daily prayer

    Good morning! How are we faithing? It is truly amazing to listen to people of faith that speak about doing this or that and that doing those things determine heaven entrance. What? Did I miss something? Heaven or hell is solely based on recognising Jesus of Nazareth is Messiah. A gift. Free. No performance. No ritual or obeying any action earns admittance. Our behavior and adherence to those Biblical laws and principles is out of a heart of love for God. We don't obey in fear we wont make it if we don't, we obey because we have that heart for God when we believe. How do we get that reversed? How do we twist stuff like that? It is our nature to "earn" so just accepting a free thing, a no strings free thing, is just illogical to the natural man. Our behavior should be based on 2 principles. Love the neighbor as ones self and we reap what we sow. We had an interesting discussion on loving ones neighbor as ones self at church last night, thought provoking and self analizating as it was, it was quite evident that it is hard and darn near impossible to love a neighbor we may not like, but we are admonished to do so. That leads to the sowing and reaping principle inso much as if we retaliate and bring evil on our neighbor, no matter how justified it may seem, it'll come back on us bigger and more abundantly. An apple tree comes from one seed and it produces fruit thousands of times over. Think about that and move that principle over to your thoughts and actions. Scary ain't it. We have to behave, act, think in a manner that is honorable to the God we claim we love or we reap the whirlwind after a wind seed is planted. I don't know about you but when I get stepped on I have to work hard at not responding in kind. Standing up for ones self is sometimes necessary but how you do it does indeed have ramifications...think I'll try to respond wisely and not fleshly...

Hosea 8:7
For they sow the wind,
And they reap the whirlwind.
NAS

Hosea 10:12
Sow with a view to righteousness,
Reap in accordance with kindness;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the LORD
Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.
NAS

Galatians 6:6-9
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap . For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.
NAS

2 Corinthians 9:6
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.
NAS

Leviticus 19:18
'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
NAS

Romans 13:9-10
For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
NAS

Remember Jerry Wheeler...remember Steve McQueen

 
Heavenly Father,

   Thank you for you Word that sustains us. Lord we ask for wisdom so we can be sure of your principles and the courage to act accordingly. Lord we lift those who struggle with retaliation and grief from wrongs committed to them. Grant your peace. Reveal yourself in a manner that cannot be denied. We lift the lost to you. Open their minds and hearts to Messiah. Lord, guide our tongues, tie them and loose them with honor and truth, in Jesus name, amen