June 30, 2017 - Commitment

One of my greater vices is to put things off until the last minute. My days are full. The busyness astounds me at times. When I do find a moment at a slower pace, I convince myself that I can put the deed aside and tackle it in its 9^th hour. I get a lot of things done this way, but it becomes exhausting at times. God does not reflect this type of behavior. He models an orderly life. He does not let go until all needs are accounted for and remains to celebrate the victory with us. When we approach our day with the mind of God, persevering to ensure His work is done, then we will find our rest time filled with peace, grace, and celebration.

And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. – Luke 12:42-43

June 27, 2017 – Rain

There is a song I sing in chorus that holds these words: “You’ve been searching for yourself for such a long time…and a man like you will always choose the long way home. There’s no right or wrong. I’m not here to blame. I just want to be the one to keep you from the rain…”, Come in From the Rain, Melissa Manchester. I pray that you will hold this beautiful and peaceful thought within your soul whenever you find yourself wandering within a storm. Our Lord patiently waits for you to come home. Let His Holy Spirit wash through you, within the rains, bringing you to Him with no blame, no right or wrong; just loving arms to make things all right.

Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As the droplets on the fresh grass And as the showers on the herb. For I proclaim the name of the LORD; Ascribe greatness to our God!… - Deuteronomy 32:2-3

June 26, 2017 – Perseverance

You are a child of God, a child of the universe, created superior to all of God's creations - including the sun, the moon and the stars. When the power of God is allowed to flow freely through you; when His Holy Spirit fills an accepting, trusting soul; this is when we feel the true greatness of our God Almighty. Then the challenges and surprises we find along the path become ok; not always great, but at minimum, ok. We can face another day. We can take on the next snag. For, reminded of the greatness of God, we will carry on.

Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16

June 25, 2017 – Rock

Life is hard. There are struggles and challenges. Many surprises usurp our day. But there are many good, and even great, moments. In each of these times, whether minuscule or colossal, our earth rocks. We feel the elation of success, the satisfaction of accomplishment, and in this we find hope and inspiration to carry on in every challenge that comes our way. 

God, when you set out at the head of your people, when you strode over the desert, the earth rocked...you rained down a shower of blessings, when your heritage was weary you gave it strength.  - Psalm 68:7,8a,,9

June 24, 2017 – Questions

Life is filled with challenges, frustrations, and so many questions as to "why". Some moments are completely overwhelming and we cannot fathom any way possible that we can make it through them. But we do not need to know the "why's" or even the "how's". We only need the faith to know that God loves us and is working through our every moment to make all things work for our good. Let God hold all your fears, worries, and anxieties. His wish is for joy. Trust in Him, and know that all is working within His plans.

Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. And when the crop is ready, at once he starts to reap because the harvest has come. - Mark 4:27, 29

June 23, 2017 – Renewal

Each morning brings us another chance to renew our lives. Today, let us look to the heavens with a smile on our face and welcome the world as it is handed to us. Our Heavenly Father is here through every moment, hard or soft; walking the path with us and offering His guidance. In His strength and mercy, we can choose joy.

I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. -  1 Chronicles 29:17a

June 22, 2017 – Rest

There are those days when we get the awesome privilege of taking a step away from the every day. These may come in small moments or grand, but whenever the opportunities come, do not let them pass you by. God sends these to you as a way to renew your soul. Give Him thanks and fall into His incredible mercy and love. In this, you will draw strength for the more challenging days to come.

By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. - Genesis 2:2

June 21, 2017 – Goodness

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Sometimes I forget. I think about what I have lost instead of what I have. - Francine Rivers, "Unshaken"

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your loving kindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD. -  Psalm 25:7

June 20, 2017 - Call

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God does not promise that life will be easy.  He promises that He will be there to take us through it. When we open our hearts to His call, and seek to know His Will, we may not always understand where He is leading us. But remembering our faith helps us to keep going; trusting in God helps us to stay strong; hoping in His promise helps us to stay positive; and loving God with all our heart helps us to stay true. You may never see the fruits of your labor, but rest assured that when you follow the conviction of Christ’s call in your heart, you are sowing seeds for the Kingdom of God. 

Yahweh says this: “I remember your faithful love, the affection of your bridal days, when you followed me through the desert, through a land unsown.” – Jeremiah 2:2b

June 18, 2017 – Fatherhood

The most pure form of Fatherhood is revealed to us through our Heavenly Father in His gift of His Son. Thank you to all of the Fathers who walk in His Faith and are filled with His Grace. 

So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." – John 8:19

June 17, 2017 - Grace

Every day is a gift from God. When we are fortunate enough to be in a "good" moment, we should embrace it with the joy God intended for us. We will have our turn at the "not so good" times which, within these also, we find God's Grace. It is His goodness that leads us and grows us in each place.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; - 2 Peter 1:2

June 16, 2017 – Climb

My house sits on a hill. Going anywhere, I travel downhill; to return, up. There are days that my morning walk or bike ride takes more out of me than expected. Becoming sidetracked by the scenery or losing track of time takes an extra toll on me. On these days, the hill back home is a challenge. When I’m walking, I have to stop, stretch and rest before I can go further. On my bike, the best method is to turn around and start from a smaller hill to be able to gain momentum. Simply coasting along is not an option. A focused, determined effort makes that final climb home. Life is filled with hills. Given each moment, we may be coasting or climbing. And when the climb becomes more than we can handle, we must stop; “stretch” through prayer, and rest in God’s mercy. There are times we may even have to go back a few paces in order to move forward; but, with our focus on God, the climb will bring us home.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Climb up this mountain of Abraham, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel. When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was;… - Numbers 27:12-13

June 15, 2017 – Holiness

To live your life well, to call on God’s Will in every moment, no matter where the moment finds you: this is holiness. May our first and our last step each day be made in honor of the life that has been given us.

... and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:24

June 14, 2017 – Own

Those who believe in Christ Jesus belong to Him. However; I believe that, at times, many Christians forget that likewise, Jesus belongs to us. He gave Himself to us as the ultimate sacrifice, the atonement for our sinful selves. He gave us His humanity as a person who can relate to us and understand our every moment -- as our guide to show us the Way; a source of strength, wisdom and power. He is our true and unwavering friend and, as part of the Trinity, He is our connection to God the Father and the Holy Spirit. In times of pain, sorrow, doubt, misery, joy or jubilation, we own this privilege. As you place yourself in His hands today, claim each moment for Christ; for you own the power of His saving blood in your life.  

For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory. But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God. He has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment. – 2 Corinthians 1:20-22

June 13, 2017 – Mercy

God places many in our path that are there to help us get to heaven. Sometimes these people are not recognizable. These are the ones who cause us to grumble and complain. These are the hard to get along with, the irritators. They rub us the wrong way, make our skin crawl, you name it. These are the ones that are our true test of worthiness. For when we look into the eyes of the beggar, the sick and dying, or the irritator, we sometimes fall short of the goal of our Lord: to welcome all into His Kingdom.  When we align ourselves with Christ, taking on His compassion and mercy, we will be able to look at all who stand before us with love. This is the true test of worth for all of us. In Christ's mercy, we will all join together in Heaven.

But you are the ones who play the enemy to my people. From the inoffensive man you snatch his cloak; on those who feel safe you inflict the damage of war. - Micah 2:8

June 12, 2017 – Creation

We can never find the true defining glory of God. Every corner we turn, every path we take, every endeavor we embark on, turns up yet another amazing insight to our incredible Maker. And within it all, He found the loving mercy to place me.

And if they have been impressed by their power and energy, let them deduce from these how much mightier is He that has formed them, since through the grandeur and the beauty of the creatures we may, by analogy, contemplate their Author. – Wisdom 13:4-5

June 9, 2017 – Fail

I had an epic gardening fail. I planted sun flowers in the shade. I thought I was being brilliant. I speculated the orbit of the earth around the sun and just knew that, when the plants came up in the summer, the earth would be in the perfect place to have the sun shine right where I planted.  The fail: trees produce leaves in the summer. So, I toil to help these plants receive nourishment in other ways; but nothing is as good as the sun’s vitamin D. I will most likely end up cutting them all back and replanting them to another spot.  How often do I, a child of God, forget that I must walk in His Light? Thinking I can do things on my own, my life becomes weak and frail. I find myself spending extra time trying to make things right. There are even those moments when life cuts me back and sets me in a different place than expected. Yet, when I walk God’s Light, I find the strength and endurance to find success wherever I am planted. 

So I answered them and said to them, "The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build. – Nehemiah 2:20a

June 8, 2017 - Truth

How much truth do we need to know? God has given us Scriptures, Tradition, His Living Son, and His Holy Spirit. Within each lies His Truth. Yet, God has chosen to send us little bits, in little chunks. Some followers are ready for the complete picture. Those are called Saints and live in Heaven. For us on earth, we must be content with knowing that God reveals what we need to know on the level we need to know it. It is not for us to judge how much another knows, or how much information is revealed to them. Our role is to listen with the Holy Spirit, rely on Christ's examples, and read the Scriptures with the mind of God. Then, in God's Omnipotence, truth will be revealed.

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. – James 5:19, 20

June 7, 2017 – Pause

Life brings us many moments within every day. Take the time to pause and reflect on each one: the good and the bad, the small and the large. Let your mind rest in the new knowledge received; not so much as ‘judgement’ or ‘reasoning’, but as ‘knowing’.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. – Luke 2:19

June 6, 2017 – Encourage

When we are faced with a journey that calls us to be something greater than we suppose we are, remember, Christ is before us and is leading us in every moment. It is in Him that we have our strength and through our faith and trust in Him we will find success and His Glory will prevail.

To end then, brothers, we wish you joy; try to grow perfect; encourage one another; have a common mind and live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. - 2 Corinthians 13:11

June 5, 2017 – Joy

What brings you joy; not just laughter here and again, not just satisfaction from completing a task, but true, peace-giving, soul-reaching joy? True joy lingers even after the moment. It penetrates our being and invigorates, enabling us to have the stamina to carry on in the not so joyful moments. Make certain to make time to be joy-filled. Put the world on hold, and spend quality time with your God. Give Him all that binds you – and let go. It will all be here when you return and you will be able to face it with renewed clarity, passion, perseverance, and joy.

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. – 1Thessalonians 2:19, 20

June 2, 2017 – Understood

Living your life as a beacon of Christ isn’t always fun and games. There are time when you feel no one understands and your efforts are not worth the frustration. Yet, we must remember, that Jesus is the ultimate Judge. He understands every ounce of our being and of those around us. Place your hope in Him. Trust in His bidding and become confident that, as long as you seek and do His will, you are right where you should be.

“When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive. – Acts 25:18,19

June 1, 2017 - Temptations

Time spent contemplating whether or not we should embark on something we know is not good for us is actually time that allows that temptation to imbed itself deeper into our lives.  Put your thoughts on God.  Praise His Name. Focus on His goodness, mercy and love.  Give thanks for all the gifts you have and are to receive. You will find your strength becomes a natural element within you. When you join with Christ and our Holy Spirit and take on the Essence of God, temptation will turn away.

All the gods of the heavens are idols. It was Yahweh who made the heavens! - Psalm 96:5