Day 99: By Persistence

Romans 2:7 "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immorality, He will give eternal life."

Be persistent.  Endure this life.  Seek to be more like Him.  And when you fall, ask for forgiveness and get back on the horse and try it again.  The more obedient you are, the more opportunities there will be to Go!

Don't give up Jenna!  Yes you have qualities that you want to "write off" but they will always be there unless I ask for God's help to change and be more like Jesus.

Day 98: He Guards

Psalm 97:10-11 "...for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.  Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart."

God can work miracles if you believe He can.  He will protect us and love us.  Blessings will come upon those who trust and love God with all of their heart soul, mind, and strength.  True joy is being in the arms of the Lord.

Lord help me always to seek You in this wicked chaotic world.  I want to see Your light and feel Your joy.
Thank you Father, Amen.

Day 97: Earn Your Bread

1 Thessalonians 3:11-12 "We heart that some among you are idle.  They are not busy; they are busybodies (interfering with the affairs of others).  Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat."

Do not take other people's inventory.  Instead, worry about you own life and the free will choices that you make.  Earn "your bread" by being an example of Christ and by listening and praying and worshiping God.

I need to mind my own business sometimes.  God has a plan for everyone and they're different ;o)

Day 96: Ask Well

2 Chronicles 1:11-12 "God said to Solomon, 'since this is your hearts desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given to you.  And I will also give you wealth, riches, and honor'."

Ask with the right motives and for the things that will help you do God's will and He will provide.

Day 95: From You

1 Chronicles 29:12 "Wealth and honor came from You; You are the ruler of all things.  In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all."

Everything we have is God's.  Our talents, our wealth, our lives.  Sometimes we are so greedy and don't want to give back to God what is already His (pretty ironic actually).  If God gives you the characteristic of being compassionate or a good teacher or wealthy, etc, use those to help God's children or you will not be giving back to Him.

Lord help me to always remember that everything I have is Yours.  I give it all to You.  I love You, I want You, I NEED You Father.  Thank You! Amen

Day 94: Joyful Always

1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Thank God for the good and the bad--they both happen for a reason--they are part of His magnificent and perfect plan for your life...to help make you more like His precious son, Jesus...to strengthen and encourage you.  Find joy and peace in God's plan for you--that we are not alone.  He is with us always!  And we don't have to live this life on our own but can be in constant conversation with Him through prayer thanks to Jesus who washed away all our sins so that we may be in relationship with His Father, our Lord.  Give control to God (He has it anyways ;o)

Lord help me to embrace every circumstance--Good and Bad--for they are part of Your plan for my life and I trust You and You alone.  Thank you Father! Amen

Day 93: Control Your Body

1 Thessalonians 4:4 "that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God."

Just like wealth and honor are not ours but God's--so are our bodies.  In fact, our bodies are temples of the holy spirit and therefore should be respected and treated that way.  For we know God--that His Holy Spirit dwells within us--so we are not to act like those who do not know the Gospel.

Lord help me to be strong; to not put myself in tempting situations--but when I do find myself being tempted to respect your Holy Temple--my Body.  It is yours, not mine to give. Amen

Day 92: Love Overflow

1 Thessalonians 3:12 "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else."

Love everyone--this means giving the same treatment to all God's children--the one's that make you happy and the one's that make you mad.  Have patience and try to look at people from God's eyes.  If anything, the people that make you mad probably need MORE love--because they are far from God.

Lord help me to see the world through your eyes--give me the patience to help those who anger me.  Melt my hardened heart and let me be more like Jesus...

Day 91: Please God

1 Thessalonians 2:5 "We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts."

Don't try to please men.  For they will ALWAYS disappoint you.  Do everything for God.  Respect your elders, love your enemies, work, fellowship, love yourself, EVERYTHING for Him--He's always watching.  Don't worry about being accepted or applauded by others--they don't love you like He does.  And no matter how hard you try, the world will never understand you because you are not of the world but of God!  Thank you Father, Amen.

Day 90: Imitators

1 Thessolonians 1:6 "You became imitators of us and of the Lord, in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit."

1 Thessolonians 1:3 "Your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

In good times and bad, always have faith in Jesus.  This is our temporary home--so endure it all.  Don't become overwhelmed by the bad things that happen--after all, they're not that bad if they're for a reason.  Do everything for Him--live your life for Him.  Thank you for this Life Father! Amen.

Day 89: I am with you...

Matthew 28:20 "I am with you always to the very end of the age."

God is always with us.  In fact, it's not a matter of is He with us, but ARE WE WITH HIM?  It's talking to God and feeling His presence as natural as breathing?  Be in constant communication with God.  He has GREAT plans for everyone's life.  God will be with you in good times, bad times, and neutral times.  Always be with Him too!  He wants to know you.  To have a relationship with your heart, soul, mind--open up and let Him in.  The result will be incredible!

Day 88: Light of your Life

 Psalm 55:13 "For You have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life."

Follow the Holy Spirit in the Light.  Don't let the pressures of society or the natural human desires have the best of me.  Instead, follow the Spirit and He will guide me down the right path.

Lord help me always seek first the Kingdom of God in everything I do.  Your way is the right way.  You are refining me like silver and you will test me like gold.  I want to be like you Lord!  Thank you, Amen.

P.S.  Sorry I was on vacation for 10 days and I am a little behind....

Day 87: Lightning

Matthew 24:27 "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man."

We WILL know when Jesus returns.  Be in constant relationship with Him and He will show you sure signs of His return. 

Lord help me to always be aware of your presence.  Help me learn the signs of your return, and to be in constant relationship with you so I may anticipate Your coming.  I can't wait!  I can only imagine, what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...Thank You Father for the Hope you have given the world.  You are so good and merciful! Amen

Day 86: See Me

Matthew 23: 39 "For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord'".

Once the truth is known (the Good News/Gospel is revealed) one must take up their cross and follow Jesus Christ.  He will knock on your door, but you have to be listening for the knock, you have to open the door, and you have to let Him in.  He will not just barge in, but when you do choose to open the door, beware of the peaceful flood that will come over you--it's called GRACE and it pools into the deepest parts of your heart, soul, mind, and strength--that is if you let it!

Lord, please don't ever stop knocking on our doors--we will answer them in our own time (in the time you have planned for us).  Thank You for Your patience and Your endurance!  Amen

Day 85: Desires of the Heart

Psalm 20: 4 "May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed."

Ideas and passions in one's heart and mind aren't just there for no good reason, if they could further His kingdom, then God implanted them in us.  These ideas and passions are from the Holy Spirit telling us God's purpose for our lives.  If you feel an idea tugging at your heart and knocking at your door.  Pray to God about it and ask Him for guidance.  If you begin to follow through with the idea and the puzzle pieces fit together, then it was all part of His plan for you!

Thank you Father for giving us each a purpose and providing us with direction and guidance.  Also for your strength and encouragement.  You are so good to us and we love You! Amen

Day 84: Repent and Believe

Matthew 21:32 "John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did.  And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe."

God doesn't care about your past before you discovered Him.  But when someone teaches you the way and shows you the life, He wants you to take up your cross and follow Him.  Leave behind your old ways and live a life that is Holy and pleasing to God.

I didn't learn about God until I was a sophomore in college, however, I didn't take up my cross and give my life to God until four years later.  Instead I only let the Lord into some 'rooms' of 'my house'.  Now I have decided to unlock all the doors and trow away the keys.

Lord I don't ever want to go back.  I want to have You in my life always and to have my life-song sing to You!  Amen

Day 83: Give Your Life

Matthew 20:28 "Just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

Although Jesus could have done anything He wanted to, He chose to follow God's will for His life and to not only serve others, but to sacrifice Himself so that others may know God the way He did.

I want to be a servant of the Lord--to follow God's plan for my life and to lay down my life and pick up the cross for His glory--so others may know the Love of God like I do.  Thank You for Your love and Your plan for my life Lord.  I love you!  Amen

Day 82: One Flesh

Matthew 19:5-6 "...a man will leave his father and mother to be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.  So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate."

God does not want you to divorce your husband or wife.  He made marriage a lifetime commitment, not just a piece of paper or a mutual agreement, but a promise to support and love one another through this journey we call life...so closely that you live it as one flesh.

I want to be eternally committed to my husband: to be there for him no matter what and to realize that without God at the center, our marriage would not survive.  Thank you Father for blessing us! Amen.

Day 81: It will be done...

Matthew 18:19-20 "If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them."

God does not want us to live alone.  He wants us to worship and pray and cry to Him TOGETHER.  Have solitary time with God as well, but don't make big, rash decisions about anything without praying with someone else about it.

I have a tendency to isolate myself a lot when life gets out of control.  Instead, I need to pray with someone else to find answers.  Don't be afraid to be vulnerable.

God give me the courage to ask for help from my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  To pray with them in Your glorious name.  Thank you Father. Amen.