“I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart” Psalm 139:1
Jesus is our Healer, our Provider, our Savior, and our friend like none other. The words ‘Thank you’ sometimes do not seem adequate, but of all the words we can chose from, when given from a grateful heart,
A Simple ‘Thank You’ Is Sincere Praise!
So today we give praise to You Lord with our whole heart for we indeed have much to celebrate. A world without Jesus is a world not worth celebrating, but with Him, we are restored, and all things are possible to those who believe.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him” Romans 5:13
Years ago, as I would walk with my late father in law, Dr. Robert H. Schuller, he would frequently ask people passing by, “how’s your day going?” Invariably people would respond with a casual, “fine”, or “good.” Before the words fully left their lips I was already stopping my walk for I knew the lecture that was about to take place. Upon hearing the words “Fine” or “Good” Dad would stop on a dime, turn to face the person, and say, “No, no, no, good is not good enough,
You Have To Make It A Great Day!”
Years later I walked into a hotel lobby and found myself saying to the attendant behind the counter, “how’s your day going?” His response actually floored me. “Better than good, my friend, better than good. How can I help you” I smiled and soon found out that this young man had watched my father-in-law on television many times. He said simply having a good day was not good enough. You have to make the day what you want of it. The truth is, like it or not, we all choose our emoji’s daily. The day you make out of today is completely up to you.
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from ALL my fears” Psalm 34:4
How many fears are you carrying today? One? Five? A dozen? You don’t have to. Large or small,
Give Every Fear, No Matter How Small, to God
I’ve stopped counting how many times the Bible references God telling us not to fear but instead to bring our burdens to Him. Today is the day for you to take God up on His promise of relief. Give every burden you have to God! Pray for His leading, His wisdom, and His intervention. Then stop worrying. He is all you need!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” James 1:2-3
As a child my favorite day of the week was Saturday because “The Bugs Bunny Road Runner Hour” was on television. No kid could resist watching Wile E. Coyote, the self proclaimed “super-genius”, try to catch the Road Runner. Whether falling off a cliff or getting flattened by an Acme road grader, it was all just too much fun to watch Wile E. work his antics. Yet what was fun to watch as a child now hits a little too close to home. For no matter what he did, or what he tried, Mr. Coyote encountered one trial after another. Then I read James chapter one where he says,
When You Face Trials, Count It All Joy
Really? The easy temptation would be to say that James must be full of hot air. In reality, he’s not. Neither was Peter when he said, we can rejoice in trials, or Paul when he said that he had learned to be content whether he was experiencing plenty or want. The secret that all of these men held tightly were God’s promises. They knew that God would never leave them, nor would He forsake them. This same promise is yours. All you have to do is ask Him. Look up.
Jesus said, “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you a ruler over many things.” Matthew 25:23
Great success and large numbers are celebrated as the media shines a spotlight on their version of what success in life means. That’s what makes God’s economy so very interesting. The entire universe belongs to God, yet in scripture we find over and over again that God celebrates the little things in life the most. Christ came as a poor carpenter, not a wealthy king. He chose fishermen and common laborers as his disciples. He celebrated kindness and thoughtfulness above all else in asking us to love our neighbor as we would ourself. We can learn much from this example.
Celebrate The Little Things In Life
Mother Theresa once said of the little things, “If you can’t do them with great love, do them with a little love. If you can’t do them with a little love, do them anyway.” That’s amazing advice for us today. Why not give it a try. A small kindness given each day to a stranger, or a loved one, will enrich your life more than you can ever imagine.
“There we saw the giants, and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight…” Numbers 13:33
When the children of Israel reached the promised land, Moses sent twelve spies to scout the land to see what they were in for. When the spies returned, one of the twelve spies, Caleb, quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Joshua was right there with him, but, based on our bible verse today from Numbers 33 you can already picture the objections, and the rolling of the eyes, from the other ten spies. “We don’t stand a chance”, I can hear them saying,
There Are Giants In The Land!
Caleb is one of my heroes of the faith. Here’s a man who was a slave in Egypt, and watched the plagues take place, and watched the Red Sea part, and remained faithful to God through 40 years of wandering through the desert beside a disgruntled nation who continually pestered Moses with a never ending chorus of “are we there yet?” Through all of that, Caleb, now 80 years young, says, “Come on, we can do it, Let’s take the Land. Caleb knew that with God, all things are possible. Do you?
“The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord.” Joshua 5:6
In the Old Testament, the children of Israel were rescued from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, then disobeyed God causing them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Historians have calculated that the walk literally should have taken them 11 days, and yet it took 40 years. Famed author C.S. Lewis, once said, “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done’, and those to whom God says,
“Alright Then, Have It Your Way”
The worst decision we can make is to have our own way. God will certainly let us do so, but I’d advise against employing this life strategy. Saying “Thy will be done” to God is a time tested recipe for joy filled living. Jesus himself said in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Searching for meaning? Contentment? Joy? Wander on home to Jesus.
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful.” 2 Timothy 2:13
Are you struggling in your faith? Having difficulty believing that all things really do work together for good for those who love God? You are not alone. The Bible is filled with men and woman who struggled with faith. Moses asked of God, “Who am I?” David asked the same question. Sarah thought she was too old, Jeremiah thought he was too young. Peter denied Christ. The list of those lacking faith is endless. Now for the good news,
God Is With You Through It All
2 Timothy 2:13 says it clearly, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful!” God did not choose Moses for his articulate words, nor Jeremiah for his aged wisdom, nor David for his might and strength, nor Sarah for her youth, nor Peter for his elevated standing in the community. At one time or another they all felt inferior and not up to the job. In a word, they felt faithless. Thankfully, in our weakness, God gives the strength, God gives the words, God gives the wisdom, God gives the power to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. What do we need to do? Simply say yes to Him. Surrender to His will for your life and you will truly have life filled with faith, and have it abundantly!
“Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you.” Psalm 55:22
I cannot remove the image from my mind of my grandmother kneeling beside her bed at night and giving her burdens to God. If one of her children was going through a very difficult time, she gave it to the Lord. If a friend was stricken with a life threatening illness, she gave it to the Lord. When her arthritic bones created more aches and pains than any human being should have to endure, there she was, kneeling on a hard floor,
Lifting Her Burdens To God
I will also never forget waking up the next morning only to hear her singing, “Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life.” As she worked in the kitchen her burdens were gone, placed before the Lord in a simple act of faith. Grandma Inez may have been a simple farmers wife but she was wealthier than any oil baron or captain of industry, for she did not rely on a laurels of education, nor a bank account full of money. Inez relied on God! God has given you a promise in Psalm 55:22. As you seek after God, and His will, and rely on Him alone, He will sustain you. Your burdens are only burdens if you choose carry them. Lift your burdens to the Lord.
God said, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Jeremiah 1:5
Let the words from Jeremiah 1:5 sink in for just a moment. Before you were born, God knew you. Indeed he knows you better than you know yourself. Now realize that Jeremiah was scared and timid and not a gifted orator and yet God still said he was going to use Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations. If the Bible proves anything over and over again it is that God will use the most unlikely person to to accomplish the incredible.
God Is Not Phased By Your Insecurities
God is simply looking for those who are willing to be used by Him to accomplish amazing things. The only qualification you need is to open your mouth and say YES to Him. Miracles happen when we say Yes to God’s will.
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