Monday, February 29, 2016

A Prayer For When We Feel Or Are Hated by Others - Monday, February 29, 2016



Heavenly Father,
When the world hates us for Your name sake, help us to not grow weary as You experienced all this and much worse than this and more.


Help us to to seek to be peacemakers and trust in You as much as possible in such times as... 


When lies and accusations fly... 
When people in and out of the body of Christ misjudge or make false assumptions of us... When people block us on social media etc with no explanation... 
When people ignore us...
When people mistreat us... 

When people reject us... 
When people don't love us... 
When people don't recognize our abilities, skills and talents...
When people are harsh with us... 

When people propagate false information or reports about us... 
When people don't seek first understand us... 

Help us to remember that You've experienced much worse and You are righteous, loving, kind and just.

Help us guard our hearts and minds.


Help us to understand that You know our hearts and minds and You know the truth about each situation and circumstance.


You will set the record and path straight in Your time as You are a righteous King.


Help us to to proclaim Your good news no matter what we face.


Help us to be ready to give the reason for our faith and joy in Christ at all times.


Help us cling to and trust in You always.


Help us to help others do the same.


In Jesus name I pray, Amen.



rlk


#Prayer #nohate #love #justice #ashepherdsheart #hate
#bible #righteous #heart #mind #soul #strength #earth #peace #love #joy #patience #kindess #goodness #selfcontrol #righteousness #purpose #peacemaker #prayerwarrior

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Jumping Through Hoops




Sometimes in life you come across "Hoops to Jump Through" and you have to decide whether or not to jump through said hoops. 

For whatever reason some in leadership including those who should be encouraging you and believe in you (Leaders and even "friends") have expectations of others that they themselves couldn't even meet if they faced the same expectations. 

None-the-less sometimes they will expect you to jump through hoop after hoop until they'll recognize your abilities, skills and efforts. 

Yes, it would be much simpler if they'd see and pay attention to your efforts first so the hoops can be avoided but it comes to a point again, where you have to decide if you're willing to continue to jump through the hoops, which hoops to jump through and when enough is enough.

Monday, February 22, 2016

A Prayer for the Brokenhearted - Monday, February 22, 2016

Read Psalm 34:18 ESV, Psalm 147:3-6 ESV and Romans 8:27-28.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray for those who are, have been or will be brokenhearted. Unfortunately and sadly it's inevitable because this life is hard many times and we live in a broken world but we still know You'll work things together for good! 

Whatever causes the times of being brokenhearted in each case, may You:

-Minister to us and lift us up that we may shift our focus on You.

-Help us understand how close You are to the brokenhearted.

-Help us to never forget that You've never promised that life will be easy but You we do know that you are faithful, Holy and know what's best for us through what you allow to impact us including the choices we make sometimes. 

-Help us to learn and grow through these times and may we experience Your peace even amidst these hard times of brokenness.

-Help us cling to You and cry out to you all the more as You're faithful and true.

-Help us to experience Your Joy amidst the pain and heartache. 

-Turn our brokenness into another step toward being complete in You!

-Help us understand that being brokenhearted is temporary...and You can turn what seems like ashes into something beautiful in the process.

-Help us on the really tough days...simply get out of bed and see that day, no matter how tough it is, no matter the devastation we feel, as a gift from you, a new start, a chance to do things better, differently...including striving to do our part in whatever the circumstances to not make the same mistakes or choices again if we indeed contributed to that circumstance leading to our hearts breaking. 

-Help others make good choices too.

-Help us to avoid being brokenhearted in the first place if possible. 

-Help us to see our complete need for You and that You know us by name (and have known us by name even before we were born) and have been drawing us to Yourself since the day we were born! 

-Help us to turn toward You and receive Your free gift of salvation (if we haven't already) and walk with You all the days of our lives. In this sense our hearts are born broken because of sin and You're the great physician and healer of our hearts. 

-Help us to remember that You're the great physician and healer of our hearts.

-Help us especially during these hard times to pray as we should and read, study and abide in Your Word as we should.

I praise You and thank You and ask all these things in the name above all other names, Jesus, Amen.

-rlk



How to be saved: http://ashepherdsheart.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-romans-road.html

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Suicide Is Not The Answer



PLEASE take a few moments to watch and share this vital message from Pastor Rick Warren either for yourself or with a friend, family member or colleague who is struggling with depression or worse...thinking about ending their/your life. He shares helpful information and a phone number that can be the lifeline someone may need today. He helps give tools to also equip others to help others!

Many of you may not know this but I've walked this road friends and in high school and in my early twenties my depression got so bad I went down the road wanting to end it. Depression, Anxiety, etc is no joke and there are many reasons for it and we need to take it seriously. We need to help others or if it's us...we need to reach out for help ourselves no matter how awkward or hard it is!


Your life matters, all lives matter and don't make the mistakes that myself and many others have made by keeping it to yourself. Get help! 


You're not worthless but you are worthy and take it from me...your life impacts countless other people whether you know it or not and the loss of you, or your friend or colleague will make a huge impact on everyone...suicide is not a solution...it solves absolutely NOTHING. Don't walk this road alone...reach out...I pray you do! Please watch this and pass it on!





Praying for you!

rlk

P.S. I've been wanted to make a video of my own about this important topic and someday I will...in the mean time..watch this video. PLEASE PASS THIS Important Message on please!

Monday, February 15, 2016

A Prayer for Remembering God in the Mundane - Monday, February 15, 2016


Dear Heavenly Father, You know my/our heart(s) well, I come before you now asking that You help me/us to daily see you in the mundane things of life. 

I pray I/we never take You for granted as it's in even the mundane things that we can see You and experience Your grace and love and yet we often take these moments for granted when in actuality we can devote ourselves to You all the more in prayer and throw practical day-to-day worship through the gift called life you've given us. 

I/We can see You and worship You while...

...we rise in the morning and get ready for the day ahead
...we see the sunrise and sunset You've created
...we hear the birds sing
...we work
...while we play or vacation
...we take the trash out
...we do the dishes
...we maintain the home You've given us.
...we seek to be stewards with the resources you've given us.
...we're stuck in traffic on the way to work or appointments.
...we exercise
...we meet with friends for coffee
...we pay our bills
...we have to make difficult decisions
...we deal with difficult people
...we work through family issues
...we grieve the loss of someone we love
...we battle through health or financial crisis

...we go to the dentist
...we go to the doctor
....and many many other things

You instruct us in Your word to do everything unto You for Your glory! (Colossians 3:23)
Please help us do just this Lord...bring You glory and may we do so operating in and by Your strength and for Your glory as it's in the mundane things of life or even the less mundane things that I/we can encounter You and seek to glorify You as You seek to shape and mold us for Your kingdom, glory and our good!

Help us Father to remember You no matter the circumstance. Help us Father remember you in the mundane things of life.

I praise You Father for Who You are and all that You have done and continue to do in and through Your people and Your creation. 

I praise You, thank You and wait expectantly for answers to prayer, in Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

-rlk

Thursday, February 11, 2016


Read: Hebrews 5:11-14, James 1:22, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 4:2 and Romans 10:17

Quite a few years ago when my kids were little, I remember when they transitioned from formula or milk to baby food and then eventually more solid or normal foods like you and I eat. If they stayed with just formula or milk alone their growth wouldn't be sufficient as it wasn't enough as they grew and became more active. They would be hungry non-stop like they were when they were babies and they'd never be satisfied.

I can't imagine at the age they are now if they only drank milk and ate baby food! Wouldn't be a good picture of health as their growth would have been or would be stunted...and if you have teenagers or early twenty somethings you know they are ALWAYS hungry!

How about you and I!? Life would definitely be completely different on a liquid or soft food / baby food diet. You might lose some needed weight but you wouldn't be satisfied.

The other thing I remember about the baby food stage...is that it was quite messy at times and there were also times where if we purchased store bought baby food that every so often for one reason or another there was a recall on baby foods. It's a good thing those companies were paying attention as sometimes it led to serious health related issues and other times it was just precautionary but either way it was necessary.

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

He is Near...

I pray that this brief video is an encouragement to you during the season of life that you're in.

Especially if you're going through a season where your heart is broken, you're experiencing heartache, or if you're mourning the loss of a loved one or broken relationship...whatever you're facing or going through may you be encouraged that... He is near! 



https://youtu.be/u1OQhLKv_aQ
 
Many Blessings,

rlk

Monday, February 01, 2016

The Potter and The Clay



Please take a few minutes and read this great post I ran across recently regarding the Potter and the Clay:


I've always loved the potter and clay imagery in the scriptures as it's so vivid and meaningful. 

God wonderfully depicts how He continues to progressively sanctify us as He smooths out the rough parts (which are many for most, lol) and shapes us into something amazing and useful for Him, His kingdom, glory and our good! 

Blessings! 

-rlk 




Disclaimer: Please note, although this post is wonderful and very appreciated, A Shepherd's Heart or Randolph Koch are not responsible for the views or conduct of the author as I do not personally know the author and therefore don't have firsthand knowledge of their conduct. This by no means is meant to imply they are not a fine follower of Christ but since they are not connected with this site or it's curators, it's important to state the before mentioned

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Audio / Video Venture

Hello,

Would appreciate prayers for God's provision of the funds for the basic audio and eventually video recording equipment (Like the Zoom H5 or maybe their flagship H6 plus memory card, case, etc. 

H5 is cheaper/more affordable) I'm working to acquire for audio/video ministry project including but not limited to Audio Podcasts and Videos for teaching and encouragement. 

If God leads, please prayerfully consider helping with this audio/video adventure via the following link: https://store7359482.ecwid.com/ Select Audio / Video Venture from the catalog. (I.E. A quantity of 1 = $1.00)

Thanks for your prayers! 

rlk

Friday, November 13, 2015

Transparency


Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a personal struggle, season of trial or time where you're really going through something and could really use some help? There may be that hesitation to share it...especially with certain people because by all means you "have be careful" with whom you share with. You have to have the trust factor with them.

It's sad because so many suffer through things without telling anyone for fear of being judged because it seems some just don't care or are simply rude!  Ever shared with obviously the wrong person (as you find out later)? Then you know what I mean!

No one should  have to go through these seasons alone and you and I should be able to find support, encouragement and comfort by being surrounded by those who care and will walk through those seasons with us...because they actually care!

Then there are those who don't share because they've bought into the lie that they don't need anyone!? Or, those who don't ever want to give the perception that "they've got it all together!"

There are also people who just don't care about anyone else in general that's a bleak existence to say the least but on the flip side...there are those who do genuinely care.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Gender Equality and Fifty Shades of...Oh My!


Gender equality, a topic and cause that is widely thought about, discussed and debated.

There is a big push for this and in an age where gender equality is fought for in the USA for many various reason and hoped end results as well as globally there seems to be conflicting thoughts and actions on this.

Equality should be fought for and especially in countries where women and children are treated like they are property... which is disgusting that anyone is treated like this!
Through what I share here, I’m not not jumping on any band wagon, rather, I've been processing thoughts about this for a while and I’m attempting to articulate them here...

Monday, October 12, 2015

Updated Distribution List and Free 5 Day e-Devotional!


Hello!

Just a message to help you our loyal and amazing subscribers with some house keeping regarding your subscription and to provide a quick update. 

Whether you're reading this online or received this delivered to you via e-Mail, we wanted to make you aware of a current update we're making to our distribution list.

1. We're getting ready to do a re-launch of the blog with more regular / weekly posts!

2. If you're receiving this via e-Mail then you are either on the original list or have recently signed up via the new form (WELCOME!) which is located toward the top right of this page which is the new distribution list.

The new list (via MailChimp) allows us to send you content when you sign up as a thank you and also from an administrative standpoint, it allows us better list management options. It also allows you the ability to manage your subscription.
  • For instance, if you signed up within the last week, you would have received a confirmation e-Mail with a link to a free 5 Day e-Devotional as a thank you! 
  • If you signed up before this past week, you didn't have this option but now you do!
  • So, if you'd also like the free e-devotional (or you're simply visiting this site and would like it as well!) please feel free to sign up via the new form and you'll receive the link to the free download as well. 
  • Please note: Full site view required to see the form as for some reason mobile view doesn't allow you to see the form to sign up.
If you do nothing, no worries, you'll still receive the posts that come through but if you'd like the e-devotional, again, feel free to sign-up via the new list and encourage your friends to do so as well! :-)
  • One note, if you are on the original list (prior to the last week or so via feedburner) then if you sign up on the new list you may receive duplicate e-Mails for a period of time unless you #1 unsubscribe from the feedburner list or #2 send a mail to ashepherdsheart.blog@gmail.com and let us know that you were previously signed up on the feedburner list and we can then go manually remove you from that list.  

You're prayers are appreciated for God's leading regarding the future content that will be shared here to encourage and challenge you in your walk with the Lord!

Thanks for your time! Feel free to drop us a line at the above e-Mail address if you have any question, prayer needs, topic ideas, etc. 

Many Blessings In Christ,
Your brother and servant,

Randolph Koch