In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. -- Psalm 5:3

Prayer is more than asking. Prayer is more than praising. Prayer is more than thanking. Prayer is more than requesting or interceding or kneeling or humbling ourselves. Prayer is expecting that God wants us there, expecting that God hears us, and expecting that God will meet us in our prayer time and do what is best for us.

Have you ever heard the story of Jimmy Reed the jazz musician? It's said that if you listen to his albums you can hear a soft female voice in the background saying the next line to the song. Apparently, Jimmy would get so involved in the rhythm and beat of the music that he would forget the words so his wife softly whispered them to him. It reminds me of how we are sometimes. We get so involved in the rhythm and beat of our daily lives that we forget the Words to our song, but if we really listen, we can hear the Holy Spirit softly telling us what comes next.

Listen when He speaks.

It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless we preach as we walk. -- Francis of Assisi

Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. -- Thomas Moore

Our church lost a new born baby yesterday. He was with us one hour before the Lord called him back home. The blessing is how the young couple handled the situation. God was glorified by their faith.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Oprah Exposed

The tearful praying Christian, whose distress prevent his words, will be clearly understood by the Most High. -- Charles H. Spurgeon

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. -- Ephesians 4:26-27

'Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.'

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. -- John 4:23-24

God seeks true worshipers. He seeks those who long to praise him authentically and spirit to spirit. To help us in our quest, he gives us his Spirit to help us worship (Philippians 3:3; Jude 20;Romans 8:26-27). Most of all, he wants us to genuinely worship him-- worship him according to his will and with all of our heart.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Philippians 4:20

When was the last time that you prayed and didn't request things from God and you simply thanked and praised him? Why not use today as a day of thanks and praise? Don't ask for anything; just praise and thank the Father! Praise him for who he is, what he has done, and what he is going to do! Thank him for blessing you, saving you, and bringing you into his glory!

Let today be a day of thanks and praise.

DRINK, STEAL, SWEAR & LIE

1.. 'Drink' from the 'everlasting cup' every day.
2.. 'Steal' a moment to help someone that is in worse shape than you are.
3.. 'Swear' that you will be a better person today than yesterday.
4.. When you 'lie' down at night thank God you live in America and have freedom.

I Can

An incredible illustration about the relationship between a father and son ... and God's relationship with us.

In his book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell observes that struggling businesses are often turned around by one key decision. Many once-foundering companies are now thriving and successful because of a choice that became the tipping point.

Although targeted to those in business management, the principle also applies to those who are committed to advancing the cause of Christ. Sometimes we find ourselves up against a wall, struggling with a decision or situation that threatens to cripple our capacity for effective service to our King. It’s at those critical junctures that we can make a “tipping point” decision to turn things around.

The decision? Surrender your will and heart to God. James 4:7 says, “Submit to God,” and Romans 12:1 tells us, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.” Be willing to sacrifice your agenda for His greater purposes.

Surrender is the tipping point. When we make that choice, God can use us to do great things for Him.

ODB

The world needs Christians who embrace an antithetical worldview, a biblical mindset that answers questions of truth and morality in terms of black and white. Why? Because there is no salvation without absolute, unshakeable truth. Compromising, changing, tolerant opinions don't provide answers for the "crazy and confusing and painful" issues that confront us every day. Only truth saves and sanctifies and gives hope.

What's needed today is a generation of men and women who will take a stand on biblical truth. People like that fear the Lord, not men, and will find power and courage from the Lord to uphold His truth in an age of extreme tolerance.

Adapted from John MacArthur