Aim at and strive for

Since 1991, this devotional calendar has been a close companion.  Every January 23, I read this quote and meditate on the verse. Today, the quote and verse cause me to pause and consider my ways just like before...it strikes at the heart, doesn't it. 

For me, I know that my aim is off and while I may be striving after His kingdom and righteousness, the worries and concerns of life tend to affect my aim.  I am so thankful for this tender redirection from my Loving Heavenly Father.  

The things I put first speak volumes of their importance in my life.  I need to examine carefully what I do...what I think is first in my life may not be proven in my actions.   Too often the things made time for are, the things that get attention, the things that demand attention...have little to do with first place priorites.  Like all the "c" list things getting accomplished instead of focusing first on the "a" list...those of you who practice task management by priorites will understand!   There are times that the thing that screams the loudest gets the attention. There are times that nothing seems to get done because there is no focus at all.  The amount of time in a day remains the same...and like it or not, I seem to have time for what is most important.  The question then, is what I make time for really most important?  

Take a few moments on this snowy Saturday morning, perhaps as you gaze out the window at the winter wonderland forcing you to slow down and change your normal routine, to take a look at what you "aim at and strive for," just to be sure that what is most important, really is. 

“But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”

Matthew 6:33 AMP

http://bible.com/8/mat.6.33.amp

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/mat.6.33.nkjv

““If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Matthew 6:30-34 MSG

http://bible.com/97/mat.6.30-34.msg

Imitators

Young children are great imitators! Precious eyes watch and tender ears hear...and learn! Children are quick to learn to repeat the words they hear, along with the actions they see.  It is not a surprise that "No!" is among the list of first words used with emphatic emotion in the emerging language of a toddler! What parent isn't a bit flattered when watching their youngster acting like them...wanting to dress the same, climbing up on the bathroom counter to put on makeup or shave,  "helping" in the kitchen or pushing a toy mower around the yard. Children imitate what they see!  If you are a parent, grandparent or caregiver, this may be a humbling moment or you may be thinking "uh oh."  This should give us cause to stop and think about the example we are setting for our children...and others.

 “THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].”

Ephesians 5:1 AMP

http://bible.com/8/eph.5.1.amp

As followers of Christ, children of God, we are also to be imitators of Christ. The Bible is our greatest resource and the scriptures are filled with easy to follow instructions and examples...like this...

“And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. [Ezek. 20:41.]”

Ephesians 5:2 AMP

http://bible.com/8/eph.5.2.amp

Our walk in this life should be imitating the love of Christ...delighting in each other and willing to put others first.  

There's more...the scriptures offer specifics... 

“But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people). Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God].”

Ephesians 5:3-4 AMP

http://bible.com/8/eph.5.3-4.amp

Our walk (actions) should be love-filled and our talk should be full of expressions of thankfulness...

Pay attention to your walk and talk today.

     

You are setting an example someone else will follow. 

I'm telling!

Spend a little time with a pre-school age child and you will soon discover they love to tell!  Anything and everything is open for discussion, especially if the event was traumatic and resulted in a band-aid or was especially fun!  If another child in the room does something wrong, they tell! Young children will tell anyone who will listen about what they've seen!

Like little children we should be when it comes to telling about the love of God and what God had done for us.  

Someone who crosses your path today needs to hear about what you've seen God do in your life.  Go ahead, tell!

“By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

I John 4:13-15 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/1jn.4.13-15.nkjv

“This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.”

1 John 4:13-16 MSG

http://bible.com/97/1jn.4.13-16.msg

Preeminence

Your word for the day: preeminence.  Meaning in the Greek: to have first place.

Many thoughts are fighting for preeminence in my mind and spirit right now...after a powerful time of worship and Word with my church family yesterday morning, followed by an evening prayer service that was full of the revelation of God and the Holy Spirit...it is difficult to discern exactly what should be shared in this moment or is to be shared later. But I will power through and share what I believe is an important wake-up call to all: Who is first in your life?

This morning, let our hearts be fixed on putting Jesus first in our lives.  Let's take time to openly examine ourselves and ask God to show us what we need to change in order to be purposeful about living our lives as followers of Christ.   Yes. I said change.  There are things that God will change and there are things we need to change.  The question is, are we serious about putting Him first? If so, then the thought of changes or changing something will be welcomed and willingly accepted. However, if the gate swings open to a place God wants us to go and we remain chained to the rock of self preeminence, we will not be able to go through the open gate.  

Late last week, in a moment of prayer as I was sitting in my car, preparing to head out to my next destination, my Heavenly Father dropped this in my spirit:  "this will be a year of changes."  I received this Word willingly and with a sense of anticipation since there are several specific areas of change that I have been diligently praying for...but after several days of praying and waiting, I sense that there are things that I need to change in order to be prepared for the changes God will bring.  There will be gates of opportunity that will swing wide open, of their own accord...in other words, I won't have to unlock the gate, or lift the latch, or reach for the handle, or push or pull...the gate will swing open...God will open the gate to the change but if I stay chained to the past, or chained to doing things my own way, or chained to self...the gate will open and I will remain bound. 

This posting may be just for me, there are many areas in my life that I need to be willing to change, but my sense is that we all need to allow God the break a few chains of change-resistant self preeminence to be freed to walk through the open gates.

As for me, I want to be prepared for change and the only certain way to be ready is to keep Jesus in first place in my life...that is the starting point that will insure a strong finish.  My prayer is that you will want the same and purpose to put Jesus first. 

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:9-18 NKJV)

Love one another

We are liberal with the use of the word love.  Our love is declared freely for just about everything...I "love it" has become an overused phrase.  If only we were as liberal with the practice of truly loving others.  It is easy to express a passionate emotion over a food, place or thing. We can be very expressive, passionate and excited when we just love a thing.  But what about people?  Do we just love them? Every one? Granted, there are different types of love.  Love for a hamburger isn't the same as the love for a friend or the love for a child.  Better still, God's love for us.  Unconditional. Our love for Him requires all our heart, mind and soul.  God expects us to love others like He loves us...no matter what.  Love trumps hate.  And that takes loving it to a whole new level.  Saying it and showing it, there's the challenge.  Hate destroys. Love overcomes. Think about love today..all kinds of love...especially God's love. Allow His love to invade your heart and demonstrate your love for Him by loving others like He does...

“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”

I John 4:20 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/1jn.4.20.nkjv

Vital necessity

Allow me to ask you a question this morning.  What do you consider to be of "vital necessity" in your life?  

That question is harder to answer if you really stop to think about the vital necessities of life.  As we consider the many things that we think we can't do without, several things probably come to mind aside from the obvious, like the very breath we breathe.  A light hearted approach may be easier, we all know that chocolate is a vital necessity, right up there with oxygen!  But to keep this line of thought on track, seriously consider this...love? money? car? job? children? husband or wife? a certain brand name item? the next newest version of a tech device? food? water? sleep? rest? relationship with Jesus? finding God? 

Consider this....

“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. [Deut. 4:29-30.]”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 AMP

http://bible.com/8/jer.29.11-13.amp

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/jer.29.11-13.nkjv

“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. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 KJV

http://bible.com/1/jer.29.11-13.kjv

Wake up

Mornings are my favorite time of day. Time to wake up is normally not an issue for me, although I readily confess to enjoying sleeping-in occassionally. On those mornings that I resist the early morning wake up call, I feel like I've missed something that I can't get back.

We have a choice to make every time the alarm sounds...get up or hit the snooze button.  There is an alarm sounding right now...it is time to reset and refocus...it is time to get up and get out...it is time to pray...it is time to tell someone about Jesus...it is time to give up self-centeredness and love like God loves us...it is time to desire God's truth in His Word more than stuff...and it is time to obey.  The alarm is sounding...wake up or go back to sleep? Your choice. 

“Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law. Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah). The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy. But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).”

Romans 13:10-14 AMP

http://bible.com/8/rom.13.10-14.amp