Praying for you today

Thoughts

Today I am praying for those who are going through a transition in life. There are so many possible scenarios. Here are just some of the many possibilities:

  • The ending of a friendship and/or the starting of a new one
  • Physical relocation due to work, heath, or a family need
  • Aging parents and all the care associated with their needs
  • The death of someone very close to you
  • The empty nest syndrome
  • Time to find a new church
  • Job or career change
  • Mid-life crisis

If I missed your particular situation, write me and let me know. I will take your particular situation or need to the Father.

Whether I touched on your situation or totally missed it, know I am praying for you. This is a time to seek God. Seek Him just to be near Him (see Jeremiah 29:13). As the Proverb says, “… there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Seek Him for wisdom and direction. Often in life transitions, we are tempted to make decisions we will regret later. Seek Him for the wisdom you need.

Spend time with Him in His Word. In life transitions we are super attentive to information but we really need truth. When we are empty and do not know where to turn we need illumination. In the Bible, we find occasions where people were “filled with fear.” God would have us be “filled with the Spirit.” Being filled with God’s Word and filled with the Holy Spirit is a powerful combination regardless of the situation you are facing.

If you have a relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, remember and draw strength from these words in Romans 8:35-39. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord..”

Stay close to Him today

Praying for you today

Thoughts, ,

Today I am praying for those who have experienced termination. Maybe you were caught up in a downsizing, the company failed and had to close its doors, or you had to endure those dreaded words “your services are no longer needed.” Your situation may be very different. Regardless of your particular situation, many of us know what you are going through.

Because of that, your Christmas may be a little different this year. I am praying God will give you fresh insight and fresh ideas to make this Christmas special. Remember, it is not the amount of presents under the tree but the One who died on a tree (the cross) who makes Christmas what it is.

Once again, remember, I am praying for you. My heart aches for you because I know what you are going through. No one likes to feel rejected and in many cases, that is exactly what this is. Any of us can tend to go bitter. Guard against those feelings. Bear in mind those important words found in Hebrews 12:15. Also, claim the promise of Philippians 4:19. Hang in there, be actively pursuing His next assignment, and see how the Lord will direct. May our Lord bless you today.

Praying for you today

Thoughts,

Today I am praying specifically for those who are separated or estranged from a friend or loved one. This could be due to such things as

  • Work obligations (yours or theirs)
  • Military service
  • Misunderstanding
  • You just do not know where they are, etc.

Life is complicated. That is an understatement. When the complications of life include separation or estrangement, it can be paralyzing. Your situation may be the result of the “isness” factor – that “is” just the way it “is” right now. Maybe it was something they did, you did, or simply life happening. You woke up one morning and asked yourself “How did I get here? What have I done? Where did time go?”

In your situation, has the Lord prompted your heart for steps to take? If so, follow His lead. If you do not know what to do, seek Him, seek out a friend, a counselor or a coach for some help. Write a letter or an email if that would be applicable in your situation. In our day of technology, there are many ways to reconnect with friends and loved ones. Just remember, be sure your motives are pure. Please do not forsake your family and your present relationships to go back and rekindle a love from days gone by. I trust you hear my heart here.

Christmas time can be tough for those who are separated or estranged from friends and loved ones. The enemy can heap tons of guilt upon us. We find ourselves wishing we could back up time, undo past mistakes, and start all over.

Do you need to say, “I am sorry” or “I was wrong?” If so, do that. Many of you have tried to repair the breach only to be rejected or spurned. Just know that I have been and will be praying for you. As you press on in life today, remember these words from the Word. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1Peter 5:6-7).

Praying for you today

Thoughts

Today I am praying for you who have experienced the death of a child. The pain you have experienced is more than I can imagine. I wish there was something I could do to minimize your pain. My prayer for you is threefold.

First, that God would comfort your heart. Lean heavily on your heavenly Father. He knows exactly what you are going through. He experienced the death of His Son. In John 3:16 we find the words, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Please know He knows and many people are praying for you today. We are praying your sorrow is a bit less.

Second, look forward to the day you can see your child again. When King David knew in his heart a child of his would soon pass from this life, the Bible records he mourned for many days. When the child passed he said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me (1 Sam 12:23).” David knew his child was safe in heaven and he looked forward to the day he could see and be with his child again.

Third, pray for others who are experiencing what you have experienced. You know what they are going through. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 we find, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

I am so sorry you have experienced this. May God be with you in a special way today.

Praying for you today

Thoughts

Today I am praying for those who have experienced the death of a spouse. If you have not had this experience would you join me in praying for others?

In my 30 years of ministry, I have been by the bedside of many people who breathed their last this side of heaven. These people include my mother, my father-in-law, a golfing buddy, a cousin, friends, many of whom were faithful church members. As difficult as that was, even now I am having fresh reminders of their spouses and immediate family members left behind.

If you have experienced the death of a spouse, you are in a group you did not want to join. My heart aches for you even now. Some of you are moving on in life with the grace of God. Others are mad at God for taking your mate. Some of you have remarried and some have remained single. Still others continue with healing and remarriage is of little to no interest.

Whether your spouse died recently or many years ago, Christmas time can be especially tough. Just know I am praying for you and hoping for you a very Merry Christmas this year. Please accept this email from my heart to yours and know others are joining me in lifting you up in prayer.

Bro. Tom

I am praying for you

Thoughts

Today I am praying especially for those who have experienced the death of a parent. For the few who have not had this experience, would you join me in praying for others?

The death of a parent is a great loss regardless of how their life here on earth came to a close. Some parents died very prematurely. Some parents died suddenly with little to no signs they would soon depart this earth. Many died after a long life. Regardless of how your parent(s) or those of a friend made their departure from this earth, we are never ready to let them go. Their departure leaves a huge void in our lives.

I am praying you will experience a special measure of God’s presence today. I am also praying you will allow our heavenly Father to hold you and console you. Please open your Bible and read Psalm 23, John 14:1-6, and 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. Meditate on these verses and draw encouragement from these words in the Word.

Have a great Sunday,

Bro. Tom

Salvation is a gift from God but we must receive it

Thoughts

D.L. Moody once wrote, “Faith is the gift of God.  So is the air, but you have to breathe it; so is bread, but you have to eat it; so is water, but you have to drink it.” 

Salvation is the gift of God, but you must receive. As we find in Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 6:23, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This Christmas, if you have not received this greatest gift ever, do not miss it. If you have already received it, pass it on to another.

Merry Christmas

Praying for you

Thoughts

I am praying for you today. As we continue into the days leading up to Christmas (just 19 days to go) each day I will be praying for a specific group of people.

However, today the group includes everyone. All of us have experienced the death of someone special this year. Whether it is a family member or friend, death is a present reminder of how badly our parents (Adam and Eve) messed up. They thought they were making a common sense decision (Proverbs 14:12). Their decision affected us all and is the reason we experience death (Romans 5:12).

Today, I have been praying and will be praying for you. I am praying you will experience the grace of God and the peace of God. May our Lord Jesus be with you in a special way today.

Bro. Tom

Financial Freedom Principle #20: Emotional spending can be a train wreck waiting to happen

Thoughts

Imagine flying over a mountain range in a helicopter enjoying all the beautiful creation of God. In the valley below is a set of train tracks. To your shock and surprise there are two trains on the tracks; heading toward each other at a high rate of speed. You cannot communicate with the trains. You try to reach them but they are traveling too fast and you are too far away. You experience the horrible feeling of helplessness. All you can do is watch this terrible thing happen. The sad part about this scenario is – this could have been avoided with a little bit of communication and attention to detail.

The days surrounding Christmas can be days of intense emotional spending. Stores love emotional spenders. To avoid this we need to be wise and vigilant. Do you remember this important proverb from Proverbs 23:5? We have used it before. “Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”

Emotional spending can be fun and emotionally uplifting … for the moment. However, the train wreck will happen in a few weeks when the bills come due. Two personal stories are in order.

When I was a child, we loved it when mom would send us to the store with dad. Although my dad is a very frugal person, he had a weak spot – a sweet tooth. His sweet tooth along with our pleas would net us great treasure. We would come home with Circus Peanuts, Animal Crackers, and chocolate candy; none of which was on the list prepared by mom. It was the result of emotional spending and my sister and I were glad it worked.

A friend of mine used to go into temporary depression when his wife would leave town for an extended period; maybe to visit her mom and dad. To self-medicate he would buy stuff. Once he bought a new set of golf clubs. My golfer friends would say “What’s wrong with that?” Once while she was away, he bought a new car he really could not afford at the time. Wow! This particular story has a happy conclusion. Today he makes more money than the President does and he could probably buy the White House. Most of us are not so fortunate.

I will let you decide if emotional spending is a sin based upon our previous Financial Freedom principles. Stores love it when emotional spenders walk in. Dollar signs roll through their minds and they hear the sound “cha-ching.” In these days, we must be on guard for emotional spending or the financial train wreck will happen early in January. Let’s be wise and have a great Christmas.

Financial Freedom Principle #19: Gratitude is the best attitude

Thoughts

Find a grateful person and you have found a great treasure. Spend too much time with ungrateful people and you will find yourself in recurring episodes of depression. Ungrateful people are all around us. They are emotionally and physically draining. One of the most devastating personality traits is ingratitude because it leads to bitterness. Both grateful and ungrateful people can be hurt and offended. However, the grateful person will avoid being trapped in the gall of bitterness.

In our home hangs a piece of artwork; an ever present reminder of the importance of gratitude. Here are those words: “A grateful heart sees many blessings.” Everyday at the end of the day Pat and I stop and record in a journal items of gratitude for the day. When you find yourself going bitter, do three things.

First, read and take heed to Hebrews 12:14-15.

Second, consider and reconsider these verses:

  • “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
  •  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
  • “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)
  • “Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High.” (Psalm 50:14)
  • “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm) 100:1-4

Third, stop and record on paper items for which you are grateful. Write down as many items as possible; do not stop with one or two. You will find joy returning to your heart. Remember, gratitude is the best attitude.