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Only By God's Grace

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

[Isaiah 6: 1-3 NIV]

Mohammed A. writes:

Reading these verses makes me see how worthless I am before God and makes me realize that it’s just by God’s grace and mercy that I can come before him even in prayer.

The Power of Praying With My Husband

I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

[Jeremiah 10:23 NIV]

Abby, our program manager, writes:

Recently my husband and I were looking through some old journals that we each had when we were courting, and we started to tell each other what we were feeling at those exact moments and how badly we wanted to get married.

It felt like our wedding day would never come! Now looking back it makes both of us laugh, but at that time it was extremely frustrating.

I remember how much we prayed over our marriage and all the steps we had to take soon after (moving, buying a home, etc). It was probably the craziest time we have ever been through, but some how it all went smoothly and without a hitch.

The one thing we both agreed on that helped tremendously was prayer and diving head first into His Word. We sought His face and His will through it all.

We didn’t want to take a step without knowing that He wanted us to.

Now two years later we still make time every day, even if it is just 10 minutes here and there, to pray and read the Bible together. If he travels, or if I travel, we call each other and pray together.

Even with the bumps on the road, we know that God will guide us down that road and then some.

Giving My Burdens to God

[Jesus speaking] “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”

[Luke 12:27-28 NIV]

Tom H. writes:

I admit that I was rather burdened last Saturday. I was thinking about all that needs to be done in these next days, weeks, even months.

I was thinking of the countless hours I need to invest into school. I was thinking of the increasing responsibilities and pressures at work, even the great opportunities - all which require so much of my time. I was thinking of the adoption (we’re adopting a baby!), and all that needs to go into it; the paperwork, the videos, even the preparation for fatherhood. I was thinking about our finances, not knowing how we are going to make all this work.

Yes, I was even thinking too much about the burden of taking out the trash.

I was thinking about how much I could just use a breathe, a moment off of the clock that is my life.

So, I searched through the Scriptures, and came to a familiar passage in Luke 12. It told me that I should not worry.

Now, this text generally deals with God’s provision of food and lodging, and how God will tend to us in all these things. But, I really think that even in the crazy busyness of our day, God will tend to us.

I remembered a story, though I forget some of the detail. A pastor spent hours in prayer each morning, and someone asked him how he could afford to spend so much of his day on his knees. His response was that he could not afford not to; that he had so much to do, he needed God’s assistance or he would never accomplish his tasks. I find great wisdom there.

If God adorns the lilies of the field so beautifully, to only last for days, can he not provide even for me? If I will just look unto him, will he not increase my days and renew my strength for all that I am due to encounter?

So, I continue in faith, and in the Lord’s strength, I place one foot before the other.

But, please do keep us in your prayers. We have so much going on it is hard to grasp it all; let alone start to tackle it all. It can only be done if we will truly give it over to the Lord.

God Removed My Warts

[Jesus speaking] “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

[Matthew 7:7-8 NIV]

Cody writes:

At 12 or 13 years old, I had warts on the palms of my hands. Before biking over to a friend’s house, I realized they were ugly and girls would definitely not like them. I told God, “If you are there, show me by removing these warts when I open my eyes.” Nothing happened.

I got on my bike, got up to speed and hit a small rock, sending me over my handlebars and onto the pavement, hands first. When I opened my eyes after the crash, the warts were ripped out completely. Because of this and other simple happenings, I believe truly in an Awesome, Merciful God!

I Forgave My Cousin

[Jesus speaking] “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, …”

[Matthew 5:44 NIV]

George writes:

I am George N. X. from Kerela, India. I had hatred from my childhood, but I never realized it until I had a business problem with my cousin.

At that time I had just started to know Jesus Christ, and I realized I have hatred. The hatred was so powerful that it destroyed my business, and my bank took action for recovery.

During that difficult time, I tried to understand Jesus, and in my difficulty I discovered that God is love. Then I stopped praying for my financial problem, and I started praying for the Holy Spirit.

Then I asked Jesus how to receive the Holy Spirit. He showed me in the Word to pray for others. Then I started praying for others to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then I asked Jesus, “Who are others?” He showed me Matthew 5:44, which says “Love your enemies.” Then I stopped reading the Bible and said this isn’t possible for me. For the last 12 years I had been trying to love my enemies, and I had failed.

Days later, I read Matthew 5:46, which says “Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that.” From these words I realized my position as a pagan and tax collector.

Then I read Matthew 5:44 again: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the sons of your Heavenly Father.”

Then I started praying for my enemies because Jesus told me in Matthew that the Heavenly Father gives his sons the Holy Spirit. And I know if I receive the Holy Spirit, I will be able to forgive him [my cousin] and love him.

From that day onward I started praying for him [my cousin], and with Jesus’ help I was able to get out of hatred. And when I realized that God never punished Adam and Eve in the garden, I was able to forgive him.

God Answers Prayer

[Jesus speaking] For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

[Mark 11:23-25 KJV]

Sylvia D. writes:

I sometimes just depend on the Lord to show me what he wants me to read and know. I recently opened up my Bible and my eyes fixed on Mark 11:23-25. These verses gave me hope!!

These verses let me know that I can ask of God what I will, and if I believe, he will give it to me according to his will. I am expectant and hopeful, and want others to know that the Lord will answer their prayers and give them what they ask of him.

Just wait on him, and don’t ever give up!!

Daily Audio Bible: God Builds House [3:01]

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

[Psalm 127:1 NIV]

Brian Hardin from Daily Audio Bible, wasn’t living a Christian life based on what the Bible says. He talks about the difficult balance he had between “business” and the Christian Music Industry. Every day, Brian read the verse, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the labor is in vain”

CO3: Unity Accomplishes Much in Life [1:46]

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

[Colossians 3:14 NIV]

Chad Little of CO3 shares how they named their band based on the Bible. They discuss that in unity, a lot can be accomplished in life.

What's Your Bible Verse for 2008?

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

[Philippians 3:12 NIV]

andyDo you sense that God is inviting you to engage the Bible in 2008? If so, I’d love to hear (and I’m sure others would love to hear) your answers to any of the following questions:

  • How do you plan on engaging the Bible in 2008? (For example, do you plan to meditate on Scripture, pray Scripture, study Scripture, read it from cover to cover, etc.?)
  • What’s your Bible verse for 2008? (For example, do you have a particular verse you plan to cling to or implement in your daily walk in 2008?)
  • What do you hope to get out of your engagement of the Bible in 2008?

To answer any of these questions, or to make a comment, use the comment box below. Also, to read what others have written (including what I’ve written), scroll down to the comments below.

I look forward to reading your thoughts, hopes, desires!

Andy Padjen
community host, Share Your Story Now

Paul Baloche: God’s Above All (2:01)

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

[Isaiah 6:1 NIV]

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.

[Isaiah 55:8 NIV]

Christian musician Paul Baloche used to pray, “open the eyes of my heart” and eventually decided to put it to music. He sings some portions of Open the Eyes of My Heart, and talks about his song, “Above All”.

 

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