Heart Trouble

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Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV)
Made Alive In Christ

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Yes oh Lord. I truly need a new heart. A heart that does not carry the sinful natures of this world.

By Your grace and mercy, You've touched me Lord. I want to live for You.

Afresh, anew.

Sticky Burdens

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Psalm 32:1-7 (NIV)
Of David. A maskil.

1 Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the man
whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.

Selah

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD"—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.

Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Selah

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Thank you Lord for showing me this message today. I am guilty of having way too much things that I always burden myself with. I don't have to carry them, and I know that once I hand them over to You, I can be free.

Lord, I'm weak while you are strong. Aid me, Holy Spirit, guide me towards the path to give up the things that I hold on so tightly in my life. You are the Master Potter Lord, mold me to do Your will.

Only when I give up everything that I hold dear to You, entrusting You with them, will I be able to have an even closer communion with You. I entrust You, Father, with my burdens and worries. All is in Your hands.

Flexibility

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James 4:13-17 (NIV)
Boasting About Tomorrow

13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

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Thank You Lord for this message today. I probably have suffered a disease of such loose and boastful talks too many a times. Today's message really strikes me at the heart of the problem.

I come to You Lord in repentance. Thank You for showing me that it is by Your will, that things unfold. For it is only by Your will, that guides me step by step, to carry out each day's task. I may have plans, but if it's not Your plan, nothing will be done successfully.

Father give me the wisdom to walk in Your light, to seek Your will always. Show me the direction and plans You have for me, and I shall go, by Your will.

Integrity 101

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Psalm 101 (NIV)
Of David. A psalm.

1 I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.
2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life -
when will you come to me?

I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.
3 I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.

The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.
4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.

5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,
him will I put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,
him will I not endure.

6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he whose walk is blameless
will minister to me.

7 No one who practices deceit
will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely
will stand in my presence.

8 Every morning I will put to silence
all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer
from the city of the Lord.

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Dear Lord, teach me to be true towards all my friends and colleagues. Let there be no deceit, no cover ups, no lies, or anything to shun myself from responsibilities that I should bear. Bless me with wisdom to say the right things, and fulfill promises made. Give me the courage and strength to face all mistakes, errors and misunderstandings with integrity Father.

The Perfect Storm

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Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)
Jesus Calms the Storm

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

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Lord this message is dear to me. This coming week has quite a number of datelines to be fulfilled both in office and outside commitments. In fact, I have no confidence that I will actually deliver them on time.

Thank You Jesus for showing me, that You have the power to calm any storm. As long as I keep in faith in You Lord, You can calm this minor storm in Your eyes, and show me way at the end of the day.

Lord You're the lamp to my feet and a guide in my life forever. Thank You for Your blessing of wisdom that I have been able to carry out my daily tasks with. Now I trust You once again, that You'll lead me through this.

All praises to you Lord.

Reach For...

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Psalm 55:1-7,22 (NIV)
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David.

1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;
2 hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
3 at the voice of the enemy,
at the stares of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering upon me
and revile me in their anger.

4 My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death assail me.
5 Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest -
7 I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;

Selah

...

22 Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.

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Father thank You for letting me know that I can cast all my cares onto you. I'm burdened at the moment with stresses from work, and I'm hyper palpitating again. It's been long since the last time, but it came back. Take my worries away Father, for no one else is capable other than You.

Your love is so amazing Lord. You created me so that I may learn to lean on You, cast all my worries on You, so that in turn You will give me blessings, and lead me to find happiness. Just thoughts of these brings me joy and relief.

Father, I acknowledging that no problem that I cast to You is too big that You can't handle. That You are the Infinite One and nothing that I put upon You is able to damage You. I know too that the more that I cast my worries upon You, the stronger our relationship will become, not weaker unlike relationships here we have on earth.

Thank You for your wonderful promises Lord. Under Your wings I find my refuge. In Your courts I find my rest. Thank You Lord for loving me the way You do.

You Are Near

Verse
In awe of You we worship
And stand amazed at Your great love
We're changed from glory
To glory
We set our hearts on You our God

Chorus
Now Your presence fills this place
Be exalted in our praise
As we worship I believe
You are near

Bridge
Blessing and honor
And glory and power
Forever
Forever