A Moral Nation - Proverbs 28

S - Proverbs 28:2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily.
But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.
O - When a nation looses its morals, the nation crumbles easily. However, if you have wise leaders who understand this limitation, they can turn the nation around and bring stability.
A - Our nation is facing a very interesting time where morals are becoming very low and it seems like almost anything goes. We need leaders who can stand up and show the nation the folly in this and lead the nation in a way that brings stability. I show I be one of those leaders?
P - Heavenly Father, I thank you this morning for the nation that I and my family lives in. I thank you that you have always been a part of this nation and that you have blessed us. Forgive me and all of us in the nation for not focusing on you all of the time and for thinking we could do things better than you could. I pray that our leaders are full of wisdom and lead this nation in a morally and ethically sound way. Use me in your plans to be a leader as well, even if it is just with my family, or with a few families, or even larger. Speak your truth and your will to me. I love you! Bless my family and me today.

Seek Wisdom - Proverbs 26

S - Proverbs 26:12 There is more hope for fools
than for people who think they are wise.
O - Some people are just foolish and there are others that think they are wiser than they really are. This verse is saying that being a fool has more hope than the other. This is because once a fool discovers that he is a fool, he may change. However, the person that thinks he is wise will never listen to anyone else to discover that they are not as wise as he thinks and therefore will never change.
A - I need to submit my ego and listen to others that God has put around me. By doing this I will not be foolish in thinking I am wise and in essence miss out on a lot of wisdom that I don't already have. Admitting that I don't know something is difficult, but not admitting I don't know something can be evenmore dangerous as I make decisions and live life in a way that is foolish. I will also look to God daily for His wisdom and I know that He can even give a more perfect answer than any wise man on earth can give me because He knows all.
P - God, I praise you and thank you for all that you have done for my family and me. I praise and thank you for your goodness and for your Son that you sent and sacrificed for us. I ask you today for wisdom. I want to do and say and act in a way that is wise and uplifts people and turns their eyes to you. I'm sorry for all the times that I have been foolish in not listening to you or to those that you have put in my life. Bless and heal my family and me today.

Don't Be Lukewarm - Revelation 3

S - Revelation 3:15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
O - God was saying that the church in Laodicea was just lukewarm. Not being completely filled with love and respect for God but also not denying that He is their savior. Because of this He wants to spit them out.
A - Am I lukewarm? Am I really showing that I have surrendered my life to God? Am I letting God drive my life? The answers to these questions seem to vary depending on the day that I ask them. Therefore, by definition, I am at least sometimes lukewarm. I, today, give complete and utter control of my life over to God and look to Him for guidence. I will devote myself to honoring, serving, and praising Him because He deserves every ounce I can give Him.
P - God, you are the creator and provider of everything. And today I come before you and thank you for everything that you have done in my life and that you will continue to do in my life. I am sorry for not always letting you in my life or giving you control. Please take the wheel and guide me and protect me through this life. Give me strength and courage to do what you have called me to do and the wisdom to fulfill this calling. I ask for blessings and health over my famiily and me today.

God's Wisdom - Revelation 2

S - Revelation 2:23 ...Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person.
O - God not only knows what everyone is doing but also what everyone is thinking and intending to do.
A - God has a level of understanding and insight that no one else in the entire world can have because he knows the thoughts and intentions of everyone. Because of this, I NEED to ask and desire His guidence in my everyday living and especially in my many decisions that I need to make. God will help me through challenges even better than I could ever think of myself because He know what is going on around me.
P - God, I pray to you today that you would guide me and protect me throughout my day today and everyday. I pray for your wisdom and guidence in our adoption journey and ask that I see even just a hint of that wisdom in this area so that I may be able to see where and what needs to happen. I ask that you guide that hands and hearts of those involved with this situation towards your plan and purpose. I surrender my feelings of helplessness and questioning and I cast these cares to you today. Thank you for taking these and for your help throughout all my days. I pray that you would bless my family and me today and keep us healthy and pure.

God is With Me - Matthew 28

S - Matthew 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
O - This is Jesus' promise to the disciples and to me that He will be with us always, even to the end of time.
A - What a very exciting and comforting message this is to me. Even when I feel all alone or that God isn't guiding my path, I know that He is there with me. It is up to me to look to Him and seek His guidence as He is a perfect gentleman and will not force things on me. Once I seek Him and ask for His perfect wisdom, He will give it to me as He cares for me.
P - God, Everything about you is perfect. I thank you for your everlasting presence in my life and your willingness to stand by me even when others may not. I pray that you will give me wisdom and strength today to do what you have called me to do and to be the man and husband that my family needs me to be. I love you Lord and I am forever grateful for all that you have done and continue to do in my life. I pray that you continue to bless and heal my family and me today.

Stand Firm For Him - Matthew 24

S - Matthew 24:9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.[b] 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other."
O - Jesus is telling about the end of the world and what will take place. In these passages he is talking about the pain and affliction Christians will endure in those last days; persecution, death, and hatred, just to name a few. Because of this many will fall away to save themselves and betray and hate their fellow Christians.
A - We are seeing some of that today with the media portraying Christians as intollerent and bigots. Because of that people are starting to shy away from saying the truth, in love, and lowering standards or even worse, questioning their own beliefs. I need to be ever aware of this slippery slope of lowering standards, God's standards, and questioning who I am or even who God is. I can boldly stand on Him and for Him but do so in a way that doesn't show that I hate others or am better than others. Some may be attracted to this and want what I have but others will continue to shun me and God, but that doesn't mean that I need or can bring everyone to God. Keep standing for Him and sharing Him with others.
P - God, I stay before you today asking and pleeding for your forgiveness. I pray that you will forgive me for the times that I haven't been bold for you or questioned you. You are the creator and my protector and I ask for your forgiveness. Help me to be bold for you and to live a life that pleases you even if it means that I may not "succeed" here on this earth. My pursuit of success in this life should not and will not run over the truth of you or change my values. I pray that my life is a living testimony to you for my family and for others to see and to also follow you. I pray for your protection, healing, and blessing today on my family and me.

Be a Humble Leader - Matthew 23

S - Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
O - Jesus is talking about the hypocricy of the Pharisees and how they love to be at the head of the table and receive the respectful greetings in the marketplace. He is warning to stay clear of this type of activity and to be humble. In the end, those that are humble will be exalted.
A - I am situationally placed in my home, in my business, and at work in a place of leadership. I need to be always aware of these verses and be a servant and humble instead of lording over others and exalting myself. God wants me to be a servant leader; one who does what he teaches and leads not for my own gain. In doing this, not only will I be exalted in the long run but more importantly, God will be glorified as I give Him all the glory and honor for what He has done through me.
P - God, I pray that you be with me today and that you guide me. Help me to be a man full of humility and always willing to serve. Use me for your glory and help me to pass along these values to my children. I pray healing over my house today and I pray that you protect us all. Have your way in my life, Lord!

Stand Firm In My Faith - Mathew 22

S - Matthew 22:46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
O - In trying to trap Jesus and catch Him saying something that would be allow them to arrest Him, Jesus would just turn the table on them and ask them a questions in return. These questions were very puzzling to the people and they didn't know how to answer them. Because of this, they gave up trying to trap Him and asked Him no more questions.
A - There are people that try to trap me as well. These people want to prove that what I believe is not true and that logic may prove otherwise. First, I need to be learned in the topics and second I need to stand my ground and be confident in my faith. Nothing shows more confidence that asking a challenging question back to the person that is trying to prove me wrong. I believe without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the Son of God and that the Bible is the inspired word of God and NO ONE can shake me of this.
P - God, I pray to you this morning that your healing power comes down on my family today. I thank you that your healing power restores my children immediately and that Christa and I continue to be free from any sickness and disease. I ask that you be with us all today as we near the adoption that you have called us to. Give me wisdom to lead my family into this challenge and give me the faith to trust you everyday of my life. I praise you Heavenly Father! You are amazing! Bless my family and me today.

Serve Others - Matthew 20

S - Matthew 20:26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.
O - Jesus is talking with the disciples about who will be chosen to sit in the place of honor in heaven. He basically said that if you want that seat you need to be a slave, not even just a servant.
A - Serving others is not only important but it is essential. A slave is someone who is legally bound to another person. Being a slave means giving up every personal right and luxury to assist and aid another person. This is the way that we are to live this life. To live a life full of personal sacrifice and serving others just as Jesus did. I am going to look for opportunities to do just this throughout this day.
P - God, I pray that you give me opportunities today to serve and bless others. Help me to keep my eyes focused on you and others around me instead of just on myself and my family. I pray that you bring healing into our house and that you protect us and keep us safe. Be with me and my family and guide us and lead us. Use my thoughts, words, and actions today to be a blessing to others and to show others your good love.

Be All In For Jesus - Matthew 16

S - Matthew 16:25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
O - Jesus is talking here to his disciples about the coming circumstances of his death and resurrection. The disciples would have a choice of following him or not and Jesus tells them that in order to save their life they will need to give it up and follow him. Without doing that they would in turn loose their life and their soul.
A - I can't be half in and half out in serving and living my life for Jesus. I need to be radical in the way I live my life for Him and serve Him. If I go off living my life for myself and trying to succeed on my own, I will end up losing my soul. I need to be an "All In" type of Christian and live in a way that others can see this from afar. I also need to be an "All In" person when it comes to fulfilling the call that He has given me. No more playing with this vision; but time to get after it and stay after it until I complete it.
P - God, I come to you today to ask for forgiveness in how I have lived my life and made you second best or a second thought at times. I am all in for you and want to live a life that is pleasing to you and that will attract others to you. Help me to communicate this to my wife and children as well so that they too can live a life pleasing to you and influence those around them. I pray that you will be with me today and bless my thoughts, words, and actions. Protect, heal, and bless my family and me.