Music: "Do It Again" (Instrumental)

Walking around these walls

I thought by now they'd fall

But You have never failed me yet

Waiting for change to come

Knowing the battle's won

For You have never failed me yet

Your promise still stands

Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness

I'm still in Your hands

This is my confidence, You've never failed me yet

I know the night won't last

Your Word will come to pass

My heart will sing Your praise again

Jesus You're still enough

Keep me within Your love

My heart will sing Your praise again

Your promise still stands

Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness

I'm still in Your hands

This is my confidence, You never failed

Your promise still stands

Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness

I'm still in Your hands

This is my confidence, You never failed me yet

I've seen You move, You move the mountains

And I believe, I'll see You do it again

You made a way, where there was no way

And I believe, I'll see You do it again

I've seen You move, You move the mountains

And I believe, I'll see You do it again

You made a way, where there was no way

And I believe, I'll see You do it again

I've seen You move, You move the mountains

And I believe, I'll see You do it again

You made a way, where there was no way

And I believe, I'll see You do it again

I'll see You do it again

Your promise still stands

Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness

I'm still in Your hands

This is my confidence, You never failed

Your promise still stands

Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness

I'm still in Your hands

This is my confidence, You never failed me yet

And You never failed me yet

I never will forget

You never failed me yet

I never will forget

Written by: Chris Brown, Matt Redman, Steven Furtick, Mack Brock
Original lyric video  

What Do I Do When My Attitude Stinks?

Let my prayer be set before You as incense,

The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 141:2 (NKJV)

Yesterday morning, I needed a slight attitude adjustment. Thinking some fresh air, sunshine and exercise would help me out, I went on a brisk walk.

As I made my way down the street, so did a neighborhood garbage truck. It was rather uncanny; my pace and the truck’s duties seemed to line up perfectly. The large truck would stop to collect garbage while I moved ahead, but then it would invariably catch up with me, and we’d be side by side again. I turned right, and to my disgruntlement, so did the garbage truck. I couldn’t seem to escape its route or its awful smell.

While breathing in the not-so-fresh air, my mind made a connection: What if our thoughts and emotions had smells attached to them? What if the age-old phrase “your attitude stinks” was actually true in the heavenly realm? What odor would worry put off? Or bitterness? Or unforgiveness?

Second Timothy 2:16-17 refers to empty chatter spreading like gangrene — now that’s stinky for sure!

How do we rid ourselves of the “stink”? Soon after my walk, the Lord directed me to these verses: “O LORD, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You! May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering” (Psalm 141:1-2, NASB1995).

Can it be that our prayers “smell” good to God?

I looked further into incense offerings and found Exodus 30:7-8: “And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on [the altar]. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations” (ESV).

My Bible’s commentary explains that incense represented the prayers and praises of God’s people. Also, incense helped extinguish the smell of dead animals that had been sacrificed in the temple.

Maybe when we lay down our worry, pride, bitterness or you-name-it stinky sin — lifting up prayers instead — then these new words become the fragrance that rises to heaven.

Today, let’s rid ourselves of garbage truck odors and replace them with a lovely aroma of prayer. For me, I will lay down …

• Worrying about my children. Instead, I'll pray for each one of them by name.
• Resentment toward my co-worker. Instead, I'll ask God to bless him.
• Negativity. Instead, I'll lift up praises to the One who gives me breath.

It’s humbling to think that our words can be “counted as incense” (Psalm 141:2) before the Lord. Let’s trust that He not only enjoys the sound of our voices but delights in the sweet fragrance of our uplifted prayers.

Dear Lord, remind me to give all my anxious thoughts and errant emotions to You through prayer. As I choose to pour out my heart before You in faith, help me also to remember that You delight in hearing my voice. Thank You for listening, my Father and my Friend. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Chris Baxter
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

2 Timothy 4:18

 

Meme: I'm Coming

 

Jesus Wants You To Know...

"Imagine that you’re playing outside on the swings, swinging high into the air. What happens if you don’t grab on to the swing? You fall. But if you hold on tight, you soar! You have to do your part. You have to do the holding on. In the same way, you must cling to Me and My Hope. I’ll take you higher and higher - but you have to hold on to Me. To help you hold on, think about what I’ve already done for you (died for your sins), what I am doing (living in you), and what I will do (give you heaven). Let these thoughts encourage you. Keep trying! Hold tight to My Hope - and I will bless you!"

"I do not live anymore - it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself to save me." - Galatians 2:20 - "Jesus Today for Kids" by Sarah Young

Remember the Treasure in Your Jar of Clay

 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay,

to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)

Recently I visited a pottery store, looking for a special gift. Marveling at the beautiful pieces crafted by local artisans, I quickly found the perfect item - some golden-glazed, wood-fired mugs.

As I left the store, a sign on a small shed caught my attention: “Tired and Flawed Pots.” I chuckled to myself, appreciating the honesty of whoever posted the sign.

At first glance, the pottery in the shed looked similar to the pieces inside the store. But when I looked closer, I noticed these vessels were chipped, misshapen or imperfect in some way. For whatever reason, the potter had deemed them unworthy of a place in the main store.

I sometimes wonder if God sees me that way. Am I too tired, flawed and weak to be valued by Him? When my failings and sinful nature frustrate me, I’m tempted to believe the lie that I’m not good enough or that He will put me on the shelf in the shed.

But I’m learning the opposite is true.

In the ancient world, clay jars were symbolic of human weakness. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he reminds us that God chooses clay jars to fill with His treasure - the Good News of Jesus Christ:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

As followers of Jesus:

1. Each of us is a clay jar.
2. Each of us has this treasure - the power of the gospel.
3. The power of the treasure belongs to God, not us.
4. God shows His power through us, the clay jars.

Paul’s words encourage us to be content with our weaknesses and hardships, even boasting of them.

God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” so Paul said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

If you’re feeling weak and discouraged, remember this truth:

God has given you His treasure in your weakness, and He’ll shine His power through it. Your weakness may be the very thing God will use to bring others to Him.

We can choose to bring our weaknesses to Jesus in prayer instead of becoming frustrated by them or letting them trip us up. When our focus is on sharing the treasure, not the clay jar, those around us will see the surpassing power of God.

Loving Father, thank You for giving me the treasure of Jesus in my clay jar. When I feel weak and unworthy, remind me that You choose weak vessels to fill with Your power. Help me to focus on the treasure and not on myself. Please shine through me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Lisa Lenning
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"