No matter how or when, everything comes to an end. The end WILL come for all of us. As believers, what kind of ending can we look forward to? Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” In the bible, “expected end” means a specific and positive future, hope, and destiny that God has planned for believers. It refers to a future that will ultimately be peaceful and fulfilling, even though the journey may involve challenges and detours along the way. It is the final outcome of a life lived according to God’s plan, a “future and a hope” that will be fully realized in the end. Maybe that end will be the Rapture, or when we meet Him in glory; either way, I look forward to that “expected end.” God bless you!
What Are You Looking Forward To?
Most of us have something we look forward to: holidays, birthdays, marriage, anniversaries, the birth of a child or grandchild, a new job, etc. Some look forward to even simpler things, like that first cup of hot coffee in the morning or a refreshing rain after a hot day. As Christians, we have something even better to look forward to…Heaven. Psalm 23:6b tells us, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Jesus has promised that He has gone to prepare a place for us, and I look forward to that day, how about you? Remember, Jesus loves you!
Our Daily Routine
Most of us have a daily morning routine. We kick off the covers, brush our teeth, take our medicines, shower, dry our hair, get dressed for work. But, do we do the most important thing to prepare for our day? Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” I pray that all of us do that as part of our morning routine. God bless you!
You Can Trust Him
Are you ever anxious, or does your life seem out of control? Do you know God’s peace? Psalm 46:10a says, “Be still and know that I am God…” He seems to be telling us to stop panicking and trust in Him. God can handle anything if we just let him step into the situation and surrender to him. He wants us to hand over all our burdens into His hands and let His peace flood into our hearts. Releasing our anxiety provides room for God to work in our lives. We don’t need to know what God is going to do for our situation or when; we just need to know that He is with us and trust Him! Amen? God bless you.
Our Heart Surgeon
When someone needs a heart transplant, it is serious. They will die if they don’t receive a new heart and have a great surgeon to transplant it. It is the same way when we need a spiritual heart transplant; it’s deadly serious, and without it, we will die an eternal death. Fortunately, we have a great surgeon, God! Ezekiel 36:26 says, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” Jesus wants to take the broken, failing parts of our heart and replace them with something new and life changing. Will you allow Him to operate? God bless you.
Trust!
Trust is the currency of all of our relationships. So who can you trust? God, of course; He keeps his word. Luke 16:10 says: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” This scripture teaches us to look at the little things and choose trust. It teaches about honesty and integrity. Have you ever felt convicted about keeping too much change at the store or a private conversation no one will hear about? How about a white lie to save face? God wants us who follow him to be of honest character. If we live in contentment and integrity, trusting God, we can be sure that we are pleasing Him, and he can and will provide and protect us. God bless you!
Nothing Lasts Forever – Not True!
In life, things seem to change all the time. Memories fade, photographs lose clarity, and friends move on. We may feel like nothing lasts forever, and there is nothing we can count on with certainty. For non-believers, that may be true, and it is a sad commentary on their situation. However, as believers in Christ, nothing could be further than the truth. David wrote in the book of Psalms: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” We should be encouraged that His word is truth and nothing can change it; it will always be there for us. Praise God and God bless you!
Waiting on the Lord
What are you waiting for? Maybe for healing for health or a broken relationship, maybe for that new job to call you or for a financial breakthrough, or waiting for a difficult situation to end. No matter what we’re waiting for, the truth is that waiting can be hard, and sometimes, it feels like a waste of time. King David wrote in Psalm 27:14 how we should wait. He says: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” He is telling us to wait, hold on, trust in the Lord. It is so important that he says “wait” twice just as Jesus did when wanting people to see his point. No matter what you are facing, wait, and trust in the Lord, he is always faithful. God bless you!
Lift Each Other Up!
Edification is a word we often hear in church, but what does it really mean? It means we should build each other up spiritually, helping each other to grow in Christian wisdom and holiness. When we work towards the spiritual well-being of each other, it is pleasing to God. Romans 14:19 says: “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Why not pick up the phone today and call someone and encourage them in the Lord! God bless you!
The Fruit of Our Labor
As many of us get older, we look forward to retirement: receiving our social security and cashing in on retirement accounts. We consider it the reward for years of hard work. Psalm 128:2 tells us, “For thou shall eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” This verse reminds us that our hard work will pay off. The same applies as we faithfully serve God. He promises that when we put in the effort, we’ll enjoy the results. It’s a beautiful picture of the connection between our labor and the blessings we receive. Let’s be thankful for the blessings that come from our labor. God bless you!.
