(February 28, 1998 6:34 AM CST)
"This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
Are you bound to sin?
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth
like the dawn, and your wound
shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the Lord
shall be your rear guard."
Isaiah 58:6-8
The Lord sets you free.
Are you oppressed and put down?
The Lord lifts you up.
Are you hungry for something new?
The Lord feeds you with bread from heaven.
Are you in darkness?
Jesus is the light of the world.
Are you wounded and hurt?
The Lord heals you and gives you strength.
See the glory of the Lord.
He is alive.
He will guard you from evil.
(February 27, 1998 6:06 AM CST)
"Here, then, I have today set before you
You can choose.
life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the Lord,
your God, which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes
and decrees, you will live and grow numerous,
and the Lord, your God, will bless you
in the land you are entering to occupy.
If, however, you turn away your hearts
and will not listen, but are led astray
and adore and serve other gods,
I tell you now that you will certainly perish;
you will not have a long life on the land
which you are crossing the Jordan to enter
and occupy."
Deuteronomy 30:15-18
What will it be?
Life or death?
Prosperity or doom?
Do you listen to God?
Is your heart turned toward God?
What is more important: God or money?
Will you live or perish?
Will you have a long life or no life?
You decide.
(February 26, 1998 6:23 AM CST)
"Yet even now, says the Lord,
The Lord is kind and merciful.
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the Lord, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment."
Joel 2:12-13
Ask him to forgive your sins.
Return to Jesus.
The Lord is waiting for you to come home.
Seek the Lord while he may be found.
He is very generous.
Open your heart to him.
Today is the day.
Come home.
(February 25, 1998 6:20 AM CST)
"It is he who is head of the body, the church;
Jesus is the head of the church.
We thank the Lord for answering our prayers
he who is the beginning, the first-born
of the dead, so that primacy may be his in
everything. It pleased God to make absolute
fullness reside in him and, by means of him,
to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens, making
peace through the blood of his cross."
Colossians 1:18-20
He is king.
He came first.
He showed us the way.
Follow him.
He died on the cross for us.
We have peace through him.
Ask him to forgive your sins today.
Lent begins today.
Give up watching a TV show and read the
Bible with the extra time you have.
Ask the Lord for special blessings.
Be at peace with all around you.
concerning Iraq. It looks like a peaceful
settlement to the problem.
We pray for all the suffering people in
California and Florida from the storms
this year. Be with them Lord.
(February 24, 1998 6:27 AM CST)
Happy Birthday, Mary!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Do you use your mind or your heart?
God bless you and your family.
on your own intelligence rely not;
In all your ways be mindful of him,
and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
Do you think or feel?
Do you walk a straight road
that leads to heaven?
Ask the Lord to give you a heart like his.
Ask the Lord to show you the way.
Think of these things.
Pray always.
Do what the Lord wants you to do.
Tell Jesus how you feel.
Talk to him.
Jesus, I am hurting.
Help me.
(February 23, 1998 6:28 AM CST)
"He is the image of the invisible God,
Jesus holds everything together.
the first born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth
was created, things visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominations, principalities
or powers; all were created through him,
and for him.
He is before all else that is.
In him everything continues in being."
Colossians 1:15-17
He is life.
He is the next life.
Many things you can't see.
He has created heaven.
It is not visible.
He created the earth and stars.
We can see them.
They are very beautiful.
Creation continues today.
You can be born again.
You can start over.
Ask Jesus to create a new heart for you.
If you feel empty,
you need the love of Jesus.
(February 22, 1998 6:34 AM CST)
"It was now around midday,
Yes, Jesus died a terrible death.
This Wednesday, February 25, is Ash Wednesday.
The next day is a
total eclipse of the sun
.
and darkness came over
the whole land until midafternoon
with an eclipse of the sun.
The curtain in the sanctuary
was torn in two.
Jesus uttered a loud cry and said,
'Father, into your hands
I commend my spirit.'
After he said this, he expired.
The centurion, upon seeing what
had happened, gave glory to God by saying,
'Surely this was an innocent man.'"
Luke 23:44-47
He suffered very much.
He loves you that much.
He wants you to be with him forever.
He was innocent.
He committed no sin.
He was the Lamb of God.
He died in your place.
He opened the gates of heaven.
The curtain has been removed.
Enter in to the gates.
It starts the season of Lent.
Set aside time this Lent to come
closer to Jesus.
Get to know him.
Look and see.
Behold the awesome glory of God.
(February 21, 1998 6:31 AM CST)
"Praise the Lord in his sanctuary,
We give praise to you today, Lord.
praise him in the firmament of his strength.
Praise him for his mighty deeds,
praise him for his sovereign majesty.
Praise him with the blast of the trumpet,
praise him with lyre and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipe.
Praise him with sounding cymbals,
praise him with clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath
praise the Lord! Alleluia."
Psalms 150:1-6
You are so wonderful.
You are the greatest and
deserving of all our praises.
We sing to you.
We thank you.
(February 20, 1998 6:27 AM CST)
"By the might of his glory
We thank you, Jesus, for our redemption.
you will be endowed with the strength
needed to stand fast, even to endure
joyfully whatever may come,
giving thanks to the Father
for having made you worthy to share
the lot of the saints in light.
He rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom
of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins."
Colossians 1:11-14
You have saved us.
We have forgiveness of our sins.
Thank you.
You have rescued us.
You have shown us the light.
Help us to stand fast against evil.
Help us to be a witness to the light.
Thank you, Lord.
You are so kind to us and merciful.
(February 19, 1998 6:28 AM CST)
Jesus said,
Jesus is the light of the world.
"Whoever puts faith in me
believes not so much in me
as in him who sent me;
and whoever looks on me
is seeing him who sent me.
I have come to the world as its light,
to keep anyone who believes in me
from remaining in the dark.
If anyone hears my words
and does not keep them,
I am not the one to condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the world
but to save it."
John 12:44-47
You are in the darkness without him.
Seek the Lord.
Seek the light.
Listen to his words.
Read what he said.
Think about his words.
He does not condemn you.
He offers you eternal life.
Come and see.
Believe in him.
You can trust him.
(February 18, 1998 6:28 AM CST)
"You heard of this hope through
The gospel is Good News to you.
I asked you to pray for Ben
the message of truth, the gospel,
which has come to you, has borne fruit,
and has continued to grow in your midst,
as it has everywhere in the world.
This has been the case from the day
you first heard it and comprehended God's
gracious intention..."
Colossians 1:5-6
It is a message of hope.
You should rejoice and be glad.
Grow in the love of Jesus.
Continue to seek the truth
and to know more and more about him.
Can you comprehend this?
You have been given a tremendous gift.
Receive it.
Be glad.
Thank the Lord.
a few weeks ago (January 30, 1998)
and our prayers were answered very quickly.
Thanks.
(February 17, 1998 6:27 AM CST)
Let us pray for peace in Iraq.
Jesus said to them:
Jesus will come again one day.
May there be a peaceful solution
to this crisis.
"Be on guard! Let no one mislead you.
Many will come attempting to impersonate me,
'I am the Messiah!' they will claim,
and they will deceive many. You will hear
of wars and rumors of wars. Do not be alarmed.
Such things are bound to happen,
but that is not yet the end."
Matthew 24:4-6
He will reveal is glory.
Today he comes to you.
Do you feel him?
He knocks on the door of your heart.
Let the Lord in.
It is not 'The End'.
It is the beginning.
(February 16, 1998 6:33 AM CST)
"We always give thanks to God,
We thank you, Lord.
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
in our prayers for you
because we have heard of your
faith in Christ Jesus and
the love you bear toward all the saints ---
moved as you are by the hope held
in store for you in heaven."
Colossians 1:3-4
We bless your name.
We give praise to you for
coming to earth to save us.
Increase our faith.
Strengthen our hope.
Help us to look forward.
Keep us safe on the path to you.
Make us saints.
Bless our president today.
(February 15, 1998 10:49 AM CST)
Happy Birthday, Jim!
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
Receive the living waters from the Lord.
God bless you today.
whose hope is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.
More tortuous than all else is the human heart,
beyond remedy; who can understand it?"
Jeremiah 17:7-9
He is your life.
Do not fear.
The Lord Jesus is there to save you.
He will help you to grow.
He alone understands your heart.
Come to him.
See and believe.
(February 14, 1998 6:28 AM CST)
Happy Valentine's Day!
"I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
Lord, give joy to our hearts today.
Share the love of Jesus.
with all my heart,
for you have heard the words
of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels
I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name,
because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me."
Psalms 138:1-3
Help us to share your love
with all we meet.
We thank you for loving us.
We bless your name.
We give praise to you.
We sing for joy.
(February 13, 1998 6:20 AM CST)
Jesus said,
Jesus said to examine your heart.
"What emerges from within a man,
that and nothing else is what makes
him impure. Wicked designs come from
the deep recesses of the heart:
acts of fornication, theft, murder,
adulterous conduct, greed, maliciousness,
deceit, sensuality, envy, blasphemy,
arrogance, an obtuse spirit. All these
evils come from within
and render a man impure."
Mark 7:20-23
Are you pure?
Do you have evil thoughts?
Ask the Lord to forgive you.
Ask for a new heart.
Ask for the mind of Christ.
Be thoughtful and kind.
Stay close to Jesus.
He will heal your heart and soul.
(February 12, 1998 6:18 AM CST)
"Trust in the Lord and do good,
The Lord knows what you need.
that you may dwell in the land
and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will grant you
your heart's requests.
Commit to the Lord your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn
for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall
be your vindication."
Psalms 37:3-6
Do you trust him?
Is your heart in line with him?
Send a valentine to the Lord today.
Tell him that you love him.
Are you committed to him?
It will dawn on you soon.
Be bright with Jesus.
What is your heart's desire?
(February 11, 1998 6:10 AM CST)
"My God in turn will supply your
Can you say, 'Amen'?
needs fully, in a way worthy of
his magnificent riches in Christ Jesus.
All glory to our God and Father
for unending ages!
Amen."
Philippians 4:19-20
Has the Lord supplied your every need?
He owns the whole universe.
He always was and always will be.
He is the beginning and the end.
Jesus is the Lord of all creation.
Go to him today.
Give him glory.
(February 10, 1998 6:14 AM CST)
Happy Birthday, Michelle!
"I am experienced in being brought low,
Can you cope?
"I can do all things in him
God bless you today.
yet I know what it is to have an
abundance. I have learned how to
cope with every circumstance ---
how to eat well or go hungry,
to be well provided for or do without.
In him who is the source of my strength
I have strength for everything."
Philippians 4:12-13
I have a hard time some days.
Who is your strength?
Is it you?
Is it Jesus?
Have you lost/gained weight
over the last year?
Do you fast or eat too much?
Do you make time to pray?
Do you waste time?
Do you think about God?
Have you thanked the Lord
for all your gifts?
Jesus is your strength.
He is all that you need.
who strengthens me."
(February 9, 1998 6:20 AM CST)
"Finally, my brothers, your thoughts
Be pure and admirable.
should be wholly directed to all that is
true, all that deserves respect, all that is
honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous,
or worthy of praise. Live according to
what you have learned and accepted, what
you have heard me say and seen me do.
Then will the God of peace be with you."
Philippians 4:8-9
Seek the truth.
Live by it.
Be honest and virtuous.
Give praise to God.
Live by faith.
Follow Jesus.
Peace be with you.
(February 8, 1998 6:37 AM CST)
"Jesus left the temple precincts then,
The temple was destroyed in about 70 A.D..
and his disciples came up and
pointed out to him the building of
the temple area. His comment was:
'Do you see all these buildings?
I assure you, not one stone will be
left on another --- it will all
be torn down.'"
Matthew 24:1-2
Jesus saw what would happen.
He wept for the people of Jerusalem.
Jesus warns us of destruction.
If we do not turn away from sin,
it will destroy us.
Change your life.
Ask for forgiveness.
Follow Jesus.
Walk the narrow road to heaven.
Help others find the way.
Pray to God.
Pray for your city.
(February 7, 1998 6:37 AM CST)
"The Lord is near.
Jesus is close to you.
Dismiss all anxiety from your minds.
Present your needs to God in every
form of prayer and in petitions
full of gratitude. Then God's own peace,
which is beyond all understanding,
will stand guard over your hearts and
minds, in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:5-7
Reach out and embrace him.
Welcome him.
All anxiety will cease.
Be at peace.
Ask the Lord for all that you need.
Be grateful.
God will give you understanding.
Renew your heart and mind.
Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you.
(February 6, 1998 6:31 AM CST)
"I do not think of myself as
Do you have a goal?
having reached the finish line.
I give no thought to what lies behind
but push on to what is ahead.
My entire attention is on the finish line
as I run toward the prize to which
God calls me --- life on high
in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:13-14
Are you moving?
Are you stuck in the mud?
Get up.
Get moving.
Call on the name of Jesus.
Set heaven as your goal.
Your whole life will change.
Run for the prize.
Seek the Lord while he is near.
Run for your life!
(February 5, 1998 6:23 AM CST)
"I wish to know Christ and the power
Are we there yet?
flowing from his resurrection;
likewise to know how to share in his
sufferings by being formed
into the pattern of his death.
Thus do I hope that I may arrive
at resurrection from the dead."
Philippians 3:10-11
Are we there yet?
Have you arrived?
Think about Jesus.
He died for you.
He arose from the dead.
You have eternal life.
He suffered for you.
Have hope.
Do you share in the suffering?
Do you think of others that are in pain?
(February 4, 1998 6:23 AM CST)
"But those things I used to consider
He is the light.
gain I have now reappraised as
loss in the light of Christ.
I have come to rate all as loss
in the light of the surpassing
knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ.
For his sake I have forfeited everything;
I have accounted all else rubbish
so that Christ may be my wealth
and I may be in him..."
Philippians 3:7-9
He is true wealth.
He is the gift of all gifts.
He is joy out of this world.
He is all you need.
The things of this world are a distraction.
What is important to you?
How do you live?
Live in Jesus.
(February 3, 1998 6:29 AM CST)
Jesus said,
Lord, we praise your name.
"When you pray, say:
Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
for we too forgive all who do us wrong;
and subject us not to the trial."
Luke 11:2-4
We give you glory.
We pray for your kingdom to come.
May our lives be holy.
We thank you for the food we eat.
Bless all the farmers today.
We thank you for your forgiveness.
Help us to forgive others.
We need your help.
Protect us from evil.
Be our strength when we are tempted.
Be our refuge and shelter.
Give us hope that springs eternal.
Thank you, Lord.
(February 2, 1998 6:32 AM CST)
"In everything you do,
Do you shine?
act without grumbling or arguing;
prove yourselves innocent
and straightforward,
children of God beyond reproach
in the midst of a twisted and
depraved generation --- among
whom you shine like the
stars in the sky
while holding fast
to the word of life."
Philippians 2:14-16
Are you bright as the stars?
With Jesus in your heart
you will be different.
You are a child of God.
Take the straight road.
May the "word of life" be yours today.
Prove yourselves.
(February 1, 1998 6:53 AM CST)
"Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
David wrote this.
in the greatness of your compassion
wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always...
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me."
Psalms 51:1-5,14
He committed sin.
We all commit sin.
Ask the Lord Jesus to forgive you.
Your guilt is before you.
It will not just go away.
Go to Jesus to heal you.
Be renewed this year.
You are not perfect.
Only God is perfect.
Seek to made whole.
Ask and you will receive.
Be forgiven.
Receive joy.
