Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.Proverbs 3:5-6

Today is the perfect day to give you the bible verse totrust in the Lord. Not because it is a bad day, or a day filled with trials, but because it is a good day. For me, when things are rough is when I am forced to trust in the Lord, but when things are good then I soon forget to trust God and instead start trusting in my own strength, my own power, my own intellect. So for me, today is a good day to share with you the bible verse to trust in the Lord.

To Trust in the Lord is not done just with our head.

It can’t be accomplished with head knowledge. It has to come from the heart. The only way you can do that is to have a personal relationship with Jesus. You cannot lean on your own understanding or your own intellect or ability to solve a problem or conquer life alone. You must put your trust in Jesus. For me that is easier when it is obvious that I cannot handle a problem, but when things are going good, then it becomes easy to trust in my own abilities. 

When we trust in the Lord, then we give up ownership of our life and our destiny.

Our life is no longer our own. That is what it means to acknowledge Him. It means to continually acknowledge that He is in control. However that is not a bad thing. God knows everything, sees everything, controls everything and when we know that He loves us so much that He was willing to send Jesus to this earth to die on the cross for us, then we cantrust that our future is in good hands. Better hands than our own. 

So today’s bible verse if for all of you that are like me. Tempted to take control of your own life and destiny, rather than trusting in the Lord.

~~~~~~ Ramadan Kareem ~~~~~~~~

In the Quran

The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran; a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, a number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you; and that you should complete the period, and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that perhaps you may be thankful.^{[Quran 2:185]}


Thus, according to the Quran, Muhammad first received revelations in the lunar month of Ramadan. Therefore, the month of Ramadan is considered to be the most sacred month of the Islamic calendar, the recording of which began with the Hijra.

Beginning of Ramadan

Hilāl (the crescent) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.^[14] However, to many Muslims, this is not in accordance with authenticated Hadiths stating that visual confirmation per region is recommended. The consistent variations of a day have existed since the time of Muhammad.^[15]

Charity

Main articles: Zakat and Sadaqa

Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadan. Zakat, often translated as "the poor-rate", is obligatory as one of the pillars of Islam; a fixed percentage required to be given by those with savings. Sadaqa is voluntary charity in given above and beyond what is required from the obligation of zakat. Muslims believe that all good deeds are more handsomely rewarded in Ramadan than in any other month of the year. Consequently, many will choose this time to give a larger portion, if not all, of the zakat for which they are obligated to give. In addition, many will also use this time to give a larger portion of sadaqa in order to maximize the reward they believe will await them on the Day of Judgment.

Increased prayer and recitation of the Quran

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Quran by means of special prayers, called Tarawih. These voluntary prayers are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Quran (Juz', which is 1/30 of the Quran) is recited. Therefore, the entire Quran would be completed at the end of the month. Although, it is not required to read the whole Quran in the Salatul Tarawih prayers, it is common.

God Won't Forget

Peter said to Jesus, "We left everything to follow you!" Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. Every person that has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farm for me and for the Good News will get a hundred times more than he left. Here in this world that person will get more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and farms. And with those things, that person will have persecutions. But he will also have a reward in the world that is coming. That reward is life forever. Many people that have the highest place now will have the lowest place in the future. And the people that have the lowest place now will have the highest place in the future." Jesus and the people with him were going to Jerusalem. Jesus was leading the people. Jesus' followers were amazed. But those people that followed behind them were afraid. Jesus gathered the twelve apostles again and talked with them alone. Jesus told them what would happen in Jerusalem. Jesus said, "We are going to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be given to the leading priests and teachers of the law. The priests and the teachers of the law will say that the Son of Man must die. They will give the Son of Man to the non-Jewish people. Those people will laugh at him and spit on him. They will beat him with whips and kill him. But on the third day after his death, he will rise to life again."


Jesus is basically promising three things in this Scripture. First, he is saying that the disciples -- and we who follow Jesus today -- can't out give God. God will bless them and us far more than we could ever give up for him. Second, that doesn't mean that followers of Jesus will have easy lives on this side of eternity -- there will be persecutions. Finally, he promises eternal life. In other words, their sacrifices for their faith will be far overshadowed by the blessings they will receive from their Father in heaven.

Today's Prayer

O Father, thank you for being so generous. I know that I will be blessed far more than I can imagine as one of your children. Help me not to lose that hope in the face of hardship, discouragement, and persecution. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

"How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears." —2 Samuel 7:22

The promises of God to Abraham and David, the work of God through Jesus, and the miraculous preservation of both the Abrahamic and Davidic lines to Jesus are nothing short of miraculous. They are testimony to God's faithfulness and power. When we get discouraged by the unfaithfulness and blasphemy so prevalent in our world, we need to remember the faithfulness of our God and his awesome power displayed through his chosen people.

Prayer...

Father of all and Provider and Protector of your people, please give me a sense of courageous awe at your power and a sense of reverential wonder at your faithfulness. There is no other being or power like you, for you alone are God. I praise you for your glory and grace. In Jesus' name I praise you. Amen.

Praise God's name & Glorify him !!!!!!!!!!!!

"So Hard"

Then Jesus looked at his followers and said to them, "It will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!" The followers were amazed at what Jesus said. But Jesus said again, "My children, it is very hard to enter the kingdom of God! And it will be very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God! It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle!" — mark 10:23-25

As the disciples processed the information they had seen and heard in Jesus' interchange with the young man who went away sorrowfully (see the previous verses), they were shocked. Being on the poorer end of the economic scale, they assumed that the richer folks would have a better chance of making it into heaven. Jesus told them the exact opposite was true -- it would be harder for those who were rich to enter the Kingdom of God. This must be a sober warning to us. Most of us with access to a computer are so much better off financially than the majority of the world's population. Yet we often focus on what we lack rather than what God has given us to use to bless others and honor him. We must not let ourselves become possessed by our possessions and our desire for them. They turn our hearts away from God and become idols which replace God in our lives.

Today's Prayer:

O Father, bless me with wisdom, generosity, and a passion for your work as I seek to use "my" financial and material blessings to honor you and bring others closer to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. —Ecclesiastes 7:20

Yep, we're all broken, flawed, and tainted. Or, at least that is what we were (cf. 1 Cor. 6:9-11). Praise God, because of his grace and the work of Jesus, we can stand before God holy, without blemish, and free from accusation (Col. 1:22).

Prayer...

Forgiving Father and Holy God, thank you for redeeming me from my mortal and sinful ways by the sacrifice of Jesus. Thank you for empowering me to become more like him by the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for making me through grace what I could never be through my own efforts. Thank you, dear God, for saving me from my sin, ransoming me from my guilt, and redeeming me to share in your glory. In Jesus name I praise you. Amen.

What Are We Known For?

I asked a Buddhist friend, "What do Christians do that makes them stand out in a crowd?" The answer was short and simple, "They argue." I know, it sounds unfair, but it's an honest perspective from an outside observer. And, it's worth a little discussion.

I do sense an over-abundance of argument in our culture. In this season of heated political debate, argument seems to be everywhere.

The impact of negative ads, half-truth accusations, character assassination, and name-calling is pervasive. The people who jump to conclusions and speak judgment and condemnation get too much press and the aftermath lacks apologies or corrections. The goal is win. If you believe the USA news media, we have become a dismantling culture. We have taken adult bullying and name-calling to a whole new level.

I heard a local talk show host tease the listeners with his topics for the evening. He read through the list of news items followed by, "I don't agree with that..." I've listened to his show long enough to realize his vision of a talk show is a 3-hour-argument. It's all about being right, or being loud. He's not on my pre-set list any longer.

I'm looking for a talk show that explores values, listens to ideas, accepts differences in opinion, challenges me to think outside the box, and validates people in the process. Where is that talk show? You can have all the right answers and still be wrong. I'm tired of radio programed for argument. I want something more. I need something more.

As a follower of Jesus, I want my identity to be based on something different than anger. At the end of the day, I want to read books, visit websites, listen to music, and engage in media that leaves me a better person. I'm a Christian and I want to be known for the way I treat people, the way I listen and learn and dig deep into life. I want to find the good in people I talk with, even if I disagree with them. I want to be like Jesus, who could change the subject and heal the soul.

It's time for Christians in the USA to write a new story, to change the public narrative.

It's time to bury the argumentative ID and raise up a new one.

It's time to be known as listeners, as followers, as healers, and peacemakers.

It's time to invade the impossible.

I told my friend, "I want to change your perception of Christians. Please, I want to show you something different. Will you let me?"

Jesus predicted that Christians would be known by their love for people (John 13:35 NIV). I think it's time for that prediction to come true.

Only God's Spirit can do that. If we let Him, the Spirit will tear the labels off and eliminate our snap judgments. God will open our eyes to see beyond the distortions and struggles; He will show us the vulnerable human inside our own skin and the skin of those we don't really know yet.

Many of us have tried to do this on our own and it has proven to be a failure. On our own, our voice grows harsh and caustic and arrogant.

Then, after a while, God keeps His distance; can you blame him?

Inspiration

Ann was the substitute teacher in a second grade classroom This is her story:

I noticed one desk separate from the others, hidden beside a bookshelf. I peered around the corner and saw an eight-year-old girl resting her head against her arms.

I was surprised. Why was this student separated from the rest? Why was she hidden behind this bookshelf... alone? One of the students said, "Because she´s a trouble-maker, she doesn't do her schoolwork and fights with the boys at recess."

After excusing the children, I talked to the little girl. It took quite a while to soften her angry eyes and her rebellious attitude. But after a time, I had the young girl smiling. I moved the student´s desk up front beside my own so she could be near me. As the day wore on, I spent much of my time with this young girl, helping her, talking to her, having her pass out papers to the other students. By the end of the day, I had grown to love this youngster and my heart went out to her. Below the surface she was so difference than the label she had been given.

At the end of the day, I was supposed to write a note about the young girl´s behavior so she could give it to her parents. So I did. After all the students had gone, I packed up and walked out the door.

To my surprise, that little girl's mother walked up to me with the note in hand and asked, "Did you write this?"

After acknowledging that I had, the young mother´s eyes welled up with tears as she said, "Her teacher has never written anything positive about my daughter. Thank you! Thank you!"

Motivation

What are you known for? Are you a label maker? Do you freeze-frame people and refuse to let them grow, or become, or morph into a better version of the person you've labeled? Do you allow them to change? Or, do you look for behavior that justifies the label?

Are you really good at argument, but struggle with listening... really listening?

Are you trying to do God's job? How is that working for you?

Make a list of the people you know who wear a label you have created. Pray for God's forgiveness and ask His Spirit to take over. He is ready to work a miracle. Ask his Spirit to transform your heart, to turn you into a seer of the good and the "about to be good" in others.

And, they will know we are Christians by our love.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. —Revelation 7:17

What a beautiful picture! The One who died for us will nourish and refresh us. The One upon whom all eternity hinges will take time to personally comfort us. No wonder Paul could say that he did not consider his present sufferings worth comparing to the glory that would be revealed to us! (Romans 8:18)

Prayer...

Father God and Sovereign Lord of all Creation, thank you for your incredible love for me. While I know I don't deserve your overwhelming and generous grace, I rejoice in it. While I know my best attempts at honoring you fall short, thank you for promising to welcome me into your presence, care for me, and comfort me when I come home to you. Your love, O Lord, is beyond my comprehension and exhausts my appreciation while filling my heart with wonder and praise. In Jesus' name I praise you. Amen..

Be Strong and Courageous

Apparently Joshua did. After the death of Moses, Joshua was the designated leader of God’s people into the promise land. God says these words to Joshua, then he repeats them:

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do (Joshua 1:5-7 ).

Then at the end of the chapter, the people say it to Joshua again:

Anyone who rebels against your orders and does not obey your words and everything you command will be put to death. So be strong and courageous! (Joshua 1:18).

Three times Joshua is told to be strong and courageous. God uses these reminders to assure Joshua that he has nothing to fear because he will never be alone — God is on his side and always with him as he walks in the way of the LORD.

Do you need to hear those words? If so, here they are: "Be strong and courageous."

Is your child is sick and you feel helpless and powerless to do anything to make him better or help ease her pain, discomfort, or disease? Have the doctors ordered every test imaginable and still have no explanation? "Be strong and courageous."

Are you looking for a job? Have you recently learned that your position with the company is being phased out? Have you worn yourself out searching for a job and still have nothing? "Be strong and courageous."

Are you struggling to keep your marriage together? Has your spouse indicated that he no longer wants to try to work to make things better? "Be strong and courageous."

Are you beginning to wonder if the mate you have dreamed of and prayed about is ever going to appear? Are your dreams of the perfect wedding beginning to fade? "Be strong and courageous."

You have always dreamed of being a parent, but more and more it looks like that may never happen. You have tried. You have done everything the doctors have told you to do. "Be strong and courageous."

You have been waiting for the call that the adoption has been approved, but the call has not come. You wonder what could possibly be wrong. What more can you do? "Be strong and courageous."

Are you waiting for your son to come home? Are you longing to hear your daughter’s voice on the telephone? Are you wondering if your parents will let you in the house if you go home? "Be strong and courageous."

Have you done so many things wrong you have serious doubts that anyone could every forgive you? Is your list of sins so long you and so horrendous you are confident that God could never want you in His family? "Be strong and courageous."

Are you being called on to lead your church during a crucial time? Are you unsure if you have the ability to lead? Do you wonder if God may have made a mistake by placing you in a leadership position? "Be strong and courageous."

When God saw that Joshua needed to be encouraged and affirmed to lead His people He reminded of His constant presence, His watchful eye, and His provision and strength. He told him, be strong and courageous. He will do the same for you. He will say the same thing to you. He is saying the same thing for you. "Be strong and courageous."

Jesus started to leave, but a man ran to him and bowed on his knees before Jesus. The man asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to get the life that never ends?"

This is a great question if it comes from a genuine heart. You will have to read for yourself and decide if this man's heart was genuine. Better yet, why not look at your own heart and ask the Lord Jesus this same question. I bet if you listen this week, he will make that clear to you if he has not already done so.


Today's Verses in Context


People brought their small children to Jesus, so that Jesus could touch them. But the followers told the people to stop bringing their children to Jesus. Jesus saw what happened. He did not like his followers telling the children not to come. Jesus said to them, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people that are like these little children. I tell you the truth. You must accept the kingdom of God like a little child accepts things, or you will never enter it." Then Jesus held the children in his arms. Jesus put his hands on them and blessed them. Jesus started to leave, but a man ran to him and bowed on his knees before Jesus. The man asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to get the life that never ends?" Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good? No person is good. Only God is good. {But I will answer your question.} You know the commands: 'You must not murder anyone, you must not do the sin of adultery, you must not steal, you must not lie, you must not cheat, you must honor (respect) your father and mother….' " The man said, "Teacher, I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy." Jesus looked at the man. Jesus felt love for him. Jesus said, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Go and sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor people. You will have a reward in heaven. Then come and follow me." The man was very sorry to hear Jesus say this, and he left. The man was sad because he was very rich {and wanted to keep his money}. Then Jesus looked at his followers and said to them, "It will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!" The followers were amazed at what Jesus said. But Jesus said again, "My children, it is very hard to enter the kingdom of God! And it will be very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God! It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle!"

— Mark 10:13-25 

[Jesus said,] "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." —Matthew 7:13-14

Over two decades ago, Juan Carlos Ortiz criticized European and American evangelists for offering a carrot stick gospel that focused on the pay off and not lordship of Jesus. Jesus, especially in Matthew 7, reminds us that grace does not dismiss discipleship and mercy does not release us from our need to genuinely repent. We must accept the grace that is given us and truly let Jesus be Lord of our lives. It's not an either-or proposition, but a both-and call from God to receive grace and to follow Jesus as Lord.

Prayer...

Almighty God, holy and awesome in your majesty and might, I know that I will never be worthy of your grace. I know that my flesh can be easily lured away from the path of discipleship. So please help me as I seek to follow the Good Shepherd on your way of salvation. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Please Bless Them..

  
    People brought their small children to Jesus, so that Jesus could touch them. But the followers told the people  to stop bringing their children to Jesus. -- Mark 10:13 
KEY THOUGHT:

We can never seem to find enough time to do the things we need to do.So who gets left out in the "busy-ness" of life? Children tend to be forgotten, neglected, ignored, put off, or left out when schedules get crunched -- and this is true even in our child-dominated cultures. Even when children are a key part of adult schedules, this time is often centered on their performing or competing against other children. We take such little amounts of time to just be with children and let them just be with us -- nothing to do, to win, or to perform, just be with us. This reality is nothing new. Children often have been left out,pushed to the periphery of life, or simply neglected. Jesus had many important things to do. The disciples just didn't realize children should be viewed as very important. Jesus did. Now so should we!

TODAY'S PRAYER:

O Father in heaven, thank you. Thank you for the gift of children.
Thank you for the gift of future. Thank you for the gift of wild-eyed wonder. Help me to show the children around me that they are special and important -- not only to me, but also to you.

And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." —Revelation 7:10

From the voices of those who know, the message is clear! God reigns and with his rule comes salvation. This is because of the Lamb who was willing to be slain, but who triumphed over death. Because of the Lamb's work and faithfulness, we can be assured of heaven.

My Prayer...

Loving Father and Sovereign God, thank you for providing salvation by extending your grace to me in Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for offering yourself to be the Lamb sacrificed for my sins. I look forward to heaven and seeing you face to face and praising you with the angels, the martyrs, the elders, and other faithful Christians before the throne. To you, O God, belongs all praise, honor, glory, and thanks, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"God has joined those two people together. So no person should separate them." -- Mark 10:9

KEY THOUGHT:

          God has the power to make two people one. Marriage is not about a wedding, but about a man and a woman entering into a covenant relationship with God. God is the greater party in the covenant. The man and the woman give their highest allegiance and commitment to God when they marry. There will be times when their spouse will unfortunately disappoint them or let them down. But, God wants them to remember that their highest priority is not treating their spouse as he or she deserves, but as God would have them be treated. Honoring God in the way they treat each other is the key to marriage as God sees it. God wants husbands and wives to understand that breaking a marriage apart is an offense against God -- he is the one who makes couples one and the one with whom they enter into covenant relationship. God hates covenants made with him to be broken.

TODAY'S PRAYER:

           O God, please give your people a deeper appreciation of what it means to enter into covenant with you when they marry. I worry about all the money we spend on wedding ceremonies when there is so little appreciation for the covenant relationship that begins when a couple is married. Help me, O God, to be a covenant-keeper and a person who encourages others to be loyal to you and the covenants they make with you. In Jesus' name. Amen..

I am about to pour out my wrath on you and spend my anger against you; I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. —Ezekiel 7:8

Because God's people had repeatedly rebelled and chosen to turn an unhearing ear toward his will, God is about to let them face the consequences of their own sinfulness. He is ready to judge them using the harshest of standards because of their entrenched rebellion. We must remember that he wants us to be a holy people just as much as he did his Old Testament people. Let's be faithful to him, no matter the values of our culture.

My Prayer...

O God, please do not rebuke me in your wrath, but encourage me to live for you no matter my circumstances or my culture. I want to be faithful to you in all I do, say, and think. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Where there is great love there are always miracles. — Willa Cather

Be True !!!!!!!!!!!!!

"The true Christian is like sandalwood, which imparts its fragrance to the axe which cuts it, without doing any harm in return." — Sundar Singh

But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. —Romans 7:6

We are free from Law! Does that mean anarchy and lawlessness? Absolutely not! No, because the grace that freed us also brought God's HOLY Spirit to live within. He can empower us to do what we could not do on our own. He can help us in our weakness to pray with confidence and boldness to the Father. With his help, we are brought into a circle of accountable friends, tied by the grace of God and the Spirit of Christ. Thank God for the "new way"!

My Prayer...

Father, thank you for redeeming and delivering me from the requirements of law and placing your Spirit in my heart to help me be more than I could ever be trying to obey the Law. In Jesus' name I praise you. Amen.

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. —Jeremiah 7:3

We often take for granted what we have, where we live, the friends who bless our lives, and the family that gives us a place to belong and grow. All of these are all gifts to us from God. We don't deserve them. We don't earn them. But, we can surely destroy them. God wants us to live obediently, not just to please him, but also to protect ourselves and those we love. So let's reform our actions and live for him and not for ourselves.

My Prayer...

Almighty and Holy Father, please forgive me of my sins. Please bless me and empower me as I seek to turn my life around to live passionately for you and your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be Righteous !!!!!!!!!!!

"Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful." (Psalm 119:137-138)

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. —Matthew 7:2

Jesus is concerned that we not have a critical spirit toward others, especially about their motives as to why they did something. We can't assume to know another person's heart; only God can. When we are unfairly critical, overly harsh, or unduly judgmental, we need to remember that God will use that same standard on us. I don't know about you, but I need grace. So do those I love. I'm going to try very hard to be as gracious toward others as I'm trusting that God is going to be gracious with me.

My Prayer...

Forgive me, Abba Father, for the times that I've been far more critical of others than I should be. Arouse within me a passion to be gracious toward others so that they can see your graciousness shining through me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.