Morning Encouragement for 5/15/2022

Jacob’s Flight

In Abraham’s closing days of his life, he sent his servant to go back to Haran, which was the clan that he came from, to get a wife for his son Isaac. Under no circumstance was his servant to bring Isaac to Haran. Now, this sounds crazy because we are not told why he was so firm about it. Isaac’s wife Rebekkah would be a “living example” of why Isaac shouldn’t go back to Haran. When Rebekkah became pregnant, she had two nations in her womb with the older serving the younger. Rebekkah wanted to be on the winning side so she favored Jacob which created fights between the sons. We find out how well Jacob learned the trade of “being sneaky” when Esau asks for a bowl of Jacob’s red stew. Jacob used Esau’s hunger to steal his birthright. The incident with the meal served to Isaac and the receiving of his blessing was the powder keg that ignited a war. Rebekkah coerces her husband into sending Jacob back to Harran to her brother Laban. Remember there was no such thing as “G-d’s laws” at this point in history. So it was from events such as these that the law was formed.

Encouragement: Favoritism is a deadly weapon because, it creates fights, divides families, and causes breakdowns in communication. Scripture’s admonition against “playing favorites”, I believe anyway, stems from Rebekkah which makes her the example of “why not …”. You see, scripture is more than a list of “do this, don’t do this”, it is a living example that shows the “why”. When we are delivered from something, we are told “don’t go back to it”. Then we decide to go back to __ under the auspices of “sharing the gospel” only to be sucked back into the old way. When we go back to the old ways, the Devil will not let us go and will drive us deeper into sin until we are trapped. So when we admonish our children to not do ___, they will ask why and only answer we can give them is “trust me”.

Readings:

Genesis 25:19-27, Proverbs 25:2, Deuteronomy 17:18-20, Romans 7:7-9

Father,

You established your law over 3 millennia ago and it is still as viable and live as the day you wrote it. We may think the law is absurd until we are in the Devil’s trap and have no way out just like David. We may try to run away from our problems only to have them follow us and create havoc wherever we go just like Jonah. Please forgive our foolishness and help us to open our eyes and ears to hear, listen, and obey your laws. Our world is on the verge of war all because we would not listen to the ancient laws and therefor we are learning the “hard way”. We may be unable to change our past but we can chart our future in view of the mistakes we have made. I pray for the military, law enforcement, and EMT communities that you will be with every one of them and bring them safely home. I pray over our politicians that you will continue to shake them to their core with the message of the Ephod so that they fully understand who they serve. I pray for the city of Stacy, the state of Minnesota, and the USA may your Spirit fall fresh upon us. I pray for the truckers who carry supplies to our communities. I thank you for healing our land by rain that refreshes the land and the storms that shake the heart of mankind. I pray for those who need a special touch from you today. Finally, I pray that my words will always be an encouragement to all who read these words in Jesus’ name I pray. May your peace be upon my family, city, state, nation, and world. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer (Psalms 19:14).
IHS
MK
All of my writings can be found at
http://www.mikesencouragement.net

Morning Encouragement for 5/10/2022

Getting Ahead of the Lord

Readings: Genesis 16, James 1:5-8, Philippians 1:4-6, Isaiah 41:9-10, and Psalm 91:14-16

Abram and Sarai were over 80 years old and usually by that point in time people are grandparents.  Abram had been promised an heir and a nation as large as the number of stars in the sky, and how the nation would suffer for 400 years (Genesis 15). Gentlemen imagine being at the age of 86 and coming home to tell your spouse “guess what? We’re going to have a family so large that the stars in the sky pale in comparison.”. Your wife’s response would most likely be, “Honey have you been in the sauce again?”. Our arch-enemy, the Devil, duped Sarai into believing she needed to help the Lord after all, “how on earth is it possible to start a nation with two geriatrics?”. The Lord came through on his promise with a child that was born to Abraham and Sarah a few years after the birth of Hagar’s child. The thing is, Hagar and Ishmael would be evicted from the home twice and create future problems for Isaac and Rebekkah as well as Jacob and his family. In the same way, many of you have been promised something by the Lord whether it be a spouse, a job, a promotion, etc. When that promise does not come to fruition in the time we set or in the way expect it, we think “Maybe the Lord needs a little help”. I will tell you from personal experience, that the Lord will fulfill and complete that which He has started and does it without our help. 37 years ago, I asked the Lord for a spouse who would complete me and to have a family in 1986. 36 years later we are still married and she is still the Queen of my life. I encourage you, therefore, to hold onto the Lord’s promise without wavering.

Father,

You are the G-d and Father of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and thousands upon thousands of others who have put their trust in you. For 37 years I have had my trust in you and You have never failed me. Please forgive me for the times I got ahead of you or listened to the wrong voice and got myself into trouble. Help me today to honor you in all that I do. I pray for those who are trusting You for answers to big prayers like a spouse, a job, healing for a loved one, etc. I pray for the peace of the USA the peace only You can give. I pray for those in harm’s way today like our military, police, and EMTs. I pray for the truckers who carry supplies to our communities. I thank you for healing our land by rain that refreshes the land and the storms that shake the heart of mankind. I pray for those who need a special touch from you today. Finally, I pray that my words will always be an encouragement to all who read these words in Jesus’ name I pray. May your peace be upon my family, city, state, nation, and world. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer (Psalms 19:14).
IHS
MK
All of my writings can be found at
http://www.mikesencouragement.net

Morning Encouragement for 5/9/2022

Readings: Romans 16:17-20, Psalm 128, Isaiah 55:6-9, Proverbs 15:16, and Matthew 5:6

Encouragement: Of all the words used in Christianity, I believe righteousness is one of the most difficult things to grasp. I say this not because it’s impossible but because we read in scripture about the great men and women of old like David and Deborah and compared to them, our walk is anemic. The thing is, what we do not understand about scripture is that there is more to every story told than what the writer has relayed. Additionally, many of the stories were put into print years after the death of the individual. So why is this? Mike’s theory is that the Holy Spirit wants us to finish the story through life experience. So being “righteous” doesn’t mean “never having made a mistake”, it means that we are doing the best we know how to with the cards we are handed. You see we all make mistakes in judgment and so we learn from them and rely on G-d’s grace to connect the distance between our failings and the people who relied on us.

Prayer:

Father,

You are from all eternity, from all ages past to future ages. You have seen the rise and fall of many good people across the ages and you loved them dearly. When I consider the life of David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and many others, I see a common trend in that they were imperfect people in the hands of Holy and Just G-d. You do not pick people for ministry based on “perfect fit” but not availability, faithfulness, and obedience. Please help me today to be obedient to what you ask of me so that lives will continue to be blessed and encouraged through this ministry. I pray over the trouble that is spreading across Europe and the known world that you will bring this to an end in your time. I pray for the peace in the US and across the world. I pray for those who have lost loved ones in the recent uptick in violence. I pray for the truckers who carry supplies to our communities. I thank you for healing our land by rain that refreshes the land and the storms that shake the heart of mankind. I pray for those who need a special touch from you today. Finally, I pray that my words will always be an encouragement to all who read these words in Jesus’ name I pray. May your peace be upon my family, city, state, nation, and world. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer (Psalms 19:14).
IHS
MK
All of my writings can be found at
http://www.mikesencouragement.net

Morning Encouragement for 5/8/2022

Good Morning and Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother’s Day was first instituted in the US around 1908 when Ann Jarvis wanted to honor her deceased mother. The holiday was intended to promote the health and welfare of mothers around the nation. Over time the holiday was overtaken by commercialism and, in a way, killed the purity of the day (Mother’s Day). In just about every store, except maybe gas stations, you can find cards for just about every flavor, decree, and color which cost anywhere from $1 to $5 or $6. Flower centers sell arrangements for upwards of $200.00. Restaurants offer special meals for mothers and are usually very crowded with long waiting lines. So it is true that Mother’s Day can be called a “Hallmark Holiday”. The thing is, we need to push back on commercialism by making this day a special day to honor mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers in a tangible and personal way. The same thing can be said about our relationship with our Lord. It was Joshua who first challenged the people to choose who they will serve but no matter what choice they made, he and his house would serve the Lord. Who will you serve? How will you honor the special women in your life gentlemen? Children, how will you honor your mothers?

Reading: Proverbs 31:10-31

Father,

I pray for these special women on this Mother’s Day. I pray that their day is blessed and that you will honor them with your presence. May you watch over these women and send your angels around them. the world may have its way and commercialism may hold a monopoly on the day yet, I know that I have a choice “cave into the flood” or be the standard against it.  Thank you for all that you do in and through us may this day be blessed. I pray especially for your protection of Ukraine and the world at large.  The world is preparing for war yet I pray that You will quell the shouts with Your peace. I pray for the military, law enforcement, and EMT communities that you will be with every one of them and bring them safely home. I pray over our politicians that you will continue to shake them to their core with the message of the Ephod so that they fully understand who they serve. I pray for the city of Stacy, the state of Minnesota, and the USA may your Spirit fall fresh upon us. I pray for the truckers who carry supplies to our communities. I thank you for healing our land by rain that refreshes the land and the storms that shake the heart of mankind. I pray for those who need a special touch from you today. Finally, I pray that my words will always be an encouragement to all who read these words in Jesus’ name I pray. May your peace be upon my family, city, state, nation, and world. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer (Psalms 19:14).
IHS
MK
All of my writings can be found at
http://www.mikesencouragement.net

Morning Encouragement 12/18/2021

Good morning

 

Since the beginning of 2020, the world has been party to several storms not to mention the beloved COVID that have caused untold amounts of damage not to forget the lives that were lost. Before a big storm, there are almost always warnings either on the news or in the sky. The reason for the warnings is that we will use the time to prepare for them. Many of us, me included, do not always prepare for storms despite every possible warning and find ourselves at best overwhelmed by them or, at worst crushed by them. Despite the best early warning radars, there are storms in which there is no warning and leave us with more questions than we have answers for; sort of like what Job went through. My encouragement to you who are enduring storms is, don’t give up and don’t give in except to good judgment (Winston Churchill). God does not let us face the storms just to see if we are waterproof; rather, it is to test the quality of our metal so that the sword we hold becomes pressure tested (verse) and we become battle-ready. God never plays chess with us to see who has the quickest wit; rather, he trains us through the storms to trust him (Psalms 131:1-2). I find that the greatest warriors for God are generally those who have endured the greatest storms; equally, those who have the greatest trust in God have also been the ones who have lost the most (Matthew 16:25). When you read about Job, and I highly encourage you to do so at least once a year, you will see a man who faced innumerable difficulties that would drive the strongest to question God’s existence. Job faced accusations from his closest friends and family, and insults from the very people he took care of when they were in need (Psalms 35:13-14). Remember, the word of God is not merely a book of uplifting words to be used as a buffet; rather, it is meant to be a mirror that helps us to look at our past in light of the present and strengthen us to face the future (a topic for another day).

 

¹⁰ In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

(Ephesians 6:10-11).

 

Father,

  You give us all that we need to face the storms of our life today. You tell us not to be worried about tomorrow’s storms nor, next week’s or, even yesterday’s. You tell us that because “enough for today is the troubles therein” (Matthew 6:34). When we focus our attention on today’s storms, we find the way by following the light (Deuteronomy 31: the path you have never taken). We cannot fix the things that are in our past nor, can we fix tomorrow so, we must center our eyes on today. If we are powerless to fix today which we can see, how can fix yesterday much less tomorrow? Be with my readers Father in all of the storms of their life.I pray for the military, law enforcement, and EMT communities that you will be with every one of them and bring them safely home. I pray over our politicians that you will continue to shake them to their core with the message of the Ephod so that they fully understand who they serve. I pray for the city of Stacy, the state of Minnesota, and the USA may your Spirit fall fresh upon us. I thank you for healing our land by rain that refreshes the land and the storms that shake the heart of mankind. I pray for those who need a special touch from you today. Finally, I pray that my words will always be an encouragement to all who read these words in Jesus’ name I pray. May your peace be upon my family, city, state, nation, and world. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer (Psalms 19:14).

IHS
MK

All of my writings can be found at

http://www.mikesencouragement.net