Busy

Good Monday morning on the last day of August!  Are you ready for this day? Reviewed your to-do list and calendar? Seems like my lists keep growing!  I take pleasure in checking things off the list only to quickly replace the done with more to do...you too?  Do you end the day reflecting on accomplishments or on what is yet to be accomplished? We do stay busy, don't we. 

Today, as you make plans, spend a few minutes getting a heavenly perspective, talk to your heavenly Father about the list and see how it matches up with His plan for your day.  Let's not be busy in vain, rather let's keep the things that have eternal consequences in first place!  

Let everything you do today, bring Glory to God!

Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them. (Psalms 39:6 NKJV)

When you are asked....

I am sitting in a quiet place this morning, having enjoyed watching the sun burn away the morning fog, observed the neighborhood deer herd playing in the yard, found peace in the midst of turmoil. Found wisdom in the Word of God and a challenge...

Deuteronomy 6:20 (NKJV) 20 "When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the LORD our God has commanded you?'

Before you read the response in the next verses...stop for a minute and reflect on your own answer.  

This verse has stopped me "in my tracks" this morning...as I think about the legacy of faith that was passed on to me and changes that have taken place in this country today, I reflect on my own life and ask myself if I have shared the testimonies, statutes and judgments of God with this generation...have I shared  what God says...and lived it before them.  Would one from this generation look at me and see a difference that would cause them to even ask the question?  

We should all wrestle with this question today and strive to take every opportunity to let the love of God shine through us, to bring His peace into turmoil, to live and play in the freedom His love and His ways provides and to be ready to share with the world our own testimony of freedom, salvation, healing, deliverance, and love...

When you are asked in times to come...what will your answer be?

Deuteronomy 6:21 (NKJV) 21 "then you shall say to your son: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand;

Deuteronomy 6:23 (NKJV) 23 'Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers.

Deuteronomy 6:24 (NKJV) 24 'And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 6:25 (NKJV) 25 'Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.'

New Thing

A young man stood in the pulpit of our church last night and boldly proclaimed the Word of God, directing us to rebuild the temple by returning to the altar of prayer!  A powerful truth spoken that requires action on our part. In order to cleanse the temple of defilement, neglecting to seek God daily in a place of prayer, we must seek forgiveness and return to "our first love."  Return to the altar...seek God every day in a place of private devotion to Him.  

Revelation 2:4 (NKJV) 4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

God desires to do a new thing!  That is exciting, isn't it!!! This "new thing" may come from life spoken into an old thing...a place we need to return to, like the prayer closet, or to revive a dream that God planted that is ready to be birthed...or an infant dream that is ready for a growth spurt...or it may be a time of stepping out in a whole new direction standing on the faith...return to the place of prayer

...listen to His voice...and be ready to spring forth!! 

Isaiah 43:19 (NKJV) 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

With All

Love is a powerful word! Just "fall in love" with something and you are overtaken! 

Love is freely poured out on stuff and things, people and places, and the primary focus of all that love, is self. 

Frequently the love meter is measuring not what we love, but what loving does for us...love ice cream to satisfy the sweet tooth!! You see where this is going.

We seem to have this love thing figured out, don't we...at least in terms of love that meets a need in ourselves.  

Jesus turns our focus in a different direction when He responds to question meant to trip him up...after all, aren't all the commandments most important? 

Jesus gave the perfect answer and I wonder what the one who received the answer did with it.  Loving to meet our own needs  is easy...but to set aside self and focus love on God, now that is a radical command.  

How will you apply these words in your life today? 

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38 NKJV)