A Prayer to Keep Our Promises By Laura Bailey  "Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?" – 2 Samuel 9:8 NIV. Have you ever made a promise and, with the busyness of life, unintentionally neglected to follow through? As a mother of three young girls, this happens more often than I admit. I promise to read the book later, but I get caught up in the day’s activities, and by the time bedtime rolls around, I am exhausted; maybe tomorrow, I say to my daughter. I promised the president of the PTO that I would look at my calendar to see if I was available to help, but I became distracted, and the day in question passed. Maybe next time, I shrug. I promise I will read my Bible before I check my phone in the morning, but the e-mails that flooded my inbox overnight get priority. I'm sorry, Lord, I will try to carve out time later today, I whisper. Most of us make promises to others and ourselves out of a genuine desire to serve, help, and show the people around us our love. But, then, life happens. Is it too late to "make good" on our pledges? Scripture tells us that King David was a man after God's heart. God promises to bless David, grow his kingdom and offspring, and gain victory over his enemies (2 Samuel 7:1-16). David was a busy guy! But, at the height of his reign, coming off a significant battle, David remembers his promise to his friend Jonathan. David and Jonathan vow to always care for each other's families (1 Samuel 20). Many years passed since the death of Jonathan, but David still remembered and took action to keep his promise. David reaches out to Jonathan's household servant, asking if anyone remains from Jonthan's family (2 Samuel 9:1). Jonathan has one living son, Mephibosheth, who is "lame in both feet." David brings Mephibosheth to his home, grants restoration of lost lands, and invites him to take a permanent place at the royal table.  David, the king of Israel, a man whose responsibilities were significant, not only honored his promise but went above and beyond in carrying out his pledge to Jonathan. As we look deeper into the text, we see how this points us to God and how He is always faithful in keeping His promises. We are like Mephiboseth; we have nothing to offer the Lord, yet, in keeping His promise to redeem His children, He sent His son, Jesus. And for those of us in Christ, we one day, too, will take a place at the Lord's table for all eternity (Revelation 19:9). So, friend, be encouraged today that there's always time to keep our promises. From the seemingly small to the significant, let us be people who honor our pledges to others, ourselves, and the Lord. And when we fall short, accept the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father, who always keeps His covenants.  Let's pray: Heavenly Father, we love you, Lord. We are so grateful that we serve a God who is faithful, who is never changing, and who always keeps His promises. Lord, many times, we don't hold our end of the bargain, yet if we are willing to turn to you and humbly submit ourselves, You are merciful. We ask, Lord, that you help us as we honor our commitments, keep our promises, and carry- out our obligations. And, Father, when we fail to keep our word, we ask forgiveness. When others fall short, help us forgive quickly, just like our heavenly father. We love you, Lord; we don't have the words to express our deep gratitude for the gift of eternal life. Thank you that though we don't deserve it, you sent your son, Jesus, to die so that we can live and feast in your presence for all eternity.In Jesus' Name, Amen. Photo credit: ©Ben White via Unsplash Laura Bailey is a Bible teacher who challenges and encourages women to dive deep in the Scriptures, shift from an earthly to an eternal mindset, and filter life through the lens of God's Word. She is the author of Beyond the Noise, and loves any opportunity to speak and teach women of all ages. She is a wife and momma to three young girls. Connect with her on her website,  www.LauraRBailey.com, Facebook and Instagram. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer to Keep Our Promises – Your Daily Prayer – July 19 appeared first on GodUpdates.

July 19, 2024 Get to Jesus by Any Means NecessarySHALA W. GRAHAM Lee en español "And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God." Luke 5:25 (NLT) Growing up in a military and football family, I had the phrase "make a hole" ingrained in my mind from all the war movies Daddy watched and all the peewee and high school football games my brothers played. The Navy kid in me knows when someone is running toward you and tells you to "make a hole," it means, "Get out of the way!" Sometimes I want to bring that sharp command back into my lexicon, but the Holy Spirit reminds me to be gentle and kind. We find both kindness and the idea of "making a hole" in Luke 5, in an interesting story of a paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through the roof of a home to get him to Jesus. "Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn't reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ‘Young man, your sins are forgiven'" (Luke 5:18-20, NLT). This paralyzed man and his devoted friends made a literal hole to get their guy into the end zone. They knew the assignment! They saw they couldn't get in by conventional methods because the crowds were blocking the path to Jesus. So they ran a creative play through the roof and put the paralyzed man right in front of Jesus by any means necessary! We may be tempted to focus only on the faith of the friends in this story, but let’s not discount the faith of the paralyzed man. He was the one on the bed being lowered through a roof. We see no sign of him resisting. Instead, we can interpret that when Jesus saw "their faith" (Luke 5:20, NLT), this included the faith of the man on the mat. Jesus healed this man and forgave his sins, as He did for others in Scripture based on their personal faith (Matthew 9:22; Matthew 9:28-29; Matthew 15:28; etc.). Because of his faith, I believe the paralyzed man was "all in" on making a hole in the roof! This man wanted to be healed. His friends shared his faith and conviction to get him the help he needed. Check out what happened when Jesus told him to pick up his mat and go home: "Immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God" (Luke 5:25). There was no delay in his obedience. He jumped up because he believed he could. Friend, when it comes to getting to Jesus, you, too, can cry out, "Make a hole!" and run toward Him, the source of your healing. Father, help us remove any obstacles to get to Jesus - whether that's our schedule, to-do list, work, exhaustion, false teaching, church hurt or something else. And when we get to Him, may our obedience and healing be swift. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Our Favorite Things: Do you ever find yourself skipping over parts of Scripture that feel far removed from your reality or hard to understand? We know how tempting that is. But what if by avoiding things like prophecies, visions and supernatural occurrences, we're actually missing out on the very thing we're coming to the Bible for: assurance of God's ability to move in our lives? We've thoughtfully put together a new study guide, Daniel: Finding Confidence That God's Power Is at Work, to help you better understand complex parts of Scripture and experience God's active presence in your life. Get your study guide, and join us in the free First 5 app on July 22! ENGAGE Visit Shala W. Graham's website, Calling Qualified Ministries, to access free resources that will help you activate your spiritual calling. You can also find Shala on Instagram for everyday reminders of God's unlimited truths. FOR DEEPER STUDY Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us" (NLT). How badly do you want to get to Jesus? How might you "make a hole" for a friend to get to Him? How might you ask your friends to "make a hole" for you? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Shala W. Graham. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Get to Jesus by Any Means Necessary – Encouragement for Today – July 19, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer to Keep Our Promises By Laura Bailey  "Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?" – 2 Samuel 9:8 NIV. Have you ever made a promise and, with the busyness of life, unintentionally neglected to follow through? As a mother of three young girls, this happens more often than I admit. I promise to read the book later, but I get caught up in the day’s activities, and by the time bedtime rolls around, I am exhausted; maybe tomorrow, I say to my daughter. I promised the president of the PTO that I would look at my calendar to see if I was available to help, but I became distracted, and the day in question passed. Maybe next time, I shrug. I promise I will read my Bible before I check my phone in the morning, but the e-mails that flooded my inbox overnight get priority. I'm sorry, Lord, I will try to carve out time later today, I whisper. Most of us make promises to others and ourselves out of a genuine desire to serve, help, and show the people around us our love. But, then, life happens. Is it too late to "make good" on our pledges? Scripture tells us that King David was a man after God's heart. God promises to bless David, grow his kingdom and offspring, and gain victory over his enemies (2 Samuel 7:1-16). David was a busy guy! But, at the height of his reign, coming off a significant battle, David remembers his promise to his friend Jonathan. David and Jonathan vow to always care for each other's families (1 Samuel 20). Many years passed since the death of Jonathan, but David still remembered and took action to keep his promise. David reaches out to Jonathan's household servant, asking if anyone remains from Jonthan's family (2 Samuel 9:1). Jonathan has one living son, Mephibosheth, who is "lame in both feet." David brings Mephibosheth to his home, grants restoration of lost lands, and invites him to take a permanent place at the royal table.  David, the king of Israel, a man whose responsibilities were significant, not only honored his promise but went above and beyond in carrying out his pledge to Jonathan. As we look deeper into the text, we see how this points us to God and how He is always faithful in keeping His promises. We are like Mephiboseth; we have nothing to offer the Lord, yet, in keeping His promise to redeem His children, He sent His son, Jesus. And for those of us in Christ, we one day, too, will take a place at the Lord's table for all eternity (Revelation 19:9). So, friend, be encouraged today that there's always time to keep our promises. From the seemingly small to the significant, let us be people who honor our pledges to others, ourselves, and the Lord. And when we fall short, accept the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father, who always keeps His covenants.  Let's pray: Heavenly Father, we love you, Lord. We are so grateful that we serve a God who is faithful, who is never changing, and who always keeps His promises. Lord, many times, we don't hold our end of the bargain, yet if we are willing to turn to you and humbly submit ourselves, You are merciful. We ask, Lord, that you help us as we honor our commitments, keep our promises, and carry- out our obligations. And, Father, when we fail to keep our word, we ask forgiveness. When others fall short, help us forgive quickly, just like our heavenly father. We love you, Lord; we don't have the words to express our deep gratitude for the gift of eternal life. Thank you that though we don't deserve it, you sent your son, Jesus, to die so that we can live and feast in your presence for all eternity.In Jesus' Name, Amen. Photo credit: ©Ben White via Unsplash Laura Bailey is a Bible teacher who challenges and encourages women to dive deep in the Scriptures, shift from an earthly to an eternal mindset, and filter life through the lens of God's Word. She is the author of Beyond the Noise, and loves any opportunity to speak and teach women of all ages. She is a wife and momma to three young girls. Connect with her on her website,  www.LauraRBailey.com, Facebook and Instagram. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer to Keep Our Promises – Your Daily Prayer – July 19 appeared first on GodUpdates.

July 19, 2024 Get to Jesus by Any Means NecessarySHALA W. GRAHAM Lee en español "And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God." Luke 5:25 (NLT) Growing up in a military and football family, I had the phrase "make a hole" ingrained in my mind from all the war movies Daddy watched and all the peewee and high school football games my brothers played. The Navy kid in me knows when someone is running toward you and tells you to "make a hole," it means, "Get out of the way!" Sometimes I want to bring that sharp command back into my lexicon, but the Holy Spirit reminds me to be gentle and kind. We find both kindness and the idea of "making a hole" in Luke 5, in an interesting story of a paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through the roof of a home to get him to Jesus. "Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn't reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ‘Young man, your sins are forgiven'" (Luke 5:18-20, NLT). This paralyzed man and his devoted friends made a literal hole to get their guy into the end zone. They knew the assignment! They saw they couldn't get in by conventional methods because the crowds were blocking the path to Jesus. So they ran a creative play through the roof and put the paralyzed man right in front of Jesus by any means necessary! We may be tempted to focus only on the faith of the friends in this story, but let’s not discount the faith of the paralyzed man. He was the one on the bed being lowered through a roof. We see no sign of him resisting. Instead, we can interpret that when Jesus saw "their faith" (Luke 5:20, NLT), this included the faith of the man on the mat. Jesus healed this man and forgave his sins, as He did for others in Scripture based on their personal faith (Matthew 9:22; Matthew 9:28-29; Matthew 15:28; etc.). Because of his faith, I believe the paralyzed man was "all in" on making a hole in the roof! This man wanted to be healed. His friends shared his faith and conviction to get him the help he needed. Check out what happened when Jesus told him to pick up his mat and go home: "Immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God" (Luke 5:25). There was no delay in his obedience. He jumped up because he believed he could. Friend, when it comes to getting to Jesus, you, too, can cry out, "Make a hole!" and run toward Him, the source of your healing. Father, help us remove any obstacles to get to Jesus - whether that's our schedule, to-do list, work, exhaustion, false teaching, church hurt or something else. And when we get to Him, may our obedience and healing be swift. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Our Favorite Things: Do you ever find yourself skipping over parts of Scripture that feel far removed from your reality or hard to understand? We know how tempting that is. But what if by avoiding things like prophecies, visions and supernatural occurrences, we're actually missing out on the very thing we're coming to the Bible for: assurance of God's ability to move in our lives? We've thoughtfully put together a new study guide, Daniel: Finding Confidence That God's Power Is at Work, to help you better understand complex parts of Scripture and experience God's active presence in your life. Get your study guide, and join us in the free First 5 app on July 22! ENGAGE Visit Shala W. Graham's website, Calling Qualified Ministries, to access free resources that will help you activate your spiritual calling. You can also find Shala on Instagram for everyday reminders of God's unlimited truths. FOR DEEPER STUDY Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us" (NLT). How badly do you want to get to Jesus? How might you "make a hole" for a friend to get to Him? How might you ask your friends to "make a hole" for you? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Shala W. Graham. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Get to Jesus by Any Means Necessary – Encouragement for Today – July 19, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

1195 - Battle at Alarcos: Almohads led by Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur defeats army of Alfonso VIII of Castile 1544 - Italian War of 1542: The Siege of Boulogne begins 1922 - American swimmer Johnny Weissmuller first to break 1 minute barrier for 100m freestyle; swims 58.6s at Alameda, CA 1944 - 1,200+ 8th US Air Force bombers bomb targets in SW Germany 1944 - NY archbishop Spellman flies to Europe 1950 - NY Yankees sign their 1st Black players, Elston Howard and Frank Baines 1955 - Balclutha ties up at Pier 43 and becomes a floating museum 1980 - XXII Summer Olympic Games open in Moscow, Russia; led by United States, 66 nations boycott event because of Soviet-Afghan war 1981 - British Open Men's Golf, Royal St George's GC: American Bill Rogers wins his only major title, 4 strokes ahead of runner-up Bernhard Langer of Germany 1995 - Teen comedy film "Clueless" is released, loosely based on Jane Austen's book "Emma" starring Alicia Silverstone, directed by Amy Heckerling More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1544 - Italian War of 1542: The Siege of Boulogne begins 1914 - Boston Braves begin drive from last to the NL pennant with a 3-2 win against the 2nd placed Cincinnati Reds 1918 - World War I: German armies retreat across Marne River in France 1953 - WAKR (now WAKC) TV channel 23 in Akron, OH (ABC) begins broadcasting 1960 - Italian government of Tambroni resigns 2020 - World Formula 1 drivers champion Lewis Hamilton wins a record 8th Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest to equal Michael Schumacher's record of wins at a single circuit (French GP) More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1892 - Dick Irvin, Canadian Hockey HOF center (Chicago Black Hawks) and coach (Stanley Cup 1932 Toronto Maple Leafs; 1944, 46, 53 Montreal Canadiens), born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (d. 1957) 1909 - Jeno Vecsey, Hungarian composer, born in Cece (d. 1966) 1920 - Robert Mann, American composer and violinist (String Quartet 1952), born in Portland, Oregon (d. 2018) 1941 - Natalia Bessmertnova, Soviet ballerina (Bolshoi, Lenin Prize 1970), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 2008) 1944 - Commander Cody [George Frayne], American singer and pianist (Commander Cody and Lost Planet Airmen - "Hot Rod Lincoln"), born in Boise, Idaho (d. 2021) 1963 - Marla Duncan, Miss Northern California fitness (1990), born in Fairfield, California More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1868 - Soji Okita, Japanese samurai, 1st Captain of the Shinsengumi (b. 1842 or 1844) 1893 - James T. Holtzclaw, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), dies at 59 1953 - Maurice J. Tobin, 56th Governor of Massachusetts, dies at 52 1972 - Hezekiah M. Washburn, American Presbyterian Congo missionary, dies at 88 2005 - Edward Bunker, American Crime novelist (No Beast So Fierce; Animal Factory), actor (Straight Time; Reservoir Dogs), screenwriter, and felon, dies at 71 2014 - James Garner, American actor (Rockford Files, Bret Maverick), dies of acute myocardial infarction at 86 More Famous Deaths »

"I am unable to perform at the level I desire and at the level you deserve" - Jack Russell