“In the same way, I tell you,
there is rejoicing in the presence of
the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
(Luke 15:10 NIV)
I sat down on the bench by my dining room table to put on my walking shoes. On the carpet near my feet was a Lego doll. I took a picture and sent it to my daughter with a promise to reunite my granddaughter with her doll on their next visit. We are so much more valuable to God. I will seek the lost and celebrate the found. I hope you will, too!
“A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others
will himself be refreshed.”
(Proverbs 11:25 NIV)
Generosity is described as freely and joyfully sharing material and immaterial gifts to reflect God's own character and abundant love. King Solomon wanted to remind his readers that the law of generosity is eternal. When I serve someone in need, I can count on receiving a blessing. It may come only in the satisfaction of helping someone, but it will come. I will look for opportunities to be generous in ways that cannot be repaid. I hope you will, too!
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the
iniquity of us all.”
(Isaiah 53:6 NIV)
Jesus is my scapegoat. Just as the priest laid his hands on the scapegoat to symbolically lay the sins of Israel on it, God the Father placed His hands on God the Son and transferred my sin to Him. I have gone my own way, been led astray, and need a Savior. I thank Jesus for taking my place of punishment. I hope you will, too!
“Therefore I tell you,
whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.”
(Mark 11:24 NIV)
This is one of the very hardest verses in the Bible for me to believe. What about the friend that dies, or the dream that dissipates? Carey Scott helped me by writing, “No loving God would give us everything we wanted. He will always respond with what is best.” I don’t want to make a mess of my life. I trust the Holy Spirit to guide me. I hope you will, too!
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written:
‘Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.’”
(Matthew 4:4 NIV)
Man relies on God for physical and spiritual food. When the Israelites were hungry in the desert after leaving slavery in Egypt, God provided manna. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, He trusted His heavenly Father to provide. Some die from starvation for lack of physical bread, but they need never lack spiritual food. I will feast daily on the Bible. I hope you will, too!
“Then He said to them, ‘Watch out!
Be on your guard against all kinds of
greed;
a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions.’”
(Luke 12:15 NIV)
God created humans with a God-sized hole in their hearts. Until they realize only God can fill them, they will reach for, strive for, kill to fill their hole. Emptiness was created by our heavenly Father. When I want something, Jesus says, “That thing you desire was from me to bring you to me.” I will watch out for substitutes. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“I will give them singleness of heart
and action,
so that they will always fear me for
their own good
and the good of their children after
them.”
(Jeremiah 32:29 NIV)
I reached
into my purse at Publix to retrieve my wallet to pay my bill. My wallet was
wet! I reached further into my purse to see where the moisture was coming from.
Out came an opened sandwich bag full of rotten cherry tomatoes. Ugh!
