflect, embrace and move forward toward a renewed relationship with God and those around you.

“It is a guide toward toward becoming a more compassionate person, a person who doesn’t just talk about social injustice, but is trying to live it out. Compassion flows from those who are so full of God’s love that it simply sloshes onto all those around them.” Something we can all benefit from and use a little more of.

A scripture that once found its way into my soul and still resides there is, “But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be a witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the utter most parts of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) I have always felt like this is our road map. We don’t start our “compassion journey” in the utter most part of the earth, but rather at home. As the old saying goes, “Home is where your story begins.” Kent follows this same road map.

You cannot show true compassion to others, until you learn to embrace the compassion God is continually offering you. Once you embrace His compassion and mercy, you can then move forward and outward – you can then “grow” compassion in your own community (or in your own Jerusalem). You can start to slosh a little of that Godly love on your family, your friends, your community, and yes, even your enemies. Remember, “With God, all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). As we reach out to those within our small circle, we are encouraging and enabling those we touch to do the same. Therefore, our circles grow – more sloshing! You are now moving into your own “Judaea.”

So once we have these (what we once called) “random acts of kindness” going on within our community, what’s next? You have learned to except God’s love in your own life and you have extended His love to those around you, now Kent is going to walk you through the land of Samaria. Uncharted, unfamiliar, but you are walking with God’s grace to where He has called you.

As we extend compassion to those beyond our comfort zone, we realize we are strong enough and confident enough to reach out to those we do not know. Everybody’s walk is different. God may be calling you to pray for your boss or donate your time at a woman’s shelter. Possibly, He is calling you and your family to help in a food kitchen one day a month. Seek what God has especially designed for you. Remember, to ask, seek, knock. His answer will match your desire!

Samaria isn’t so difficult! One step at a time, Kent will walk you through, taking you to a new level of compassion. Now where? Oh yeah, “the utter most part of the earth!”

Come on, don’t be nervous! Look how far you have come. Just take baby steps, steps of faith.

In the last section of the book, Kent writes, “Compassion Offers God’s Love to the World.” God may not be calling you to Africa, but He may be calling you to help support a missionary who He has called to Africa. He may be asking you to use some of your talents to bless those beyond you normal sphere of ministry. Ministry? Yes, sometime over the last few weeks, He has gifted you with a ministry, a vision for others!

Over the weeks, Kent will gently teach, walk, and push you out into the world one small step of faith at a time. A new you, sharing God’s love with all His creation! You are allowing His love and compassion to overflow to all those you come in contact with, sloshing each person His his compassion!

You can begin your year of Simple Compassion anytime. The time to start your year, is when you are ready to become a more positive, compassionate person, walking in God’s mercy and grace.

You can find Simple Compassion on Amazon or at your local bookstore. Begin your journey today.

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In spite of the cooler temps, Thanksgiving really is my favorite holiday, coming on the heels of my favorite season. It is a time, when the trees are shedding their leaves and we tend to shed some of the artificial baggage we have allowed to cloud our heart over the last few months.

It is a strange, but joyful feeling when we move from the season of wanting….wanting to go here, wanting to see this, wanting to do that….to the season of acceptance of what we have and the feeling of gratitude for what God has given us. We realize, not what we have missed, but rather what we have. I would that this season of thankfulness and gratitude would carry well into the coming year. However, I know Christmas is coming and for all the joy the Advent season should bring, the commercialization of the holiday will take much away from its beauty. Thus we see many people left in the wake of emptiness that comes from trying to please people, rather than trying to please God.

I will be glad for the day when we live continually in the season of Thanksgiving.

In the last few weeks, I haven’t posted. Like the Israelite children wandering in the wilderness, there were some lessons I needed to learn, before I could share them with you. Right now, spiritually my cup is running over and I hope to be able to post more of what God has placed on my heart.

Until the next time, may you and your household be blessed during this Thanksgiving season.

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” ~ Psalms 122:1

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Here is a link to download a prayer classic entitled The Weapon of Prayer by EM Bounds.

EM Bounds wrote many books on prayer all of which are worth reading.

Take a moment to download this timeless classic.

Download The Weapon of Prayer by EM Bounds

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We want to invite and encourage our Daily Jesus Family to feel free to post a prayer concern or a praise as a comment below this post.  It is our desire for our growing Daily Jesus Family to minister to one another through the power of prayer.

We do ask that if you post a prayer not to give ‘detailed personal information’ about yourself.  We also would simply ask that you would prayer for the other requests that are posted here as well.

Please feel free during the week to give us all an update in regards to your prayer request that was posted.  Also please feel free to write out a prayer for someone that posted a request.

Let’s pray for the body of Christ online together.

We look forward to praying for you in the days ahead.

Free Prayer Resource – The Weapon of Prayer by EM Bounds – Download Now!

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We found some duplexes that we wanted to look at, but couldn’t figure out who owned them so we asked a man cutting the grass across the street. Turns out, that was the owner himself and he was mowing the lawn of another one of his nearby properties. I loved the duplex and ended up renting there for the 18 months I lived in that town.

When I was relating the story to the rest of my family, I made the comment that finding the property owner in that manner was a “God thing.”

The question my brother asked next stopped me cold.

At the time it struck me as the younger brother just trying to be a pain but deep down it bothered me because I knew he was right. I don’t remember the words verbatim, but essentially my brother asked me, “So, it was a God thing because it was good? What if it hadn’t happened that way, does that mean God wasn’t at work?”

We as believers are guilty of this all the time. Sure, it probably seems harmless and even a good thing to attribute all the good things in life to God working in our lives. But God has proven both in the Bible and in modern times that he works in our lives through both the good times and the bad. In fact, it could probably be argued that his power becomes even more evident through the rough times.

The entire story of Job shows us that God brings both good times and bad. In Job chapter 2, Jesus pretty much hands Job over to Satan with the only ground rule of “don’t kill the guy.”

Job was afflicted with sores all over his body that were so bad Job had to use a piece of broken pottery to scratch himself as he sat among the ashes. His wife encouraged him to curse God so he would be allowed to die.

Job 2:10 tells Job’s response:
“He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.”

Those who know the story of Job know it ended well. Job had every possible bad thing happen to him but he never stopped exalting God’s glory or acknowledging God’s hand in his life.

He’s not alone. Go through your Bible and a common theme is not that those who follow God’s will are trouble free. In fact, quite the opposite. But another common theme is that God uses those troubles for his glory and for the betterment of his followers—if and when God is given the chance. In Romans 8:28, he promises to do just that.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

That’s the better known verse, but I also think the two verses before that are important.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

Although it’s rarely used in this way, I think this concept could also be applied to another popular verse, Jeremiah 29:11. We all know it, it’s even printed on key chains, posters and other memorabilia:
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

It seems that if God knows the plans he has for us, this means he has all things planned, not just the good or the things that make us happy. The verses that follow seem to support this idea and they give guidelines for what needs to happen: we are to seek him in times of trouble and he will bring us out of the dark places where he placed us.
“’Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.’”

So how about it? Next time we have a positive or happy moment in our lives, we should of course thank God for it. But when things go wrong? It seems we are being directed to do the same basic thing: seek God’s guidance, and continue to give him glory and thanks for what he brings to our lives.

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Being a daughter, wife, mother, now grandmother, I have spent years being the family “gofer.” You know, go for milk & bread, go for parts for the car (you may insert tractor, backhoe, truck, van, etc. here), go for medications for Dad, Mom, go pick up the kids,……years of going. However, as the kids have gotten older, I find rather than being the “gofer” I enjoy waiting in the van and being a people watcher. I am content to sit and wait while someone else does the actual “gofer” duties.

“A time to be born, and a time to die;” Ecclesiastes 1:2A

People watching gives me many opportunities to examine life. And sometimes, I am accused of playing with my imaginary friends (by my daughters), but that is okay.

People’s actions amaze me! Some bring overwhelming joy to my heart. Like watching a new father with a beautiful bouquet and an arm load of balloons. (Yeah, it was that silly grin from ear to ear and that “cocky” walk that gave him away.) Sometimes I’m moved to pray. Like for the elderly couple who were trying to assist each other with their packages while getting into the car. I wonder how many years they’ve shared their lives with each other?

“A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;” Ecclesiastes 1:3

I’ve witnessed hit and runs (and been asked to give a statement to the police) and I’ve sit and watched as young shop lifters were put in a police car. Praying for them, knowing the call they would be forced to make to their parents would be one of the most difficult tasks they would experience in their young lives. Praying, this single act would be the point of turning their lives around.

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” Ecclesiastes 1:4

Last Monday I was buying groceries and was witness to one of the most beautiful expressions of love I’ve ever seen. There was a young couple, late twenties or early thirties. He was handsome. She was beautiful. His eyes were a reflection of the love in her eyes. He appeared to be worried. She looked frightened. He was pushing the shopping cart. She was sitting inside the basket of the cart, with her knees drawn up under her chin like a small child.

As happens when buying groceries, I would see them on one aisle and then meet them again on the next. This would repeat itself and the odd wonder I first felt of seeing a grown woman inside a shopping cart was replaced with awe, because of how much they appeared to care for one another.

Then it happened. We were on the cereal aisle and she said, “I guess we need to find something for me to eat for breakfast.”

He said, “You never eat in the mornings.”

Her simple answer, “They said I would have too,” stirred my emotions in a profound way.

Was she taking some sort of cancer treatment? I don’t know. I only know this chance meeting was forever engraved on my heart. As I write this, I pray that their time to dance is still ahead. That their future will be filled with both love and laughter. But most of all, I pray they know the amazing love of their heavenly Father.

And so it is with all of us.  We have this amazing opportunity to pray for those we come in contact with each day.  Take time to really notice those around you.  Who knows, perhaps God placed them in your path, in order for you to have the honor of praying for a stranger.

Make time today, to pray.

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Official Bible Study begins the week of June 24, 2009!

Stay Tuned for Updates!

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