“I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least
of these brothers of mine, you did for
me.”
(Matthew 25:40 NIV)
Pastor Bob reminded me one Sunday that I am a tenant, not the owner of anything. My heavenly Father is the only Owner. I have no rights, no power, no control. He has it all. When I serve others, I am only doing what I was created to do. I need to be reminded every minute of every day. I will surrender my will to serve in His kingdom today. I hope you will, too!
“Everyone should be quick to listen,
slow to speak
and slow to become angry.”
(James 1:19 NIV)
God gave me two ears, two eyes, and one mouth. With my eyes I see the color and shape of God’s creation. With my ears I listen to music and words. With my mouth I eat and drink. My mouth is also used to create sounds for speech, to talk. I must evaluate what I take in through eye, ears, and mouth so God is glorified in what comes out. I hope you will, too!
“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the
earth.”
(Psalm 108:5 NIV)
I had just about given up. The hinges on my new dryer’s door were on the wrong side. The delivery man refused to touch it. The representative on the phone said she would investigate it. Weeks passed and I heard nothing. I made one last plea and in two days it was fixed! I thanked God for nudging me to persist when I wanted to give up. I hope you will, too!
“I lift up my eyes to the hills -
where does my help come from?”
(Psalm 121:1 NIV)
Sometimes the clouds past the tree line across the lake look like mountains. Their formations reach for the sky like snow-covered peaks. My imagination runs wild and I see Jesus coming for me. My Help is in the Lord who made heaven and earth. He will not let my foot slip. He watches over me. He is always awake. I will lift up my eyes to Him. I hope you will, too!
“He saved us,
not because of righteous things we had
done,
but because of His mercy.
He saved us through the washing of
rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
(Titus 3:5 NIV)
I cannot take any credit for my birth. My heavenly Father created me to need Him. And, boy, do I need Him! By His mercy I do not get what I deserve. By His grace, I get something much, much better. He is the ultimate prize! I can never thank Him enough but will keep trying. I hope you will, too!
“Blessed is the Man
who does not walk in the counsel of the
wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.”
(Psalm 1:1 NIV)
I used to think if I tried hard enough, I could be like the man in Psalm 1:1. Then I realized there is only one Man who fits that bill. Jesus is the only man who delights in God’s law and fulfills it. I can follow in His footsteps away from the wicked. I will thank Him today for His righteousness. I hope you will, too!
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread
of life.
He who comes to me will never go
hungry,
and he who believes in me will never be
thirsty.’”
(John 6:35 NIV)
Jesus compared Himself to bread. He claimed to be I AM, God, the only Source of life. Shawn Thornton wrote, “Bread must be received daily. Faith works the same way. Yesterday’s trust cannot nourish today’s need. We return to Jesus again and again, because dependence is how life with Him is lived.” I will trust Jesus for every speck/drop of life. I hope you will, too!
