Do Not Give Up....Pray

Scripture
Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Observation
Jesus is very clear about what I should do....always be praying and do not give up

Application
There are times when want to have give up and not fight(whatever fight I am facing). But instead of thinking of giving up, Jesus is announcing that what I need to do is pray more(rely on him) and not give up(because there are wonderful things in store for me that I don't even know about). So next time discouragement or the "give up attitude" comes sneaking my way, I will stop and pray to the God of All, and look to Him instead of the thing that is telling me to give up.

Prayer
Father, You are the source of everything I need. Thank you for the word today to not give up. I ask that your Holy Spirit would remind me during any dark times, that I am not to give up because you have never given up on me, and you have things in mind for me that I have never thought about yet. I look forward to what you are going to do. In Jesus Name.....Amen.

Who Am I?

Scripture

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Observation
Yesterday, there was endless news play of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and the upcoming Royal wedding. Why? Because Prince William is royalty. Guess what. Every person who is a believer in Christ is royalty. Comparing royalties, which one would I rather be in; God's Royal Family, or Britian's Royal Family. Absolutely God's. So in 1 Peter 2:9 when it says that I was a Chosen People(me!!!), I am Royalty(me!!), God's Special Possession(How do you treat your most special possessions?), I need to absolutely believe that.

Application
Some days I don't feel like royalty, I don't feel special. But what is the truth? Am I part of the royal priesthood or not? The Bible says I am so I am. The Bible also says that the devil is the father of lies, and he is wanting me to believe a lie that I am not chosen, or part of the royal priesthood, or God's most special possession. So those times/days when I don't "feel" like royalty, I need to turn to God's word and see/hear/believe the truth.

Prayer

Father, you chosen me to be your special possession, forgive me for not absolutely believing that because of how I "feel" sometimes. Your word is absolute truth and I believe that over any lie I may hear. Help my eyes and ears see and hear who you constantly declare me to be. Amen.

Christmas Goats from World Vision

Dear Friend,

I hope this finds you blessed.

For the third year in a row, I am gathering funds to purchases goats through World Vision, for Christmas Gifts for the needy.
The Bible is very clear about our responsibility to the needy. In James 1:27a it says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows". It is telling us to look out for those in need. The Bible also says not to just listen and read what it says, BUT TO DO WHAT IT SAYS.

So lets do it!!!! There are 1000's of people in need around the world, where a pair of goats would substantially better their life. I am attaching an article from World Vision on how a goat changed one child's life.

Goats nourish hungry children and families with healthy milk, cheese, and yogurt. Goats also give a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market.

A healthy dairy goat can give up to 16 cups of milk a day. Goat milk is easier to digest than cow’s milk and is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients that growing children need. Goats are practical animals — flourishing in harsh climates while producing valuable manure to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens.

Teopista, an AIDS orphan and World Vision-sponsored child in Uganda, is proud of her first gift ever — two donated goats that will help provide her with a brighter future. “I was very happy when I got the goats,” says the 10-year-old. “They will be of use to us. We will get money from them. I thank World Vision for thinking about me, too.”

Her aunt Restetuta feels the same way. “When the goats give birth again, we will sell off some of the younger [goats],” says Restetuta. “We will use the money to buy Teopista a school uniform, books, and beddings. We can also buy food with some of the money. I thank World Vision so much for all the help they have given us … we know that those goats will be of benefit to us in future.”

Each goat is only $75.00. Goats are given to families in twos. Goats are such a blessing for the needy, as they can breed them-sell them for more money for the family, milk, fertilizer for their gardens, etc. I understand that many people may find $75.00 a real stretch. AND that is completely understood. But here is the power in coming together as a large group. If you can not buy a whole goat, then maybe you can do a little and contribute 1/2 or 1/4. That's what we did last year. And with lots of people buying portions of a goat, coming together we can buy many goats, you'll be a part of something that you could not have done individually. All contributions will be documented in your name, so you get the 2010 tax deduction. Write all checks out to World Vision.

My address is:
Warren Watson
10716 Sierra Dr. E.
Puyallup, WA 98374


So whatever you can send....THANK YOU. We can change a person, a family and maybe even a community, by blessing them with a goat. I will keep everyone up to date on how many goats we have purchased. Two years ago we all were able to purchase 32 goats.

I have attached a funny video which World Vision produced about Bruce the Goat.

God Bless,
Warren

---

	help center | e-mail options | report spam
wpna49 has shared a video with you on YouTube: Bruce the Goat - World Vision Smiles What are you going to get for Christmas? Maybe you could cheer Bruce up? http://www.worldvision.com.au/smiles

Do It

Scripture
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do What It Says!

Observation
Went to church on Sunday; sat in the nice soft theater seats, felt the warmth of the HVAC in the air, people around me smelled good, everyone's hair was nicely styled, we sang, said "Hi" to a couple of people and then listened to the 30 minute sermon. It was a "nice" time. BUT in reading the scripture today, if I don't do something about the word I heard yesterday, then I have deceived myself. I can't just feel good about my Sunday ritual, I need to do what the Bible is telling me to do.

Application
What is the application then? Specifics.....I think that will be different every day, depending on the word that I have heard or read. I guess today this verse has put me on alert status. The Bible says says in Timothy that people only want to hear what their "itching ears want to hear". They have no intention of putting it into practice. Hypocrite! So my alert status from James is that when I hear and read the word, the first response should be.."Father, what does that look like, how can I practice that, how I can I show that to a broken, depraved world?"

Prayer
Father, Thank you for your word; to show me the way, to lead me into truth and to remind me that it is not just for reading but a reminder of what I need to be doing. Amen.

Whatever...!!!!!!

<sup>Scripture
Colossians 3:17

17</sup>And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Observation
So the Bible is being very direct with me, in my words and deeds. Whatever I do....dedicate it, proclaim it, honor it in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Application

As I was reading this today, my mind flashed through the 1000's of things I do each day. And then it flashed to each one of those actions with me stopping and making this statement, " I do this (fill in the blank) in the name of the Lord". Guess what? Many; no most of the things(by word or deed) stopped.....because I could not do "that" or say "that" in the name of the Lord.
More from Chapter 3, in verses 8 & 9 the Bible tells me to rid myself of anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹Do not lie to each other. In verses 5 & 6 the Bible tells me to put to death sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. So as I walk through today and I see a nice car with 22" rims, waxed up, a slick looking guy driving it and I start to feel greed, and wish I could have something like that. If I take that feeling and stand it next to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that feeling because but a vapor. The jealousy of "that" could not stand nor would it make any sense if I said this ( because I am supposed to do all things in the name of the Lord) "I am Jealous about that guy having an expensive car and looking good, in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ". It just doesn't work. The name of Jesus dwarfs all "things". So the goal is to stop and dedicate my words and deeds to the Lord Jesus Christ before I do them, to see if I should really be doing that or not. This will keep my feet and eyes on the Path God has for me, not my path.

Prayer
Father, you have made a way for me that leads to righteousness, it is me who wants to get off that way and go my own...but that leads to destruction. Continue to renew my mind and help me put to death and rid me of the things you have spoken of. Today I dedicate whatever I do, through the words I say or the actions I take, to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Airlifted

Search and Rescue

Living in the NW, there are frequently Search and Rescue operations for people on Mt. Rainier, lost in the woods or missing on a river. For the first 24 hours it is usually a Rescue Operation, but after that it turns into a Recovery. Let's look into the Bible to see what Christ has done for us.

Scripture
Colossians 1:13-14
¹³For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Observation
The Bible is clear about where I was-living in the dominion of darkness. Ephesians 6:12 says that "struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms". We all know that this present world is and can be a nasty, ugly place. But look at what Christ has done for me. He came on a Search and RESCUE operation, looking for me, and He found me. So where did he extract me to? Into His Kingdom where there is forgiveness of all my sin and darkness. I wasn't airlifted, dropped off in a clearing and made to forge a survival for myself, but the airlift took me to a safe house, a place of healing, a place of rest, a place where love abounds-Christ made His Place my place.

Application
Gratitude, Thanksgiving that Christ is in the Search and Rescue business. In Ephesians 1:21 it says that I was alienated from God and was His enemy because of my evil/sinful deeds. Yes I was lost in sin. But Christ kept coming-kept searching, the rescue mission was NEVER called off and He rescued me from darkness into light and love.

Prayer
Father, Thank You for sending Christ on a Search and Rescue mission. Without your rescue operation I would be engulfed with darkness and evil. But you have airlifted me out of that mire, and placed me in your Kingdom. Today, let my lips and my life speak to others who are lost and in need of rescue, and all they have to do is ask you to come pick them up. Amen.

Arguing

Why is it that we sometimes argue, or are stubborn about things God is leading us into or telling us the best way?

Scripture
Luke 5:4-5
When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." ⁵Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.

Observation
Jesus told Simon what to do, and what the results of that obedience would be. But Simon(Warren) rebuffs God with his own idea and what his efforts got him.." we haven't caught anything".

Application
But the second half of verse 5, Simon(Warren) comes to his senses.

5b But because you say so, I will let down the nets."⁶When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Because of obedience Simon was blessed with more than he could contain, and almost sank a second boat with the overwhelming catch.

So the application for me today is not to second guess God with a "Yeh, but.....". But be obedient to what God is doing and where He is telling me to go, and what He is telling me to do. Psalms 121 tells me that my help is from the Lord. Five times in eight verses the scripture tells me that God is watching over/out for me and that He will Keep me. God who is watching out for me, will direct me in the right way. I need to be obedient in that and know that Gods ways are SO MUCH better than what I could ever muster up and always be willing to say, "Yes Lord, Thank you for watching out for and directing me", instead of a "well God that is kind of a good idea, but lets do it my way first".

Prayer
Thank you Father for always caring for me. For watching out over me. Forgive my stubbornness in thinking I have any good in me and knowing what is best. That is sin, and I ask that you remove that from me. Thank you for that, and I ask that you help me to walk in your ways. Just as a child loves to put on the shoes of their father and walk around the house, let me slip my feet into your shoes and walk in your ways. Amen.