– Scripture:

                 the rescue

We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation—I don’t want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God’s deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part.

                           2 Corinthians 1:8–11 MSG  

Key Verse – We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened.

 – Reflection:

Reading the passage above it can be taken to be a dark passage of no hope. Then you keep reading and it speaks of how they only had GOD to lean on and he pulled them through it. We have to believe that it will happen, there is no other way for you to go here. We have tried doing it on our own, and it hasn’t worked. Allow GOD to rescue you.

Where do we go from here?

I can tell you to place your trust in GOD as I am doing, but if you are a new believer just coming to god this will be a hard concept to grasp just giving your life over to GOD who you really don’t even know. I seriously begin to do just that though because it works. He will rescue you if you allow him to.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, I come to you this morning humbled because of all the rescues you have come for me. I will continue to allow you to rescue me and lean on you because that is what you have asked me to do. I trust that you are who you said you are and that you have me always in a safe place. Amen.

 – Scripture:

                 Share you have plenty

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.

                           2 Corinthians 1:3–5 MSG

 – Reflection:

There are times when God will allow us to go through a painful season so He can birth something new inside. If you go through something you don’t understand, God allowed this to happen because He trusts you. He knows He can count on you to take the same comfort, the same healing, the same encouragement that helped you overcome this trouble and share it with others.

Where do we go from here?

Don’t get caught up in a painful situation, wondering, “Where does this piece of my puzzle go? It’s ugly, and it doesn’t make sense.” Keep moving forward. Go out and find somebody you can help. Healing comes when you get outside yourself and help others. As long as you stay focused on your pain, what you lost, and what didn’t work out, you will get stuck. There’s a blessing in that pain. When you’ve been through something, you’re uniquely qualified to help and comfort somebody else. Look for opportunities. God is counting on you to help others facing the same thing.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You that there are lessons in the painful situations we experience that we can use to help others. Thank You that we have something to give, some encouragement to share, some wisdom to impart. Help us to give away what You’ve given to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 – Scripture:

                A Great Break

When she got up to go back to work, Boaz ordered his servants: “Let her glean where there’s still plenty of grain on the ground—make it easy for her. Better yet, pull some of the good stuff out and leave it for her to glean. Give her special treatment.”

                         Ruth 2:15–16 MSG

Key Verse – Better yet, pull some of the good stuff out and leave it for her to glean. Give her special treatment.”

– Reflection:

Having read the passage this morning in “Ruth 2” about Ruth and her everyday struggle just to have enough. Give me a feeling of trying to get a business started or begin working out again. She needed a break and got one from a leader in the village that allowed her access to his fields and, as you can read in the Key Verse, allowed her the good stuff so she didn’t have to work hard, which was giving her special treatment. We all are in that place, sometimes needing just a little special treatment; we know that will get us through. Hold on to the promises you have in your heart about Christ and work toward the goals that have nothing to do with anyone else; run your race, and you will be fine. God has your GREAT Break ready for you.

Where do we go from here?

Find your strength just as Ruth did to pick yourself up every day and do what is necessary without bothering anyone else. Work what GOD has placed in you, and you will be fine. Leave another person’s dream to them; it wasn’t meant for you; walk the path laid before you. Once that begins to happen, all will fall into place.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for allowing us the same access to you that Ruth had in her day. I know that if we honor one another as we do most days and get better in that space, change will happen for the better. Our community has to be the change because of you, Jesus we can work and believe that better breaks are available to us. Continue to allow us to watch our path and not want what someone else has. Amen.

 – Scripture:

                Standing Firm

Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.

                           1 Corinthians 16:13–14 MSG

 – Reflection:

Having just had our 18th anniversary yesterday, I can say that I have kept my eyes open, been strong where I needed to, and have loved without stopping. No is the time for us all to begin looking for external opportunities to do the same things in our communities. Some people are ready for the changes you want to make around them. Now, the duty is to align with GOD to find out what those opportunities are. This will be a great year in the future, lets honor and trust GOD for what he is going to bring into our lives.

Where do we go from here?

Trust God for what he has placed on your heart; if you don’t know GOD, then I suggest that you get to a quiet place and ask him to come into your heart by saying the following words:

Jesus, I ask You to forgive my sins and save me from eternal separation from God. By faith, I accept Your work and death on the cross as sufficient payment for my sins. Thank You for providing the way for me to know You and to have a relationship with my heavenly Father. Through faith in You, I have eternal life. Thank You also for hearing my prayers and loving me unconditionally. Please give me the strength, wisdom, and determination to walk in the center of Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen. (ROMANS 10:9 MSG)

For the rest of us, continue to find ways to honor Jesus and keep him alive for everyone.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for allowing me the platform to reach any person who needs you and wants to know you. You know that I am a flawed individual who is walking a path that you placed before me. Help me to continue to honor you by bringing others into your presence. It is with all the praise and grace that you have given me that I can honestly say Amen.

 – Scripture:

                        Roots 

God’s Message:

“Cursed is the strong one who depends on mere humans, Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone and sets God aside as dead weight. He’s like a tumbleweed on the prairie, out of touch with the good earth. He lives rootless and aimless in a land where nothing grows. “But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers. Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season.

                         Jeremiah 17:5-8 MSG

Key Verse – “But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers.

 – Reflection:

When we trust GOD and give him our total attention, we notice the peace that is over us. Nothing can shake you because you are rooted in the WORD of GOD. Put all of your faith in the walk that has been prepared for you by our Savior, and talk with him as you walk so that you will better understand the work to be done. The talk is Prayer; prayer gives us the understanding of the work placed on our hearts that only GOD can tell us what it means, so walk and talk. Enjoy every moment of the trip and the conversations to be had.

Where do we go from here?

We’re like trees that are not affected by a drought. We keep on producing even in a drought, we will last longer than our opponents and will accomplish dreams bigger than we could ever have imagined. He has provided us with everything we need to succeed. The bad breaks, the people who walked away, and the unhealthy environments we may have been raised in cannot hold us back because our faith and our roots go deep.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, Thank you for rooting us in our spirits with you when we were born, Lord; we know that it is up to us to come to you and ask to awaken this within us. Today we are all thankful for the roots within us, and we will work hard to honor the work placed within our hearts. All the glory given to our name will be given to you always. Amen.