“From the fullness of His grace
we have all received one blessing after
another.”
(John 1:16 NIV)
Stop for just a minute and take in what God has brought to you. What do you taste? See? Hear? Touch? Smell? He has given us five senses to recognize His power in every moment. Blessings abound to reveal His presence. I do not want to miss the sounds, the colors, the smells, the flavors, the textures He has created. I will hesitate periodically to get more of Jesus. I hope you will, too!
“When your words came, I ate them;
they were my joy and my heart’s
delight,
for I bear your name, O Lord God
Almighty.”
(Jeremiah 15:16 NIV)
God’s Words - I digested them. I assimilated them. I made them a part of me. I devoured them with my eyes and felt them slide down into my heart. I approached His table of the Last Supper with awe and humility. I do not deserve His forgiveness and mercy. I will feast on Jesus, my joy and my heart’s delight. I hope you will, too!
“I will give you a new heart
and put a new spirit in you;
I will remove from you your heart of
stone
and give you a heart of flesh.”
(Ezekiel 36:26 NIV)
This is the ultimate heart surgery. God does not fix my heart but completely replaces it with the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel explained God’s actions: I have not represented Him accurately to those around me. I have given Him a bad name. He changed me for His glory, not mine. I will surrender to the surgeon’s scalpel. I hope you will, too!
“For our struggle is not against flesh
and blood,
but against the rulers, against the
authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of
evil
in the heavenly realms.”
(Ephesians 6:12 NIV)
The Holy Spirit leads me into our struggles. He nudges me in this direction and that way. He reminds me I am not alone. I stay close to Jesus, like a child in the Fun House at the State Fair clings to his parent. I know He will take into the light. I will hold His hand. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“Since no man knows the future,
who can tell him what is to come?”
(Ecclesiastes 8:7 NIV)
As a
little girl, I anxiously sat still in my seat surrounded by family and friends
in the Florida theater on Palafox Street in Pensacola. We waited patiently for
the featured movie presentation to begin. With a bag of popcorn clutched in my
hands, we would be entertained first with “Previews of Coming Attractions.”
“Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
(Galatians 5:25 NIV)
I slipped out of step with the Spirit one Sunday. After worship I commented to my husband that one of the worship leaders said, “confession of faith” instead of “confession of sins.” Jeff nudged, “Well, I hope he didn’t hear those wrong notes you played during the anthem.” I cringed. He was right. I am not perfect. I can only try to stay in step with the Spirit in love. I hope you will, too!
“All the prophets testify about Him
that everyone who believes in Him
receives forgiveness of sins through
His name.”
(Acts 10:43 NIV)
Repentance is not one-and-done,
or even a weekly bowing of my head and saying I’m sorry during the worship
service. The Bible teaches continual admission of sin and guilt and handing it
over to the only One who can forgive. The Old Testament books tell of the
coming Messiah. The New Testament books reveal His life and death for us. I
will walk in humble reliance and repentance. I hope you will, too!
