Don’t Give Up

10 07 2014

DSC03705So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. II Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG

Stay encouraged. Don’t give up. We can stay in faith even when things get hard and even we don’t understand. His Grace is unfolding before our eyes. We can focus on what our Heavenly Father is doing and the new life that is created daily in us. Things may be difficult and hard but we can look for His inner renewal to take place in our souls. He can revive our spirits and give us the courage to face what’s next. Discouragement is not of God and should be resisted on every hand. We have to be careful not to let it take root in our hearts. When we feel weary, we can take a moment to reflect on His goodness, His grace and His love that has allowed us to stand where we are today. He provides courage and strength. He provides the direction to move with confidence to take the next step. We will not give up.

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
II Corinthians 4:16-18





Wherever You Go

7 07 2014

Barcelona 2013 084Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9 (Good News Translation)

Living in today’s world, we will experience uncertainty and change.  I imagine when Joshua was called to lead after the death of Moses that He may have had some questions in his heart about how he should proceed. This passage is one of several commandments and promises Joshua receives to assure his success.  He is reminded of the importance of meditating and following God’s Word, while staying on the path of His leading. God also commands Joshua at least three times to be “Strong and Very Courageous” or in this translation “Determined and Confident”.  It is guidance that we all can use in our daily walk in the Lord. This is not the time to be faint-hearted or weary. As we follow God’s leading, we can walk confidently and be assured that our Heavenly Father will be with us every step of the way.





Thankful

3 07 2014

Lifted hands

 

Shout to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with joy;
come before him with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
He made us, and we belong to him;
we are his people, the sheep he tends.
Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving
and into his courtyards with songs of praise.
Thank him and praise his name.
The Lord is good. His love is forever,
and his loyalty goes on and on. Psalm 100

I am giving thanks for this time and this place. I am here because of the blessings of the Lord. He has provided this journey for me and I am thankful. I can rejoice with praises in my heart for He is God. I know that the Lord is God. He is our creator and knows our purpose. He knows everything about us including the hair on our heads and even the tears that fall from our eyes. He is God and we belong to Him. We are His people. I am His child. He is God and in Him there is no lack. He provides for His sheep, for every need and is able to even provide for the desires of our hearts. We belong to Him. He leads and guides us. We can put our full trust in Him. We can thank Him for His goodness. Songs of praise and thanksgiving can fill our hearts and come forth through our lives. He is good. He is good and He is great. His love for us never ends and endures forever. We are thankful.





Being Still

2 07 2014

Tree of lifeBe still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
Psalm 46:10

Creating stillness in your life requires some effort. The world is intent on movement, speed and at a minimum a lot of busyness. All kinds of commitments pull on our time, our resources and our thinking. I imagine a place of stillness as a space where we are focused yet relaxed in the current moment of quietness. It is quiet space where your body and mind are at a state of rest, having full confidence in the God we serve. This is a place of peace, a place of trust and faith in our Father.





Spread His Peace

1 07 2014

Sun RaysAlways be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  Ephesians 4:2-3

Our relationships with one another are precious. Each interaction is an opportunity to build, nurture and create stronger bonds. Careful selection of our words and our actions are an acknowledgement of the love, respect and concern that we have for each other. Our busyness of everyday living may open the door to being too busy for the things that matter most. Extending our love and time with our family members, our loved ones and our sisters and brothers in Christ is essential for creating an atmosphere of peace and unity. Our passage today encourages us to make every effort to maintain unity, using peace as the strong glue that binds us together. Patience, gentleness, forgiveness and love are key ingredients required for our success. We need His peace to reign in our relationships, in our families and our communities. As we start a new day, let us spread His peace in our homes, our neighborhoods and our congregations showing the world that our Savior lives and lives inside of us.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting. Psalm 133:1-3





Make it Plain

30 06 2014

Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV

Is your vision for your life written down? We live in a world where vision and mission statements are plentiful for corporations, non-profits and programs. These statements represent succinct descriptions of why an entity exists (mission) and the desired outcomes of their existence (vision). They serve as guidance for their activities and what they hope to accomplish. I have been through many strategic planning sessions where companies draft and redraft these statements to get it just right. My task now is to consider what would my written vision statement be? Is it something that is a nebulous idea or is it a concrete image that comes to my mind when I think of my life as a Child of God? Our passage today is a reminder from Habakkuk to write the vision down. It will take time, prayer and maybe even some research in the Word of God about what it says about different aspects of our lives: our marriage, our families, our careers, our money, and our health. It will be important for me to hear God’s response to my prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I am thankful to God about this part of my journey to imagine, to dream about my life through the Word of God.

I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster; plans to give you a future filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11





Renewal Comes

27 06 2014

 

HydrangeasDon’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLV

We thank God for renewed mind and spirit today. Jesus can bring a fresh wind in our hearts and minds that give us a renewed sense of purpose and the energy to move in His direction. It comes with a refreshed mind and eyes that can see with a grateful heart of His goodness, His grace and His mercy. We are so thankful that God is our Heavenly Father that can turn our difficult situations into opportunities to grow and to expand and to become the individuals that He is calling us to be. We may be going through a situation that seems long and arduous but there is an end that will come. The hurt will soften and heal, the answer will become clear and God will provide the grace and mercy for you to be able to move forward. We thank God for being the source of renewal and revival in our lives.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLV





God knows and He Cares

26 06 2014

Maui Beach

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  I Peter 5:6-7

We are so blessed to have a God who is omnipresent and all powerful. Our Heavenly Father knows all about what we experience each day. I am doubtful that we can add any knowledge to Him regarding our circumstances. He knows all about what we are experiencing and even the desires of our heart. We can give God praise and gratitude for who He is in our lives. We can demonstrate our confidence in Him concerning His abilities and His love for us. We can stand firmly on His word increasing both our faith and our trust in Him to work it all out on our behalf. We can do our part in working diligently to complete every step that follows His instruction. God knows and He cares for each one of us. We can walk in this promise today and forever more.





Keep Your Hearts and Minds

25 06 2014

Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected .Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

This passage of scripture has blessed me over and over again. During different seasons of my life, the Holy Spirit is gracious enough to remind me where our focus should be in daily living. We are so inundated with things that don’t reflect God, His word or His love. It is a source of discouragement, anxiety and depression if you choose to stay focused on it. Our God provides a perfect place for guiding our thoughts and our actions. It is a place where truth and peace abide for His children. With our focus on Him, we can leave fear behind and walk with His peace in our hearts.

Dear Heavenly Father:
I thank You for this day. I thank You for all the blessings that have allowed me to come to this point in my life. As I move forward, I want to be focused on the truth of your word, which provides guidance and peace for each step in my life. Lord, where I have fallen short I ask for your merciful forgiveness. I am thankful for the promise of peace as I stay focused on You. Have your light and your love to shine bright today every place I go.
In Jesus name, Amen





By Faith

24 06 2014

DSC02708

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.

By faith he lived in the land he had been promised as a stranger. He lived in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were coheirs of the same promise.   He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.   Hebrews 11:7-10

Living fearlessly would not be the most accurate description of my life.  I have tended to walk lightly taking chances where risks could be calculated and minimized.  On some fronts it has served me well but it has also robbed me of some experiences that only come with “walk on water” faith.  I think about people in the Bible, who were called to do things that way out of their comfort zone.  A young teen named David who faced Goliath.  Moses who experienced a speech problem but spoke out on behalf of God’s people and Esther a Queen who risked it all to save her people.  These may seem like extreme examples or things that would definitely cause us to be out of our zone. But God calls us to live a life that puts our full trust in Him.  Our trust cannot wrapped in our capabilities, our resources or the people we love.  It has to be in Him.

What is God is calling us to do today by faith…

“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  Matthew 14:9