A LABOR DAY PRAYER

Please remember as you celebrate
a day off from work, there are many
in this country who do not have work.

Let us pray:

My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
hold close to your heart those who are
searching for work. Encourage their
spirits to persevere. Soothe tense
relationships that threaten to tear their
families apart.
Turn our hearts toward them in
compassion, generous support, and
efforts to open doors of opportunity,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(Adapted from Daniel Benedict Copyright © 2003
The General Board of Discipleship)

GOD LOVES YOU!

When We Need To Confess A Sin

Scripture:

"In Christ we are set free by the blood of death,
and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich
is God's grace." (Ephesians 1:7) NCV

Reflection:

When is the last time you felt the need to
confess a sin. I really don't think most
people feel the need, or rather they feel the
need but just don't do it. I know you have
heard the old expression, "Confession is
good for the soul". Guess what it is true!
You see that is the real beauty of being a
Christian. When we are believers in
Christ there is forgiveness of sins. It is
as simple as asking God to forgive us.
Thats what the killing of Christ was all about.
As He forgave all for His death, He will
forgive you for your sins all you have to do
is believe and repent. Remember
"Repentance is good for the soul".

Prayer:

My father, I call to you and name you as eternal,
ever-present, and boundless in love. Yet there
are times, O God, when I fail to recognize you
in my daily life. Sometimes shame clenches
tightly around my heart, and I hide my true feelings.
Sometimes fear makes me small, and I miss the
chance to speak from my strength. Sometimes
doubt invades my hopefulness, and I degrade my own
wisdom.
Holy God, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset,
remind me again of your holy presence hovering near
me and in me. Free me from shame and self-doubt.
Help me to see you in the moment-by-moment
possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously,
and to speak from my wisdom.
Hear this prayer oh God as I confess my sins.
(confession)
I thank You for Your forgiveness in Jesus Name
AMEN!

When We Feel TrappedWhen We Feel Trapped

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (New Century Version)

7 We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay
jars that hold the treasure. This shows that the great
power is from God, not from us.8 We have troubles
all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not
know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of
living.9 We are persecuted, but God does not leave us.
We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed.
10 We carry the death of Jesus in our own bodies so
that the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies.11
We are alive, but for Jesus we are always in danger of
death so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies
that die.12 So death is working in us, but life is working in you.

Reflection:

Do you ever feel trapped, I mean really trapped.
I know I do. It seems like sometimes my problems
are surrounding me even to the point that I see no
way out. There are a lot of people who feel that way.
It's like I'm in a trash compactor, and my problems
keep closing in on me, to the point of crushing
me. I feel defeated by all my problems.
This is how it was before I became a Christian. I
was defeated, I was in a constant depression.
I felt so worthless and so afraid of my problems,
I refused to get out of bed. Unfortunately this
happens to a lot of people, and it is a very real
problem in many families. How did I over come
this depression? In my bed I discovered life and
true victory through what Jesus Christ has done for me
by dying on the cross and rising again. That's
right through prayer, study, and meditation, I found
victory in Jesus. Just believe, and He stands
victorious for you!!!!!

Prayer:

Oh God I Believe!

Watch Out For False Prophets

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV

3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the
serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led
astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus
other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a
different spirit from the one you received, or a different
gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it
easily enough.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

12And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order
to cut the ground from under those who want an
opportunity to be considered equal with us in the
things they boast about. 13For such men are false
apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as
apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan
himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade
as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what
their actions deserve.

­Reflection:

There is the story of of English robber called Captain
Thunderbolt who escaped the law and moved to the
eastern US in 1818, he began practicing medicine. He
took on the name Dr. John Wilson. Often he wore three
suits of clothes to escape recognition by making himself
look larger and covering up a deformed leg.
Just before the man died, he asked his friends to bury
him without removing his clothes. But to prepare his
body for proper burial, that request could not be honored.
The mortician was surprised to find scars from ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­wounds
and a withered leg. A search of "Dr. Wilson's" house
revealed a stash of watches, jewelry, and diamonds.
The sheriff learned that the doctor was in fact Thunderbolt,
a thief in disguise. They had been fooled.


Well the point is the devil and his followers have there
disguises too. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:15 "Satan's
ministers also transform themselves into ministers of
righteousness." And they are very good at it, you must
always stand guard. They are often very difficult to discover.
They are very deceptive. They look like you and me, they
often appear to be kind and loving, and they too often act like
they care. But they are really false teachers and they have
been around since the time of Paul. One way to tell that they
are false teachers, is that they teach false doctrine. You see
they almost always teach that your good deeds will bring you
rewards and salvation. And we know that this is not true,
because Paul warned us not to be deceived by the devil's
craftiness (v.3). The truth is: "By grace you have been saved
through faith...: it is the gift of God, not of works: *Eph. 2: 8-9);
PLEASE DON'T BE FOOLED
Remember= "Satan has many tools, but deception is the
handle that fits them all."

Prayer:

Lord I ask You for the power of the Holy Spirit so I can
recognize false teachers. Give me the strength and the
power to overcome their evil. Thank for Your love and Your
truth's. In Jesus Name Amen

When We Feel Discouraged

Scripture:

We know that in everything God works for
the good of those who love Him. They
are the people He called because that
was His plan." (Romans 8:28) NLT

Reflection:

One of the most difficult things about
being a Christian is the concept that
when we are in the middle of a
discouraging situation in our lives,
we are to see the good in it. What
in the world is good about the pain of
divorce, or my child's real anger at me,
or the empty feeling you have because
of the total betrayal of trust in adultery.
The answer is... there are times I just don't
know. But there is one thing I know and
I believe, that God is working out His plan
for my good. It's true , I really believe this.
For example: One of my children, when
she was in her teens, became very, very
angry with me. This was a deep seeded
anger, and there was nothing I could do
to help. She wouldn't speak to me for
months, this was tearing both of us apart.
But I knew God had a plan for me and for
her, and through His wonderful grace, we
were able to work it out. Now we are closer
than ever. Praise the Lord! You see I am
a child of God, He takes care of me, God
has a plan for me. How about you, are
you His child!

Prayer:

Oh mighty God come into my heart, I want
to be your child. I want to believe. I know
that you are there for me and you bring the
good out in everything that happens in my.
life. Keep me focused oh God on the fact that
when bad things happen to me, I am a part
of Your plan, and You will show me the good.
In Jesus Name Amen.

WHY THE HECK GO TO CHURCH!

Scripture: Exodus chapter 40 The Tabernacle Completed
(Read the whole chapter, it's not that long.)

v9. Take the anointing oil and sprinkle it on the Tabernacle
and on all its furnishings to make them holy. v10. Sprinkle
the anointing oil on the alter of burnt offering and its utensils,
sanctifying them. Then the altar will become most holy. v11.
Next anoint the large washbasin and its pedestal to make
them holy.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."
Matthew 18:20

Reflection:

You know a lot of people read this chapter, and end up
saying, Who cares? This chapter tells us about the
planning, and makeup and building of the Tabernacle
(the church). You may read this and think it's boring,
but there is some real meaning here for us. You see
this chapter is about worship, and how it should really
matter. Some how we take this beautiful concept that
God is everywhere, and use it as an excuse not to go to
church. We say I can worship God in my own way,
or I am worshiping God in nature, or I can worship
God at home listening to the football game. The truth is
it is important to go to church. You see we are not
a club, we are not a group, we are not even a charity.
We are members of a family! And the glue that holds
our family together is the Holy Spirit. We as a church
are the family of God. We as a family who gathers together
and worships our God. We commune, (have in common),
with each other and our God. What I recognize, is how
wonderful it is to have the honor to share in this divine
fellowship. Through church I never have to be alone, that
at any given time I can turn to Him and my church family
for direction.
" Your Christian community is essential to your
spiritual growth. It's members guide, correct, comfort,
and forgive you. God designed it that way. Think
about your "immediate family" in Christ, those you
worship and fellowship with. Thank God for the
ministry that each individual has in you life."
(Closer Walk).
THANK GOD FOR CHURCH!

Prayer:

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love
of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you
all" (2 Corinthians 13: 14)
­