Central (Deuteronomy 15:7-11)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “central.” Moses had to lead God’s peeps through some pretty crazy times. There were tons of laws and policies and enough other rules to drive anyone batty! But with all this going on God really only needed the Israelites remember one thing and then most other stuff would come to work out. And that one thing was to keep the main thing the main thing. Obedience, justice and charity were absolutely central to God’s message and covenant with Israel…

“Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.”

~Deut. 15:10

My question is: can you make time on this last day of the year to sit down and ponder God’s covenant – both in the lives of the Israelites, and you personally today? I know that our Lord has a great agenda for you this next year. My prayer is that you put in your goals to give back to God more than you ever have before. Allow him to use you and all that you are to advance the kingdom. Hope you had a great year; this next one will be even better.

Praying for you,

mo

Precarious (Joshua 10:1-43)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “precarious.” Can you imagine being in Joshua’s position when God called him to lead the Israelites into the next chapter of history? The peeps just lost the only leader they had for the last 40 years; and Joshua was to follow that act! The Israelites still had not reached the Promised Land and in front of them was a huge river and bunch of cities with walls. Not a good situation. But Joshua stepped up and took on that crazy task…

“Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

~Josh. 10:25

Here’s my question: are you continually moving forward during both the good and bad times of your life? Sometimes we want to slow down because we get overwhelmed. All of us have been in a precarious situation or two, as Joshua faced. My prayer is that when you come across those situations you are reminded of the times God has pulled you through to victory. God will give you favor… hit this new year running hard and looking toward the Creator!

Praying for you,

mo

Belong (John 15:18–16:4)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “belong.” JC knew that his disciples were going through a ton of madness by choosing to follow him. Some of them had heavy hearts because of their decision to trust in JC; give the dudes a break – how do you think they looked to everyone else when they said they were following the Messiah??? Ummm, yeah. There were a bunch of evil forces surrounding all of this and JC wanted his disciples to stay strong and remain with him.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

~Jn. 15:18-19

Here’s my question: do you ever feel like you are going totally against everything else the world says is right? The world would like to tell us to focus on ourselves and that it is ok to be selfish and do your own thing. But JC wanted his peeps to know, as he wants us also to know, that this crazy spiritual warfare will continue, even until the day he comes back. My prayer is that you focus on the fact that you belong to JC, and because you do it is to your advantage… even though it does not always feel that way. Hang in there, God has cool stuff for you in store this upcoming year.

Praying for you,

mo

Specific (1 Samuel 15:1-26)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day “specific.” I would have to say that this could be one of the more important words in the OT. God knew what he wanted, and spoke through prophets to relay those messages. We would all for God to speak to us directly or through some means that is specific. The bummer part about when that happened was that God’s peeps did not do what they were commanded to do anyway! Whaaaat??? Pretty frustrating for the big guy upstairs, I am sure. Saul made some major mistakes in his run as king… this one was the icing on the cake though…

“Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: ‘I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.’ Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.”

~1 Sam. 15:10-11

My question is: Have you committed to obey God’s commands, and live a life of specificity concerning your relationship with him? The way we understand these things that God wants from us is to ask others who are wiser, reading, and meditating on the word. My prayer is that you use these next couple of days to recap this year and see what can be done to be even more specific with the year upcoming. God has cool stuff in store for each of you, just wait… but wait with specificity and yearning.

Praying for you,

mo

Stewardship (Ezra 1:1-11)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “stewardship.” How ‘bout this one for a Xtian word if I have ever heard one. How true is it that we should be good stewards of the resources that God gives. Even the king understood that God’s peeps needed to go up to Judah and build the house of the Lord. Every person was expected to pitch in and serve according to his or her gifts.

“Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.”

~Ez. 1:5

My question is: are you using your gifts for God’s glory? There is a ton of stuff that needs to be done in this crazy world and each believer has been given a gift or multiple gifts that should be utilized. My prayer is that each of us digs down deep at the end of this year to evaluate how we use those gifts. If you do not know what you do well then ask someone who knows you pretty well. That person will give you insight into how you can best use your gifts for advancing God’s kingdom here on earth. I am excited to hear of how God has used you and will use you going into this next year.

Praying for you,

mo

Blessings (Genesis 9:1)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “blessings.” God has always been one to give his children all that they need. Back in the old days one of my most favorite blessings to read about is the one that God gave to Noah. God knew that he loved humankind and that fellowship with those he created was something that would bring joy. Remember that after the flood God was craving that love from his creation. For him to give Noah and his family the chance to create more fellowship was a testament to God’s love for humans…

“Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.”

~Gen. 9:1

My question is: do you understand the blessings that God has given you? I hope so. Sometimes we forget to see God for his greatness because either times are really good in our lives, or even really bad. My prayer is that God reminds you in this special season of his blessings for you and the peeps he has put in your life. Enjoy the fellowship that comes from the Lord and don’t take for granted the ones you love. God has given you a ton of blessings.

Praying for you,

mo

Bestow (Luke 1:26-38)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “bestow.” With only a couple of days left till our celebration of JC’s birth, I am excited to read this narrative. God had a pretty cool way of keeping promises, even when his peeps were not the most obedient. Imagine dealing with a people for hundreds of years that brought tons of craziness and headache. If you were the Creator you may have felt the same way. But here we see the manifestation of God’s love for his peeps… the reminder of a promise that would soon occur.

“The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

~Luke 1:35

My question is: how are you allowing God to fulfill a mighty work in your life? Mary was hesitant, yet she trusted the Lord even when his thoughts may have seemed a little unbelievable. My prayer for you is that God would show his favor that is bestowed upon his peeps. This is one of the best times of year to tell everyone about why JC means so much to you.

Praying for you,

mo

Precede (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “precede.” One may think right off that Paul was being rude and condescending in this passage. However, he was not doing so at all. The situation was that the Apostle was speaking to new believers… this church was really young. He loved the peeps a ton and wanted to make sure they were getting the message correctly. The strength of the church as a whole and for the future depended on these saints learning properly the Word of God…

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.”~1 Thes. 4:13

My question is: are you the kind of person that the new believer should look to for JC’s example? You have the responsibility to minister the word correctly – this is no joke. We have a limited time and just as Paul reminded these peeps, we need to get on the madness and bring JC’s love to the world. My prayer is that you rightly interpret God’s message in your life and give it to others as you serve them. You are an important part to God’s plan of salvation for others. Be encouraged!

Praying for you,

mo

Plight (Jeremiah 1:18-19)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “plight.” Jeremiah was called by God to do some crazy stuff. He had a message the was not easy to express, and the peeps did not really want to hear it. The peeps even beat him up because they did not like the message he brought. But, someone had to do it… and God chose him. All this paid off and Jeremiah, because he listened to the Creator, made life safe for everyone…

"Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.”~Jer. 1:18-19

My question is: are you doing what God wants you to? Simple question, I know. But when God calls you to do something it has implications to the greater good. We are called to sacrifice in our lives so that others may know the love of Christ. We should continually sacrifice for JC, testing our motives, and practicing what God would intend for our lives to have. My prayer is that you ponder what God wants for you concerning your life for this next year. As Jeremiah took on a tough road for the Father, so will each of us face similar stuff. Live in a way that brings glory to JC; give others a reason to want to follow.

Praying for you,

mo

Zeal (Romans 12:9-13)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “zeal.” Paul reminds his peeps in this passage about a couple of attributes that make a Xtian more attractive to others. One of these was the way that believers should approach life is with a positive attitude. This allows us to relate with others and share the Gospel to those who need it. We do not need to be fake, but live in the love that God has promised to us through the Son…

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

~Rom. 12:9

My question is: what do peeps see when they look at you? Others should know there is something different about you. My prayer is that you live the grace and love of JC and understand that you were called to live with a fervor for the Lord. Don’t give up and keep your attitude focused on the promise that God has given you. Take these couple weeks off and really spend some time with God and your family. What is it that he wants you to do to increase your zeal for the upcoming year? I am excited to see what God does through his peeps in 2012… Great meet this past weekend. You all did incredibly well. Have a great Xmas break.

Praying for you,

mo

Overcome (John 16:31-33)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “overcome.” JC was in a pretty intense place at this point in his ministry. Imagine knowing that all of your best friends were going to diss you in your darkest hour. Pretty crazy, I know. But through all this madness, realize what he says right here about the Father never leaving him…

“Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.”~Jn. 16:32

My question is: do you understand what it means for God to never leave you? The cool thing is that it’s much different for each of us. So, we are at the end of this meet and the end of the semester… you have overcome. Chalk this up to a victory in your life and get ready for another great year. But not before you take some time off and remember all that God has given you. We conquer because he is with us. My prayer for you is that God manifests himself to you a bunch while you are off for these next couple of weeks. You have overcome.

Praying for you,

mo

Express (Romans 8:26-27)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “express.” God’s people have always had a reason to express thanks for what He has done. The difficult part sometimes is finding how to actually do so in a way that seems worthy. Paul reminds the peeps here that it is not that the Lord helps us occasionally when we are feeling weak, whether it is physically, emotionally, or spiritually. What he is saying here is that as Xtians we are in a constant state of weakness, which allows the Spirit to intercede and do a mighty work…

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
~Rom. 8:26-27



My question is: do you live your life in this continual state of needing the Creator? God wants to be with you and help in all situations. However, when we are not focused on letting God work, it makes the situation a little more difficult. I am not saying this is easy. My prayer is that you take some time today, on the bus, in the pool, the hotel, or wherever, and express to God where you feel you are in relation to Him. Be honest… he’s cool with wherever you are – trust me, there have been times when I told God I did not know what the heck was happening and I was not happy. On the other hand, I have come to God in times of jubilation and gratitude. Where are you today?

Praying for you,

mo

First (Nehemiah 1:1-11)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “first.” Back in the day Israel took a shellacking and the city was all jacked up. God needed someone to rebuild the walls and so he employed one of his most faithful guys. Nehemiah had a huge task set before him and knew that taking it on was going to be like eating an elephant… and how do you do that? One bite at a time. The cool thing is that out of all the stuff that he could have done first, he chose prayer…

“And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven…”

~Neh. 1:4

My question is: when you have a task that is pretty big, what is it that you do first; where does prayer fit into that equation? For instance, this past couple of weeks has been pretty insane for most of you with finals and stuff. I would encourage you to evaluate your time spent with God in that time period and see how you can become more effective in spending time with Him. Life is straight up crazy sometimes and I forget to pray sometimes in the madness, thinking I need to move faster and with more force. My prayer is that you slow down a bit today, lay out your tasks and cares, and pray that God would give you direction. God will give you success as you look to him and persevere.

Praying for you,

mo

Prevail (Romans 3:3-4)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “prevail.” Paul was in the midst of some of the peeps not believing in the promises given by God. This alarmed some Christ followers because they thought this lack of faith could potentially nullify those promises. But the Apostle reassures them that nothing can stop God from pouring out his goodness. The Creator would remain forever unshaken…

“What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”

~Rom. 3:3-4

My question is: what is it in your life that causes you to be shaken? I am not saying that any of us would ever give up our trust in God… but I know that each of us goes through struggles. As you near the end of the year with finals, the meet this weekend, and other stuff that weighs on the soul, where is your heart in terms of your relationship with God. My prayer is that the tough times bring you closer to him. Continue to work hard, be faithful, and you will prevail.

Praying for you,

mo

Unlikely (Judges 7:16-25)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is unlikely. Gideon was chosen by God because the man was an not necessarily the perfect leader. He would catch the attention of those around him by his actions in battle and bring glory and honor to his creator. He kept the message simple and relied on God, not wavering from his trust. This was not always easy, but he hung in there and made the history books.

“Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.’ ”

~Judg. 7:16

My question is: do you trust God with the stuff that you pursue? You may not have to lead others into a life-or-death kind of situation, but you do face daily stuff that causes you to follow the Lord. My prayer is that you persevere through this week of finals and remember that God wants you to win. Don’t forget that even though you are busy and need to get stuff done you should slow down to remember God and his favor on your life. This week is crazy, I know… Do something unlikely for God; open yourself to be used for purpose.

Praying for you,

mo

Unswerving (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “unswerving.” You gotta love this one. Specifically in this passage, the author tells us that because of the direct access we have to God, we can be confident in our faith. The danger that is expressed here was one of actual harm. Can you imagine being a Xtian in a country or province where you were persecuted to the point of physical harm? Well, the old school followers had to deal with this continually.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

~Heb. 10:23

My question is: do you profess your love for the Savior in the stuff that you do and say? JC has provided the option for a life of obedience and faith. Just as the peeps in this passage were encouraged to rely on one another for support, so should we as Xtians do the same. My prayer is that you hold unswervingly to your faith, in whatever situation. God has given you the ability to reach out to Him through an unbreakable promise. Have a great day.

Praying for you,

mo

Gain (Philippians 1:21)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “gain.” Paul understood that his entire life was about glorifying JC. The Apostle was completely consumed with the understanding that everything in his live was about the Savior. While he was alive Paul did a ton to make sure others knew the love that came from God. And even if he died, which was always a possibility Paul could become martyred at any time, it would be for the benefit of the Gospel… so it was like a win-win.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

~Phil. 1:21

My question is: what will it take for you to die to the stuff that you know is in the way of a complete relationship with the Maker? My prayer is that you examine your priorities and realize that for you to live is to advocate something much bigger than just you. God wants us to live continually, and within that we must learn to die to ourselves a little more each day in this process. Take a few moments today and thank God for the ability to change a little bit more for the good…

Praying for you,

mo

Tenacious (John 16:19-24)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “tenacious.” Most of us relate this word with a band, but God has a very different way of what it represents. At this point in JC’s journey he knows that his ministry on earth is a about to reach the end of a chapter. With this will bring the beginning of something new and fulfilling…

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

~Jn. 16:24-25

You could imagine the mixed emotions that JC had at that moment of his ministry. My question is: are you holding on to your faith and a belief in JC that can bring about real change? Everything following this passage tells us that we need to grasp with everything we have at a relationship with the Son. My prayer is that as you face the craziness of college, especially now with finals and such, God reminds you of his power. Ask the Father for direction… you just may get it.

Praying for you,

mo

Significance (Ephesians, 2:8-10)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “significance.” Paul knew that his life rested in the grace and love of JC. He was reminded the peeps here that they were important to God. He has prepared a path of good works for believers which He will perform in and through them as they walk by faith…

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

~Eph. 2:10

Teams share credit for the good stuff that happens, as well as the failures. Our success depends on one another. My question is: where do you see your role in each team you play, whether it be this team, your family, friendships, or a job. My prayer is that God shows the reasons he has put you in each situation in life. You are significant to God, and you are significant to our team. We can do more when we work together – that’s the great thing about being in JC’s family.

Praying for you,

mo

Sharp (Hebrews 4:12)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “sharp.” I really love the way Paul talks about our relationship with JC and how we need to lift one another up. Imagine the church in the old days and how difficult it must have been to keep the faith. Christianity was pretty new and there were a bunch of peeps who did not like them. So Paul here tells the church that they need have each other’s backs, always allowing the Word of God to be the driving force in our lives…

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

~Heb. 4:12

My question is: are you letting God speak to you through his word continually? I know that a lot of times when I get busy I totally forget and then its like my time in the Word is the first thing to go. My prayer is that you are very deliberate in spending time in God’s word. Each time you study the Word, you sharpen that sword… God is preparing you for great things! You just need to let him pierce your soul…

Praying for you,

mo

Listen (1 Samuel 3:1-10)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “listen.” I love hearing the wind outside of my house when it pounds against the walls. It is so amazing and has so many implications of how God is great in our lives. When God called Samuel, the boy thought he was hearing voices, the wind, or this master with whom he lived. But all the while it was the Creator calling him…

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

~1 Sam. 3:10

Here’s my question: could you imagine if God did that with you? I guess the truth is that God does do that with us; we just choose not to hear it, or sometimes do not know what to listen for. My prayer for you is that you listen to God’s call on your heart. Learn to see when it is God tugging at your soul to do something. When you answer God and follow his direction, you have a pretty good chance that you will be successful. Have a great week.

Praying for you,

mo

Rock (Matthew 7:24-27)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “rock.” Every time I hear this one I am proud to be a Christ-follower. It reminds me of the craziness that life brings and how I sometimes get weary in my faith. And that is why I love reading this passage, knowing that JC didn’t pull any punches when he was telling his peeps that they needed to get ready for whatever…

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

~Matt. 7:24

He pretty much just lays it out right here and lets those who are listening know that they need to listen to God’s word. My question is: what does it mean to you that you have a foundation is Christ? I mean, this is amazing in the sense that those who believe in God through the Son have a totally awesome deal. There are going to be times in your walk when the rain comes down and the elements test your faith. My prayer is that you weather the storm. It’s not always easy… but it is worth it. I can tell you that in all the stuff that I have gone through so far in my life, it’s much better to have a Savior on my side. So, when you feel like life is beating up on you, remember your foundation.

Praying for you,

mo

Sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “sufficient.” Paul struggled a ton with the understanding that ministry was a difficult calling, yet he never gave up. He knew that the grace that came from the Father through JC was exactly what he needed. This did not change the fact that he was continually frustrated with the stuff that hindered his ministry…

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

~2 Cor. 12:8-9

My question is: what in your life is frustrating to the point that it hinders the person you are? God’s power is best displayed against the backdrop of our human weakness. My prayer is that you look at the frustrating stuff in life and realize that the more helpless you feel, the more room God has to do a great work in your life. Give JC a chance today to show you grace through the tough situations and feelings that you hold.

Praying for you,

mo