Proverbs 16:3New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

3 Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.

Today and everyday forward commit your work to God as your purpose and watch how he will make your plans reality. This happens not because our desires are so great but because our desires are no longer of our own fleshly thought. When we  renew our minds all concern for self falls away.  Then by becoming selfless in our work we are able to focus on Kingdom building without distractions of our own gain.

This morning pray with me that God  will renew our minds and cause a desire to come over us to make our purpose the design of the Almighty. May we come to an understanding this day and going forward,  that our work  needs the blessing from the one God who established our presence.  In the name of Jesus, amen.

I love you as I love Christ

-Rev. Lee

Psalms 121 NRSV

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 He who keeps Israel  will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.  7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;  he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

Good Morning family,
Today's scripture speaks volumes to us believers about how we are well cared for and loved. I imagine the Psalmist, while penning this was reflecting  on former  days and events that illustrated the help of God coming to keep him.  This God, the Maker of heaven and earth does not ever remove the hand of protection from our lives. Even though at times we feel or think as we face obstacles we are all alone. Remember because of  Grace and Mercy, Jehovah is always keeping the worst of life from us. Each of us like the Psalmist can give account of a time when the Lord has kept us from the worst the world has to offer.

Today as we go about our works we should reflect on all the areas in life how God is keeping us! I pray today to for you and I to live a life honoring our commitment to God in all we touch, say, and do. Be blessed brothers and sisters. May God keep you, may God's countenance rest upon you, in Jesus name, amen!

1 Peter 2:18-25
18 Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh. 19 For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds  you have been healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Brothers and sisters, strive to endure to daily as many oppress you unjustly so that God will be glorified.  I realize that it is difficult to let others mistreat you and not say or do anything. This is a hard battle at times especially for me. But when I read today's scripture I immediately was convicted! I am glad that God is  merciful and that by Grace I still have the opportunity to work on enduring while suffering.    I pray for your encouragement and mine as well.
Almighty God give  your children the ability to endure hardships and difficulties. Send your Holy Spirit to support them as face  injustices from their oppressors. After their time of trouble help heal their wounds and restore them. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

I love you as I love Christ.
-Rev. Lee

1 Peter 2:11-13 NRSV

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge."

Today's scripture talks about how we need not to lean unto our own desires, the physical things that drive us to compromise our sanctification when we come under attack from those that seek to harm us. These attacks occur  in the mundane areas of our daily walk. For example; at work, at the courthouse, in the grocery store parking lot, and elsewhere.   We need not lash out give those people a quick reminder of  'who we are or who they are talking too'. Neither do we need to let the physical urges that we have cause us to compromise us sexually, emotionally, or fiscally.

People around us make it difficult to do what is right! At least that is how many of us see the actions of others. Okay, I will own it, that is how I often feel.  Ownership of personal behavior is important for servitude to God.
I must constantly remind myself that I cannot allow others actions to govern my daily deeds. All I have is my name and that good name will go a long way. So when encountering an adverse  make it your aim to let your response be in service to God. That way when the Almighty comes to your name the only thing that can be said is, "Well done my good and faithful servant."
I pray for your encouragement today in the Lord. May you be strengthen to do what you are called to do honorably more so in the face of adversity. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

-

Acts 18:9-10

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

9 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people.”

Today brothers and sisters I encourage you to speak boldly about Jesus, proclaiming your conviction and to serve God in all that you do. Know that there will always be those that are against you. According to the word of God, the Almighty is deep in these streets (if I can make it plan)!  Paul received this encouragement from a vision given by God as he was teaching to those in the city of Corinth.

Let it also be clear to you that there are many more that will be for you and will stand with you for the sake of Righteousness!

I pray for your peace and understanding, may God order your every step today. Almighty quench the desire to be silent today for our brothers and sisters.  Show them those that will stand with them in the face of adversity. Empower them with your Spirit that they may discern those who come to aid and those in need of a word from you. In the name of Jesus the Christ, amen!

I love you as I love God

-Rev Lee

Matthew 5:14-20New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

The Law and the Prophets17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

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We work hard and sometimes long hours to afford the admission price for the myriad of  sporting events, concerts, amusement parks, and etc that we want to attend. The monetary exchange that we are willing weigh and measure is based on how we see value of those temporal desires  in our lives. 

But the one ticket that all believers want to gain is the one for entrance into the Kingdom. There is not a level of work that we can perform nor hours of service that we could provide to earn a tangible amount to purchase this admission.

Now we who believe have to do something. The Word teaches that we are to let our lights shine because we sit high and exalted. Our works (service to God) should be the guide for all that are trying to gain admission into the Kingdom.

Today, brothers and sisters, go and spread your light to the world. Be obedient to the word of God as you present yourselves before people you encounter today. Whether on your job, in traffic, in the grocery line. Wherever you may find yourself share the righteous fruit that God has bless your life with others.  I pray for yours and my encouragement today and everyday to do the will of God so that the Almighty may receive all the glory from our stories.

I love you as I love God!

-Rev. Lee

My son yesterday started tee ball and during practice he had a few missteps, dropping the ball, not running fast enough, etc. I continued to encourage him and was reassuring that he was doing well. However, when we got in the car he blurted out something that I never expected to hear him say, "I'm a loser and I don't want to play tee ball anymore!" I was disturbed and immediately began to reaffirm his efforts at trying to play this new sport. I was aware that this was uncharted territory for him. Now that means he needs to practice and work at achieving. This opportunity will build character either positive or negative depending on how he approaches it.

I say all of that to encourage you today that even though you may have dropped the ball or did not run your fastest on yesterday. Today's is a new day and the opportunities that God has for you to build positive character is waiting on you to get back out there and practice doing the right thing today.

Remember family you may have loss but you are not losers don't allow anyone to tell you that especially yourself. Those of you that have died in Christ have the victory and those that are undecided, today is your opportunity. Go with God and win family!

It is my prayer for you today that the blessings of heaven and earth are poured out upon you and everything you touch, say, and do is pleasing to God! Amen.

Rev Lee

"Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
 wrapped in light as with a garment.
You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
 you set the beams of your chambers on the waters,
you make the clouds your chariot,
you ride on the wings of the wind,
 you make the winds your messengers,
fire and flame your ministers."

http://olivetree.com/b1/Psa.104.1.NRSV

Sometimes we need to just tell the The Lord that we too recognize His greatness. The Psalmist does that here in today's scripture. Without any request for self or intercessions for others, we should make it a point just to worship the Almighty. 

Let us pray, Father, you grace is sufficient and your mercy endures forever. Your presence is a calming breeze that soothes the raging storm. Your love is like the warmth from the blazing sun. We thank you O God. Amen!

I love you as I love God.

Rev. Lee

"“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single ho...ur to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat? ’ or ‘What will we drink? ’ or ‘What will we wear? ’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

http://olivetree.com/b1/Mat.6.25.NRSV

Family,

Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Isn't it good to know that God wants nothing from us but to strive for his kingdom and righteousness? For those do not know this it is very simple. All we have to do is love Him mind, body, and soul, as well as each other and ourselves. For this day strive toward prayer and alone time with the Almighty, allow His love to penetrate every fiber of your being. Then give that same compassion to someone else. Whether in traffic, at work, in school, or in your home.
Let us pray. Almighty God we submit ourselves to you for your will this day. Grant us wisdom to think and interact with you family and others for your righteousness to prevail. This is our prayer, in the name above all names Jesus. amen

I love you all as I Love God.

Rev. Lee