Pray, period. August 31, 2016

Boaz Ministry

Lord, I'm not currently using the gifts I believe You gave me. Help me find a place where I can use my talents, experience and knowledge to glorify You.You are the manager of my life, help me to be a living testimony of Your presence. I desperately need these moments in quiet conversation with You to prepare my spirit for the tasks of this day. Do not leave me, Lord. Stay in my heart now and forever.

Bible reference: 1 Timothy 4:14 NIV

Pray, period. August 30, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, it's only Tuesday, and I have so much frustration and anger within me for all the wrongs done to me! Even when I'm out in traffic and someone cuts me off, I'm really miffed. Give me a new heart. Remove this heart of stone, the one so easily offended. Fill it with Your love.

Bible reference: Ezekiel 36:26; Psalm 51:10

Pray, period. August 29, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, it says in Your Word, when Miriam had leprosy, her brother cried out for her healing. I come to You today, crying out for You to heal my loved one. She is in so much pain. She needs your comfort, strength, love and grace. Dear Lord, touch her! Allow her to feel Your presence. Immerse her in Your healing light.

Bible reference: Numbers 12:13; Psalm 30:2; Matthew 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:16

Pray, period. August 28, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, with You on my side, I am not afraid of those who wish to harm me, or of the evil one that dogs my steps. With praises to You on my lips and in my heart, my enemies are shut down! You are my great refuge, my rock of strength! Hallelujah!

Bible reference: Psalm 8:2

Pray, period. August 27, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, if I allow messages from the devil to fill my mind, I will be defeated. You have overcome the evil one. Plant Your Word in my mind so that there is no room for fear. Help me to remember that I need never fear.

Bible reference: 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18

Pray, period. August 26, 2016

Boaz Ministries

My faith in You, Jesus, keeps me sane and gives me peace. I'm grateful and I thank You for that peace. My faith in You justifies me and gives me the grace I need to forgive others. Help me to do that today. Help me to look at those who have wounded me as You look at me - with love. Keep me in Your hand and give me Your strength as I go through this day.

Bible reference: Romans 5:1-2

Pray, period. August 25, 2016

Boaz Ministries

These simple words - "Rise and go, your faith has made you well." What a treasure they are, Lord! Keep them in my mind and heart today. Help me to focus on their meaning and importance. Help me to rise from this place of prayer full of faith that heals my mind, body, spirit and soul. Thank You, Lord!

Bible reference: Luke 17:19 NIV
(always read in context, verses 11-19)

Pray, period. August 24, 2016

Boaz Ministries

I can't hide from You, Lord. You know me more intimately than I know myself. You know there are aspects of my life that I would prefer to cover rather than heal. You know these things, yet You still love me! Lord, I know it's the truth and I pray today, that You give me the strength and the will to open my whole heart to Your presence in my life.

Bible reference: Psalm 139

Pray, period. August 23, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Father, it is a hard lesson to learn that our actions have consequences that spread far beyond our own lives. When we fall into sinful behavior, it is as if a rock has been thrown into a quiet lake, the ripples spreading far beyond the point of initial contact. Guard our lives that we may grow to live in peace and grace.

Bible reference 2 Samuel 12:15-23; Galatians 6:7-8; Romans 6:23

Pray, period. August 22, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Father, we trust in the promises You have established, but our faith can at times grow dim. We believe in the future You have prepared for us, but at times that hope seems like a distant mirage. Guide us to encourage one another when the road becomes long. Let our mutual faith reinforce our knowledge that our sure and certain hope is You.

Bible reference: Psalm 33:4-6; Jeremiah 29:11

Pray, period. August 21, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Father, let us be the kind of friends to one another who are willing to take a risk, to cross the line for the sake of those around us. You have placed in our lives brothers and sisters who sustain us in times of trouble, and fill our hearts with joy in times of peace. Thank You for this community of love and support.

Bible reference: Mark 2:1-5; John 15:13

Pray, period. August 20, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, my goal is to live the life You have planned for me. Keep me on the road to Your will - keep me in the path of righteousness. Help me avoid the worldly traps of money, discontentment, grief, envy and workaholism. Keep me close to Your side and consistently in Your presence.

Bible reference: Matthew 6:19-33

Resharing a post from 2014, because nothing has changed.. "I am the mother of a Black man"

My son in an action shot - Kung Fu form

And when my son was 3 years old, I was teaching at an alternative school out in the boonies of the high desert in Southern California. It was a class for "at risk" students who had been expelled from schools in their districts. My classroom was their last chance before incarceration; their last opportunity to earn credits to return to school. 

Most of my students had probation officers for petty crimes they'd committed in the community.   This population, along with Special Needs students, was my absolute favorite. I would choose to teach these kids over "Regular Ed" students any day. However, in this environment, out in the sticks, I was surrounded by a group of adolescent boys, ages 14-17 - who were of either the Skinhead or Neo-Nazi mindset. It was 1994.

In this particular classroom, there were only three boys of color. Two Black, and an Hispanic; oddly, the Hispanic was a wannabe Neo-Nazi - and barely tolerated by his crew.  And there was one, very quiet white girl. She'd been kicked out of school for a concealed knife that didn't quite make it through the scanner. She said it was for protection against mean girls who were bullying her.

This group was a lively bunch. About 16 in all - and I had an easy-going, male Assistant Teacher; he was white. After a couple of weeks laying down my rules and my way of conducting class - something amazing happened. One of the white boys from whichever group (I forget), raised his hand and said, "Hey Teacher. Me and my boys can't understand why we like you. We're not supposed to like Black people." It was my moment. Because during these first few weeks of class, I'd already had to change seating arrangements, mediate between factions, and squash the racial chants: Black boys, one fist raised: "BLACK POWER!"; white boys, two fists raised: "UNDER WHITE DOMINATION!". Yes...they'd shout those words, just like that. Black boys first, then the rest would echo.

It was my moment to bring it all to a halt. And I did so by using the resources supplied by the County of San Bernardino (my employer). They had a vast library of video tapes - Historical documentaries on the making of this country, and all the peoples who came to this land, by choice and by force. Since the class enjoyed "movie day", and did their best to behave to earn the reward, it was easy to quiet them down. Basically, it was American History/Social Studies. And they got an eye-full. 

I didn't even start with slavery. We watched the history of the Irish immigrants, and the discrimination they suffered when coming to America to escape the potato famine (1820-1920). Then there was the tape on the Japanese American Interment - post Pearl Harbor; one on the Chinese Exclusion Act ,1866- immigrants who had worked on this country's railroad system; another on the discrimination against Italian immigrants; then, the Indians Appropriations Act of 1851. The class was educated on the Jewish ghettos in Europe and America. ("Ghetto" is an Italian word that became the name for the neighborhood Jews lived in. Ghetto: the poorest part of the city).

Movie day was once per week - but the class demanded to have an hour video tape, daily. By the time we got to the enslavement of Black people from Africa - the boys and girl had come to this conclusion:  "The white man has oppressed EVERYBODY! We didn't know!" At the end of the 3-part video on slavery, all of them were in tears. They apologized, and thanked me for opening their eyes, without judgment or negativity. They thanked me for just coming with the facts. (That was the Lord. He kept me quiet.)

I don't know where those young people are today; they'd be mid to late 30's, pushing 40 by now. But I do hope some of them made it out of that desert experience and are somewhere being useful citizens. Some of them came from homes where cooking Meth was the family business. When I look at what's going on in our society/world today, I think about that experience, 20 years ago. And I think of how we trained our children in my home. They had to be excellent in school and respectful to their elders and others; but they also had to have a defense mechanism. They had to be watchful, without being paranoid. And how in the world do you instill watchfulness without creating paranoia in your children? It took much prayer, and a strong constitution every time we sent them off to school.

I'm the mother of a Black man. It's 2016, and he is 25 years old now.  He's already been racially profiled - stopped by TWO units because he "fit the description" (in Alabama).  Although he was trained in martial arts from an early age and is capable of defending himself physically; and extremely articulate - able to virtually talk his way out of anything... my son is no match for the random person, or rogue cop with a gun. And no classroom video presentation of the atrocities of this nation's history is going to quell the current situation.

Lord, protect us.

Pray, period. August 19, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, my tears won't stop! Give me the strength to reach out to my praying friends for help. I need them to help me through this, but that makes me feel so weak. Yet Your Word tells me that when I am weak, You are strong. Thank You for my circle of friends. Give me courage to humble myself.

Bible reference: Matthew 18:19; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Ephesians 6:18; James 5:16

Pray, period. August 18, 2016

Boaz Ministries

As our experience of the cosmos expands and our technological ability to see into the vast expanse of space progresses, the sheer scope and scale of Your creation quiets our hearts and stills our voices before You. It is humbling to know that with a word You set the entirety of creation into motion, and that at the same time, You also know my name! Amen!

Bible reference: Genesis 1:14-19

Pray, period. August 17, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, my spouse and I have been through many trials, yet each time we make it over a hurdle together, our love grows stronger. What we had in the beginning of our marriage was good, but what we have now is better. Continue to help us through the trials.

Pray, period. August 16, 2016

Boaz Ministries

What a gift we have received in salvation and the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ our Lord! In Him we have a future filled with hope. In Him we have each received an inheritance which cannot be revoked. To God be all glory and praise for the great things He has done! Praise the Lord!

Bible reference: Ephesians 1:7-14

A word I have to share...

The world is multicultural and because of this, humanity is all the richer for it. It's just a shame that many do not embrace the beauty of having so many peoples of other ethnicity, cultures, creeds, and colors - who do not see the importance of each person's contribution to our society, our world.

Hatred is not of God, it is of the enemy of our souls. And to hate others because they do not look like us, is plain ignorant and of the devil. I challenge believers to be a part of the solution, rather than the problem. I challenge us to love as Christ loves, knowing this will take divine intervention for many of us. For how can we call ourselves disciples of the Lord, and harbor/teach/practice hate? God loves all of us. And if we believe in His Son (meaning we are cultivating a day-by-day relationship with Him) we shall, by our fruit, show His love to others.

It is an unpopular and uncomfortable message. That's how you know it's of God. Jesus was not popular, nor was His message/ministry. He went against the teachings of the "church" of His time. He was born into a climate where the leaders of His church believed, and taught, that only their people - the Jews - were worthy of God's favor. They had allowed their "chosen people" status to exclude all others not born of their special lineage. And they missed the point altogether.

God's plan was always to unify all who would believe on His Son. And the people He chose from the time of Abraham, were to be His ambassadors, His beacons- an example of His favor to the rest of the world of His goodness and mercy.

We who have the faith of Abraham, are co-heirs to the Promise (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29). That's all of us. Red, Yellow, Black, White, Brown.

The modern church needs to wake up and stop teaching the "traditions of men" as if they are the commandments of God; stop spewing hatred and engaging in management of the status quo.

Finally, God knows who belongs to Him. So, for all our much preaching from pulpits, and televangelism across the world, let us not neglect the real gospel of Christ.  For, in time, all will be revealed.


Bible references:

*Galatians 3:6-9; 27-30; Romans 3:22-31; 4:16-17; 8:17 


*As always, read everything in context - the chapters before and after...

Pray, period. August 15, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, from the grandeur of a mountain peak, to the beauty of the ocean as it crashes along the shore; from the sweeping expanse of the Great Plains, to the star-filled splendor of the nighttime sky, Your creation testifies to the power and the glory of You, great God of all creation! May my life add to the praise of this great chorus of voices.

Bible reference: Psalm 19:1-5

Pray, period. August 14, 2016

Boaz Ministries

"Vast as the waters where earth touches sky, far beyond the naked eye, is Your love!" Fill me with Your power and strength today, Lord. I feel Your presence all around me. I glory in Your touch! You are so good to me. Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness and Your love!

Bible reference: Psalm 36:5; 57:10; 103:11
Quote: B.G.Edwards

Two-Way Conversation

Pray, period. August 13, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Breathe on us, Lord. Allow us to unite in prayer and feel Your presence among us. Lead us to the fount of eternal blessing and give us strength to do Your will, and wisdom to apply Your Word. Increase our body as You did with the early church.

Bible reference: Acts 2:42-47; 5:14; 6:7; 9:31; 11:21

Pray, period. August 12, 2016

Boaz Ministries

God of mercy, my heart rejoices today! You have blessed me with another day of life! Thank You, Lord! In these quiet moments, I will meditate upon Your Word. Speak to me, Lord.

Bible reference: Psalm 1:2; Psalm 25:5; Psalm 104:34

Reminder...

Just pray. Period.

Pray, period. August 11, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Father, our actions and the manner in which we construct our lives are important to You. Scripture is clear that we who are able are called to care for the least and the lost, the widow and the orphan, the prisoner and the immigrant. Open our eyes to the needs of the people around us and move our hands to action.

Bible reference: Matthew 25:34-40

Pray, period. August 10, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, there is no stronger foundation than that of Your truth. I am part of the body of Your truth, Your people, the church. We are the church of the living God and I pray that You make each one of us strong. Help us shine Your light, the truth of Your Word, into our community, state, and world!

Bible reference: John 16:13; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Pray, period. August 9, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Walk with me, Lord. You know the challenges I face today. I need Your strength and guidance. Direct me to the right people, give me the right words, and help me to show Your love through it all.

Pray, period. August 8, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, inspire us to seek Your priorities for our lives this day. Help us make wise choices, that we may be effective witnesses to others of Your grace, mercy and love.

Bible reference: Psalm 17:5; Psalm 119:133

Pray, period. August 7, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Father, Thank You for my family. I ask that You bless them with Your favor. Provide for all of their needs. I ask You to protect them from harm and evil. Surround them in the shadow of Your wing. Go before them and prepare the way for them. If any path is crooked, I ask You to make it straight. Protect them from the schemes of the enemy and keep them from deception. Bring Your perfect peace to their hearts.

Bible reference: Psalm 91

Pray, period. August 6, 2016

Boaz Ministries

I will never falter in making the desires of my heart known to You, precious Lord. As I nurture the conversation between us, the act of prayer itself will work to shape my longings and build within me the mind of Christ. Align my heart with Yours, Father God. Thank You for Your faithfulness!

Bible reference: Psalm 37:4

Pray, period. August 5, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Help me to forgive myself. This guilt is eating away at my heart. You forgive our sins as far as the east is from the west. Thank You, God, for Your mercy! Take my sins, forgive them, and make me pure in Your eyes.

Bible reference: Psalm 103:11-13

Pray, period. August 4, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Lord, there's trouble everywhere, and sometimes I get so weary. In my flesh, I wrestle with doubt and worry. But by Your Spirit and power, I make it through times like these. Your Word is true, and I'm a witness that You are in control and work out all of my circumstances for my good. Hold me together today, Lord. Thank You, Jesus!

Bible reference: Romans 8:28

Pray, period. August 3, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Father, give me the courage to be humble. Grant me the patience to listen well to others. Pour Your Spirit into my heart that I may live at peace with those around me, seeking always the blessing of others; their benefit even at the expense of my own. Such a life is a testament to Your work in me. To God be the glory!

Bible reference: 1 Peter 5:5-7

Pray, period. August 2, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Father, Your Word teaches that Your heart is filled with a spirit and a desire that all people be treated with grace, love, and equality. Your eye is upon our scales and balances. You watch as decisions are made and judgments are rendered. In all my dealings may I protect those who are least able to protect themselves. My hope is that my dealings —large and small—bring You joy, and honor to Your name.


Bible reference: Leviticus 19:32-37; Micah 6:8; James 1:27

Pray, period. August 1, 2016

Boaz Ministries

Father, in the light of a new morning may I be aware of Your ever-present work of renewal. I am different today than I was yesterday and even though my body shows marks of wear as a result of time’s passage, through You my spirit shines with the glory of the risen sun. Praise God, You are making all things new!






Bible reference: Lamentations 3:23; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18