I am the Child of God.

 I Am the Child of God

A Reflection on 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:16, and John 1:12

I am the child of God—not a slave, not a stranger,

Not a beggar at the gate, not a soul in danger.

I have been adopted into the family of grace,

By the blood of Jesus, I have taken my place.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)

No longer orphaned, no longer lost,

No longer paying sin’s enormous cost.

My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills,

He calms my fears, He heals my ills.

When I stumble, He does not disown.

He picks me up and calls me His own.

When I wander, He waits by the gate,

Ready to run, ready to celebrate.

But to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)

I am the child of God—not because I earned,

But because His love for me has burned

From before the foundation of the world.

His banner over me is love unfurled.

So I will not live in fear or shame.

I will not hide, I will not blame.

For I belong to the King of kings,

And my soul, with joy, forever sings:

“Abba, Father!” —the Spirit cries within.

I am His child. I am free from sin.

I am the child of God. Let heaven attest.

In the Father’s love, I am forever blessed.

Amen.

Spirit of God, fall upon me.

 Spirit of God, Fall Upon Me

A Reflection on Acts 2:2-4 and Ezekiel 37:14

Spirit of God, fall upon me—not as a gentle mist alone,

But as the rushing, mighty wind that shakes me to the bone.

Come as the fire that purifies, that burns away the dross,

That melts my heart of stone and turns my gain to holy loss.

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (Acts 2:2-3)

Fall upon my mind—illumine every darkened thought.

Let the Spirit of truth unravel all the lies the enemy has brought.

Where confusion reigns, bring clarity; where doubt has made its nest,

Breathe Your peace, O Holy Spirit, and give my troubled mind a rest.

Fall upon my heart—melt the hardness, heal the hurt.

Where fear has taken residence, let faith arise and assert

The power of Your indwelling, the comfort of Your nearness,

The joy of Your salvation, the sweetness of Your dearness.

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes. (Ezekiel 37:14)

Fall upon my lips—let them speak with holy fire,

Not with eloquence of men, but with heaven’s own desire.

Loosen every tongue of silence, break the chains of timid dread.

Let my mouth declare Your wonders as the Spirit leads, be led.

Fall upon my hands—let them serve and heal and bless.

Use my ordinary touch to carry heaven’s tenderness.

Mold my fingers, guide my gestures, let each act become a prayer,

A living sacrifice ascending to Your throne of care.

Spirit of God, fall upon me—not for a moment’s thrill,

But for a lifetime of surrender, for the working of Your will.

Fill me, flood me, flow through me, make me more like Christ,

Until the day I see Him face to face in paradise.

Come, Holy Spirit. I am ready. I am waiting. I am Yours.

Fall upon me now. Amen.

Lord, Have Your Way

 Lord, Have Your Way

A Prayer of Surrender

Lord, have Your way—not my will, but Yours be done,

Not my kingdom, not my glory, not the race I want to run.

I lay my plans before Your feet, my dreams, my hopes, my fear.

Take the pen and write Your story; let Your purpose be so clear.

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Have Your way in my heart—melt the cold, the stubborn stone.

Shatter every idol, every throne I’ve built upon my own.

Where pride has made its fortress, send Your gentle, breaking grace.

Let humility and love take root and grow in every space.

Have Your way in my mind—renew the thoughts that lead to peace.

Silence every anxious whisper, let my anxious striving cease.

Plant Your truth like seeds of harvest, water them with living faith.

Let me think on what is noble, pure, and lovely, come what may.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

Have Your way in my hands—let them serve and not demand.

Have Your way in my feet—let them walk in holy land.

Have Your way in my mouth—let it speak Your grace and peace.

Have Your way in my whole life—let my striving finally cease.

I trust Your will is better than the best that I could choose.

Your "no" is wiser than my "yes"; Your "wait" I will not lose.

For You are good, and You are love, and You have plans for me—

Plans to prosper, not to harm, to give a future I can see.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

So I surrender, Lord. Not once, but every single day.

Lead me in the everlasting way.

Lord, have Your way. I yield my all to You.

Your will be done—on earth, in me, as in heaven, true.

Amen.

Passion for your name.

 Passion for Your Name

A Reflection on Psalm 69:9 and John 2:17

Passion for Your name—not a lukewarm, tepid flame,

But a fire that burns within my bones and drives me to proclaim

The worth, the beauty, the glory of the One who gave His life,

Who stepped into the chaos and the darkness and the strife.

For zeal for Your house has consumed me. (Psalm 69:9)

Your name—not a label or a distant, frozen word,

But the living, breathing presence of the One who has been heard.

When I speak it, demons tremble; when I whisper, fears take flight.

Your name is power, love, and healing; it is my day and night.

Passion—not a fleeting feeling, not a momentary high,

But a deep, abiding hunger that will never, ever die.

It drives me to my knees in prayer, it lifts my hands in praise,

It gives me boldness to speak truth through all my earthly days.

His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.” (John 2:17)

I cannot be silent about the name that saved my soul.

I cannot hide the fire that makes my broken spirit whole.

Let others chase their golden calves, their passions made of dust.

My passion is the name of Jesus—in Him I place my trust.

So I will speak it on the mountain, I will whisper in the street.

I will sing it in the valley where the shadow and defeat

Have tried to steal my song away. But passion rises high.

Your name, Lord Jesus, is my passion—until the day I die.

Amen.

I worship in Power and in Truth.

 I Worship in Power and in Truth

A Reflection on John 4:24 and 1 Corinthians 4:20

I worship in power and in truth—not a powerless, hollow song,

Not a truth that my life denies, where my actions prove me wrong.

Let my worship be infused with the dynamite of Your Spirit,

Not the dead formality of a faith that does not feel it.

God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

In power—not the power of eloquence or show,

But the quiet, earthquake strength that only Your Spirit can bestow.

Power to love the unlovely, to forgive the bitter wound,

To stand when all around me crumbles, to sing when hope is doomed.

Power to break the chains of fear, to speak Your name aloud,

To live a life of holiness in the midst of a doubting crowd.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (1 Corinthians 4:20)

In truth—not the truth I’ve filtered or reshaped to suit my taste,

But the hard, incarnate Word of God that cannot be erased.

The truth that cuts, that heals, that sets the captive soul at ease,

The truth that bends the knee to Jesus, the only way to please.

Truth in my innermost being, no hypocrisy or shame,

Worship that flows from a life that daily confesses Your name.

**So I bow—not in ritual, not in empty, repetitious prayer,

But in the power of the Spirit and the truth of what You are.

I worship You, O Father, in the beauty of holiness,

With a life laid down, a heart that is willing to confess

That You alone are worthy of all power and all truth.

Accept my worship, Lord, as the offering of my youth—and my age, my all.

I worship in power, I worship in truth. Hear my call.

Amen.

I see your power renew.

 I See Your Power Renew

A Reflection on Isaiah 40:31 and Psalm 138:7

I see Your power renew—not as a distant, fading force,

But as a living stream that finds me on my weary course.

When my strength is spent and gone, when I cannot take a step,

Your power rises from the ashes, breaking every trap.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)

I see Your power renew in the morning of my doubt,

When the night has been too long and I cannot find a way out.

You lift my head, You steady my hand, You breathe into my chest,

And the same power that raised the dead now rouses me from rest.

The power that parted the Red Sea, that walked on Galilee,

That shattered chains and opened graves, that power lives in me.

It does not fade with passing years, it does not shrink from pain.

It rises like the eagle’s wing, it falls like healing rain.

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. (Isaiah 40:31)

I see Your power renew in the ordinary and the small:

In the patience to forgive again, in the courage to stand tall,

In the quiet trust that says, “I will not fear what man can do,”

In the whisper, “I am Yours, and I am being made new.”

So I thank You for Your power—not just in spectacular displays,

But in the daily, hidden grace that meets me in my ways.

I see Your power renew. And I will watch and wait,

For the Lord, the everlasting God, is never, ever late.

Amen.

I am reaching for your heart.

 I Am Reaching for Your Heart

A Reflection on Psalm 27:8 and Jeremiah 29:13

I am reaching for Your heart—not for Your hand alone,

Not for the blessings that You give, not for a golden throne.

I want to know the One who wept at Lazarus’ grave,

The One who sought the wandering sheep, the one who came to save.

“My heart says of You, ‘Seek His face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.” (Psalm 27:8)

I am reaching past the answers, past the doctrines and the creeds,

Past the comfort of religion, past my own imagined needs.

I want to touch the hem of who You are, the essence of Your love,

The kindness that draws sinners to the mercy seat above.

My hands are empty, Lord—no offering to bring,

Just a desperate reaching, a quiet, whispered “Everything.”

I do not need another sermon, nor a formula to pray.

I need Your heart, O Father. I need to know Your way.

You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

So I reach beyond the veil, beyond the noise, beyond the fear,

To the place where love has written my name upon Your ear.

I am reaching for Your heart—the heart that broke for me,

The heart that opened heaven’s door and set the captive free.

I will not stop until I find that secret, holy place,

Where I can gaze upon Your beauty and behold Your face.

I am reaching for Your heart. Draw near, O Lord, to me.

And let me rest forever in Your sweet eternity.

Amen.

Bless me with Speaking in tongue.

 Bless Me with Speaking in Tongues

A Prayer for the Gift of the Spirit

Bless me with speaking in tongues—not as a sign of pride,

But as a gift from heaven, flowing from Your wounded side.

Let my spirit rise and pray in mysteries unknown,

A language that connects me to the Father’s throne.

“They will speak in new tongues.” (Mark 16:17)

For the Holy Spirit gives this gift as He determines best,

Not for show, not for status, but to help this weary guest

To pray when words are failing, to praise when tears won’t cease,

To build my inner being and to anchor me in peace.

To one is given... various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:10-11, ESV)

I do not seek this gift for boasting, not to claim a higher place,

But to deepen my communion, to know Your Spirit’s grace.

If it be Your will, O Father, let this river flow through me—

A heavenly whisper, a holy mystery.

I open my mouth, I loosen my tongue, I trust the Spirit’s lead.

Not by my own effort, but by faith in every seed

You’ve planted in Your church from the day of Pentecost.

Let the fire of heaven rest on me, let no blessing be lost.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)

So I receive by faith this gift—whether now or in Your time.

Teach me to pray in the Spirit, to let my spirit climb

Beyond the limits of my mind, into Your holy will.

Bless me with speaking in tongues, my spirit’s deepest thrill.

Amen.

Holy Spirit you are all I have.

 Holy Spirit, You Are All I Have

A Reflection on John 14:16-18 and Romans 8:26

Holy Spirit, You are all I have—when friends have walked away,

When earthly props are pulled and I have nothing left to say.

You are the Comforter who stays when everyone has gone,

The Advocate who pleads for me when I am weak and worn.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17)

No silver, no gold, no titles, no fame—

But I have Your presence, and I whisper Your name.

In the silence, You speak. In the chaos, You calm.

You are the oil of gladness, the healing balm.

When my own words fail, when I cannot pray,

You intercede with groans that take my pain away.

When I am lost, You guide. When I am blind, You see.

Holy Spirit, You are all I have—and You are enough for me.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26)

So I will not fear the emptiness of human love or care,

For You, O Holy Spirit, are with me everywhere.

You are my teacher, my comforter, my seal, my living flame.

All I have is You—and You are all I need to claim.

Amen.

Draw me closer to you.

 Draw Me Closer to You

A Reflection on James 4:8, Psalm 42:1, and Song of Solomon 1:4

Draw me closer to You, Lord—not just to the edge of Your presence,

But into the holy of holies, into the deepest essence

Of who You are. Let me not stand at a distance, afraid,

But come boldly to Your throne, where grace has been displayed.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

The crowd pressed around You in the days of flesh and bone,

But I want to be like Mary, sitting at Your feet alone.

Not asking for a miracle, not clamoring for bread,

But longing just to know Your heart, to hear what You have said.

Draw me past the outer courts, past the ritual and the rite,

Into the sacred stillness of Your presence and Your light.

Let me leave behind the noise, the hurry, and the fret,

To rest in the assurance that I am not forgotten yet.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. (Psalm 42:1)

When the world pulls hard and loud, when duty calls my name,

When anxiety whispers and fear fans its flame,

Gently take my hand and lead me to the secret place,

Where the worries of the day dissolve before Your face.

Draw me closer—not by force, but by the cords of love,

The kindness that draws repentance from the heavens above.

I have wandered far too long in the wilderness of my own will.

Come, Good Shepherd, find me, and on Your shoulders carry me still.

“Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers.” (Song of Solomon 1:4)

Closer—that I may hear Your heartbeat, feel Your breath,

Know the comfort that casts out every fear of life and death.

Closer than my next thought, closer than my skin,

Until I live and move and have my being in You, deep within.

So I whisper now the prayer that my heart has always known:

Draw me closer, Lord. I don’t want to be alone.

Not just for a moment, not just for a day,

But closer, ever closer, come what may.

Amen.

I worship you in Spirit and in Truth.

 I Worship You in Spirit and Truth

A Reflection on John 4:24

I worship You in spirit and truth—not with empty, practiced phrase,

Not with lips that move while my heart is wandering other ways.

Not with ritual, not with performance, not with a show for human eyes,

But in the hidden place where only You can realize

The deepest longing of my soul—the need to know Your face,

To kneel before Your holiness and rest within Your grace.

God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

In spirit—not confined to temple, not bound to time or space,

But the living, breathing offering of a heart You’ve filled with grace.

The spirit that You breathed into my lifeless, empty frame,

Now rising back to You in worship, kindling holy flame.

Not by my own spirit’s power, but by the Spirit deep within,

Who cries, “Abba, Father,” and declares me free from sin.

In truth—not hiding who I am, not dressing up my shame,

But coming as I am—broken, honest, calling on Your name.

No pretense, no facade, no mask to hide my woundedness.

Just the raw and real confession that I need Your holiness.

For You are truth; You cannot lie. And truth alone will set me free

To worship not the god I’ve made, but the God who died for me.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

So I bow in spirit—not in body only, but in heart.

So I bow in truth—not perfect, but sincere, a brand‑new start.

Accept my worship, Lord, though it stumbles, though it’s small.

You are worthy of the only worship I can give—my all.

In spirit and in truth, I worship You.

Not for what You give, but for who You are—so true.

Amen.

Fill me with the Holy Spirit.

 Fill Me with the Holy Spirit

A Reflection on Ephesians 5:18, Acts 4:31, and John 7:37-39

Fill me with the Holy Spirit—not a trickle, but a flood,

Not a shallow, passing blessing, but the rushing, living blood

Of heaven’s endless river flowing from the Father’s throne.

Fill me till I overflow with power I’ve never known.

Be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

Fill my empty vessels—the cracks, the hidden shame,

The places where I’ve tried to fill with fortune, pride, and fame.

Only You can satisfy the longing in my chest.

Only You can give me true and everlasting rest.

Fill me with Your presence—not for my delight alone,

But that Your fruit and gifts may through my yielded life be shown.

Love, joy, peace, and patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

Gentleness and self‑control—let these be what I bequeath.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)

I am an empty vessel. Come, Lord, and overflow.

Let me speak with boldness, let me serve with joy I know.

Let me pray with power, let me love without a thread of fear.

Let the Holy Spirit’s fullness be my atmosphere.

Not just for Sunday morning, not just for a special hour,

But for the Monday struggle and the Tuesday battle’s power.

For the quiet, ordinary moments when I’m tempted to forget,

Come, Holy Spirit, fill me fresh; let me have no regret.

Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. (John 7:38)

Fill me to the brim—until I cannot hold it all,

And what spills out will touch the world, answering Your call.

Fill me with the Holy Spirit—not once, but every day.

Lord, I open every door. Come, Spirit, come this way.

Amen.

Cover over me, Holy Spirit.

 Come Over Me, Holy Spirit

A Reflection on Acts 1:8, Romans 8:11, and John 14:26

Come over me, Holy Spirit—not a visitor, but a guest,

Not a passing wind that brushes, but the dove that finds its nest.

Come with power from on high, with fire and with grace,

To anoint this humble vessel, to fill this empty space.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. (Acts 1:8)

Come over my mind—illumine every darkened thought.

Let the Spirit of truth reveal the lies the enemy has brought.

Renew my thinking, shape my dreams, correct my wandering will,

Until my mind reflects Your peace, Your purpose, and Your still.

Come over my heart—melt the cold and stubborn stone.

Let the fruit of love, joy, peace, and patience be made known.

Where fear has lodged, let boldness rise; where doubt has grown, let faith;

Where bitterness has taken root, pour out Your gentle grace.

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. He intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)

Come over my lips—let them speak with holy fire.

Grant me words to praise, to pray, to witness, to inspire.

Loosen every tongue of silence, break the chains of timid dread.

Let my mouth declare Your wonders as the Spirit leads, be led.

Come over my hands—let them serve and heal and bless.

Use my ordinary touch to carry heaven’s tenderness.

Mold my fingers, guide my gestures, let each act become a prayer,

A living sacrifice ascending to Your throne of care.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (Romans 8:16)

Come over me, Holy Spirit—not once, but every hour.

Dwell within me, fill me, lead me, manifest Your power.

For I cannot live the Christian life in my own strength or art.

Only by Your indwelling can I have a faithful heart.

Come over me. I yield. I wait.

Come with Your fire, Your wind, Your weight.

Come over me, Holy Spirit, and make me wholly Thine.

In Jesus’ name, Amen. Amen. So let it shine.

Amen.

Prayer for Healing.

 Prayer for Healing

A Reflection on James 5:14-15, Psalm 103:2-3, and Isaiah 53:5

Lord Jesus, Great Physician, hear my humble cry—

You who healed the blind, the lame, the leprous, and the dry,

You who spoke a word and fevers fled, who touched the withered hand,

Extend Your healing power now across this troubled land.

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them... And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. (James 5:14-15)

I bring my body—every ache, every cell, every bone.

I bring my mind—the anxious thoughts I cannot disown.

I bring my spirit—the wounds that no one sees or knows,

The hidden grief, the silent fear, the weight that only grows.

You were pierced for my transgressions, crushed for my iniquities.

The punishment that brought me peace was laid on Your holy knees.

By Your wounds, by Your stripes, by Your suffering on the tree—

I receive my healing, Lord. Let it flow from Calvary.

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Not by my faith alone, but by the object of my trust—

The risen, living Savior, whose promises are just.

If the healing comes in lightning, sudden, swift, and bright,

I will praise You. If it comes as a gradual, growing light,

I will trust You. If it waits for heaven’s final shore,

I will love You, Lord, and serve You, and seek You even more.

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. (Psalm 103:2-3)

So I lay my hands upon the place where sickness tries to hide.

I speak to every fever, every tumor, every tide

Of pain and inflammation: “In Jesus’ name, be gone!”

For the power of the resurrection rises like the dawn.

Heal me, Lord, for Your glory. Not for my comfort only,

But that I may rise and serve You, never lonely.

Use the doctors, use the medicine, use the prayers of faithful friends.

But ultimately, I trust in You, where all healing begins and ends.

“I am the Lord, who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26)

I receive my healing now—by faith, not by sight.

I thank You for Your faithfulness through the darkest night.

Whether in this body or in the life to come,

Your healing is my promise, my victory, my home.

Amen.

I want to hear from you Lord.

 I Want to Hear from You, Lord

A Reflection on 1 Samuel 3:10, John 10:27, and Psalm 85:8

I want to hear from You, Lord—not just the words of men,

Not the echoes of my own desires, not the noise of the din.

I want to hear the voice that spoke the cosmos into being,

The voice that calls the dead to life, the voice that gives us seeing.

Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

Speak to me in the quiet, when the world has fallen still,

When my heart is no longer racing, when I bend to Your will.

I don’t need a thunderclap, a lightning bolt, a sign—

Just the gentle whisper that assures me You are mine.

Your sheep know Your voice—the Shepherd’s tone so dear,

That calms the frightened, guides the lost, and casts out every fear.

I want to recognize it in the chaos and the calm,

To hear Your “Fear not” through the night, Your “Peace” as a healing balm.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)

Speak to me through Scripture—let the ancient pages breathe,

Making every promise fresh and every warning unsheathe.

Speak to me through a brother, a sister, a child,

Through the beauty of creation, through a silence that’s beguiled.

I will wait before You, not demanding, not afraid.

For the God who spoke to Moses in the burning bush has said

To every listening heart: “Come near, and you will hear.

Be still, and know I am the Lord. I will make my meaning clear.”

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

So I tune my ear to heaven, turning down the world’s loud noise.

I long to hear Your laughter, Your instruction, Your gentle poise.

I want to hear from You, Lord—not once, but every day.

Speak, for Your servant is listening. Show me Your way.

Amen.

Baptism of the Holy Spirits.

 Baptism of the Holy Spirit

A Reflection on Acts 1:4-5, 2:1-4, and Matthew 3:11

Baptism of the Holy Spirit—not a sprinkle, not a vow,

But a rushing, mighty wind that fills and fills me now.

Not a symbol or a ritual, not a doctrine to defend,

But the promised gift of Jesus, the Comforter and Friend.

“John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:5)

He comes like fire—not to burn, but to refine,

To purge the dross of selfishness and make His glory shine.

He comes like wind—unseen, yet powerful and strong,

To drive the feeble, timid heart to praise with holy song.

He fills—not just a visit, not a partial, fleeting touch,

But an overflowing river that gives far more than I can clutch.

He fills the empty chambers, the locked and dusty rooms,

With love, with joy, with peace, with hope that ever blooms.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)

The baptism of the Spirit is not for special saints alone,

But for every child of God who kneels before the throne.

It empowers for witness, it emboldens for the call,

It breaks the chains of timidity and helps the fearful stand tall.

John said, “I baptize with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

So I ask for this baptism—not for a sign or show,

But that I may know His presence, that His power in me may grow.

Not to boast, but to serve; not to speak with angel tongue,

But to live a life of holiness, a new and joyful song.

Come, Holy Spirit, baptize me afresh. Let the fire fall.

Let the wind of heaven sweep through me, answering Your call.

Not once, but daily, let this living flood increase.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit—my comfort, my release.

Amen.

All I want Jesus.

 All I Want Is Jesus

A Reflection on Philippians 3:8, Psalm 73:25, and John 14:6

All I want is Jesus—not the gifts He gives,

Not the blessings that adorn the life that simply lives,

Not the answers to my questions, not the healing of my pain,

But the Giver, not the giving; the Sun, not just the rain.

I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:8)

All I want is Jesus—when the morning wakes the sky,

When the world calls out for attention, when the hours hurry by.

I want His presence more than fame, His whisper more than noise,

His peace that settles in the soul, His everlasting joys.

I have tasted lesser loves—the fleeting, hollow thrill,

The gold that rusts, the praise that fades, the dreams that overfill.

But none can satisfy the deep, the craving of my heart.

Only Jesus, only He, will never, ever part.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. (Psalm 73:25)

All I want is Jesus—in the valley and the peak,

In the silence and the suffering, in the victory and the weak.

When friends depart and doors are closed, when hope is nearly gone,

He is the stone the builders refused—my cornerstone, my song.

So let the world keep chasing its shadows and its dust.

I have found the pearl of greatest price, the One in whom I trust.

All I want is Jesus—not a part, but all of Him.

My first, my last, my everything, my cup that will not dim.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Amen.

Show me the wonders in Heaven.

 Show Me the Wonders in Heaven

A Reflection on Psalm 19:1, Revelation 21:1-3, and Matthew 6:10

Show me the wonders in heaven—not with my mortal eyes,

But with the eyes of faith that see beyond the earthbound skies.

Lift the veil of time and space, if only for a breath,

That I might glimpse the glory that outlasts the shadow of death.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. (Psalm 19:1)

The wonders of heaven—a city not made by hands,

Streets of gold, gates of pearl, the river of life that expands

From the throne of God and the Lamb, where the tree of healing grows,

And the light of His presence banishes all sorrows and all woes.

Show me the angels who worship day and night,

The elders casting crowns, the seraphim in flight.

Let me hear the chorus, “Holy, holy, holy,”

And join the song of the redeemed, both humble and unholy,

For by Your grace, I have been washed and made a guest

At the banquet of the King, where weary souls find rest.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

Show me the wonders not just as a distant dream,

But as the present reality that fuels my hope, my esteem.

For heaven is not only future; it breaks into the now

When I pray, “Your kingdom come,” and before Your throne I bow.

I long for that day when faith becomes sight,

When I see Your face and walk in everlasting light.

But until then, O Lord, let heaven’s wonders fill my soul,

That I may live on earth as one who has already glimpsed the goal.

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

Show me the wonders in heaven—let them shape my prayer,

My hope, my love, my courage, my daily, grateful care.

For the same power that raised You from the grave now lives in me,

And the wonders of Your heaven are my eternal destiny.

Amen.

Speak to me, Lord.

 Speak to Me, Lord

A Reflection on 1 Samuel 3:10 and John 10:27

Speak to me, Lord—Your servant is listening.

Not with ears that are dull or a heart that is glistening

With its own agenda, its own noise and plans,

But with open hands and quiet, waiting lands.

Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

Speak to me in the stillness, when the world has gone to sleep.

Speak to me in the whisper that only the seeking keep.

Speak to me through Your Word, each promise old and new,

And through the gentle nudge of someone who is true.

I don’t need fireworks, nor the shaking of the ground.

I just need Your voice, Lord—the most familiar sound.

The sound that called the sheep before the Shepherd led them home,

The sound that calmed the raging sea and told the storm to roam.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)

Speak to me in my labor, in the ordinary hours,

In the fragrance of the flowers, in the silence of the showers.

Speak to me when I doubt, when I am afraid,

When the plans I’ve made have crumbled and the light begins to fade.

I quiet my soul—the restless thoughts, the anxious plea.

I wait before You, Lord. Speak, for I am listening.

Whether in a thunder or a still, small breath,

I choose to trust the voice that conquered death.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Speak to me, Lord—a word for today,

A whisper of comfort, a nudge on the way.

Not for my glory, but for Your name’s sake.

Speak, Lord. I’m listening. My heart is awake.

Amen.

Show us the way, Lord.

 "Show us the way, Lord."

This is the humble cry of a heart that knows it cannot find the path alone.

The Scripture That Answers:

Psalm 25:4-5: "Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

John 14:6: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life.'"

A Prayer for Guidance:

"Lord,

We do not know what lies ahead.

The road is unclear, the choices are many,

and we are afraid of taking the wrong step.

Show us the way.

Not just any way—Your way.

The way that leads to life, to peace, to purpose.

Open our eyes to see the path You have prepared.

Quiet the voices that confuse us.

Silence the fears that paralyze us.

And speak, Lord—for Your servants are listening.

You are the way.

Lead us in it.

In Jesus' name,

Amen."

The Promise for You:

He has promised: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." (Psalm 32:8)

Show us the way, Lord. He will. One step at a time. Trust Him. Follow. You are not lost—you are led.