As each day comes to you,
My thoughts speed out your way,
For all the things you do,
"God bless you, Love," I pray;
​
May life show you its charm,
May God renew your strength, 
​And keep you from all harm, 
You mean so much to me, 
I can't describe my care,
Love holds you close to me,
"God bless you," is my prayer.

Tho you are far away,
I send my love and care,
To keep you every day from trouble and despair,
So do not have a fear,
Keep faith and trust above,
Our living God is near,
"God bless you,"is my prayer

Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

- Writing Excerpt by Ruth Hamilton (1962)

God’s been sharing some deep truths with me about prayer. Our relationship with God is our prize, our end goal, right?

I heard Jamin Goggin say at a recent conference - ‘The Christian life is not about being a good person, it’s about knowing a good person - Jesus.’ In Matt 7:22,  Jesus said that not everyone will enter the kingdom of Heaven. ‘Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name and in you name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Emphasis added).

Prayer is simply knowing God by being in communion with Him - not just communication, but communion. Jesus lived in communion with his Father, not just when he spoke to God, but also whilst he was teaching, preaching and healing. And he wants us to have the exact same relationship with the Father. John 15:4 says ‘Abide in me, and I in you.

Skye Jethani in ‘With’ says ‘this call to dwell or abide is an ongoing state of being, not just a invitation to chat once in a while.’ Nothing is to big or too small to talk to God about - from kingdom come to daily bread. Prayer is not about being presentable. It’s about presenting ourselves to God. -Jamin Goggin. And the things that distract us in prayer are the things that God wants us to talk to him about - that person, that dream, that worry - lay it all before Him.

James 4:8
Draw closer to God, and he will draw closer to you.

​- Rebecca Ng

Are you are faced with a situation or trials that you naturally think you will not be able to overcome? You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4: 4). For everyone born of God overcomes the world (1 John5: 4) so let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess because He who promises is faithful (Hebrew 10:23). 

Yes, God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10: 13).

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, covetousness, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. Not, not, not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] (Hebrew 13: 5 AMP). Worship the Lord your God and His blessings will be on your food and water. He will take sickness away from you (Exodus 23: 25). 

These are promises of the Lord. The flesh is weak but the Spirit is willing, when the Lord speaks and gives His promises for victories, breakthroughs, healings and wholeness, claim it and know that the Spirit within you is greater than any enemies at work in your life. "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33). Thank you Jesus that through our faith in You, we are victorious! Amen.

- Irene Soon 

The Amplified Bible pictures us committing our load to God by rolling it onto Him. It is helpful to note that we can roll something that is too heavy to carry or to cast.

What are we to commit – to trust – to God?

Ourselves. Psalm 22:8
“He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him side he delights in him.”

Our Burden. Psalm 55:22
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”

Our Souls. I Peter 4:19
“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

Our Way. Psalm 37:5
“Commit your way to the lord; trust in him.”

Our Cause. I Peter 2:23
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

Our Works. Proverbs 16:3

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
 
Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this. He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

- Writing of Ruth Bell Graham

“It is easy to think of the poverty far away and forget very quickly. Today, a great disease is that feeling of terrible loneliness, the feeling of being unwanted, having forgotten what human joy is, what the human feeling is of being wanted or loved. I think this is found in very well to do families as well.”

“We may have people hungry for a plate of rice or for a piece of bread but there is a tremendous hunger and a tremendous feeling of unwantedness everywhere. And that is really a great poverty.”  – Mother Teresa

We all can do one thing everyday to relieve the loneliness of another, remembering that each one of us can make a difference in someone’s life by just being there as a friend. There are many types of poverty and this is one that you can help to abolish.

Psalm 25:16
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

- John W

Reflection

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" This designation goes for those who doubt God's sovereignty as well as those who deny HIM.

"Therefore, when we become preoccupied with and dismayed by circumstances and certain people that we doubt God's ability to handle things in HIS own ways, and in HIS own time, then we, too, are fools."

-- Ruth Bell Graham

Quote to reflect:

We soon find it all but impossible to live the Christian life with our own strength and goodness. It is through God's strength that we know courage and through His power that we know goodness. When we realise this, surrender becomes our priority.

Surrendering to Him means growth and progress. It is the freedom of moving forward, with and through Him.

-- Judith Lechman

Reflection

Three steps to sin:

1.       Contemplation - full or deep consideration.                
2.       Rationalization - actions on reasons rather than religious  belief.         
3.       Consent - to agree and give permission to sinful act or behavior.

Sin always affects others

- Ruth Bell Graham

Reflection:

The hard thing to understand is that faith is the one area in our lives where growing up means we must grow to be more like a child, trusting simply in the goodness and complete knowledge of a Father who has our best interest at heart.

-- Colleen Townsend Evans

_ God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking as HE did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that HE will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with HIM. Forever in the next.Amen

-- Reinhold Niebuhr