7 Reasons I Loved This Day

1. The Weather is perfect. Thank you LORD. 75 and a nice breeze, need I say more.

2. My wife brought me a cup of coffee, while I was sitting in the shade reading a book. Thank you dear.

3. The book I am reading is life out loud funny, entertaining, and educational. Now that's for a good book. Lonesome Dove is the name of the book.

4. I saw most of my neighbors this morning. I have really good neighbors. It is easy to love thy, for me. We took the next door neighbors, Anna and Laura, with us to the library this morning. Went with our neighbor, Jenn, to the farmer's market.

5. Talked to Johnny and Sara Ellen on the phone. They are from South Carolina. They are always cheerful, they will cheer up any one's day. I told Sara Ellen about my book, and she was excited.

6. I am sitting in one my favorite places on Earth as I write this blog. I am under the maple tree in my backyard on a blanket with Monica and Elizabeth. We just had a nice picnic. Good food, good weather, and my two favorite girls.

7. Finally, the reason I loved this day is, this day is only half over. Maybe the best is yet to come. It will have to be really good to beat my day so far.

5 Things Sickness Teaches Us

1. Sickness teaches you what is important in your life.
-We spend so much of life focused on things that do not matter. The things that do matter are God, our family, our friends, our calling.

2. Sickness teaches you your need for compassion for others who are sick.
-Other people's sickness should lead me to care, to pray, and to do good for them.

3. Sickness teaches you how fragile life is and your need for God who is not fragile.
-Every one's life will fade, but our hope is not in health it is in Jesus.

4. Sickness teaches you your need for others.
-No one can make it alone. We need each other, especially in times of sickness.

5. Sickness teaches you to be thankful for good health.
-What a great blessing everyday is that we feel good. Thank you God for those days. Help us to trust you and remain faithful on the days that are not so good.

Don't waste a sickness.

Romans 8:31

In Jesus' Service,

Nudge

The Holy Spirit gave me the word "nudge" about a month ago and I have been living by this word ever since.

God has some things he wants us to do, so how will we react. Many just don't take any action whatsoever. Others try and do everything all at once. This is where the word "nudge" comes in. We find out what God wants for our lives then we begin nudging ourselves in that direction. We take one tangible step at a time. We refuse to do nothing and we refuse to be bogged down by trying to do everything all at once.

If you we want to get in shape we nudge ourselves towards that first walk. If we want our finances in order we nudge ourselves towards preparing a budget. If we want a ministry to grow we just give it a tangible nudge in that direction. Then we nudge ourselves towards the next step, then the next.

Vince Lombardi said, all people want to win, but not everyone prepares to win. The nudging is the steps we take that prepare us to win. Wow, we want to be a good parent, everyone wants that, how are we nudging ourselves towards being a good parent. We want to do better in school, what "nudge" step will we take to get better. We want to get better at our job, everyone wants that I hope, but how are we nudging ourselves to get better.

So I ask you what does God want for your life? What is the first step you can start ASAP that will nudge you towards that dream?

Be Sympathetic

I Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

How much would our lives change if we let the Holy Spirit mold us and live these verses?

-Be sympathetic with your spouse instead of directly harsh.
-Be sympathetic with your children when they need your valuable time.
-Be sympathetic with that person who is nothing like like you.
-Be sympathetic with the person you want to give a peace of your mind.
-Be sympathetic with sinners.
-Be sympathetic with saints.
-Be sympathetic with the friends that you are so use to you that it is natural to take them for granted.

Jesus perfected this. Let him wreck our wrong attitudes so we can live this way.


In Jesus' Service,

Help

The good news of Jesus should be a help. Paul in Acts 16:9-10 saw a vision of a man in Europe begging him to come there and help him. Paul concluded from this that is where he should preach the gospel.

In Europe Paul helped a slave girl with the good news of Jesus. She was set free and went from being an abnormal fortune teller to a normal non fortune teller. Paul also helped a suicidal prison warden. This warden was so changed by the good news of Jesus that he changed from someone who tortures to someone who heals, from suicidal to finding life.

There is someone out there that needs our help. Jesus went around doing good Acts 10:38 says, and we are to do the same as his followers. What can we do this week to be a help. Brainstorm about someone in particular that you can help this week. Also, as the opportunities arise help as many individuals you can this week.

The good news of Jesus should not be something we beat people up with, it should be something that we help people up with.

I love you guys.

In Jesus' Service,

5 Things God does when we pray

Isa 38:5-6 5 "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

When God told Hezekiah the truth about his life, that his illness would lead to death, Hezekiah was broken and turned to the LORD and prayed. These are the five things God did in Hezekiah's life through prayer. Since God is no respecter of persons, he will do the same in our lives through prayer.

1. God hears.
-Heard has 2 important meanings: to be attentive, to consider. When Hezekiah prayed he had Gods full attention. Have you ever been talking to someone and knew they were not listening to you, or have you been the one not listening when someone was talking to you. Well, God is not that way. When we pray(talk to God) we have God's undivided attention.
-When Hezekiah prayed, God considered his prayers. God has chosen to sovereignly function through relationship. When we pray God takes our prayers into account. God had told Hezekiah he was going to die from his illness, but Hezekiah prayed that he would not. God considered this and Hezekiah did not die. I believe Hezekiah was glad he prayed, we will be too. God considers our prayers and works through them.

2. God sees.
-God saw the tears that Hezekiah shed. Hezekiah had turned his face to his bedroom wall to pray and thought no one had seen him cry. His doctors, servants, and family did not see his tears, but God saw. God sees what no one else sees, the things we wished people saw and cared about. Your spouse, boss, children, or parents may not have seen the times you were going through, but God did and He cares.

3. God adds.
-God added 15 years to Hezekiah's life, who was on his deathbed. When we pray God adds. We cannot force or manipulate what we desire God to add, but he will add what is for His glory and our good. It may be years, health, hope, understanding, joy, etc. I do believe God will add. We serve a God of addition. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

4. God delivers.
-God promised to deliver Hezekiah and Judah from their enemies’ hand, the Assyrians. To deliver means to take from here to there. Sometimes the places we are in life(in our marriage, finances, health, children, attitudes) are not where they need to be. God has promised to deliver His children who pray from here(where they should not be) to there(where they should be).

5. God defends.
-God promised to defend Hezekiah. To defend means, "To stop the enemy from advancing." For God to say he would defend means there is something that needs to be defended from. There is a real enemy in this world that has come to steal, kill, and destroy that we need to be defended from. We cannot defend ourselves. God, through prayer, has promised to defend his children.

We do not pray to earn God's favor, we pray because we are already in the family of God and have a Father who can't wait to listen to and answer our prayers.

That's 5 really good reason to pray, because when we pray God hears, sees, adds, delivers, and defends.

I love you guys.

In Jesus' Service,

Keep going

I was praying tonight and I asked God let me hear a word from you. I heard that still small voice very quickly. I felt like the Holy Spirit said right away two words, "Keep Going." I desire to follow God, and He said keep going. I desire to do what's right, and He said keep going. I want to see God do great things, and He said keep going. Living Hope wants to advance the kingdom of God, and He said keep going.

My Pop's favorite verse that he would quote all the time was he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. It is about keeping going. Slowly, steady, daily keep going.

So Living Hope, let's keep going. Let's do the things God has called us to do through his word and not back down.

I love you guys.

In Jesus' Service'

New Year's Resolution

My New Year's resolution is to see God and too see the good.

I want to seek God early in my day, then look for Him during my day. I want to see what He is up too. I ask that he would give me eyes to see and ears to hear what he is doing, so I can be a part of it and give him glory for it. At the end of my day I want to reflect on God's presence in my life.

I think one of this best ways to do this is too look for the good. God is good. When God looked at his creation he said it was good. Jesus called himself the good shepherd. We are commanded to think on whatsoever things are good, so I will look for the good. That does not mean that all situations will be good(although many will) but that God is good in every situation. I will look for the good because I know all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.

Jesus, in 2010 help me to see God and to see the good. God forgive me of my attitude that looks for the bad and negative. God you are good all the time.

I love you guys.

In Jesus' Service,

Preach the Word.

I use to go with a college group to feed and minister to the homeless in Orlando Florida. I was still very wet behind the ears when it came to preaching and felt quite nervous and unsure that I could preach. A friend of mine on our ministry team named Jason would slap me on the shoulders, look me right in the eye, and raise his voice and say, "PREACH THE WORD!" His confidence was infectious. His confidence came from the Word not from his self. That lesson has always stuck with me. I often will say to myself before going into the pulpit, "PREACH THE WORD!"

I would encourage all of us when we feel like we cannot make it through our day, our circumstances, and our life to "PREACH THE WORD" to our day, circumstances, and life. Find the confidence you need from God's Word and not yourself. Speak God's truth throughout your day, speaking directly to your day. You don't have to be a master theologian to do this either.

I no longer feel that same nervousness that I felt 11 years ago when it comes to preaching. It is the Word that has brought me this far. I will continue to trust in God's Word to take me where God needs me to go over my next years. I believe you can trust God to do the same for you through his Word.

I love you guys,

In Jesus' Service,

3 Life Lessons- by Mark Batterson

I really enjoyed these 3 life lessons. We need to be reminded of these from time to time. Pastor Todd

This weekend I was reminded of a few lessons that have to be relearned all the time.

1) Go the extra mile

We have core value at NCC: go the extra mile. So many people made that reality this weekend. I was shocked to find one staff member shoveling in front of Ebenezers on Saturday morning. And it wasn't in her portfolio! That is going the extra mile. So many others stepped up to help make our weekend services happen.

2) All You Can Do Is Smile

When you find yourself in a situation you cannot control, all you can do is smile. We cannot control the weather but we aren't going to let the weather control us. For the record, we don't cancel services. And we had some joyous services this weekend. Some of them only had acoustic worship and very pared down ministries, but it actually makes me appreciate what we pull off every weekend at NCC.

3) Do Little Things Like They Are Big Things

I'm not sure how to say this, but our band at Ebenezers played like there were thousands of people in a packed out concert venue. By they way, in case you care, I give our Ebenezers band a different name each weekend. It's tradition. This weekend I called them Whiteout (inspired by a combination of the 80's band, Whiteheart, and the record snowfall in DC). But I added an addendum afterward. Whiteout Rockout. So proud of the way they played and worshipped.

This weekend brought back memories of preaching to 25 people. And I can honestly say that I preached those sermons like they were the most important sermons I'd ever preach. You can't just "show up" when there are thousands of people. You've got to preach your heart out when there are only a few people.

If you do little things like they are big things, God will give you big things to do.

In Jesus' Service,

10 Guidelines for Celebrating

II Sam 6:12-23

I want this Christmas to be a Christmas I remember. So my theme for myself, my family, and for Living Hope is "celebrate."

A good working definition for celebrating is "to honor with gladness."

Here are 10 guidelines that will enable us to celebrate during this Christmas season.

1. Celebrate when you recover or receive something that was missing.
-David celebrated when he received the ark of God back to Jerusalem. It had been missing, so when he recovered it he celebrated. If we receive back our joy, sanity, health, marriage, etc, remember to celebrate the recovery. We have received Jesus and he has recovered us from our depths of sin, so we celebrate His name.

2. Celebrate when you overcome a difficulty.
-David overcame his difficulty of moving the ark of God. The first time he tried to recover the ark his life hit a pothole. Uzzah died and David was discouraged. The 2nd time he moved the ark of God he made it. I am glad I am not what I use to be. God has helped me overcome many habits, attitudes, and sins, with more still to come. So I celebrate.

3. Celebrators will celebrate with those that are celebrating.
-David was not jealous of Obed-Edom because he new the God that helped Obed-Edom was big enough to help him as well. Rejoice with those that rejoice Romans 12:5 tells us. Jealousy is a decease that crushes our soul. But being glad for others is a medicine that brings us life.

4. Celebrators do not concentrate on themselves.
-David was dancing before the Lord. He danced with total abandon of self. He went a little overboard with his celebration, and that is ok because it was not "me" focused. When we celebrate someone's birthday we ask ourselves how can we make that person feel special with the gifts, the food, the decorations. Well it's Jesus' birthday, so let's go a little overboard making Jesus feel special this year.

5. Celebrating is a form of worship.
-All of Israel knew who David worshipped, because they saw his celebration. People will know if we worship God or ourselves by how they watch us celebrate. You can not hide who you worship, your celebration gives you away.

6. You must plan to celebrate.
-David took off his kingly robes and wore his lite linen ephod so he could dance a little better before God. He planned on celebrating and he got ready to do so. This Christmas let's make plans to celebrate, then follow through.

7. Celebrators are givers and givers are celebrators.
-David gave away food to all of Israel. He wanted everyone to be able to celebrate. When we give we are thankful and when we are thankful we celebrate. Then when we celebrate we give and when we give we are thankful. And around around the circle of celebrating, giving, being thankful goes.

8. Celebrators bless others.
-David blessed Israel and his home. He spoke life to his country and his family. Do we desire others to receive good things and show it by our words and actions.

9. Non-celebrators become angry at celebrators.
-Michal, David's wife, had become bitter by life. She was angry that her husband was not acting dignified. She despised him in her heart. She was scornful towards her husband. Not just towards his actions, but towards him. Be careful when we despise people, it usually means that we have a problem that the Holy Spirit needs to heal. Scorn and contempt should be a red light we need to correct an issue we are facing.

10. Not celebrating will leave us lifeless.
Michal was barren the rest of her life. Non-celebrators are dead on the inside. They are boring, no fresh ideas, don't laugh, don't smile, have dry spirits, and their relationships are flat. The answer is connecting to Jesus because he is the life. Allow him to heal that non celebrating spirit.

I love you guys.

In Jesus' Service,

Have a good Laugh

Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-UF-h1K4rM

I love you guys.

In Jesus' Service,

Definitions of Success

I read this today. It's from Pastor Mark Batterson. I thought it was great and wanted to share it with Living Hope. Pray through this today.


The Definition of Success
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Thought I'd share a few of my personal definitions of success. It's important to define success in biblical and personal ways. You need to know what you're aiming at or you will succeed at the wrong thing.

First of all, success is maximizing your God given potential. Success is synonymous with stewardship.

A second definition is this: doing the best you can with what you have where you are. Success is not circumstantial. Some of the most successful people are those in the worst of circumstances, but they make the most of them. That's success.

Here's a third definition: the people who know you the best respect you the most. We care way too much about what strangers think of us, but they won't be the ones at our graveside. I want my wife and my kids to respect me the most.

Here's a fourth and newest definition: success is trying until the day you die. I think most of us give up on our dreams way too easily and way too quickly. We stop trying. But if you're still trying you're succeeding!

One key to success is not worrying about the outcome. Winning or losing isn't the issue. Trying is winning! That is what I told Parker when he decided to run for class president. That is the lesson I learned at our triathlon this weekend. That is what I've learned as a church planter. The measure of success is this: how hard did you try?

If you pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you you cannot fail.

6 ways to apply the Bible to your life.

James 1:22 tells us not to be just hearers of God's Word, but to do what it says. Sometimes that seems easier said than done. Well here are six practical ways we can do what God's Word says.

1.Ask God to meet you when you read your Bible.
-The message of the Bible is not help is coming, but that it has already arrived. We encounter the way, the truth, and the life every time we ask God to meet us through the Bible. Be open that Jesus can speak to you every time you read His book, then act accordingly. He will help you to live a Biblical life.

2.Keep your Bible handy and open at all times.
-Keep your Bible as close to you as you can. If you can take it to work, do so. If not the car would be fine as well. I have one in almost every room of my house(job hazard).
-Don't just have one near by, leave it open to the Scripture that you read that day. This is just a symbolic way of saying, "God my life is open to You throughout this day." Every time you walk past the open Bible, it reminds you of that Scripture you read. Also if you have time, stop and re-read one or two verses that really challenged you from earlier in the day.

3.Meditate on some specific Scripture throughout your day.
-You can’t meditate fast. Success in Bible reading is not the number of pages read. You are not trying to get youself through the Bible, but the Bible through you.

4.Read the Scriptures out loud.
-Now I am not telling you to start reading out loud at Wal-Mart and scare the people shopping for peanut butter. But during your time in the Bible choose a verse or two and read it out loud to yourself. There is something powerful about the spoken Word of God. God spoke the world into existence by His Word. How powerful is that.

5.Memorize a verse a week from an area of need.
-If you are struggling with anger, lust, worry, etc memorize a verse a week that deals with these areas. Let God's Word help you battle these things. That would be 52 verses a year. 52 ways to defeat the enemy of your soul and to follow Jesus daily.

6.Find one thing during this week from the Bible you can do, then do it.
-Remember we are not just to hear but to act. Some would say I can never find anything from God's Word to do. Well here is an example right from the same chapter in James chapter 1.

-James 1:26-27 26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

-James gives us 3 things we can do. (remember God will help you to act)
a. Verse 26 tells us to watch the words we allow to come out of our mouth. How would our week change if we did just this.

b. Verse 27 tells us to look after orphans and widows. To take care of them. The orphans and the widows are the poor and needy. Could you find someone poor and needy to help this week?

c. Verse 27 also tells us to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world. Is there something in your life that is polluting your relationship with God? If so speed this week getting rid of that thing, habit, attitude, etc.

God we want to be hearers and doers of your Word. James 1:21-25 says if are hearers and doers, the Word can save us. It also says we will be blessed. Let us see your blessings from hearing and doing what your Word says. In Jesus name, Amen.

I love you.

In Jesus' Service,

Steve McNair

I have been thinking about the Steve McNair's murder the last few days. I have heard sports reporters give many opinions recently that have made me think. It is reported that his girlfriend murdered McNair then killed herself because McNair had another girlfriend besides her. McNair is married with four children. Friends are reporting McNair is a good father.

I am not Steve's judge and I do not know all the details of his life. He is a victim of a crime that cost him his life. At the same time I do believe there are many lessons that can be learned from this tragedy.

First, the very nature of sin is death. It is being reported McNair was in two relationships outside his marriage. God tells us in Exodus 20:14 that we are not to commit adultery and that it is a sin. God also tells us the wages of sin is death in Romans 6:23. Sin again proves that it brings death both emotionally, to relationships, and finally physically whether we believe in a thing called sin or not. The only way to conquer death is to discover life by grace through faith Eph 2:8-9. Jesus lived the life we could not live and he died the death we all should die. I hope McNair received grace through faith.

Second it seems like McNair had lost his family. It is reported by his friends that he was a very good father. His wife may come out in a few days and say the same. But I believe that his relationship with his children would have been extremely damaged if not completely destroyed even if he had not been killed. The best way that a father can love his children and be a good father is by loving his wife. That's what McNair's children needed and it is what our children need, fathers.

God tells us in Prov 18:22 he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. I don't know anything about McNair's wife, she may be a great person or she could have many sins that make her hard to live with. I do know from McNair's actions he was not treating her like something good. God forgive us when we have not treated our wives like they are good.

Finally I was listening to a talk radio show and they said McNair was still good because everyone cheats. The feelings on the show that were being expressed is that it is natural to cheat. It is almost expected for men and women to cheat. I say it is unnatural to cheat. We are not animals that have no say so in our actions. We are created in God's imagine to make Him known. Cheating is unnatural because it goes against how we were created.

So Jesus help us to be committed to our wives. You are our example Jesus, you are committed to your church and would never cheat on her. You love your church and gave yourself up for her. Help us as husbands do the same. Help the McNair family, especially his children.

I love you guys.

In Jesus' Service,

Dance and Mourn

I am reading a book entitled Breaking the Slump by Jimmy Roberts. The book is a collection of interviews from professional golfers. In the book they discuss life lessons they learned while going through a slump. I am really enjoying it and I recommend it to golf fans, sports fans, and any type of leader.

Paul Azinger in chapter 1 of the book talks about how he deals with the death of his close friend and colleague Payne Stewart. Stewart, also a professional golfer, died in a plane crash and it devastated Azinger. At Azinger's home there is a path he designed that leads down to the lake. The first steps down to the lake have hard, smooth stones perfectly placed. But then you encounter a gap where there is only crushed coral beneath your feet. In a home that was planned out to the smallest details, this mistake has it's purpose. "I left that stone out," says Azinger, "so I'll remember Payne every time I come out here."

For Paul Azinger the path back to overcoming slumps in golf and in life might seem complete, but he'll never forget that something is missing.

Like Paul Azinger I have a walking stick in the corner of my bedroom. Every time I see it I am reminded of my grandfather, Pop, who has been with Jesus since 1991. I always want to remember him. I am very grateful for the time I had with him, at the same time I know there is something missing. One day I will be hanging out with him again. He used to laugh and yell my name out, I miss that, and can't wait to hear it again.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:17, "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn." Jesus was correcting the attitudes of the Pharisees in this passage. The Pharisees did not really know how to live because the ignored all human emotions. They refused to let God heal the broken places in their lives that they needed to mourn over. Also, they refused to really rejoice about the good gifts that God had given to them. They did not act like the Heavenly Father.

So I encourage you Living Hope to be completely alive. Mourn like you really loved the person you are mourning over. Cry out to God in your mourning and allow him to comfort you. Then when it's time to celebrate, do it with all your heart as well. Jesus has come that we might have life and have it to the fullest.

I love you.

In Jesus' Service,

Outdoor wedding

Tonight I had the honor of marrying a young couple Bill and Lindsey. We were at Falsburg Park and the weather could not have been better. It was a simple and elegant ceremony. I wish Bill and Lindsey God's blessing as they start their life together.

I will give those married at Living Hope the same four pieces of advice I gave this young couple during the ceremony.

1. Be each others #1 fan.
There will be times when the world, our boss, even our kids will beat us up emotionally, but a husband and wife should always be there cheering each other on. It is easy for us to fall into the trap of finding faults instead of looking for the best in our spouse. If we treated our favorite sports team like we did our spouse no one would ever confuse us with being a fan.

2. Speak well of each other.
When we get our attitudes right, we need to get our words right. It is easy to just let abusive words slip out of our mouths toward the person that loves us most. Daily we must think of the words that we should not say, and eliminate them. Also we should purposely go out of our way to say the words that will build each other up.

3. Resolve difficulties and disagreements quickly.
God's word says it is the little foxes that destroy the vine. It is the little things built up over time that destroy a marriage. Divorces and bad marriages usually do not happen overnight. It is those little things that snowball until they are out of control. Find solutions to marriage conflicts quickly. Also be ready to forgive each other quickly.

4. Endure.
Remind yourself my marriage is for life. Through the good and bad times, joys and responsibilities, this is my partner for life. If there is ever a time I may want out, I remind myself God is the one who put my spouse and I together and no man or woman should separate us.

For those of us who are married or one day will be married I believe these four things will make life enjoyable and happy with your spouse.

I love you.


In Jesus Service,

Lifting the Siege and Opening the Floodgates

I was scanning some headlines this morning and came across two news reports that really got me thinking.

The first was about how child abuse has spiked during the recession. From Phoenix, to Seattle, to Boston, even to Beaufort South Carolina reports of child abuse are up 20 to 63% from this time last year. I am originally from South Carolina, so that report hit me hard. Children are entering emergency rooms with broken bones suffered from their parents. In many cases the excuses the parents are giving for this behavior is that they have lost their jobs.

The second report was about my home state of Michigan. The report states how unemployment has risen to 12.9%. Being a pastor in Grand Rapids MI, I have personally gotten to see the effects of job loss has had on many different people. I have gotten to counsel some, pray for them, and struggle with what the answer is for them all.

As I was thinking of these two news reports the story of Elisha facing an economic recession came to mind. The story is found in II Kings 6:24-7:20. Israel was under siege from Syria and it's people were starving to death. The famine grows so great two mothers actually make an agreement to butcher and eat their children. One of the mothers reneges on killing her child after she had eaten the first mother's child. The mother with the dead child asks the king to judge the first mother and make her butcher her child so that they may eat again. The king has no answers for this but to grieve and become angry at God. The king wants to kill God's prophet, Elisha, as the result of his anger. When the king and his officer confront Elisha he tells them to hear the word of the Lord. Elisha tells the king that the very next day the recession would end. The king and his officer state that this was impossible even if God opened the floodgates of the heavens. Well God did open the floodgates and the recession did end the very next day. The Syrian army was defeated outside Israel's gates and no one but God really knows what happened to the Syrian army. Food was in abundance in a 24 hour period. The officer who doubted God never got any of that food because he was trampled by starving people getting to the blessings of God.

Now I do not know if this recession will end in 24 hours or not. That specific word was for Elisha and Israel at that time. I do suggest that we can get our own specific word for our day and time. Our children our being devoured and going into emergencies rooms with broken bones. Our economy is under siege. We need a word from God. We need God to open the floodgates of heaven.

So, God I repent of our sins. Forgive us, we have not followed you. Forgive us, we have hurt our children. Forgive us, we have not received a word from you. Give us grace and mercy. Today we surrender to your leadership. And we wait for the floodgates to open. Specifically I pray for those struggling at Living Hope. Surround them with your love, grace, and power. Lead them. Guide them. Open up the floodgates for them. Our hope is in you Jesus. Amen.

In Jesus' Service,