Be Thankful!

"I will lift my eyes to you whose throne is in heaven."

Psalm 123: 1 (REB)

We lift our eyes today to see your handiwork from the first blush of dawn to the golden blaze of autumn leaves. We are amazed again as you transition us into a new season.

We stand in awesome wonder as birds migrate to new nesting places and other animals prepare to hibernate. In these brilliant days of autumn, we see your creativity and feel your presence in the crisp chill of the air.

May we never be in such a hurry to handle the business of this day or any day that we neglect to take the time to observe the beauty of your creation and be thankful!

Firm Faith

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."

Isaiah 7:9

Lord, we recognize that it is impossible to please you without faith. Help us today to stay focused on your promises and possibilities instead of the many negative elements that compete for our attention.

By faith, we will close the door to destructive actions. By faith, we will seal our lips to slanderous gossip. By faith, unproductive attitudes will not dominate our lives. By faith, we will climb the stairs of faith to open the window that grace provides to see the plans you have for us, plans not to harm but to prosper.

Abundantly

" We live by faith, not by sight."

2 Corinthians 5:7

Our eyes see one thing and our faith sees another. You are the God of abundance! Your resources never run out and your capacity to bless us is beyond our imagination!

Today, we step out on faith. Help us to see our challenges as opportunities; our crises as chances to do different or to do better and our problems as new possibilities. Amen.

VMM

Walk With Understanding

"Walk in the way of understanding."

Proverbs 9:6

O God, my God how excellent is your name in all the earth. I praise you for all that you have made, all that you have done for me and all that is to come.

Open my eyes that I may see the generous blessings on my side of the fence. Immerse me today in a sprit of gratitude as I now realize that the grass is not always greener in the other person's yard. Help me to identify the blessings in my own backyard. Guide my steps so that I walk in the way of understanding!

I do not know what the day holds for me but thank God, I know who holds both me and the day! In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen.

Shine on!

"...let your light so shine, that others may see your good works and glorify God which is in heaven"

Matthew 5: 16

O Lord, keep us focused today on your divine call to be your witnesses with Holy Spirit power in places close to home and in places beyond our comfort zones. Go with us as we seek to serve and bear witness to your appearing and to your pursuit of salvation for all people. Give us opportunity to share our story of your goodness and your love. Help to live the story in such a way that others will rise up and call you blessed. In Jesus' name. Amen.

VMM

Protect and Serve

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want"

Psalm 23: 1

Shepherd of our souls, thank you for providing for us in ways beyond our knowledge and our deserving. You've protected us from dangers seen and unseen and we trust your love and care completely.

If our faith is challenged today, help us to keep our eyes open to the truth of your Word even if we are temporarily blinded by doubt and fear. If we are tempted guide us so we are not enmeshed in the tentacles of sin. If we stray, like a shepherd, lead us back into the fold of your love. Amen

Trust and Obey

" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding;.. "

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Today Lord, we are grateful that trust and thanksgiving will get us through anything we must face. Help us to trust you all the more with everything and for everything. When we trust in You, trust protects us from constant worry. When we thank you in everything and for everything with our whole heart, gratitude keeps us from complaining.

Help us to trust and obey. Banish troubles to the periphery of our minds as we lean not to our own understanding. In Jesus Name, Amen.

VMM

Praise Party

"Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord..."

Psalm 150:6

We will praise you! O Lord, praise will flow from our lips like a cascading river rushing downstream to join itself with an ocean of adoration. Glory to your name!

We will thank you! We are blessed with every spiritual blessing. Gratitude will take up so much of our day that there will be no time remaining for us to murmur, lament or complain. Amen.

VMM

Serene

"The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people ith peace."

Psalm 29:11

"In the heart's depths a peace serene and holy abides, and when pain seems to have its will, or we despair, --oh, may that peace rise slowly, stronger than agony, and we be still."

S. Johnson

Potential Joy

"This is the day the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" Psalm 1l8: 24

O God, let the the potential joy of this day be realized among us. You have done mighty and wonderful things for us. Forgive us when we have focused on what we didn't have, didn't get, where we didn't go, what we didn't do, what we didn't like neglecting who you are and what you did do!

Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a tongue to glorify you. We thank you that we can bring to you what we are and have, who we strive to be, and enjoy the assurance that you can use what is little to accomplish great things. Use us today Lord for thy glory. We shall rejoice and be glad!! Amen and Amen

VMM

Aware

"The Lord hath done great thins for us; whereof we are glad." Psalm 126: 3

Today, O Lord, grant that we may become so aware of your presence that we shall have confidence and courage from dawn to dusk.

Grant that we may become so aware of your grace that we shall have the confidence and courage to try again.

Grant that we may become so aware of your lovingkindness that we shall have the confidence and courage to love those who may not love in return.

Grant that we may become so aware of your perfect peace that we shall have the confidence and courage to walk into enemy territory to take back what the enemy has taken from us.

Grant that we may become so aware of past providences that we shall have confidence and courage to face tomorrow and all the days to come. In Jesus Name, Amen.

VMM

Dawn's Early Light

"In the morning, O Lord, hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my needs in front of you, and I wait." Psalm 5:3

Orchestrator of the Universe help me this morning and every morning that you grant me life, to come to you in the quiet of dawn's early light, before caffein, rush hour, the opening bell, the punched clock, while there is a hush all over the house. Before I take on too much of the day or before the day takes me on, I come before you to hear Your voice telling me which way to go.

I present myself, my soul and body as a reasonable sacrifice. I bring you praise and thanksgiving before I lay my needs before you. I bring the possibilities of the day and ask you to use it for your glory. I bring whatever patience I can gather to wait, wait to hear your voice in every matter. In Jesus name, Amen.

VMM