Heart, Soul, and Strength

  ...not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.  And why did he murder him?  Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous --[1John 3:12] There was a time i thought, "Every Abel has his Cain," when referring to my own brother and me.  i went through such a guilt trip whenver those thoughts came up.  i repented and circumstances warranted the two of us to open the line of communication again.  The guilt was gone, thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  i don't say, "Every Abel has his Cain," and all the glory goes to God. i told my brother that God loves us both a million times more than we could ever love each other.  Christ was manifest in the flesh so that He may take away our sins and destroy the works of the devil. --[1 John 3: 5,8].  He may have to be manifest sooner than we think--i hope real soon, because Cains are murdering Abels like nobody's business these days and the Enemy is salivating at the m...

 i want to begin seeking godly wisdom so He blesses me and i can obtain favor from Him.  i want to try to be humbler; lately i don't see anything i've been doing as things i need to be particularly proud of anyway.  Too much pride produces too much shame but with the humble is wisdom. --[Proverbs 11:2].  When i was about to take part in lustful idolatry last night, i did have enough self-awareness and was able to restrain myself.  Now that is godly wisdom i want to keep upright, obey and follow through and do what is pleasing to God.  Reading God's Word, thinking "i got to see what God wants me to do. i'm going to," i'm going to discover today some of the ways God wants me to live and respond and initiate action.  i'm reading my Bible for guidance for my life, not just to have something good to read for my mind--which at times can be very misguided. Dear Lord, i know You are protecting me in the lion's den, gently pushing me with Your hand in the m...

 i've had earthly wisdom for far too long.  It wasn't getting me as far as i believed because my beliefs were earthly, sensual, demonic - [James 3:15].  i remember not so long ago sitting in the woods, sipping on joints and cigarettes talking with God and asking Him to bless me with idolatrous things because misguided dreams hadn't been coming through for me.  For when envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there --[James 3:16] The devil and his demons must've been having a hardy laugh watching and listening to me. My dialogue with God now goes something like this:  O God, Your way and Your plan for my life outshines anything the Enemy or me could ever come up with within the time left of my earthly existence.  Now i'm going to begin asking You if this is a wise decision or am i'm going on earthy wisdom--is this me engineering this decision.  Or is it Your will? Is this a wise use of my talents, gifts, skills, or resources tha...

...or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever. -- [1 John 2: 15-17]  Thank You, Jesus, for sitting at the right hand of the Father and advocating for me, a sinner, who should stand upright while on his knees.  What is it You want me to do?  What will be pleasing to You?  The Holy spirit gives a "heart sense" to a person so that the person has the ability to recognize truth from lies, fact from fiction, right from wrong--regardless of the words spoken or the presentation of allowing images and i've seen far too many alluring images this late date; thank You for Your Holy Spirit and for giving me that "heart sense." God requires a change in heart in mank...

 Evil presses in on my senses and from this kind of environment i must get out.  i see a nice juicy cigarette butt always in the same zone on the city street, so i need to walk elsewhere.  i don't need to be tempted by lustful thoughts and then make the mistake of entertaining them.  Lord, cleanse me of all that i've seen, heard, or experienced.  Wipe all memory of that experience from my mind so that it has no bearing on my future conversations, self-talk, or behavior.  Help me monitor my speech, saying negative things in self-talk and in thought.  Help me to listen closely to myself.  Please eliminate my own negative recycled speaking.  At the end of the day, cleanse me of any bitter or angry thoughts. Lord, i'm giving this to You this day.  Help me to sleep soundly and peacefully, knowing that You are in control of all situations and circumstances in my life, including issues with work and coworkers and motel adventures.  May the...

 Dear Lord, Protect those and quicken their recovery in St. Louis today who got the flash flooding.  Help them get back safely to their homes with as little damage as possible.  Place Your protective hand over them and keep them from being displaced.  May their faith and trust in You be even stronger, as they know that Christ will never leave them.  In His glorious name.  Amen In the meantime, i sow wither to the flesh or to the Spirit. Do noe be deceived.  God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. -- Galatians 6: 7-10 i'm not always living and walking in t...

 These passed 15 years it seems like i've been crossing the paths of so many people who want to be enemies, who disrespect me for whatever reason or perception they may have of me.  Even churchgoers down the street.  Churchgoers!  i don't know if it's because i came in by myself and people thought i'm a weird loner or gay, or folks in the motel i'm staying are jealous of me because i don't need to share my huge queen-size bed with anyone.  They may just be hating the old man who died because i'm now renewed, a new man in Jesus Christ!  Isaiah could very well have been describing our Lord and Savior in Chapter 41: 10-13: Fear not for I am with you; Be not dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you in my righteous right hand.  Behold all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing.  And those who strive with you shall perish.  You shall seek t...

 For me, at times, fear is a roadblock, a feeling of inadequacy, like, today, starting a new job.  At 66 no less!  The Lord is so good and supportive for giving me this chance!  His timing is impeccable; a phone interview not going as well as i expected from one company--i mean, i had done my research on that company's website, had all the right questions.  It turned out that i knew more than the phone interviewer because he was new to the company and hadn't yet done his own research.  i wondered how is it that he was even doing the interview?   Right after that i turned on my computer and there was an email from Walmart.  i had applied to Walmart through Indeed many times. They were telling me to go ahead and apply through the company website.  Did that.  Got a screening phone interview with them as well.  God was with me because i felt they really wanted me.  Had a person-to-person interview the next day and now beg...

 If i buy a pair of sneakers at an obscene price and give them to my best friend and some thief steals them and gets caught, then the thief will owe that obscene amount of money to both me and my best friend.  [Exodus 22: 7]   A great uncle who has no children leaves his inheritance to his brother's grandchildren [Proverbs 13:22]. The Seventh Angel sounds off his trumpet and loud voices in heaven shall proclaim that "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever! ---[Revelation 11:15].  That's when Christ returns like a rock that strikes the edifice of world history, sends it shattering into the wind and establishes His own global kingdom instead.  May we all have the healing and resurrection power in our hearts knowing our dear Lord and Savior loves and cares for us.  I have a mission that is global...the global mission of the gospel.  This is a great promise to me as a follo...

 Lord Jesus, You are my incomparable Savior and Lord.  My faith is strong.  i rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  i yield to You any glory, honor, and power that i may obtain, it's through Your own purpose and grace. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said; "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.  "Who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:  Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?  The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ. -- [Acts 4: 24-26] It's not about what i say or what you say.  Jesus is the way!  It's about what God says...start reading the first verses in Hebrews. You can rely on your intellect and your rationalizations, and i can count on the supernature source of everything.  It isn't about you.  It isn't about me.  It's ...

 i know that You are with me and i love You knowing You won't leave me, Lord Jesus, i belong to You forever... For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, no angels nor principalities nor power nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord --[Romans 8: 38-39] Once i received Christ as my Lord and Savior i've never been separated from Him.  He promised me that, and He is fulfilling his promise.  No person or thing could equal the value of such a relationship with the One who died and paid for my ticket into eternal life.  i know You'll take away this pain in my right leg.  I have no doubt it will go away, as though You were chasing away a demon from my life. "...teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with You always, even to the end of the age." --Matthew 28:20 Why would it be a surprise to...

 i am here on earth not to chase after pleasure and gain.  i'm here to serve the Lord.  It seems lately to me that if a person asked me, "What is my purpose in life?" and i told him "To serve God," he'd say, "No, no, really, what is the real purpose in life?"  It's taken me a long time myself to realize my purpose is to serve and glorify God and find ways to do so even in the most mundane situation.  So i pray for Your guidance, Your working orders.  i pray to be able to carry on this process of sanctification.  Shape me so that i resemble my Lord and Savior... Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth." -- John 17:17 Submission, humility, dependance on God help me to realize the necessity for experiencing pain and adversity, using my knowledge and knowledge only that the end times are near.  Resurrection power is my living hope granted by the blessed Father of my Lord and Savior.  A true-blue inheritance that doesn't fade away. ...

 i am a living sacrifice not conformed to this world.  i could only hope to be acceptable to God at this point in my life.  The renewing of my mind should help me to discern what is God's will in my life.  [ Romans 12: 1-3] Romans 8:29:  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of HisSon, that He might be the first born among many brethren. At times i feel like Abel--dead to my biological brother.  At times i feel like an orphan--both parents dead--but when i read the Word, i know i have a brother in Christ and a Father in heaven who watches over me.  To be sanctified is to be set apart for God's purpose.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope---Jeremiah 29:11 i was born spiritually dead and an enemy of God's; i'm grateful to Christ for His sacrifice for me, a sinner.  i'm so grateful for His gift of healing and for the p...

 In a white robe and palm branch in my hand, i stand before the throne and before the Lamb... Salvation belongs to my God and the Lamb! -[Revelation 7: 9-10]  O Lord, work Your unlimited power as You did for the woman with her flour and oil as she fed Elijah.  Help me to always be aware of always giving something out of my need. The word of the Lord in my mouth is the truth.  Sometimes, Lord, i must confess that my heart rejoices in knowing others won't be going to heaven because most people these days are pains in the ass.  i'm sure when You hear me say these things You begin talking away the reward waiting for me in heaven. But what i think doesn't matter anyway; just so that they wake up to Your gift of grace and hope that You provide.  You have ordered me to preach to the people, King of kings  To teach others to seek You as i have done; and to tell them that since finding you, i haven't even desired to smoke and drink for over a year and a half....

  You are the Judge of the earth.  Rise up! [Psalm 94:2] Teach me in the way You choose, not my will but Thine.  To You i cry out for mercy for my wicked tongue.  i praise You for caring about each of Your children individually.  Please take account for every hair on my head and heal me from this ailing heart that causes so much pain and discomfort.  i know that it is Your will to glorify Yourself by restoring me to full health.  i give You all the praise.  Because of resurrection power You are able to use the medical professionals and the medications they prescribe to cure what ails me.  The glory goes to You, Heavenly Father. As i keep my eyes focused on You, Lord, i know You will pluck my feet out of the net.  Look on my affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins!  Don't grow silent from me, for i don't want to return to the pit.  Always have Your ear leaning toward me whenever i cry out to You. May i always be connecte...

  Out of mouths of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. -- [Psalm 8:2] Fix my heart toward You, O Lord so that going forward i am giving from the heart, giving as You command, giving sacrificially and cheerfully as an act of devotion These attributes matter to You.  Help me to keep trying thanksgiving, being willingly obedient and honest with You.  All i have is Yours.  The jobs, the money, and the inheritance. What is man that You are mindful of him?  And the son of man that You visit him? --- Psalm 8:4 Defeat the enemy on my behalf.  Drive the devil far from me.  Protect me and flow through me.  Let my life be fruitful for You.  Instruct me in the way chosen for me.  Make Your covenant known to me and reveal insights into Your own nature.  My eyes are on You, Lord.  You are the Victor in my life.  You defeat the doubts and confu...

 i thank You, Lord, for Your power of healing...for answering my prayers when it came to protecting those who are too sick and weak in spirit and in health, including myself.  Thank You for making us whole.  i praise You, God, for always being here.  You never leave me and i am never lonely.  When people desert me and let me down, You are still with me.  This awesome, wonderful God--the Most High-is my Healer, Victor, and Provider who gives me His peace, His holiness, His righteousness, and His power. i am created to praise the Lord because He is the almighty King of the Universe, our Creator, our living Father, our Savior, our Healer, and our Deliverer.  Praise puts me in the right place to receive His blessing and it leads to repentance.  I submit to You, O Lord, my emotions, intellect, and desires. What i am and what i do i yield to You. "Give and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over...

 He is taking all the broken bits of my life, healing me day by day, week by week, year by year, mending me with His tender love and great healing power.  i will stand perfectly whole in Christ Jesus before His throne.  He helps me to turn back to Him.  i had turned my back on Him for too long and i ask His forgiveness.  i repent.  Now that i'm equipped differently, it's easier to ask Him to love and bless my enemies and adversaries. i was bought at a price.  i am not my own.  i must honor God with my body.  i've been relying too much on my own efforts.  It's God's work within me that makes me holy, makes me whole.  i am holy because God says i am holy.  Heavenly Father, i confess to You right now that i am a sinner and have transgressed against You. Only You can forgive me for doing so.  i want only to be a God-fearing man. Thank You for the redemption of my sins through Your son, my Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the only ...

 i must suffer out of obedience to God.  i must suffer through not picking up that roach or cigarette butt off the street.  i must suffer not checking out that erotic image on the internet...for Jesus' sake.  Your Holy Spirit nudges, prods, molds and fashions me so that my heart is true.  So that my thoughts line up with my words; my words line up with my behavior; my motives and desires and plans line up with Your commands. i yield to You every aspect of my life.  All my talent, all my possessions, all my dreams and desires.  All my relationships.  I give them all to You.  Lord Jesus, i surrender my intellect, my emotions, and i surrender my will.  Lord Jesus, help me surrender daily.  Help me obey You daily that i may worship You with a true heart. Help me to persevere suffering, as You did for me. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me.  Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernac...

 The one thing that will keep me from enjoying God's blessing is pride.  When my self-image restrains my praise, i see pride at work. For I say through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.... Having the gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them; if prophesy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith.  [ Romans 12: 2,6] Satan tells me lies.  He makes me believe that God favors me more than others.  To remove my emotions from my expressions of praise.  He causes me to value my self-image more highly than authentic praise that honors God.  i come to the dry end of myself so that God can fill me with His presence, His love and His Spirit. Lord, You are everything and everything belongs to You.  All that i am, have, and will ever have or be, i yield to You. i belong...

 When Peter denied Christ for the third time what happened?  The rooster crowed.  I can think of some people right now i know who remind me of that cock.  When folks tend to persecute with their looks, eyes, behind-the-back comments at the water cooler, then i know i'm doing something right.  Let me continue to abide with my Lord and Savior because He comforts in this environment of crowing cocks. i will ask the Spirit to give me fervor and power in prayer.  In distress i put my full weight on You, Lord.  All wisdom, glory, and power will be with my God...the worldly and worthless will soon be swept away as the Savior comes like a thief in the night.  Glory be to God and to the arrival of my King! i want to do the will of God so i receive the promise. Growing in Godliness, living unto God and for God, reflecting God in everything i do, think, or say are the things i'm focused on now.  Trying to never unplug that divine connection like i ...

 Father, give me the courage to reexamine what i believe to be true about the Trinity.  Help me to disregard my human character and the human nature of others.  Help me to focus on the spiritual realm and the spiritual nature of others.  For now, i am uncomfortable in a congregation that's praising You with deep fervency of spirit and great job of expression.  I sense an unreal quality to this corporate praise.  To me, they're putting on an act.  Please forgive me.  I'm not buying into it. When i praise You a great deal, when praise becomes the most extensive aspect of my private prayer life, from me naturally praise flows and i won't be intimidated.  When i uplift my hand, i want to sincerely declare that i love You, i rely on You, i exalt You, i salute Your greatness.  But that's man's definition of these things.  You know what's in my heart. It's merely a symbolic display of submission of my will and my ways to the will and ways ...

 Even on the best of days when things seem to be going well for me, i can feel that there is something not quite right.  Something is always missing.  i need to focus my attention on His own purpose and grace.  i worship God not so much to do something for Him but to affirm His lordship over my life.  i'm in desperate need of His lordship because without Him, His Son, His angelic forces, i am lost.  i am nothing. Where do i see myself in 5 years?  Where is the ideal dwelling place for me?  What am i going to do for the rest of my earthly, natural life that will be the most fulfilling? Physically, i can see and feel myself weakening, getting bored and tired of exercise and dieting.  Now i lay me down to sleep and hope You Lord take me in my sleep.  My last breath here leads to my first breath in heaven.  That's a good goal to achieve.  Even on the best of days when things seem to be going well for me, i still feel that there is ...

 Submission is a voluntary thing.  I can submit and obey.  That is an essential part of true Christianity.  The root of all of my lack of submission in my life lies in pride.  "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time.  [1 Peter 5:6]   Prayer is agreeing to God's will.  Seeing the glory of God confronts me with a tarnished, stained, dirty state of my own life.  God is my source of strength. God, make me the person You want to live with forever!  Make the purpose of my life bringing glory to You!  Help me to keep in mind that Your creation exists to bring You glory.  My praise on earth become the part of the praise that is being offered to You in heaven. God is not a higher power.  He is the Higher Power.  He does the work of healing and transformation in me as i believe in Him.  i'm putting on that garment of praise.  The Lord give me reasons to praise Him, a...

 O Lord, receive my spirit when Your time comes!  i won't need to face the challenge of being a martyr; but if it comes to that make me stronger, willing, and able. i know You don't evaluate people the way that the world does Those who are greatest in His kingdom are the greatest servants.  i run the risk of destroying my faith when i seek the honor that comes from men. If i am to be Christlike then i can't give people what they deserve. I've been singled out because i'm single.  Forgive them, Lord.  i need to abstain from all appearance of evil.  i not only need to be right, but i also need to appear right as much as possible.  i should be at peace with all people whether or not they are at peace with me.  That's their decision and i am not the one to judge them.  i lay that issue at the foot of the cross.  If i leave vengeance to the Lord, He will deal with those who hurt me.  In His time.  In His way. There is a God who prom...

 I receive God's complete forgiveness for past sins and i'm working with the Holy Spirit to resist all temptation now and in the future.  I know there is something better out there.  God surely knows and He provides the path to obtain it.  Before i can be content in life i must be comfortable not knowing.  The greatest treasure is in the darkest of places, where i can be intimate with God.  i'm willing and able to lose my head over You, Lord.  Keep my spiritual eyes wide open.  Am i holding any grudges or are the grudges holding me? In nonverbal ways people have been telling me, "To hell with your standards."  instead of a work ethic, could i be dealing with a work morality?  A cell-phone ethic has taken over, resulting in an immorality about work. i might as well say that the sheet of music which tells me to play one note and not another is itself one of the notes on the keyboard.  The moral law tells us the tune we have to play; o...

 Heavenly Father, help me to put Biblical principles into practice, practices that guide me at home and in my community. May i put You first in every area of my life so that the world will see You in me.  Keep me from vicious cycles.  i've been involved in them and am getting so tired.  Help me guard against ease and complacency, even if it means allowing adversity and pain in my life right now.  Keep me drawn closer to You each day, not slipping further from You.  Make me a mighty man of valor like You made Gideon.   Grant me the power of lasting repentance and revival as i draw nearer to You may You draw nearer to me.  Deliver me out of the hands of my enemies and let me step back and wait until You bring justice.  Keep me from reverting and behaving worse than i did before.  If my heart doesn't change, nothing will change. Facilitate that change in my heart, Lord, and help me not to revert back to my old man ways...he's supposed ...