The Same Yesterday, Today and Forever

Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus is "the same yesterday, today, and forever." Sadly, too many in the Church take that to mean that change is a bad thing. It's not. While change just for the sake of change may be wrong, change for the sake of growth is necessary for survival.

Change is life. Just as a small child grows and matures, so we - as Christians - must do the same. It's a sign of healthy life. If that same child didn't grow, Mom and Dad would be worried and searching out the doctor to find out what was wrong! Change is required in living things. Otherwise we stagnate and die.

Let's remember that the next time the pastor wants to implement a new program or the Sunday School teacher changes the format of the her class. Change can be healthy and even fun. Look for the good in the changes you face. Life will be much less stressful, if nothing else.

Jesus First

This morning I came across a short post about the concept of putting Jesus first, Others second, Yourself third in order to find real JOY. The writer had just heard of this idea and was saying how great it sounded. I agree! While I read of this years ago as a new Christian, it's nice to be reminded.

Putting Jesus FIRST in everything we do is the secret to real and lasting joy. Note, I didn't say happiness. Happiness is a fleeting thing. Joy is deep-seated and immovable. But joy requires submission to God, i.e., putting Jesus first.

Have you found real JOY for your life? Want it? Ask the Lord to enable you to put Him first in everything you do! Putting others second will naturally follow when that's the way you live each day.

Resting in the Lord

Psalm 37:8 says "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm." Do you ever struggle to put this verse into practice? I know I do!

This psalm is full of phrases that encourage trusting and waiting on the Lord. Obviously, the two attitudes are at cross-purposes. You can't trust or wait on the Lord while you're angry and fretting. And if you're angry and fretting, you're not trusting and waiting on the Lord. I've asked the Lord today to help me stop fretting over things I can't control and to help me trust Him to know what's best.

A good friend gave me a little plaque one time that reads "Ain't nothing gonna happen today that me and the Lord can't handle together!" That's so true! By God's grace and mercy, I hope to keep that thought in mind. Just for today.

This is the Day that The Lord has Made...

The psalmist in Psalm 118:4 shares this wonderful word of encouragement that Christians can cling to even in trying times! He adds, "let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

Are you glad today? Are you enjoying the day God has given you? Or are you stressed over things you can't control, circumstances you're having to face?

I found myself stressing for awhile. Working at my husband's upholstery shop today, away from my home office, I struggled for over an hour trying to get my email set up to send a message I needed to send to an online associate. It never happened. Then - out of the blue as is so often the case - this verse came to me.

The Holy Spirit reminded me that THIS is the day God made for ME. Away from my home (I'm a MAJOR home-body). Out of my comfort zone (the older I get the bigger an issue this is). Not able to follow MY agenda (ouch!). It was a needed reminder.

[Thank you, Jesus... this is the day you made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.] I hope you all are rejoicing, too!

I'm SO Embarrassed!

I lost my blog password! I've been trying since March 2008 to find it, to get Google to reset it or something. WhoHoo... I found it today!! So I'll be posting and updating this blog again. Hope you'll find something you like here. And be sure to check out Frugal Fancy's Blog where you'll find money saving ideas to help you "live better for less"!