April 30

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Recall the grace of God, His holiness, His justice and His
faithfulness. Serve the Lord with gladness. Intercede for
those who do not know him. Thank God for His mercy
and His unfailing compassion. (Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.
Luke 1:54

Intercessory prayer is not only a privilege, but a very powerful
weapon against the devil.

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

Greetings: God bless you this Lord's Day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Do not put your trust in the strength of men or money or
worldly power, but put your trust in the Lord. Turn your
eyes to Jesus, He will lead the way. (Author Unknown)

SCRIPTURE:
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
Psalm 118:8

This bank and that bank send out messages, "Trust us with your money."
Politicians say "Trust me with your vote." Sometimes we don't know
who to trust in this world, but we know One who is trustworthy, put
your trust in Him!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 28

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
In today's verse, Paul speaks of Epaphroditus, a brother and fellow
worker, who nearly died from illness. He acknowledges the double
impact of the Lord's mercy in allowing the restoration of health, reveling
that the loss would have personally been a sorrowful weight added to his
present sufferings. By sparing Epaphroditus Paul too was spared. In what
way has God's mercy upon someone else tipped over to you as well?
(Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
God had mercy on him, and not only him, but on me also, lest I should have
sorrow upon sorrow? Philippians 2:27

When we love others, their sorrows are our sorrows and their pain our pain.
Healing or blessing those we love, blesses us as well, that's why intercessory
prayer is so important!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 27

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Make a commitment to understand the ways of the Lord.
If everyday were perfect, there would be no dependency
on the Lord or desire to be with God in heaven. Factor
time to spend with the Lord before your day starts. He will
prepare you for the weather changes in your spiritual life.
Bring God into your day and you will find peace and joy
regardless of what the weather brings.
(Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
I led them with cords of kindness, with ties of love. I lifted the
yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:4

If the forecast for your day is gloomy and overcast with stress,
worry and problems... take time to tell God about it!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 26

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Can you comprehend the blessings the Lord provides when you
call upon Him? Know God and Love Him by coming into His
presence each day in prayer. (Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Serve the Lord with gladness come into his presence with singing!
Psalm 100:2

Sing unto the Lord, even when you don't feel like it... you will feel
better having done so!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 25

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Jesus told us that the rain falls on the just and unjust alike, meaning
that a change in circumstances can happen to all of us. However, the
problem comes when we choose to lose our perspective of who God
is in the process. God wants us to love Him and enjoy His fellowship.
He never stops loving us. We can face any change in circumstances, if
we include the Lord in the problem. (Author Unknown)

SCRIPTURE:
Nothing shall separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:39

If God made everything easy for us, just because we follow Him, He would
risk having us following him only for protection, instead of love!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 24

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Thanksgiving makes joy in the heart! Let your blessed

times, as well as your hard times, be filled with praises

to the Lord. Give thanks for God leading our way.

(Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

Shout for Joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship him with

gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:1-2

I write a lot about joy and the fact that joy is a choice, but it is

a choice that needs constant renewal. We can't say. "I choose Joy,"

once and be done with it, The devil comes along and robs us of

our joy. We need to recommit to joy each day!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 23

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Let today's Scripture encourage you by reminding you

that your efforts are not unseen. Christ knows every

detail of your life and notices every action, sacrifice

or stand you have taken on His behalf in a society that

focuses on the external. Jesus sees the struggles of your

heart and the constant battle toward good. Your labor is

not in vain. (Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

I know your works, your trials and your patient endurance,

and how cannot bear those who are evil. Revelation 2:2

And the Scriptures tell us that even a cup of cold water in the

name of Jesus, will not go unnoticed!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 22

Greetings: God bless you this Lord's Day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Jesus grew weary in Samaria (John 4:6) disturbed in Nazareth

(Mark 6:6) angry at the Temple (John 2:15) sleepy on the sea

of Galilee (Mark 4:38) sad at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35)

and hungry in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2) and thirsty when

He hung on the cross. Why did He endure all these feelings? He

knew you'd be weary, disturbed, angry, sleepy, grief-stricken and

hungry. He knew you would face pain, and pain of the soul. He

knew you'd thirst for water and the truth. He understands.

(Max Lucado)

SCRIPTURE:

No temptation has seized you that is not common to man. And God

is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

1 Corinthians 10:13

He experienced all the emotions we experience, so that He could give us

hope and to let us know He understands!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 21

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

God is a personal God and He wants to answer specific prayers.

He will lead you. He will answer you. He loves for you to seek

His specific will. And He promises to answer when you call. If

He doesn't answer a specific request then it wasn't time to ask

for that one. Keep trusting and keep asking.

(Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and

the door will be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7

Of course God knows everything we need, but like an earthly father,

He wants us to ask. He wants communication with us. He wants a

relationship with us!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 20

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

It's not always easy to be strong in the Lord and stand

firm and not give up. Are you standing firm? We have

to learn to praise God and share Him and talk about

Him. Today we have the help of the Holy Spirit and

free speech. If we cannot stand firm when times are

easy, how will we be able to handle persecution?

(Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith. Be men/ women

of courage; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

The way things seem to be going in America, we may soon learn

how hard it is to stand in tough times!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 19

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

God works through movements in His church, but His

work is still accomplished in individuals. That work is

the result of the love we have for the Lord. We do works

of righteousness, but these deeds are the results of His

mercy, saving us then working in us through faith. Today

allow the Lord to develop and strengthen your faith.

(Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but

according to his mercy he saved us. Titus 3:5

Just as we love our family and serve them, our love for God will

result in our willingness to serve Him as well!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 18

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

God runs when he sees the son coming home from the pig

trough. When he sees the addict step out of the alley. When

he sees the teen walk out of a party. When ladder-climbing

executive turns from the desk, the materialist from stuff

and the atheist turns from disbelief. When the prodigals trudge

the path, God can't set still. Heavens throne room echoes with

the sound of slapping sandals and pounding feet, and angels

watching in silence as God embraces his child.

You turn toward God and he runs toward you! (Max Lucado)

SCRIPTURE:

And when he was a great way off, the father saw him and ran and

fell on his neck and kissed him. Luke 15:20

And He will welcome us as well!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 17

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Be more than conquerors, believe, help those who are

weak. Be bold to share the gift of life with your family,

friends and neighbors. Then pray for all those who do

not know Jesus. (Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

In all things, we are more than conquerors through him who

loved us. Romans 8:37

So, let us act like conquerors today!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 16

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

We need to be reminded of how awesome that God is.

He pardons our iniquities and cast them into the depths

of the sea. He remembers them no more, so often, we

are the ones who cannot forgive ourselves, but God does.

Jesus died so we might live in freedom, knowing our sins

are forgiven. (Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

He blots out our transgressions and remembers them no

more. Isaiah 43:25

How often we carry the burden of guilt, when we've been redeemed

from it. I wonder how that makes God feel?

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 15

Greetings: God bless you this Lord's Day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

We stand in awe of the resurrection of Jesus not just because

of what we see, but because of what we know... We know that

when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end

of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word .

When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive, he brings

God down to us. (Max Lucado)

SCRIPTURE:

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly

be united with him in his resurrection. Romans 6:5

When we live in Christ, we die in Christ... which means that we do not

die, but live with him forever. We are united with Christ in baptism and

eternity starts in the life we live now! Romans 6:4

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 14

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Speak the truth to others, leave the results to God.

We can take rest in the fact that God does not need

us to defend Him. It is our responsibility to live in

His power and presence. (Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

Then you will know the truth and the truth will set

you free. John 8:32

You can convince someone more how you live your life than

what you say... like the writer says... God's too powerful to need

defending!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 13

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

In passing of time, the Lord is moulding you through

different circumstances, conflicts and experiences,

as training for the "real deal." Take every encounter,

as you go through life, seriously. Praise him through the

difficulties and maintain self-control when He pushes you

to your limit. He will exalt you in due time.

(Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time, we shall

reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6:9

Of course there are times when we all grow weary, there are

times when we stumble and fall... that's when Jesus picks us up

and carries us. If you're feeling weak and weary, let Him carry

you today!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 12

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

When we are judgmental in our attitude to those who do

not know Christ, we merely act in the way they expect.

Research shows that Christians are best known in America

not for what they are for, but what they are against. That's

unfortunate and tragic. (Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

Mercy triumphs over judgement.

James 2:13

We should remember today, whom we represent!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 11

Greetings:God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Do you love Jesus?

Today, Christians argue about doctrine and divide over

issues. Yet, let us look at the deeper issue: Do we each

love Jesus Christ? If so, our love for Him is the result

of His love for us. You see, the proof that we truly know

Jesus Christ is not measured by the degrees we post on

our wall, but the degree of the love that burns in our hearts

for Him. (Francis Frangipane-Christian Voices)

SCRIPTURE:

If anyone does not love his brother whom he has seen, he

cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20

The degree that we love Jesus Christ, depends on the degree we

love each other!

Know that I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 10

Greetings:God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

You don't advertise your religion by wearing a label-you

do it by living a life. (Our Daily Bible)

SCRIPTURE:

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling.

Ephesians 4:1

Be careful how you live your life, most people come to Christ

by the testimonies of lives lived, not by sermons preached.

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 9

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

We serve an awesome God. Praise God that He desires

us to live in hope and not condemnation. His mercy

surrounds us and His love blankets us. God wants to

give us life in abundance. He desires that none are

destroyed. God wants to hold us up, not push us down.

(Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;

neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:28

No matter what your circumstances today, what a wonderful

comforting thought and Scripture! You are in good HANDS!

April 8

Greetings: God bless you this Special Lord's Day!

Happy Easter everyone. Today is the eighth day,

The past week has been one of a paradox. It has

been one from triumph to tragedy and then one

of victory! Today's poem: "The Empty Tomb"

http://fredasgardenofpoetry.blogspot.com

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Our greatest strength maybe our ability to stand still

and trust God. (Our Daily Bread)

SCRIPTURE:

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but they

did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24:2

Imagine what must have been going through the minds of

these women as they came to the tomb early that Easter

Sunday morning. THE TOMB WAS EMPTY! Hallelujah and

praise God!!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 7

Greetings: God bless you this day!

Day seven: Sabbath, the day of rest.

Today's poem: "A Day Of Rest"

http://fredasgardenofpoetry.blogspot.com

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Christians stand strong, when they stand together.

(Our Daily Bread)

The women who had come from Galilee followed Joseph

to the tomb and saw how his body was laid in it. Then they

went home and prepared the spices and perfumes. But they

rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Luke 23:55-56

As Christians , we sometimes forget that Jesus was a Jew, not

only by birth, but by faith as well. He was faithful to all the

commands of the law and those that followed him were faithful

as well. We also should be faithful to our Christian faith!

Know I prayed for you today.Blessings-Freda

April 6

Greetings: God bless you this day!

This is day six of the last week of the life of Jesus

Today's poem: "Six Hours One Friday."It has been

my tradition to seed this poem out every "Good Friday."

http://fredasgardenofpoetry.blogspot.com

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

The Storms of life remind us to take shelter in the

loving arms of our Savior. (Our Daily Bread)

SCRIPTURE:

From the sixth our until the ninth hour, darkness

came over all the land. About the ninth hour, Jesus

cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have

you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:45

Jesus' cry is still felt, more than two thousand years later!

He died so the we could find shelter from the storms of life

in His loving arms!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 5

Greetings: God bless you this day!

Day Five of the last week of the life of Jesus.

Today's poem: Gethsemane:

http://fredasgardenofpoetry.blogspot.com

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Only God can still our hearts and quiet our minds.

(Our Daily Bread)

SCRIPTURE:

Jesus said, "Father, everything is possible for you, take

this cup from me. Yet not my will, but what you will.

Mark 14:36

If Jesus had need to call on the Father, how much greater our

need and reason for calling on His Name!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

Greetings: God bless you this day!

Today is day four in the last week of the life of Jesus.

In the upper-room, just before the passover meal, Jesus

washes the feet of His disciples and even washed the feet

of Judas. Todays, poem "Betrayal"

http://fredasgardenofpoetry.blogspot.com

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

What a passionate moment, when Jesus silently lifts the feet

of His betrayer and washes them in a basin! He forgave their sin

before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they

sought it. (Max Lucado)

SCRIPTURE:

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done to you.

John 13:15

The example of humility, is one of the hardest examples for proud

Americans to follow. We've been taught, in order to succeed, we must

compete-win-be proud and ambitious. Another hard example to follow

is forgiveness... we want to get even! Jesus gave us both examples to follow

in that scene in the upper-room!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

Greetings: God bless you this day!

This is day three of Jesus' last week in Jerusalem.

Today's poem: "The Fig Tree Lesson."

http://fredasgardenofpoetry.blogspot.com

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

When the world says, "give up," hope whispers, "try one

more time." (Our Daily Bread)

SCRIPTURE:

When the disciples saw this they were amazed. "How did the

fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. Jesus answered, "If you

have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what is done to

the fig tree, you can say to this mountain, go throw yourself into

the sea and it will be done." Matthew 21:20-12

The lesson from the fig tree that Jesus wanted His followers to

learn is... when things seem impossible, continue to hope and try

one more time!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 2

Greetings: God bless you this day!

Today's poem: "An Angry Jesus"

http://fredasgardenofpoetry.blogspot.com

The Temple:

Mark 11:12-19 Luke 19:45-46

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

A soft answer has often been the breaking of a hard

heart. (Our Daily Bread)

SCRIPTURE:

"It is written," He said, "My house will be called a house of

prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers!" Luke 19:45

Jesus clearly, was angry with the money changers. Anger has

its place, if we're careful not to let it master us!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

April 1

Greetings: God bless you this Lord's Day!

Happy April and Happy Palm Sunday:

This week I want to focus on the last week of the life

of Jesus. I am posting a poem each day on my poetry blog,

on this week known as "Passion Week" If you would like to

follow along http://fredasgardenofpoetry.blogspot.com

Today's Poem: Hosanna: The triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Let the resurrection of joy lift us from loneliness and weakness

and despair, to strength and beauty and happiness.

(Floyd Tomkins)

SCRIPTURE:

Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name

of the Lord. Hosanna in the highness. Matthew 21:9

This week let us keep our joy as we think about the last week of the

life of Jesus, for we know it ends in VICTORY!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda