Tag: hope and change

Love

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Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to understand the awesome love that You hold. Lord please remind me when I am being arrogant, help guide me through any bitterness that I retain against anyone or anything. Lord help me to show everyone the love that You have shown me, thank you Lord. In Jesus Name Amen

 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.     1 Corinthians 13:1-8

What He Wants 2

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Dear Heavenly Father, please help me maintain my urge to argue over things that do not matter. Please show me those things that do matter giving me the knowledge and empathy to present myself as one of your children standing steady on the foundation that You gave me. In Jesus Name Amen

 

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:14-19

What He Wants!

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Dear Heavenly Father, I trust You in everything Lord. The decisions I make, the direction I go, my daily interactions, in all I do. I know that You have my best interests in Your mind even though I do not know what they are. Lord I am not worthy of all that You have done for me yet You still take care of me every day. Thank you Lord! In Jesus Name Amen More….

 

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10 13-16 

Start Over

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You can carry the past on your shoulders or you can start over

Victory

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Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for fighting for me Lord I do not deserve all that You do every day. When I am under attack thank you for the strength that You give me and the tenacity to take another step. In Jesus Name Amen

Sometimes when you are feeling like everything is falling apart but you just can’t figure out why. We must remember that we must depend on God for everything! For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Col 2:15For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col 1:13-14

Victory

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Dear Heavenly Father, please show me the solution to the problems I am having that I do not understand. Give me the wisdom to recognize what I need to do so that I can change direction if needed or know if I need to stay on the path I am traveling. Thank you Lord for your guidance. In Jesus Name Amen

Sometimes when you are feeling like everything is falling apart but you just can’t figure out why. We must remember that we must depend on God for everything! For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable 1 Cor 15:50 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies Rom 8:33Proclaim your victory through Jesus and know that He has got your back!

Victory

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Dear Heavenly Father, thank you Lord for helping me to overcome the rocky path I have just traveled. Thank you for showing me every step I should take so I did not stub my toe. I know that I do not always listen but You have never stopped guiding me in the right direction. Thank you for the victory that I can proclaim because of the love You have shown me. In Jesus Name Amen

When you feel like everything is falling apart take heart and know that everything will be taken care of. Jesus Christ told us: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Paul then further reminds us that: The one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties. I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation. Romans 8:37-39Clearly, God has put everything under Christ’s authority.1Cor 15: 27 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5: 4-5  MORE…..

Do you Hear Him?

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He will never ask us to walk off a cliff.

Sometimes when we hear Him it is hard to take that step that He wants us to take. What will they think? Will this insult them in a way they will never speak to me again? Does He really want me to stop that? I am the first to admit that I over think everything. I have found that when I do what God asks me to do it always works out for the best; I do not always get to see the results right away. That first step is the hardest to take, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Dear Heavenly Father; as You speak to me Lord just help give me the wisdom to understand what You want me to do. Open my ears so that I can make Your thoughts my thoughts, Your ways my ways. Give me the strength to walk the walk on the path that lies in front of me. When walking this path give me wings like eagles and hold me in Your righteous right hand. In Jesus Name Amen

Place it Before God as an Offering

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When I study the bible I will pray and look at different translations to try and comprehend what it says beyond my own understanding trying not to lean on the experiences that life has taught me (the world). When I was reading this devotion, and then rereading it, I was saying to myself; yea I have a problem of thinking that I can handle everything myself. Honestly I try to take care of it at times; sometimes it will work resulting with a short term fix, but when I truly want it fixed in the end I “attempt” to give it to God. As I was reading I am convincing myself that I do a pretty good job in the end of giving it to Him. So first I read NIV, ESV, NKJV, AMP and I get to the Message and it hits me like a brick. “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.” Romans 12:1-2 Message I have in some aspects embraced the “culture” of being disgusted with everything that is currently happening in the world, the intolerance, lack of respect, politics; I could go on and on. I have become comfortable to fit into some facets of it “without even thinking”, because after all that is the right thing to do. Watching the news and observing the lack of values, what is now considered to be acceptable has put this cultural stumbling block in my way. Hanging onto these issues make a very unpleasant way of looking at things! WOW IS THIS NEGAITIVITY WHAT I AM PLACING BEFORE GOD AS AN OFFERING? IS THIS THE BEST I CAN DO FOR HIM? DO I THINK I AM SMART ENOUGH THAT I CAN TELL GOD WHAT TO DO?
Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for thinking that my actions control the outcome of what You have already set into motion. Lord I will do better to present a more appropriate offering to You, giving everything to you, constantly yearning to always do my best for You. In Jesus Name Amen.

He Will Not Abandon You

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I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jerimiah 29:11

God’s Motivation

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When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:17-20

Peace in Him

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Dear Heavenly Father, as I am surrounded by the turmoil and conflict that make me feel like I cannot breathe I am comforted by the knowledge that you have got this. It is hard to consider that people believe that their actions are justified because it makes them feel good not bearing in mind the impact to those around them. Lord I pray that everyone in this world may experience the love and compassion that You have given us. In Jesus Name Amen

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Under New Management

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Did you realize that when you ask Jesus into your heart and follow His teachings in the bible you are under new management? The ways of this world are controlled by ego, money, and selfishness. We are told so many times that we have a new boss:

  • We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. John 5:19
  • Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, Ephesians 2:19
  • As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Ephesians 2:1-2
  • The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.   Colossians 1:15-23

 

 

Renovation

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Dear Heavenly Father, You have known me and all that I have done, and all that I am. You know the good, the bad, yet You still have given me Your Grace, sharing Your unconditional love with me. Thank you for the treasures that you have granted me in my life. The decline that I have allowed to transpire in my life needed and needs the Restoration that You give to me on a daily basis. The renovation that You completed in my life has been an awesome makeover beyond words. Thank you Lord; In Jesus Name Amen

Focused on a Date! Part 5 and Finale

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Finally, we have been told that knowing the date or the time is not for us to know. When we are focusing on this it becomes a distraction that cannot for your sake and mine  be considered. We have been told that He is returning and that we should be prepared, knowing Him, following Him and being like Him. In Matthew 25:1-13 The Parable of the Ten Virgins we are given an example of what it looks like to be unprepared and how good it is to be prepared.  “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. We have been told not to worry but that it will come like a thief in the night. We are told that we need to be prepared.

Focused on a Date! Part 4

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Day and Hour

Dear Heavenly Father, I have been looking forward to Your return my whole life and cannot wait until I get to meet you face to face. When everything around me seems to be falling apart all I can think of is how awesome it is going be when I sit in Your splendor. Lord help me to accept these issues on this earth that are making it so hard to deal with. In Jesus Name Amen

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Third, there is disappointment that repeatedly gets placed in the minds of people when they keep on getting told a new date that never happens. The definition of disappointment is: sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations. When people feel this discouragement over and over again it causes doubt that some cannot deal with, inevitably causing them to emotionally fall away from God. When this happens we are told we are opening a gateway: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8-8 We have been told that no one knows the time or the day except the father we are allowing this inner turmoil to eat the church from the inside out, it is like a deadly bacteria. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones .Proverbs 3:7-8 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10

Finally…..

Focused on Date! Part 3

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Day and Hour

Dear Heavenly Father, this nervousness and feeling of doubt is sometimes hard to deal with Lord. Please comfort me and put a hedge of protection around me. Just give the comfort that only You can give. In Jesus Name Amen

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Second, the anxiety that it causes, that kind of seems like a weird statement when we are talking about the end of the world don’t you think? There will be a certain amount of anxiety when you focus on what is going to happen on the date that Jesus Christ returns. The questions can be split into separate issues. Do you have anxiety because it is going be the end of everything as you know it. Or do you have anxiety because of a healthy respect for the Lord.If your worry comes from the idea that everything will end and there will be nothing left we have been told: Do not love the world 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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the
world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.1 John 2:15-17 Considering a healthy fear, this is when you want to make sure you have done everything you could possibly do so that God will be completely happy with you. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Proverbs 8:13 If you are prepared by doing what we have been told (loving, sharing, having humility, knowing His word, being kind). If you have lived a life that is inline with what we are told to do in the bible: “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34      

Third…..

Focused on a Date! Part 2

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Day and Hour

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to accept and understand that everything is done in Your time. I know for me it seems like it takes forever but I know You have control over what is coming. Please forgive me if I have acted like a spoiled child. Help me to focus on Your will and plan while I deal with my thoughts and devices. In Jesus Name Amen

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To begin with, the discontent that people feel when they think that something is being either hidden or kept away from them is a perfect distraction; Your
adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to
devour. 1 Peter 5:8  Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that
the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.1 Thessalonians 5:1 When allowing this distraction into your mind it will take your focus away from what we have been told to do by God: honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 I know what you are think well I know the bible I can do that! Stop and really meditate on that thought, ask yourself if someone came up to me and asked anything about Jesus Christ you can say with all confidence that you know everything about Him. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make
your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8   

    Second…..

Focused on a Date? Part 1

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Dear Heavenly Father, I stand before you trying to understand Your word. Help show me the direction that You have planned for me to travel. Lord show me what I should do giving me the discretion to understand what are my thoughts and the humility to take Your thoughts and make them mine. In Jesus Name Amen

What is there in a date? Why when we are told that it is none of our business that we turn it into our main focus? There are so many that have an overwhelming fascination with the day of Jesus Christ’s return that it is all they focus on. There is a question we each need to ask ourselves; Am I perfect? If we look inside we can all truthfully say no! When we answer that question honestly then we know that we have other issues to focus on then a date that has been made clear that no one knows or will know. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 There is no reason to feel discontent and anxiety which can lead to disappointment and finally a complete loss of faith.

To begin with…..

Be My Guide

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Dear Heavenly Father;
 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies—make your way straight before me. Psalm 5:8Give me the knowledge I need so I do not do wrong.
In Jesus Name Amen

He is Waiting for You!

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Nothing in Vain

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. 12 “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.13-14 “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree. “I’ll turn things around for you. Jeremiah 29:11-14 MSG

When the Lord pours out a remarkable spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in mercy. Promises are given to quicken and encourage prayer. He never said, Seek me in vain. Matthew Henry’s concise commentary

Dear Heavenly Father, be our guide showing us every step that we need to take. Give us the wisdom and hope that we need to see the future you have planned for us. Give us the heart to become seekers and the understanding to interpret the knowledge that You place in front of each one of us. Lead us through this process helping us become a stronger family than we have ever been. In Psalm 117:2 we are told For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Thank you Lord In Jesus Name amen

Faith Part 4

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To gain righteousness all we need is faith Romans 1 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” In the bible it explains that through faith and not good works or the law that we are saved because Christ took our sins on the cross. Galatians 3 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Always remember believe, have faith, that is what he wants and you can never love too much!

Faith Part 3

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Luke 8 43 A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. Her sickness had lasted for 12 years. No one could heal her. 44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. Right away her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone said they didn’t do it. Then Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pushing against you.”46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me.”47 The woman realized that people would notice her. Shaking with fear, she came and fell at his feet. In front of everyone, she told why she had touched him. She also told how she had been healed in an instant. 48 Then he said to her, “Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” More…..

Faith Part 2

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There are many stories in the bible where Jesus healed and took care of people because they had unconditional faith in him Matthew 9 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed (disabled) man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”6 he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. In Luke by Jesus just seeing faithfulness He forgave Luke 5 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Yet another story just by a touch a women who had a disorder that had made her bleed for 12 years was healed just by a touch because of her faith more…..   

Faith to Move Mountains

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Dear Heavenly Father, all of the turmoil and trials that I have seem like the biggest and steepest mountain, it appears to be like an impossible journey to undertake. Lord, just take these overwhelming adversities and throw them into the sea. I know that when I give all to You that it will be resolved and taken care of. Thank You Lord In Jesus Name Amen.

 

“Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Mark 11:22-24

Never Doubt Your Faith in Him

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Dear Heavenly Father, I trust You in every way. When You want me to take that first step I know that You will be there to guide me being the light in the darkness. You will be the balance I need when the path seems to narrow to move forward. Lord I know that with every undertaking that I will have the confidence that is need to do what You want. Thank You Lord In Jesus Name Amen.

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Hebrews 11:7

Trust is Faith

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Dear Heavenly Father, guide every step I take because I know if You are in the lead I will never be guided down the wrong path. Help me to see the way You want me to go so that I do not make the wrong decision, with so many trails to travel I sometimes get blinded by all of the flash and glitz. Just show me the route that You desire me to take. In Jesus Name Amen

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

 

Gift of God Through Faith

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Dear Heavenly Father I do not deserve the grace you have shown me, I have done things in my life that were not in a way that is favorable to you. Yet Lord I thank You because You have still shown me mercy and favor. The gift that was given is beyond comprehension. The only boasting I can do is to boast about the unfettered mercy that has overwhelmingly been poured over me. Thank you Lord! In Jesus Name Amen

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Just a little!

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Dear Heavenly Father, Your love and understanding is beyond anything that I can grasp. You have given me so much, done so much for me that I do not feel that I can say thank you enough. I will thank You every opportunity that I get, right now is just one more chance Thank you Lord for being You. In Jesus Name Amen

For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20

Does this offend you? Will you turn and leave?

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Dear Heavenly Father; I know that there are going to be things that I do not understand and issues that I think are not I know better. Lord give me the perseverance and understanding to see past my feelings and see what is in Your heart. Have patience with me while I learn to share the heart You have, the compassion, ultimate understanding and forgiveness so I can become more like You. In Jesus Name Amen

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?  Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. John 6: 60-67