Do not dwell on the past

This is what the Lord says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

—Isaiah 43:16,18-19

The year is gone, finished, past.

We cannot reclaim it or undo it.

We cannot rest on the great distance it has brought us.

If tomorrow dawns, it will be another day, a new opportunity, and the time to show our faith in Jesus as Lord.

Let's journey forward, knowing that God already inhabits the future and promises to provide us refreshment on our journey there.

Have a blessed day!

Happy New Year!

Look at me!

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

—Romans 12:16

"Don't be conceited!"

That's a command for someone else, right?

I don't think I've ever met someone who felt he or she was conceited.

Many times when  we're looking for someone with whom we want to associate, we seldom look for someone ignored by the crowd, forgotten by the pretty people, and easily overlooked by others.

We want to "hang around with" those who are important, who are superstars, or at least who carry some clout.

We believe we deserve to be noticed and valued, too.

Oops, guess that's where the commands in this verse come from!

Have a blessed day!

To tell the truth . . .

 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

—Proverbs 12:19

I can’t tell you how many times that I have told my kids that if they tell me the truth about something they get into less trouble than when I find out they lied.

Sam Rayburn (Speaker of the House from 1940 to 1947, 1949 to 1953, and 1955 to 1961, the longest-serving speaker in American history.) said  "Tell the truth the first time, then you won't have to remember what you said."

Good advice, even for today.

Telling a lie seems gratifying at the time, but it nearly always catches up with us and gives us the added burden of trying to remember what we said and why.

Truth endures; a lie is a momentary illusion that ends up a trap filled with burdens.

Oh and then there is that “The truth will set you free” thing . . . 

Have a blessed day! 

overcome evil

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

—Romans 12:21

I read somewhere that the number one goal in dealing with difficult people or circumstances is this: Don't become what you hate.

This was not a comment about hating the person, but what it means is that we don't want to become evil, wicked, petty, and sinful in our actions and motivations.

We don't overcome the Devil by underhanded and dishonorable means.

We overcome evil and drive it back into the abyss by doing what is right and filling our hearts and lives with goodness.

There is no greater example of overcoming evil with good than Jesus.

Have a blessed day! 

I need more

Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

—Luke 12:23

I truly hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas.

In the rush of the holiday season and the grab at getting and giving gifts, it is very important to remember that life is much more than even the most basic things we think we need.

If we lose sight of God, His work and His will in our lives, then what do we have?

Not much and it won't last long!

My prayer for you, and for me, before, during and after this holiday season is that we are reminded of what is most important, most valuable, and most enduring.

Have a blessed day! 

Star of wonder

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

—Matthew 2:9-10

The magi were not Jews.

They were astrologers who appear “out of nowhere” and were aware of the birth of a new king.

Think about it: God led these men to Jesus using skills that were foreign to the Jewish mindset of the time.

As the Jewish high priest was oblivious to God in his midst, three pagans were worshipping the Christ.

From His birth to His death on the cross, Jesus came to earth to bring every people group to Himself.

He is doing the same today, so don’t be surprised if God uses unusual people to get our attention.

Have a blessed day!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

His promise

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" — which means, "God with us."

—Matthew 1:22-23

God had repeatedly promised it.

Men, women, and angels had long anticipated it.

Now, in Jesus, it happens.

God is with us.

Jesus is Immanuel.

We live on a visited planet, touched by the very presence of God among us.

And it was just as the prophets of old had said.

Have a blessed day!

His mercy

 [Zechariah prophesied concerning John,] "You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God."

—Luke 1:76-78

Where does salvation come from?

Does it come from our sense that something is desperately wrong and we need to change and make it better?

Does it come from casting things in a more positive light so we don't become discouraged and quit?

Does it come from a lucky break?

Does it come because we are scrupulously righteous and deserve it come our way?

Does it come from rigorously obeying everything in the law?

No!

Salvation and forgiveness come from one source, "the tender mercy of our God."

Have a blessed day! 

We are sons and daughters of a King!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

—Isaiah 9:6

While Jesus is God's Son and Mary's son, according to Isaiah's prophecy, He is also shared with us.

Jesus is the child given to the world so you and I can become God's child.

What greater gift can we have than Jesus, and through Jesus, God as our Father.

Have a blessed day! 

Here's your sign

The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

—Isaiah 7:14

God is interested in us personally.

So much so, that He personally gives us this sign.

Because of Matthew's explanation of the meaning of the name Immanuel, we know what that sign was - Jesus coming to live as God with us.

His presence is God's presence.

His life is God's sign.

The miracle of His conception is God's mystery and also His statement of grace for us.

Have a blessed day! 

Greater

I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.

—Matthew 12:6

When I travel, I love to look at architecture. 

Some cities have the most incredible buildings, fountains, statues and points of interest.

What is the greatest construction project built by human hands?

You know what?

Jesus is greater still!

I love to look at churches, old and new and any religion.

What is the most "holy" place you have been?

Jesus is far holier still!

We went to the ocean earlier this year.

It was incredibly beautiful and peaceful.

What is the most awe-inspiring site you have visited?

Jesus is far more awesome and holy!

I have been to some great concerts in the past few years – I got to see Mercy Me twice!

What is the most inspiring event you have ever attended?

Jesus is far more...

Jesus is the One Who Is Greater!

Nothing else, no one else, can hold a candle to Him.

And He is coming back for us.

Have a blessed day!

What is your purpose?

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.

– 2 Timothy 4:17

OK, I always say that I choose verses that pop out at me.

Today, I think I need to hear and think on this.

God does not leave us alone when we face overwhelming odds.

Did you know that Paul felt abandoned by others?

But he was not separated from God.

Paul knew that God had a purpose for him that was yet to be fulfilled, so Paul was able to stand strong even in the midst of incredible danger.

Whoa . . .

God has a purpose for ME, and for YOU.

This is the confidence that Paul had, is the knowledge that any man or woman who calls on Jesus should lean on—that God will give you strength, for He has a destiny for you to fulfill.

Have a blessed day!

Let love never leave you

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

– Proverbs 3:3-4

Oh my goodness. . . 

Let love never leave you.

Wow.

Do you want to have favor and a good name?

Put others around you as top priority and make sure that you are seen as someone who is faithful.

To bind these qualities around your neck is to have them with you always.

It does not matter if you are at work, shopping or at home, you should be the same person, always.

Loving others and being consistent in our work will make one invaluable to any organization or group of friends.

This is actually very challenging, but the reward of favor and a good name is more than worth it.

Have a blessed day! 

Refined

But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.

– Malachi 3:2

Song reference!

Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire,

Is to be holy, set apart for You, Lord. . .

Refiner’s fire was used to heat metal to the point that all of the impurities would come to the surface.

Launderers would wash clothes with a strong soap, then place the clothing upon a rock and beat them with a stick.

Both are strong images of what happens with God’s judgment and therefore present us with a dilemma—who could stand?

Only one.

Jesus Christ endured God’s judgment at the cross.

He was refined in God’s fire and beaten for our sins so that we could come to God the Father as those who are purified and cleansed.

When I look at my life, I know I need cleansing, how about you?

Have a blessed day! 

Love what is good

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

—Romans 12:9

Love!

It is the season of love, good will toward man, all that!

I see lots of people change at Christmas time. 

They are cheerful, loving and giving, but the other 11 months of the year . . .

Listen, friends, our love cannot be feigned, faked, or fickle!

That means that we abhor things that are evil.

We not only stay away from them, but we disdain them.

At the same time, we commit ourselves to lovingly drawing closer to goodness and righteousness.

In our intentions, there are no shades of gray, only a passionate desire for what is right, good, and holy.

Have a blessed day! 

Convenient worship?

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

– 1 Chronicles 16:28-29

Worship is not supposed to be marked by convenience.

If anything, it is the inconvenience of gathering that makes worship something outside of our normal routines.

Where else will you gather with other believers, lift your voices in song together, and unite around the gospel, the wine and the bread?

True worship will cost you something; whether that is in time, talent, or treasure.

Have a blessed day!

Breathe

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

– Psalm 150:6

Worship is the natural state of things.

Every bird’s song is a song of praise.

Every baby’s first breath fills our hearts with joy.

In a sense, every breath that you and I take is a miracle, so don’t miss the moment.

Praise God in all things, because our breath is a gift from God.

Have a blessed day!

Heart full of praise

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

– Psalm 100:4

This is known as a Psalm of ascents—or a Psalm that is to be sung as you enter the temple.

This song tells us that thanksgiving and praise has little to do with emotions; they are choices that we have to make as we prepare our hearts for worship.

Choices.

We choose to be thankful.

So take a moment now and ask yourself: What can I be thankful for?

How can I praise God’s name today?

Don’t be surprised to see your heart change as you do, because praise and thanksgiving is designed to take our eyes off of ourselves and place them on the One who has the power to change us.

Have a blessed day! 

do not be anxious

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 4:6-7

This again?

Oh YES.

God wants to hear our prayers.

But to keep them from becoming too self-focused, God wants us to always remember to give thanks.

It is so easy for us to turn prayer into a request line.

We are the ones who are left bereft when thanksgiving and praise are robbed from our prayers.

Without praise our hearts grow dim because all we think about are problems and prayer becomes a wish list.

Give praise in everything, even if you don’t understand it.

Have a blessed day! 

Blessings

He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

—Luke 11:28

God gave us His word to bless us.

When we obey what He asks of us, we get to walk in that blessing.

On the other hand, as Jesus reminded us at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, when we know the will of God and don't obey it, we are foolish.

I don't know about you, but I prefer to receive a blessing!

Thank God for speaking to us through His word.

We have the Scriptures so we can know His will and walk in His blessing.

Thank God and for speaking to us through His living Word.

He gave us His Son so we can know His heart as we apply it to our lives.

Have a blessed day!

Security

Lord, You alone are my portion and my cup; You make my lot secure.

– Psalm 16:5

This sounds great right? 

But it was actually written in distress. . .

You see David was dealing with many struggles when he wrote this Psalm.

Yet in the midst of great hardship, David acknowledged that God guards those things that David held as valuable: his portion, his cup and his lot.

His portion was the provision that was needed for him to survive.

His cup was the purpose in life that he had (remember Jesus, who spoke to the Father of “taking this cup from him”).

His lot was the inheritance of land that was a major part of preserving Jewish lineage.

When David felt separated from all of these things, he reminded himself that his current situation was not the final word: it was God’s faithfulness that he trusted in during times of trial.

That same faithfulness is available to you and me.

Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Have a blessed day!

Forgive everyone

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

—Mark 11:25

I have a really big heart, and as crazy as it sounds, my heart is what gets hurt really easily.

I have a tendency to hold a grudge for a long time, especially when I have been hurt badly by someone, whether it was intentional or not.

Therefore this verse to me is one of the most challenging reminders of God's will in Scripture.

I must forgive others!

When I refuse, it cuts me off the stream of forgiveness that God so longs to give to me.

While forgiving others is never easy, God has not only commanded us to do it, He has also given us His Son as an example of forgiveness.

In addition, He has promised to empower us to be able to do His will by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The real issue: Will we let go of our bitterness toward those who have wounded us?

Have a blessed day!