Clean Slate 2015

Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. Isaiah 43:18

 Many younger readers may say "what is a slate"? A slate was what was used in cowboy days, like is depicted in 'Little House on the Prairie' TV series, in school to write on, before chalkboards and dry erase boards. When I was in grade school I loved having the task at end of class of beating the erasers to clean them out. Baby boomers will know exactly what I mean. When you use chalk, you erased the board with a felt eraser and at end of day the residue of chalk had to be removed. You did this by beating them on perhaps the outside wall of the school. Okay do not go pull my covered wagon up curbside as I am not a relic.

The beginning of a new year is an opportunity to start all over. The perfect break in things to sort of say, "things will be different this year." For this reason many make resolutions  or set goals of what they hope to achieve in the 12 months ahead of them. The days are all fresh and new things are in store.  For this reason you often hear people say "I am beginning with a clean slate" or in other words the future has not been written yet and there is a chance to begin anew and 'right' the  wrongs and forget and forgive.

New years are indeed exciting. This beginning could probably begin anytime during the year but it seems the start of a new year is always ideal for getting started. Is there something you want to start, in this year?Now is the time to not hold onto the past and charge on for what adventures lie ahead. You have a brand new clean slate.

PRAYER: I get excited about the prospect of having this time of year to really set new goals. Help me Lord to let go of things that have been anchors dragging me down and to embrace the future and what it holds. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click Link below and listen to a song of praise and worship:

http://youtu.be/LuvfMDhTyMA

Blow Up Or Blow It Off....Your Choice

'Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God.' Matthew 5:9

So many fights and arguments could be avoided if people would just learn to not take things so seriously, be patient, and thank God for the good things and overlook the not so good.

Once  I was flying standby as a family member on the airline my son works for. On this day huge ice storms caused the cancellation of many flights into and out of Dallas, a major hub for the airline. Guess where I was changing planes? You got it. Dallas! Needless to say when air travelers plans are messed up either by maintenance issues, crew issues, or weather there are some personalities who it does not sit well with. In Huntsville I was not seeing those frazzled nerves yet as it was still early in the course of the travel day.

Being upset about things out of our control is a waste of time. It is better to go with the flow or as a  friend used to say about issues that upset me, "Blow it off Becky". Very good advice for all sorts of things. Try to display the fruits of the Spirit in all of life. Don't "blow up" but remain in control and make believe Jesus is right there with you. He is you know.

 When the unexpected happens to you do you lose control or do you stay peaceful? Start today to develop the attitude of joy and peace no matter what is going on around you. Others will wonder what's up and may even ask you.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for mobility to get around and do things. Thank you for the blessing of changed plans because sometimes those are are "God moments" that we do not yet see or understand. Give me peace and joy as I learn to be flexible. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Pressing On

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

I still can not get over the fact it is 2015! Where did the year go? Did you accomplish the goals you had hoped to in the past year of 2014? For me some were met, but I still have a ways to go on others. My writing is my biggest goal right now so I am pressing on to complete a goal I have, that of getting a devotion book.

What are you hoping to achieve in 2015? Are you giving up or charging ahead with a positive attitude? Goals to press towards could be finding a job, losing unwanted body weight, getting started exercising and sticking with it. Perhaps taking up a new hobby. Finishing a project you have been putting off. Just like a runner in a race, you can not give up and stop half way through just because a few runners pass you. In order to have any chance of winning or finishing you keep on going straight ahead towards the goal.

Whatever you need to do my friend God can help you as you 'press on' to complete the task. Just keep at it!

PRAYER: I do not want to be a quitter Lord. I do not want the enemy to lie to me and make me feel my task is too big. I know with your helpI can do all things like it says in Philippians 4:13. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Stay Alert

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

I live a few miles from the small city of Huntsville, Alabama. Between here and there I pass through lots of countryside terrain and therefore the possibility of having a deer run across the road. Because of this I have to stay alert because I never know when one will dash across my path. I certainly do not want to wreck my car and possibly get injured so safety and awareness is crucial. 

In life it is necessary to be alert as well. Satan, our enemy, is roaming around trying to trap us, get us off the path God intends for us, and to lie and deceive us. If we are not careful we could fall prey to his subtle schemes. 

You can avoid this by staying grounded in God's word. Don't just go to church for one hour and somehow feel you are inoculated from anything bad happening.  Sunday worship is nice but not enough. Stay in God's word and meditate upon it daily. The more you 'feed' on 'the world' the more you will be like the world and the more you meditate on the truth in the Bible the more you will be Christlike. 

Remember to stay alert and stay in prayer. 

PRAYER: Protect me Lord from the subtle tricks of my  enemy Satan. I choose to not make excuses about why I  too busy to spend time daily with you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Humble Man

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. Luke 1:52

It is certainly tempting to want to brag or maybe let others know about a good thing we have done or maybe a family member. A boss of mine in the Army used to say "let your virtues speak for themselves." Proverbs 27:2 says the same thing in a nutshell "Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips." 

It sure is more pleasant to be around someone who is not boasting all the time.  Humility is a trait we all should strive to have as a believer.  It is not necessary to prove to everyone how good we are. Our only goodness comes from the Lord anyway. Try to get in the habit of giving God the glory for the good things that happen in life. After all, the Lord is the one who exalts, we do not do things solely on our own efforts. This Bible verse I highlighted about rulers is very true as well. Rulers that squish their 'subjects' and feel superior are usually dictators or tyrants. Leaders are not to "lord" over their people and that even includes leadership in the business world. 

All people,especially believers, need to realize that nothing they do is apart from God and to Him be the glory, great things He has done!

PRAYER: Lord forgive me if I have ever been less than humble about anything and tooted my own horn. I really know that you are the one who gives all things and blesses us with abilities to be who we are. Thank you Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Do You Adore Him?

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

During the Christmas season the song 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful' may have been sung by some of my readers. One of the verses says "Oh come let us adore Him Christ the Lord!" The thing is, do you adore Him? 

To adore means to love deeply or be devoted to. Are you devoted to Jesus or do you truly put Him first in your day? Do you love Him deeply? Think about falling in love and how it feels. Is that same love the kind you love Jesus with? If not you can develop that type of love. 

When you adore someone you would not want to do anything ever to hurt them. Can we say the same with our relationship with Jesus? Have you done anything lately that would break Jesus heart? This is something only between you and Him. Each person has to search their own heart for the answer.

Start today and really try to insure you are making God smile in things you say and do. It is by doing this that you show love and adoration in a meaningful way.

PRAYER: Lord I truly do adore you although at times I certainly have not acted like it. Forgive me. Help me lead a life that shows other I love and adore you first and foremost. In Jesus' name. Amen.

No Worries

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Here we are in a brand new year. The old is behind us impossible to replay. The past is gone. The resolutions have been made and maybe already broken. One good thing maybe to try to do in 2015 is to make up your mind to not worry. I have heard people say "but I am just a worrier" but still that is not an excuse. 

Worry robs us of peace that God wants us to have. He wants you to trust Him. Just because your child gets on a plane and occasionally a plane may crash does not mean you need to start worrying his or her plane will plummet to earth. When the Ebola scare took hold last summer and early fall that did not mean everyone was going to contract it, so stay in a protective bubble. When I chose to tandem skydive last fall I could not sit around worrying I would die because the chute would fail. In other words rely on God and cast cares on Him then forget about it. Don't constantly sit by your phone expecting it to ring with bad news. Go about your life and relax for a change and try prayer. 

Oh but there are many who pray and still can not seem to get beyond this worrying. To achieve peace within you have to let go of the controls. Ask God to help you if you suffer from constant fretting, then go have a good day.

PRAYER: Lord I want to have peace and I want you to have my cares. I know worrying won't change a situation but praying will. Give me strength to trust you and cast my cares once and for all. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below to begin your new year with a song of praise:

http://youtu.be/PWXcRVZWTb8