A Prayer for Help

A Psalm of David

Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; my eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies; what I did not steal, I then have to restore. 

O God, it is You who knows my folly, and my wrongs are not hidden from You. May those who wait for You not be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; may those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel, because for Your sake I have borne reproach; dishonor has covered my face. I have become estranged from my brothers and an alien to my mother's sons. 

The zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. When I wept in my soul with fasting, It became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. Those who sit in the gate talk about me, and I am the song of the drunkards. 

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, answer me with Your saving truth. Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. May the flood of water not overflow me nor the deep swallow me up, nor the pit shut its mouth on me. 

Answer me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good; according to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me, and do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress; answer me quickly. Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies! 

Scripture Passage: Psalm 69:1-18

Song: "The Prayer" by Andrea Bocelli & Heather Headly

God's Masterpiece

“We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (Eph. 2:10 NLT)

THEY MADE IT!

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp--

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.

Bob, who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.

I asked Jesus, 'What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How'd all these sinners get up here?

God must have made a mistake.'

'And why is everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue.'

'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.

No one thought they'd be seeing you.' 
Contributed: Author unknown

JUDGE NOT!! If you pass your days mumbling, “I’ll never make a difference; I’m not worth anything,’ guess what? You will be sentencing yourself to a life of gloom without parole. Even more, you are disagreeing with God. Questioning His judgment and second-guessing His purpose for your life.

Remember what the Apostle John recorded? He said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9). Yes, that’s true, Jesus forgive sins! So, just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

• Every saint has a PAST... - God will forgive our sins and wipe our record clean. (Jer. 31:34)
• Every sinner has a FUTURE! - A future is promised to them that overcome. (Rev. 2:7)

Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil... It has no point! Now it's Time to Believe God's promise and establish a personal relationship with Christ.

Father, I ask You to bless those who are reading this article right now, my friends, relatives, and those for whom I care deeply. 

Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Lord, I ask You to let Your Holy Spirit minister to their spirit at this moment; where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is lack, I ask You to supply their need. 

Bless their homes, families, finances, their going out and their coming in from this time forth and forever; in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.