Lord God, what a magnificent God You are! Lord God, You never cease to amaze me that no matter what the day held, the sun rises and sets on Your schedule. Thank You for this sunset Lord to go with the rain that we so needed today. Thank You Lord for Your grace and mercy.
Lord God, may this reader have a blessed evening, morning or afternoon, depending on where they live. May this reader seek You while there is still time. Thank You Lord that You do truly hold the whole world in Your Hands. Thank You again for this reader. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn
Nathan, PQ and I will be leaving FL today. We have always visited my mom for Thanksgiving. This has been a wonderful and refreshing time in the Lord. My heart is heavy to leave my mom, yet full of love and gratitude. I am so thankful for all the love and support that I receive from my physical and spiritual family.
Thank you dear reader for being on this journey with me. I love you and I look forward to spending more time blogging over the Christmas break.
Lord God, thank You for refreshment and renewal. Thank You Lord God for my mom. Thank You Lord for this reader. Thank You Lord for family. Prepare our hearts Lord to love as You want us to love. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Whipped sweet potatoes with brown sugar, pecans and marshmallows. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
Lord God, forgive us for how often we forget to praise and thank You. May we take time today to reflect on all that You have done for us.
Lord God, thank You and praise You for the gift of fellowship. Thank You Lord for the ability to give You thanks and praise with brothers and sisters all over the world. Lord God, may our thanks and praise be a pleasing aroma to You.
Lord, for our brothers and sisters who live in countries where evangelism is costly, may the lost smell Jesus on our fellow Christians as they live in praise and thanksgiving of who You are and what You have done in their lives. Lord may the Western church learn from the persecuted church as our time of suffering is coming. Thank You Lord for all the examples of Christian witnesses that have gone before us!
Lord God, thank You for this reader. Thank You for giving this reader worth because they are created in Your image. Lord God, thank You for the gift of salvation by grace, through faith in Christ alone.
Thank You Lord for the opportunity to love and serve You. May we serve You well each day that You give us. Help us Lord that when we mess up that may we confess our sin and praise You for the opportunity to walk on Your path again.
Thank You Holy Trinity that You are alive, that You are intimately involved in Your Creation and that You know Your people. Lord, thank You again for this reader! May they thank and praise You today! In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Lord God, thank You for this new month. Thank You and praise You Lord that Your Word does NOT return void! Thank You Lord that You will complete Your Work in us. Lord, help us to be mindful that we do our work in Your strength and not our own. Thank You Lord that Your grace is sufficient and that You give us the energy that we need to complete Your Work. Help us Lord to be focused more on You this month.
Lord God, many countries are having elections this month, help us to trust You and Your rule more than in the rule of man. Lord God, thank You and praise You there will be a day when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to Your glory Father.
Lord God, guide this reader. May this reader draw closer to You and to their loved ones this month. Lord God, many countries celebrate some form of Thanksgiving this month, help Your people Lord to be thankful and grateful each day.
Lord God, remind us more this month that the faith You call us to is not a blind faith, but a reasoned faith. Yes, we walk by faith and not by sight; however, You call us to be discerning and to exercise common sense. Help us to have more discernment and common sense this month!
Lord God, prepare our minds, hearts and hands to suffer for You. This is not easy for me to write, and in all honesty Lord, You know that I would like to delete this last sentence, but I know that it is true. Lord God, You do not call us to be naive about the hardships of this life. This life is NOT easy and it is even more difficult without Christ. Thank You and praise You Jesus that Your burden is easy and light. Thank You Jesus that when we come to You we will find rest for our weary souls.
Thank You and praise You Lord that Your shalom, Your peace is one of wholeness. It is completeness. No matter what we are facing, no matter our physical, mental and emotional deficiencies, weaknesses, and shortcomings we are complete and whole in Christ. Lord, may this reader not lose sight of who they are in Christ this month.
What a blessing and a relief it is Father to know that Your Son and His Work on the Cross has reconciled us to You by grace through faith.
Thank You Lord for the Holy Spirit sealing us. Lord, may we meditate on what it means to be sealed with Your Spirit more this month. Lord God, for those who are sealed with Your Spirit, You are indwelling them, while the devil and his agents can harass believers, remind this believer that it is absolutely impossible for them to be possessed by anyone or anything other than You. Lord, may we never forget that greater are You who is in us, than the devil who is in this world.
Lord God, strengthen Your people all over the world to fear You rather than their circumstances. I know this is easier said than done. Help us Lord to live as victorious and Spirit-indwelled and Spirit-empowered people. Not for show or for greater gain, but out of obedience to You. Help us to obey You more this month. Help us to love You more this month.
Reveal to us Lord what we are holding too tightly. Remind Your people, including myself, that anything we hold too tightly, You will remove from us. And that removal is usually painful. Lord, help us to be cheerful givers in all aspects. Help us to give ourselves away, to show people the love of Christ more this month, even if we get hurt and suffer for it.
Lord, thank You for the opportunity to live in a day and age where we can pray so openly and publicly with one another. Lord God, may this reader be encouraged and strengthened through this prayer. Lord, convict us where we need to be convicted. Help us to bless others and to be strong for our weaker brothers and sisters where there are needs. May we learn to love You and others more this month.
Thank You again Lord for this reader. Thank You again for this new month. Lead us and guide us Lord. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Lord God, thank You for Your magnificent colors! Lord God, as the seasons change help us to reflect that You are in control and that You never change. Thank You and praise You Lord that You neither slumber nor sleep!
Lord God, thank You that as You know each leaf on the tree, each sparrow in the sky, You know each of our needs. Lord God, fill this reader with Your truth and wisdom. Cause this reader to know You more deeply. Lord God, thank You for this reader. In Jesus’s I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn
Last October when we were here, the leaves were not as colorful as this year. I am humbled and amazed by how the Triune God colors His world!
I am so glad for this weekend get away. Nathan is praying for bass! I am praying to enjoy this time out in God’s creation, fishing and taking pictures. (I did bring school work with me as well.)
Dear reader, regardless of where you live, I hope you will take a moment to enjoy God’s creation.
Lord God, thank You for Your magnificent color. I am humbled and amazed by how You reveal Yourself to us through nature. Lord, thank You for Your Word. It is through Your Word that we learn salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. Lord, thank You for this reader. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.Tatum Run boat launch. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
Lord God, I pray for all those who have suffered loss from Hurricane Ian. Lord God, I pray for all those who have suffered loss from Typhoon Noru. Lord God, help my brothers and sisters in Christ cling to You even more this month. Lord God, thank You and praise You that this world is not our home. Lord God, comfort Your people in this time.
Father God, I pray that Your people will seek Your wisdom more this month. Lord God, so much negativity is competing for our attention. Help us to spend time in Your Word to counter all the bad, dark and discouraging news that we hear daily. Lord God, may we not shrink back in fear. May we continue to stand firm in our love and commitment to You. Help us to obey You Lord, even when it is costly.
Lord God, thank You that Your Spirit is with our brothers and sisters in persecuted areas. Lord God, may we never be too bold or too arrogant to think that we are above being deceived and persecuted. May we stay humble in You. May we holdfast to our identity in You. Lord God, help us to know who we are in Christ so that we will not believe the lies of the devil and the world.
Lord God, thank You for this reader. Thank You Lord for their heart to pray and to be prayed for. Lord God, may we pray more this month. May we commune more this month. Lord God, light our hearts on fire more for You this month. Lord God, may we not fear, but trust and believe only in You. May we look for opportunities to share Jesus with the unsaved around us. Holy Trinity, make us more sensitive to You and Your nudges this month. Teach us to be more like You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
US Holocaust Museum, Washington, D.C., photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
Last weekend, Nathan and I went to the Holocaust Museum in D.C. for my birthday. While I have heard the above quote numerous times, the way life is going, this resonates with me even more.
From Genesis to Revelation God calls His people to remember. They are to remember who He is and what He has done. God calls His people to remember who they are in Christ.
God’s people today, especially in the West are being destroyed and swept away by a lack of knowledge, a lack of discernment and a lack of courage.
Now more than ever do believers in Christ need discernment and courage to speak and stand for Christ. Now more than ever Christians need boldness and courage to do what they know is right. Now more than ever do Christians need to come together, rather than divide over secondary and tertiary issues.
It is heavy on my heart how often the persecuted church is missing in our prayers. It also pains me how often we do not pray for unsaved people groups. It pains me that antisemitism is on the rise.
I want to speak and stand for Christ more than I want to be aligned with a political party. Y’all do not need me to tell you that EVERYTHING has become political, regardless of where one lives. We need to speak for Christ even if it is costly.
I pray that we will remember our Triune God. I pray that we will speak and stand for Him, so that when we see the Lord Jesus Christ face-to-face, we will hear, “well done, good and faithful servant.”
Lord God, help us to remember You! Lord, stir our hearts to stand for You, to speak for You, to be Your Hands and Feet in a dark and changing world. Lord God, give us minds to discern error, and courage to speak truth. Help us to be remember You by reading and meditating on Your Word. Help us to be agents of reconciliation, rather than agents of discord. Lord, I ask that You help us to separate from this world system; prepare us to suffer for You. Help us to remember that our affliction will be momentary in light of eternity with You. Lord God, thank You for this reader. Cause this reader to reflect on You today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Lord God, thank You for this new month. Lord God, thank You that Your mercies are new every single morning! Thank You Lord that You are in control and that You know what is happening even when we do not! Lord God, help us to live more like Christ in this new month!
Lord God, help us to NOT be like the scribes and the Pharisees who preach but do not practice (Matt 23:3). Help us Lord to be hearers, preachers and doers. Help us Lord to have words and deeds that glorify You, encourage believers and that point the lost to Jesus. Lord God, help us to not get bogged down with the sin that we see around us. Help us to cling more to You than to this world and our possessions. Help us Lord to prepare for the coming difficulties that we will face; may we prepare in faith and not fear. May we prepare in a manner that pleases You and not pleases ourselves. Lord God, as times become darker and more difficult, help us to care for people, may we not seek our own interests, but take an interest in others as well.
Lord God, thank You and praise You for the opportunity to see Your end time events unfold. Lord God, I know every generation since Christ’s ascension to heaven has thought this, may we not take the time that You have given us for granted.
Lord God, as You and Your Word are attacked more and more in the Western world, help Your people to be confident that Your Holy Spirit will give us words and guide us when we need to speak and stand for You. May we not shrink back in fear, may we not lose heart, may we keep pressing on, knowing that our eternity is safe and secure in You.
Lord God, I thank You and praise You that when You are ready You will hold all those who persecute and oppress Your people accountable. Lord God, I thank You and praise You there will be a day when You will put to an end food, weather, monetary, government corruption and manipulation. I thank You and praise You Lord that You are Just and that You will vindicate Your people. Lord Jesus, help us to not lose sight that You are our Victorious, Overcoming and Soon Returning King. Lord God, You amaze me! Lord, help us this month to be more like John the Baptist stating, “I must decrease and He must increase.” Lord, help us to increase our faith, trust, obedience and dependence on You this month.
Help us Lord to speak with unbelievers who are questioning what they see happening around them that does not make sense. May we affirm to them that without Jesus Christ like makes absolutely no sense and that everything is truly meaningless. Lord God, fill Your people with renewed passion and vigor for You this month!
Lord God, for those who are returning to school may You in Your common grace give them teachers and professors who care about ethics, morality and common sense, even if they are unbelievers. Lord God, for parents who have children going to school, Lord may they not forsake helping their children process what they are learning, even if they go to Christian school. Lord God, for those who are preparing for summer break, help them to finish their school year well. Prepare their parents to have their children home again this summer!
Lord God, thank You for the opportunity to pray with my brothers and sisters online! I know the internet is full of all kinds of evil, filth and trash; however, thank You for this platform and may Christians use the internet responsibly! May we never forget that You know every spoken and unspoken thought that enters our minds! Help us to be mindful in what we are taking in and pouring out. Lord God, help us to be more like Christ in our internet interactions.
Lord God, thank You for this reader! It is a joy and an honor to pray for men and women created in Your image. How much more amazing it is Lord to pray with and for likeminded believers. Lord God, for the person reading this blog who does not know Jesus, may today be the day of salvation. May today be the day where they acknowledge they are a sinner and that they need Jesus Christ to be their Savior and Master. Lord God, for my fellow believers, may we share Christ and be like Christ even more. Thank You Holy Trinity for this reader and for this new month. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
The Lord used David Ettinger’s blog today in my life. When I was studying for my Master’s in Biblical Studies, we wrote paper after paper after paper and I LOVED it!!!! Here at Westminster, we do not write papers, we take quizzes and at the end of the semester are given a final exam filled with multiple choice, fill in the blank type questions.
I absolutely hate that kind of testing! I have been really been wondering why studying God’s Word has been such a hardship for me lately, and through David’s blog I realized it is because outside of my quiet time, I am studying God’s Word to answer questions for a (knowledge) test. That is awful! This is high school and undergrad all over again!!!!!!
I am thankful for the Holy Spirit helping me to identify my issue; I need to know what to do going forward. Praise God I will no longer be taking Greek 3 and Hebrew 1 together, I will take Greek with a systematic theology course.
I have to remind myself that even if I completely bomb this final tomorrow (there is so much info covered this semester it is impossible to absorb and retain it all) that it doesn’t change who I am in Christ or change what my family and friends think of me.
I don’t know if Westminster will ever give us research and writing assignments or if it is all fact/knowledge based testing. I don’t want the next 3.5 years of my life being spent worrying about tests!
I realize this is a TOTAL first world problem! My former Hebrew professor once said to me, “confession is good for the soul.” She is right about that! I am thankful for you dear reader. I am praying that next semester I won’t be such a hermit and will connect with y’all more!!!
Lord God, thank You for convicting me and revealing to me why I am lacking peace. Help not just me but all of us to study Your Word as a form of worship. Help us to encourage believers and to share You with the lost. Thank You Lord for this reader! Stir this reader Lord to love You and Your Word more. Help us to apply Your Word Lord so that we will be a light in this dark and hurting world! Thank You Lord for this reader, bless and guide this reader today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Blue Collar Theologian 