(January 31, 2005 6:18 AM CST)
From January 2 to 30 my car went from
"For thus were we instructed by the Lord:
Give praise to God.
86,000 to 87,000 miles.
I've been driving more this month than usual.
'I have made you a light to the nations,
a means of salvation to the ends
of the earth.'
The Gentiles were delighted
when they heard this and responded
to the word of the Lord with praise."
Acts 13:47-48
Praise the Lord.
The light has come into the world.
Jesus brightens things up.
Be delighted in the Lord.
Lift up your hands to the heavens.
Receive the blessings from on high.
The light is here.
Look and see.
(January 30, 2005 6:32 AM CST)
We pray for the
people of Iraq
I just went outside looking for the newspaper
"Coming within sight of Jerusalem,
Jerusalem is the holy city.
as they vote today.
God be with them.
Give them new leaders that will bring peace
to their troubled land.
and there is a dusting of snow to start the day.
Jesus wept over it and said:
'If only you had known
the path to peace this day;
but you have completely lost it from view!'"
Luke 19:41-42
Even to this day it is a spiritual center.
The conflict still continues ---
good against evil.
Jesus wept for the people of Jerusalem.
He saw that they were lost and in great danger.
They needed to know peace.
They needed a vision.
Jesus, come and save us.
You are concerned for us and our future.
You will lead us to heaven.
We need you in our city.
Change us, Lord.
We call out to you today.
(January 29, 2005 6:32 AM CST)
"This Son is the reflection
Jesus speaks and things happen.
of the Father's glory,
the exact representation
of the Father's being,
and he sustains all things
by his powerful word."
Hebrews 1:3
He is all powerful.
He can create things from nothing.
He literally can move mountains.
He keeps things going.
He keeps you going.
Your heart keeps beating because of him.
He is sustaining you.
He is with you.
Life is a gift.
Treasure this gift of life.
Thank the Lord for his powerful word
that keeps you alive.
(January 28, 2005 6:16 AM CST)
I turned in the key to Post Office box 261 yesterday.
"I am not ashamed of the gospel.
Don't be ashamed of the gospel.
They gave me a dollar back
after I filled out some government form.
It is the power of God leading everyone
who believes in it to salvation..."
Romans 1:16
It gives you great hope for the future.
It gives meaning to your life.
It is power to make it through each day.
It is life-changing.
Don't be afraid to share the good news
of knowing Jesus Christ.
(January 27, 2005 6:20 AM CST)
I checked the Post Office box 261 yesterday downtown
"One who listened was a woman named Lydia,
The Lord is trying to reach you.
at 17th and Farnam in Omaha.
Nothing was there for Spring To Life.
There were two things for someone
that had the box before me.
I will tell them to cancel the box
and give them back the key.
a dealer in purple goods
from the town of Thyatira.
She already reverenced God,
and the Lord opened her heart
to accept what Paul was saying."
Acts 16:14
He is holding out his hand.
He wants to touch you.
Will you take his hand?
Will you accept him into your heart?
Jesus is the key.
Hold on to him.
(January 26, 2005 6:15 AM CST)
Pray for someone I used to work with.
Jesus said,
There will be days when you are in pain.
She had surgery yesterday.
God be with her and heal her quickly.
God bless all the doctors and nurses
and other patients at the hospital today.
"I tell you all this
that in me you may find peace.
You will suffer in the world.
But take courage!
I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
You will suffer.
Offer up this suffering to the Lord.
He is there with you in your time of need.
He suffered for you.
He died for you.
He has overcome all obstacles.
Lean on him.
He will hold you up.
(January 25, 2005 6:15 AM CST)
"Before Jesus had finished speaking to them,
I imagine you would...
a synagogue leader came up,
did him reverence, and said:
'My daughter has just died.
Please come and lay your hand on her
and she will come back to life.'
Jesus stood up and followed him,
and his disciples did the same.
...
When the crowd had been put out
Jesus entered and took her by the hand,
and the little girl got up.
News of this circulated
throughout the district."
Matthew 9:18,19,25,26
if you heard about a little girl
who was dead coming back to life,
you would tell everyone that you met about it.
It was a miracle.
The people were in awe of this power from heaven.
Imagine yourself there and
seeing this little girl running around.
It would be hard to believe it happened,
but you can see it with your eyes.
It left you speechless.
You just wonder about this event.
You have deep sense of joy inside of you.
You have been touched.
(January 24, 2005 6:15 AM CST)
This is from the readings at church yesterday.
We need the light.
"The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing..."
Isaiah 9:1-3
We need to see where we are going.
Jesus is that light.
He has come into the world.
He shows you the way to live.
He leads you to joy.
He brings us great rejoicing.
(January 23, 2005 6:47 AM CST)
"You know well enough, brothers,
You will have an effect.
that our coming among you
was not without effect."
1 Thessalonians 2:1
You will change the world.
Will it be for the better?
Will there be more sunshine in the world?
Live the positive life.
Live a life of joy and peace.
Live a forgiving life.
Live a prayerful life.
Live a life that has a positive effect.
(January 22, 2005 6:34 AM CST)
It was a windy night.
"He will strengthen you to the end,
God is faithful.
The wind was blowing all night long.
It is shaking the house this morning.
so that you will be blameless
on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and it was he who called you
to fellowship with his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:8-9
You can trust him.
You can rely on him.
He is always there.
He will hold you together
against the storms of life.
He is calling you to holiness.
He wants to fellowship with you.
He will do all this
until the day he calls you home.
(January 21, 2005 6:12 AM CST)
We pray for our president
Jesus said,
You can read the words in the Bible
as he begins his second term.
May God be with him and lead him.
"Blessed are they
who hear the word of God
and keep it."
Luke 11:28
and miss the point of it all.
It can be just a nice book to read.
These words should change you.
You should come closer to God each day.
You should become more and more like him.
The old things will become unimportant.
You will be called to greater things.
You will look for ways to serve the Lord.
Let the word of God change you.
(January 20, 2005 6:18 AM CST)
Yesterday I overslept.
"My heart is steadfast, O God;
Have a steady heart.
I forgot to set my alarm clock the night before.
Sorry about that!
Last night I washed my car.
I was telling people you
could not tell what color it was anymore
because of all the dirt and salt.
It is amazing how warm 30 F degrees feels.
my heart is steadfast..."
Psalms 57:7 or 8
May it be locked in to Jesus.
He is the one.
Seek him.
Stay very close to him.
He keeps your soul alive and well.
He warms your heart.
(January 18, 2005 6:20 AM CST)
Yesterday I went to see the eye doctor.
"It has given me great joy
We are all children of God.
He says that the pressure in my right eye
is down to 16.
It was up to 30,
so it is back to normal pressure now.
Thank the Lord!
God bless the doctor and everyone that works there.
to find some of your children
walking in the path of truth,
just as we were commanded by the Father."
2 John 1:4
Let us walk in the truth.
Let us stay close to Jesus.
Let us be with him in the garden.
He brings us joy every morning.
He has much to show us.
(January 17, 2005 6:13 AM CST)
"The grace of God has appeared,
The gift is offered to all people.
offering salvation to all men.
It trains us to reject godless ways
and worldly desires, and live temperately,
justly, and devoutly in this age
as we await our blessed hope,
the appearing of the glory of the great God
and of our Savior Christ Jesus."
Titus 2:11-13
Salvation is offered to every person.
We must reject the ways of the world.
We must pick up our cross and follow Jesus.
We must live for the Lord.
In this way we find our blessed hope.
(January 16, 2005 6:31 AM CST)
Just for fun...
"Owe no debt to anyone except the debt
Do you ever think of someone besides yourself?
see
What dog are you?
Click on "Game" on the left side of this link.
that binds us to love one another.
He who loves his neighbor
has fulfilled the law."
Romans 13:8
Are you concerned about others?
People are in need all around you.
Do you ignore them or help them?
Think of others.
Help them as only you can.
That is why you are there.
Be of service.
God will help you and bless you.
(January 15, 2005 6:52 AM CST)
Good morning.
"They stoned Paul and
Maybe that is you.
It is 8 F degrees below zero.
It is cold.
dragged him out of the town,
leaving him there for dead.
His disciples quickly formed a circle about him,
and before long he got up and
went back into the town."
Acts 14:19-20
You feel like you have been beat up.
You have been knocked down.
You can't move.
You are hurting all over.
The Lord wants to heal you.
He wants to do a miracle for you.
Join with others and pray.
That is very powerful to pray with others.
Ask Jesus to heal you.
Then you can get up and
continue your work for the Lord.
(January 14, 2005 6:16 AM CST)
Jesus explained to them:
Come to Jesus.
"I myself am the bread of life.
No one who comes to me shall ever be hungry,
no one who believes in me shall ever thirst."
John 6:35
He will feed you.
He will sustain you.
You need him daily.
He gives you life.
You need Jesus.
(January 13, 2005 6:16 AM CST)
Jesus said,
This is a promise from Jesus.
"When they hand you over,
do not worry about what you will say
or how you will say it.
When the hour comes,
you will be given what you are to say.
You yourselves will not be the speakers;
the Spirit of your Father
will be speaking in you."
Matthew 10:19-20
If you stand up for him,
he will give you the words.
He will send the Holy Spirit to inspire you.
Jesus is fully able to defend himself
and his teachings.
The truth is there.
Jesus is the truth.
He will give you the words to say.
(January 12, 2005 6:12 AM CST)
One of my 3 African violets died.
"That is why every one of you
Lord, have mercy on my soul.
I think it was too close to the oven
as I was baking last week.
It got fried.
The oven is to the left in this picture.
I did an experiment and
made some banana nut muffins.
They did not come out too bad.
who judges another is inexcusable.
By your judgment you convict yourself,
since you do the very same things."
Romans 2:1
I am a sinner.
Teach me not to judge.
Teach me to love others.
Show me how to lead others to the truth.
Have mercy on me.
(January 11, 2005 6:20 AM CST)
"Now Jesus has appeared
Do you look forward to seeing Jesus?
at the end of the ages
to take away sins
once for all by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that men die once,
and after death be judged,
so Christ was offered up once
to take away the sins of many;
he will appear a second time
not to take away sin
but to bring salvation
to those who eagerly await him."
Hebrews 9:26-28
Are you excited to see him?
He will come again in all his glory.
He will surprise you.
Prepare to see him.
Ask him to forgive your sins.
Ask him to prepare your mind.
Think of him often.
He has come to earth and he will come again.
(January 10, 2005 6:13 AM CST)
One of my relatives is getting married today.
"Love is patient; love is kind.
Jesus, I ask you to bless these two people today.
God bless her and her husband and their families.
Love is not jealous,
it does not put on airs,
it is not snobbish.
Love is never rude,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not prone to anger;
neither does it brood over injuries.
Love does not rejoice in what is wrong
but rejoices with the truth.
There is no limit to love's forbearance,
to its trust, its hope, its power to endure."
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
May they be committed to each other.
May they love each other.
Be with them.
Bless all of us, Lord.
Teach us how to love.
We need your help.
Show us the way, Lord.
(January 9, 2005 6:26 AM CST)
On January 7th I was walking at the
"Let our people
There is something to be said about work.
Mall of the Bluffs in Council Bluffs, Iowa
and found a check on the floor.
It was for $241 made out to
Sears
by someone who lived in Glenwood, Iowa.
Glenwood is about 20 miles south of Omaha/Council Bluffs.
It was dated 12-18-04.
I studied it for a while and
then turned it in to security at the Mall.
It was very strange.
Maybe that family needs prayer,
so pray for them today.
God bless them and be with them.
devote themselves to honest work
in order to take care of their needs,
so that they may be in position
to live fruitful lives."
Titus 3:14
Thank the Lord for your job.
Do the best that you can when you are there.
May your efforts be blessed.
Offer up your work to the Lord.
Be a positive influence to those around you.
May you accomplish great things together.
God bless you and those you work with.
(January 8, 2005 6:28 AM CST)
"When the disciples had rowed 3 or 4 miles,
We try to do things ourselves.
they sighted Jesus approaching the boat,
walking on the water.
They were frightened, but he told them,
'It is I; do not be afraid.'
They wanted to take him into the boat,
but suddenly it came aground on the shore
they had been approaching."
John 6:19-21
We don't even think of asking God for help.
We struggle and try everything ourselves.
We are so independent.
Jesus is there.
He is near.
He is ready to help you with a miracle.
Don't be afraid.
He is there to bless you.
All that you have to do is ask.
Jesus, help me.
I need you.
Help me in this difficult time.
(January 7, 2005 6:10 AM CST)
Jesus told a story:
Jesus is talking about sin.
"When the king came in to meet the guests,
however, he caught sight of a man
not properly dressed for a wedding feast.
'My friend,' he said, 'how is it
you came in here not properly dressed?'
The man had nothing to say.
The king then said to the attendants,
'Bind him hand and foot and
throw him out into the night
to wail and grind his teeth.'
The invited are many,
the elect are few."
Matthew 22:11-14
It binds us up.
It ties us down.
We need to be set free.
He is also talking about being invited.
He invites all people to be with him in heaven.
You are invited.
He asks you to believe in him...
to trust in him...
to surrender your life to him.
Jesus, forgive my sins today.
Set me free.
I need your help.
I accept your invitation to eternal life.
I want to be with you forever.
Show me the way.
Please, help me, Lord.
I need you.
(January 6, 2005 6:10 AM CST)
They say we got a foot of snow the last two days.
"I intend to recall these things to you constantly,
We need reminders.
There is a lot there to shovel.
That is work.
even though you already understand and
are firmly rooted in the truth you possess.
I consider it my duty, as long as I live,
to prompt you with this reminder."
2 Peter 1:12-13
We need to write ourselves notes.
We need to remind others of the truth.
We need New Year's resolutions.
Holy Spirit is there to teach us.
Let us hold on to the truth.
May it be held close to our hearts.
Let us never forget.
(January 5, 2005 6:23 AM CST)
I just finished shoveling the snow outside this morning.
"There are different gifts
The Lord has blessed you with certain talents.
I would say we got about 4 inches so far.
They are predicting more snow later today.
The radio says that all the schools are canceled
and if you are open to call them.
but the same Spirit;
there are different ministries
but the same Lord;
there are different works
but the same God
accomplishes all of them in everyone.
To each person the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for the common good."
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
He has given you special gifts.
They are given to you to help others.
We are to work together to build
the kingdom of God.
When we work together it becomes something beautiful.
I see all the people helping
the people after the earthquake and tsunami in Asia.
God bless all their efforts.
(January 4, 2005 6:18 AM CST)
"The kings of Tarshish and the Isles
People from far away came to see Jesus.
shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him."
Psalms 72:10-11
They saw something in the sky.
It was a sign.
They brought gifts for Jesus.
They gave him homage.
They were touched by him.
May we also come to visit the king of kings.
May we bring him gifts.
May we give praise to him.
Let us serve him.
(January 3, 2005 6:08 AM CST)
We have freezing rain this morning here in Omaha.
This was on a girl's T-shirt yesterday
We pray today for all young people.
They are canceling the schools.
at the Westroads Mall.
"I gave them eternal life,
and they shall never perish.
No one shall snatch them
out of my hand."
John 10:28
May they find Jesus.
May they be protected from harm.
There is so much evil in the world.
May they stay close to him
all the days of their life.
Jesus, be with them.
(January 2, 2005 6:32 AM CST)
"Jesus glanced up and
How do you look at giving to the church?
saw the rich putting their offerings
into the treasury,
and also a poor widow putting in two copper coins.
At that he said:
'I assure you,
this poor widow has put in more than all the rest.
They make contributions out of their surplus,
but she from her want
has given what she could not afford ---
every penny she had to live on.'"
Luke 21:1-4
Is it something you think about?
Is it something you pray about?
Jesus sees your heart.
He sees your intentions.
Be generous in supporting the kingdom of God.
(January 1, 2005 6:26 AM CST)
Happy New Year!
"The Lord bless you and keep you!
Jesus, I ask you to be part of my new year.
God bless you as this new year begins.
The Lord let his face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly
and give you peace!"
Numbers 6:24-26
Change me, Lord.
Make me be more like you each and every day.
Thank you for all that you do for me.
I am most grateful.
You are so wonderful and kind.
I praise you in this new beginning.
You make all things new.
