Lessons Learned in the House of Mourning

This morning one of my partners in ministry, Pastor Sam, called to ask for a sermon outline he heard me share this past year at a funeral for a teenage boy killed tragically in a car accident. Because Pastor Sam has a funeral tomorrow for an 8-year-old little girl who died of cancer, he couldn't get the thoughts I had shared out of his mind. I had forgotten the funeral outline (originally penned by Dave Redick) but quickly realized how essential these thoughts were to me at the time I shared them and how essential these thoughts still are. Here are just a few of the points in the message of mourning:

Lessons Learned in the House of Mourning:

1. Live like tomorrow is uncertain - because it is.
2. Live like life is short - because it is.
3. Live like death is certain - because it is.
4. Live like eternal life is precious - because it is.

Ecclesiastes 7:2-3 (NLT) -- (2) It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die, and you should think about it while there is still time. (3) Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.

Isaiah 61:3 (NLT) -- To all who mourn... He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair.

Hebrews 4:7 (NIV) says, Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.

Lord, I pray for those who have lost loved ones long before they were ready to say goodbye. I pray especially again for the family of the teenage son who passed earlier this year and for the family of this precious 8-year-old daughter who just passed the line of worlds with cancer now behind her. And give Pastor Sam words of comfort for the family and friends at tomorrow's funeral. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Prayer: Simple & Profound

Prayer is so simple that even children can pray, and it is so profound that unless adults have childlike hearts they cannot pray.

Then He (Jesus) said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." -- Matthew 18:3 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

If We Harbor Unforgiveness?

If we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts against others, the Lord will not listen to our cries for His mercy.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
--Psalm 66:18 (NIV)

Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
-- Matthew 5:7 (NIV)

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
-- Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

May I Pray Philemon 3-7 For You Today?

I pray the very words written in Philemon 3-7 (NLT), for all the saints, yes, for all of those who are God-owned and others-focused. May I pray this prayer for you, today?

(3) May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. (4) I always thank God when I pray for you, (YOUR NAME HERE) (5) because I keep hearing of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. (6) You are generous because of your faith. And I am praying that you will really put your generosity to work, for in so doing you will come to an understanding of all the good things we can do for Christ. (7) I myself have gained much joy and comfort from your love, my brother (SISTER), because your kindness has so often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise on 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

I Fall To My Knees And Pray...

Today, as "I Fall To My Knees And Pray" I invite you to do the same. Seriously, go ahead right where you are, yes, if you're able and you want to, right now, just physically get on your knees.

Take a few moments just to allow your heart, mind, and soul to spiritually breathe.

Now, let's pray together the Apostle Paul's prayer from Ephesians 3:14-19 (NLT). I will pray the prayer for you and you pray it for me. It is really a prayer of blessing:

(14) When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, (15) the Creator of everything in Heaven and on earth. (16) I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit. (17) And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. (18) And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. (19) May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Our Hearts, Heads, & Homes

Oh, Loving Lord: Please be Lord of our hearts, in our heads, and inside our homes. Give us Your presence so that we might have pure motives, Christlike minds, and Holy Spiritual families. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ALL JOY!
Grateful

God's Presence in Our Hearts & Our Homes

God's presence will never change our homes until God's presence first changes our hearts. Only His Extreme Heart Makeover within me, will result in His Extreme Home Makeover around me.

So I earnestly pray the words of this familiar praise chorus with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength:

Change my heart oh God. Make it ever true.
Change my heart oh God. May I be like You.
You are the potter. I am the clay.
Mold me and make me. This is what I pray.
Change my heart oh God.
Make it ever true.
Change my heart oh God.
May I be like You.

Need a passage to saturate in for a heart change? Psalm 51 is a good prayer to usher God's presence immediately into our hearts and ultimately within our homes.

ALL JOY!
Grateful