This is the Prayer from 4/18/16

Day or night, the city is always a busy, buzzing hub. In the early morning hours, you hear a freight train rumbling in towards the city. With continuous welded rail, the old clickedy-clack is gone, just a heavy lumbering sound as it approaches. The darkness seems to lay like dead weight, everything melts one into the other. You sit there waiting for some light to break in the sky. Not to worry, the Lord is near. You can pray, He will hear you. You need Him, the city is a place where you feel alone.

The small town, what differences exist there? People want to proclaim it's a better life, more laid back, not the crush and rush of the big city. Yes, there's some t***h to that, but they are still people, only in a different setting. Gossip is more prevalent, much harder to hide a private life. Their little Payton Place becomes more widely known than they may suspect. If an outsider lifts an eyebrow, and wonders about their professed faith, what does the Lord think? He doesn't heed gossip, He deals in facts.

Then there is the country, He surrounds you with the country. The open fields offer their sense of freedom. His brilliant sun shining down to warm the earth, and the rain that comes to feed it. All around you nature speaks to His glory. The old gnarled oak trees that lift their gangling limbs to the heavens. The Lord generously feeds the birds with His earth. He also feeds our soul with this exquisite beauty and bountiful space. Thank You, Lord, thank You for giving us an understanding and appreciation of Your world. In Jesus name we pray. Amen

Verse of the Day for Tuesday, October 17, 2017:

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. — Psalm 34:18

Thoughts on Today's Verse....

The LORD is... ...near! ...present! ...close! How do I know? He came close in the manger. He walked among us in ministry. He suffered with us and for us at Calvary. We know that in tragedy, trial, heartbreak, and brokenness he is near to us to save us. So, will our hearts be open to him and will we be seeking him to come near? Don't let troubles or heartache lead you to pull away from God or doubt his nearness. Let him draw close to you.

My Prayer...

O LORD, please be near me today. Make your presence known in my life. Father, I also ask that you bless those I know who are struggling with their faith, and with broken and disappointed hearts. Please be active in their lives and make your presence known in their lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

O LORD, please be near me today. Make your presence known in my life. Father, I also ask that you bless those I know who are struggling with their faith, and with broken and disappointed hearts. Please be active in their lives and make your presence known in their lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Your quiet beauty in the early morning, before the break of dawn; Your soft voice to direct me; the sense of comfort I feel when You are near; and so many other ways that You show Your presence and protection in my life. For everything You have done and continue to do for me - I am grateful, I thank You, and above all I offer You all my praise. Amen

This is the Prayer from 4/19/16

An unusual start to the day, it took two cups of coffee to wake me up and put all systems in go. The Lord patiently sat there waiting for me to be fully awake, we didn't say much this morning. I neglected to ask Him what He would like me to write about, so here I am - winging it. Ah, rejuvenate! The word to build on, as we build our energy, we rejuvenate the soul. The soul inside us must live, it must dance, sing, and be free. It will sing praises to its Maker, the Lord of heaven and earth.

The open space of the fields, the majestic trees, the intricate flowers, the fluttering birds, and even the humming of the bugs becomes the food to feed and enliven the soul. You can escape in this wonderland of beauty and serenity. Breathe deep this fresh air that intoxicates the spirit, lifts you into space as though you are floating. Raise your hands to the Lord, and He will sweep you up in His arms, and carry you on an exciting journey to exotic scenes within His world. Abandon yourself in His presence.

Then, as the sun begins to break in the east, you notice the dark fades into a soft light, before long a faint tinge of pink appears. It won't be long and the sun will peek over the horizon and another day will be underway. The night animals scurry off to their dens as the day people stir and ready themselves about their day's activities. A new day has arrived. Say a prayer, invite the Lord to join you and keep you safe. This we reverently ask, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen

Verse of the Day for Wednesday, October 18, 2017:

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. — Psalm 34:19-20

Thoughts on Today's Verse....

We know that the righteous can have troubles, but how do we understand that God delivers us from them all? How do we understand that he protects all our bones, especially in light of recent tragedies and the persecution of believers in many places in the world? Paul demonstrates the answer: wh**ever happens to him will turn out for his deliverance — whether it is through his death to be with God or whether it is through his release from prison to continue ministry (Phil. 1:19-23). Our deliverance is secure. We are conquerors in Christ. Nothing Satan can do to us can steal us away from God's love, not even death (Romans 8:32-39).

My Prayer...

Father, please give me the faith I need to believe that wh**ever happens in my life will not steal me away from your love and deliverance for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. — Psalm 34:19-20

I had prayed for the Lord to send me a dog. I had not stopped at the shelter until one day, on our way home, my daughter said, "let's stop." We did, and Bear had just been released from quintine as he had been picked up as a stray. I adopted him on the spot. He is an Akita, very loyal to ONE master. It took a year before he adopted me!!!! I don't remember the times he pulled me down, at least 7 or 8, and one time sent me to the ER - BUT NOT A BONE WAS BROKEN. The Lord answers prayer - BELIEVE. Amen

Verse of the Day for Thursday, October 19, 2017:

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. — Psalm 34:21

Thoughts on Today's Verse....

God has promised a closing time, a reckoning where human power and influence cannot buy out the t***h and where each person will have to face up to what he or she has done. Evil will overtake those who have been partners with evil. Those that h**e good people, righteous people, will be condemned in their own h**e. God's righteousness, t***h, and justice will not be short-circuited!

My Prayer...

Father, thank you for making clean and whole by the purifying work of your Holy Spirit. Teach me to be righteous. Help me develop a revulsion for what is sinful and evil. Use me to help someone caught in the evil one's work to find deliverance. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.