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