What Are You Trading Your Life For? by Myra Boozer

Matthew 13:44, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

Just thinking about what is important to me, you know, what really matters? Some things just don't matter! But there are some things that really matter. What matters is not possessing many things of value but possessing the one thing of greatest value, the Kingdom of God!!! It's worth more than all the other things we could ever find.

What are you trading your life for? Day by day we usually spend our time doing what we want, working to pay bills, saving for a vacation, new house, new car, on and on. But what really matters? When we come to the end of our life I don't want to find that I spent my life on "things." I don't want to find that what I traded for my life was "fool's gold," shiny, insubstantial and ultimately worthless things. But that I sought out the "pearl of great price" like the man in the parable of the treasure hidden in the field.

He knew what mattered! Do you? Whatever you have to give up to get the great treasure it will be so small compared to the treasure that is waiting on the other side. Seek ye first the kingdom, then these other things will be added. But, they will never be as important or take the place of the greatest treasure God has for you in His Kingdom...Matt. 13:44-52. 

Lord, Keep Us Safe Till The Storm Passes By!

Daniel 6:10, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

The prophet Daniel was not so different from you and me. He lived in a time of displacement and captivity for his people. He struggled to remain at peace with his captors and remain true to the Lord God Jehovah. But, when he was forced to make a choice, he always chose God.

Daniel made an open show of his allegiance to God (Daniel 6:10). Daniel prayed as before! His prayer life was the foundation for his existence both present and future. When the enemy tested his love and loyalty to God, Daniel continued doing what he did every day. The die was cast and the pattern established. Therefore, Daniel held to his faith in God and God delivered him.

The substance of our life in Christ must be established before the storm comes. We must know that the foundation of our life is built upon Jesus Christ and all other ground is sinking sand. Therefore, when the trials of life test us, we continue doing what we have always done. We pray and trust God and He will deliver us once again!

God reveals Himself and our future in Him during these times of intense trial. It is during those times that we seek guidance and rely so heavily upon Him. He uses our faith and our dependence on Him to lead us into our future with Him! Lord, Keep Us Safe Till The Storm Passes By!

 

The Healing Of Our Nations! by Myra Boozer

Tragedy brings people together. It also brings people to the place of feeling helpless, needing someone to care. When broken, people become open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our churches would join hand in hand, praying for the HURTING and praying for the SALVATION of this WORLD.

Churches are so divided by Doctrine and Traditions. They hardly communicate with each other...SAD...JESUS died for ALL and loves us all. We need to UNITE in HIM! He is our "Common Ground." Instead of looking at all the differences, we need to stand together in the UNITY of THE CROSS of JESUS CHRIST. SATAN IS PLEASED when we are divided. GOD IS NOT!

Lord, please help us (the Church) to reach out to each other...to ALL who believe in YOU...those who have the same HEART CRY...those who LOVE YOU and desire to walk in YOUR WAYS...those who feel the pain and suffering of the broken and destitute. BRING US TOGETHER IN LOVE FOR YOU and ALL THOSE WHO NEED YOU.

Please help me pray for this to begin in all areas of our world. There is strength in numbers and strength in people visually seeing that the CHURCH CARES.

It doesn't take much to show you CARE. But, it can make a world of difference to the person hurting. LET'S DO THIS! Pray and ask God to direct you in joining with OTHERS for a great purpose...THE HEALING OF OUR NATIONS! 

It Is Time!

Many voices in the Church are calling the Body of Christ to Prayer. Today, we stand at the door of one of the greatest times in human history. We dare not move forward without full understanding of the gravity of our response to the call of God and the effect of that response upon ourselves and all that our lives might touch. Our future will be defined by what we do in this moment of our choice.

Many have already been praying! Those prayers have brought us to where we are now. But, we can't stop the prayer meetings. After 9/11 we had an opportunity to seek God and turn this nation around. But the praying didn't last. After only a few weeks we drifted back to business a usual. We cannot afford to take for granted the opportunity God is giving us. This is our last chance as a nation. Pray, Church! Pray like our lives depend on it. Because they do!

Can we pray? Father God, Lord Jesus Christ, we do here and now accept your challenge to pray in travailing prayer for our world that is lost and broken. We desire the Spirit of prayer to intercede. Open our spiritual eyes and ears so we can see and hear the cries of the lost, the beaten, the debilitated.  Teach us to understand what they are facing. Guide us to see and hear them as you do. Give us the compassion and love that you have for them so that we are inspired to join in their redemption. Lift us up in the power of Your Word being fully dressed in faith to lead the captives free. Anoint us with your power that we may speak to the mountains before us and they will be moved into the sea. Let us see the prison doors spring open at the mighty thrust of Your Presence. Help us to run into the battle with such passion that others are seized with the same fervor. I can hear the sound of mighty armies engaged on the battlefield. Can we pray? It Is Time! 

I Love To Worship! by Myra Boozer

I love to worship with hands raised in surrender to the Lord as the Holy Spirit comes down like rain. He washes over me like nothing else and takes all the worries and cares of the day down the drain.

I love to walk in the river that floods the place...All because I know who God is and what He has done for me...as I sing praises to Him not only with my mouth but with my understanding, my heart, my desires and everything that is within me. I lift the Name of JESUS and He lifts me.

He lifts me up above all the shadows of despair and defeat and tells me I am His own. That I am the apple of His eye and that He loves me. Just another reason for me to never back up or give up on God.

For me, worship is a Celebration of all that I live for and all that Christ died for...My debt paid!...My sins forgiven!...My passport to my new home!...and so much more! 

The Power Of God's Presence?

Jeremiah 2:8, “The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.”

The power of God’s presence requires embracing God’s truth! That is the reason Judah was not experiencing God’s favor during this time. The priests, pastors and prophets lead the way for Judah into apostasy. Through the words of Jeremiah, God was revealing a pathway to victory. But there is only one way to secure God’s favor. Judah must acknowledge their defiance of God’s law and return to God in repentance and submission. Through the prophet, God was pleading with Judah to return to Him and to His Favor.

I suppose that every Christian would say that they desire the favor of God in their life. But, are we willing to embrace the truth of God’s Word and submit our lives to its standard? What is the parallel with our text for today?

 A congregation will not rise above their leader! Then, it becomes the responsibility of those leaders to represent God’s Truth in word and deed. Godly leaders will lift up God’s standard which is God’s Truth. True leaders are co-workers with the Lord Jesus Christ through the abiding presence of the Holy Ghost. God said that He would lift up His standard when the enemy comes in an overwhelming force. “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19 (continued)

Finding You (Jesus) Is Worship! by Myra Boozer

"Worship is so much more than just singing songs. It is a condition of the heart and a state of mind. We can even worship God passionately without singing a single note. Our worship for God is born in our hearts, it fills our thoughts, and it is expressed through our mouths and through our bodies. Worship is fulfilling your purpose. When you are praising God, you are not just fulfilling a duty, putting in time, or doing what is expected of you. You are entering into all He has for you. You are opening a door, behind which you will find His purpose and destiny for your life."

Wow, this says so much to us today. True worship happens when the door is opened, and we step into the awesome presence of God, becoming aware of who He is and who we are in Christ. It can happen when we sing, when we pray, or when we are just walking along the wayside with the Lord. It is a time of walking hand in hand with Jesus as though nothing else matters.

Dear Lord, may we get lost in your presence and find you. Finding You is what matters today. The world is screaming for more and more attention. May we cast off all the distractions and focus on You with a Heart of Worship.