Discernment

discern - to perceive by the sight or some other sense by intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend

Proverbs 20:11 "Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right." (NLT)

"We may think we trust God, but our efforts to anxiously control the details of our lives and the lives of those around us show us that we really don't.  We may feel the emotion of love for our spouse, but our daily outbursts of anger and irritation reveal something else.  We may say we aren't greedy for  money or possessions, but our credit card debt shows otherwise.  Actions speak louder than words - or feelings - and they reveal what we really believe." - Purity by Lydia Brownback

What do your actions tell you about your heart?

Fasting Friday

hunger – the painful sensation or state of weakness caused by the need of food

You are our food, our bread of life, God. You feed our souls, and without you we are in a
painful and weak condition. Our lives cannot grow without your sustenance.

I pray the people of FUSION would feel this hunger, that we would crave you and rely
on you to strengthen and energize us through each day. I pray we would never get
enough of you, never feel full enough.

I pray that this hunger for you would lead us to hunger for each other. I pray we would
hunger for deep relationship and true community. I pray we would learn to value and
honor one another for our differences. I pray we would see in each other the gifts that
you have given us. I pray we would serve one another in unconditional love. Open our
hearts and minds to forgive one another and come together as a family.

Thank you for each one of us who you have brought together. Thank you for each person
who will enter the Chapel on Sunday. I pray that we would welcome them in and that
they would see how you are working at FUSION. I pray that you would be glorified.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for my friend.  Thank you for the woman that she is.  Thank you for her heart.  Thank you for her desire to follow and love you.

I pray that you will continue to sustain her and heal her from being sick.  I pray that her body will recover from illness and her strength and energy will be restored.

I pray that you would speak to her heart this week.  I pray that through focusing on you she would be reassured of who she is – your beautiful and cherished daughter.  I pray that she would hear you tell her how proud of her you are, like she did before.  I pray she would remember that your love for us doesn’t change.  I pray she would see your work in her life, and recognize how you are making her into a beautiful thing.

I pray she would have peace about who she is, and know that the people in her life appreciate her more than we can express.  Show her encouragement through people who love her, and have her see that these are coming from you.  I pray that she would feel like the beautiful person she is, because she was and is being molded by you.  I pray that she would see that she brings so much good to the people in her life, and that she would know she is beautiful because you are working through her.

Thankful Thursday

Dear God,

Thank you so much for who you are.  Thank you for knowing me and wanting me to know you.  Thank you for drawing me to you daily.  Thank you that things don't go well on days I close my eyes to your presence, because it reminds me that everything good comes from you.

Thank you for sharing in my joy, pain, laughter, and tears.  Thank you for providing exactly what I need.

Thank you for the sunrise and sunset, these reminders that man is powerless and that you orchestrate all things.

Thank you for the people in my life who show me glimpses of your character.  Thank you for making each one of us different so that we make up one body, each part with a different purpose.  Thank you for our different personalities and passions.

Thank you for preparing my heart to be attentive to you today.