Mercies Anew Daily

Thoughts for the Day, April 30, 2020

Yesterday, Frances shared this beautiful poem with me. It is full of many truths about starting our day with God. Our  recent spring mornings are filled with His glorious creation found in the beauty of life. The multitude of  colorful birds greet the rising sun. The air is crisp, inviting the presence of a new day—a new start with new opportunities. It is a clean slate. It feels as if yesterday’s mistakes are erased and forgotten. 

These verses from Lamentations remind us  of God’s rare and abounding compassion offered anew each day “Your mercies are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3: 22-23. The final lines of this lovely poem express what the author learned and is now sharing  with us—His secret—for he is sharing a mystery with us—a revelation…that starting the morning with God ensures His presence all day long!

I Met God In The Morning  

I met God in the morning When my day was at its best, And His Presence came like sunrise Like a glory in my breast. All day long the Presence lingered, All day long He stayed with me, And we sailed in perfect calmness O'er a very troubled sea. Other ships were blown and battered, Other ships were sore distressed, But the winds that seemed to drive them Brought to us a peace and rest. Then I thought of other mornings, With a keen remorse of mind, When I, too, had loosed the moorings With the Presence left behind. So I think I know the secret, Learned from many a troubled way; You must seek Him in the morning If you want Him through the day. Ralph Cushman

Go On to the Other Side

Thoughts for the Day April 28, 2020

Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4: 35-41)

³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Good morning. Do you ever feel like you are following God’s lead yet you are still battling much resistance. When we believe we are in tune with God, we sort of expect to escape the storm don’t we? In the Gospel story where Jesus calms the storm the disciples follow Jesus’s command to “Go over to the other side” (Mark 4:35).  They obey his instructions but still find themselves in the midst of a severe storm. They seem to see  His response as delayed or lacking concern (“Teacher don’t you care if we drown?”).  In their trouble they call out for help.

Christ may  seem void in our time of distress, but have you ever considered that it may be a time of  testing or strengthening of our faith?  His reply is “Why are you so afraid” Do you still have no faith?”(40). Next time we meet such challenges, why don’t we face the storm before us by shouting to those raging winds and  furious waves by saying, “ you have no power over me…for Christ our Savior is on board!” If you want to be fervent in the Lord remember to “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Eph. 6:10). Daniel Crawford says,  “Christ said ‘Let us go over to the other side’—not ‘to the middle of the lake to be drowned.’” Have a blessed day!

Timelessness

Thoughts for the Day April 25, 2020

Have you ever longed for a day without time restraints. It is so hard for our human brains to imagine such. I hate to admit it but time often dominates my inner being.  For it can be a tyrant constantly ticking relentlessly in our finite minds as we visualize it eating away our day.

But I know that God calls out for us to wait on him and in patience I believe He blesses us. For He dwells in timelessness. We must remember that He is, was, and will always be. For us time is protection because we are frail creatures who can only handle 24-hour segments of life. Though we are a time-bound creature, let’s seek to meet God in timelessness today. Let’s focus on his Presence and as we do, the demands of time and tasks will diminish. Have a blessed day!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8.

Cure for Cabin Fever

Thoughts for the Day, April 24, 2020

It seems  like “cabin fever” has set in for many people as  we continue  abiding by our stay at home orders. Monotony tends to dull our thinking until our mind slips into neutral. An unfocused mind is vulnerable to a downward pull where our thinking process begins to deteriorate. 

God can brighten the dullest days as He calls for us to spend time with Him.  He can add sparkle to the routines of daily life. The best remedy is to refocus your mind and heart on Him… your constant Companion. The Psalmist reminds us how to find renewed strength, “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right had upholds me” Psalm 63: 7-8. Have a blessed day spending time with your Constant Companion!

God's Creativity in Crisis

Thoughts for the Day April 23, 2020

Yesterday I mentioned my grandmother who lived with our family the last year I was home. She was fun-loving, adorable, short, sassy, and full of life.  And  she was an incredible cook. Since  I was engaged and planning to get married,  we decided  it was time to improve my cooking skills and that she would be the perfect teacher. Each day we would meet in the kitchen at 3:00 sharp. I would get the food together and she would begin giving instructions. Grandma Dottie had been cooking for many years and she didn’t believe  good cooking  required recipes that originated in cookbooks, instead it was all about getting the taste right with a little  bit of this and a little bit of that. 

When I asked her about her lack of interest in cookbooks, she told me that it was much better to  learn to cook by taste rather than an instruction book because it taught one to be more creative and less methodical in  their cooking. I will forever be grateful for that  bit of advice because I believe it reaches beyond just cooking. 

Don’t get me wrong, directions and instructions are generally a must but too much regimented instruction  can stifle our god given ability to be creative. 

Man is the pinnacle of God’s creation, and the human mind is wondrously complex and creative. God has granted  us a mind like no other animal with a freedom to think for ourselves. It is a godlike privilege that sets us apart from animals and robots. Even in our current dilemma of social distancing, we must continue to find  creative ways to be “the church” when gathering in church buildings is impossible. But when God’s Spirit fills our minds there is no telling what we can do as a people. After all we are made in His image! Let’s ask God to control our minds and fill us with His inspired and imaginative thoughts  for sharing the Good News during this time of uncertainty. Have a blessed and glorious day!

Genesis 1:26-27 New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image,

      in the image of God he created them;

      male and female he created them

Chasing the Rabbit

Thoughts for the Day, April 22, 2020

My grandmother moved in with my parents the year before I got married. Our  rooms were next to each other and I could always tell when her little feet hit the floor in the morning. She would bolt into the day like a greyhound suddenly released at the dog track.  When she woke up it was  full throttle ahead. I feel that I am a lot like her many mornings—up and off to chase the rabbit. 

But I know my day works better when instead of charging into it, I rest in God’s presence allowing Him to take care of my life. Things go so much smoother when we walk purposefully with God, letting Him direct our course one step at a time.  Today, let’s start the morning in His word,  offering  prayers of thanksgiving  as we rest in His presence and let Him take control of our day.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2.

Refreshing the Soul

 Thoughts of the Day April 21, 2020

Complaining seems to be an easy habit to fall into especially in our current circumstances. We are dealing with unprecedented conditions making criticism, moaning, and grumbling an almost accepted practice. 

The problem is that complaining to others opens the door to sins like self-pity and rage.  Still, on certain days it feels as if you must unload some of the burdens. It is easy to feel as if your energy is spent in the midst of  all the confusion and chaos.  

There is a place we can go. Instead of complaining to others,  let’s go to our Lord with our concerns. In the book of Jeremiah, we are told that God “will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (Jeremiah 31: 25). God understands better than anyone else the stresses and worries that afflict us. We can express safely to Him, because talking with Him  soothes our thoughts and helps us see things from God’s perspective. Whenever we are tempted to grumble, let’s go to God and talk it out. As we open up to Him, He will put His thoughts in our mind and His song in our hearts. 

Cultivating Soil

Good Morning,

A few weeks ago, my siblings and I planted a little community garden at my dad’s house. I have to admit, I am by far the novice of the group.  I never realized what preparation was needed—tilling and  the use of four different kinds of soil?   Steve and I were so excited that we planted our own  little small garden on the side of our house and we worked hard to prepare the soil properly, only we ran out of the good soil toward the end of the driveway. Each day I check its growth and I have noted that the plants near the area with poor soil are not doing so well. I have since realized the importance of soil preparation. There is a Proverb that reminds  me of that, “He who tills his land will have plenty of food. But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty” (Proverbs 28:19). Isn’t this also true about sharing our Good news as well?

So many  people don’t know our Lord, some have had no association with God and His word at all. Just maybe it is a time of soil preparation, maybe we are on the brink of  something great like revival. Revival is the sovereign work of God. The Lord Jesus’ told Nicodemus you can’t tell where the wind comes from or where it’s going; so, it is with the Spirit of God (John 3). God is the one who withholds or brings revival. But we his people can help prepare the soil through prayer and example. 

Let’s keep our perspective through these days  of uncertainty knowing we are being watched by others. Let us pray for revival in our country and world. Revival is the movement of God in the sanctification of believers. It’s the strengthening of God’s people. Further, as the church is revived, they have an increasing influence in the larger culture.  

Let us think about what God could be doing. This is our time of toiling in the garden. There is little hope for harvest when there is no toiling in the garden. The soil of our culture is hard right now.  Let’s bond together and commit ourselves to be godly examples and dedicated prayer warriors. God is about to do a new thing…”Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19 a) Have a wonderful day!

SHARING OUR INHERITANCE

Good morning,

What a blessing it is to come together to worship. And while we are not  physically together,  may we join in spirit. Today’s Scripture reading makes a bold claim; The peace of God, the divine love that is our refuge and our strength,  can never be taken from us. Even when we doubt, as Thomas did, we are challenged to embrace the good news of our imperishable inheritance. And furthermore, it is our calling to share it with those in our generation. What a great opportunity to  share His love in our  world that stands in the midst of confusion and uncertainty. 

Let us pray that God can use us as his light in this time of darkness. May He breathe new life into us this day and awaken our spirits to the joy and hope of our glorious inheritance through the living Christ. May we live out the Easter promise and may His presence flow  from us in our living and our loving. In His  precious Son’s name. Amen. 

Please click on the link for today’s message.

This is the Day

Thoughts for the Day, April 17, 2020

Most of our lives are not the norm for the moment. Maybe it is an opportunity to try to view each day as an adventure—one that is carefully planned out by your own Personal Guide.  The Psalmist reminds us that each day is valuable, unique and a beautiful gift,  This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it  ( Psalm 118:24).  

Let’s be grateful for this incredible offering of this unrepeated day.  Instead of trying to program it to your will, be attentive to God’s  will and his leading hand. It may not be predictable, but it will be an adventure even in your limited activities. Be willing to follow whatever God has in store for you. You’ll be secure with him leading the way. May you find God’s presence  like never before as He guides you in your journey!

Count Your Many Blessings

Thoughts for the Day April 16, 2020

I love what Max Lucado says about gratitude, “Gratitude always leaves us looking to God and away from dread. It does to anxiety what the morning sun does to valley mist. It burns it up.” 

Studies show grateful individuals experience more positive emotion, are more satisfied with life, and experience fewer negative emotions including depression, anxiety and envy. Yesterday, I especially made an effort to be more mindful of my blessings. My youngest daughter was down for a short visit from Birmingham and she wanted to cook a special dish to take to her boyfriend. We determined that blackberry cobbler was that dish. Steve took us to his secret spot and the three of us picked blackberries until it was practically dark—something I haven’t done with either of them since she was a kid. I was grateful for the extra time I had to go blackberry picking, I was thankful for both of them, I was appreciative for this delicious fruit that grows wild, I was thankful for the sunset and the wind. I even began to thank God for this time  of limited activities.  

Focusing on what we do have  right now and less on what we don’t, seems to be a key source toward a life of contentment. The Psalmist says, “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving” (Psalms 69:30). I challenge us each to take a moment to look at our blessings: Our family, friends, talents, abilities, skills…the love of God! Let the words of an old song linger in your mind as you go about your day, “Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,  and you will keep singing as the day goes by. Count your blessings name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God has done!”

Have a marvelous day as you count your many blessings!

Manna for a Day

Thoughts for the Day, April 15, 2020 

God supplied the Israelites with manna for  a 40-year period following the Exodus and prior to the conquest of Canaan. The Bible describes manna as  bread from heaven “a fine flaky substance as fine as frost on the ground” (Exodus 16: 14). Some scholars suggest it taste something like a vanilla wafer—I could get use to that—getting up early  every morning and collecting a sack full wafers for the day! But there was a catch. They were told to collect  enough for only a day’s supply at a time. Those who fail to follow  the instructions would be left with a sack full of rotten manna. The only exception to the rule was the day prior to the Sabbath. On that day they could gather twice as much. 

See God provided what they needed in their time of need, a day at a time. God is doing the same with us as well, offering the provisions we need one day at a time. During this crisis it is so easy to wonder about tomorrow, next week,  next month, and even next year.  But God  wants us to rest in his arms of protection…for the “Heavenly Father knows what we need:” In Matthew we are reminded of this: 

³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6: 31: 34 NIV).

Have a beautiful day resting in the arms of Our Savior!

Heaven on Earth

Easter is about new life, fresh starts, and is a time of renewal. In 1 Corinthians  we are reminded that “…in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (15:22).  For believers, this is a promise of eternal life yet heaven is a concept  hard for the mind to conceive. Sometimes we miss the idea that heaven is both present and future. But as we walk along our earthly path holding God’s hand, we are already in touch with the essence  of heaven—that is nearness to God.  

You can find hints of heaven along the pathway, because our earth is brilliantly alive with His presence.   Right now, in the middle of all of the chaos around us it seems a bit difficult at times to see heaven in our midst. Our routines are turned upside down, the news screams of illness, death, and a broken economy. Many people are afraid to get out of the bed much less look out the door.  But may the Easter promise stay alive even in the midst of these dark days. Pope Francis says, “We proclaim the resurrection of Christ when His light illuminates the dark moments of our existence…”

Today, may His shimmering sunshine awaken your heart to his ever-present light. May we listen to the chirping of the birds, the smile from the faces we encounter, the new growth,  and new life popping up around us in every shade of green as they evoke His praises. May we open our eyes and ears as we journey with Him. Let’s not be taken in with the distractions and miss what is here before us on this side of heaven!

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

What Happened to Easter?

Thoughts for the Day, April 13, 2020

As Easter Sunday came to a close, I felt a deep hole in my soul thinking what just happened? Was that Holy week? What happened to the rituals like the palms waving up and down as the children enter church on Palm Sunday? Where were the voices yelling “Crucify Him” during the Passion reading? What about the Communion table set with all the white covered chairs, the black one for Judas, and the purple chair for our Lord on Holy Thursday? What happened to  the cross decorated with the pink flowers and the white lilies on the altar Easter Sunday—and all the people—the community  of believers that express excitement because He indeed is risen? What happened to it all?

Scripture makes it clear that one sign of union with God is unity with each other. No doubt, being with each other is a clear and vital part of our faith, but I wonder if God is trying to teach us something very different this year? While being with other believers is critically important, it does not and cannot replace being  alone with our Lord.  That is the place we obtain our power, our love for one another.  

Maybe He is saying quit being concerned with external things and spend this time with Me? Maybe He is telling us to be thankful for quiet days and time alone with Him.  Maybe He is reminding us of the words from John “I am the vine; you are the branches…apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Perhaps He is telling us that all the rituals and traditions  help us understand Him better,  but they are just that—rituals and traditions.  Maybe he is telling us that  our time with fellow Christians is important but this is a time to let our life merge with His. And although this is an invisible transaction, it speaks volumes in the spiritual realms! Have a blessed day in His Presence!