Morning

Morning Prayer

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15: 11 ESV

Many of the Amish who were praying this were on their way to farm work, cooking or carpentry asking for godly joyfulness in the middle of their everyday lives. For us, giving mercy might be just helping a neighbor mow his lawn, planting an extra row of tomatoes in our garden to give away or making up a plate of food for a friend. Jesus didn’t say we had to do miracles, in order to love others. In fact, just before He gives this command, had been washing their feet. The key to being joyful begins not by amazing them with miracles, but by serving them, just as Jesus did. So, as you begin your day, ask God to make you His tool of mercy by joyfully practicing the calling that He has given you. You will discover that there is no better way to love others than the smallest act of service done with the joy of Jesus Christ!

"Make us tools for your mercy and let us joyfully go forth and practice our calling. Amen

Considering that many of the Amish who were praying this were on their way to farm work, cooking or carpentry we get the picture of experiencing godly joyfulness in the middle of our most everyday things of life. They ask to be God’s tool of mercy as they begin to simply do ordinary acts of service. For us to give mercy might be no more complicated than helping a neighbor mow his lawn, planting an extra row of tomatoes in our garden to give away or making up a plate of food for a friend. Jesus didn’t mean we had to do miracles, in order to love others. After all, just before Jesus gives this command, He showed them His love, not by some amazing miracle but by washing their feet. The key to our being joyful begins as we love others, not by amazing them with miracles, but by serving them, just as Jesus did. So, as you begin your day, ask God to make you His tool of mercy by joyfully practicing the calling that He has given you. You will discover that there is no better way to love others than the smallest act of service done with the joy of Jesus Christ!

Taking Time Each Morning

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Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] Psalm 145:13 ESV


Each morning I wake up
Before I put on my makeup
I say a little prayer for you

Aretha Franklin

While of course we know Aretha Franklin wasn’t talking about praising God she does make a perfect point about love. It has a wonderful way of forming our thoughts before we even start our day! Love for Jesus should be no less passionate than love for a husband or wife. And love means taking time – the very first and best moments of our day to choose to praise the Lord.

I love Psalm 145 because in it David wastes not even a single line without using it to give God praise. Though there are many different reasons David gives us for praising God today’s thought is just about one of them. God is kind. In 1 Corinthians 13 we usually remember that patience is listed as love’s first attribute but then forget that the Holy Spirit marries that attitude to kindness. Patience endures our failings but in kindness God actively seeks ways to do us good often in small blessings we just take for granted. Why not take a moment this morning to praise God for at least one of them. He has been faithful to help us in our baby steps of faith. Let’s thank him for such tender kindness and love even before we put on our make-up or in my case that would be my first cup of coffee! God bless and have a great day taking time with God.

Morning Quiet Time

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Having a morning walk is one of the things I enjoy the most since retirement. Those 20-30 minutes give me a time to listen and look to see in the ordinary of things around the neighborhood what Jesus has in store for today. Remember that just as he said not to worry about tomorrow because today’s trouble is enough it also follows that enough for the day is the good. This morning the good was seeing this gander out for his walk showing off his lady friends. He wasn’t busy wishing he was a taller bird like a crane, or a better fisherman like the pelican. He was just strutting his stuff completely satisfied with a duck’s life.

I have discovered that those moments at the beginning and end of my days are like bookends. Everything that God has prepared of good and allowed for problems will be kept in place if we begin and end with Him! Have a blessed Sabbath and a praise filled Sunday!