Prayer in the Father’s Honor

Prayer in the Father’s Honor

Within my heart, a Child is born,
Through grace divine, through love adorned.
Not by my will, not by my hand,
But by the Father’s sovereign plan.

His holy innocence and light
Call me to walk in faith’s pure sight.
To turn from noise, the world’s demand,
And place my life in His command.

Face to face in prayer I stand,
A child before my Father’s hand.
No list of wants, no hurried plea,
Just quiet love—His Son in me.

Through joy, through sorrow, night or day,
Lord, have Your wonderful, holy way.
Until Your will is fully known,
And Christ’s own life is formed and grown.

May every breath, each step, each part,
Bring honor to the Father’s heart.
And may the Child within me be
Forever one with eternity.

Luk 1:35  The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

Would You Still Love Me if I Were a Worm?

Would You Still Love Me if I Were a Worm?

If I were a worm, small, wiggly, and low,
Would you still smile every time I’d show?
No hands to hold, no voice to speak,
Just a little dirt trail week after week.

Would you still search for the softest ground,
And guard me from robins that circle around?
Would you still say, “You’re my dearest friend,”
Even knowing my shape might never bend?

Love’s not just for the bright and fair,
It blooms in the heart, not the skin we wear.
So if I were a worm, I’d still be me—
And I’d trust you’d love me endlessly.

For true love sees past the form and frame,
It knows the soul and calls the name.
And even in earth, so dark and deep,
Your love’s the promise I’d always keep.

MarkWaldrop

August 9

Daily Devotional: 
"Our Father Knows Best"
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture
Matthew 14:19
Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

Reflection
In this familiar story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, we witness a profound demonstration of God’s provision and the importance of trust in His divine plan. The disciples were faced with a daunting challenge: a vast crowd and very limited resources. Yet, Jesus' response was to bless what was available, and through His blessing, a miracle unfolded.

This passage reminds us that our Father knows best what we need, even when we feel our resources are insufficient. Jesus took the little that was available, blessed it, and it became more than enough. It teaches us to trust in God’s ability to multiply our efforts and resources when we offer them to Him with a faithful heart.

Application
Trust in His Provision: No matter how small or insignificant your resources or abilities may seem, trust that God can use them to accomplish great things. Offer what you have to Him and watch how He can bless and multiply it.

Seek His Blessing: Before undertaking any task or making any decision, seek God’s blessing. Just as Jesus looked up to heaven and blessed the loaves and fish, look to God and invite Him into your situation.

Be a Conduit of Blessing: Notice how Jesus gave the blessed food to the disciples to distribute to the crowd. Similarly, allow God’s blessings to flow through you to others. Share your time, talents, and resources generously, trusting that God will provide for all.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your abundant provision and for knowing exactly what we need. Teach us to trust in Your perfect plan, even when we feel we have little to offer. Bless our efforts and resources, and use them for Your glory. Help us to be conduits of Your blessings, sharing generously with those around us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thought for the Day
Our Father knows best how to take our limited resources and turn them into an overflow of blessings. Trust Him, seek His blessing, and watch the miracle of multiplication in your life.

Closing
As you go through your day, remember that God can take whatever you have and make it sufficient for your needs and the needs of others. Trust in His provision, seek His blessing, and be a channel of His grace. Our Father truly knows best.

Labor Day 

Labor Day is a wonderful time of year
A Great time for a picnic and your favorite cheer. 

A time to Honor those who labor every day
A time to stop and rest and take a little time to pray

Kids and adults love the festive day
It's the last Holiday of summer to vacation and play

Grilling out hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the good things 
After all the festivities, a good nap it brings

When Tuesday rolls around, another Labor Day we have found
Waiting another year, working ourselves in the ground

August 4, 2022
MarkWaldrop

✨The Slightest Spark✨

✨The Slightest Spark ✨

Just the slightest spark of light within,
Breaks the chains where fears have been.
A single glimmer, warm and true,
Turns midnight skies to morning blue.

No shadow stands, no night can stay,
When Heaven’s glow lights up the way.
It floods my heart, it lifts my soul,
It heals the cracks and makes me whole.

For Christ, the Light, has made it so
From spark to flame, His mercies grow.
And now I walk in love’s pure sight,
Forever changed by that small light.

Jhn 1:5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

Another Chapter, Another Time

Another Chapter, Another Time 

The page turns softly in the night,
Ink still fresh from days of light.
The story pauses—yet not done,
For every end meets rising sun.

Another chapter waits ahead,
With words unwritten, paths unsaid.
Some tears may fall, some laughter rise,
Beneath the same eternal skies.

The Author’s hand still holds the pen,
He knows the where, the why, the when.
Each line He writes, both yours and mine,
Another chapter, another time.

So trust the One whose love is sure,
Whose plans are perfect, strong, and pure.
For in His book, all things align—
Another chapter, in His time.

Ecc 3:1  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

For God’s Honor a d Glory
MarkWaldrop

August 8

Daily Devotional: 
"Our Father Knows Best"
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture
Psalms 118:24
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Reflection
Every morning, we wake up to a new day crafted by the hands of our Heavenly Father. Each day, with its unique challenges and blessings, is a testament to God's intricate plan for our lives. It's easy to get caught up in our routines and overlook the significance of each moment. However, this verse reminds us to pause and recognize the divine origin of our days.

When we acknowledge that God has made this day, we begin to see our circumstances through the lens of His wisdom and love. Our Father knows best what we need for our spiritual growth and well-being. Whether we face joy or sorrow, triumph or trial, we can trust that He is orchestrating every detail for our good.

Application
Rejoice in Every Moment: Start your day with a heart of gratitude. Thank God for the new day and the opportunities it brings. Embrace each moment, knowing it is a gift from Him.
Trust His Plan: When you encounter difficulties, remember that God is in control. His plans are always for your ultimate good, even if you can't see it immediately. Lean on His understanding rather than your own.

Seek His Presence: Make time to connect with God throughout the day. Whether through prayer, reading Scripture, or simply being still in His presence, invite Him into every aspect of your life.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for this day You have made. Help me to rejoice and be glad in it, recognizing that each moment is a gift from You. Teach me to trust Your plan and to seek Your presence in all I do. Guide my steps and fill my heart with Your peace and joy. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thought for the Day
Our Father, who knows us better than we know ourselves, has crafted this day perfectly for us. Let us live it with joy, trust, and a heart full of gratitude.

Closing
As you go about your day, carry with you the assurance that God has made this day with you in mind. Trust in His wisdom, rejoice in His love, and be glad in His presence. Our Father truly knows best.

The Bush That Burned and Spoke 

The Bush That Burned and Spoke 
(Inspired by Exodus 3:1–4)

Upon the hills where sheep would graze,
Moses walked through quiet days.
The desert winds, the sun’s warm light,
A shepherd’s path from morn to night.

But then—strange fire caught his eye,
A bush in flames beneath the sky.
Yet though it burned, it was not gone,
Its leaves still green, its branches strong.

He turned aside, his steps grew slow,
Drawn to the mystery’s steady glow.
And from the flame a voice rang clear:
“Moses, Moses—come, draw near.”

The Lord had found His servant’s ear,
Through holy fire that drew him near.
For God will call through ways untold,
To guide His own into His fold.

So when you see what stirs your soul,
A whisper, wonder, burning goal—
Turn aside, for it may be
The Lord of Hosts is calling thee.

Exo 3:1  Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Exo 3:2  There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
Exo 3:3  So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up."
Exo 3:4  When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am."


For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

The End Draws Near

     The End Draws Near 

The road once stretched so wide, so far,
With dreams like lanterns, each a star.
We thought the dawn would never fade,
That youth was gold that would not trade.

But steps once light now slow their pace,
The mirror shows a different face.
The milestones passed, the shadows cast,
Remind us how the years have massed.

The end is closer than the start,
A truth that humbles every heart.
Yet closer still is mercy’s door,
Where life eternal waits in store.

So number well each fleeting day,
Walk in the light along the way.
For though the end is drawing near,
With Christ, there’s nothing left to fear.

Ecc 7:8  The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

For God’s Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

August 7

Daily Devotional: Our Father Knows Best
By Mark Waldrop

Verse of the Day:
"Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Reflection:
Isaiah 40:31 offers a beautiful promise to those who place their hope in the Lord. This verse speaks to the transformative power of trusting in God, particularly during times of exhaustion and weariness. It assures us that God provides a renewal of strength that enables us to rise above our circumstances and continue forward with vigor and endurance.

Our Father Knows Best:
God understands the demands and challenges we face daily. He knows that we can become tired and burdened by life's struggles. In His wisdom and compassion, He offers us a source of strength that is beyond our own. By placing our hope in Him, we tap into His limitless power and find the ability to persevere.

Renewed Strength:
When we hope in the Lord, our strength is renewed. This renewal is not merely a physical rejuvenation but also a spiritual and emotional uplift. Like eagles soaring high above the earth, we gain a new perspective and freedom. We can run the race set before us without growing weary and walk our path without fainting. God's strength sustains us, giving us the endurance to continue even when we feel like giving up.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise of renewed strength for those who hope in You. Help us to place our trust in You, especially when we feel weak and weary. Lift us up on wings like eagles, so we can rise above our challenges and see things from Your perspective. Empower us to run our race with endurance and to walk without fainting. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Action Step:
Today, take a moment to identify areas in your life where you feel weary or burdened. Offer these areas to God in prayer, asking Him to renew your strength and fill you with hope. Reflect on times when God has sustained you in the past, and let those memories bolster your faith. Spend some time meditating on Isaiah 40:31, allowing its promise to encourage and strengthen you. Share this verse with someone who might be struggling, reminding them that our Father knows best and offers renewed strength to all who hope in Him.