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Thank you again Neal Windham, for some great "Harvest Devotionals" last week!
Our next non-"Red Letter Recall" Devotional will be Thanksgiving Week, then Christmas, and New Year's, but all other weekends up till Easter, we will be going through Jesus' words in Matthew and how we can "RECALL His words" & help each other to finish well!
Now, for a shameless plug to get your TICKETS for "Christmas at The GRAND" in New Albany Tuesday December 10...
Doors open at 6PM...
but you know I'll let you in at 15 till…
I hate to see anybody stand out in the cold!
We have special singing guests this year… CA Dreyer, Emily Belvi, Dom Fitzgerald, and Jim Holderman! As well as the Finishing Well Band & a few orchestral friends!
We'll have the usual great desserts from Sweet Stuff with soft drinks & coffee.
The program will be last from 6:30 till 8 PM. It's entitled, "MAKE ROOM".
When the GOD of all creation sent His only Son to save mankind from their sins, you "make room" for Him!
The INNKEEPER in Bethlehem did the best he could, considering every motel was overbooked that weekend. He had to "make room"...
The ANGELS had to "make room" in their schedule to split the heavens declaring the first JOY TO THE WORLD...
The SHEPHERDS had to "make room" during their night watch for a "must-see" trip for the baby the angels had told them about...
And in this season of our lives, WE get to help each other "make room" for what God wants to do thru us with the time we have left this side of heaven!
It's going to be a great evening and I sure hope you will be able to join us!
Now, we shift gears and get ready for not just another week of devos, but an "ELECTION week" of devotional thoughts. And there won't be as many "thoughts as there will be prayers".
What else can you do with an election like this year, except pray, "Lord Jesus, come and ALIGN us back to You"..... or "Lord Jesus, come quickly", which was the prayer of the apostles & the early church.
The older I get, the more I understand that prayer.
So would you join me in simple prayers of an election week and a government such as ours.
Less words from me.
More prayers from us.
And may the cry of our hearts reach heaven!
MONDAY...
"Prayer for the Heart of the CHURCH"
Lord, deep in our hearts, we know that delayed obedience is really disobedience. We have not stood for your values and your vision as we should. Now it appears that the erosion in the spiritual character of our nation is glaring as we have drifted far away from standing for what you've told your people to stand for and live for.
Raise us up, Lord Jesus. Give us the boldness we need to declare how we've been created by You in the midst of a "gender-confused culture". What your intent is in regard to the holiness of a man and a woman coming together in marriage.
May we love as You loved, with more discernment than discrimination. With open arms, yet honest hearts.
And may we defend Your integrity with deep conviction about what is right and wrong in Your eyes.
May Your Church, oh Lord, be beautified, purified, and rise to the occasion of standing for Your truth… & stooping to reach those who need Your help.
May YOUR people...
transcend THEIR culture!
TUESDAY...
"Prayer for the Heart of the NATION"
Many people have already cast their vote, Lord, but know today's the deadline.
May You prompt the heart of the people of this nation to consider more of WHAT they're voting for, rather than WHO they're voting for.
The Church in Ephesus (Rev 2) had lost their original love for you and for one another, Lord.
The Church in Laodicea in the next chapter had become indifferent & apathetic due to a proud arrogance and lack of dependence upon You. We've wandered far as well, Lord.
So today we pray for our nation. We pray for the "restoration of respect" for You as it would be displayed by Your followers. Soften the hearts of the people of this nation, oh Lord.
May broken people come to the end of their brokenness and be able to hear the message of Your love.
May You return the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers.
May You break the arm of the wicked and bring to light the heart and motives of all those "saturated with political rhetoric" who frustrate those who long for simple honesty.
We, as believers lift up this nation, O Lord. We long ago chose to be under You, but has since have chosen to avoid the "shadow of the Almighty".
Bring us back, Lord.
May we humble ourselves before You and pray. May You heal & restore the spiritual heart of this nation. May you forgive us of our sinfulness & heal this nation. And may judgment begin with the household of God.
WEDNESDAY...
"Prayer for the Heart of the LEADERS"
In 1 Peter 2:13, Your word says, O Lord, that we are to "respect all human authority, whether the king as head of state, or the officials he's appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong & to honor those who do right."
And Paul says in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, we are to "pray for all people and ask God to help them. To intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them. And to pray in this way for kings and all who are in authority, so we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God, our Savior who wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth."
So today, Lord, we lift up those leading in our GOVERNMENT...
May you remind them of their obligation and privilege in serving & leading. May they realize all authority has been ordained by You.
May they somehow realize the great truth of Acts 17:26-27, that declares, "from one man, You created all the nations throughout the whole earth. And You decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and You've determined their boundaries. Your purpose has been that the nations would seek after you and perhaps feel their way toward You and find You since You're not far from any of us."
We lift up local officials, statewide government, and those in power on a national level. May You do what we can't do at times, which is to get their attention. May You remind them of their great responsibility and opportunity blended together, which is to serve You as they serve us. And may they desire YOUR wisdom as they govern diligently.
Also, Lord, we lift up those who lead & shepherd in the KINGDOM of God...
In Hebrews 13:7, we are to "Remember our leaders, who taught us the word of God. Help us think of all the good that has come from their lives and help us follow their example of faith".
And we're reminded in verse 17, "to obey our spiritual leaders and do what they say. Because their work is to watch over our souls and they will give an account to God. Help us give them a reason to do this with joy and not be a burden because it would not benefit anyone if we did that."
Help them lead with integrity, oh Lord, because they are the "guardians of our souls".
Bless them.
Protect them as well as us.
THURSDAY...
"Prayer for the Heart of the LOST"
Your word reminds us, Lord in 2 Peter 3:9, that You are "not willing that anyone would be lost, but that all people would come to repentance!"
Long ago, Lord, when You talked to Abraham in Genesis 12 the first 3 verses, You made it clear to him, that You wanted to bless the whole world…every nation...and you intended to do that THROUGH him!
You made it clear to Peter in Acts chapter 10 when you sent him to talk with Cornelius that you wanted the “the Gentiles” to come into your kingdom, not just “the Jews”. Thank you for that Lord because I'm an outsider who's graciously been let in to Your family. But I'm not the only outsider who needs to hear of your Amazing Grace!
We are surrounded, Lord, by people who aren't sure you exist in trying to get through this life, not knowing that we will all stand before you and give an account of our life.
Help us take your message to them with "greater boldness" as the early church did in Acts 4.
Help us "remove the roadblocks" that they stumble over, as well as the ones WE stumble over in our spiritual clumsiness.
"Help us as the AWKWARD...to reach the WAYWARD!"
Help us be "salt and light, creating thirst and dispelling darkness".
Help us point them to You.
Help those of us who have STARTED the blessed "CO-mission" You've invited us to join, Lord, to complete it!
May we not look to OUR finish line, Lord, but to THEIRS!
May we "leave the 99"...
And as we lift up Your Son, may You, Father, draw them unto Him...
FRIDAY...
"Prayer for the Heart of the LEAST..."
Lord, Your word says in Matthew 25:40.... "In as much as you have done kindness to the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto Me."
This election week we lift up those who are hurting, alone, & oppressed. I'm sure by this time of the week the animosity on one side or the other will have escalated. We'll most likely be sorting out a lot of things. And in the process, those who are typically overlooked & undervalued will be so even more.
Lord, interrupt our lives & prompt our hearts, so that when the political drama increases, we won't ignore those who are so important to You. We represent You to them, but Your word teaches they represent You to us. "Help us help" those whom we have the opportunity to nurture, encourage or provide some form of compassion.
May we not let others become "invisible", for our "busyness" seems to be at an all-time high Lord. Help us not be preoccupied looking "past" those around us who need "care from us in Your name".
So our prayers this week, Lord, are that You might raise up Your Church to transcend our culture...
That You might heal & forgive this nation as hearts turn back to You....
That you might bless the leaders in our government and the shepherds in Your kingdom…
May You prompt our hearts to reach the lost with your gospel of Amazing Grace…
And may “You” move our hearts to express "appropriate compassion" when we see folks that are hurting whom we can help…
Praying for you and for us…
All week long…
Love you guys,
george
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