Author: Jayne Lawson

“Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.” Psalm 145:2

Have you ever noticed the natural world around you? God’s creation points to Him.

*Notice the mountain peaks… they point upward to God!

*Notice the trees… they point upward to God!

*Notice the flowers… they reach upward to the Lord!

*Even the waves… they point skyward until they can no longer remain upright, then they come crashing down, only to repeat it again and again.

Have you ever wondered why they do this? I think it’s their way of praising God. You may say that’s crazy, but did you know that in the Bible, it tells us many times that natural objects praise the Lord?

1. Mountains & Trees: “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)
2. Rocks: “As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:37-40)
3. Flowers: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing…” (Isaiah 35:1-2)
4. Ocean: “Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.” (Psalm 69:34)

The Bible tells us that we are to bless His name. To bless something or someone means to give praise, honor, or glory. Today’s verse tell us that we are to bless God daily!

1. He is our Creator: “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:3-4)
2. He commands us to praise Him: “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6)
3. He has unending mercy toward us: “Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 118:28-29)
4. He has given us the gift of salvation: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
5. He does so much for us: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” (Psalm 103:2)

However, these reasons are not necessary when it comes to praising God. Why? Because He is God. No other reason is needed. Blessing God is not contingent upon what He has done for us; it is simply because of who He is. “I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised:” (2 Samuel 22:4)

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.” (Psalm 48:1)

All praise to Him who reigns above
In majesty supreme,
Who gave His Son for man to die,
That He might man redeem!
Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!

(from “Blessed Be the Name” by William H. Clark)

“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” (Psalm 95:2-3)

**********

If you need a reason to praise God, look in the mirror!

“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:9

There are lots of prophecies in the Bible. If you study them, you will see that many have come to pass. Here are a few examples.

*Genesis 18 – birth of Isaac

*Deuteronomy 28 – Roman conquest of Israel

*Leviticus 26 – scattering of the Jews to other nations

*Isaiah 7 – miraculous birth of the Saviour

*Ezekiel 26 – Fall of Tyrus

*Ezekiel 30 – Fall of No (Egyptian city)

*Hosea 3 – no government, no sacrifice, no holy place in Jerusalem

*Micah 5 – birthplace of the Messiah

*John 2 – resurrection of Jesus

There are many more prophecies in the Bible that have been fulfilled, and this gives us the assurance that God will continue to fulfill His prophecies for the future. The next prophecy on God’s timeline to be fulfilled is what Christians refer to as “the rapture.” This event is spoken of by Jesus and the apostle Paul.

Jesus referred to it in John 14:2-3, when He said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Paul spoke of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

History has shown that the prophecies in the Bible truly came to pass. If God was faithful to fulfill them in the past, He will be faithful to fulfill them in the future. The next prophecy that will come to pass is the rapture of the church. I can’t wait to “fly away!” How about you?

Marvelous message we bring,
Glorious carol we sing,
Wonderful word of the King,
Jesus is coming again!

Coming again, Coming again,
May be morning, may be noon,
May be evening and may be soon!
Coming again, Coming again;
O what a wonderful day it will be –
Jesus is coming again!

(from “Coming Again” by John Peterson)

“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Mark 13:32

*********

Are you ready?

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5

Fake news, false accusations, hidden agendas, blatant lies. It seems like so much of what I hear or read about things in the world end up being grossly skewed, yet the true facts are not revealed before causing great turmoil in the hearts of the public. I imagine if every falsehood was somehow made known, the noses on the faces of the Pinocchio-esque liars would be constantly poking each other on a regular basis!

I admit when I read or hear about current events, I often get an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. The longer I dwell on these things, the more intense the distress within me becomes, so I go to the only source of pure truth that I know – the Bible.

God’s Word gives me peace and comfort as I rest in Him, and that awful feeling within me dissipates as I am reminded who is really in control (Isaiah 14:24). Even if all the horrible stories I hear about were to end up being true, God is still the One who holds everything in His hands. Nothing catches Him off guard; there is nothing He is not aware of nor is there anything in which He lacks control. That includes the political situations both here and abroad, global warming, financial markets, health scares… everything is in God’s control. I can truly rest easy for the truth of God’s Word protects and shields me from the fears generated from the lies of the world.

Time to turn off the news, shutdown my computer, and open up my Bible. I need its sweet words to calm my spirit and restore peace to my soul (Philippians 4:7).

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

(from “It Is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford)

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

**********

“If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot.” – John Bunyun

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8

Many people who profess to be Christians really know little of God except what they have heard in a church service or a Sunday school class. They rely on the words and thoughts of others to know and understand God. I know. I’ve been there.

Don’t get me wrong. Church and Sunday school are vital in growing as a Christian, but they are not all-inclusive. If these are my only sources of “getting to know God,” I am severely limiting the relationship I am to have with Him. Think of it this way. It would be like having a friend tell me about a letter her grandmother had written, and then me believing that I had a close relationship with that grandparent because I had listened to my friend explain what was in that letter. It would give me a vague idea about my friend’s grandmother, but it would be impossible for me to have any sort of a relationship with her. The only way I could have a relationship with my friend’s grandmother would be to visit her, have conversations with her, spend time with her… often.

This is the exactly the same thing I need to do to cultivate a deep personal relationship with God. Once I’ve accepted Jesus as my Saviour, I must visit Him often through the reading of the Bible, His Word. I must have conversations with Him. I must speak to Him through prayer; He will speak to me through Scripture.

Start with one verse a day. It doesn’t take much time, but you could write that verse on a 3×5 card and put it someplace where you will see it throughout the day. Maybe a bathroom mirror or kitchen cabinet. Maybe in your purse or pocket. After you read it, think about it, and let the Holy Spirit of God speak to your heart. You might want to jot down a few thoughts on the back of the card, then at the end of the day, put that card in a box. If you read one verse each day, by this time next year, you would have read 366 verses (2020 is a leap year!), more if you read 2-3 verses every now and then! Think how much more intimate your relationship with God will become!

You can pick and choose the verses you want to read; there is no special way to get into God’s Word. Just make it doable for you, and then do it! I promise it will change your life.

More about Jesus in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing his voice in ev’ry line,
Making each faithful saying mine.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.

(from “More About Jesus” by E.E. Hewitt)

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” James 4:8

**********

Resolve to get to know God better today!

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Recently, a friend gave me this card, and it made me think. Do I really want to be the author of my own life story? As an author, I create characters for my stories, and their “lives” are completely in my control. With the clickety-clack of a few keys on my computer, I not only create a physical image, but I design a personality as well. Their essence takes shape through my words, which also take them through their lives, and ultimately, their final outcome. (I confess I like happy endings, so my tales usually end that way although the journey is often bumpy!)

My life, however, is another story. (No pun intended!) It has its ups and downs. That plans that I have made are in no way guaranteed to come to pass. My life is definitely not under my control. I cannot type my day out, nor can I orchestrate happy endings on a daily basis. But I don’t have to worry about it because my life is being written by Someone who does order my steps every day (Proverbs 37:23), and He has promised a very happy ending in my future! The author of my life is Jesus! Hebrews 12:2 says that the Son of God is the author and finisher of my faith!

As an author, I often encounter obstacles when I write. Sometimes I hit the proverbial writer’s block, and a story may go unfinished for months. Why? Because I don’t know where I am going with a certain character or situation. Not so with the author of my life. Jesus knows exactly the path I need to walk, and in doing so, I have peace in my life. 1 Corinthains 14:33 states, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” Each step is taken by following in His footsteps! It’s impossible to get lost unless I purposefully stray from the narrow path upon which He leads. And even then, He restores me and brings me back to the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3).

Sometimes when I reread chapters that I’ve written, I make major changes because the writing has not turned out the way I had hoped. Revisions often take more time than the original writing! But Jesus never makes a mistake in my life’s story. I may veer off the major plot line, but He always brings me back to where I need to be to keep my story on track until it reaches that happy ending He has promised (Philippians 1:6).

Jesus knows every word of my life story intimately. He has written it in the deepest red, and it is imprinted in His hands, His feet, His side, and most importantly, His heart!

I can’t wait to see what’s in the next chapter!

In letters of crimson God wrote His love
On a hillside so long, long ago
For you and for me Jesus died
And love’s greatest story was told

(from “Written in Red” by Gordon Jensen)

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” Hebrews 5:9

**********

Who’s writing your life story?

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103 

One of the “sweet” things about the Christmas season is the abundance of candy. One of my favorites is the candy cane. I enjoy the minty flavor. There are other similar candies that I equally enjoy: peppermints, chocolate mints, butter mints, and maybe a few other kinds of mints as well.

You know the Bible is full of “mints” also, and I’d like to share a few of those mints with you.

The most important mint is atonement. Atonement means paying for a wrong done. Jesus did that when He died on the cross, but it was not His wrongs for which He died. He sacrificed His life to pay the debt for our sins. The Bible tells us, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:8-11). The Bible also says, “Whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). When we ask Jesus to become our Saviour, we are choosing to believe in His work of atonement on the cross, and by that, His forgiveness of sins.

Was there a time in your life when you called upon Jesus to forgive you? If you have never asked Him to save you from your sins, or you don’t remember if you have, you can do that today. Simply bow your head and pray. Ask Him to forgive you and become your Saviour, and He will!

If you do remember a time in your life when you asked Jesus to forgive your sins, you are saved by His grace and ready for the rest of these Biblical “mints.”

The second mint is enlightenment. Enlightenment means attaining or having attained spiritual knowledge or insight. We gain enlightenment through the Bible, which is God’s Word. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:17-18).

Mint #3 is commitment. “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5). Commitment means being dedicated to something. If we dedicate or commit our lives to the Lord, He promises to be with us and help us always. He promises to give us the desires of our hearts as well as meet our needs when we make Him Lord of our lives. “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3).

The fourth mint is encouragement. Encouragement means giving support, confidence, or hope to someone. “Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 31:4). We all know others who can benefit by a word of encouragement, and we ourselves need encouragement. God encourages us through His Word. One of my favorite verses when I need encouragement is a short verse that speaks loudly to my heart. It is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

The next mint is enjoyment. Enjoyment means to take pleasure in something. “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” (1 Timothy 6:17). When you surrender your life to Christ, you decide to live for God. Those who delight in God will have their own desires fulfilled through Him. Acts 3:38 records the words of King David, “Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”

Mint #6 is refreshment. “That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed” (Romans 15:32). Refreshment means the giving of fresh mental or physical strength or energy. God’s Word is rich with nuggets that perk us up… that refresh us, no matter what the circumstances are that we face. The book of Psalms is one of my favorites when I need refreshing. Many people have memorized Psalm 23 and dwell upon it when they need a time of refreshing from the Lord. Maybe you can remember a favorite verse that gives you strength and refreshes you.

The seventh mint is fulfillment. Fulfillment means the achievement of something desired or promised. Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s law. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). The Bible tells us that Jesus lived a sinless life, died upon the cross to become the sacrifice for sin, and then rose from the grave 3 days later to become our Saviour. Only through Him can we be completely fulfilled. When we ask Jesus to forgive us and become our Saviour, we begin the process of fulfillment as we serve Him with our lives. God has promised to continue the work of fulfillment in our lives until Jesus comes again (Philippians 1:6).

The last mint is contentment. Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction. “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). The world would have us all believe that contentment comes with money, fame, or power. But that is wrong. True contentment comes only from the Lord. Even when times were hard, the apostle Paul was able to write, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

This year as you enjoy a mint now and then, remember the “mints” in the Bible, and how you can have a life full of “mints” with Jesus.

Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

(from “Wonderful Words of Life” by Philip Bliss)

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

**********

Can you find some other “mints” in the Bible? If so, I’d love for you to share them with me!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8

When I was a parent, I did not always offer to my children explanations for things I said or did. When I told them to “Stop!” or “Don’t touch!” I expected immediate compliance. Why? Because I knew the possible ramifications of their actions. Time for explanations would come later when there was no longer a threat of danger looming. Sometimes I would say, “No peeking!” or “Not now” for reasons I did not necessarily make known at the time of utterance, but the joyous reasons again would become clear at a later time.

That’s how it works with God. He often directs me to do or not do something, and I am clueless as to the reason. I often ask why, when I should be obeying Him without question. I forget that his thoughts and ways are not my own. He sees what I cannot; He knows what I do not. He could be protecting me from some kind of danger or waiting to reveal a sweet surprise. In any event, I should trust and obey Him regardless of whether I understand or not. God will never lead me astray; He always does what is best for me.

In Luke 18:17, Jesus says, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” We often equate this verse to the open acceptability children have for God. They easily believe what the Bible says, but could “as a little child” mean more? I think so. I think it also means that I need to obey Him just as little ones wholly trust and obey their parents. When my dad called out, “Stop!” I did so immediately because even if I didn’t know the reason why, I knew he had a good one for crying out to me. I need to have the same mindset when it comes to God. When the Lord directs me to do something, I need to obey without hesitation.

The Bible says in Isaiah 55:9, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” It is a good thing for me to trust and obey God because He will only do that which is good, right, and best for me. To lean on my own understanding is foolishness; to trust in God is prudent and wise.

I can never go wrong when my faith is in the Lord.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

(from “Trust and Obey” by John H. Sammis)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

**********

“What God says is best, is best, though all the men in the world are against it.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”   Hebrews 1:3

I often hear people say “Jesus is still on the throne!” when emphasizing that God is in control of certain situations. But He is not… yet. Currently, Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, who is sitting on the throne of heaven. Jesus’ time is still in the future. Right now, Jesus sits to God’s right, and He waits.

Jesus is waiting for His Father to tell Him when to return to earth to gather all those who have trusted in Him as Saviour and Lord. He waits because only God the Father knows the exact time for this event to happen (Matthew 24:36). And it will happen!

When Jesus is told to go, He will come with great fanfare. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), and we will then rise to meet Him in the air! (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This event, referred to as “the rapture” by many Christians, will happen fast… so fast in fact, that people will not have any time to prepare. There will be no time to “get right with the Lord.” The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:52 that it will happen “… in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” The next time Jesus comes, it will be so quickly that we must be ready! It could happen at any moment because every single prophecy that has to be fulfilled before the rapture occurs has already come to pass! The next event on God’s calendar is the return of Jesus for His own!

After the Christians have been “caught up” and taken to heaven, there will be a seven-year period of God’s judgment upon the earth referred to as the “Tribulation.” It will be a time when “…the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” (Romans 1:18).

Thankfully, those of us who have accepted God’s gift of salvation and eternal life will never experience the Tribulation. We will be in heaven celebrating our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh what a day that will be!

But for now, Jesus is still waiting for God to send Him. Why? Because God is “…not willing that any should perish…” (2 Peter 3:9), which explains why He continues to wait in regards to sending His Son back to earth. God is waiting for everyone to have the opportunity to repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour. But He won’t wait forever.

If you have never accepted Christ’s forgiveness of sins and His gift of eternal life, won’t you consider bowing before Him today and asking Him to become Lord and Saviour of your life?

If you are saved, please take the time to share the gospel with someone today, so they will have an opportunity to receive Christ’s forgiveness of sins and not be left behind when Jesus returns to take us back to heaven with Him.

Coming again, coming again
Maybe morning and maybe noon
Maybe evening and maybe soon
Coming again, coming again
O, what a wonderful day it will be
Jesus is coming again!

(from “Jesus is Coming Again” by John W. Peterson)

“And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10-11

**********

It could happen today!

According to several online sites, women speak on the average approximately 15,000 – 20,000 words per day. (It’s hard to imagine someone had the time to watch and count all the words these surveyed women spoke!) 20,000 words! That’s a lot of sentences. I had no idea so many words could come from me in one day!

The Bible says “whatsoever ye do in word…” should be done in the name of the Son of God. All 20,000 of them! I need to really thing about what I say because I know there are times when what I say does not honor Jesus. I’m not talking about using bad language, I’m referring to things like gossip, anger, or even those little white lies. Sometimes things slip out before I even realize it, and I’ve said something just plain stupid or hurtful, often a result of my pride. I need to remember, “And whatsoever you do in word…” and think before I speak. This is not going to be easy, but I have God on my side, and He promises to help me (Isaiah 41:10).

What about the things I do? I confess I don’t really think about the Lord when I do my household chores, like laundry, washing the dishes, or vacuuming the house, but the Bible tells me “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed…” My “deeds” also include grocery shopping, reading, raking leaves… This list goes on and on! The things I do may not be as many as the words I speak, but it’s another long list. It’s easy to do things of service to God in Jesus’ name. Things like teaching Sunday school or singing in the choir, but what about the mundane everyday things? Things like watching television, cooking dinner, or writing bills? There are so many things I do each day. Can I say I am doing “all in the name of the Lord Jesus”?

I can’t.

So what do I do about it? I realize that I cannot change to become more aligned with what God wants in my life until I deal with what is misaligned. That means I need to examine where I stand in my walk with God. This is undoubtedly going to be a painful process, but it is a necessary one. Once I identify what is not spoken or done in the name of Jesus, I will need to seek God’s forgiveness, and then make the necessary changes, which goes along with my 2020 verse, Romans 12:1. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” My “reasonable service” toward becoming a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God” begins with an in-depth self evaluation.

That’s my resolution… my commitment to God this year. I want to present my body “… a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God…” To do so, I must “…do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” It is not going to be easy, but when the going gets tough, I will remember Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” It promises to be a great year!

Thine, most gracious Lord,
O make me wholly Thine.
Thine in thought, in word and deed
For Thou O Christ, art mine.

Wholly Thine, wholly Thine;
Thou hast bought me, I am Thine;
Blessed Savior, Thou art mine;
Make me wholly Thine.

(from “Wholly Thine” by A. Hawks and R. Lowry)

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.” Ephesians 5:1-2

**********

“Though the hill is high, I still desire to walk up it. I don’t care how difficult it is, because I understand that it leads to the way of life.” ― John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress

“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5

Happy new year! 2020 has arrived, and with it comes a time of renewing. Many of us look forward to a fresh start by facing the future with resolutions and hopeful dreams for tomorrow. No matter how you approach this upcoming year, each of its 366 days (it’s a leap year!) will hold 24 new hours of something “new” for you to experience in your life.

January 1^st is day one of those new beginnings. Today begins a day to turn over a new leaf and embark on a better path than the one you walked last year. The best way to do that is to walk that pathway with God. All things in your life can truly become new through a relationship with His Son, Jesus.

Here are a few examples of what God can make new in your life in 2020.

*He will make you a new person through Jesus Christ, His Son – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

*He will give you a new life – “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4

*He will give you a new way to live – “By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” Hebrews 10:20

*He will give you a new song -“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”   Psalm 40:3

*He will give you a new heart – “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 an heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

*He will renew your mind – “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” Ephesians 4:23

*He will give you a new spirit – “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” Romans 7:6

*He will give you new mercies -“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

*He will give you a new name – “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Revelation 2:17

*He will give you a new home – “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” 2 Peter 3:13 and “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isaiah 65:17

If you really want a new start… a new you… you need Christ in your life.

If you’ve never asked Jesus to forgive your sins and become your Saviour, you can do that this moment! Simply bow your heart before Him, ask Him to forgive your sins and come into your life as your Lord and Saviour. The Bible says “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

If you are already saved, you can start 2020 by making your own promise to draw nearer to the Lord by taking time to study His Word and commune with Him. (Romans 12:1,2)

If you have any questions about either of these, please feel free to contact me. I would be thrilled to pray for you and help you draw nearer to Jesus.

There’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
And the white robed angels sing the story,
A sinner has come home.
For there’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
With my sins forgiven I am bound for Heaven,
Never more to roam.

(from “A New Name in Glory” by C. Austin Miles)

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Titus 3:5

**********

Make 2020 your best year ever!