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December 27, 2013

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God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Obedience

Look to the Lord

But even there you can look for the Lord your God, and you will find him if you look for him with your whole being. It will be hard when all these things happen to you. But after that you will come back to the Lord your God and obey him, because the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you. [Deuteronomy 4:29-31a (NCV)]

Because of their disobedience, the Lord told the Hebrews that difficult times and suffering lay ahead for them. God, however, also promised that He would neither leave nor destroy them. That promise holds true today. There are times that we, too, will suffer because of our failings, but God will neither abandon nor crush us. Although He will never turn his back on us, we can turn our backs on him just as the ancient Hebrews did. When that happens, we may end up destroying ourselves. Which way will we turn today?

Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me! I will let you find me,” says the Lord. [Jeremiah 29:12-14a (NCV)]

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December 26, 2013

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Forgiveness, God's Plan, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets

Let Go of the Past if You’re Going to Reach the Goal

I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. [Philippians 3:12 (NCV)]

It is wise to remember that, no matter how old we may be, we continue to be a work in progress. Our past, no matter how checkered it may be, should never keep us from a future of service and blessings. God doesn’t care about our past. His concern is not where and how we started our lives; his concern is where and how we finish those lives.

The apostle Paul certainly had a troubled history; he had zealously persecuted the early Christians and was even present when Stephen was martyred. Paul, however, never let his past keep him from moving forward to become the man God wanted him to be. He became the greatest Christian evangelist that ever lived. Let’s not forget, God is never finished with us. What plans does He have for you this upcoming year?

Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above. [Philippians 3:13-14 (NCV)]

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December 25, 2013

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God's Grace & Love, Holidays & Holy Days

It’s His Birthday – Look What We Got!

2013-12-25Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). [Isaiah 7:14b (NLT)]

Thank you, Lord, for the best gift ever!

 

“The Gift” [lyrics by Randy Travis]
He was born in Bethlehem they say,
there was a star to light the path to where He lay.
Rich or poor they came from far and near,
cause they’d all heard the reason He was here.
He was the Son God sent to one and all.
Put on this earth to hang there on that cross.
Born to die so we could live.
He had the birthday, we got the gift.
They wrapped him up with gentle hands.
God hoped the world would understand.
Eternal life we shall receive.
And all that He asks in return is that we just believe.
He was the Son God sent to one and all.
Put on this earth to hang there on that cross.
Born to die so we could live.
He had the birthday, we got the gift.
There’s no way in this world we could repay
the miracle He gave us on that day.
He was the Son God sent to one and all,
Put on this earth to hang there on that cross,
Born to die so we could live.
He had the birthday, we got the gift.
On our Savior’s birthday, we got the gift.

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December 21, 2013

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Faith & Hope, Money & Wealth, Prayer

We Are Rich Beyond Words

Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. [Psalm 86:1-7 (NIV)]

In Psalm 86, David calls out to the Lord saying he is poor and needy. At that moment in time, David felt poor and needy but it wasn’t because he was penniless. True poverty has nothing to do with finances; true poverty has to do with lack of faith. God will protect and save us when we have faith in him; He will be merciful and gracious to us when we reach out to him. God will bring joy to our lives if we trust him; He will forgive and love us because we cry out to him. He will hear us and answer us. There is no reason for us to be poverty stricken in God’s world. We are, indeed, rich!

I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! [Revelations 2:9a (NIV)]

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December 20, 2013

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God's Grace & Love, Thanks & Praise

We Are Loved

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation. [Romans 8:38-39 (GW)]

Thank you, Lord, for your abundant and unlimited love. Its depth is incomprehensible. I am so unworthy; make me worthy and show me how to share your love with others.

Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us. [Romans 5:8 (GW)]