What Pleases God?

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. (Ephesians 5:10 NLT)

Today's Prayer
Spirit of The Living God, fall afresh on me. I need You to make me and to mold me. Please Lord,  heal me and fill me. I come seeking Your guidance and instruction. Help me to be wise in my decisions, and let my actions not be foolish. I pray that You work through me. Empower me to make the most of the opportunities that are in front of me. I want to truly understand what it is that You want me to do. I want to put aside my personal preferences and wholly commit to following Your will. Teach me how to make wise decisions in my personal and leisure time. Keep me safe from the spirits and vices of self sabotage. Immerse me in Your Holy Spirit. Place a new song in my mind and in my heart. A song of praise and thanksgiving. A song of triumph and jubilation. Let me utter sweet melodies to Your ears. In Your name I pray. Amen and so it is.

Pleasure Principle
You can say your with it, but not of it
You can say it doesn't matter to you
You can say you have it, but not share it
You can say whatever you want to

I know the principle of pleasure
Is something that we all live for
I know the principle of pleasure
Some say is worth dying for

Give it to me
I really want it
Give it to me
Don't hold it back
Come on stop teasing this minute
You know I wouldn't do that

If not now, when
If no, why
Please, don't make me beg
Stop, before you make me cry

They say everything that's good to you, ain't good for you
I find that hard to believe
Is the principle of pleasure
Something we should all receive

Written by Marc Christmas

Are You Keeping It Real?

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (Romans 12:9 KJV)

Today's Prayer
Holy One, I've got a bit of a conundrum. I'm praying for the ability to determine what is really real in me and around me. I'm constantly engaging and encountering appearances of authenticity. Sometimes I feel as if I'm surrounded by a shroud of fakery, some of which includes me. Lord, teach me what "real" is. Show me the pathway to peace and tranquility. Open up the doorways of hope and faith. Prop up in me the courage to dare to be obedient to You, I mean really obedient, not just when I'm desperate or it's convenient. I'm asking for a lot, because I know You are more than I can ever imagine, and so am I, if I allow You. So, Lord, I'm allowing You to have all of me. Amen and so it is.

All Of Me
Why not take all of Me
Don't take just a part
The part that works for you
What about My heart

What about My mind
My body, My spirit and all
Oh, you just want that huh
That part by Niagara Falls

What if I told you no
You must take it all
You must take the good with the bad
Take the big with small

I think you would laugh
Wonder if I was some kind of fool
You would ask Me questions like
What kind of drugs do You do

Well, it's time to come clean
Don't take it personal, I'm not trying to be mean
It is what you see
It only works, if you take all of Me

Written by Marc Christmas

Are You Being Accused?

Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. (Romans 8:33 NLT)

Today's Prayer
Lord, You know.  I've been accused of so much and so many times. Some accurately so, and some not accurate at all. I ask You to forgive me for the instances where I've sowed discord, disruption, confusion, or harm. Help me to be willing to forgive myself for any offenses that I have deliberately or unintentionally caused. I know that You are the only source of life, and that Your mercy and grace extends far beyond my imagination. I ask that You place in my mind a confidence of knowing that despite my faults, I am Your beloved child in whom You are well pleased. Amen and so it is.

Again
You did it again
What were you thinking?
Now that you mentioned it
I must agree
The only thing I was thinking about, was me
Please help me again
Help me to do right, and
Forgive me for my sins

Written by Marc Christmas

What Are You Working On?

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14 NLT)

Today's Prayer
Lord, I feel like I've been working all the live-long day, and I'm tired. Creator of all, energize me. Place in me a spirit of appreciation for the work that is before me to do. Help me to embrace work as a way to show You my willingness to sacrifice my personal desires. I want to be obedient in service to You. I pray that I not work aimlessly, but work with God-given purpose. Show me the things that You would have me to work on, and remove from my presence meaningless work. Amen and so it is.  

Work
Do this
Do that
Do it again
As a matter of fact

I changed my mind
I don't want it done that way
You need to redo it
I need it by today

I'm tired of this
I feel like I can't win
Don't worry about it
This will come to an end

Are you sure that's what you want
The opposite of work
Well, that's the opposite of life
That's resting under the dirt

Written by Marc Christmas 

Do You Know What To Do?

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17 NLT)

Today's Prayer
Master, please forgive me. I'm like that servant in the Bible who buried the talents that his master entrusted to him instead of using them. Sometimes I figure if I take the safe way out, it would be better just in case things don't work out the way I planned. Lord, I know better. I know that if I show up, You will show out. God, please help me to show up and do what You would have me to do. Help me to take the actions and leave the results to You. Help me to trust in Your divinity, to believe You know what's best for me. In Your name I pray and ask these blessings. Amen and so it is.

I Know Better
I've asked for Your guidance and knowledge of Your will
You've told me and showed me, but I hesitate still
I blame it on fear, or not really being sure
How long will Your grace and mercy endure?
Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned
Not just once, but over and over again
Sometimes I don't know what to do, but this time I do
And I don't want to
That's the honest to God's truth

Written by Marc Christmas

Do You Keep It To Yourself?

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. (Galatians 6:6 KJV)

Today's Prayer
Lord help me to be willing to share You with others. Let me be willing to share my testimony with believers, as well as, non-believers; those who follow the same doctrine, as well as, those whose doctrine differs from mine. Help me to connect to the God in everyone and let them connect to the God in me. Awaken in me a spirit of inclusion not exclusion. A spirit of sharing and caring. I pray that I operate with the intention of attraction and not distraction. I pray that I can remember the biblical words and "draw all men unto me."  Amen and so it is.

Good For You
That's how it works
I hear what you say
More importantly,
I watch you everyday

Maybe that's for you
I don't think it's for me
The way you act
That's not how I wanna be

I believe I'm okay
I don't have to prove that I'm right
If I walk with The Spirit
I walk in The Light

Written by Marc Christmas

Is Your Bridge Under Construction?

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! (Romans 12:8, 12, 16 NLT)

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, I know You are my everything. Without You, nothing is possible. With You, miracles are possible. I thank You for the bridges in my life. The bridge over troubled water; the bridge that leads to safety; the bridge that takes me from one situation to glory; the bridge that unites my spirit with others of like mind; the bridge of destiny even when I don't know where it leads me to; the bridge of life; the bridge of love; and the bridge of possibility. I thank You for helping me to build bridges and not tear them down. Please restore or repair the damaged bridges in my life. In Your name I pray, and I say thank You in advance. Amen and so it is.

I've Had My Chance
My journey has been long
Filled with hope and despair
I've heard people say
"Take it to The Lord in prayer"
When I look around
and see things sober
I know that because of You
I made it over
You've been like the Calvary
Helped me to get pass and face the enemy
Oh, selfish don't let me be
Cause You, been so good to me

Written by Marc Christmas

Today's Insight - Are You Alive?

Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.


Howard Thurman

Location:N Capitol St NW,Washington,United States

You Feel Some Type of Way?

"Either way, Christ’s love controls us...So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that...The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God...And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him...And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:14, 16-21 NLT)

Today's Prayer
Dear God, help me to see You in others, including myself. Your Word says we are joint-heirs with Christ; that makes us Your children too. I'm asking for a lot today. If Your will demands me to pursue a higher calling for You Lord, then so be it. If that is where you want me to be, help me to press onward towards that mark. I pray that You will touch my life in great and mighty ways. Please, draw me closer to You and provide: Comfort on difficult days; Smiles when sadness intrudes; Rainbows to follow the clouds; Laughter to kiss my lips; Sunsets to warm my heart; Gentle hugs when my spirit sags; Friendships to brighten my being; Beauty for my eyes to see; Confidence for when I doubt; Faith so that I can believe; Courage to know myself; Patience to accept the truth; and Love to complete my life. I ask for these many things, and I thank You in advance for Your blessings. Amen and so it is.

Let Go
Let go and let God
That's what they say
I'm not sure what that means
But, I'll give it a try anyway

As Long as You not asking me
To,
You know,
"CHANGE"

Nevertheless,
With You I'll stand
Cause You got the whole wide world
In Your hands

Written by Marc Christmas

Why Give Thanks?

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. (1 Chronicles 16:34 KJV)

Today's Prayer
Lord of lords, and God of gods. I give thanks to You for being Almighty God, the Supreme Being. I thank You for being in me. I thank you for giving me form and breathing the breath of life into my existence. I thank You for filling my physical structure with Your Divine Spirit which gives me power and strength. I pray that my mind will believe and receive the fact that I am good because I am an expression of You. Let Your light shine within and through me so that others may come to believe just how good You are. Amen and so it is.

G.O.O.D.
God
Outdoes and
Overcomes
Defeat

Written by Marc Christmas

The Strength of Brokenness

Today's Prayer
Dear God, Open my eyes that I may see every divine appointment You prepare for me. May I study Your Word and spend time in prayer and fellowship with You and take time to be still and know You, so that I will be aware and prepared for those special opportunities and appointments that come to me. Please forgive me for my failure to be consistent. Help me to grow in faith and goodness as I seek Your face and live each day...and to grasp every opportunity to work for Your kingdom. Thank you, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
06-19-2014
"The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength." - 1 Samuel 2:4
There is an oxymoron throughout the Bible. It says that brokenness is strength. How can this be? How can brokenness be strength? In order to use men and women to their fullest extent, the Lord has to break His servants so that they might have a new kind of strength that is not human in origin. It is strength in spirit that is born only through brokenness.
Paul was broken on the Damascus road. Peter was broken after Jesus was taken prisoner. Jacob was broken at Peniel. David was broken after his sin with Bathsheba. The list could go on of those the Lord had to break in different ways before they could be used in the Kingdom.
When we are broken, we see the frailty of human strength and come to grips with the reality that we can do nothing in our own strength. Then, new strength emerges that God uses mightily. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Do not fear brokenness, for it may be the missing ingredient to a life that emerges with a new kind of strength and experience not known before. Pray for a broken and contrite heart that God can bless.

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

Is Your Love Overflowing?

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. (Philippians 1:9 NLT)

Today's Prayer
Lord, place in me a real desire to be love. Not just to know love, but to really embrace it as me. I pray that I come to understand how to give love as well as receive it. Teach me how to spread love as a way of life. Help me to understand what it men's to love even when there seems like there's no love at all. I desire to love only on one occasion, that's always. Amen and so it is.

L.O.V.E.
Living
Overcoming
Validating
Evolving

LOVE
Love
Overcomes
and
Values
Everyone

Written by Marc Christmas