Saturday, January 7, 2012

The Word God Gave Me For 2012

Several of my blogging friends have written lately about the word that God has impressed upon them for the new year. It has taken me a while to sort through my thoughts and search my heart to arrive at one special  word for me for this year.

When I had what could have been a major problem several years ago, I kept hearing this word in my mind as I tried to work. I later ran across a scripture that told me to take heed and follow the advice of the wisest man on the earth. Here's what he said.

"TRUST in the Lord your God and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Several years ago, I came up with an acrostic for this word.

Totally 
Relying
                                                Upon the
Savior's
Timing


We all know that God's ways are not our ways. We also know His timing is not our timing. I have been concerned about my management of time. I have decided to plan my days with God being in control. I have spent the past few days making a list of the things I would like to accomplish in my house. The things I don't get to become a priority item for the next day.

I believe God will guide me through all that comes my way in 2012; all I have to do is TRUST Him.

Friday, January 6, 2012

It’s What Counts


"Sunrise" from Bing



“Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;what counts is a new creation.”
Galatians 6:15 (NIV)



As modern day people we sometimes get caught up in externals. We also get onto labels-denominational, racial, political, or financial.

Paul says the only thing that counts is ‘a new creation.’ I often wonder how our world would be different if we used this as a standard rather than a person’s external or tangible qualities.

I try to look at people through God’s eyes but it’s not always easy. When I find myself getting upset with a person, I try to remember God loves him or her as He loves me.

Even when we don’t see it, we have to remember that God is at work making each of us into a new creation.

Recently, I had to begin a new habit. Once I started working on it, my attitude about things seemed to change. I began to feel better about certain issues that had brought me down. I don’t know if anyone else has noticed the change, but I have and I know God has. I intend to keep this previously buried change working in my life. With His help, I know I can.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

“New Way Of Life”

May we all have a child's spirit .
“But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law
so that we may serve in the new way of the spirit and not in the old way of the written code.”
Romans 7:6 (NIV)



When we find Christ and allow Him to enter our hearts, we undergo a conversion. Our values become different. We give up attributes that displeases Him-we no longer complain about things. We watch our language-even those minced oaths. We don’t have the same pastimes we had. We don’t frequent places that we know He wouldn’t approve of.

We know we are being watched as we transact business. People compare how we treat others. Do we step up to the plate and pitch in when we hear of someone who needs help? A friend asked me to substitute as a helper in the Weekday Religious Education class at our church. The public schools in our community and their fourth grade teachers have the option of allowing their students released time to be taken to a local church near their schools and receive religious instruction. She knows that I have a difficult time with children. On my first day, with the exception of one small bobble, I think I did well. I came away from that class with a deeper appreciation of our associate pastor. She kept order and quickly dealt with the problems that seemed to arise.

When we face struggles, we try not to complain about them. We pray; we read our Bibles, we fellowship with those who also believe in Jesus. We strive to truly live for God because we do have a new life-a new spirit about ourselves. We love God.

Monday, January 2, 2012

The New Has Come


In memory and honor of a friend who now lives in Heaven.




“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.Though we once regarded Christ this way, we no longer do so. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (NIV)



Paul writes to the believers in Corinth. He addresses the presence of false teachers in the church.

In the highlighted passage, Paul instructs them that they are to view no one from a worldly stance. Believers are not to look at people as the world does. Here in the United States, our legal system operates under the idea that a person is presumed innocent until proved guilty. As I read this passage, we are to see a person as God sees them.

Paul then makes a startling statement. If anyone-a thief, a murder, one who abused the elderly or small children- comes to Christ, that person is a new person. A person described as new is changed on the inside, having a new heart.

God does the transforming; He does it because of His grace. Grace is defined as unmerited favor. We don’t deserve anything God gives us. What we do deserve is spiritual death and a place in Hades.

Praise God, He gives us a new heart, a new outlook, and a new destination for our souls.

Dear God:

Thank You for giving us new hearts and making us new people when we accepted You Son Jesus into our lives. In His name, I pray, AMEN.



God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...