Category Archives: life

Thursday, May 11, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo with undiluted sincerity:

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’”
(Philippians 2:14-15)

There’s a payoff for doing life Your way, Jesus!

There’s always a payoff.
A very good payoff.

It seldom happens when or how or where I imagined it would

but when it does, I’m blown away.

Still the greatest payoff of all for doing things Your way

is the certain knowledge that I’m putting a smile on Your face.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
1 Chronicles 29:17; Ezra 6:10; Psalm 5:4; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ecclesiastes 7:26; Romans 12:1; Colossians 1:10

Monday, May 8, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo with locked-in faith:

“Abner said to David, ‘Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.’ So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.”
(2 Samuel 3:21)

Abner did the right thing for the wrong reason, Jesus.

Soon after speaking these words
it cost him his life.

May I always do what’s right – and for the right reason:

to please You.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Judges 5:11; 2 Samuel 3:6-11; Proverbs 16:2; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Philippians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:3; James 4:3

Thursday, May 4, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo in gratitude and awe:

“When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile.”
(Ruth 3:7)

If Boaz thought he was in good spirits then, Jesus

You were about to take him to a whole ‘nuther level!

He was about to get a new wife and a new life.

Moreover, You were adding him to the bloodline
from which You would one day be born –

and by Your blood shed on the cross
I’ve been born again!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Ruth 4:21-22; Matthew 9:27; Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25; Romans 5:9; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:20

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo in grateful perspective:

“So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”
(1 Corinthians 3:21-23)

It’s okay for us to be grateful for the leaders You’ve so gifted, Jesus

but not to put them on a pedestal of worship.

You’ve gifted us all…even me!

May I never forget that.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Genesis 12:3; Matthew 7:11; Romans 11:29; Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:1-9; 1 Corinthians 12:28-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1; Ephesians 4:8; Hebrews 2:4

Sunday, April 23, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo in chastened awareness:

“…Jesus asked them, ‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.”
(Mark 3:4-5)

That’s how You work nearly every miracle, Jesus –

in spite of our animosity, doubt and outright disbelief.

True, some miracles are granted to those who have faith

which comes directly from You

as a gift.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Psalm 77:11; Psalm 106:7; Matthew 13:58; Acts 19:11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:6

Thursday, April 20, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo in happy anticipation:

“So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”
(Genesis 3:23-24)

What a heartbreak, Jesus!

We’ve been mourning that loss ever since.

But in heaven –

for those of us who’ve placed our trust in You –

that longing will be fulfilled!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Psalm 23:6; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:14; Philippians 3:14; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:14; Revelation 21:4

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo with recognized desire:

“…keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”
(Jude 1:21)

Paul said it, Jesus:

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ,
we are of all people most to be pitied.”

To paraphrase C.S. Lewis:

I find in myself a desire
that nothing in this world can satisfy.
Clearly, I’m meant for another world.

Send your angels to bring me there to You, Father

when my time has come.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Psalm 23:6; Proverbs 10:25; 1 Corinthians 15:19; 1 Corinthians 15:50-56; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Hebrews 11:26; 1 John 2:17

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo in growing understanding:

“Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.”
(Ezekiel 4:7-8)

Just as You did with Ezekiel, Jesus

so You sometimes do with me.

You had given him a difficult task –

one he might have been tempted to abandon.

So You tied him to it.

That explains a whole lot of what’s happening in my life.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Psalm 139:5; Jonah 1:1-2; Jonah 1:12; Jonah 1:17; Jonah 2:7-10; Jonah 3:1-3; John 6:66-68

Saturday, March 18, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo with laser-focused intensity:

“In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”
(Titus 2:7-8)

Paul didn’t want people saying bad things about Titus, Jesus

but he also didn’t want them saying bad things about him!

He knew whatever Titus said and did
was a reflection on him

just as what I say and do
is a reflection on those
who’ve built into my life.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Proverbs 1:8; Matthew 10:25; Matthew 13:52; Luke 6:40; Philippians 3:10-11; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:4

Sunday, March 5, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo with burning emotion:

“Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem. The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places…”
(1 Kings 3:1-2)

And so it starts to unravel, Jesus…

Solomon enters a forbidden marriage
the people worshiping where they shouldn’t.

The more disobedience I incorporate in my life

the more swiftly my downfall arrives.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

_________
Leviticus 26:30; 1 Kings 3:3; 1 Kings 11:1-3; 1 Kings 13:34; 2 Chronicles 26:16; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; James 1:13-14