VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
September 13, 2011

VERSE:
But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the
counsel of the LORD."
-- 1 Kings 22:5


THOUGHT:
This verse is from the wonderful story of Micaiah the prophet.
Jehoshaphat knew not to trust the counsel of false prophets. He was
adamant that before they went into battle with anyone, God's people
needed to first seek the counsel of the Lord! This should also be
our approach to life. So often we ask God to bless what we've
already decided rather than spending time in prayer, fasting, and
Scripture seeking our Father's will. Let's not rush our decisions.
God has promised that he would lead us with his Spirit; let's not
rush the Spirit's input, or even worse, ignore it and then ask God
to bless us anyway!


PRAYER:
Holy and Almighty God, ruler of all nations and Sovereign over
all creation, please guide my decisions as I seek your will and
your glory. I want my life, my family, my work, and my ministry to
be lived in your will. I want to be your servant and not seek my
own way and my own glory. Thank you for sending your Spirit to help
illuminate your Word and lead me and to equip and empower me to
serve you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.



TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

September 12, 2011

VERSE:
Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all
blessing and praise.
-- Nehemiah 9:5


THOUGHT:
God loves to hear our praises and songs of adoration. He longs
to hear us call him Abba Father and King of the Ages. But better
than all the praise we can muster and higher than the highest
sounds of angels is something higher still: the very name of God.
Let's make a commitment to revere and hold as holy the name of our
glorious God!


PRAYER:
Almighty God, Father of compassion and Creator of the Universe,
I praise you for exerting your will on our world. Now, dear Father,
please make your will clearly demonstrable in my life as I seek to
live for you so that your name will be exalted. In the holy name of
Jesus I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
September 10, 2011

VERSE:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning
its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-- Hebrews 12:2


THOUGHT:
Who is your hero? I'm not asking for the Sunday school class
answer, but the person you most actively admire! It is hard to "fix
our eyes on Jesus" because he is not here where we can see him like
other heroes. But he was the ultimate adventurer and trailblazer.
He faced the horrific penalty and shame of the cross, taking away
our sin! He did it so that we could have a hero that death and sin
could not destroy, mar, or taint. He did it so that we could be
confident that if we follow in his footsteps, the trail he blazed
wasn't just for him, but for us, too!


PRAYER:
Holy God, forgive me when I chase what is false and let my focus
shift from Jesus as my ultimate hero. I want to honor and serve
him, having his life come alive in me, so that others may know the
confidence that comes in having Jesus as their Lord. Words cannot
express my gratitude to my Lord for his sacrifice and the horrible
price he paid for my sins. Neither can words express my jubilation
at his trailblazing victory that assures that I will someday be
with you forever! It is in his name, Jesus Christ, that I pray.
Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

September 9, 2011

VERSE:
Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who
comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those
who earnestly seek him.
-- Hebrews 11:6


THOUGHT:
Our relationship with God is built on the atoning sacrifice of
Jesus and our acceptance of that sacrifice through obedient faith.
That faith trusts that God not only exists, but that he also
personally cares about us and our desire to know him. He eagerly
longs to bless those who seek him. What we find when we seek him,
however, is that all other blessings pale in comparison to knowing,
and being known by the eternal, immortal, and only true God!


PRAYER:
Holy God, I do seek to know you better. Please make your
presence known more powerfully in my life and in the life of your
Church. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
September 8, 2011

VERSE:
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be
defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.
-- Leviticus 19:31


THOUGHT:
Our world has a re-emerging fascination with the occult and the
world of demons and witchcraft. It's easy for us to react in one of
two dangerous ways: to downplay the reality of these things or to
dabble in them as matters of entertainment or amusement. God wants
us to know that these fascinations are dangerous because the evil
entities behind them are real and when we involve ourselves in
them, they defile us. God alone is God and is to be worshiped
without rival by his people.


PRAYER:
Holy and magnificent God, thank you for breaking the power and
hold of evil powers through Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
Please deliver those whom I know and love that are entrapped in one
way or another with a fascination with false gods and deceiving and
destructive spirits. Empower your Church with your Spirit; please
cleanse us and make us a holy people, undefiled and ready for your
service. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

September 7, 2011

VERSE:
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
-- 1 Corinthians 10:24


THOUGHT:
Isn't it amazing how the more we try to fix things for
ourselves, the more we focus on "looking out for number 1," and the
more we also find ourselves isolated from meaningful relationships
that make life worth living. "If you want to have a friend, then be
a friend," the saying goes. You know what? It's right! It's easy to
seek what is only for our own good. That's what most folks do as a
matter of course. But what makes Christians redemptive, what makes
them like God, is their willingness to think of others before
themselves!


PRAYER:
Father, forgive me, because I know that I am often selfish and
seldom think through the implications of my decisions based on the
needs of others. I want to have the mind of Christ and be more
selfless and sacrificial with everyone who needs your grace and the
tenderness that you have placed within me to share with them.
Please bless me as I seek to be like your Son in this area of my
life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
September 6, 2011

VERSE:
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own
business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that
your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you
will not be dependent on anybody.
-- 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12


THOUGHT:
What's your ambition? I don't know about you, but I'm not so
sure I could say my ambition is to "live a quiet life ...." But
when I hear the reason for that directive, I understand. So many
people I meet are frazzled, run down, and exhausted with all their
"busy-ness." So let's make a commitment to cycle down a little,
trust God more and more each day, and seek to live a life that wins
the respect of those around us!


PRAYER:
O precious and righteous Father, I need your help to learn to
slow down and tend to my own responsibilities instead of running
around out of control and without purpose. Please grant me not only
the wisdom that I have been praying for, but also the patience and
quietude that I need for that wisdom to change my heart and mind.
In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
September 5, 2011

VERSE:
We were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on
earth are but a shadow.
-- Job 8:9


THOUGHT:
While Job never learned why he suffered, he did learn his place
in the universe before the Almighty God (Job 38-41). When we are
young, time passes so very slowly -- especially if we are waiting
for something special! But as we get older, the years fly by more
and more quickly. Yet despite all our learning, despite all our
experience, we come to two great awakenings: our knowledge compared
to what there is to know is so very small and our place in the
passage of time is so very short. Both of these awakenings prepare
us to turn our lives and future over to our God who longs to bring
us to himself.


PRAYER:
Holy and Almighty God, my Abba Father, thank you so much for
your overwhelming patience as you try to communicate your love to
people like me with my limited abilities to comprehend your
magnificence and glory. Please give me wisdom this week, to make
the decisions I need to make and to choose your way and not my own.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.


TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

September 4, 2011

VERSE:
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of
wisdom.
-- Psalm 90:12


THOUGHT:
When we lose our sense of urgency to live for God, we end up
wasting our time! God has a plan for us, for our world, and for his
church. Without God's gift of "spiritual arithmetic" (numbering our
days aright), we will never gain a heart of wisdom. So how do we
get such a gift? Ask for it without doubting (James 1:5-7)!
Trusting the Lord for wisdom has a huge effect on us and the way we
conduct our lives. Rather than losing heart, God gives us a heart
of wisdom!


PRAYER:
Holy and Almighty God, King of the Ages, you alone live in
complete wisdom, justice, and grace. Please help me to know what
time it is in my life and the role you want me to play at this
stage of my journey. I want my life to be lived glorifying you. In
Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

September 3, 2011

VERSE:
"Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting
to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be
exalted above all blessing and praise."
-- Nehemiah 9:5


THOUGHT:
"Stand up and shout it if you love my Jesus..." That's a song
our children love to sing! But what happens to that youthful
exuberance and joy at worshiping the Lord? Scripture seems to show
us that God doesn't want us to lose it. Read through the Bible and
highlight all the physical acts used to reverence and praise our
awesome and eternal God. In a world which regularly uses God's name
in vain, isn't it time we stood up and praised him -- not only in
church (our private worship) and our daily devotionals (our
personal worship), but also in our lives every day (our public
worship)?!


PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I find it incomprehensible that an eternal and
mighty God would choose to listen to my prayers. Yet I know you do
hear them and respond to them. Thank you! Please be praised in my
worship, whether I offer it in private with other Christians at
church, in my daily personal worship, or in my public worship as I
live as an example before my coworkers. You alone are God and
worthy of all praise; please be praised in my life. In the name of
Jesus I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

September 2, 2011

VERSE:
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and
unsearchable things you do not know.
-- Jeremiah 33:3


THOUGHT:
God wants us to seek him and call out to him. He wants to answer
us and tell us about things beyond our human comprehension. He
longs to draw us close so that we can know him. Like a scared child
calls out to a loving father in the next room, we too can call on
him knowing that our Father will answer, protect, and comfort us.
Even more than that, our Father will reveal to us things that would
be impossible for us to know without his grace.


PRAYER:
Almighty God and Abba Father, I do want to know you and to be
known by you. Yes, there are things in my heart and my life that I
wish were not there. But I know your grace and I am confident that
you know my heart and its desire to reflect your glory, share your
grace, and display your character. Thank you for the gift of being
your child and having my future secured. In Jesus' name. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

September 1, 2011

VERSE:
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your
truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in
you all day long.
-- Psalm 25:4-5


THOUGHT:
Life can be so confusing. There are so many choices for us as we
decide the values that will govern our lives. So how are we going
to find the best way, God's way, to live? We will ask God to show
us! Our hope is in him. Our salvation is in him. So why not ask him
to guide us and teach us his truth? Why not expect that he will
make his will known for us? If our hearts are open to his truth and
we are seeking his path, he will make his will known.


PRAYER:
O mighty God, the only true guide to life, please help me to
know your will more completely. I want to live for you and to
please you. I want others to know of my allegiance to you -- not
just because of the words I speak, but also through the character
of my conduct. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.


TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 31, 2011

VERSE:
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you,
brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
-- Philemon 1:7


THOUGHT:
Wouldn't this description of Philemon be a great one to have
said about you! To be loved, supported, and encouraged by an
encourager is to have your heart refreshed and your attitude
lifted. Let's make a commitment to be an "encourager" who refreshes
the hearts of those around us this week.


PRAYER:
Tender and loving God, thank you for leading the people into my
life who have encouraged me when I most needed it. Please give me
the eyes to see and the heart to serve those around me who
desperately need my encouragement. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 30, 2011

VERSE:
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be
arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain,
but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with
everything for our enjoyment.
-- 1 Timothy 6:17


THOUGHT:
It is awfully easy to try to build our security around money,
isn't it? But world catastrophes, economic collapses, embargoes,
and natural disasters can wipe out the basis of our security if it
is in earthly wealth or physical things. But if our hope is in God,
we get to share the bounty of his blessings in the world around us
and the assurance that what is most important in our life cannot be
taken away from us.


PRAYER:
Faithful and loving God, I am so thankful that you are the one
in whom I can find my identity, values, hope, security, and future.
You have blessed me in so many ways, but please help as I'm working
to put my trust in you and not in earthly wealth or possessions. To
you belong all glory and praise, now and forever. In the name of
Jesus I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 29, 2011

VERSE:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you
will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not
life more important than food, and the body more important than
clothes?
-- Matthew 6:25


THOUGHT:
Worries are many and they all seem to crowd in around bill time,
don't they. Jesus reminded us that life is more than food or
clothes. The real question is whether we can live like life is more
than food and clothing. We get deceived so easily, like Esau who
sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. Let's not sell out what is
precious for the allure of what will most likely end in difficulty
and entanglements or at the very least doesn't have eternal value.


PRAYER:
Generous Father, banish fear and selfishness from my heart. I
know you have already provided the most incredible gift of all
time. Please help me pursue you and your will and not the things
that choke out your presence in my life. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 28, 2011

VERSE:
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have
plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every
situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or
in want.
-- Philippians 4:12


THOUGHT:
Contentment! Mmmm, I'd like to have a little of that; how about
you? I find it hard to be contented about almost anything. My
performance is not up to par. My weight isn't where it should be.
My words were a little insensitive in the last conversation. It's
even easier to slip into recognizing what we don't have financially
and then pursue that. But before money, possessions, health, or any
other thing can be truly enjoyed, we first have to learn that
contentment is not based on our circumstances but our salvation.


PRAYER:
Almighty and generous God, you are the giver of all good gifts,
so now I would like your help in finding the gift of contentment.
Bless me as you choose, for I know deep in my heart that no
blessing can compare to being your child and being loved and known
personally by you. In Jesus' name I thank you. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 27, 2011

VERSE:
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than
for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
-- Mark 10:25


THOUGHT:
It is so easy to think of ourselves as average people who are
not rich. But bottom line, if we have access to a computer to read
e-mail, we're richer than most of the world. Let's not let our
"stuff" get in the way of our faith and compassion. God wants to
help our camels get through the eye of the needle. He will, if we
remember that what we have is a gift from him, and that he intends
for us to use it to bless others and honor him.


PRAYER:
Tender Father, it is sometimes very hard for me not to worry
some about money issues. I know that I am richly blessed and have
so many advantages. But Father, I don't want to be owned by the
things I possess and I don't want to be sidetracked by trying to
acquire what I don't have. Please help me as I seek to be rich in
kindness, generosity, and thankfulness with whatever you choose to
bless me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 26, 2011

VERSE:
Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy
messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his
masters.
-- Proverbs 25:13


THOUGHT:
I'm not sure where you are located, but it's been blistering hot
where I am. Anything cool and refreshing sounds wonderful. If
you've ever worked a harvest and gotten the dust, plant fragments,
and sweat up under your shirt, you know how refreshing a cool glass
of water is to your parched throat and a shower is for your sticky
body. But God says that when we are trustworthy messengers for each
other and for him, it is even better refreshment than a cool drink
on a hot tiring day. So how have you been doing with the Master's
message lately? Shared his love? Told of his grace? Demonstrated
his kindness? Let's get busy refreshing our Lord by blessing others
with his Gospel!


PRAYER:
Forgive me, heavenly Father, when I am untrustworthy with your
message or ashamed of showing my allegiance to you and your Gospel.
Give me wisdom to demonstrate and communicate your love, mercy,
grace, and character to those around me. May my words and actions
today bring you refreshment and glory! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

August 24, 2011

VERSE:
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer
followed him.
-- John 6:66


THOUGHT:
This verse haunts me. Not just because of the three numbers in
the reference, but because it is a great reminder that many folks
simply gave up following Jesus when things became hard to
understand. When he shattered their preconceived notions of
religious things, when he confronted them about their motives, they
went away. What will I do when things get difficult in my
discipleship and I can't figure out all the answers to what is
going on? I hope, I pray, I trust that I will follow until the way
and the will of the Lord become more clear!


PRAYER:
Awesome God, I confess openly that I cannot begin to understand
all the complexities of your will and the way you work in our
world. But Father, when I'm confused, please bring into my life
people who will help me hang on to my faith until the confusion
passes. And today, dear Father, please use me to help bless someone
who is struggling with his or her faith. In Jesus' name I ask it.
Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 23, 2011

VERSE:
Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he
was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is
going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and
after three days he will rise."
-- Mark 9:30-31


THOUGHT:
We often seek to attract large crowds to our churches, crusades,
and rallies. Jesus also ministered to large crowds. But his
strongest teaching on discipleship occurs away from the crowds,
when he is alone with his disciples. What the crowds are able to
accept is not enough to call mature disciples to that next level in
their walk with the Savior. So Jesus withdrew for intensive
teaching with a small group of committed disciples so he could
mature them and make them ready for future challenges.


PRAYER:
Holy God, please bless the people in my Bible study group and
all those everywhere that are seeking to follow you no matter the
cost. Please lead me to a small group of believers with whom I can
share my life and through whom you will challenge me to grow in my
surrender to the Lordship of Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 22, 2011

VERSE:
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
-- Jeremiah 31:25


THOUGHT:
In the overwhelming, hair-raising, and depressing prophecies of
Jeremiah, God repeatedly told his people he would destroy them for
their obstinate and hardened hearts. Yet in the middle of these
powerful and scorching warnings, God also slips in passages that
soar with hope and grace. Can you think of anything more reassuring
than God's promise to "refresh the weary and satisfy the faint"?
For seventy years, that's all Israel had -- God's promise. But when
the time came, God made good on his word. I believe he will do the
same with us today!


PRAYER:
Great Shepherd, I am tired and weary. Please refresh my Spirit
and my body. Please help me find satisfaction in the abundance you
have already so graciously shared with me. To you belongs all
glory, honor, strength and power. I joyously submit myself in
faith, waiting for the rest and satisfaction you have promised. In
Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 21, 2011

VERSE:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give
you rest.
-- Matthew 11:28


THOUGHT:
Where do you go when you are exhausted and in need of rest? No
bed, no vacation, no retreat can give us a truly refreshing rest if
that rest doesn't involve coming to Jesus. So what are you waiting
for? Come to Jesus and enjoy the blessings of his presence, his
love, his forgiveness, his grace, and his rest!


PRAYER:
Almighty God, your Son Jesus is my strength and hope. I look
forward to the day when he returns in triumph for me and all of
your children. But Father, I want to know him better and to live
for him with an undivided heart. I want to find rest in his
presence, meaning in his service, and significance in his
acceptance. Please bless me as I journey toward a deeper
relationship with you and as I gain a more profound knowledge of
your Son. In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord, I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 20, 2011

VERSE:
If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you.
-- Matthew 6:14


THOUGHT:
As Christians, we live in the environment of forgiveness and
grace. As we forgive others, the basis of that forgiveness is the
incredible debt that God has already forgiven us (Matthew 18). But
at the same time, as God sees that his forgiveness is kept in
circulation and passed on to others by us, he joyously pours out
more forgiveness on us. As hard as it is to forgive someone when we
have been genuinely harmed, Jesus wants us to know that the
blessings of doing so far outweigh the costs!


PRAYER:
Loving and just God, thank you for cleansing and forgiving me by
the atoning sacrifice of your Son Jesus. Thank you for challenging
me to forgive others as you have forgiven me. Thank you for
demanding that your people be a community of forgiveness. Forgive
us, and especially forgive me, when we are reluctant, slow, or
suspicious about forgiveness. I ask especially that you will
forgive ___ for ____, and I ask you to bless this person with your
love and grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

August 19, 2011

VERSE:
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped
out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
-- Acts 3:19


THOUGHT:
I'm not sure what we fear about repentance (turning our hearts
and lives to God). God will not only receive us; he will also
redeem us and remake us. But that repentance is often so hard for
us to do. We get stuck in old patterns of destructive and addictive
behavior. We believe Satan's deceptive lies. We use
self-deprecating thoughts to defeat the Spirit's work in ourselves.
So why not come clean and confess our sins and truly turn our lives
over to God? If we will, we will find something truly refreshing!


PRAYER:
Holy and righteous Father, I am not sure why I so doggedly hold
on to some of my "pet" sins. Part of me wants to break free of
these stumbling blocks, but part of me doesn't. I need your help in
turning myself fully over to you. Please send your healing,
cleansing, and refreshing power through the Holy Spirit to help me
as I commit in my heart to fully and completely turn my life over
to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

August 18, 2011

VERSE:
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in
truth.
-- John 4:24


THOUGHT:
Without the Spirit, we are not children of God. Without the
Spirit, the cleansing power of Jesus' sacrifice would not be fully
implemented in us. Without the Spirit, we cannot worship God in the
ways he wants because God is Spirit. Our worship must be "Spirit to
Spirit" and done in a way that pleases God and that is according to
his will.


PRAYER:
Holy and Almighty God, I want to be one of your worshipers. I
want to worship you "Spirit to Spirit." I want to honor you by
worshiping you according to your will. In all of my life and all of
my praise, I want you to be honored. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 17, 2011

VERSE:
Be careful not to do your "acts of righteousness" before men, to
be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your
Father in heaven.
-- Matthew 6:1


THOUGHT:
Why do we do the things we do? What is the motivation for our
behavior? It's so easy to fall into the trap of doing religious
things so we will look good to others. This is true even when
culture reacts negatively to our faith. Those around us who know
about our faith and the Christians around us become the target of
our behavior. While we do want to have the right kind of influence
on everyone around us, we must never make our decisions about
spiritual service on the basis of being seen by others to be
honored because of it. Our goal must be to honor God and bless
others!


PRAYER:
Almighty God, please purify my heart of any false motivation and
help me serve others based on their need and my desire to honor you
in helping them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 16, 2011

VERSE:
But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
-- Matthew 9:13


THOUGHT:
God is merciful. Yes, we do remember those blazing occasions
when he was fed up and furious with the unrighteousness and
rebellion of his people. But, we remember them precisely because
they were so striking and because they did not occur that
frequently in the hundreds of years he led the Israelites. God has
shown us his heart. God showed it to Nineveh despite Jonah. God
revealed his heart in Jesus' compassion to people. God has
demonstrated his mercy and love with you and me by calling us,
sinners, to his side and to bring us salvation. He will not leave
us unchanged and content with our sin. Yes, he does call us to
repentance. But, the very fact that the Almighty God, ruler of
heaven and earth would pause and invite us near and give us a
chance to know his grace is almost too good to be true. That same
God calls us to share that same mercy to others.


PRAYER:
Thank you, Almighty God, for being tender as well as powerful,
forgiving as well as righteous, and merciful as well as holy.
Please mature me in these sets of character defining traits. I
don't want to be self-righteous, but righteous. I don't want to be
a bully, but compassionately strong. I don't want to be
sanctimonious, but true and merciful. Please fill me with your
Spirit and gently confront me in those areas that need growth and
change. May others see in me a reflection of you. In the name of
Jesus I pray. Amen.



TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

August 15, 2011

VERSE:
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will
himself be refreshed.
-- Proverbs 11:25


THOUGHT:
God is a giving and generous God. He longs for his children to
be like him in this grace. Our place on earth is not to be hoarders
or collectors of blessing, forgiveness, wealth, and opportunity.
No, following the lead of our Eternal Father, we are to be conduits
of blessing, forgiveness, wealth, and opportunity. As we are
generous like God, we trust that he will in turn make sure we are
blessed and refreshed in the ways that will draw us more and more
into his character and more able to help others in the future.


PRAYER:
Holy God, I thank you for all the great examples of generosity
that have graced my life. Whether rich or poor, these conduits of
your grace have taught me that I, too, can be more like you in this
way. Bless my heart with trust and faith as I seek to be more
generous with others in my grace, forgiveness, finances,
encouragement, and time. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 14, 2011

VERSE:
May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because
he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
-- 2 Timothy 1:16


THOUGHT:
A friend in Christ that will faithfully serve others is a
wonderful gift of refreshment. Yet as humans, we are tempted to be
fickle friends -- there for a bit of time while they need us, but
often tiring over the long haul of extended recovery from illness,
grief, or the consequences of previous sin or addiction. Is there
someone you know who is still chained in some way to the past? Is
the Lord calling upon you to bless this person today? What about
blessing them as Onesiphorus blessed Paul -- often and without
being ashamed!
PRAYER:
Almighty and tender Shepherd, please give me eyes to see your
precious ones around me who need the encouragement of your grace
that can only be experienced through the touch of a caring brother
or sister in Christ. Please help me through the power of your Holy
Spirit to be a more steadfast and faithful source of refreshment to
these people. In Jesus' name. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 13, 2011

VERSE:
By God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you
be refreshed.
-- Romans 15:32


THOUGHT:
Our lives, our futures, and our plans are in God's hands. This
inescapable reality is the basis of our existence. It is also the
foundation of our joy and refreshment when we are with each other.
Think about it a second: our meetings with each other, and our
ministry to each other, are not chance happenings. They are acts of
God's grace that gives us a chance to share in God's blessing and
joy.


PRAYER:
Holy Father, thank you for your direct involvement in my life.
Thank you for the leading of your Spirit, the guidance of your
Word, and the wisdom of older Christians. These have all deepened
the meaning of my life and empowered my service to your Kingdom.
Please give me a more profound sense of grace and joy when I am
able to be with Christians wherever that may be. I know these
precious members of your family are not chance acquaintances I make
along the way, but are the reminders of your desire to bless me and
refresh your children with your presence. In Jesus' name I thank
you. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
August 12, 2011

VERSE:
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch
them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was
indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as
these."
-- Mark 10:13-14


THOUGHT:
We humans are always trying to define our place in the "pecking
order" of life. Jesus reminds his disciples that they have to throw
away the everyday rules of the pecking order if they are to really
be part of his Kingdom. In fact, he was quite angry with them
because they denied toddlers' access to him, apparently because
these disciples didn't deem the little ones worthy of their
Master's time, energy, and attention. Jesus, as he so often did,
turned their common worldly values upside down and reminded them
they needed to pay more attention to the character of toddlers than
their own sense of importance if they were ever going to understand
God's Kingdom.


PRAYER:
Father, thank you for valuing me as your child. Re-awaken in me
the wonder, humility, and awe as I seek to live for you and your
Kingdom! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

August 11, 2011

VERSE:
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to
you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
-- Matthew 7:12


THOUGHT:
Ah! The "Golden Rule" is so straightforward, isn't it? Sometimes
we make things, especially religious things, far too complicated
and complex. I love the Bible because it is so often practical and
plain when God deals with our behavior. You want to know how to
treat someone? Then do for them what would be a blessing if it was
done to you! If it wouldn't bless, encourage, build up, support,
comfort, or help you, then don't do it to them. If it would hurt,
wound, depress, spite, or discourage you, then don't do it to them.
Treat others with the same dignity, kindness, love, respect, and
tenderness with which you would like to be treated. Simple to
understand; revolutionary to do!


PRAYER:
Almighty God, thank you for making some things so simple to
understand. Please fill my heart with your love as I try to live
the "Golden Rule" in my relationships. In the name of the Lord
Jesus I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

August 10, 2011

VERSE:
He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
-- Psalm 23:2-3


THOUGHT:
When we are exhausted, depleted, and on the edge of burn out, we
need to have our souls restored! But who can restore our souls?
Only the One who will lead us beside still waters! The Lord is our
Shepherd. He alone can fully bring the nourishment and
replenishment that we need. Yet why do we sometimes find it so hard
to set aside time to be with him? Could it be that we keep our
lives so busy that we miss out on the one thing that matters most?


PRAYER:
As you have shown me time and time again, dear Father, I know
that being with you restores me in a place within my heart that no
one else can reach. Forgive me for seeking nourishment and
refreshment from places that are unholy and unhelpful. Reinvigorate
me with your presence and power so that I can serve you more
victoriously. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.