We can sabotage our own blessings by not following instructions.
That is all.
This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This...
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Lent: Day 2: Genesis 2:4b-3:24
After reading this passage, I was trying my best to string together some words to convey what I saw in the text. I wanted to sound profound. I wanted my words to be eloquent. I wanted to sound like a prolific theologian with some deep explanation of the text. However, I couldn't come up with any of that. All I could muster was one sentence. One sentence to describe the action that took place during the encounter in the Garden of Eden between God, Adam, Eve, and the serpent with much emphasis on Adam and Eve. If you have any questions about the sentence feel free to email me at michaelswortham@gmail.com. So here is the sentence:
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Lent: Day 1-Psalm 51
David is pouring out his heart to God in Psalm 51. The words of Psalm 51 are born out of a situation in which David has transgressed against God by committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband Uriah killed. David tried different ways to cover his “secret” sins but God has a way of bringing all things done in the dark to the light. Psalm 51 is his plea of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. And a verse that stands out in this Psalm is that of verse 10. It says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”
This time of lent is a time in which we seek God and plea as David did, for God to create in us a clean heart and give us a new and right spirit. This period of consecration is not a time of competition but completion. This period of sacrifice is not a gimmick but a time for growth. This period is a time for God to make us into new creatures. My prayer tonight is that we begin the renewal process. My prayer tonight is that we sacrifice in order that we become something new at end. Lord create in us a clean heart and put in us a new and right spirit.
This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This....
Monday, March 7, 2011
Weekly Prayer and Scripture Itinerary for Lent
The season of Lent in Christendom begins on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 and ends on Saturday, April 23, 2011. This 40 day period of fasting and prayer (excluding Sundays) has been recognized by the Christian faith for centuries. Below is a prayer and scripture itinerary for this year. This was compiled by my church and I am sharing it with you all in hopes that it can serve as a guide for all of us during this time.
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. michaelswortham@gmail.com
God Bless. Minister Mike
Weekly Prayer & Scripture Itinerary
GOD FORGIVES SIN
March 9: Psalm 51:1-12
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. michaelswortham@gmail.com
God Bless. Minister Mike
Weekly Prayer & Scripture Itinerary
GOD FORGIVES SIN
March 9: Psalm 51:1-12
March 10: Genesis 2:1-3:15
March 11: Psalm 32
March 12: Romans 5:11-17
March 13: Isaiah 53:6 & Joel 2:12-18
GOD DELIGHTS IN SHOWING MERCY
March 14: Psalm 103:17
March 15: Lamentations 3:23
March 16: Luke 6:36
March 17: Titus 3:5
March 18: Proverbs 3:3
March 19: Micah 6:8
March 20: Matthew 5:7
JUSTIFIED BY GOD'S GRACE
March 21: Romans 5:18-21
March 22: Acts 15:11
March 23: Romans 3:22-26
March 24: Titus 2:11-14
March 25: Ephesians 2:6-9
March 26: Philippians 4:19
March 27: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
THE REAL EVIDENCE OF OUR FAITH
March 28: Matthew 6:1-4
March 29: Psalm 92:12
March 30: Isaiah 3:10
March 31: Matthew 25:34-40
April 1: Acts 9:36
April 2: Psalm 37:3
April 3: Hebrews 16:16
TRUE FASTING
April 4: Isaiah 58:1-14
April 5: Matthew 6:17-18
April 6: Daniel 10:3
April 7: Acts 13:2-3
April 8: Romans 8:13
April 9: Luke 12:22-34
April 10: Colossians 3:1-10
TRANSFORMATIVE PRAYER
April 11: Ecclesiastes 5:2
April 12: Matthew 6:5-13
April 13: Mark 1:35
April 14: Luke 22:41-42
April 15: Psalm 91:15
April 16: Isaiah 65:24
April 17: Luke 11:9
RESISTING TEMPTATIONS AND VICTORIOUS LIVING
April 18: Matthew 4:1-11
April 19: Hebrews 13:20
April 20: 1 Corinthians 10:13
April 21: James 1:12
April 22: 2 Peter 2:9
April 23: Ephesians 6:13
April 24: 1 Corinthians 15:56-58
The Season of Lent is upon us
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 marks the beginning of Lent for this year. Lent is a period of preparation and consecration for all of Christendom. During this 40-day period (March 9-April 23: excluding Sundays), we engage in a time of fasting and prayer, of self-denial and sacrifice in hopes of strengthening our relationship with the God of our salvation.
The 40 days are representative of the time period that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying while being tempted by Satan. This time in the wilderness occurred prior to his public ministry. Before engaging in ministry, Jesus went through a period of fasting and prayer. Jesus went through a period in which he went into solitude to be with God and eliminated those things that were hindering him from being closer to God. Jesus throughout his ministry found time to get away from everyone and spend time with God. Before we embark on journeys in life it important that we pull ourselves from the things that distract us from hearing God. In order to gain clarity and insight on our life's journey, it is important that we engage in periods of fasting and prayer.
The period of Lent is not a competition. It's not about "who can out fast who." This period of fasting and prayer is between us and God. We do not have to advertise that we are participating in Lent or that we are fasting. We don't have to share with the world what we are giving up. This is about us and God.
And give up something that is going to actually to be a struggle for you. The point of fasting is removing those things that we feel we can't "live without" and replace those things with the One we can't "live without." Jesus fasted from food and water, two things we need to live, but that was replaced with God. For us is may be fried food, candy, fast food, etc. For some it may be twitter, facebook, television, etc. For others it may be alcohol, sex, clubbing, etc. What we must do is search within ourselves and be honest with ourselves and ask "What is it that is hindering me from getting closer to God? What is it that is preventing from hearing the voice of God"
In the next post, I will provide a weekly scripture and prayer itinerary that my church provided for us. We can use this as a guide to help us during this period.
I will be in much prayer for all us during this period. God Bless.
This is Minister Mike, and I want you to Consider This...
The 40 days are representative of the time period that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying while being tempted by Satan. This time in the wilderness occurred prior to his public ministry. Before engaging in ministry, Jesus went through a period of fasting and prayer. Jesus went through a period in which he went into solitude to be with God and eliminated those things that were hindering him from being closer to God. Jesus throughout his ministry found time to get away from everyone and spend time with God. Before we embark on journeys in life it important that we pull ourselves from the things that distract us from hearing God. In order to gain clarity and insight on our life's journey, it is important that we engage in periods of fasting and prayer.
The period of Lent is not a competition. It's not about "who can out fast who." This period of fasting and prayer is between us and God. We do not have to advertise that we are participating in Lent or that we are fasting. We don't have to share with the world what we are giving up. This is about us and God.
And give up something that is going to actually to be a struggle for you. The point of fasting is removing those things that we feel we can't "live without" and replace those things with the One we can't "live without." Jesus fasted from food and water, two things we need to live, but that was replaced with God. For us is may be fried food, candy, fast food, etc. For some it may be twitter, facebook, television, etc. For others it may be alcohol, sex, clubbing, etc. What we must do is search within ourselves and be honest with ourselves and ask "What is it that is hindering me from getting closer to God? What is it that is preventing from hearing the voice of God"
In the next post, I will provide a weekly scripture and prayer itinerary that my church provided for us. We can use this as a guide to help us during this period.
I will be in much prayer for all us during this period. God Bless.
This is Minister Mike, and I want you to Consider This...
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