Mama Mia

Romans 12:1 (place your life before God) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work/school, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit in to it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (THE MESSAGE)

Dear Friend:
The song from Mama Mia written by Abba called “TAKE A CHANCE ON ME” is really appropriate words for my message today. Here they are in case you don’t know them.
If you change your mind, I’m the first in line
Honey I’m still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you’ve got no place to go, if you’re feeling down
If you’re all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I’m still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain’t no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
Take a chance on me
(that’s all I ask of you honey)
Take a chance on me

“SERIOUSLY,” the Lord says! The downturn of our economy and the deterioration of family should be enough for us to “TAKE A CHANCE ”on Jesus? Oh Mama Mia, the Lord is crying! This is not a message of FEAR, no this is a message of HOPE. Hope from Jesus! You say what hope? Hopefully God has your attention and He wants you to pray like this.
Heavenly Father you are our hope and salvation. Grant me the power to say NO to ungodliness and Yes to you. Forgive me when I did not stick up for family values and say no. Father bring down the ministering angels to help us break this cycle of fear. I pray that you attack the spirit of fear over all those have the financial ability to make changes for our economy. Father direct the thoughts of those in charge of these decisions and release the wisdom they need to turn this around. In Jesus name. Amen.
No Fear,
Elaine

Seriously

Proverbs 16:20
It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God.

One of the first duties of a rational being is to inquire seriously why he was created, and what he is to do to answer the purpose of his creation. (American Dictionary Noah Webster 1828)

Dear Friend:

I was picturing myself texting you the word “seriously.” I don’t know if you notice how much our youth say this word today. I can count it when they talk sometimes 5 times or more in a conversation. Consider how much you use this word or much someone else uses the word.

Are you finding out what God has to say and taking it “seriously?” Do you listen to what others are “seriously” asking you to believe? It can be random conversations but we listen and take it “seriously.”

Let’s pray: Father in heaven your word says it pays to take life seriously; help me to trust you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Seriously,
Elaine

Stress Reliever

The Priestly Blessing –Numbers 6:22-27
22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 " ' "The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '
27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
Dear Friend:
This Priestly blessing was written right after Moses received the ten commandments. Aaron and Moses were receiving all sorts of instructions regarding the Priestly duties. The Lord instructed them to pray and say to the Israelites this blessing.
I use this blessing in the nursing home all the time. I find it refreshing and reassuring. In these uncertain times it is refreshing to hear from God that he will keep you, be gracious to you and give you peace. A bit of a stress reliever, I would say!
Pray with me: Father in heaven thank you for keeping me , blessing me, being gracious to me and giving me peace. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Being Blessed,
Elaine

Job Offer

Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue. Exodus 4:10

Dear Friend:

Imagine if an owner of the company came to you and proposed a job for you and you responded as above? If the statement above was not bad enough look at the next statement Moses said.
But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” Exodus 4:13

God knows everything about you and me. Do you not believe that? God says he knows every hair on your head. He knows if we are qualified for a job.

If you are a praying person and waiting on God for answer for things going on in your life. Stop, picturing the way he should answer it and start just responding to what is in front of you. God is lavishing wisdom on you and wants to help. Pray, wait, respond.
It takes courage to do what God is putting in front of you. It also takes courage to continue going when things seem difficult. Here are some quick things I counted up about Moses’s job:
Moses asked Pharoah “to let the people go and worship” 8 times.
God hardened Pharoah’s hearts 18 times
Pharoah asked Moses “to pray to stop the plagues” 6 times.
Pharoah said “he would let the people go” and changed his mind 6 times.
What a hard time Moses had with Pharoah.
God cast a vision starting with Abraham, saying “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3 Did you know from Genesis through Exodus ( that ‘s Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses) he repeats this promise 23 times. Now that is reassurance for life.

Let’s pray: Father in heaven things are hard right now. Thank you for the testimony of our faith fathers. Help me to trust you because you are so trustworthy. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

So got any job offers lately? Things seem difficult and not clear? God will see you through it ALL!

Listening to God,
Elaine

Fragrance

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me. Song of Songs 2:12-13

Dear Friend:
Can't you just see it! Imagine standing in a place where flowers appear on the earth and the singing of the season appears and the doves coo. Fruit is on the trees and the fragrance of the blossoms is fresh. With the beauty the Lord bestowed upon us that is radiant we look and see Him standing there in the garden and we walk…..walk to Jesus. We kneel before Him and give thanks and praise for He is good and his love is surely felt. What an encounter!
Spreading God's fragrance of love,
Elaine

Continue

2 Chronicles 6:14 He said: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth--you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.
Dear Friend:
God’s message is to continue…
Wholeheartedly in your way 1King 8:23
To love Psalm 36:10
In the grace of God Acts 13:43
To do everything written in the book of law Galatians 3:10
To work out your salvation Philippians 2:12
In your firm faith Colossians 1:23
In what you have learned and become convinced 2 Timothy 3:14
In Him 1John 2:28
In the teaching of Christ 2John 1:9
To do right Revelation 22:11
To be holy Revelation 22:11
In His kindness Romans 11:22

1John5:18 we know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

Let’s pray: Father you have a message for me and it is to continue….give me the strength, wisdom and ability to do all that you ask of me. Guide me on the right path. Thank you Father. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Contin’ue- to abide for any time indefinitely.

Continuing,
Elaine

Question

When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” John 21:20b-21

Dear Friend:

Sometimes don’t you just want to be able to know what is going on with someone and be able to tell others? These days we live in a world where communication can be passed along so fast by text messaging or e-mailing. We can get a hold of people so fast we never have to wait. We can be so impulsive with information we don’t even have to think but just react and pass it on.

Peter had his last moment with Jesus before Jesus had to leave earth. Peter was walking and talking personally with Jesus and getting his last instructions. He turns to Jesus and asks “what about him, what is going to happen with him?” Peter was referring to the disciple John, who happens to be very close to both of them, and he lets his curiosity get the best of him. He had trouble just staying focused sticking with Jesus and discussing what was between just the two of them.

Do you have the same problem in your prayer life with Jesus? Do you ask a lot of questions about others, when maybe you should be just following Jesus and sticking to yourself? I think Jesus response is pretty clear. “Just follow me!” We of course need to check our motives. Why are we concerning ourselves with other people’s matters? Something to think about.

Let’s pray:
Father in heaven thank you for the reminder to “Just follow you.” Help me to keep my eyes on you and the concerns you have with me. Forgive me for sticking my nose in other people’s business. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Trying to mind my own business,
Elaine