Pastor H. Gene Allen

Text: Matthew 15:21-28 (ESV)

“And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”

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One of my favorite stories of Jesus is His interaction with the Canaanite woman whose daughter was possessed by a demon. She tells Jesus her problem, but the disciples try to push her away from Him. Jesus waits in silence. The Canaanite woman then utters a prayer that moves Jesus into action.

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” She said. [Matthew 15:25]

How would our day change if we utter those same words with the problems we have?

Sometimes I convince myself that I’m too busy to pray. The reality is, though, we can pray a simple prayer that may be only one sentence long yet God will answer it, because He answers our prayers not by how eloquently we pray but by how much faith we pray with.

God doesn’t need a 30-minute prayer session to be moved into action. He just needs faith and a sentence to call Him to do something.

Here are 20 one-sentence prayers that you can pray any time and any where that could change your day and that of those around you.

1. Lord help me be a better spouse and better parent today than I was yesterday and the day before that.

This prayer I should be silently praying anytime I go to the fridge. What a prayer to quickly pray when you are with your family that God will be happy to answer if only we would.

2. Lord help me to show this person your love and attention in a way that they haven’t seen before.

Next time you meet with someone, let this prayer roll of your tongue silently before a word you speak to him or her. Every encounter we have is an encounter to change how someone views God.

3. Lord help me believe that you are with me even when I’m unsure if you are.

God is with us! We know this theologically but sometimes in the face of chaos or trials we forget to live this out practically. Next time you feel anxious or uncertain, ask God give you a little nudge to remind you He is with you.

4. Lord help me turn from my sin when my sin turns toward me.

David said, “My sin is always before me.” Yikes. Sometimes instead of knocking, sin rings the doorbell. When temptation comes, let this prayer help you not answer its call.

5. Lord help me do the things I know I should be doing but currently I am not.

God is great at giving us a push in the back. There are things you know God is asking you to do but currently you aren’t. What better way to start doing them than asking God to help you.

6. Lord help me to believe that I can make a difference in someone’s life today by just saying something nice to them.

The words you say to people are little parachute bombs filled with either rocks or flowers. Words hurt or help people, and sometimes we forget this.

7. Lord help me believe your Word can be like a flashlight and guide me down this darkened path.

I know not many of us are trudging the Oregon trail at night, but metaphorically we are on the path of life. Sometimes it gets dark, and when it does remember God has provided the ultimate light source, His Word.

8. Lord help me give the love you have given me away freely and without charge to the people around me whom I struggle to love even a little bit.

There are people in your life whom you find it difficult to love. If you were charging for love, you would put a 200 percent tax increase on it. Instead of withholding giving away love, give it away without holding onto being right.

9. Lord help me trust that you have a plan for my life even when it may feel like it is a bad one.

Do you ever feel like the plan that God has for you feels more like a wild goose chase that is zig zagging around the world? Well, sometimes it does, but God’s plans are perfect and straight if we trust Him as the master mapmaker for our life.

10. Lord help me have patience because I’m pretty sure I’m out.

Patience is essential in ministry. People will test your patience including your own family. When your patience seems like it has evaporated into the atmosphere, ask God to replenish it.

11. Lord help me not find my significance from social media today.

Twitter, Facebook, Google+: All are great until we look to them as our significance meter.

12. Lord help me run to your Word for guidance instead of looking for an answer inside Google.

Google has provided every answer we need to almost every question we have. Need some advice? Type it into the search bar, hit enter and in .2 seconds you will have 100,000 responses. Google is great, but God is greater.

13. Lord help me to not care what people may think about me and only be concerned with what you think about me.

Church leaders and pastors are typically people-pleasers. We want people to like us and accept us. Be careful, though, the desire to be liked by others doesn’t squash your desire to know what God says about you.

14. Lord help me forgive people quickly and swiftly because if not the bitterness will have its way with me.

Forgiveness is not easy to do, but the alternative of not forgiving is much harder to live with. Ask God to help you forgive, after all He does it whenever we need it from Him.

15. Lord help me not treat ministry like a job but only as a calling from you.

Whenever ministry becomes a job, you’ll quickly find burnout won’t be close behind. God calls us not to a 9-5 job but to a lifetime of living a call that is the greatest call we’ll ever answer.

16. Lord help me have faith, the kind of faith that I could lift a mountain and toss it into the sea.

When you have the mentality that nothing can stand in your way of doing God’s work, including a mountain, then you will achieve the greatness that will come with having a faith that can move even mountains.

17. Lord help me to lead well those you have asked me to lead.

Whether you realize it or not, you are leading people. More importantly you are leading people God has entrusted into your care. Ask the Lord for help, because left to our own we will choose to let people lead themselves.

18. Lord help me see things and hear things that others aren’t because they are too busy.

In 2 Corinthians 4:18, Paul encourages the Corinthians to focus not on the things they can see but on the things they can’t. We look around and see many problems. Instead of seeing the problems, see the God who is orchestrating your solutions.

19. Lord help me work hard on the right things and leave the results up to you.

We want results. When you aren’t getting the results you want, ask God to help you keep working hard on the right things and leave the results up to Him.

20. Lord help me.

Sometimes we may not know how we even need God to help us. When you are at a lose of words, let God fill in the blanks.

~ Early Morning Rant, (or Rage).

I just watched a commercial promoting U.S. Representative Kendra Horn’s election back the the congress.

The commercial stated that 3 public school teaching organizations is now endorsing Kendra Horn for congress.

They said that Kendra Horn is in support of public education for children.

QUESTION …

How can you be Pro-Child, and Pro-Children’s Education when you openly support, and vote, for the Abortion of a Child⁉️

Please see the Big Picture and Vote The Word of God‼️

ABORTIONS DO NOT PLEASE GOD. THEY ARE AN ABOMINATION TO HIM‼️

NOTE …

If you have had an abortion, you are still very precious to Jesus and very much loved by Him. Jesus cares for you deeply, and wants to bring healing to you.

ALSO …

Kendra Horn is Pro-Pelosi! A vote for Horn is a vote for Pelosi and her Liberal Agenda.

PLEASE …

Consider Stephanie Bice for the U.S. House of Representatives.

(This post is the personal opinion of the writer and may not be the opinion of the writer’s employer, Family Life Assembly of God.)

~ Good Morning!

We have an interesting Bible verse to look at this morning. So read, and listen carefully. Our verse is found, today, in …

• Proverbs‬ ‭1:7 •

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (ESV‬‬)

(The Devotion is a tad long today, but stay with me.)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

✝️ “Fear,” here, means to be in Awe of, or have Reverence for, the Lord.

✝️ It also means to Respect and Obey the Lord God always and forever.

✝️ To Fear the Lord, means to, Express your Loyalty, and Faithfulness, to Him.

✝️ According to the Old Testament Scriptures, those who Fear the Lord, obtain God’s protection, wisdom and blessing.

In contrast to those who “Fear” the Lord, there are those who the Holy Scriptures call, “fools.”

👺 Fools arrogantly reject the Lord’s teaching, because they believe themselves to be wise enough. They openly belittle, and ridicule, God’s Word.

👺 One commentator said, “Fools are stupid and indifferent to God’s character and government; hence the wicked.”

There are 3 different kinds, or meanings, used for the word, “Fool,” listed in Proverbs:

1️⃣ The first kind of, “fool,” is recognized by being dull, closed minded, thick headed and stubborn. This definition, of the word fool, is used 49 times in the book of Proverbs.

2️⃣ A second meaning of the word, “fool,” is defined by, someone who lacks spiritual perception. This definition, of the word fool, is used 3 times in the book of Proverbs.

3️⃣ The third type of the word, “fool,” means, arrogant, flippant and mentally lacking any brightness. He is hardened in his ways, vulgar and rejects God and His wisdom. This definition, of the word fool, is used 19 times in the book of Proverbs.

• CONCLUSION •

To sum all of this up, the type of fool used, here, in our text today, in Proverbs 1:7, would be the third type. — He is arrogant, and coarse (rough, rude, crude and vulgar) in his ways, and rejects God, and His wisdom.

Of course, a follower of Jesus, is going to be a follower of Father God, and His Word. In everything we do, we should revere, respect, obey and be loyal to the One who saved us from our sinful past, and the One whom blesses our walk everyday.

May God bless you abundantly as you faithfully seek the Lord and follow His Word, and will for your life.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Our verse today just happens to be my Life Verse. It’s found in …

• Matthew 6:33 •

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (ESV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

If you will pray, seek Father God for His direction, and live faithfully for Him, you can be assured that He will take care of you, meet your needs — and I have found, that He has provided most of my wants.

• CONCLUSION •

‼️ Don’t Worry! The Lord wants you Blessed. Live faithfully for Him, trust Him, and watch Him provide for you ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Let’s talk, quickly, about Generosity.

• Proverbs 11:24-25 •

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. (25)Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (ESV‬)‬

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

The above two verses encourage generosity. In essence, verse 24 tells us that, by giving freely a person has plenty.

The New Testament confirms this in 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:6‬, which states, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (ESV‬)

Conversely a person who is miserly, failing to help others in obvious need, will himself always be in need.

• CONCLUSION •

Luke 6:38 says, “If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.” (CEV‬‬)

‼️Be Generous; You will be blessed, and You will Bless Others‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Following is our Bible passage for today. It’s found in …

• Proverbs 6:16-19 •

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: (17)haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18)a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, (19)a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (ESV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

The above seven things aren’t the only things that Father God hates, but rather shows us that at least these seven things, the Lord does hate, and is an abomination to Him.

✝️ A proud look

✝️ A lying tongue

✝️ Hands that murder

✝️ A heart that plots wicked actions

✝️ Feet that move quickly to sin

✝️ One who lies against someone when witnessing in court

✝️ A person who causes discord among friends

• CONCLUSION •

To some up Proverbs 6:16-19, The Lord hates it when people use their _______ to sin against others.

➡️ Eyes…………V. 17

➡️ Tongue…….V. 17

➡️ Hands………V. 17

➡️ Heart……….V. 18

➡️ Feet………….V. 18

➡️ Mouth……..V. 19

🛑 Do your best not to sin; and when you do something that is offensive to God, repent immediately, and ask God to forgive you. If you will do this every time you sin, soon, you’ll no longer commit that offense toward the Lord.



Do your very best to live out God’s Word, and you’ll enjoy a blessed and abundant life.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

• Proverbs 4:23 – 27 •

“Keep your HEART with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (24)Put away from you crooked SPEECH, and put devious talk far from you. (25)Let your EYES look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. (26)Ponder the path of your FEET; then all your ways will be sure. (27)Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your FOOT away from evil.” (ESV‬‬)

• The Bottom Line •

In this Proverb, the father encourages his son to keep wisdom by guarding various aspects of his body.

✝️ Verse 23: His heart should be vigilant.

✝️ Verse 24: His mouth should avoid falsehood.

✝️ Verse 25: His eyes should be directed forward.

✝️ Verse 26-27: Finally, he should keep the path of his feet clear and not turn toward evil.

• Conclusion •

The instructions in Proverbs 4:23-27, from a father to a son, remind me of the instructions, in Ephesians 6:14-18, when the Apostle Paul uses the uniform of a soldier, to remind us to stay strong in the Holy Spirit.

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,(15) and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (16)In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; (17)and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (18)praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” — Ephesians‬ ‭6:14-18‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

✝️ Verse 14: Belt of truth

✝️ Verse 14: Breastplate of Righteousness

✝️ Verse 15: Shoes on your feet for peaceful marching

✝️ Verse 16: Shield of Faith

✝️ Verse 17: Helmet of Salvation

✝️ Verse 17: Sword of the Spirit

✝️ Verse Pray at all times

‼️ Stay Strong in the Holy Spirit and Live a Holy Life ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

Our Bible verse for the day is from Psalms 46:10. The Psalmist says…

“”Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”” (ESV‬‬)
First of all, a difficult verse for me, because I don’t like to wait, or be still. I’m impatient and want my answers, my miracles, NOW! But here, the Lord speaks through the Psalmist and tells us to…

 • “Be still…” — Be patient; relax. Stop trying to fix this problem on your own, or by yourself. Calm down and wait on Me to move. I already have a plan to work this situation out in your life. 

 • “And know that I am God.” — I am your God; I’m your all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present Father-God. Wait on My answer; you can trust me. I’ve got this situation under control. 

 • “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” — Because I am God, the nations, and the whole earth, will one day worship Me and acknowledge that I am God. One day soon, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that I am the almighty God and Lord of all. Let this be a reminder to you that I am who I say that I am, and I am big enough, and powerful enough, to meet and supply your every need. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is alive and working in and through your life. 

PRAISE THE LORD!!! I believe Father God will take care of you, and provide for you. Don’t worry, don’t fret; God has never failed anyone yet. Friends, you can trust HIM!!!

If Father God is not your Father, and Jesus your Lord, all you need to do is call on Him by saying a simple prayer. As a matter of fact, why don’t you say this prayer right now, with a sincere heart, and you will be saved, and have the promise of an abundant and blessed life on earth, and an eternal life in heaven. 

Ready…

“Dear Jesus, come into my life and forgive me of all my sins and wrong doing. I want to serve you. I give my life to you today, and with Your help, promise to serve you the best that I can for the rest of my life. I love you Lord. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus name, Amen.” 

With a sincere heart, coming to Jesus and Him forgiving all your sins, is as easy as that simple prayer. 

Now, here are four things you need to begin doing as soon as possible: 

 1. Tell somebody about what you just did; as a matter of fact, tell everybody about what you just did! Be a witness for Jesus. 

 2. Be faithful at attending church. 

 3. Pray to the Lord each day, keeping up a close relationship with Him. 

 4. Read your Bible every day. That is God’s Word to you. When you read the Bible, you’re hearing the Lord speak directly to you. 

** I’m very proud and excited about the decision you’ve made to follow Christ and make Jesus Lord of your life. 

** I’d like to invite you to attend Family Life Church located at 12481 NE 23rd Street Choctaw, OK. Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:30, and the Wednesday service begins at 7 PM. 

** If you do not have a Bible, please contact me and I will get you a Bible at no cost to you. 

God bless you!

Here is a passage of scripture that will encourage you and keep you going today. 

Indeed, the Word of God is true, and always relevant, to meet our every need throughout our entire life. Never neglect the Word of God. Read the Bible daily and let its words guide, direct and encourage, your life. 

There may be times in your life when you feel inadequate and/or incapable; however, God’s Word puts your life in the right perspective, brings right thinking to your mind and places joy in your heart. 

“How certain your promise is! How I love it! I am unimportant and despised, but I do not neglect your teachings. Your righteousness will last forever, and your law is always true. I am filled with trouble and anxiety, but your commandments bring me joy. Your instructions are always just; give me understanding, and I shall live.” — Psalm‬ ‭119:140-144‬ ‭GNT‬‬

“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36 NKJV)

Have you ever considered the fact that you overlooking a hateful or sarcastic remark from someone, or being nice to someone who is not usually nice to you, is you showing, “Mercy?” Showing mercy, kindness and generosity will eventually turn the heart of your adversary toward you and point them to the Lord.

Showing mercy is also a healing agent for you. As you make it a point to show mercy, kindness and generosity toward someone who is unkind toward you, your heart is protected from the hurt that usually comes along with someone’s abrasive remarks. It’s not that your heart becomes hard and just able to take the abuse; rather it’s more like a salve that covers and protects your heart, and keeps it tender. Again, it’s not that you’re, “just taking it,” but rather, you’re on a mission of mercy to make a difference in someone’s life.

Don’t give up on showing mercy. Your mercy, kindness and generosity shown to someone else is a witness for your Lord; plus, God rewards the merciful in wonderful ways.

Check out what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:

“Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.” — “Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.” (Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭17-21‬ MSG)

– Pastor H. Gene Allen