daily prayer

    Good morning! How are we faithing?  New year resolutions aren't worth a thing if they are forgotten by February. Why do we do them? Why do we set ourselves up for failure? Why would we step into an agreement knowing we can't produce what we are promising? Because everyone likes a new start. Everyone likes the idea of starting over and an arbitrary date like January 1 is as good and any.  Here's some advice from the old fat guy. Don't do it unless you are committed. Don't set yourself up for failure. Don't put yourself in a position that the enemy can beat you down for that failure. Here is what I suggest; write down what you would like to achieve. Record the things you need to do for you and others and be realistic and honest. If you need help with a bad habit, get help, professional if necessary. Don't be embarrassed or at least let embarrassment hinder progress. You are not the only one facing what you are facing. Christians, don't hide your junk. We don't go to church or profess Christ because we are perfect but rather we recognize just how screwed up we are. Live what you believe and let God sort the fallout. Move your focus off people and onto God. What someone else says or thinks about you has no bearing on your life or death. God is what matters. You can't change their minds anyways and lets be frank, their opinion simply has no effect on your life unless you let it. As believers in Jesus we need to serve because we love him and salvation is by him and nothing else. You are gonna slip up. You are gonna fail occasionally so what are you gonna do? Deny it? Hide it or face it head on? I have to remind myself that some people are gonna think ill of me, heck man, they killed Jesus so why would it surprise me if I choose to follow his lead thus I will face ill will too...

Jas 1:19-25
  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

remember Zach...remember Don Grider...remember Cindy...remember Wally

Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for your love and grace. Help us be wise and courageous as we try to improve. Help us recognize change may take time and lessons need to be learned along the way. We lift those up that are hurting physically, emotionally and spiritually. Help us work through these things this year. Help us be better examples of your grace, in Jesus name, amen