Stop, Savor, Shine

     Take a deep breath. Take a few minutes to let the stress go. Today will be just a memory in a short while and, soon, the years will be adding up behind you faster than you can imagine. Those days you thought you wouldn’t survive? You did. The grief you would never get through? You made it. The what-ifs you worried yourself sick over? Most never saw the light of day.

     Today, appreciate the job. Be a light to the people around you and not the complainer, the grudge holder, the angry one in the crowd. Life is so short. What if, because of Christ, we can make life a bit brighter, more hope-filled, an answer to prayer, an avenue to fill a deep need? What if today is different? Take a breath. Savor it. Say a prayer. Help a stranger. Make a phone call. Bring light into the darkness.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Father,

Lift us out of worry, anger, greed and wasted days. Fill us with Your kind of love and hope. Remind us to stop, savor, pray and listen just for today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

He Will Do It

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through, May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

     I love those verses. They remind me that even when I am not faithful, Jesus is. As our Lord, He sanctifies us (keeps transforming us) through and through, even when we don’t feel it or see it ourselves. Even though our physical body changes and ages and eventually wears out, our spirit, in the image of Christ, will never die.

     Our souls (our mind, will and emotions) will follow us into heaven. Believe Jesus today. He calls you, the one and only you, to be His forever. He is faithful and He will do it!

Jesus,

Thank you for sanctifying us, body, soul and spirit. You continue to do Your work in us throughout out lifetime on earth preparing us tot the place You are preparing for us! We are in awe of you.

Amen

His Plans Are Good!

     God has plans for your life. His foreknowledge planted you right here. He knew the years you would be present on the earth. He knew the day you would accept His gift of grace and believe He is the Son of God. Read through the following verses and rest assured. God knows the plans He has for you and they are good!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good  works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

     God never gives up. He continually works before us, beside us and behind us. He picks up the pieces. He reformulates when we stumble or turn away. His purposes and His plans are good. He has prepared good works for us and He has plans to prosper our lives. His love endures forever. Incline your ear to His Words. Meditate on His love and forgiveness. He is for us, not against us!

Jesus,

We want to lead the lives You have planeed for us. Teach us how to listen to the Holy Spirit within us. Let Your voice, let Your Word, let Your love be foremost in our lives.

Amen

Keep Jesus first! Out of town for a few days. See you back here on Tuesday, September 13^th.

Times and Seasons

     Within our finite minds, it is impossible to fathom eternity. To our Father in heaven, a thousand years is but a day.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends, with the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. 2 Peter 3:8

     The disciples and apostles believed Jesus would return to set up His kingdom at any moment. That was 2,000 years ago. Is He slow in coming? To Him, it has been just a couple of days.

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

     If life appears to be speeding by or is not moving quickly enough, don’t worry. Our lives are just a wisp or vapor in God’s sight. He is preparing us for eternity. Rest as we wait for His return. It will be any day now.

Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14

Jesus,

Your time is eternal; our lives but a breath to You. Our greatest hope and blessed assurance is to be with You eternally.  Keep us safely in Your loving arms today.

Amen

Times and Seasons

     September is upon us. The nights are a bit cooler, the sunrise a bit later, the sunset a bit earlier. Slowly, nature around us will fade into the dormant stage, getting ready for winter. All four seasons have their own unique quality and purpose. I appreciate them all, but each season also has its share of challenges.

     We deal with the mid-summer heat, the ice-covered roads, the raking of leaves and the rains of spring.  Do you find yourself in a dormant stage, waiting for a breath of new life? Are you expectantly waiting for a new season with a wedding or a baby or grandbaby? Maybe it is a season of letting go.

     Spring brings hope and rejuvenation, summer the warmth of the noon-day sun and the growing of good fruit and blooming plants. Fall brings fresh color and a cool breeze, followed by the beauty of fresh snow.

     Let’s appreciate each season of life. God gives each of us a certain number of days; none of us know how many. His creation is for us to enjoy and savor.

He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of His work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth, wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. Psalm 104:13-15\

Lord,

Give us grateful hearts in all seasons. You provide enough for each day. We thank You for the creation around us and for the particular season of life we are living right now. Grant us peace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Now and Forevermore

     Placing memory verses within your heart can keep the power of God handy at all times. Memorize verses to protect you, to keep you from worry, to remain faith-filled. I am memorizing Psalm 121. Please read these beautiful words and believe God holds you every single day now and forevermore

I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121

Enjoy the last vestiges of summer. See you on Tuesday!

Wait On The Lord

     Life continually changes. Endings and beginnings. Death and new life. Letting go and waiting for something new. We grasp for our comfort zones. It is hard to move on. The grief and waiting in between brings sorrow as we grieve the past. Is God asking you to wait for a time? To stay still and listen for the next step? That’s what He is doing in my life. I have had to let go of a couple of leadership positions as we transition into a new place of worship.

     I miss the people. I miss the preparation for fall classes and I am still trying to let go of leading a crisis-ministry team. Trusting God through it all is the answer. He knows the plan and I don’t. Waiting for His wisdom and His timing can be frustrating and confusing. We are an impatient group, aren’t we? Today I’ll listen and study, pray and wait. How about you? Don’t simply wait. Wait expectantly.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice. In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Father,

Help us to remember that your timing is perfect. You will answer as we wait expectantly for You. Hear our prayers this morning and we will stay strong.

In Jesus name,

Amen