A New Day!

A New Day is dawning full of new compassions!

Today is a new day with new opportunities, stresses and surprises. It won't be like yesterday, nor will it be like tomorrow. It is the day the Lord has made for you. It may not go as you have planned, but praise God for His compassions are new every morning and they will not fail! As you go through the day today, trust that the Lord has all you need and watch and wait for His guidance and direction! 

Lamentations 3:21-24 NIV
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Serve in All Kinds of Ways

Jesus served in all kinds of ways. He served as He was walking along the road, went into people's homes, and even after a long hard day "He had compassion on the crowd and taught them." We all have days when we want to just go home, hide ourselves away and just do what we want to do, usually rest. It is good to do this once in a while to recharge, but if an opportunity arises to serve, we should make the most of it! Jesus and the disciples had had a long hard day and were going off to a place to rest, but the people went ahead of them and met them at the shore. Jesus didn't run the other way or say He just didn't have the time or energy, He sat down and ministered to them. God's desire is for us to serve others, that is how we express our love for Him. Today as the opportunity to serve another arises, be an imitator of Christ and serve wherever.

Hebrews 6:10-12 NIV

10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Mirror Mirror

Mirrors are a blessing and a curse. They are there to let you know you forgot to fix you hair before you left the house, but they are also there to let you know you need to forego the sweets a bit more often. Mirrors force us to examine our physical bodies, looking for blemishes, wrinkles, and extra weight, prompting us to make changes. How do we examine our spiritual self? We use our spiritual mirror, the Bible. Jesus made it very easy, "love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." Our spiritual mirror shows us when we have been jealous of another's success, boasting of our own success, put our desires before another's, and gossiping. It also shows us when we have lifted up a friend in prayer, stopped to help a stranger, made a meal so someone wouldn't go hungry.  Take some time today to look in your spiritual mirror, examine your faith, don't be surprised if you see Christ looking back at you! There may still be pieces of you in the reflection, but we are a work in progress!

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 NIV

5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.

Shaken and Stirred

Though they may not be earth-shattering to others, our difficulties can shake us to the core. When we struggle over child-rearing, issues with co-workers, marriage, or illness, our focus tends to be on the struggle itself and not on the power of God to get us through it nor a peace that He is in control. Yet in these verses, God promises us that His love for us will not be shaken nor His peace for us removed. If you world is shaking today, stop and spend a few minutes with this verse, feeling God's love, peace and direction. Things may not turn out as you desire, but if we trust God then the outcome will be what is best for us. 

Isaiah 54:10 NIV

10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Hear for Ourselves

When we first believed in Christ, it was because we had heard about Him from someone else. They shared what they knew about Christ. Once we accept Christ into our lives, we should no longer rely on what someone else says about Him, we are to develop a personal relationship with Him by reading the Bible (hearing for ourselves) and talking to Him through prayer. When we faithfully do this, we know for ourselves that Christ is really the Savior of the world. Today spend time getting to know Christ more!

John 4:42 NIV

42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Will I Get an Answer?

When we call on the Great Creator, do we really believe He will answer us? Do we go to prayer just hoping to hear an answer or pray thinking "will this do any good?" In these verses, God first establishes who He is and He power to accomplish great things, then He tells us He will answer us. We need to go to prayer not just hoping for an answer, but expecting it! We need to go to prayer believing God will tell us great things. As you prepare to pray today, begin with an attitude of expected answer and then wait for it because God will respond.

Jeremiah 33:2-3 NIV

2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Ordinary Things

To paraphrase Oswald Chambers- we all have what it takes in our own pride and human nature to handle a crisis, it is living the life of a saint 24/7 that we need the supernatural grace of God.  Often we think we have to do great things for God, but what is important is doing great in the everyday things of life. Being exceptional at folding the laundry, picking up another's trash, teaching a child, sharing a laugh or smile, help when someone is sick, or just doing your job.  Today, don't worry about one great big thing for God, just do the best at each small task He gives you and that will be all the praise and glory He desires!

Luke 10:34 NIV

34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Around, Over or Through

I have had the opportunity to pray for many friends this week for different reasons. As I was praying I thought about our difficulties, our broken pieces and injured selves and the obstacles ahead for many. As I started to pray that these all be removed, I realized that might not be God's plan. He maybe taking us through the obstacles instead of around or over them. We may have to suffer injuries so to speak so we can be healed by the Great Physician. We may have to be torn so God can bind us up. These difficulties maybe what brings us to a deeper dependence and love for God. As you face difficulties today or have the opportunity to pray for someone, remember that the Lord heals and binds our wounds, especially the ones He intends for us to grow from.

Hosea 6:1 NIV

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.

Today is the Day!

This verse was the title of a famous sermon by Presbyterian minister, Clarence Macartney. His point was that Christ never says "tomorrow", He always says "today." If Christ has put something on our hearts to do, then today is today. No excuses will suffice. Today is the day to accept Christ and today is the day to let Him be the main focus of our lives. Do your best to live today for Christ, don't put off till tomorrow because it is never tomorrow! 

2 Timothy 4:21a NIV

21 Do your best to get here before winter.

Advice!

Advice is interesting. We seek it, but often we don't follow it. Sometimes it is offered when we don't want it. Think about all the advice your mom gave you when you were younger and how silly it seemed at the time, but now where would you be without it. The verse today says a wise person listens to advice and the foolish does his own thing. God uses many methods to advise us, through the Bible, our family and friends, sermons, and even those we don't know or like much. It is our choice to be foolish or wise. The next time you receive advice truly listen, even if it is something you don't want to hear. 

Proverbs 12:15 NIV

15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Get Back!

Satan is very busy, especially with Christians. He is waiting, ready with a small voice of doubt, insecurity, pride, ready to get us to take our mind off of the love, power and saving grace of Christ. After I prayed for a young lady last night, Satan started in with, "you prayed the wrong thing, your prayer wasn't good enough, you shouldn't have prayed". The doubt and defeat started to creep in, but then aloud I said, "Get back Satan! You aren't in control!" Satan will try to worm his doubts and worries into our lives, but we have to remember that Christ is here, ready to help us put Satan behind us.  We have to believe that if we have the concerns of God in mind, what we do will be the right thing! 

Mark 8:33 NIV

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

He's Got the Power

When was the last time you went to God and said, "Lord I am at the end of my rope, but I know that your are there and you can help?" Too often we turn to others when we are at the end of our rope, when we think that we can't take one more step, our eyes are on family or friends instead of on God. God can not only supply us power in major stresses in life, but He can also provide us power to fold the next load of laundry, answer another phone call, talk to another disgruntled person, or trying to get a toddler to sleep. God is beside us, full of immeasurable power, we just have to turn our eyes toward Him!

2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV

12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

What did you say?

Slander and gossip is such a big issue in the world today. Some seem eager to share their negative thoughts of others with anyone who will listen. I would guess we have all been hurt by slander or gossip, sometimes to great detriment to our character.  We can't control what others say about us, but we can control what we say about them. We likely want to defend ourselves and criticize them, but we are instructed to forgive and speak kindly to them. Have you forgiven those who have gossiped about you or made false statements about you? Have you resisted the temptation to bad-mouth them? We are forgiven for what we say and we have to forgive others for their words too. It isn't easy, but with the right heart attitude, we can do it.  

Mark 3:28 NIV

28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter,

Unfailing

There a word in this verse that is very important, "unfailing." It is not just in God's love that He leads us but His unfailing love. Why is that so important? All of us at some point in time have made a wrong decision, not listened or didn't hear God and went down the wrong path, but because God's love is unfailing He never fails to guide us back to the right path. He waits for us to hear Him and follow His lead. God knows that our journey will be full of twists and turns as we learn to trust Him and He will never fail us or stop loving us because of the wrong turns. Remember He has an unfailing love for you!!

Exodus 15:13 NIV

13 In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Who Am I Serving

What would our days be like if we did everything as if doing it for the Lord? Whether it is making breakfast, mowing the lawn, folding clothes, fixing leaking faucet, fixing someone else's mistake, or just opening the door for someone, we do it for God. I think it would bring joy to the most mundane or messy jobs, it would a peace in the midst of chaos. It would help us keep our focus on God. Today try to do each and every task as if for God, let us know how your day went!

Ephesians 6:7-8a NIV

7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do

The Lord Prepares Us

Has anyone ever asked you to speak at an event, teach a class, or lead a group, and your first thought was, "I don't know enough to do that!" You fear you won't say the right or wise thing or you won't know an answer to a question. Notice in this verse, Isaiah didn't say, "I am well-instructed because I have study hard and read much." He said, "The Lord has given the words to say that sustains the weary!" You may not know the answers to the questions or stumble over the right choice of words, but if you answer the Lord's prompting to serve Him, He will supply all you need to do the job! When asked to serve, all you have to do is say yes! God will provide whatever it is you need to do the work! 

Isaiah 50:4 NIV

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

Share Your Story!

In this verse, Paul is beginning to tell King Agrippa his story, his conversion, his accepting Christ as his savior. Just like Paul, each one of us has a story. It probably isn't as dramatic as Paul's, but it is still a story that needs to be told. By sharing how Christ came into our lives, we give others hope and encouragement. Maybe you were in church from a baby but really didn't know Christ until you were almost 40. Maybe you never went to church and through a co-worker came to see Christ. However you came to love the Lord, you need to share it with others because your story may just be the one that helps them on their way knowing Christ as our beloved Savior! Never hesitate to share, yours is a story with knowing!

Acts 26:4 NIV

4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem.

Mountains and Valleys

Moses had been on the mountaintop with God for a long while and the Israelites were getting restless. So instead of believing in what God had just done for them, they went back to pagan ways.  Imagine what Moses was thinking and feeling, he had been enjoying a wonderful, mountaintop experience with God and then God tells him to go down to the stiff-necked people and straighten them out! What a let down! But the valleys are were our faith is exhibited the most, it is where God can use us the most. God gave Moses instructions and direction on the mountain, but he lived it out in the valley. The next time you have a period of rejuvenation, revitalization, and restoration, be prepared for the valley, the drudgery because that is where you will live out the hope God gave on the mountaintop.   

Exodus 32:7-8a NIV

7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf.