Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, as I stumble through this life, help me to create more laughter than tears, dispense more cheer than gloom, spread more joy than despair. Let me remind those I meet that our final existence will be total joy, and that we may taste this joy through the Spirit even today. Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people, make them happy, and forget momentarily all the temporary unpleasantness in their lives.

Help me to learn more about You as I travel through this world. Let this knowledge inspire fresh praise in my heart and a desire to become more like You. And in my final moment, may I hear You whisper, “When you made My people smile, you made Me smile.”

In utter humility, I thank You and glorify You, that You might hear the prayer of one so small as myself, amidst the billions of souls among billions of stars in one of billions of galaxies in Your universe. Let me go forth in Your peace, keeping Your Spirit always in my mind. And bless me, I pray, that I might always follow Your will and live in the radiance of Your blessing.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - 2 Peter 3:18

Let us always strive for spiritual maturity. Strive to grow in His love. Strive to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Once you're spiritually matured, you will be able to handle things very well.

How to grow? Simply devote yourselves to the Lord. Devote your time and efforts to Him. And, you will experience is extravagant love everyday of your life.

The Daily Grace - Human Chess

Chess is an ancient game of strategy. Each player begins with 16 pieces on the chessboard with the goal of cornering his opponent's king. It has taken different forms over the years. One form is human chess, which was introduced around AD 735 by Charles Martel, duke of Austrasia. Martel would play the game on giant boards with real people as the pieces. The human pieces were costumed to reflect their status on the board and moved at the whim of the players - manipulating them to their own ends.

Could this human version of the game of chess be one that we sometimes play? We can easily become so driven by our goals that people become just one more pawn that we use to achieve them. The Scriptures, however, call us to a different view of those around us. We are to see people as created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). They are objects of God's love (John 3:16) and deserving of ours as well.

The apostle John wrote, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God" (1 John 4:7). Because God first loved us, we are to respond by loving Him and the people He created in His image. People are to be loved, not used. Let us love one another.

Today We Pray

Dear God, as the Most High, our one hope, everlasting light of heaven and earth, we break the silence of the peaceful night. Cast thine eyes upon us! Look with favour upon thy faithful people now gathered here to praise Thee.

Incline me, O God, to think humbly of myself. Help me to be severe only in the examination of my own conduct. Help me to consider my fellow creatures with kindness, and to judge of all they say and do with that charity that I would desire from them myself. 

Pour on us the fire of thy mighty grace that all hell may flee at the sound of the voice. Receive our hymns offered to thy endless glory. May we go forth filled with thy gifts.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - James 1:22-24

Let us prove to others that we are doers of His word, not just listeners only. We should actively and continually obeying God’s precepts. Let us not hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning. Do not be deceived by the unsound reasoning contrary to the truth and its meaning.

If we only listen to the word without obeying it, we are like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror. For once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. Let us not be like that. We should apply what we learned in His Word everywhere we go.

The Daily Grace - Be A Peacemaker

Peace is one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. God wants us to have that Fruits of the Holy Spirits in our lives. Each fruits should be applied to live a godly life. We should also spread peace to our surroundings. How to be a peacemaker?

Peace and self-control goes the same. If we don't have self-control, peace will not be there, too. Taming our tongue, controlling our anger and guarding our words and actions are the focal points to be a peacemaker. Proverbs 21:23 says that "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from all troubles". If you are just on guard, being a peacemaker is already possible.

Make a difference now. Start spreading peace around you. Start planting that seed of peace and you will sow justice and righteousness. Seek God's desires in your life, not your own will. Honor God in everything that you do and peace will just follow.

Today We Pray

Dear God, I thank You and love You for seeing who I really am. You know things about me that I don't even know myself. I most especially thank You, I fall upon my knees in gratitude, that You love me despite all of the sin and ugliness You see in me. 

Send Your Holy Spirit to deepen my worship life. Open my heart to the gifts and cultures which surround my church. Open my heart to the people who are different from me.

I give myself to You wholly, freely; every part of me blesses You. Take me to Your bosom, let me live Your love and reflect Your light, that others may see a dim reflection of Your magnificence in my lowly life, and that despite my many grievous faults, I might please You by doing better today, and every day. And this I vow: I will try, at least once today, to take a step closer to You, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen