Pray For Everyone - 1 Timothy 2

S - 1 Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
O - Paul says to pray for ALL people. We are to give thanks for them and intercede and ask God for help for them.
A - It is real easy to pray for people that are close to me and mean a lot to me. However, I need to get over any feelings of hurt or selfishness and pray for ALL people. Even those that may hurt me or my family or those that I see throughout the day that look like they need help or are hurting. I need to focus my eyes on others and curb the selfishness that I have within me. One of the best ways to get rid of selfishness is to pray for others continually and another is to offer people this business.
P - God, I thank you for this word today. I praise you and lift up your name and stand before you in awe. I pray today for those that are hurting in life, for those that need a miracle for healing. Give me your eyes Heavenly Father to see people as you see them and to have a heart for everyone. Bless the leaders of our country, the leaders of our state, the leaders of our church, the leaders of my work, and the leaders of our community. Give them wisdom to guide those under them in a way that is pleasing to you and will not hurt anyone. I pray Lord that you would watch over my family and me today and bless us tremendously. Put people in my path that need help and give me the strength and courage to reach out and help them.

Homosexuality is Wrong - 1 Timothy 1

S - 1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
O - Paul is writing to Timothy and telling him to teach the Ephisus people the good news and to help them from just becoming learned and debating theology. For this type of debating many of the time focused on the law but as he says here the law is made for the unrigtheous. One type of unrigtheousness is homosexuality. In verse ten the word whoremonger means one who is sexually immoral (male or female) and the phrase defile themselves with mankind means one engaging in homosexual acts.
A - In my mind, this verse clears up the whole debate on homosexuality and whether we as a nation or state should allow marriage to be between the same sex. I can and will stand firm on this verse and the meaning behind it. I need to be aware and careful, however, to not point my finger at people that are homosexuals in a manner that judges and condemns as this sin is no different than me talking with my wife or family without love. Homosexuality is a sin but no different than any other sin. I am to hate the sin but love the sinner and love him/her into the kingdom of God.
P - God, I pray today that your spirit come down in this state and in the country and in the word and permeate the hearts and minds of the people and help them, and me, to stand firm in your word and live lives that are pleasing to you. I pray that you give me a stage to proclaim what is right and to give me the confidence and strength to go through this growing time to get this stage. I ask that you give healing to everyone in my family and me and to also bless us today as we go about our day.

Live A Life Worhty of His Call - 2 Thessalonians 1

S - 2 Thessalonians 1:11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.
O - Paul is encouraging the people saying that they are doing good and any persecution that they are suffering will dwarf the reward they will have in living with Jesus. They these verses are encouraging them and praying for them to have the will and power from God to live a life worthy of his call; and by doing so their lives will honor God.
A - Am I living a life worthy of his call? Am I being persecuted because of His name? Do others even know that I am a Christian? Does my life prompt others to ask "What does he have that I don't have?" Not all of these questions can I truly answer "yes" to. These are the questions I need to ask myself daily and work to be able to definitely answer a resounding "YES". My God, my fortress and my all, needs to be honored and glorified through my life!
P - Lord God, I stand in awe before you this morning in thanksgiving and praise. You have blessed my life tremendously and have given me wonderful children. Help me to live a life that is worthy of your call and to be a shining light for your glory. Help me to also pass that along to my children and help them to have that will power and to be a shining light for you. Lord I pray in the name of Jesus that I and my whole family have complete health and restoration of our bodies. I also pray that you bless my family and me. I pray this all in Jesus' name.

Jesus Died To Save Us Not to Pour Out Anger - 1 Thessalonians 5

S - 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.
O - Paul is talking about the end of time and how the time is unknown to us and will come like a thief in the night. However, he says that Jesus sacrificed for us so that we would live and not to pour out anger on us.
A - There are times when we as Christians say, "Why is God doing this to me?" In this verse here it disputes that notion that God is angry at us and that is why we are suffering. Jesus died on the cross and gave the ultimate sacrifice for us not so that we would be suffering here and in eternity but rather that we would live with him in eternity and rule on the earth with God as in heaven.
P - God, you are amazing and worthy of every ounce of praise and honor that I can give to you. I thank you for your son Jesus and for what He did for me and my family. Help me to spread the good news of Jesus and give me the strength and courage to do this aboundantly. I pray that you heal me and my family of the sicknesses and diseases that are attacking us in the name of Jesus. Also, bless my family and me today.

Show Love - 1 Thessalonians 4

S - 1 Thessalonians 4:9 But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.
O - Paul was affirming that the teaching of Jesus to love each other was very important.
A - I really need to focus on this. First and foremost, I need to love Christa all of the time and show that love in a way that she needs. God has given me such a gift in her and I don't always treat her the way that shows love. Next, I need to love me children and give them time, attention, and unconditional love. They need love to thrive and the love that I give them will teach them what God's love is like. And finally others; I need to show love to everyone that I know and meet in a way that they can know of Jesus' love for them. Even those that I may struggle with, I need to show love to them always.
P - God, you are the creator and perfecter of love. I ask that you help me daily to walk in love and to treat people in a way that they can feel this love and then turn around and give it to someone else. I pray for protection, healing, and purity over everyone of us in our house today and everyday. Bless my family and me today.

Owe No Man - 1 Thessalonians 2

S - 1 Thessalonians 2:9 Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.
O - Paul was a messenger of God but yet he still worked hard so that he wouldn't place a burden on others to provide for him. He felt that it was important that they not provide for him as then Paul wouldn't be in debt to them or have to teach them only what they wanted to hear. When he owed no man anything he was free to teach God's word free and pure. Also, the people would probably be more receptive to the word as they didn't have any resentment in their hearts for all that they did for Paul.
A - I too need to work hard to provide for my family and I and not rely on any handouts. Being in debt to no man is very important in that there is no obligation that needs to be recepricated. Additionally, if I am not here, I do not want to place this burden on Christa. Instead, I can work hard and look to God to provide richly above and beyond what I could think or ask.
P - Heavenly Father, I pray that you bless my thoughts, words, and actions today and that you give me the strength, courage and determination to do what is right and to work hard in all areas of my life. I pray for healing and that I and my family be completely healed from any pains, sicknesses, and diseases. I trust in you Lord and I praise you not only for what you have done in my life but just for who you are. Bless my family and me today and give me your eyes and your heart today to look at others and see what may be troubling them and then uplift them.

God is My Shelter - Psalms 91

S - Psalms 91:9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
O - This is the psalm of protection. David says IF the YOU make the Lord you refuge and your shelter no evil or plague will come near you.
A - I have and will continue to make the Lord my refuge and my shelter. I know that I can't do everything on my own and I look to God for my protection. Because of this, I can be confident and sure that no evil and no plauge can come not only near me but also my home and family. This means that sickness and disease have no power over me and if they start approaching me, by the name of Jesus they will have no foothold here and will need to flee. Also, spiritual warfare is so much easier as the name of Jesus has such great power that the enemy is forced to flee from my house.
P - God you are so very good. I place my trust in you and make you my shelter and refuge. I cling to the promise that you have made that you will be always near me and that your loving arms and angels will protect my family and me. Help me to be the man that you have called me to be and bless everything that I put my hands to today.

God Withholds No Good Thing - Psalms 84

S - Psalms 84:11 The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
O - David is praising God in this psalm and talking about how God blesses those that follow Him and stand next to Him. Here he says that good things will not be withheld from those that follow Him and do what is right.
A - God will not withhold what is good when I follow Him and do what is right. Why then is He not giving us the desires of our hearts? It doesn't say that He will give all good things it says He will withhold no good thing. Maybe what we are asking for is good but He has something even better for us and he is just waiting for us to find that better thing and desire that and He will give it to us. God is so very good and He wants to bless us tremendously. I need to always follow Him and do what is right.
P - God, you are always good and your mercies endure forever. I pray today that you show me what good things you have for me and give me hope that these things will come to pass. I desire these good things to bless my wife and children just as you bless your children. Help me to do what is right daily and put in me a termometer that I can look at and see if I'm doing right/hot or wrong/cold. I love you Heavenly Father. I praise your name and strive to give you glory in all that I have. Bless my family and me today.

God is Good - Psalms 73

S - Psalms 73:28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
O - David was trying to figure out why the unrigtheous were prospering and he came to the conclusion that God had a plan for them and they would slip and fall and all would be lost. David than said this verse that he has made God his shelter and he would proclaim His goodness to everyone.
A - How good it is to be near God! Because of Jesus dying on the cross I can be near to God and be under His shelter. He will protect me from things that I could not weather by myself. He has and will heal any sickness or disease that comes against me. What an awesome gift! I need to proclaim this from the rooftops and to everyone that I meet and everywhere I go. God is to magnificent to keep to myself.
P - God you are amazing! I love you and thank you for all that you do and have done for me. I thank you for healing of my body and for the shelter that you are providing for my family and me today. Give me opportunity to meet someone today and exclaim your goodness to them and share your amazing news. I love you!

God is My Fortress - Psalms 62

S - Psalms 62:5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
O - David repeats "He alone is my rock and my salvation" at least 2 or 3 times within chapters 61-62. He is putting all of his trust and hope in God for his earthly and eternal protection. In the first verse here, he not only is putting his trust in God but he is waiting quietly before Him. This must be that he is being quiet to hear God and waiting patiently for His still small voice.
A - I need to remember that God is truly the one that can and will protect me and he alone is my hope for this life and for eternity. Without Him, I am nothing. Without the sacrafice that Jesus gave for all people, I would be without hope as He has given us hope for this life and for eternity. I wait here this morning and every morning to hear His voice and heed His call on my life.
P - God, I come into your presence today and stand before you eagerly and honestly waiting for you and your power. Fill my life with your hope and your protection. Use me Lord for your kingdom! I stand on the rock and fortress that you are so that I can go out and do what you have called me to do and to touch people's lives for your glory and your honor. I pray that you be with my family and me today and that your blessings and healing would also fall on us and stay with us daily.

Seek Godly Wisdom - 1 Kings 3

S - 1 Kings 3:11 So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— 12 I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! 13 And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!
O - God told Solomon to ask for anything that he wanted. When Solomon asked for wisdom, the verse above was God's response. Because Solomon asked for wisdom to better lead God's children, God blessed Solomon as well.
A - God's wisdom in my life is also what I need and strive to listen to. This is more important than all of the material blessings of this world bacuase with His wisdom He will guide me and put blessings in my life that I can use to further bless His church.
P - God, I thank you this morning for all of the blessings that you have given me and the wonderful family and the healing power on our lives. I ask you for your wisdom in my life today and everyday that I can lead my family and others to follow your ways and to fulfill the purpose that you have for my life. Bless my family and me today.

Honor Godly Leaders - 2 Samuel 15

S - 2 Samuel 15:21 But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death.”
O - Ittai was a foreigner that just arived in Jerusalem before David fled the city as Absolom was coming against him. David told him that he didn't need to come with him as David was unsure of even where he would go to flee from Absolom. This verse is Ittai's response back to David. I don't know the whole story but I can envision that he knew David was a strong man of God and obviously a leader. Because of this he felt that he should stay with him and possibly protect him.
A - The are strong men on God in my life that are leaders, like Tom, Steve, and Pastor Rob. I am committed to defend and protect these men even when the circustances that they may face are not as they would want or hope for. They may be in need of me around them even just to show that I support and believe in them.
P - God, you have put Godly leaders in my life and I thank you for that. Help me to give them the due respect and protection that I can give them to encourage and strengthen them. Help me to rise to also be a Godly leader that can influence many other people for the good of your kingdom. Bless my family and me today and I pray the blood of Jesus over us all.

God is the Magic Behind My Words - Psalms 51

S - Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
O - David had sinned with Bathsheba and is writing this psalm asking for God's forgiveness. He was broken and couldn't find joy in his life so he was asking for God to restore the joy that he has from God's salvation and that God would help him to be obedient. Both of these requests were not for David's pleasure or even his family's but for others, even rebels, as he was going to teach them God's ways.
A - There are times in my life when I am seeking God's forgiveness and joy but I need to remember that it is not just for me but so that I can pass God's joy and peace to my family first and then to others, even those rebels. I can only do this when I remember that it is God's salvation and God's goodness and God's grace that really does everything for us and not the words or actions that we do. I still need to step out and say what needs to be said and dod what needs to be done, but it's God's joy, love, grace, and peace in my heart that puts the music behind it that really makes it work.
P - God, I praise you this morning for your holiness and your goodenss and grace are so evident this morning. I pray that you give me strength and courage today to go out and do what you need me to do. Let your love shine through my eyes, words, and actions so that those that I am with know that it is you that gives this strength and they desire to have what I have. I pray that you bless my family and me and heal us all.

Consequences For My Actions - 1 Samuel 13

S - 1 Samuel 13:15 Then suddenly Amnon’s love turned to hate, and he hated her even more than he had loved her.
O - Amnon was the son of David and he loved his step-sister Tamar. He created a plan to sleep with her but she begged him not to do this as both he and her would live in shame afterwards. Amnon wouldn't listen so he raped her. As soon as he was done, his love turned to hate.
A - I won't do anything that drastic but there are times when I know I should do something and don't or do something and shouldn't, I know immediately that this was wrong. I have God inside of me and have His wisdom and I need to tap into that wisdom when my spirit is troubled with a decision. God has given me the wisdom to be able to look passed the immediate circumstance and see the ramifications of my action or lack of action. I will listen to this wisdom and do what is right or what I am called to do.
P - God, I thank you for the wisdom that you have given me and the ability to talk with you and ask you for guidence. I pray that you give my spirit a check when there is a decision that needs to be made and I am leaning in a way that is not following the path that you have for me or going towards a decision that will hurt my family or me. I pray a blessing over my family and me today and give healing to all of our bodies.

Pray Fervantly and Persistantly - 1 Samuel 12

S - 1 Samuel 12:16 David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground... 22 David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’”
O - Because of the adultery that David committed, God told David that his son would die. When he became sick, David prayed fervantly and persistently all the while fasting and laying before God. He did this because he so desired that God would change His mind and save his son.
A - There are things in my life that I too need to pray fervantly and persistently for and be committed to fasting and looking for the Lord to move and carry out this desire. Three areas that I need to do this with is for the protection and blessing on my wife and children, for blessings on Christa and my marriage, and for strength and courage to be the man, husband and father that my wife, children, and others need me to be to lead, provide, and protect them.
P - God I come to you today to worship you. You are everything to me and I kneel before you and your goodness. Thank you for your forgiveness for my sins and the wrong that I have done to others. I pray that you bless Christa and my children. Help them and guide them to be who you desire them to be and protect them each and every day. I pray a blessing and protection over our marriage. I pray that it is strong and tied in so tigthly with you and completely blessed. Help me to be that man, father and husband that my family so desperately desires. To be a man that not only has fun and brings joy and happiness but that also focuses on the important things in life and teaches and directs his family toward you and the things that you have called us to be. Give me the strength, courage, and faith to do these thing and to overcome any fear or doubt that may try to creep in. Bless my family and me today.

Do What I'm Called To Do - 1 Samuel 11

S - 1 Samuel 11:1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
O - This is the beginning of the story of David and Bathsheba. The whole reason why David was unfaithful and committed adultery at this time was that he wasn't at war when he should be.
A - I am no different than David, if I do what I am called to do, temptations will not be as prevelant. I can been called to do great things and lead people and by not doing these things, I am sitting around and that is when temptations are more prevelant. God can and will give me the strength and courage to go out and accomplish these things and even though there are times that I may not want to do what I'm called, once I'm out doing them I too am reinvigerated!
P - God, You are truly awesome. I come to you today and ask that you bless my thoughts, words, and actions and that you forgive me for the times that I have not done what I'm called to do. I pray that you give me strength and courage to do what I am supposed to do and the foresight to know that those feelings of laziness and procrastination are not from you but a lie and darkness from the pit of hell. I pray in the name of Jesus that these be bound and thrown out of my life and out of my house and family. Bless my family and me today.

Seek His Will - 1 Samuel 30

S - 1 Samuel 30:8 Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?”
And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”
O - The Amalekites had attacked an Israel city and burned it to the ground after taking all of the women and children and great plunder. David's men were so angry that they talked of stoning David, but David found strength in the Lord. He asked God if he should go after them and if he'd catch them. In my mind that was a no-brainer as if my wife and children were taken I'd go chase after them immediately. David was probably no different but he still wanted to seek God's will and be in submission to God.
A - Most likely I'll never have a scenario in my life with this much grevity but there are and will be times that are difinitely troubling and I need to look to God for guidance. He has and will speak into my life and answer my calls for guidance. When I go to Him, I need to be like David and expect an answer every time as God only rewards faith.
P - God, forgive me for the times that I have went forward with what I think is the right thing to do without consulting you. I desire to you you speak into my life and provide guidance. I ask that you speak so clearly when I ask for your will so that there is no doubt in my mind of the direction you want me to take. I ask for your wisdom with this adoption journey and the path that we are are and going down now. If there is a different way or a alternate path that you want us on, I pray that you tell me clearly. Thank you for your presence in my life and my family's life. Bless us all today.