You Just Made My Day March 1, 2016

Psalm 145:1-12      1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Psalm 145:21 (NRSV)     The psalmist wrote, “My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.”

We remember that when the Lord “makes our day,” we can share the story of God’s faithfulness with others.

Thought for today: How often do you share stories of how God meets your needs?

Finding Purpose February 29, 2016

Proverbs 31:10-31     10 A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:27-28 (CEB)     She is vigilant over the activities of her household; she doesn’t eat the food of laziness. Her children bless her; her husband praises her.

In moments of despair, I feel God speak gently to my heart. Through prayer, scripture, and other reading God helps me to step back from my negative thoughts and to look around me. I begin to see that my calling was in the lives of the people I love, my great nephews giggling with joy as they challenge me to play and dance. In the calm gratitude my family displays around the table while sharing a hot, home-cooked meal.  

Thought for today: Where do I find your self worth?

Shine On February 28, 2016

John 1:1-9     1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

Genesis 1:16 (NIV)     God made two great lights — the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.

Recently, the moon was closer to Earth than it would be at any other time during the year. Because of its nearness, the moon appeared larger and brighter than usual. The brilliant light shone by this “super-moon” cast shadows in my yard just as the sun does during the day. The moon seemed to produce its own glow; however, we know that its luminescence is but a reflection of the sun’s intense radiance.

I want to be like that super-moon at all times, brilliantly reflecting a power greater than my own. I ask myself,

Do I regularly display kindness, forgiveness, and love? Am I a good example for others to follow? Or do I shine brightly only on rare occasions? Do I perform good deeds so others will praise me or because I know that doing so is God’s will for me?

When I consciously draw nearer to God; my thoughts, words, and actions can more intensely reflect God’s love to others.

Thought for today: Do I reflect God’s light?

Our Youthful God February 27, 2016

Psalm 71:9-18     Do not cast me away when I am old;
    do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
    those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue him.”
12 Do not be far from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help me.
13 May my accusers perish in shame;
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14 As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)     We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

 God’s power has not waned. While the strength and vigor of my physical body fade, the eternal youth of God’s Holy Spirit restores my soul daily. I am constantly assured that God, who empowered and guided me throughout my working years, is also able to help me meet the demands of aging.

Thought for today: Do I trust God to restore me daily?

Playing for God February 26, 2016

Matthew 25:14-29     14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

Philippians 4:13 (NRSV)     I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me.

Just when you’re about to turn away from God’s nudging,  You need to reflect on the above verse from Philippians. He encouraged us to act on our callings and to persevere at developing the talents He has given us. No matter how small our talent, if we have faith and are willing to work hard and keep using our talent, God will use it for the kingdom.

Thought for today: What needs to grow and be developed in your life?

An Eye-Opening Experience February 25, 2016

Matthew 20:29-34     29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Matthew 20:33 (NRSV)      [Two blind men] said to [Jesus], “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

In our reading for today, Jesus changed the perspective of two blind men who probably felt their lives were going nowhere. Jesus’ presence and compassion gave their world a new perspective. After he opened their eyes, they could look into the eyes of loved ones and enjoy the landscape around their city. Not only did they receive physical vision from Jesus, but they gained new spiritual vision that day.

We all get discouraged some days, but it’s important to remember that Jesus also crosses our path each day. If we ask him, he will open our eyes to the hope he offers each of us.

Thought for today: What are you blind to? What is it that you truly need to see?

Dry and Weary Land February 24, 2016

Psalm 42:1-8     For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
    so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
    When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
    while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

4 My heart is breaking
    as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
    leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
    amid the sound of a great celebration!

5 Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and 6 my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged,
    but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
    from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
    as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
    and through each night I sing his songs,
    praying to God who gives me life.

Psalm 63:1 (NRSV)     The psalmist wrote, “I seek you, [my God], my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

when we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Water of Life, our faith can flourish and we can receive strength from him. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well, “The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life” (John 4:14). Remaining connected to God’s living water requires work. Disciplines such as spending time with God in prayer, studying the Bible, and learning how to listen for God’s voice are all part of growing in our relationship with Christ. When we seek God every day, our thirst will be quenched by Living Water.

Thought for today: How am I seeking God?