The Time Has Come, the Time Is Now

 

Happy New Year! The time has come! Roll with it! Life is good, when we let it be.

Here are some verses to help you focus better for the coming year. Well, they help me, and I hope they can help you:

 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
(James 1:17)

"A blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you."
(Deuteronomy 23:5)

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done."
(1 Chronicles 16:8)

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
(Lamentations 3:22-24)

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
(Isaiah 43:18-19)

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
(Jeremiah 29:11)

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
(Proverbs 16:9)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
(1 Peter 5:7)

"So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'”
(Hebrews 13:6)

 

Your time is here. Your time is now.

 

The Race Marked Out for Us?(7 verses to comtemplate today)

 

"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?"
(Galatians 5:7)

"You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness."
(1 Thessalonians 5:5)

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
(Proverbs 29:25)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
(Hebrews 12:1)

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”
(Hebrews 12:28)

"...I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
(Philippians 3:13-14)

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:6)

 

Strive on -- all for His glory!

 

Why Does Life Seem to Suck Sometimes?

Wondering WHY your days seem to suck so bad at times? If you consider yourself a 'Christian,' read on.

I think the following 3 bits of scripture form a great, loving 'reminder' for us:

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation."
(Romans 5:3-4)

"In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God... has made the one as well as the other..."
(Ecclesiastes 7:14)

"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised."
(Hebrews 10:35-36)

Thank You, Jesus, for loving us.

Faith Is Not 'Intelligent Understanding'

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
(Hebrews 11:1)

Sometimes I cannot understand all that happens in my day. People act incomprehensibly. Things just seem to 'happen.' People don't always make informed, intelligent decisions, even as they're crossing my path.

I, too, choose in some of those moments then, not to fight to, 'be intelligent.'

Funny how society today -- at least here in America -- just loves to proclaim how smart we are. It's in taglines and mottos everywhere. Smart this-or-that, for Smart People.

yet many of these smart people regularly make rather insane, ludicrous decisions -- even as they continue consoling themselves about being smart.

In such moments, I have learned to stay (mostly) peaceful about the foolishness around me, by deliberately choosing to 'give it to God,' and to let God handle it.

Knowing that whether I ever do or don't understand a thing, "God's in charge."

That's become my motto. I remind myself that no matter how things appear to me, that God's already got it handled. I tell myself, I remind my children and those closest to me, sometimes I even ask friends in order to help remind them:

"Who's in charge?"

"God's in charge."


Who's in charge?

"God's in charge."

God's In Charge

Have faith today that even if you don't understand a thing to where you're comfortable with it, He's watching over you, He's got it covered. He's 'got your back.'

Give your worries and problems to Him. Ask Him to take care of it for you, when you can't seem to on your own.

"Glad, Reckless Joy"

Here's some of what Oswald Chambers said on the subject of faith...


“Faith is not intelligent understanding, faith is deliberate commitment to a Person where I see no way.”

“Are you debating whether to take a step in faith in Jesus or to wait until you can see how to do the thing yourself? Obey Him with glad, reckless joy!”


--Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (daily devotions, 3/28)


Strive today to stay calm, be at peace, and know that God's in charge. Give it to Him, and watch as He takes care of you.

Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, thank You. Thank You for faith. Thank You for being one with the Almighty God.

Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus to us as the bridge back to you, as the final sacrifice for our sins. We know through your word, the Holy Bible, that we are covered by His blood, and we are forgiven and therefore are no longer hated by you, but drawn into your amazing love once again. Thank You.

Lord, please, strengthen our faith in you today. Help us to give it all to you. All our worries, our fears, our needs. Our hopes and dreams and commitments as well. Take them, Lord, and take us -- and make us yours.

Help us to trust in you, in your word given in the bible, more fully. Grab hold of us, Jesus. Make us yours. Use us mightily, Lord. Change our lives, our hearts, our minds -- then use us to change others as well.

Father, we ask for your love, your power, your wisdom to be poured out on us, and in us, to overflowing. So that is what we can't help but share with others every day, in every way. Help us to trust more in You, and to love others better.

All for Your glory, and in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.