Heed the lessons of the past, as you pray this Lazaroo: 

“Before them the land is like the garden of Eden…”
(Joel 2:3)

The garden of Eden, Jesus…

lush, peaceful, beautiful

where Adam named the animals You created

where You placed Adam and Eve

where You walked with them in the cool of the day

until Satan misled them
and they hid from You.

The land before me is another garden of Eden –

full of hope and promise.

Help me be ready with my resounding, “No!”

when the serpent rears his sly head.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Genesis 2:5-15; Genesis 3:1-8; Genesis 3:14-24; Romans 15:4; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 John 3:7

 Pray this Lazaroo with burning emotion: 

“…they will respond to Jezreel.”
(Hosea 2:22)

 The Valley of Jezreel…

where You gave Gideon and Your people
a stunning victory over their enemies, Jesus.

Today that green fertile plain –

ripe with fields of wheat, cotton, sunflowers and corn
lush grazing pasture for multitudes of sheep and cattle –

looks so peaceful.

But it won’t be long.

Napoleon Bonaparte looked out over it and declared, “All the armies of the world could maneuver their forces on this vast plain.”

And so they will.

For Jezreel has another Name:

Armageddon.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Judges 6:33; Judges 7:1-25; 1 Samuel 25:43; 2 Samuel 2:9; 1 Kings 18:46; Hosea 1:11; Revelation 16:16-21

 Pray this Lazaroo with renewed determination: 

“You have persevered…”
(Revelation 2:3)

Wow, Jesus.

Coming from You…what a compliment!

May the day come

when You can say that about me.

To persevere is more than just doing something one more time

more than doing it a long time.

To persevere is to do the right thing

as long as it takes.

To persevere is to keep doing it

even when my emotions tell me it will never happen.

To persevere is not to trust in me

but in You.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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2 Chronicles 15:7; Psalms 13:1; Luke 8:15; 1 Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 10:36; Hebrews 11:27; James 5:11

 Pray this Lazaroo in trusting submission: 

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever…He changes times…”
(Daniel 2:20)

That’s You, Jesus – in every sense.

You can stretch out an hour
or make it seem like a moment.

You can make the clock go forward
or back (no one but You!).

You can end an era with a single, stunning act
or so subtly that no one notices until we look back.

And when I need more time

You carve it out of a day that is impossibly full.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Genesis 29:20; Deuteronomy 17:16; Joshua 5:12; Joshua 10:12-14; Psalms 31:15; Psalms 39:4; Habakkuk 1:2; Revelation 12:14

 Pray this Lazaroo in trembling fear: 

“…shepherds who feed only themselves.”
(Jude 1:12)

Who are the sheep of my flock, Jesus?

If I’m at all uncertain…
please clear that up for me.

You don’t hold me responsible for somebody else’s flock

but the flock I dare not neglect
is the one You’ve assigned to me:

family
friends
church
neighbors
coworkers

those anywhere in the world
You’ve laid on my heart.

Their needs come ahead of mine

just as You, my Shepherd
laid down Your life for me.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Genesis 49:24; Psalms 78:71; Isaiah 63:11; Zechariah 11:4; Matthew 2:6; John 10:1-18; 1 Peter 2:25

 Pray this Lazaroo with immediate intent: 

“He then said to me: ‘Son of man, go now…’”
(Ezekiel 3:4)

There’s a huge difference, Jesus…
between “go now” and

“go when the drama dies down”
“go when it fits into my schedule”
“go when the cost won’t be as high”
“go as soon as I finish what I’m doing”
“go when I can’t find anything else to do.”

“Go now” means drop what I’m doing and head out the door.

Am I sitting on a “go now” assignment You’ve issued to me?

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Exodus 4:12; Exodus 32:34; Isaiah 30:8; Jeremiah 7:12; Ezekiel 3:11; John 8:11; 1 Corinthians 16:12

 Pray this Lazaroo with immediate intent: 

“He then said to me: ‘Son of man, go now…’”
(Ezekiel 3:4)

There’s a huge difference, Jesus…
between “go now” and

“go when the drama dies down”
“go when it fits into my schedule”
“go when the cost won’t be as high”
“go as soon as I finish what I’m doing”
“go when I can’t find anything else to do.”

“Go now” means drop what I’m doing and head out the door.

Am I sitting on a “go now” assignment You’ve issued to me?

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Exodus 4:12; Exodus 32:34; Isaiah 30:8; Jeremiah 7:12; Ezekiel 3:11; John 8:11; 1 Corinthians 16:12

 Pray this Lazaroo with unswerving dedication: 

“…whom I love in the truth”
(3 John 1:1)

That’s the best way to love, isn’t it, Jesus?

“…in the truth.”

Loving people in a lie

backfires.

Loving people in an illusion

doesn’t last.

Loving factually is an improvement

but not enough.

A statement of fact is true
but not the same thing as “in the truth.”

You’re talking about loving relationships between people who share the same obedient, passionate love

for Your Word
and You.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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John 4:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:12; 1 John 3:18; 2 John 1:1; 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:3; 3 John 1:4

 Pray this Lazaroo with unswerving dedication: 

“…whom I love in the truth”
(3 John 1:1)

That’s the best way to love, isn’t it, Jesus?

“…in the truth.”

Loving people in a lie

backfires.

Loving people in an illusion

doesn’t last.

Loving factually is an improvement

but not enough.

A statement of fact is true
but not the same thing as “in the truth.”

You’re talking about loving relationships between people who share the same obedient, passionate love

for Your Word
and You.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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John 4:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:12; 1 John 3:18; 2 John 1:1; 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:3; 3 John 1:4

 Pray this Lazaroo in heartfelt gratitude: 

“To my dear friend…”
(3 John 1:1)

Almost everybody has “friends” Jesus –

casual friends
fair weather friends
former friends
extra grace required friends
false friends

A billion or so of us
have Facebook friends.

A true friend is a gift from You.

But a dear friend is priceless.

In most cases, a friend becomes dear

only after being there for me
in my hour of need.

Countless numbers of people can’t name a single dear friend.

But I can.

You.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning 212-LAZAROO…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Judges 11:37; Judges 19:23; 1 Samuel 30:26; Job 2:11; Job 12:4; Job 19:14; Luke 16:9