For The Team

I'm sometimes amazed at the degree to which some sports fans take their enthusiasm. You've got your yellers. Your face painters. Your extra large foam fingers. Some fans are so dedicated they withstand extreme weather: rain, snow, blistering heat and freeze-your-toes-off cold are mere blips on the radar with these folks. They are unfazed. It's almost as if there is an unspoken ranking of fandom; the more adversity you endure the bigger fanatic you are.

Outward expression of these devotees is just the beginning. Batting averages, field goal percentages, handicaps, and player statistics flow easily off the tongue as if they were reciting their own birth date. It's typical water cooler talk, perhaps even dare I say, expected? Did you see that game over the weekend? How about that incredible play that team made? My team beat your team. Go team!

As moms our favorite team likely consists of players who aren't destined for the NBA, NFL, or PGA. But there we are, in our matching team t-shirt, wearing our giant button with the sweetest face. All of it proclaiming our loyalty to our little Johnny Football or Susie Soccer. We've got our game face on and a box of goldfish crackers to celebrate with. If only Little League had foam fingers.

How hard is it for us as Christians to have this much enthusiasm for God? Are we willing to go to the extreme for Him? What if the questions at the water cooler went like this:

• Did you hear about that great thing God did for me over the weekend?
• What about that incredible miracle God did?
• My God (and yours) loves you.
• Go God!

Heavenly Father,

Show me how to be a champion for you. Let me be bold in my exuberance for you. Help me to proclaim my love for you around others. Don't let me be sidelined by my own fears and reservations. I want to proudly share with others the blessings you have shown in my life. Open my eyes and my heart to those who need to hear you glorified. May my outward appearance reflect my loyalty to you, Lord. You deserve my praise, my adoration, and my worship. Give me the desire to study your word, God, so that I may learn all about you. Scripture reveals how your abilities surpass all others. When I feel defeated, show me all the ways you have overcome the enemy. Remind me that I cannot lose when I have you in my life. You are not only the coach but the star player and you make me better when I'm on your team.
Amen


"The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him - my father’s God, and I will exalt him!" - Exodus 15:2 (NLT)

Random Acts of Kindness - Day 1

 

Have you ever been the recipient of a random act of kindness (RAK) from a total stranger? Maybe someone took care of your coffee at Starbucks. Or a neighbor anonymously mowed your lawn. Maybe you were fortunate enough to find yourself at the receiving end of a large gift such as a car or money for medical bills. If you've ever been on the receiving end of RAK you know just how good that makes you feel, especially if you're going through a difficult time. But an act of kindness doesn't have to be some grandiose display; a kind word, an act of thoughtfulness, or a pleasant smile are just a few simple ways to show kindness to those around you. 

In the bible we see all ways in which Jesus shows kindness. Of course Jesus is not random, his deliberate kindness is an integral part of his ministry here on earth. He spoke kindly to the woman at the well when the rest of the world was ignoring her. He was kind to the lepers while others shunned them. He washed the disciples feet when they should have been kneeling to worship Him. Jesus was still kind as he hung dying on the cross when he sought God's forgiveness for those who had been malicious toward Him. Kindness means humbling yourself when you'd rather be self-righteous. Being kind means you have to lay yourself down despite how you feel about that person or situation. Kindness is easy when we like someone, but Jesus was kind to all - the poor, the sinners, the hopeless, the diseased, and even to those who tortured Him.

Heavenly Father,

What a blessing it is when everyone is kind to one another. But we know in this world we run across all sorts of people who are inconsiderate, unthoughtful, and spiteful. Lord, we ask that you be with us today as we encounter others. Despite our feelings, we need you to help us to be good-hearted and compassionate to others. When that angry driver is riding our bumper, let us be the first to be considerate and let them pass. For that mom in the store with the kid throwing an inconsolable fit, let us be the one person who smiles and tells her she's doing a good job. Show us all the ways today in which just a kind word or friendly glance would make someone's day. We're here to shine your light, Lord. Make us a beacon in this dark world. Let not one opportunity for kindness pass us today. Keep our eyes open and our hearts soft to those hurting around us. Thank you Lord for the kindness you have shown us through your sacrifice on the cross. We pray that today we would be a perfect example of your gracious love. In Jesus' glorious name,

Amen


"The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness." Psalm 145:17

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12

On Our Hearts: Rejection

This week our prayers are going to focus on the lies that we are deceived into believing about ourselves. The devil's persistence in trying to break us down may be strong but it is no match for God's absolute truth. This week we're going to expose just some of the devil's lies that cloud our thinking and interfere with us having a triumphant life in Christ.



We've all been there. Call it denied, overlooked, or ignored - it's still rejection and it still hurts. No one wants to feel unwanted or worthless. And it is especially painful when someone you love rejects you. It is in our nature to want to be accepted and valued. And yet how do we deal with the daily rejections? And let's face it, rejection happens to each of us daily. Our co-workers, our children, our friends, and even our own spouse will reject us at times. Jesus understands how you're feeling when others dismiss you, He felt it too.

Heavenly Father,

We are so thankful that you understand just exactly how we are feeling. Like us, you felt rejected, forsaken, and discarded by people. We've been told we're unqualified, unworthy and unlovable. But your word tells us that we belong to you, Lord. And You have not made us inferior. You have given us Your Holy Spirit and You have equipped us to overcome tribulation. You never overlook us, You never forsake us, and You never reject us. Thank you Father, for we are perfect in Your eyes. We have no need to look for acceptance here on this earth when we have Your unfailing love and devotion. Holy Spirit prepare us for the disappointments that we will encounter and strengthen us when we feel defeated. Remain in us to stand strong and to not let the devil steal our faith. Let us courageously stand up when we are told we are unlovable, and shout - Jesus loves me! When we are told we are disqualified, may we proclaim - I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God! And when we are told we are unwanted, may we declare - My Father accepts me just as I am!

Amen


"Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won't turn any of them away." John 6:37


"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

On Our Hearts: Family

Heavenly Father,

The season is upon us. It's that time of year where family often makes an extra effort to be together. A time to surround ourselves with the ones we love and to be reminded of what truly matters. So why is that while we attempt to connect with our loved ones we find ourselves full of dread? There's the family member that is just a little too nosey, the one who knows how to push our buttons, and the one with the annoying habit that likes to ruin everyone's fun. Suddenly that loving moment turns into one big aggravation.

Father, please forgive us when we feel resentment during this time. Restore that desire to spend time with our family. Let us love them exactly where they are and not where we wish they would be. Give us patience and grace when handling awkward and uncomfortable situations. Let us stand firm in our faith when we are tested by those we love. Give us a supernatural understanding when it comes to dealing with our family members. And let us be the one true example of Your love. Thank You Lord, for the family that You have given us. May we be blessed and be a blessing this season.

Amen

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." James 1:19

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12

On Our Hearts: Hope

Heavenly Father,

There are days when we just feel so alone. We're tired, we're stressed, and we're running on empty. It's so easy just to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for ourselves. The devil tells us that we are the only ones going through what we're going through, that no one else understands us, and that we're never going to get out of the pit of troubles. We feel that we're not good enough, not smart enough, and that no one could possibly love us. But Your word tells us different.

Lord, we ask that you pick us up. Dust us off and wrap Your loving arms around us. Just as You were able to make the blind man see, You can open our eyes to the beauty that You have created us to be. Just as You made the lame walk, You can transport us from pity and despair to joy and hope. Lord, You are capable of what feels like the impossible. We can rest in You and have hope that we are not alone, we are bound for greatness, and that we are lovable. Lord, the next time self-doubt and pity creeps in we ask that You replace those feelings with confidence and hope.

Amen

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

On Our Hearts: Bad Days

Heavenly Father,

We all have one of those days. The car won't start, dinner was burned, the electricity went out - life is full of unexpected challenges. Sometimes we let those inconveniences get us down and get in the way of how You want us to be. We grumble and moan, gripe and complain, and let everyone know just how annoyed we are. We don't have control over these things that irritate us, but we can rest in the fact that You do.

Lord, we ask that you give us Your spirit of joy, despite the circumstances. Thank You for the car that wouldn't start so that we could spend the extra time with our children this morning. Thank You for the scorched dinner that allowed us the excuse to go out to eat and be waited on. Thank You for the power outage that forced us as a family to sit down and actually talk to one another. Lord so fill us with gladness that it overflows into everything that we say and do. Let Your light shine so brightly that others see You in us.

Amen

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

On Our Hearts: The Word

Heavenly Father,

We are so thankful that there is a place where we can go and find the truth. Whenever we have a need we can turn to the Bible and read Your word. Your word is filled with encouragement, support, wisdom, and instruction. The Bible has all the answers if only we would seek them. There is no question that You have not answered. For every challenge in our life, Your word has the solution. We praise you Lord, for giving us a lamp to guide us as we take this journey in life.

Lord, we ask that You give us time each day to get into Your word. May we find the encouragement we need first thing in the morning, the covering we need throughout the day, and the comfort at night to rest. We know that when our hearts are turned toward You, God, that we will not stray. May we use Your Word as a fortress against the enemy. With the Bible as our protection we will not be defeated.

Amen

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

On Our Hearts: Good Fruit

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being such a good Father to us. You are constantly there to teach and guide us along our path. As sinners we are often selfish, quick to anger, and impatient with those who annoy us. Our desire is to be more like You, Lord, but all too often we fall short. Our disobedience only reminds us just how much we need to rely on You.

Lord, please give us Your fruits. We ask that you show us how to be loving to those who appear to be unlovable. May we show kindness and patience even when our nature wants to be mean and hurtful. Open our eyes to see joy and goodness when the rest of the world only sees heartache and despair. We pray that we remain faithful to Your word when we start to stray. We need you Father, work a miracle in each and every one of us.

Amen

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

On Our Hearts: Staying Positive

Heavenly Father,

Day in and day out we encounter people who are constantly trying to throw us off track. Their behavior challenges us to respond negatively, their actions dare us to speak harshly, and their words cause us to think the worst. From the business client to the family member, they unfortunately are not obedient to Your word and therefore do not convey the truth. Lord, we don't mean to stray from the course but the struggle sometimes gets to be too much.

We pray that we can remain strong in You when the world is pulling us down. Lord, we ask that You give us eyes to recognize negativity and the strength to stand up to it. We want to immerse ourselves in You, Lord. We ask that You not only become a barrier between us and the ugliness of the world but that we will use Your truth as a lantern to bring light where there is darkness. We ask this in Jesus' mighty name,

Amen

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." Isaiah 5:20

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 14-16