Not to Quarrel or grumble with each other

James 5:9 New International Version (©1984)
Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

14:19-23 Many wish for peace, and talk loudly for it, who do not follow the things that make for peace. Meekness, humility, self-denial, and love, make for peace...This takes in all indifferent things, whereby a brother is drawn into sin or trouble; or has his graces, his comforts, or his resolutions weakened. Hast thou faith? It is meant of knowledge and clearness as to our Christian liberty. Enjoy the comfort of it, but do not trouble others by a wrong use of it. Nor may we act against a doubting conscience. How excellent are the blessings of Christ's kingdom, which consists not in outward rites and ceremonies, but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost! How preferable is the service of God to all other services! and in serving him we are not called to live and die to ourselves, but unto Christ, whose we are, and whom we ought to serve.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the Advent Season as we remember daily the love you've shown to us by sending your only begotten son. Prepare our hearts as we come to Bethlehem to celebrate the joy we have in the birth of your son. Help us to keep you the reason for our celebration and to not get too caught up in the gifts and wrappings. Thank you for those blessings and I pray that you'll give a little of that type of blessing to those who have little or nothing. Help us to help others by sending our gifts into the right hands. I pray for the stuartship of our family funds. That you take what we have given and multiply it for others. Please bless our family with peace, selflessness by spreading the HOly Spirit into hearts. I pray for the upcoming Truth Project and my own group that you are forming. In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Desires of the heart

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen Romans 1:24-25

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise be your name in all the Earth. I sing your praise. You are a loving and gracious God. I try to keep your name apon my lips. Always I want to share your love and mercy. Please forgive me Lord for all the hurt I do in my carelessness and callousness.

Please work with me to change my heart and my words so that I glorify you. I pray that my words bring new life and healing to others and not pain. However, I know that your Old Testament prophets spoke words of truth that we would preceive as mean and hurtful, yet they were your words. Your words of warning and words to rebuke poor behavior.

Let my words teach, train and guide others to everlasting life. Oh, Lord how I desire to please you and to bring others to you. Work in me so I can be the guiding light of life I wish to be. I pray for all those I come in contact with that don’t understand me. I pray for us to be reconciled and blessed in our relationships. I pray for those whom I love to have healing and protection. Keep my family from the evil one. Strengthen us to fight for you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Placing God in the #1 spot

Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really serious about wanting to return to the LORD, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the LORD; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the Israelites got rid of their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the LORD.1 Samuel 7:3

It is hard to give up all the things we put in front of God in our lives. I know that I spend hours messing with seemingly unimportant things on the internet. I read romance novels that don’t help me improve my ways of thinking. I spend an infinite amount of time dreaming of all the ways I believe I need to spend money. Yet, I spend little to no time each day in the word of God. I imagine that it isn’t much different for other Christians.

Most of us believe our lives are important and our time is ours to spend as we wish…..what a lie. Our time belongs to God. He wants all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. The most precious thing he has given us is the chance for our souls to spend eternity with him. Don’t let yourself get caught up in the earthy things. Put God first and set aside all those time consuming idols. Worship and pray with the LORD.

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise you for all the patience you have shown me as I have turned to other things in this world to occupy my time instead of spending quality time with you first. Forgive me for making idols out of things in my life. Help me to turn to you with a heart that is pure and devoted to you. I am determined to conquer my idols and to keep you first in my life. Help me to be an example for others to see so that my life is a demonstration of your love and faithfulness. In the name of Christ my LORD, Amen.

Humble ourselves before the Lord

So humble yourselves before the Lord. REsist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow adn deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him. he will lift you up and give you honor.James 4:7-10

Today my computer battery was dead and I had to get my charger. It reminded me that I am like my computer when I havent' drawn near to God to study. I am dead inside. Barely aware of the workings of God in my surroundings. Taking for granted all that he gives and does for me. I must really read his word. Not just a few sentences in a nice little devotional book. But to read right out of his word a few chapters or more. So that I am closer to a fuller meaning of what he does for us, his Christians. Take timet to read his word each day for yourself. Allow his spirit to dwell in you.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the sactuary of your love. The HOly Spirit that you put into me to know your faithfullness, to identify your works and remind me of right. create in me a pure heart, not one of a hypocrite. Use my words and actions to be a sweet, sweet song to you. I ask for blessings in my life. Protection of the ones I love and hold dear to my heart. Protection for those in my community and state. Protection and purification of my country. Let your words be heard. Don't shut us out. Don't turn your back on us. Help those who believe in you to be to strong so we can fight the Devil and all the evil in our midsts. I pray for peace for those who have none. I ask for healing for those who are suffereing in their hearts and bodies. Oh, Lord how we need you! Please hurry and come. How much more must your people and marters suffer here on Earth? How much more evil will you let take place before you strick against those who punish and kill for Satan? Praise be the Name of the Lord Most High, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Is the LORD, GOD ALMIGHTY. Amen.

American Pride

The land of Egypt will become a desolate wasteland, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. Because you said"The Nile river is mine; I made it." I am now the enemy of both you and your river... Ezekial 29:9-10

Oh Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit forgive our American pride. We too are too boastful. Thinking we made our freedom. We are the best and so on.. I pray for my country and our future with you. Keep us from the fate of other nations who have turned their back on you. Keep us strong in our faith to you. We are gorging ourselves in our wants and desires forgetting that you are in control. We are no better than when Israel was given the promise land. They turned their love over to the ideas of other nations and began to worship other gods. I see that in our nation. As we welcome the ideals and values of the east. Our leaders modeling our countries laws based on ideas from other countries that don’t recognize you as the KING. I know we are on our downfall and I pray that you will intervene. Discipline us before we receive the same fate as Egypt in this passage. Remember our first fathers here in America and bless us by setting us on the straight road again. Amen

Merciful for God

So whatever you speak, or whatever you do, remember you will be judges by the law of love, the law that sets you free. For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others. But if you have been merciful, then God’s mercy toward you will win out over his judgment against you. James 2:12-13

Dearest Father,
I want my greatest desire to be to honor you and to value your word. I seek to know your word, to keep it in my heart, to live it and to please you. Even though I don’t give it much time in the day I pray that you will help me to honor your ways and to do your will. To be who you desire for me to be to live out your plan. Let these words help those who seek you, to bring others to an awakening of you and to know the deep preciousness of your love. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and to reach out to others. Help me not to discriminate between people for any reason, but to be fair to everyone. Showing your kindness and mercy to everyone who needs love. Help me to also be fair and to discipline as needed with my students and my children. By knowing your word and living it I won’t corrupt them my being lazy or lacking discipline. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.