My favorite flower is a Tulip. I’ve always wanted to plant tulips, always. In our previous home, the backyard had no landscaping sense to speak of, so I never had the motivation to plant them. But where we live now, it’s so beautiful here that I finally took the time to do it back in the fall. I planted the bulbs all around the yard, different places, and then it hit me, I would not see the results for months! And it began to eat at me. Drove me nuts that I had to patiently wait until spring to see my favorite flower bloom. I’m a tad compulsive. I like to see instant results. I worked to plant those bulbs and nothing. Just wait. And wait. And wait. I would look out the kitchen window and dream of the day that I could see my tulips! It was becoming a bit creepy, what with my staring at the ground and all. I had to smack myself very dramatic like and yell "get it together man," and carry on.
So finally, I decided to let it go. Slowly, slowly and more slowly, I began to forget about the tulips. Winter came, sort of. No rain, but it was freezing! So my mind was on that, and on the mounds of leaves in the yard, and all the other stuff you think of that winter brings. My focus was elsewhere all winter (I guess it's still winter right, February and all) but I really forgot about the beautiful tulips that I planted! Until finally, the other day, I remembered the tulips! With such excitement I hollered (I love that word. My grandpa used to say it. I try to use it on many an occasion, minus the actual hollering that grandpa would do) at the girls and we ran outside and began to look at all the spots I had planted them. And there they were, little bitty stems…my tulips are on the way. Now it’s driving me nuts because they aren’t growing fast enough but hey, at least they made it. Most of them anyhow. I planted some that have not come through yet. Either I didn’t dig them deep enough, they didn’t get enough water, or they could not stand the cold temperatures we had but for whatever reason, some of them just didn’t make it. They did not make the journey.
It got me thinking, I don’t want to be like the tulip that didn’t make it! I don’t want to be the one that wasn’t dug down deep enough, not rooted in the Word - the one that wasn’t able to endure the temperatures that life brought me. I want to make it!
Romans 10:17 says “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Reading the Word of God will create an irresistible faith in us, a faith that is never daunted, and a faith that never gives up. No matter what life throws our way, our faith will carry us through it. We often fail to realize how large God’s supply is. He has a supply that cannot be exhausted. He tells us to ask and we shall receive. We may not receive the way we think we should, but you can be sure that we will receive.
Matthew 7:11 says “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him?”
HOW MUCH MORE. We limit God. We limit Him by our lack of faith. The Bible says, HOW MUCH MORE…how much more will God do when we step out in faith. When we step out and do the crazy thing God has asked us to do. When we step out and believe God for the impossible! When we step out and decide that we are not going to live in our past any longer. How much more can God do with a life that is sold out for Him, not looking back, not looking at our particular temperature of life, but looking at the "Author and the Finisher of our faith." HOW MUCH MORE?
How much more.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Like Precious Faith
2 Peter 1:1-2
To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Like precious faith. That is a phrase full of such power! This faith is indeed precious. It’s precious to me. It’s precious to anyone whose ever been delivered from anything. It’s precious.
To those who have obtained “like precious faith.” We all have the potential to obtain that precious faith, it’s given to us the moment we believe on the Lord Jesus. And once we obtain that faith, the scripture says that grace and peace will be multiplied to us in the knowledge of God.
Knowledge is learning, knowledge is growing, knowledge is changing. So the grace and peace is there for us, as we grow and as we change.
This like precious faith that Peter writes about is a gift for all of us. It’s a gift of faith that will cause us to do that thing that we are afraid to do. It’s a gift that will shut the mouths of lions. It’s a gift that will open doors that no man could open. It’s a gift that will lead us in triumph over our foes. It’s a gift that will cause us to believe God for the impossible! Like precious faith!
We should be able to triumph over all circumstances, not because we have confidence in ourselves, but because we’ve grabbed hold of this precious faith.
It’s always the people that are full of faith who have a good report, who don’t murmur and complain, who are in the place of victory, who are not in the place of human order but of divine order, because God has been asked to dwell in them through this precious faith!
We all have been given this precious faith. Let’s grab hold of it today, activating it in every area of our lives. With that faith, comes grace and peace. And that grace and peace will flow over every situation we face in the natural today; that grace and peace will supernaturally do what can’t be done naturally. Like precious faith.
To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Like precious faith. That is a phrase full of such power! This faith is indeed precious. It’s precious to me. It’s precious to anyone whose ever been delivered from anything. It’s precious.
To those who have obtained “like precious faith.” We all have the potential to obtain that precious faith, it’s given to us the moment we believe on the Lord Jesus. And once we obtain that faith, the scripture says that grace and peace will be multiplied to us in the knowledge of God.
Knowledge is learning, knowledge is growing, knowledge is changing. So the grace and peace is there for us, as we grow and as we change.
This like precious faith that Peter writes about is a gift for all of us. It’s a gift of faith that will cause us to do that thing that we are afraid to do. It’s a gift that will shut the mouths of lions. It’s a gift that will open doors that no man could open. It’s a gift that will lead us in triumph over our foes. It’s a gift that will cause us to believe God for the impossible! Like precious faith!
We should be able to triumph over all circumstances, not because we have confidence in ourselves, but because we’ve grabbed hold of this precious faith.
It’s always the people that are full of faith who have a good report, who don’t murmur and complain, who are in the place of victory, who are not in the place of human order but of divine order, because God has been asked to dwell in them through this precious faith!
We all have been given this precious faith. Let’s grab hold of it today, activating it in every area of our lives. With that faith, comes grace and peace. And that grace and peace will flow over every situation we face in the natural today; that grace and peace will supernaturally do what can’t be done naturally. Like precious faith.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Lent
Today is Ash Wednesday - I have personally never observed Lent or Ash Wednesday. I always saw it as a Catholic tradition (My tiny little Italian Grandma always had ashes on her head every year) and out of my limited knowledge on the topic, would often pass by the subject. But, I love what it leads up to, Easter! Resurrection Sunday! The day that Jesus said "take that Satan" and conquered death, hell & the grave. The day that Jesus finalized my freedom. I love Easter.
A friend posted a wonderfully written blog post that got me to thinking about Lent and all it means. So I've been doing some reading for myself. While indeed it remains a tradition that Catholics do observe, many other faiths observe it as well. I love this from Wikipedia:
"There are traditionally forty days in Lent which are marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance. The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigour during Lent are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbour). Today, some people give up a vice of theirs, add something that will bring them closer to God, and often give the time or money spent doing that to charitable purposes or organizations."
Although I don't feel we need to pay penance for our sin, as Jesus did that in totality on the cross, I do think it's necessary to continually check our hearts, to be sure there is no sin in us. It's so easy for that junk to creep in. Oh thank you Jesus for continual forgiveness the moment we ask...
Our church has participated in a few corporate fasts and let me tell you, I saw God move not only on our churches behalf, but in my own personal life as well. God did some amazing stuff while we fasted; we saw tremendous breakthrough in many areas. So there is most definitely something to be said for fasting, it's powerful stuff. You combine that with prayer and look out Jack! God will move on your behalf.
But more than what God will do on our behalf, I think about Jesus, my sweet, sweet Lord - the Savior of my life. The man that has given me so much, without me deserving it in the slightest. The man that has picked me up out of the muck and mire more times than I can count. Jesus. When I think about Him fasting in the wilderness for 40 days, being tempted by Satan - Satan trying with all he could to abort the mission of the Cross, there's Jesus, quoting scripture right at the devil and conquering His own personal flesh - because remember, He was TOTALLY flesh.
Then he goes on and heals people, He gives people hope, He reaches down to the lowest of the low, He befriends the unfriendly, He went where nobody else wanted to go and sought out the people nobody else wanted to seek out...
And as if doing all those wonderful things and more that we don't even know about, as if that were not enough, He goes to the Cross. Oh the Cross. He was nailed there. But they didn't even need to bother with the nails; because He would have stayed there anyway. He would have stayed there anyway. HE WOULD HAVE STAYED THERE ANYWAY. For me. And for you.
Then comes Easter Sunday! My favorite. Sweet freedom.
So I share all that to say this, I don't know yet what the Lord would have me do to observe this season, but when I think about my best friend Jesus, My Father, when I think about Him enduring a 40 day fast, ministering to anyone and everyone, going to the cross and then triumphing over it all - I have to do something. My heart longs to do something. I love Jesus. And he loves me. Enough to stay on that cross, without the nails.
A friend posted a wonderfully written blog post that got me to thinking about Lent and all it means. So I've been doing some reading for myself. While indeed it remains a tradition that Catholics do observe, many other faiths observe it as well. I love this from Wikipedia:
"There are traditionally forty days in Lent which are marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance. The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigour during Lent are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbour). Today, some people give up a vice of theirs, add something that will bring them closer to God, and often give the time or money spent doing that to charitable purposes or organizations."
Although I don't feel we need to pay penance for our sin, as Jesus did that in totality on the cross, I do think it's necessary to continually check our hearts, to be sure there is no sin in us. It's so easy for that junk to creep in. Oh thank you Jesus for continual forgiveness the moment we ask...
Our church has participated in a few corporate fasts and let me tell you, I saw God move not only on our churches behalf, but in my own personal life as well. God did some amazing stuff while we fasted; we saw tremendous breakthrough in many areas. So there is most definitely something to be said for fasting, it's powerful stuff. You combine that with prayer and look out Jack! God will move on your behalf.
But more than what God will do on our behalf, I think about Jesus, my sweet, sweet Lord - the Savior of my life. The man that has given me so much, without me deserving it in the slightest. The man that has picked me up out of the muck and mire more times than I can count. Jesus. When I think about Him fasting in the wilderness for 40 days, being tempted by Satan - Satan trying with all he could to abort the mission of the Cross, there's Jesus, quoting scripture right at the devil and conquering His own personal flesh - because remember, He was TOTALLY flesh.
Then he goes on and heals people, He gives people hope, He reaches down to the lowest of the low, He befriends the unfriendly, He went where nobody else wanted to go and sought out the people nobody else wanted to seek out...
And as if doing all those wonderful things and more that we don't even know about, as if that were not enough, He goes to the Cross. Oh the Cross. He was nailed there. But they didn't even need to bother with the nails; because He would have stayed there anyway. He would have stayed there anyway. HE WOULD HAVE STAYED THERE ANYWAY. For me. And for you.
Then comes Easter Sunday! My favorite. Sweet freedom.
So I share all that to say this, I don't know yet what the Lord would have me do to observe this season, but when I think about my best friend Jesus, My Father, when I think about Him enduring a 40 day fast, ministering to anyone and everyone, going to the cross and then triumphing over it all - I have to do something. My heart longs to do something. I love Jesus. And he loves me. Enough to stay on that cross, without the nails.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Can you make me laugh?
Lily did not get enough sleep last night, as evidenced by her morning of crying over every last thing she could possibly cry about. At one point, in the midst of an episode of tears, she said, "Mommy, can you say something that will make me laugh?"
She is a funny kid, that's for sure. Sensitive as all get out. And funny. But in that moment of upset, she was not able to channel her funny bone, AT ALL. She needed someone else to do it for her! Unfortunately I had no wit at that moment but rather scooped her up and put her down for a nap! Hopefully when she wakes up, all will be right in the world of Lily, and she can laugh again.
But it got me thinking, we need each other! No matter where we are in life, we need friends. We need people that we can call on at a moments notice and say, "hey, can you make me laugh please?" Do you have anyone like that in your life? If you don't, ask God to bring that for you. I have a few people that I could call and know that they would genuinely crack me up if I desperately needed a good laugh.
We all face junk in life; bad news, disappointments, hardships, the list goes on and on. It's not necessarily what the outcome of the situation is that makes the difference, although of course it's a huge part, but rather, it's the journey through the situation that makes the difference. If we can come out to the other side of the negative thing we are up against, then we have won! If we can stand with our head held high, albeit barely standing, then we have won. If we can laugh through the junk, then we have won.
So I guess I say all that to say this, we need friends. My goodness how we need buddies in our lives! I love friends. Funny friends. Dramatic friends. Smart friends. Quirky and kooky friends. And friends that like to eat ;)
She is a funny kid, that's for sure. Sensitive as all get out. And funny. But in that moment of upset, she was not able to channel her funny bone, AT ALL. She needed someone else to do it for her! Unfortunately I had no wit at that moment but rather scooped her up and put her down for a nap! Hopefully when she wakes up, all will be right in the world of Lily, and she can laugh again.
But it got me thinking, we need each other! No matter where we are in life, we need friends. We need people that we can call on at a moments notice and say, "hey, can you make me laugh please?" Do you have anyone like that in your life? If you don't, ask God to bring that for you. I have a few people that I could call and know that they would genuinely crack me up if I desperately needed a good laugh.
We all face junk in life; bad news, disappointments, hardships, the list goes on and on. It's not necessarily what the outcome of the situation is that makes the difference, although of course it's a huge part, but rather, it's the journey through the situation that makes the difference. If we can come out to the other side of the negative thing we are up against, then we have won! If we can stand with our head held high, albeit barely standing, then we have won. If we can laugh through the junk, then we have won.
So I guess I say all that to say this, we need friends. My goodness how we need buddies in our lives! I love friends. Funny friends. Dramatic friends. Smart friends. Quirky and kooky friends. And friends that like to eat ;)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Certain Women
Luke 8:1-3
"Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance."
I love this passage of Scripture! "Certain women" were following Jesus, as well as the disciples. Mary, Joanna & Susanna are mentioned in this portion, however, I imagine there were tons of others as well. They had experienced the love of Jesus and could not help but follow Him.
I have always loved the unique attributes that women possess. I love the characteristics that set us apart from men. I love that we are emotional and nurturing and talkative! I love when I see women interact with one another; I enjoy watching facial expressions while ladies talk and I love, love, love to see emotion. I bet Jesus did too. I bet He marveled at the species that God had created with such precision, not making a mistake in the slightest. I bet Jesus thought, way to go Dad, you done good!
Women are special. And yet, if you were to ask a group of women how many of them felt that way, nary a hand would be raised. Why? Well, there is a plethora of reasons but I think it boils down to this: we have forgotten that we are of the "Certain Women!"
If Jesus walked this earth in the flesh, you bet I'd be running to follow Him. Can you imagine what stuff they saw? And furthermore, can you imagine what a help those certain women must have been to Jesus. Had he been traveling simply with the disciples, I'd venture to say that Jesus would not have ate too well and His clothes would have been filthy! I'm sure the women there helped to meet the practical needs of Jesus, the passage of Scripture above confirms that, saying they provided for Him from their substance. But beyond the practical, I imagine the women to be the glue that held that group together, as we women do. They loved on people, they hugged, they laughed, they cried, they listened intently. No doubt they offered wisdom in areas that the men were unable to offer it. And again, I bet Jesus loved it.
He always was kind to women. He knew how special they were. In a culture that placed little to no value on women, Jesus wanted them around Him. He loved them. And He knew that they too were created for a purpose. He knew that they too had plans and gifts and talents and things that could be offered to the world. And so it was that certain women were there. Doing what we women do.
Obviously I can't follow His fleshly body today, but oh how I can follow Jesus. Oh how I can do my best to live for Him. Oh how I can do my best to be kind, to love deeply, to listen clearly, to serve wherever there is a need. My prayer today is that we women would realize that indeed we are part of the "certain women" that Jesus longs to have near Him. All of our flaws, all of our weakness', all of our quirky habits, He longs to have us with Him. Created in His image, to do something pretty cool with our lives. Because we have value. We are "Certain Woman."
"Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance."
I love this passage of Scripture! "Certain women" were following Jesus, as well as the disciples. Mary, Joanna & Susanna are mentioned in this portion, however, I imagine there were tons of others as well. They had experienced the love of Jesus and could not help but follow Him.
I have always loved the unique attributes that women possess. I love the characteristics that set us apart from men. I love that we are emotional and nurturing and talkative! I love when I see women interact with one another; I enjoy watching facial expressions while ladies talk and I love, love, love to see emotion. I bet Jesus did too. I bet He marveled at the species that God had created with such precision, not making a mistake in the slightest. I bet Jesus thought, way to go Dad, you done good!
Women are special. And yet, if you were to ask a group of women how many of them felt that way, nary a hand would be raised. Why? Well, there is a plethora of reasons but I think it boils down to this: we have forgotten that we are of the "Certain Women!"
If Jesus walked this earth in the flesh, you bet I'd be running to follow Him. Can you imagine what stuff they saw? And furthermore, can you imagine what a help those certain women must have been to Jesus. Had he been traveling simply with the disciples, I'd venture to say that Jesus would not have ate too well and His clothes would have been filthy! I'm sure the women there helped to meet the practical needs of Jesus, the passage of Scripture above confirms that, saying they provided for Him from their substance. But beyond the practical, I imagine the women to be the glue that held that group together, as we women do. They loved on people, they hugged, they laughed, they cried, they listened intently. No doubt they offered wisdom in areas that the men were unable to offer it. And again, I bet Jesus loved it.
He always was kind to women. He knew how special they were. In a culture that placed little to no value on women, Jesus wanted them around Him. He loved them. And He knew that they too were created for a purpose. He knew that they too had plans and gifts and talents and things that could be offered to the world. And so it was that certain women were there. Doing what we women do.
Obviously I can't follow His fleshly body today, but oh how I can follow Jesus. Oh how I can do my best to live for Him. Oh how I can do my best to be kind, to love deeply, to listen clearly, to serve wherever there is a need. My prayer today is that we women would realize that indeed we are part of the "certain women" that Jesus longs to have near Him. All of our flaws, all of our weakness', all of our quirky habits, He longs to have us with Him. Created in His image, to do something pretty cool with our lives. Because we have value. We are "Certain Woman."
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Alone
Psalm 62:5
My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.
The Psalmist is telling himself to wait, quiet down. Be still. Too wait for God alone. God is who I need. God is the one with the answer. God is the one that will make the way. I don’t need to look to everyone else, I need to look to God, because, MY EXPECTATION is from Him.
What I expect Him to do, only He can do.
In the book of Genesis we read about Jacob and a time that He wrestled with God.
Genesis 32:24 says, “Then Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with Him until the breaking of day.”
He was alone. His soul was waiting on God.
Jacob was returning to meet his brother Esau, who had become very rich. Esau had been blessed abundantly in the things of the world. He had authority and power to take all that Jacob had and to take vengeance on him. Jacob knew this. He also knew that there was only one way of deliverance, and that was that God would show him favor. He knew he needed God to intervene in this situation. God intervenes when conflict arises.
Our church is embarking on a 21 day fast tomorrow. We did it last year, for the first time, and look forward to this becoming a tradition each year. It’s when we get alone with God, when we set ourselves apart, as we are focusing on for these next 21 days, it’s in these times that we have the ability to see tremendous victory!
Jacob said, I will not let go unless you bless me! He was in a dark place and he knew without God’s intervention, he would not make it.
No matter where you find yourself today, press on. If you are in a dark place, press on. If you are sick in body, press on. If you need an answer from Heaven, press on. Dig down deep and hold fast to that strong will that’s inside all of us and press on until you get the victory. It may not come swiftly, but surely it will come.
Jacob wrestled all night with the Lord and in the end, God honored his determination. He blessed him. And when Jacob met Esau it was a wonderful reunion. Jacob sought after God’s will, after His favor. Will you? Will you seek to be in His will today? This 21 day fast has the potential to shave off the muck & mire we so easily get ourselves engrossed in. It’s a wrestling match, our will vs. God’s will. And in the end, when we tell our soul to wait quietly for the Lord, we not only will learn a whole lot about ourselves and become a better person, we not only will develop a greater love for people, but everything we expect God to do, our faith will grow to believe that He will do it.
My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.
The Psalmist is telling himself to wait, quiet down. Be still. Too wait for God alone. God is who I need. God is the one with the answer. God is the one that will make the way. I don’t need to look to everyone else, I need to look to God, because, MY EXPECTATION is from Him.
What I expect Him to do, only He can do.
In the book of Genesis we read about Jacob and a time that He wrestled with God.
Genesis 32:24 says, “Then Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with Him until the breaking of day.”
He was alone. His soul was waiting on God.
Jacob was returning to meet his brother Esau, who had become very rich. Esau had been blessed abundantly in the things of the world. He had authority and power to take all that Jacob had and to take vengeance on him. Jacob knew this. He also knew that there was only one way of deliverance, and that was that God would show him favor. He knew he needed God to intervene in this situation. God intervenes when conflict arises.
Our church is embarking on a 21 day fast tomorrow. We did it last year, for the first time, and look forward to this becoming a tradition each year. It’s when we get alone with God, when we set ourselves apart, as we are focusing on for these next 21 days, it’s in these times that we have the ability to see tremendous victory!
Jacob said, I will not let go unless you bless me! He was in a dark place and he knew without God’s intervention, he would not make it.
No matter where you find yourself today, press on. If you are in a dark place, press on. If you are sick in body, press on. If you need an answer from Heaven, press on. Dig down deep and hold fast to that strong will that’s inside all of us and press on until you get the victory. It may not come swiftly, but surely it will come.
Jacob wrestled all night with the Lord and in the end, God honored his determination. He blessed him. And when Jacob met Esau it was a wonderful reunion. Jacob sought after God’s will, after His favor. Will you? Will you seek to be in His will today? This 21 day fast has the potential to shave off the muck & mire we so easily get ourselves engrossed in. It’s a wrestling match, our will vs. God’s will. And in the end, when we tell our soul to wait quietly for the Lord, we not only will learn a whole lot about ourselves and become a better person, we not only will develop a greater love for people, but everything we expect God to do, our faith will grow to believe that He will do it.
Friday, January 6, 2012
You are not your past
You are not your past. I am not my past. Sure, the history that has been my life plays a role, but it does not have to define me. We have certain quirks & habits about us, some that have been brought on by genetics and some that have been brought on by self; but they don't define me. Because I am not my past. You are not your past. We look a certain way, and we talk a certain way, and we have certain mannerisms, but that does not define us. That is not the sum of who we are.
The decisions we have made are powerful, of course, but they don't define us. While yes, it's true that our next step hangs on the hinges of our next decision and yes, it can be life altering for the good or the bad, BUT, it does not have to define us. It's up to you. And it's up to me.
We have all made poor choices in life; we have all said and done things that if given the chance to go back, we certainly would correct those things. But since we don't get the option of a re-do per se, we have to take today for what it is. And today is a day bathed in mercy, if we'll accept it. Today is a day bathed in grace, if we'll accept it. Today is a page that is yet to be written. You can choose today to be your past, or you can choose today to be your future!
I love Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Even in the midst of our worst choice, even perhaps when we did not know God, even while doing that very thing that we would change if given the opportunity, even then, Jeremiah 29:11 was still Jeremiah 29:11. Even in our past, God's thoughts toward us were peace. They were good and not evil. He still had a plan and a purpose for us. Even then.
And so in the today that we have been given, we make the choice. We either live in the past and allow our history to define us. Or we look at today and say "God, your will and not mine."
His mercies are new every morning. It's a new day, He is the God of new beginnings and this can be the best day of the rest of our lives, because of the amazing grace of God.
Let's not live another day in the valley of regret. Let's not allow the devil to make our mind a playground of our past mistakes or miseries. I am not my past. You are not your past.
It's a new day. The choice is yours. The choice is mine.
The decisions we have made are powerful, of course, but they don't define us. While yes, it's true that our next step hangs on the hinges of our next decision and yes, it can be life altering for the good or the bad, BUT, it does not have to define us. It's up to you. And it's up to me.
We have all made poor choices in life; we have all said and done things that if given the chance to go back, we certainly would correct those things. But since we don't get the option of a re-do per se, we have to take today for what it is. And today is a day bathed in mercy, if we'll accept it. Today is a day bathed in grace, if we'll accept it. Today is a page that is yet to be written. You can choose today to be your past, or you can choose today to be your future!
I love Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Even in the midst of our worst choice, even perhaps when we did not know God, even while doing that very thing that we would change if given the opportunity, even then, Jeremiah 29:11 was still Jeremiah 29:11. Even in our past, God's thoughts toward us were peace. They were good and not evil. He still had a plan and a purpose for us. Even then.
And so in the today that we have been given, we make the choice. We either live in the past and allow our history to define us. Or we look at today and say "God, your will and not mine."
His mercies are new every morning. It's a new day, He is the God of new beginnings and this can be the best day of the rest of our lives, because of the amazing grace of God.
Let's not live another day in the valley of regret. Let's not allow the devil to make our mind a playground of our past mistakes or miseries. I am not my past. You are not your past.
It's a new day. The choice is yours. The choice is mine.
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