Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Receive God's Peace as the Year Draws to a Close

Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

John 14:26-27 - "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

II Corinthians 4:7 - But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show I that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Dear God, thank You for peace. Even as I struggle through this day, this latest infection, and just life in general, thank You for peace that supersedes all of my struggling. Peace, peace, peace. Peace be with me. Peace still my heart. Peace calm my anxious heart. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

God Is Leading You Along a Way That Is Uniquely Right for You

John 15:4 - "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."

II Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

I John 4:7-8 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Dear God, thank You for the path You have placed me on. Thank You that it is uniquely my path even when it crosses the path of another or runs alongside of the path of another. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, December 28, 2015

Trust Him with Every Fiber of Your Being

Psalm 40:4 - Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

Psalm 56:3-4 - When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 62:8 - Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Isaiah 26:3-4 - You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
  
Dear God, thank You for being trustworthy, completely trustworthy. Trustworthy in both the good times and the bad times. Thank You for teaching me more about trusting You in the big things no the small things. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

He Is Your Refuge and Strength

Psalm 46:1-3 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, thought the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Psalm 89:15-16 - Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. 

Dear God, thank You for the blessings You shower on this planet deposited what the media choose to focus on. I am not going to be afraid of terrorists (if I were afraid, it would be of the white man down the street who is an avid gun buyer and insists on carrying guns everywhere he goes). I am not going to be afraid of earthquakes or floods. I am not going to be afraid of the medical testing I will have to do in the new year (unless the republicans screw things up and cause me to lose my insurance coverage because of their sick hatred for the president). I am going to put my trust in You, my refuge and my strength. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sunday, December 27, 2015

God Is Preparing You for What Is on the Road Ahead

Psalm 36:9 - For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Isaiah 64:4 - From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.

John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Dear God, thank You for preparing me for what lies ahead. Thank You for giving me strength and courage for what lies ahead. It is because of that strength and courage that I am not afraid of the tests I will be facing in the new year to make sure that the initial test was not a fluke or a mistake. And it is because of that strength and courage that if the test comes back the same as the initial test I am not afraid of the next test that may need to be done to determine whether it is just an activation thing or whether it is in my bone marrow. I am no longer afraid. What I do worry about is insurance which is fighting tooth and nail to not cover needed treatments. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

He Is the Gift That Continuously Gives

Deuteronomy 33:27 - The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy.

Psalm 13:5 - But I have trusted in our steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

I John 4:15-16 - Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.mso we have come to know and to believe the love that God ha score us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 

I John 4:18 - There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 

Dear God, thank You for unconditional love that does not hinge upon what I do or do not do. When love hinges upon behavior, it cannot be real. Help me to never punish myself by separating myself from You and Your loving arms. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Friday, December 25, 2015

Wait Attentively in His Presence

Luke 2:13-14 - And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

II Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

II Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Philippians 2:5-7 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Dear God, thank You for glimpses of glory during my times spent with You. Thank You for allowing Your Son to come to earth as a little baby so that I may have relationship with You. In that one moment, the world was changed. On this day, the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may I remember Your glory shining through the darkness. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

He Speaks to You from the Depths of Eternity

Psalm 90:2 - Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 

Colossians 1:27 - To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Dear God, thank You for Your glory. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for the kindness of a stranger. Thank You for the beauty of a flower. Thank You for the sweet song of a bird. Thank You for Your peace. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

He Is King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Psalm 95:6-9 - Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and out me to the proof, though they had seen my work. 

Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

I Timothy 6:13-16 - I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 

II Peter 1:19-20 - And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lmao shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.

Dear God, thank You for everything. Thank You for desiring to be with me. Thank You for life. Thank You for beauty and majesty. Thank You for family. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Go to Him and Rest in His Presence

Matthew 2:10-11 - When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Luke 1:35 - And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God."

Luke 1:76-79 - "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, where's the sunrise shall visits us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Dear God,  thank You for the star that guides me to You. I praise You for the blessings You bring. Lead me where You need to lead me and help me along the way. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

His Plan for Your Life Is Unfolding Before You

Psalm 63:2 - So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, be holding your power and glory.
 
John 11:40 - Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"

II Corinthians 5:6-7 - So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Dear God, I know I am weak. And I know I need You in order for me to carry on with the day. Thank You for Your strength. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

God's Glory

Psalm 92:1-5 - It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!

Luke 23:35-37 - And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 

John 2:11 - This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 

Dear God, may I never forget to give You the glory that is due to You and to share Your glory with the world and the people around me. Thank You for showing me Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Do Not Be Weighed Down by the Clutter in Your Life

Proverbs 16:3 - Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Dear God, help me to keep my focus not so much on the little things as on the bigger things. Thank You for blessing me. Thank You for being there. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

View a Persistent Problem as a Rich Opportunity

Isaiah 30:20-21 - And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

II Corinthians 4:17-18 - For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Dear God, right now my body is afflicted. But I am trusting that heaven will be a place where I will be made whole in body. Teach me to be more thankful. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Go to God With Your Gaping Emptiness

Psalm 150:6 - Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Matthew 5:3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

II Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:9-10 - For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Dear God, thank You for the many blessings You have given me. I know You will continue to bless me as I continue to trust You. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

God Is Speaking in the Depths of Your Being

Isaiah 50:4 - The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. 

Isaiah 60:2 - For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

Revelation 2:4 - "But I have this against you, that you have and done the love you had at first."

Dear God, help me to always hear Your voice above all others. Even if the demands are high, help me to still hear Your voice overt the demands. Thank You for peace and joy. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Your Longing for Heaven Is Good

Romans 8:23-25 - And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For int his hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Hebrews 6:17-20 - So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encourage me to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Dear God, help me to never ever lose the hope of heaven that I have. Thank You for giving me tastes of heaven on earth. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Rest in Him

Proverbs 3:6 - In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 - Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Dear God, thank You for providing meaning for each new day. Without You, the day would be meaningless. Thank You for being there. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Take Time to Be Holy

Psalm 27:4 - One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon a the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

II Thessalonians 1:9-10 - For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols it serve the living and the true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Dear God, transform and renew my mind and heart during the time I spend with You throughout the day. Fill me with Your piece. Cleanse me. Thank You for wanting to spend time with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

He Is Taking Care of You

Job 42:1-3 - Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

II Corinthians 5:6-7 - So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

I Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Dear God, thank You for taking care of me. Even when I do not feel You strongly, You are taking constant care of me. This week, take care especially of my mom and I as well as the fur babies. Help us all relax and have fun. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

He Is Working on Your Behalf

Genesis 21:1-7 - The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me." And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

Psalm 36:9 - For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Dear God, I am trying so hard to trust that You will work things out for me to receive life saving infusions, but the insurance company has me in a pinch situation. However, I look forward to the promise that I will one day be able to not worry about anymore sickness on the other side. I don't want to be in a hurry and miss out on what life has in store for me now. Help my family enjoy our trip and focus on that. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Make Him the Focal Point of Your Search for Security

Psalm 139:9-10 - If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Isaiah 41:8-10 - But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off"; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

James 1:2-3 - Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Dear God, I have met some trials this week that will not necessarily be resolved until the new year. But I have something to look forward to, not only in heaven, but also a temporary diversion here on earth. Help me to focus on the time with my family and the fun that I should have and not on my trials in this next week. Be with me during this time. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Be Willing to Go Out on a Limb with Him

Psalm 9:10 - And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

John 12:26 - "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."

Dear God, if it takes sending me through the valley to get me to put more of my faith in You, so be it. Do I necessarily like the challenges I am facing now and will face in the coming year? No. Definitely not. More testing will be needed to confirm a suspected possibility of a mast cell disease in order to determine if I need even more testing and what kind of treatment I will need. And the prospects of everything seem scary. But at the same time, I know that You will lead me through it all. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Your Needs and His Riches Are a Perfect Fit

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Colossians 2:1-3 - For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance o founder standing and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Dear God, oh, how I need You, more now than ever. Financial stability for my family in the face of pending and major medical needs. I come to You. I lay everything down at Your feet right now. And I ask that You guide me and strengthen me. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

He Is With You in All That You Do

Matthew 10:29-31 - "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

II Corinthians 4:17-18 - For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all coma prison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Hebrews 11:27 - By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Dear God, help me to never lose awareness of Your presence in my life. It is so difficult to stumble and fall because I lose focus. Put blinders on me so I can maintain my focus. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Stay Ever So Close to Him

Deuteronomy 6:5 - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."

Psalm 16:11 - You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Colossians 3:23-24 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Chirst. 

Dear God, help me to not fall into the trap of thinking that giving You money, time, and work will help me be close to You. Help me to spend more time with You from the heart. Help me not fall into habit, but into genuine heart time with You. Thank You for desiring closeness with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Let His Presence Override Everything You Experience

Genesis 28:11-16 - And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the broth and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord I sin this place, and I did not know I it." 

Psalm 31:20 - In the cover of your presence you hide hem from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

Dear God, help me to always remember that You ARE in this place! Thank You for always being there even when I cannot feel You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

His Thoughts Are Not Your Thoughts

Psalm 116:17 - I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Colossians 4:2 - Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 

Dear God, thank You for knowing what is in store for me. I may not see it now, but one day, when You are ready for me to see it, You will reveal it to me. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Do Not Be Surprised By the Fiery Attacks on Your Mind

Ephesians 6:12 - 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.

Philippians 2:9-11 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, tot eh glory of God the Father.

I Peter 1:8-9 - Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

Dear God, come quickly. Not too quickly, but quickly enough. The world is a mess. Yesterday was very painful. And while prayers may be good, prayers are not enough. We keep having these things happen. We need action. Thank You for inexpressible joy though. It is what keeps me going. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

He Is the Prince of Peace

Psalm 25:4 - Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 

Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 20:19-21 - On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he shied them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." 

Dear God, help me to stay on the path that keeps me close to Your peace even it seems hard and long. Thank You for peace, thank You for being with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

God Loves You With an Everlasting Love

Jeremiah 31:2-3 - Thus says the Lord: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Lamentations 3:22-26 - The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Dear God, thank You for love unconditional and eternal. Eternity is something the human mind cannot fully grasp. But it helps me feel better to know that Your love is eternal. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, November 30, 2015

Problems Are Part of Life

Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Luke 10:41-42 - But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Philippians 3:20-21 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 

Dear God, many of the problems in life are man-made problems. Bullying. Stalking. Harassment. Attacking people who have disabilities. Disrespecting the president. Excluding people from church because a church feels that ministry to and with both children and adults with special needs is somehow too much of a burden. Poverty and hunger. Homelessness. Are there some problems that are not man-made? Absolutely. Cancer. Autism. GI issues. Autoimmune problems. Many medical issues are not man-made. Some are genetic. Problem-solving mode. God, I wish I could solve all the problems, especially when it comes to those man-made problems. Those problems are solvable, but it means that others have to be willing to help make changes to help solve them. God, I have seen some stupidity come forth after the Paris attacks. Governors who think they are above the law when it comes to refugees who claim they do not want refugees in their state because one of them might be a terrorist. The problem with their mentality is that the refugees are trying to escape the terrorists that the governors also do not want! By denying the refugees asylum, they are effectively allowing the terrorists to win. Our country has been down this road before: Jewish, Irish, Italian, Japanese, etc. And to be frank, I am more worried about the American down the street who insists on carrying guns everywhere because it's their right than I am about some refugee at this point. And more so than that, I am more worried about what a germ can do to me than I am about that even. My infusions need approval. Soon. Until then, the germ will always scare me more. I am more worried about the republicans in congress trying to take away my insurance and BCBS screwing Alabama residents over than I am about refugees. I am more worried about republicans trying to cut benefits for the disabled and the veterans and the elderly and the hungry and the poor than I am about refugees. Why? Because refugees cannot damage the financial stability of this country like the money hungry, greedy republican idiots in congress can. Every time I see something about the refugees, I keep hearing the song by the Newsboys called "Entertaining Angels." That song is so applicable, not only in the refugee crisis, but also when it comes to how churches should minister to and with people with special needs. God, I may not be able to solve the problems I mentioned, and most certainly not alone, but I would like You to show me what I should do when faced with the problems. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Let God Infuse His Peace into Your Innermost Being

Isaiah 40:11 - He will tend to his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. 

Isaiah 58:11 - And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Dear God, I need You. And there is nothing wrong with that need. You have placed me in a position of neediness for a reason. One of those reasons is to see if I can grow in trust and in relationship with You. While others call it lazy or mooching, it really is not. It is disability and it is genuine need. God, I pray that the leaders of this great nation will wise up and stop trying to hurt people like me. I place in Your hands today the need for approval for IVIG. I pray that You will work a miracle in that. Thank You for Your peace. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Rest in the Deep Assurance of His Unfailing Love

Psalm 107:21-22 - Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

Ephesians 3:14-19 - For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

I Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Dear God, thank You for love unfailing. And God, I turn over to You the nasty bullies who would stoop so low as to attack me for my disabilities. Facebook needs to do the right thing and out a stop to them. So I am giving You my troubles and accepting Your love. It does not seem like a fair trade, but that is part of grace. Thank You for grace. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Friday, November 27, 2015

Let Thankfulness Rule Your Heart

Psalm 100:4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Acts 9:18-19 - And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized, and taking food, he was strengthened. 

Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Revelation 19:3-6 - Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a reta multitude, like the roar of many waters and like e sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns."

Dear God, thank You for the miracle of life made new each day. Thank You for the beauty of the sunrise and the beauty of the sunset. Thank You for each new day You have given me. Thank You for helping me to develop an attitude of thankfulness. Thank You for helping me to discover who I am and what my limits and abilities are. Thank You for creating me just the way You want me to be, autism, immune deficiency, and all. Thank You for a team of doctors who are pushing for approval for IVIG realizing that my IgG numbers are dropping. Thank You for the ACA that does allow me to have proper insurance, but help the leaders to know how to address the root of the problem which is the greedy insurance companies who have just raised rates 77% in my state. Help the leaders in my state to fix Medicaid so the disabled no longer need TWO insurances so they can have more of the limited resources they get each month for other needs they have. Over half of one's resources literally ends up going for private health insurance because Medicaid is too dysfunctional. Help the state and national leaders to push for more services for the disabled, and that does not mean cutting benefits either. Bring us a leader who will be for the people not the businesses that line his or her pockets. Help the refugees and the victims of the recent attacks. Protect us from more attacks. Protect us from kissing bugs. Protect us from bad things. Thank You for being there and for Your perfect love and joy and peace. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Thursday, November 26, 2015

This Is the Day That God Has Made

Psalm 116:17 - I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. 

Psalm 118:24 - This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Dear God, thank You for being there. Thank You for creating this day. Thank You for the highs and the lows that I may experience today. Help me to not give in to negative thoughts. Thank You for the beauty of the day. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Thank God Frequently As You Journey Through Today

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you Maya bound in hope. 

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

James 4:8 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Dear God, thank You. Thank You for the good mixed with the bad. But thank You. Teach me to be more thankful and less negative. Teach me to be thankful even for the negative. Thank You for the life You have given me today. Thank You for a team of doctors who are fighting for me to get infusions. Thank You for the beauty of a new day. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Thankfulness Takes the Sting Out of Adversity

Psalm 89:15-16 - Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.

Psalm 118:1 - Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Ephesians 5:18-21 - And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to Gid the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

Dear God, thank You even during some of the most difficult days of my life right now awaiting approval for infusions and worrying about the future of the financial security of my family. Thank You for the adversities that will make me stronger and a better person. Thank You for the good times along with the bad times. Thank You for the joy and the peace that You give me in exchange for my thankfulness. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, November 23, 2015

Let God Fill Your Heart and Mind With Thankfulness

Psalm 4:7-8 - You have out more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Romans 8:38-39'- For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear God, thank You for love that nothing can separate me from. Nothing. Can someone in a church that becomes abusive separate me from Your love? No. Not even that. Can someone who bullies me because my beliefs are slightly different than theirs because Your words or the words of Jesus have made a different impact on my beliefs than what they have on their beliefs separate me from Your love? Absolutely not! Nothing can separate me from Your love. Your love makes me feel safe enough to rest in Your peace. Do I need weapons that humans fashion and form with the intent to kill to make me feel safe? NO!!! Because nothing can separate me from Your love and in Your love is peace. Thank You for love. Thank You for peace. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Friday, November 20, 2015

A Thankful Attitude Opens the Windows of Heaven

Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 - Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Dear God, I shall say thank You. Thank You for the beauty of the last rose of the season or the beauty of the vivid colors of the holly coming into a new season. Thank You for the warmth of the sun on a cool day and the cool breeze on a hot day. Are there things I am troubled by? Absolutely. But I release them into Your hands and say thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

He Is Pleased With You

Psalm 62:8 - Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - 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 3:14-19 - For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Dear God, thank You for not basing Your love for me on my performance. If You did that, I would be unloved. Too many people get hung up on what they think I should be doing and their love is contingent on how well they think I do. Help me to remain open to Your love. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Leave Outcomes Up to God

Exodus 15:13 - "You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode."

Psalm 27:13-14 - I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Dear God, thank You for the adventure of life. Thank You for being with me on the path You have placed me on. Thank You for knowing what my future holds. Help me get better in practicing waiting on You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Thank God Throughout the Day for His Presence and Peace

Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Luke 24:36 - As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!"

Hebrews 13:15 - Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Dear God, today, I am just going to say thank You. Thank You for whatever You are going to do in my life. Thank You for forgiveness and love and grace and mercy. Thank You for peace. Thank You for being there. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Go to God and Rest in His Peace

John 7:38 - "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has card, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Ephesians 5:18-21 - And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name o four Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

Philippians 4:5-7 - Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus. 

Dear God, thank You for peace and comfort. No, I do not have to try to please others. And that is good because as hard as I try, there will ALWAYS be someone who will not like something I say, something I do, something I wear, or even some other minor thing that is not evident. Pooh pooh to them. At the end of the day, I would rather have spent energy trying to please You. I have had some taxing days of late. Forgive me if I have failed to please You as much during them. And the beauty of relationship with You is that You do forgive. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

There Is No Condemnation for Those Who Are in God

Psalm 23:1-3 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Isaiah 30:21 - And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

John 10:27 - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

Romans 8:1-2 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Dear God, help me filter out the voices of others so I can listen more to Your voice guiding me. Different voices are screaming at me saying I must believe a certain way, act a certain way, talk a certain way. I need to hear Your voice and only Your voice. Thank You for not condemning me when I do listen to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, November 16, 2015

Looking at the Day Before You

Psalm 73:23-24 - Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

I Corinthians 13:12 - For now we see in a mirror dinky, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Dear God, I hate the fog. But I would rather have the fog if it might mean that I will be protected from the harm of worrying. Thank You for the fog in that case. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Approach Problems with a Light Touch

Psalm 89:15-16 - Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of tour face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.

John 16:33 - "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."

Dear God, problems manifest. Problems can be hard to deal with it. Problems compound. Then the problems grow bigger and harder to deal with. I will have problems, but how I handle them WITH You is what determines where my confidence rests. Am I relying on myself or am I fully relying on You? Thank You for helping me through the problems that life throws at me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Bask in the Luxury of Being Fully Understood and Unconditionally Loved

Psalm 34:5 - Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. 

II Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, be holding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

II Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Galatians 5:25 - If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Dear God, I am Yours. You hold me. You cherish me. You love me. You cleansed me with Your blood. The Spirit in me guides me. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Thursday, November 12, 2015

He Is Christ in You and the Hope of Glory

Nehemiah 8:10 - Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Isaiah 42:6-7 - "I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nation's, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

Colossians 1:27 - To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

Dear God, thank You for living in me and walking beside me. Thank You for that intimate relationship and bond that You so willingly choose to have with me. Thank You for Your joy and peace that comes from that intimacy. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

This Is a Time of Abundance in Your Life

Psalm 23:5 - You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Luke 11:9-10 - "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Dear God, I am sorry when I balk at receiving Your gifts so freely. I know I deserve nothing from You. Help me to be more open to freely receiving Your gifts for me. Thank You for blessings so full and overflowing. Thank You for the blessings still to come. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Do Not Let Any Set of Circumstances Intimidate You

Deuteronomy 33:25 - "Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be."

Psalm 105:4 - Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Ephesians 1:15-23 - For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enligthened, that you may know I what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his lower toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might, that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he out all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Dear God, thank You for knowing how challenging my day will truly be and giving me strength according to the challenges of the day rather than an equal amount of strength each day. You know my every need. You know my ability and my inability. And You meet me right where I need You the most. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Focus Your Entire Being on His Living Presence

Psalm 41:12 - But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 

Psalm 89:15-16 - Blessed are the people who know the vestal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. 

John 3:19-20 - "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."

Jude 24-25 - Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. 

Dear God, thank You for being there - all the time. Thank You for being there - even when I cannot feel You close by. Thank You for wrapping Your arms around me and holding me tight. Please heal me and comfort me right now. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Monday, November 9, 2015

Sit Quietly With Him

Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

Luke 12:22-25 - And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!"

II Corinthians 10:5-6 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 

Dear God, You will be with me in the here and now and You will be with me in the there and then. Take captive my worries about the future. Take captive my worries about the infusions being approved. Take captive my worries about whether I will still be able to manage to have health insurance after this next year because they have already been allowed to go up to my breaking point and leave me with less than $300 per month in resources. Take captive every worrying thought that tries to keep me from just being in the peace of Your presence. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Learn to Appreciate Difficult Days

Psalm 102:26-27 - They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.

Isaiah 41:8-10 - But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off"; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Acts 17:26-28 - "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are his offspring'."

Dear God, thank You that even though my circumstances may change, some for the better and some for the worse, thank You that You remain constant and never change. That was then. This is now. But what stays the same? You do. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Worship Me in the Beauty of Holiness

Psalm 27:4 - One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 

Psalm 29:2 - Ascribe to the Lord in the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. 

Dear God, to You all glory is due. I seek You. I look upon Your beauty. Please keep me in Your presence. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Friday, November 6, 2015

Seek to Please God Above All Else

Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

John 8:29 - "And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are peoasing to him."

Hebrews 11:5-6 - By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Dear God, as I go through this day or any day, help me to focus on You and on pleasing You. Sometimes pleasing You will mean going against the "norm" and it might mean that I will be called all kinds of horrendous things, but at the end of the day, all that will matter is what You think of me and whether I spent my time pleasing You in my words and deeds. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Thursday, November 5, 2015

You Can Live As Close to Him As You Choose

Genesis 28:15 - "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." 

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 4:12 - I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Dear God, take all my worries, all my fears, all my anxieties, all the things I really cannot control right now with regard to my health and financial situation, take them and let me be free to just rest in Your arms. Nothing can separate me from Your love. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Walk Peacefully with God Through This Day

Exodus 33:14 - And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Deuteronomy 33:25 - "Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength."

Psalm 29:11 - May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! 

Hebrews 13:20-21 - Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Dear God, oh, how I need Your strength more now than ever. I am in some trying moments and I cannot go them alone. I leave everything in Your hands right now. I have not healed from surgery yet most likely because of my depleted IgGs and until we replace them, I will keep losing them because I am trying to heal. But I place things in Your hands. I have no other choice. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Use Plan Thwarters as Reminders to Communicate with God

Philippians 3:7-11 - But whatever gain I had, I counted as a loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith–that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 

Colossians 4:2 - Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 

Dear God, yesterday I got a denial letter from the insurance regarding the infusions. My level has dropped 142 points and is now 64 points from the bottom. This is in three months time. My surgery was due to persistent infection and recurring infection. I called the doctor once I found out which doctor to call and spoke with his nurse. She said the company they are using is most likely already working on an appeal. Part of the issue we are facing is the changing due the insurance company and also the communication breakdowns that have been occurring lately between doctors. I have decided to draw up a list and to begin getting the correct information to provide other doctors so that every single doctor on my healthcare team knows of the other doctors on the team and will hopefully start communicating better with each other. God, take this initial disappointment and turn it around for me. It is in Your hands. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, November 2, 2015

Grow Strong in the Light of His Presence

Psalm 116:5-7 - Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Isaiah 30:15-16 - For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But you were unwilling, and you said, "No! We will flee upon horses"; therefore you shall flee away; and, "We will ride upon swift steeds"; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. 

Ephesians 5:15-21 - Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

Dear God, I would rather be in need of You all the time than to be void of Your presence. Thank You for placing that need in my heart and in my soul. Thank You for being there all the time even during the times when it is hardest to feel Your presence. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Do Not Be Discouraged By the Difficulty of Keeping Focus on Him

Romans 8:33-34 - Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is it receding for us.

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

Dear God, VICTORY! I am trying to out aside distractions to spend time with You. And no, it is not an easy feat to accomplish. But it is a victory when I do. Instead of berating myself when I lose focus, I need to congratulate myself when I overcome the distractions of this world to spend time with You. Thank You for grace and mercy and love enough that it outweighs all the negativity of this world. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Learn to Listen to Him Even When Listening to Other People

Exodus 3:5 - Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." 

John 7:37-39 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 

Dear God, help me as I listen to others to be able to respond appropriately through Your guidance and through my listening to You. I want to be able to help others so help me to always be aware of what You are saying to me while I listen to their needs because I definitely cannot help them very well if I am not effectively listening to You. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Friday, October 30, 2015

God Is With You

Jeremiah 29:12-14 - "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

John 10:14-15 - "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

John 10:27-28 - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." 

Dear God, help me to never forget, no matter how busy my day may get, that You are with me. You are with me every step of the way. You will move mountains for me if that is what it takes. God, how much more I need You now than ever before as we enter the time in which I am forced to find new insurance that could break the bank but which I will need as things move forward toward me getting IVIG infusions after all these years of waiting because my immune deficiency just wasn't deficient enough before now. Things will be happening pretty fast once we get things moving. There is still the possibility that I will need another surgery to put a port in so they can do the infusions and labs, but of course, there are limitations in who can do labs and where labs can be done if we have to go that route. Please help my veins come out from hiding and strengthen them so they will be receive what my body will need these next few months or years. I have a team of doctors that has finally gone to the mat to fight for me to get referred for infusions. Give them wisdom to choose the right person to send me to for them to be done. Give the facility grace to help with financial stuff as You see best. If only we could get an extra $100 per month to help with the cost of the jacked up premiums for insurance, even that would be great. God, You know my needs now and into the next year or so. You know my fears and my anxieties and those of my mother. Please help us advocate so that appropriate legislation can be done to help me and others like me in my state and in this country even. I always tell people who speak against safety net programs that I never asked to be disabled, but what I did ask was for help when I needed it most. And that alone takes so much more courage than anyone can possibly ever know because to ask for help means to peel away all pride and put on all humility and humbleness. I have been torn about doing a crowd fund site, but I need Your direction now as to whether it would be the wise thing to do. Guide me, lead me, give me wisdom, comfort me, hold me, never let me go. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Linger in His Presence a While

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Hebrews 12:3 - Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 

Dear God, I need You right now because I am having a hard time right now. I am in a funky situation because of a recall on a prescription and having to wait on the doctor's office to respond to the request to submit a new prescription in a timely fashion. Please rest my heart and soul. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Do Not Expect to Be Treated Fairly in This Life

Isaiah 61:10 - I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Romans 5:3-5 - More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not out us to shame, because God's live has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Ephesians 1:7-10 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Colossians 3:12-13 - Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 

Dear God, I find it impossible to rejoice in suffering. Some people are just so miserable in their own lives that they set out to intentionally make others miserable as well. The bullies in this life are almost unbearable and intolerable. And some of them claim to be Christians as well. Those are the ones that bother me the most. On the other hand, teach me to be quicker to forgive when someone sins against me. Teach me to show them the same love You have graciously shown me. Thank You for holding me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Becoming More Aware of His Presence Makes Discerning the Right Way Easier

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Dear God, the closer I get in my walk with You, the more I am beginning to feel that perhaps I should try to run for leadership at some point. Not only to show that autistics can do almost anything they want when they set their minds to do it, but also because we need real Christians to go forth and help the least of these. What we have now are hurting us. I want to not get stuck in the rut. I am ready for an adventure. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, October 26, 2015

Go to God When You Are Hurting

John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

James 1:4 - And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

Dear God, help me to remain focused on You. Do I have needs? Absolutely. Do I need help? Absolutely. But I can do nothing on my own without You alongside of me. It is not bad to be in reliance on You. It is bad to think one is self-sufficient. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sunday, October 25, 2015

He Is God With You

Matthew 1:21 - "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1:23 - "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a sin, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). 

Acts 2:28 - "You have made known to me the paths of life; you make me full of gladness with your presence."

Dear God, Jesus. Immanuel. The Lord saves. God with us. How excellent and mighty are You, God. Even when I cannot feel You, You are there. You love me so much that You sent Your Sin to be born of a virgin. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Friday, October 23, 2015

Lie Down in Green Pastures of Peace

Genesis 2:2-3 - And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Psalm 23:1-3 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Luke 1:76-79 - "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Dear God, I need You. I need Your peace. I need Your comfort. I need Your guidance. I need Your downtime. I need Your presence. I need Your restoration. And there is nothing wrong with needing You. Forgive me when I stumble and fall. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Turn Your Attention to Him and Feel the Light of His Presence

Psalm 16:11 - You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

John 17:20-23 - "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."

Dear God, I may not fully comprehend it now, but You do make known to me the path of life and there is fullness of joy in Your presence and pleasures forevermore at Your right hand. Your Son prayed for me before I was ever even conceived. Your Son prayed that I would be able to be one with You and You one with me. That is amazing! Thank You for caring so much about me that You would want to be united with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Joy in Spite of Circumstances

Psalm 21:6 - For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

Proverbs 2:1-5 - My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Dear God, as I go to the doctor for labs and an infusion today, please help them find the vein or veins they need. It was hard for them to find a good vein for surgery. There is not a lot of joy in being stuck with a needle. But help me to not lose focus on You as I go through this day. Help me find the joy I might be looking for today. Thank You for always being there even when I do feel You as strongly. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

How to Live in His Presence Continually

Job 1:21 - And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Psalm 139:23-24 - Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

I Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Dear God, help me to not be resentful when something doesn't go exactly as planned. I would rather continue showing trust in You than to be resentful. Did surgery day go exactly as planned? No. But did I become resentful? No. I left it in Your hands where it belonged. It was out of my control. I had complications before we could go in and they needed a successful IV that wouldn't infiltrate like the third attempt did. Is recovery going well? Not entirely, but I knew it wouldn't be an easy one. But instead of being resentful, I am finding the positives. I am trusting You. Thank You for blessings and blessings in disguise. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

He Is Your Living God

Psalm 139:14 - I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Colossians 1:29 - For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

Dear God, as my body fails even at a younger age than most, I pray that You keep my spirit alive and well as it grows over time in closeness with You. The human body in all its intricacies that You wove together is not designed for an abundant life. The spirit within, however, is jumping for joy at the prospect of eternity with You boundless and not burdened by a human body. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, October 19, 2015

Come to God Defenses Down and Ready to Be Blessed

Exodus 33:14 - And he said to him, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

I John 1:5-7 - This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

Dear God, may I be able to get well enough to find a new church that will be loving and accepting, fully accepting, of me and my autism. Church was fine for a while until I was diagnosed and then it was just unpleasant as can be. After the diagnosis, church felt fake because the heart of the matter was corruption present and no one being able to speak up with the truth without fear of being punished. Church should never be punishing. It should be a safe place where everyone from a variety of backgrounds can come together and be honest and truthful with one another and feel loved and accepted. But for so many like me, church is not that place. It does not mean that we have no relationship with You. It just means church has forgotten how to be a CHURCH. Autistics hate facades. We are brutally honest. May I never come to You trying to hide myself. May I always be open and honest with You, especially since You know the deepest parts of me that I do not even know myself. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Keep Your Eyes on Him as You Go Gently Through This Day

Isaiah 26:7 - The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous.

John 10:14-15 - "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Dear God, right now, I have an obstacle that is keeping me from volunteering and doing the things which I love to do: it is post op. I am advised to call the ENT Monday about options for mucus reduction since I am not allowed to blow my nose until the doctor follows up with me on my ears. Another obstacle that seems impassable is with regard to my immune deficiency with below range subclasses now. We are now in consideration for a trial run of infusions during the season in which I am most vulnerable, but the doctor does want me to see the newer immunologist to get her thoughts. So now I await that referral to be made and an appointment (which hopefully will not take as long to obtain as one with the other one does). I am looking to You right now because I really only have two choices: I can either balk at the obstacles set before me or I can trust You to get me through them. Thank You for hearing me and knowing me. Thank You for allowing me to know You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Anxiety Comes From Lack of Focus

Luke 12:22-26 - And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have. Neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?"

Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Dear God, remind me when my thoughts wander and become anxious that You are still there. Can I add an hour to my life by being anxious? No. If anything, being anxious can actually take hours from my life. Oh, how much more do You care for me than the birds of the air or the flowers of the field, yet you have made it so they are never in need. Are there things to be anxious about? Yes. But how should I respond to those anxieties? By putting my trust in You and placing them in Your hands. Thank You for caring about me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Friday, October 16, 2015

Look to Him Continually

Psalm 34:4-6 - I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 

Psalm 105:4 - Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

II Corinthians 1:3-4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

Dear God, thank You for peace that is constant despite whatever tests and trials my life may face. Peace that was ever present when my last grandparent passed away finally. Peace that was there when I underwent surgery last week. Peace that will remain there even as I face a major testing of patience with frustration due to an insurance company that has decided to break the law and poo-poo the sickest of their customers effectively prioritizing business over healthcare. Peace that will remain as I continue to fight injustice that is often in my position of rising self-advocate and advocate for the least of these. Peace that will remain even as I fight slander and malice that will arise during the advocacy stage of my life. You hear my cry and You comfort me. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Try to Stay Conscious of Him

Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter o four faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Dear God, help me to remember to put blinders on when I am in the race that You put me in. I need to keep my eyes and my focus on You rather than on those around me who may be trying to distract me from You. Thank You for protecting me and being with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Be Prepared to Suffer for Him in His Name

Psalm 107:21-22 - Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of the deeds in songs of joy!

James 1:2-4 - Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

Dear God, thank You for testing my faith in You. Even in ways beyond belief, when You test my faith, it gives me the opportunity to either trust You wholeheartedly or to grow my trust as I look to You for guidance and support. I may never truly experience true suffering, but the tastings I have had have been opportunities for growth. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Take Time to Be Still in His Presence

Numbers 6:24-26 - "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nation's, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Dear God, thank You for peace that surpasses my understanding and my circumstances. Help me to relax in Your presence and just receive that blessed peace You so freely give to me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, October 12, 2015

Beware of Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of Others

John 4:23-24 - "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 

Dear God, help me to always remember that Your opinion of me is the only one that really matters. You say that I am bought with the blood of Christ, renewed and will be made whole again on the other side. You say that You love me and have forgiven me of all my sins. You say that You will provide for me and that You will take care of me. So what does it matter when someone does not like the way I talk or the way I write or the way I dress or the way I act? I am me, not them. I am me, not You. And I may think that they are the one who is weird or strange or wrong because of the way they do things. So in my mind, I may be exactly okay, but someone else might not be, and in their mind, I am the weirdest thing they have ever met. Who cares? Your opinion is the ultimate opinion and the only one I should care about. Therefore, I am the daughter of a King in Heaven and am loved and blessed beyond measure. Thank You for that. And God, can You touch me with Your healing hands as I recover from the surgery? My nose is now on the mend, but my ears are still in a lot of pain and pressure. Please heal the ears and restore some of the hearing if You will. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sunday, October 11, 2015

God Is the Culmination of All Your Hopes and Desires

Psalm 62:5-8 - For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is form him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into s marvelous light.

Revelation 1:8 - "I am the Aloha and Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Dear God, today I am glad for the good things You have blessed me with, but I am also clinging to You as I am in a state of post-op distress awaiting some relief from the discomfort and a slowing of the post-op nasal bleeding. I pray for Your healing hand to do the work that needs to be done to help me feel better. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Trust Him Enough to Allow Things to Happen

Psalm 37:3-6 - Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your what. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Dear God, without You, I can do nothing. I can do nothing on my own, but I can do everything You help me do. My dependency upon You is a good thing. And sometimes You allow others into my life to help me as well. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Your Long Uphill Journey

Jeremiah 31:25 - "For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish."

Philippians 2:14-16 - Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Dear God, I know the journey is long and hard. And I do trust You. I know my journey may end up shorter than it should be because of some of the challenges You have allowed me to have. But I ask You to help me press on without complaint. Thank You for holding my hand though the journey. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

God Loves You with an Everlasting Love

Exodus 15:13 - "You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode."

Jeremiah 31:2-3 - Thus says the Lord: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Dear God, I will always need You. I will always need Your everlasting love. I may not be able to count on people in this world who have a habit of betraying people and loyalties, but You are one who can be counted on always and forever. That being said, let Your love wash over me as I go into pre-op today and surgery tomorrow. Guide the doctor's hands and give him the wisdom he needs to help my body feel better physically. Let Your healing work be done. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Release Your Worries to Hear His Voice

Psalm 118:24 - This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

I Thessalonians 5:18 - ...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Dear God, one day at a time. One day at a time. Baby steps one day at a time. With surgery coming on Friday comes much anxiety, but if I want to hear Your voice, I need to release those anxieties into Your hand. So please take all my anxieties and what ifs and hold them captive. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Be Willing to Follow Wherever He Leads

Psalm 36:9 - For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Psalm 96:6 - Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the flight of life."

II Corinthians 5:6-7 - So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in. The body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. 

Dear God, where You lead me, I will follow. I do not know where this path and this journey ends, but it should be a relatively good one as long as I am following You wholeheartedly. Thank You for being on the path with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, October 5, 2015

Joy Is Not Dependent on Your Circumstances

I Chronicles 16:27 - Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. 

Habakkuk 3:17-19 - Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. 

Dear God, finding joy in the midst of battling hate pages against autistics on Facebook seems impossible, but I would rather find joy than focus on the negativity of those hate pages. Ugh. They are sickening and disgusting and Facebook has yet to respond appropriately to them. We have several people and organizations on top of things now. God, thank You for joy that is not contingent upon circumstances. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sunday, October 4, 2015

He Is the Creator of Heaven and Earth

Zechariah 4:6 - Then he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts."

John 14:16-17 - "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."

John 16:7 - "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."

Dear God, thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit as a helper in this life. Right now I ask for guidance and direction as I contemplate what the next couple of weeks will hold for me due to surgery and recent events. I also ask You to help every autistic and their families as we go through turmoil with hatred again due to another mass killing that has set some people off. I ask for You to heal the families of the victims and the heroes. I ask for You to intervene with the he lawmakers who have the power to change things in a positive light but have refused to do anything so far. I ask You to show people the error of their logic. God, if someone is placing more faith in a gun than in You, they have created an idol in that gun. Would I say I am a Christian if I was in that situation? Yes. Wholeheartedly and unashamed, I would say I am a Christian. I would pray for Your will to be done. No matter what. Would I be scared? Sure. But I will not deny You. Thank You for comfort, for rest, for wisdom, for love, for grace, for mercy, for hope, for peace, and for justice. In Jesus' Name, Amen!