Night lights, house lights, headlights, street lights, starlight. Each of these things shine to illuminate our way. We even sing a song: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” In the same manner, we are a light to the world and we shine the brightest when we reflect the light of God. If we allow the Holy Spirit to help us stay focused on God and Jesus Christ, we will be better able to reflect that light to others. Matthew 5:16 says: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.” We need to remember that God is the source of our light and he wants us to share it with others. God bless you!
Let Him Carry the Load
There are lots of things that can make us tired: mowing the yard, cleaning the house, going to our jobs. One thing that shouldn’t exhaust us is worshipping God. If we find that Christianity exhausts us, draining us of our energy, then we are practicing religion rather than enjoying a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our walk with the Lord will not make us tired, it will fill us with energy and increase our strength. Matthew 11:29-30 says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” When it seems we are practicing religion instead of enjoying a relationship with Jesus, it’s time to lay our burdens down and walk with the one who wants to carry the load for us. Amen? God bless you today!
Some Things Never Change
Things change: people change; we change jobs, homes, banks. We can count on the weather changing; we even have two time changes a year. Isn’t it good to know that one thing never changes? Malachi 3:6a says: “For I am the Lord, I change not.” He is the one unchanging thing in our lives. Aren’t you glad you can count on that? God bless you!
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Everyone needs a friend! In nature, animals run in packs, birds fly in flocks, and bees fly in swarms. Humans need people around them as well, friends who can help pick them up when they fall. Solomon said, “But woe to him is alone when he falls.” There is power in living in community, like the fellowship we have in church. God did not want us to live alone, it’s not His plan. Fortunately, even when we feel we are most alone, Jesus is with us because He promised us in Matthew 28:20b “And lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. (KJV)” The next time you feel isolated, call on the one friend we all have, Jesus Christ, and may He bless you today!
A New Beginning
Well, we’ve come to the end – the end of another year. That means that we have a new year, a new beginning, a chance to start over. Revelation 21:5 says “Behold I make all thing new.” While that actually refers to a new heaven and new earth I like to also think of it as God giving us a new day, a new opportunity to do and be better. What can we do to begin anew? How about committing to read the bible in a year (I just finished and will start again), maybe saying “have a blessed day” instead of “have a good day,” maybe listening to someone more closely to recognize a need. Because of God, we have an opportunity to start fresh every day. Will we take that opportunity? I pray so. God bless you and Happy New Year!
The Real Gift
Christmas is a wonderful time and we enjoy it every year. But if we didn’t know the true meaning of Christmas, our joy would be as temporary as the tree we have put up. When the holidays are over, the tree is taken away and the gifts are soon forgotten. So are the special greetings of the season. Luke 2:11 says, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Praise God that the good tidings of great joy because of that first Christmas remain with us always. Remember as you unwrap all the brightly colored packages that Jesus is our real gift. God bless you!
Slow Down and Listen
Busyness, also known as the rat race, the daily grind, the vicious cycle. We all get caught up in it, especially at this time of the year. It’s called the Christmas Rush. In spite of all the craziness going on around us we need the “Christmas Hush:” quiet, contemplative time spent with the Lord. Habakkuk 2:20 says, “But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” Let’s try to turn off our electronic noise and instead open our bibles and listen to the soft, quiet voice of our Lord. God bless you!
Where is Your Hope?
When the lotto recently reached a billion dollars, people lined up. Why? Hope! In times like these, everyone is looking for it, but the chance of winning is one in d of millions, a very small percentage. But the chances of finding real hope is 100 percent found in Jesus Christ. Romans 15:12 says “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” Let’s remember to put our hope in Him and share it with everyone we meet.
Maintain Your Walls
Walls protect us from enemies, but they also protect us from ourselves. Hadrian’s Wall protected the island of England and The Great Wall of China protected them from foreign invaders. Proverbs 25:28 says “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” If walls are not maintained they fall into ruin. Just like actual walls, we have a wall called self-control. It can keep us from making ungodly decisions. Self control, like walls, must be maintained by prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit; after all, self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. God bless you today as you maintain your wall!
Faith Defined
How do you define faith? An unknown author from the Holocaust wrote “I believe in the sun even when it is not shining, I believe in love even when I cannot feel it, and I believe in God even when he is silent.” Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We cannot see God, but we can have faith that He sees us and He loves us. What is the measure of our faith? Matthew 17-20 tells us “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Let’s all try to increase our faith and trust in Him daily. God bless you!
