Category: Devotionals

“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

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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

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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

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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

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“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

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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

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“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

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Make 2020 your best year ever!

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

During my teenage years, there were various celebrities that I longed to meet. As a young girl, I was easily swayed from one to another by a movie or a song, and my affections for them were fleeting, but my friends and I could spend hours talking about our current “crushes.” Some were actors; some were singers, and others were athletes. Posters were constantly going up and coming down in my room, and I dreamed of seeing each one in person.

I remember liking a particular actor who had written his memoirs. He was doing a book tour, and he was going to make an appearance at our town’s local bookstore! I was so excited! I had to go! I had to see him… meet him… and maybe even speak with him! I made great plans. The anticipation I had regarding attending this book signing event was indescribable! Most of my family and friends thought I was crazy, but I didn’t care! I was going to meet my idol!

I am grown now, and I realize that those childhood infatuations are hollow and misdirected. Nevertheless, as a teen I looked forward to concerts, theatrical productions, or sporting events where I would see the one that had garnered my favor, however short-lived, at that particular time in my life.

You would have thought I’d have grown out of this type of behavior, but I must confess that  there is another individual with whom I am completely enamored. I am planning to be part of a future event in which he will appear, and I can hardly wait! He’s written an amazing book, and I love reading it over and over. I have read so much about him that I feel I know him personally already, but nothing will compare with seeing him face-to-face. Just to hear his voice and see his face fills me with an anticipation that goes beyond words! This person is unlike any other person I have ever heard about, read about or even met in my entire life! There is none that can compare to him, yesterday, today or forever! I love talking about him to others, and I love sharing his book with them as well.

Have you figured out to whom it is I am referring? It’s my Saviour, Jesus Christ! According to the Bible, He will be making an appearance shortly, and I plan to be there! (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

I may not be able to explain why I liked so many celebrities when I was a teenager, but I can give you many reasons why I love Jesus so much today. Here are a few:

1. He is the One who created me! “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.” (Isaiah 44:24)
2. He is the One who redeemed me and made me a new person in Him. “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)
3. He is the One who loves me unconditionally. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
4. He is the One who sustains me. “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.” (Psalm 3:5)
5. He is my future. “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.” (John 14:3) “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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Just like when I was younger, the closer the event is, the more excited I become! Jesus is coming soon, and today, I am one day closer to meeting Him face-to-face than I was yesterday! I can hardly wait!

Oh, what a moment, when we see Jesus;
When we stand face to face in His embrace;
And thank Him for amazing grace,
Oh! what a moment, when we see Him.

(from “Oh, What a Moment” by Squire Parsons)

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)

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Isn’t there someone you know who is unaware that Jesus is coming? Won’t you tell them today, so they don’t miss His “glorious appearing”?

“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

“Welcome to Flight #2020. We are prepared to take off into a brand new year. Please make sure your Attitude and Blessings are secured and locked in an upright position. All self-destructive devices should be turned off at this time. All negativity, hurt and discouragement should be put away. Should we lose attitude under pressure, during the flight, reach up and pull down a Prayer. Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith. Once your Faith is activated you can assist other passengers. There will be no baggage allowed on this flight. The Captain (GOD) has cleared us for takeoff. Destination: The Celestial City.“

(The author of this is unknown to me, but I read it on a friend’s post, and it was such a delight to me that I thought others might enjoy it as well!)

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“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1

There is joy unspeakable when you walk with Jesus!

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

January 1st is just around the corner, and with it comes a new year full of hope and possibilities. Many of us make resolutions… promises to affect positive changes in our lives. While we hope these plans for change will last, often it is difficult to keep many of these resolution over time.

God has hopes and plans for us as well. They are not made on a yearly basis, but rather His plans for us started the moment we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, receiving His salvation through the forgiveness of our sins. From that time on, God began working in us “both to will and to do…”

According to Philippians 2:12, we are to work out our salvation (not work for it!). That is, when we are saved, we begin to alter our lives to demonstrate the changes wrought by Christ in us. Sometimes those changes are dramatic; sometimes not so much. Sometimes the changes are only inward, and other times, they are outward. Either way, change is there. When this happens, there is a reverential awe (“…fear and trembling”)that only comes from understanding the source of these changes in our lives. It is truly amazing to see the difference that Christ makes in a person’s life. The work of God is beginning. He opens our eyes to a better way (His will) through His Word, and then enables us to act upon that understanding through His power.

How long will this last? Unlike our resolutions that may fade by February, the Bible tells us in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” That means God’s work in us will continue until we pass from this earth to heaven through a physical death, or we meet Him in the air! (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

As 2020 looms ahead, make it a year to get to know God more intimately through the reading of His Word. As you learn more through the Scriptures, you will also gain a greater desire to put His will into action, thus bringing Him “good pleasure,” and joy unspeakable to your heart!

Happy New Year!

I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living Way.

I will hasten to Him,
Hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to Thee.

(from “I Am Resolved” by Palmer Hartsough)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

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Standing on God’s promises is a great way to begin the new year!