Something Wonderful…

Philippians 2:13 ~ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

“Who, me, Lord?”  He answers, “Yes, you. I’m calling you.”

“But what you’re asking of me is too difficult. I don’t have the skills or the training. I can’t possibly succeed at this!”

Does this conversation sound familiar? Many of us know the experience of being asked to take on a task that seems much too demanding for us. We’re afraid of failure. We make excuses. But by doing so, we may miss the joy of being part of something wonderful.

In The Purpose Driven Life, author Rick Warren responds to those who make excuses concerning why they cannot serve the Lord: “Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rahab was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zacchaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health, and Timothy was timid.”

The 12 men Jesus asked to be his apostles could have offered lots of reasons why they were not fit to serve. They were common men with no special standing in the eyes of the world. Yet when Jesus called, they came: fishermen, tax collectors and even revolutionaries. History shows that their faith and obedience to Jesus Christ changed the world profoundly.

When Jesus calls us to follow him, he’s not looking for the smartest or the strongest or the most brave. He doesn’t check our resume or call our list of references. Scripture is full of stories of women and men who were used powerfully by God despite their lack of experience or expertise. How about you? Is God asking you to accept an assignment that seems far beyond your comfort zone? Are you afraid that you might fail? Are you afraid that you might succeed?

Take heart from this account of those whom Jesus chose to be his closest companions — those who would carry on his work. They changed the world not because of what they had in themselves, but because of the One who empowered them. And they were part of something wonderful.

Pray with me:  Precious Lord Jesus, I love you.  It would be such a wonderful blessing to see You working in my life from one day to the next.  It would be such a wonderful blessing to turn on some kind of supernatural viewer to see you doing all manner of activities in my life.  However, I do not have a supernatural viewer.  If it would be Your will, may I always be able to fully trust you, even if I cannot see you working in my life.  If it would be your will, may I always be able to trust you to do whatever you need to do without my demanding to see you work in my life.  May I always be able to fully and completely trust you whether I see you working or not.  All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

Written by: Anonymous

Being part of something wonderful…OnPurpose!!

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Follow the PATH

(Psalm 23:2-3) He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

As long as we follow His lead, we can’t go wrong. Let us remember, He knows our destiny; He knows the best route and all the ups and downs that may occur during this journey.  All we have to do is follow His lead. Our Shepherd is our Protector. We must surrender our full trust to Him, for with Him we are strengthened when He affords us peace in our rest and nourishment in His word.

He does have a plan and a path to follow.

Whatever you do don’t stop following Jesus!!

 

Pray this prayer with me:

Precious Lord Jesus, I love you.
In your love, you have taught me to read your word and to eat of its fruit.
In your love, you have taught me to listen to your voice and to follow your guiding hand.
In your love, you have taught me to speak wisely with love and kindness.
In your love, you have taught me to live in faithfulness no matter the cost.
In your love, you have taught me the way of the unfaithful is a hard and terrible road.
In your love, you have taught me to be prudent and act out of wisdom and knowledge.
In your love, you have taught me no matter what may happen to me in this life you are with me now and you will be with me in the age to come.
In your love, you have taught me to be good and kind others.
In your love, you have taught me to give thought to all matters.
In your love, you have taught me to be kind to my neighbor.
In your love, you have taught me to be kind to the needy.
In your love, you have taught me to plan what is good so I will find love and faithfulness.
In your love, you have taught me to work hard so I will profit and avoid poverty.
In your love, you have taught me to put away my foolish pride.
All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely.  Amen!!

Written by: Anonymous

Following His PATH…OnPurpose!

Are We Loving One Another?

(Matt 6:12-13) …forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

This scripture is a request for the grace of The Lord. We know how easy it is to ask for God’s mercy, but how merciful are we to our fellow man?

In our quest for God’s forgiveness, we must ask ourselves, how forgiving are we to our neighbor?  It speaks of our own accountability and of our being responsible. Secondly, we know that God does not lead us to do wrong; however, He may allow us to be tested. Temptation is a strong force, but our God is even stronger. We must continually ask for His discernment to identify all temptation at its onset and then His power to overcome that lurking beast that’s just waiting to devour… We need His Holy Spirit, for we cannot do it without Him.

Written by: Anonymous

Pray this prayer with me:

Almighty Master, Show us how to better love one another.  Show us how all love comes from you.  Show us how everyone who loves has been born of you and knows you.  In hope, we live for a bright tomorrow surrounded in love.  In hope, we are never disappointed.  In all we say, in all we do, in all we think, place all our hope in you because we know you pour your love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. In love, because you love us, we are not slaves to fear of death. In love, we received from you the Spirit of being your child. In love, we cry to you “Abba, Father” for you are our true Father in heaven. Show us how we must love one another because we are all your children. Remind us anyone who believes in you as the Son of God has the testimony of love in their heart.  We believe you are the Son of the living God and we believe the testimony given to us by God the father.  We love one another because we know you love us.  We love one another because through your blood we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of your grace.  We love one another so in the coming ages you might show us the incomparable riches of your grace, expressed in your kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  Because you loved us, we shall love one another.  In Jesus’ matchless name, AMEN!!

Loving One Another…OnPurpose

He has never left me alone!

 

(John 14:25-26) “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

How do we keep silent lips and stay in prayer for the ones who persecute us, while they are persecuting us?

Has there ever been a time when a scripture you haven’t quoted in far too long miraculously comes to mind and speaks right to your present situation?

It’s the Holy Spirit that makes us do good when we want to do bad.

When this world, our natural flesh and limited understanding can’t and won’t allow us to comprehend it, The Holy Spirit will direct us to do that what is in His Will.

When the Saint step outside of God’s Will, His Holy Spirit does makes us quite aware of it. He will speak to our hearts.  It is up to us to heed to or reject His beckoning.

Too many are involved with ways of trying to escape and/or mask their own conviction and guilt. Jesus said, ” if ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Do we really love Him? He left us physically yes, but spiritually He is still right here with us, and He stays with the Saint who stays with Him. We can leave Him, but He promised never to leave or forsakeus.

 

Written by: Anonymous

Pray this prayer with me:

Precious Father, Precious Lord Jesus, Wonderful Holy Spirit, I cannot hear you Lord.
All I hear is my own thoughts. All I hear is the hum of distant machinery. There is silence in my heart, and I am sad. But wait, now I hear you speak. I hear you tell me to open up.
Yes, Lord. Yes, I can hear you say to open up my heart and life.
Yes, Lord, I praise your holy name for touching my mind and letting me know you are listening to me. In your holy name, please open the hearts of all of your children on this earth. We have gone astray and have not obeyed you. We do not listen.
Please forgive us. We have closed off our heart. We have committed abominable sins in your sight. We have not repented. Please touch lives. Please touch hearts.
In whatever way you can, protect those who are without fault.
In whatever way you can, reach into the life of those who cannot protect themselves from the coming wrath. Please lift up those who cannot lift themselves.
For all those who need you, who call out to you, who praise your name, please pull them up, lift them up, surround them with your mighty love and protect them.
Open our heart to your sweet voice. Open our life to your truth.
When it is time for the great devastation to come to the earth, give special blessings to all those who try to be your children. May your name be praised forever and ever.
We love you, O Lord. We adore you, Precious One. All these things we humbly pray.
In the name of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit who lives within us and touches us, Amen!!

Listening for the Holy Spirit…OnPurpose

Being Michelle…OnPurpose