Sunday, August 16

If anyone declares publicly that he belongs to me,
I will do the same for him before my Father in heaven.
Matthew 10:32

I am happy that our congregation has a radio ministry. Personally, I’m blessed to listen to Sunday morning programs from all of the different denominations. Whether at home, at my camp, or on the road we can listen, learn, and participate.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for radio ministries, for your servants who share the word, and all of the people who support these ministries. Amen.

Monday, August 17

Praise Him with trumpets. Praise Him with harps and lyres.
Praise Him with drums and dancing.
Praise Him with harps and flutes.
Praise Him with cymbals.
Praise Him with loud cymbals.
Praise the Lord, all living creatures!
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:3-6

Our church musicians play a vital role in the life of our churches. With Hymns appropriate to the season, our worship service is blessed by their accompaniment. Whether organ, piano, guitar, accordion, drums, horns, or other instruments, they all have their distinct sound.

Prayer: Triune God, thank you for our church musicians. Thank you for their skills, their dedication, and their love of music. Amen.

Tuesday, August 18

Then God commanded, “Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life:
domestic and wild, large and small”—and it was done.
So God made them all, and he was pleased with what he saw.
Genesis 1:24-25

We love our pets and they love us. Many of us like to come home and have our dogs, cats, or other animal friends get excited to see us. We enjoy petting, walking, and caring for them. They are a part of our family and that is the way it was meant to be.

God created all animals, domestic and wild for a reason. For many of us, pets make our family happy. Let’s thank God for them.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for our pets. Please guide us to care for our pets and enjoy them as you meant it to be. In the name of your son Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, August 19

I am sure that God, who began this good work in you,
will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6

The spiritual growth of our young people has long been nurtured by a special group of people. Sunday school teachers, youth group mentors, chaperones, vacation bible school counselors and others all help young people and serve as examples.

I can still remember some of those people who have taught me. To this day, their caring still is a blessing to me.

Prayer: Dear Lord, grant those that help our youth patience, understanding, and endurance, that they may teach your Word with love. Amen.

Thursday, August 20

Look how the wild flowers grow:
they don’t work or make clothes for themselves.
But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth
had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers.
Luke 12:27

We are blessed that we in the NGLS live in such a beautiful natural setting. Every day, we see the beauty that God has made: spring with its “thousand shades of green,” summer’s wildflowers, autumn’s colored leaves and winter’s snow-covered evergreens.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for this beautiful world. Help us to be good stewards of our natural resources. Amen.

Friday, August 21

I lift up my hands to you in prayer;
like dry ground my soul is thirsty for you.
Psalm 143:6

With satellite and digital television, cell phones, and internet, we have many ways to send and receive information. All of these electronics need power of some kind and are not ‘ON’ all of the time. We can all pray all the time, no matter where we may be, or in any circumstance; there isn’t a single ‘dead zone,’ blackout, or loss of power!

Prayer: Dear Lord, let us pray to you always; hear our praise and our lament. Amen.

Saturday, August 22

It is not what goes into a person’s mouth that makes him ritually unclean;
rather, what comes out of it makes him unclean.
Matthew 15:11

I have listened to sermons and thought about this scripture over the years. Jesus is direct in telling it like it is—evil does come from the heart, and that will make us unclean.

Prayer: Jesus, take my sin from me. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Amen.