The Future

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

As of today, I have been on earth for 47 years . . . wow – yay me!

The previous years are gone, finished, past. . . I cannot reclaim them, I cannot undo the things I have done or lived through.

But I won’t stop on the great distance the years have brought me, hopefully I have many to come.

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

Here is what I am going to do – I am going to journey forward, knowing that God already inhabits the future and promises to provide me refreshment on my journey there.

What an awesome birthday gift.

Guess what – He does that for you too. . .   not just today, or on your birthday, but every single day.

God sees our future, God is our future.  And it is good.

Have a blessed day! 

Trust in Him

Sorry I have missed a few days . . . crazy world out there. J

Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:  If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 24:14

My middle son sent this to me a while ago, asking if I could somehow incorporate it in my daily blog, I wasn’t sure whether to cry or smile – my kid reads my blog! LOL

Seriously – this advice is long, and a little silly, but if you look deep, it makes sense. 

The original speech was published in the Chicago Tribune in 1997 by Mary Schmich

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '98: Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blind side you at 4 PM on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.

Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

If you have stayed with me this long today, you will know that the above speech was not based on the verse that I am using, but you can see the connection.

Our future is uncertain, but if we TRUST in GOD, there is hope in our future.

Have a blessed day!

Why Worry?

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

—Matthew 6:27

I am a worrier.

I worry about stuff that I have absolutely no control over.

In our busy world, we often let ourselves get preoccupied with worrisome and inconsequential things.

What does this get us?

Heartburn, added stress, frustration, anxiety . . . far from making our lives more productive or adding to our longevity, we know for a fact that worry hastens our demise and robs our days of joy and grace.

According to His word, I need to stop it!

Let me work on that.

Let’s ALL work on that. =)

Have a blessed day! 

GO!

How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

-Romans 10:14

This verse was recently shared on FaceBook by the senior pastor at my church, along with the following comments:  

Surely there is someone that each of us can “GO” to and share the love of Jesus Christ with today: a neighbor, coworker, friend. 

If we will not GO, how will they ever know?

I have been asked several times why I started “daily bread”.

I truly feel that I was called to share His word.  I have learned a lot from my friends too, sharing His word is good!  Many times I have been told that the verse I chose was spot on for someone that day.

But what if I didn’t share?  My emails, my blog, what if I did not do those, and someone who needed to hear the word that day didn’t?

Seriously - If we will not GO, how will they ever know?

Have a blessed day!

Happy Independence Day!

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

—Galatians 5:1

Happy Independence Day!

On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies claimed their independence from England, an event which eventually led to the formation of the United States. Each year on July 4th, also known as Independence Day, Americans celebrate this historic event. 240 years and still going!

For even longer though, we have been set free . . . delivered from law, sin, and death.

We have been set free to serve God and share in His grace eternally.

So how will we use that freedom?

Have a blessed day!

Friends Forever

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
- Proverbs 27:17

I have a childhood friend visiting this weekend, which prompted me to write about friendship. =)
We all have friends, right? I mean, we were created to be social creatures, generally we are most comfortable when we have family, friends and acquaintances around us. 
Friendship is a relationship that is entered into by individuals, and it is only as good or as close as those individuals choose to make it. 
If you can count your true friends on the fingers of one hand, you are blessed. 
A friend is someone with whom you can be yourself and never fear that he or she will judge you. 
Someone that you can confide in with complete trust. 
Someone you respect and that respects you, not based upon worthiness but based upon a likeness of mind.
Iron sharpens iron. 
True friendship is not always obvious — people you thought were your friends may turn out to be so far from being on your side that it is crazy, and those that you thought didn't care much for you may turn out to be your closest allies.
A true friendship is a very rare thing, but when it is proven, it is something to treasure and keep safe by all means possible.
I want to be the friend that loves at all times, that friend where nothing will diminish my love for you. 
Iron sharpens iron - when I make mistakes, I want to be able to confess to you, just as when you make mistakes you can come to me and be assured of my love and honesty. 
I want to be the friend that never condemns, but will tell the truth about your actions and encourage you to do what is right. 
I want my friends to trust me completely.  
Iron sharpens iron. 
True friendship means laying down your very life, if necessary, for the good of a friend. 
This is the way God loves us. 
When our hearts are broken, He feels it too. 
But He is willing to endure with us. 
And that is true friendship. 

Have a blessed day! 

Do Not Fear

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."
—Isaiah 43:2-3

Of course, the whole time i am writing this, i am singing the song in my head. :) 
Isn't it wonderful to know that we are more precious than gold to our Father? 
When we read all of Isaiah 43 (and i encourage you to do so) we are reminded that God formed us and redeemed us. 
He is not about to abandon us. 
Ever.
No matter what challenges , trials, struggles, or difficulties we face, He will deliver us and bring us to safety and victory. 
We can see God's faithfulness throughout history and accept this promise knowing that He is good.
God is so good!
Time and time again, God preserved His people and redeemed them from the bondage of their enemies. 
God will not forget His children! 
We know it by promise. 
We know it by history. 
We know it by faith.

Have a blessed day!