Proverbs 29:11

A fool vent all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.

Dear Heavenly Father, You are so loving and gracious to me. Longsuffering as I learn and grow. More patient than I deserve at times, thank You. A wise person holds back their tongue and weighs out their feelings. Help me to process them in such a way that will not cause damage and bring regret. I come to You Lord and ask that You minister to me having Your way in my heart. And if and when the time comes to speak may it be in a way that speaks Your love to an individual and edifies them even if the information is difficult. I pray that my feelings don't get the better of me. Early in the morning I seek Your wisdom and humble myself to follow Your direction. I pray for my loved ones to seek You first and Your kingdom not the liars of this world that tickle the ears and patronize them. Much regret comes when reminiscing about all the times I spoke without a filter and my feeling spewing out all over. Too much pain and heartache come from an untamed tongue. Holy Spirit have Your way in me to be loving in my conduct and gracious in my speech. I pray to be a living example of one who follows the Way, may it be inspiring to others to live virtuously as well. I truly desire for Jesus to have all the glory and honor and praise due His great name. Amen. 

Proverbs 26:23

Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like earthenware covered in silver dross.

Dear Heavenly Father, so much of the world's stage is filled with bad actors. They are even in the midst of our fellowships. Ones who deceptively coats an inherently cheap or worthless substance. Or as some may say "putting lipstick on a pig". The common clay is a coarse substance but even a thin coat of glaze may make it more attractive but doesn't change the essential nature of the clay. Help us Lord to discern as even Your words are being twisted and manipulated robbing us of vital nutrients to grow wise. The using of intense, passionate language or flattery has lulled many to sleep. Wake them up Father for we must be ready. The evil is rampant while keeping up appearances of piousness that disguises the sinful heart. Woe to you religious hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup but inside full of greed and self-indulgences. An outward appearance misrepresenting their foul, inward spiritual decay. The words of Your precious Son Jesus should cause us to tremble but for many it falls on deaf ears.  This beautiful book of Proverbs teaches us how to identify a fool, how to treat a fool and how to avoid being a fool are important lessons that must be learned to be truly wise. In gaining wisdom we must heed Your reproofs and obey Your commands.  Father what tumultuous time we are living in but why should we be surprised when we have grieved You so, mocking the instructions You have given to live lives pleasing to You. I ask for Your mercy to again restrain the evil that is like wildfire upon the earth. Have mercy on Your children who are faithful and diligent although not perfect but do want to live in a way that honors and glorifies You. Reveal to us where the hidden idols are so we may cast them down. Speak to us by Your Spirit how to navigate safely through the upheaval and conflicts swirling around us. Keep Your children hidden in the secret place and bless us with Your loving kindness. In Jesus precious name I pray. Amen.  

Matthew 23:25

Acts 24:14

But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets.

Heavenly Father, you are the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob and by Jesus Christ Your risen Son I'm gratefully grafted. I believe in Your Law as given in the 10 commandments, I believe in the words spoken by Your Prophets who were holy men chosen by You to tell of what was and is to come. Jesus the Messiah is my Lord and Savior and I daily desire to walk in the Way. I have hope in the day of the resurrection of the dead, of the just and unjust that because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross I have been given everlasting life. I pray Father that You would pour out Your Holy Spirit bring revelation of the truth Jesus is the Way. May all who are weary come to the knowledge of His great love and mercy. Jesus, You, came to restore that which was lost, to make all things new. Lord, grant us this day to see the salvation of our loved ones who have gone astray like sheep without a shepherd. May we Your children strive to have a conscience without offense towards You our God or men. May the peace of Christ rule and reign in our hearts and minds. May Jesus be the center receiving all the glory due His great name. Amen

Romans 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Loving and Compassionate Father who knows us better than we know ourselves.  How easy it is to rejoice with those who are rejoicing. We can get so caught up in the whirl wind and the joy of seeing our loved ones overcoming, triumphing and flourishing but to weep isn't always so easy. Job's friends rallied around him for only seven days to comfort and mourn with him but then they couldn't remain silent. Well-meaning they may have thought they were being but began to speak falsely, judging and blaming him for his suffering.  Forgive us Lord when our pride rises up and we want to be wise but speak as fools with no authority for You have not in the moment called us to speak on Your behalf. Suffering brings so much revelation and understand not to mention growth in our faith that can turn misfortune in to fortune. Why is it in our nature to want to escape the pain instead of embracing it as You are our ever-present help in our hour of need. Father, we thank You for opening our eyes to those who need to be weeded out of our friendship garden. The truth that not everyone in our lives have our best interest at heart can be startling but for our protection. Remove bad council from our circles to be replace by those who champion for us and are not against us. Increase our discernment and continue to mold us into the image and likeness of Your Son Jesus Christ in His name we pray, Amen.

Proverbs 23:24

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child delight in him.

Dear Heavenly and Holy Father, thank You for this day, may we be glad in it. I pray that You would grant great rejoicing to Your faithful ones who have parented well, raising their children in the way may they see their offspring as wise. May the ones who bore them have the delight knowing their children walk with You the Creator of the universe. It is joy to see our children's successes but when we as parents have remained faithful through all the storms of life see our children be faithful to You there truly is no greater paramount. Grant us Lord that our households will serve You and be houses of prayer having unity in the Spirit being of one mind and one accord, now and forever more. May our children love purity of heart and have grace on their lips and the King will be their friend always. Oh, to have Jesus as a friend to walk and talk with all our God given days, there is no greater blessing. Lord, grant us that our children would abide in Your tabernacle dwelling in Your holy hill walking uprightly and work righteousness speaking truth in their hearts. May they not backbite with their tongues nor do evil to their neighbor, nor take up a reproach against their friend. We rejoice because the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places and yes, we have a good inheritance. We love You Lord Jesus, Amen.

Proverbs 22:11, Psalm 15 and Psalm 16

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Heavenly Father, we come before You in Jesus' matchless name. Crying out on behalf of our adult children who have gone astray enticed by the things of this world. Deception has captivated their eyes only seeing the bling of the world but dull to the truth that all that glitters is not gold. By Your Spirit Lord answer our plea for them to be spiritually discerning exchanging the unholy for the holy, errors for truth, wrong for right. May they follow Jesus' example of how He intentionally immersed Himself into a life of intimacy with You our heavenly Father when He walk on the earth. We pray our children have the mind of Christ as they purposely study the Word. By Your Spirit may they have the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure, seeing the hidden things that are behind what is leading them to stray. Awaken them to know the world will always pressure them to live sinfully and selfishly. Father, we desire them to live the life You want for them, to worship You in spirit and truth. Call the prodigals home Lord so there will be much rejoicing in heaven and within the walls of our hearts. Jesus be glorified in Your name we give thanks, Amen.

Proverbs 21:1

The King's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like a rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Heavenly Father, You are our Sovereign, and it is challenging to our simple minds to understand that chaos of the world is your work, and you allow it. As we gaze upon a river and think it is flowing a random pattern, we realize it is following in the direction of Your hand. Since the beginning of the creation of the world Your invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, so there is no excuse not to glorify You. Nor are we thankful but are futile in our thoughts and our foolish hearts are darkened. Many profess to be wise are fools, changing the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man. So, you gave them up to uncleanness, in the lust of their hearts to dishonor their bodies among themselves. Forgive us Lord for exchanging the truth of who You are for the lie and worshiping the creature rather than Our Creator who is blessed forever. Nature itself speaks eloquently of You. Open our eyes to see and appreciate Your goodness. Father, please turn the hearts of the prodigal back to you to flow with living water You are Almighty and all-powerful God. You desire that all should come to saving faith in Jesus Christ who paid the ransom for all. Draw them with your lovingkindness. Help us Lord to bear witness and testify of this truth. Grant us boldness. Jesus You are the way, and, in your name, we pray Amen.

Romans 1

Proverbs 20:9

 Who can say, "I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin?"

Heavenly Father what a powerful question and one that we all need to answer. What a blessing to come to know we are poor, wretched and needy unable in any way, by any means or effort cleanse ourselves from sin. There is no number of prayers to idols, rosaries, sacrifices like fasting, good deeds that can wash away our sins. Only the precious shed blood of Jesus atones for our transgressions. So, Father I pray your mercy and grace to be poured out as You open the blind eyes and unclogs the deaf hears to know the truth of Your Son Jesus. Simeon said to them when they brought the infant Jesus to the temple, ...a sword will pierce your own soul too Mary. Father pierce the heart of the lost. I pray many souls be born again this Autumn season though the labors are few the fields are ready, send out the harvesters. May there be much rejoicing in heaven as sinners come home. Father, please bring the prodigal's home so parents, sibling, grandparent, aunts, uncles and cousins grieve no more over the way wards they love so much. May the desire for "as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord" be fulfilled. May You blanket us in Your peace as we put our hope and trust in Christ alone. In His name we pray, Amen.

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.

Holy there is no one like You Lord. There is none beside You, open up our eyes to wonder... I pray for Your children today. Father that by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us we would gird up the loins of our minds and be sober in our thinking as we rest fully upon the grace that has been given to us through the revelation of Jesus Christ as obedient children not conforming ourselves to our former lusts as we were once ignorant. We are blessed when we grieve and mourn our sin, not because of consequences the sin brings upon us but because You Lord are Holy, and we have offended You. May our hearts desire today, and every day be to live in the way that is pleasing to You and be holy in our conduct because it is written to be holy as You are Holy. Jesus, you grieved over our sin and paid a great price so too may we grieve over our sin and the sin of others so we may be washed in Your precious blood being cleansed of all our unrighteousness. May we cast away from us our habitual sin that is mocking and scoffing You and the mercy and grace You have freely given. Forgive us Lord and make all things new for Your glory, Amen.

See June 8, 2013, Matthew 5:4

*Build My Life - Housefires   

Psalm 37:37

 Mark the blameless man and observe the upright; for the future of this man is peace.

Praise Adonai. Who is like Him. The Lion and the Lamb seated on the throne Mountains bow down. Every ocean roar to the Lord of hosts, Praise Adonai. The song to You Lord runs through my mind as I meditate on these words in this Psalm. You are our Shalom Lord Jesus a blameless man who we marked and crucified. We observe your uprightness as You hung on the cross bearing our sins and shame. There is no other, no not one worthy of all our praise, for You bring peace and reconciliation to all that come to You and call upon Your name, humbly asking Lord, save me. The destiny Lord that you have for those who are robed in Your righteousness is in sharp contrast to the fate of the wicked. We thank You that salvation is from You and You are our strength in times of trouble. Your daily deliverance from temptation keeping us from evil is a treasured gift.  May we Lord, not take for granted Your goodness but testify daily of the truth. You are the Messiah the Living God, and we patiently await Your return to cast out darkness forever. Father be with Your children across the world who are in great battles even though they are surrounded by darkness fill them with Your peace that passes all understanding and turn the heart of the wicked to You before it's too late. Save them Lord Jesus for Your glory. May Your kingdom come to earth as it is in Heaven. In the name of Yeshua we pray, Amen.

*Praise Adonai by Paul Baloche

Proverbs 16:17

When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Although Father our hearts may plan our ways You Lord direct our steps. Heavenly Father may the posture of our lives be so steadfastly fix on You that when our enemies see they will be at peace with us. May the fear of the Lord be upon those who make war and a humbling occur in their souls to bring about Your transformational power from Your Holy Spirit. Teach us oh Lord in this hour how to be your followers who worship in spirit and truth. Remind Your children when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp." They had made a golden calf and were dancing and worshiping around it, much like what it's happening now within the walls of the church, our ways are not pleasing to You. Forgive us for our worship is tainted and stained and we fear not, nor reverence You our great God and King. We scrimp here and cheat You there with blindness we think you don't see, but You are holy Lord and cannot inhabit that which is profaned. Help us be wise and heed Your instruction Jesus when You admonished Your disciples "if anyone one says to you, look here is the Christ! or look, there he is! do not believe it." May we not follow those who have creeped in falsely prophesying and performing lying signs and wonders, who tickle our ears and rob us of sincere intimacy with You. Father, please anoint our ears with oil to hear and listen to the still small voice that instructs this is the way walk in it so all will go well with us. May we be a well-fortified city on the hill shining bright for Your glory. In Your matchless name Jesus, I give thanks and pray, Amen.

Proverbs 15:21

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

Dear Heavenly Father, You who is wise and discern the hearts of people see the folly that is empty and void of life and desire for us not to live this way. Grant us understanding that comes from reverence to You Almighty God. Blessed is those who fear You for this is instruction of wisdom. Knowledge alone does not make us wise; it is by your Spirit that we flourish. We pray that You would grant us humble hearts as You destroy the house of the proud. Save us Lord from ourselves. Your children tremble as we know judgement will begin in the house of the Lord, and it would be justified because many have forgotten their first love, Jesus the Messiah. May confession and repentance be made with broken and contrite hearts for You will not despise but be merciful Lord. Much folly is happening, and we should be ashamed of ourselves for tolerating these offenses. Lord, we ask for boldness to speak truth and live it out in our daily lives. Let the lips of the wise disperse knowledge that brings forth wisdom, for the ways of the wicked are an abomination to You Lord. May we dwell in righteousness where there is much treasure forsaking the way of false teachers, hypocrites and wolves that are in sheeps clothing. Grant us Lord by the Holy Spirit to discern in this hour the way that is narrow and leads to life and life more abundantly. Jesus be magnified in all we do and say. Amen. 

Revelation 7:17

"For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away ever tear from their eyes."

The Lord is my Shepherd and under Your protective care I live. Dear Lord, You are the living water that refreshes us. The days that are tremulous and filled with sorrow will one day as You have promised will be no more. So, as we come to You Lord by faith, we believe that Your beautiful, pierced hand will wipe away each of our tears and there will be no more sorrow. It is overwhelming and very humbling that You the Lord God Almighty would consider our pain and lovingly touch our cheek and will bring comfort and assurance we are not alone. Thank You. We need You to cause us to lie down in green pastures and restore our souls, thank you for your grace. Lord, we pray for those who are enduring great suffering may they know You the one who heals the brokenhearted and binds up wounds. We pray for boldness in your sons and daughters to bring words of healing and liberation that is granted by Your resurrection power. May your children not recoil but arise to shine Your light in the darkness. Silence the fears that grip and paralyze us so hope may spring forth. Jesus You are our everlasting joy and we long for your return. Amen.

See August 19,2013 Revelation 7:17

Proverbs 12:7

 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand.

Dear Holy Father, You God are our sovereign, you are all knowing and all powerful and your mercies are new every day. I praise you even when I don't understand your ways that are higher and greater. I also believe you are a God of justice. The words of this Proverb cause me to pause and consider my ways and the ways of the world. The great need we have for forgiveness of our sin and the only one who provided a way for righteousness, Your precious Son Jesus. There is a stark contrast between righteous and wicked, and we are seeing it clearly now in your Holy Land. But the house of the righteous will stand. Deliver your children from treachery and cause the final destruction of the wicked. Father, please guide the leaders of this fallen world to do what is right in your sight. Grant wisdom from on high. Protect your children supernaturally across the globe. Grant us courage as we bear witness of your Supremacy. Comfort those who are mourning and are frightened by the evil that surrounds them whether they know you or not they are your beautiful creation, and you desire for none to perish. Remember the innocent little ones and be merciful to all. Jesus I thank you for showing us the way. In your name I pray, Amen.

Matthew 2:18

 "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

Heavenly Father, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, with tears I come before You. So much sorrow, the pain of searing loss is great. Although it is in a land far away my soul hears the heart wrenching cries of the mothers who children have been slaughtered and I know Lord, You hear them too. Father my heart is overwhelmed with sadness at these brutal attacks on innocent lives. The depravity of those who do not see the value of lives created in Your image is chilling to the bone. Father pour out Your Holy Spirit to comfort those who are grieving. Shield Your sons and daughters from senseless violence. Empower us Lord to be Your hands and feet, to love as Jesus loved, to comfort and assist those in this great hour of need. There is so much in my heart to petition You for on their behalf but Father its overwhelming, I have no words, so please collect my tears as liquid prayers. Please Father may this be an opportunity for unity in Your body to bring hope and healing to this lost and dying world. May You use us for such a time as this, each in the gift You have bestowed upon us to bring glory to Your Son Jesus in His name I pray. Amen.

Psalm 121:4

Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Heavenly and Merciful Father,

With a heavy heart I come to You seeking help for those in Your Holy Land. Lifting up our eyes unto the hills to You Lord the maker of heaven and earth, and our keeper, please preserve the souls of Your people. May Your presence be known to the children of Israel as their spirit within them are overwhelmed with grieve and despair at the horrific attacks upon them. Be there refuge and strength, protecting and guiding them to safety. Father, please pour out Your mercy and grace as You tend to their cries for peace and deliverance from their enemies. Though they may walk through the valley of shadows may they fear no evil for You are with them. Your rod and staff shall comfort them. You are their ever-present help in this time of need. Lord thwarts the plans and schemes of those who have wickedness in their hearts and minds. Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies and those who persecute us, but Father I confess this is no easy task as I grapple with the news reports of horror and unimaginable hate. I cry out for justice but also am reminded of precious Jesus on the cross and His kind words (who could fathom) "Father forgive them they no not what they do."  Oh, Father please give wisdom to the leaders! Console those who are mourning. Forgive us Lord for all our iniquities. Save the lost. Help us to endure till the end. Jesus be glorified, magnified and personified. Maranatha. In your matchless name Jesus, amen.