question 1

1 of 4 questions that God asked and is asking today.

1.) “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”

In Matthew 6:25-33 it talks about life, eating, drinking, clothing, birds, lilies, Solomon, grass and faith. In the middle He asks “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”

Worry robs us of peace, joy, energy, – worry is exhausting. Yet it can be so easy to fall into the trap of worrying. When those thoughts try to dominate, turn your thoughts to the One who loves you and will work all things out for your good. (Romans 8:28)

Trust Him with the why? How long? When will it get better? What’s next?

Trust Him!

He also asks a couple rhetorical questions Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? and “Are you not worth more?” Jesus thought you were worth dying for. If you don’t know your worth – read the Word. Find out what it has to say about who you are. You are a child of the King!

tomorrow question 2

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why read the bible?

“Joy in the journey. The more you put into developing your spiritual character – the more you will get out of it.” Pastor Curtis

Why read the bible?

“Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling.” Psalm 119:105 TLB

“The more you put into it – the more you are going to get out of it. God speaks to you through His Word. God will strengthen your inner man through exposure to His Word.” Pastor Curtis

“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 ESV

 

“Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11 NASB

 

 

Read it, listen to it, meditate on it, memorize it. You will be better because of it.

 

til next time

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loving life – part 12

I love my life!

What about when life’s situations seem overwhelming? What about when your heart is breaking? What about when the pain won’t stop? What about when the dark clouds come?

“From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
for you are my safe refuge,
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.” Psalm 61:2-3 NLT

God’s Word has much to say about suffering, trials, pain, being overwhelmed, mourning – the problem is that often when we are in the middle of all that, we ignore the Bible. The one thing that can help us, sits unopened. We don’t ‘feel’ like reading or singing or going to church. We allow our feelings to dictate our path.

Learning to rule over your emotions instead of allowing your emotions to rule over you is vital to living the abundant life. Feelings can be based on a lie. The devil loves to lie to you. He wants you to feel bad and continue to feel bad. Allow God’s spotlight to expose those feelings that are choking the joy right out of you.

Ask God to help you see the lies and walk in truth. Immerse yourself in the Word. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 NLT

Even in the darkest hour, God is with you. Even in the deepest pain, God’s peace is for you. Even in the hardest trial, God’s strength is yours. Even when the night is long, morning is coming.

If that is where you are today, I encourage you to open your Bible and let the Living Word wash over you.

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.” Psalm 130:5-7 NIV

til next time

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loving life – part 11

I love my life!

Jesus didn’t die so we would be miserable. He came to give us life abundant. (John 10:10)

You know that feeling you get that this is going to be a rough start? Maybe you didn’t sleep well and you woke in pain. Maybe you know today you have some unpleasant things to deal with. Maybe you are just bone tired. Maybe your soul (will, mind, emotions) is weary. Maybe your heart is breaking.

Loving your life is not synonymous with life is pain free and smooth sailing.

Jesus said we would have tribulation (suffering) in this world. (John 16:33) He also said “be of good cheer” – Be – we choose. Jesus says we can choose cheer.

This morning I choose. I could do nothing – that is a choice. In which case I know from experience that doing nothing does not make my life better. I could sit and dwell on the various things that I wish I didn’t have to deal with. That is not going to help me love today. Or I could choose to praise. Praise tears down strongholds. Praise puts my attention back on to God.

 

“I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone” Mercy Me “Even”

Here’s another one.

“When I can’t see, You lead me
When I can’t hear, You show me
When I can’t stand, You carry me
When I’m lost, You will find me
When I’m weak, You are mighty
You are everything I need.” Lauren Daigle “Everything”

One more

“The sun comes up
It’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes.” Matt Redman 10,000 Reasons

What are you choosing today? I choose to rejoice! I choose to see the good! I choose to do things God’s way! I choose to love the life God has given me. He is my healer, my provider, my source of joy. Yes, in the midst of suffering, I can love my life.

til next time

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peace and joy

Life can be like rain. Sometimes it is a gentle rain. It waters the earth and freshens things up. Other times it can be a torrential down pour that can make driving dangerous.

Life can be like that at times. It can seem to come at us fast and furious. We barely catch our breath and here comes more.

I am reminded that my attitude plays a huge role in how I handle the rain storms and the storms of life.

The Message Bible reminds us in James 1:2-4

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

Jesus tells us in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)

So, when you feel life coming at you full speed ahead — remember peace is available through Jesus.

Peace and joy go hand in hand.
Joy is peace dancing and Peace is joy resting!

 

til next time

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but as for me…

“But as for me”

I love that phrase. It reminds that no matter what is going on, no matter what others are doing, no matter how I feel — I get to choose what I do next. But as for me, I will trust God. But as for me, I will obey God. But as for me, I will nail my feelings to the cross and believe what Jesus says.

Psalm 59:16-17

But as for me, I will sing about your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge,
a place of safety when I am in distress.
17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises,
for you, O God, are my refuge,
the God who shows me unfailing love.

Where are your thoughts this morning? If we focus on problems – problems will be all we see. If we see problems as opportunities to see the hand of God helping us – we will start seeing His hand more and more. When we put God first, He really does give us wisdom to know what to do and the strength to do it. But as for me, I refuse to get jazzed up about ___________. But as for me, I depend on God.

Today is a new day. This morning I choose to sing with joy, to lift my voice in praise to the One who loves me most. God’s love never fails.

What are you choosing?

Selah,

til next time

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waiting 6 of 7

For the past 5 days I have looked at waiting. One thing I haven’t addressed is joy in the waiting process.

Col 1:11 Paul prays that they would endure (wait) with joy.

We are truly missing out if we think that joy is only available when we are problem free. After all, the Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Neh 8:10 I believe it is a lack of joy that causes us to give up instead of endure.

Jesus came not so we could be miserable 70% of the time. He came that we would have life abundant. (John 10:10) In Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28)

Our joy is not dependent on our external circumstance. Our joy IS dependent on our relationship with Christ. We are building on the firm foundation of Christ. He helps us. Our heart can indeed leap for joy.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

The realization that I can rely on the Lord for my strength – that right there is cause for joy!

In my weakness, You, O Lord are my strength,
til next time

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but as for me…

Where are your thoughts this morning? If we focus on problems – problems will be all we see. If we see problems as opportunities to see the hand of God helping us – we will start seeing His hand more and more.

 

“But as for me” I love that phrase. It reminds that no matter what is going on, no matter what others are doing, no matter how I feel — I get to choose what I do next. But as for me, I will trust God. But as for me, I will obey God. But as for me, I will nail my feelings to the cross and believe what Jesus says.

Psalm 59:16-17But as for me, I will sing about your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge,
a place of safety when I am in distress.
17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises,
for you, O God, are my refuge,
the God who shows me unfailing love.

 

When we put God first, He really does give us wisdom to know what to do and the strength to do it. But as for me, I refuse to get jazzed up about ___________.

But as for me, I depend on God.

Today is a new day. This morning I choose to sing with joy, to lift my voice in praise to the One who loves me most. God’s love never fails.

What are you choosing?

til next time

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God – the giver of joy

My thoughts turn to joy yet again tonight.

I am grateful that joy is not dependent on things going as planned, things working out, or even whether or not I “feel” joy. Joy comes from a decision I make that I will choose joy. I will trust in God who is greater than whatever is going on. I will stay in hope. Hope that says God will turn this, whatever this is, around for my good – for my kid’s good. (Romans 8:28)

As another  day comes to a close, my thoughts go to those who have faced disappointment and/or pain recently.  Some days are just plain hard.  Still in the midst of every day,  God is still God and He is good. We can still choose joy.

In fact, choosing joy in the midst of difficulty is one of the most powerful things you can do. Choosing to hold on to God when life takes a turn that you didn’t see coming or when that mountain looms largely in front of you is in fact recognizing that God is indeed the giver of joy.

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”Nehemiah 8:10

Remember that in choosing joy, you also choose to spend time with the Father.

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11

Lacking joy?  take a look at how much time you are spending in His presence — laying down the distractions and just being with Him.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

selah,

til next time

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hopeless? or hopeful?

Do things seem hopeless?  Are you in the middle of a struggle that threatens to overtake you?   Does it seem you take one step forward and then fall three steps backwards?

I do whole heartedly believe that every day has some good in it.  If  I can see nothing else, just knowing that God is with me and has not abandoned me is good.  It seems that it is in our darkest hours where our faith has the potential to grow the most.

Say it with me
“Now may ‘You’ the God of Hope fill ‘me’ with all joy and peace as ‘I’ trust in ‘You’ so that ‘I’ will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13. (personalized)

God is the God of Hope! As we trust Him, our faith grows. If you seem to be lacking joy and peace, look at where you are putting your trust. Joy and peace are a by-product of trust.

Trusting God impacts our outlook. Overflowing with hope impacts others.

Hope, and joy and peace and hope again. Let that soak in.

Selah,

til next time

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