Christian – Blue Collar Theologian

May 2023 Prayer

Father God, remind us Lord that this is the month, day and second that You have made. Let us rejoice and be glad in this time that You have given us, no matter how difficult it may be.

Lord God, help us to face this new month in boldness and confidence. Help us to face this month exalting You and not ourselves. As chaos abounds and surrounds, may we cling to Your peace. Praise You Jesus that You are Peace. That Peace is indeed a Person and not some abstract thought, feeling or emotion.

Lord God, lead us and guide us this month. May we seek to grow in Christ this month. Lord God, it is the cry of my heart to apply Your Word. Lord God, You care WAY more about our character than what we know. And what we do know, You require us to display in our lives and to act upon it. James tells us very clearly that it is sin to know what to do and not do it.

Help us Lord to not just talk about You this month but to talk with You. To hear You in and through Your Word. Lord God, may we be a people who are like David, seeking Your face. May we long to dwell in Your house more than we want to dwell here on earth. Lord God, please God, protect the young people who do not know anything different than what is happening in this world now. Help believers Lord to navigate and fight the tension of living like Christ in an increasingly hostile world.

Lord Jesus, what a joy it is to serve You. Jesus I ask that You will be our Master more and more. I ask Jesus that You will increase in our lives and that we will decrease. Remove our pride and arrogance. Open our eyes and ears to where we are falling prey to deception and lies.

Lord God, thank You for this reader. Lord, may this reader be blessed by Your salvation this month. May this reader seek Your Kingdom first. Praise You Jesus that Your Kingdom is already, but not yet. Praise You Jesus that You will return. May we be motivated to live by Your Spirit knowing that whether we are alive when You return or meet You in death, may we live confidently that You are who You say You are and that You will bring us home to You, where we will dwell in Your shalom forever and ever and ever.

Lord God, reveal to us what we are holding to tightly this month. Reveal to us Lord where we have set up idols. Reveal to us where we are placing things and people above You. Lord Jesus, I praise You that You are seated on the Throne and that You know the end from the beginning. Lord, again teach us to number our days. Not for greater gain or future reward but because we love You and long to please and glorify You. Thank You again for this reader Lord. May they be encouraged and be an encourager more this month. May all Your people glorify You more this month. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

April 2023 Prayer

Lord God, thank You for this new month. Lord God, please do not let Your people be fooled that this world is getting better. At the same time Lord, help Your people to not be dismayed but to trust You and all that You are doing.

Lord God, as I read current events from around the world and speak with believers from every part of the globe, two thing are certain, no place is safe and evil is rampant everywhere.

Lord God, help Your people shine brighter this month. Lord God, help Your people to stand firm this month. Lord God, may our faith be transformational rather than transactional. May we come to know You more this month.

Lord God, thank You for Your gift of salvation. Lord God, thank You that salvation is not based on my works and efforts. Lord God, thank You that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your work on the cross. Thank You for reconciling Your people to Your Father. Teach us to be more like You, Jesus.

Lord God, thank You for this reader. Fill this reader with courage, boldness and peace in this new month. Lord God, prepare us for this new month and this month for us. Teach us Lord to depend more on You. Help us be more concerned with Your kingdom than the things of this world.

Lord God, may Your people die to sin more this month. May we seek to serve others more this month. May we make less excuses this month and may we take an active interest in others more this month. Lord God, help us to humble ourselves and to be agents of peace and reconciliation. Lord God, thank You that even though community is messy, You do not call us to do life alone.

Thank You Jesus for likeminded people who love, fear and revere Your truth. May we love and stand firm in Your truth more this month. Lord God, no social program will deal with man’s sin issue, only faith in Christ sets captive hearts free. Thank You Jesus for those who will be saved this month, help us to be busy evangelizing and discipling Your people this month. May we be more present with our loved ones this month. May we grow in joy more this month.

Lord God, may we commit our paths and plans to You this month. Help us Lord to be the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Help us to reassure and comfort those with tired and weary souls. May we stand in Your love and grace more this month.

Thank You Holy Trinity for this reader. May Your peace rule and reign in their heart so that they will know and do Your will. Bless this reader Lord as only You can. Thank You Lord for hearing our prayers. Thank You that we are never alone. Thank You Lord for Your grace and mercy. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Sunset March 22, 2023

Lord God, thank You for shapes, colors, clouds, trees. Lord God, the way You create NEVER ceases to amaze me. Thank You Lord God for all the ways that You manifest Yourself to Your people.

Lord God, continue to point people to Yourself through nature and through Your Word.

Lord God, help us to deal with people who are difficult whether they are loud and obnoxious neighbors, difficult family members and co-workers, help us to endure and to not let our emotions over take us when we are annoyed.

Lord God, thank You for this reader. Lord God, thank You that for believers in Christ our afflictions are momentary in light of eternity. Teach us Lord to number our days. Help us to remain humble, not thinking too highly of ourselves.

Lord God, draw this reader closer to You. No matter where this reader is located in Your world, thank You and praise You that Your Son is always shining. Thank You Holy Trinity for this reader. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

March 2023 Prayer

Mangroves, Boca Ciega Bay. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.

Lord God, thank You for this new month. Lord God, teach us to live more for You this month. Father God, guard Your people this month from attacks from wolves who seek to destroy our testimony.

Father God, as natural disasters are affecting millions, we are trusting You Lord to sustain and provide for Your people. Lord God, may we desire to share Jesus with our lost neighbors, friends, coworkers, family members more this month.

Lord God, help us to trust You and Your Sovereignty. May we trust Your Kingship more than our own earthly political systems. Nations are coming against nations and we know Lord these things will happen when Jesus’s return is coming near. Come Lord Jesus!

Lord God, thank You for this reader. May this reader trust You more and seek Your face more this month. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Sunrise and Sunset 22 February 2023

Sunrise, 22 Feb 2023. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn

Lord God, thank You for Your grace and mercy this day. Thank You Jesus that You will never abandon Your people. Lord, regardless whether it is night or day for this reader, may they meditate on Your Word. Lord, may Your Word never depart from our head, heart and hands.

Thank You Lord for this reader. Bless this reader to bless others. Help this reader to help others. Comfort this reader so they may comfort others.

Lord God, may we love others because You first loved us. Your love for us is as constant as the rising and the setting of the sun. May we not fear what man will do to us. May we instead fear, revere and worship You.

Thank You Jesus for Your salvation. Lord God, for the reader who does not know You, may this be their day for salvation. Thank You Jesus that Your Good News is still good, no matter what society says.

May Your people NEVER forget or take advantage of what You have done for us. Lord God, thank You for this reader. Fill this reader with the peace of Your Presence. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Sunset, 22 February 2023. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.

Praying Psalm 98

Psalm 98

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

Lord God, thank You for the new song that Your people in Christ can sing to You. Lord God as You led Israel through the sea and wilderness so too will You lead Your people by grace through faith in Christ alone.

Lord God, thank You and praise You for Your gift of salvation, how sweet Your grace truly is. Lord God, You have made Your salvation known to the world, thank You and praise You that You know who belongs to You. Lord God, may today be the day of salvation for the reader who doesn’t know Christ.

Lord God, even in these trying times of societal, moral and ethical collapse both in the world and in the church, Lord may Your called out people break forth in joyous songs and praises for all that You have done in our lives. Help us stay connected to You.

Lord God, even if Your people don’t praise You, Your creation will. Lord God, may we care for Your creation. The earth is Your footstool and the place where You have revealed Your salvation to us. Where Jesus came from heaven to take on flesh to dwell among us.

Lord God, thank You that You will Judge justly and righteously. Help us to live each day praising You. May we never forget the prayer that changes everything is praise. Father God, we have so many reasons to sing Your praises. Thank You Lord for Your Word. Thank You for this reader. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

February 2023 Prayer

Photo by Boris Pavlikovsky on Pexels.com

Lord God, thank You for this new month. Lord God, may we allow You to lead us and guide us this month. Lord God, help us to listen to Your voice. Lord God, may we allow You to prepare us for all that You have planned for us this month.

Remind us that this world is not our home. As geopolitical issues increase, help us to process what we are hearing and seeing alongside Scripture. Lord God, thank You that Your Holy Spirit will help us and strengthen us when we are tested and persecuted for our faith.

Lord God, may we allow You to put the persecuted church on our hearts more this month. Lord God, help Your people to grow in discernment more this month.

Lord God, I pray against evil agendas that are attempting to infiltrate sound churches. Lord God, I ask that You would give people wisdom and discernment when it comes to the pastors they follow and the worship music they listen to.

Lord God, I pray for the people who are followers of Andy Stanley. What a sad and tragic figure he has become in the church. Lord God, open Your peoples eyes to see what is happening in the world. Lord God, may we never place any person or thing above You and Your Word. May we be more enthralled with Your Good News than with anything this world has to offer.

Lord God, thank You for this reader. Thank You Lord that even when we do not know what to pray we can have confidence that Jesus is interceding on our behalf. Lord God, help us to grow in praying for others. Open our eyes to see the needs around us. May we be intentional about finding ways to share Jesus with others.

Lord God, for my brothers and sisters who have physical, mental, emotional afflictions, I ask Lord God for You to heal them spiritually and to help them endure the trial and season they are in. Thank You and praise You Father that our trials will not last forever!

Lord God, thank You again for this reader! Lord God, may this reader love You more deeply and fully this month. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Blessed

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.

November 2022 Prayer

Photo by Maksim Goncharenok on Pexels.com

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.

Contentment Irony

One of my assignments for this week is to contrast secular contentment with biblical contentment. I have to confess, I have little contentment and joy with this writing class. In fact, taking this class reminds me of how much I hated scholastic writing when I was younger!

The weather where I live is finally starting to feel like Spring. My Okame Cherry tree is starting to bud; yet, I am a malcontent. Everywhere I turn people (myself included) are trying to process how to deal with all the changes that are occurring in our world.

Contentment is truly a learned behavior. Patience is definitely not the first word (nor the top 50 words) that my family and friends would use to describe me. If they were also asked to rate my level of contentment, it would also be really, really low.

We all know the Apostle Paul learned to be content with little or with much (Phil 4:11-12). Contentment is the context of Philippians 4:13 where Paul can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. I will be honest, I keep preaching to myself, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Phil 4:8 ESV); yet my mind is still set on myself and not God.

I praise God there will be a day when all this discontentment, anger and strife will cease. I praise God for the fact that the Kingdom that is coming has NO room for invaders, usurpers, exploiters, oppressors and con artists. I praise God that even when I am a malcontent that the Holy Spirit continues to call me to Himself.

Please folks, do NOT think that I have it all together! The person that I am online, is the same in person. God hates falsity and I do not ever want to have to stand before the Lord and hear Him say that my walk, talk and presence were inconsistent.

There is much in this world to dislike. Each day I am reminded of how little control I have over anything. Areas like thoughts and emotions where God calls me to exercise self-control, I am failing. I know that God is good. I know that God is Sovereign and that God is in control. Even though I absolutely loathe this one class, I know that God will help me see me through.

The greatest indictment on my demeanor at this moment is that I am choosing to have a mindset of a person who has no hope. I tell myself all the time that Christ is enough for me. But if that were true, I would be content “both in [my] circumstances and with [my] circumstances” (S. Ferguson, emphasis original).

Dear reader, how present is contentment in your life?!

Lord God, thank You for Your grace and mercy! Thank You Lord that You are greater than our fears, anxieties and circumstances. Lord God, help Your people to look to You rather than our circumstances. Lord God, help us to trust You as this world spirals more and more out of control. Lord God, as geopolitical alliances change daily, help us to focus on Your Kingdom that is coming, and not on the kingdoms of the world. Lord God, I ask that You bring more people to Yourself through these events. Lord God, help those who are truly lost and hopeless to know they have a hope and home in Christ. Lord God, may we never forget that it is in Christ and for Christ that we live, breathe and have our being. Lord God, thank You for this reader. Lord God, help this reader to cling to You today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.