Thank God It's A New Day

When my kids were little, I used to put them to bed early if they were too whiny or unruly. Nine times out of ten, the negative behavior was just an indication they were overtired. Well, I must have been overtired from the moment I woke up yesterday because even before I finished my first cup of coffee, negativity had totally consumed me.

Instead of finishing my devotional reading, I got sidetracked and went onto the internet. I began "chatting" and venting with a friend. Grrr. Then I posted a complaint on Facebook about my neighbor's barking dogs (several people responded with suggestions about how to handle the situation). Grrr. After a while, hubby and I made a trip to Home Depot and some other places. My sandal broke on the escalator. Grrr. I got home and tried to clean the house. Grrr. My back was killing me. Double-Grrr. A trip to the grocery store. Grrr. Everything and everyone was getting on my nerves. Grrr.

Negativity swirled inside (and outside) of my head. I sent a couple of text messages to a friend in which I was saying critical things about the people I love. I immediately felt guilty. Needless to say, by 8:00 pm, I decided I just needed to call it a day and go to bed. It was a self-inflicted adult time-out so to speak.

I'm so grateful that God doesn't hold this bad-attitude-day against me. In fact, the Bible says: "The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23).

There is a great song by Avalon called "New Day" which I'm singing today!

It's a new day

Oh, it's a new time

And there's a new way

I'm gonna live my life

All the old has, passed away

And the new has come

Thank God, It's a brand new day

Lookin' back on yesterday

There are things that I regret

But I put the past behind me

And I never will forget

You have covered my mistakes

And my broken dreams

Now over the horizon

I see the dawn is drawing near

And I realize the sun did rise

Tomorrow's finally here...

Faith Of A Child

"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3)

Yesterday a friend of mine said something very profound. She said, "If we all truly believed that Jesus loved us, we wouldn't have any worries or stress." Is it really that simple? The answer is yes. It is. The simple faith of a child - that's what God wants us to have. Like the children's song: Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so..."

If we truly believed Jesus loves us, we wouldn't worry about what’s going to happen tomorrow. We would know that he will take care of us, equip us and strengthen us in everything life throws our way (because "He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power at work within us" - Ephesians 4:20). If we truly believed he loved us, we wouldn't be weighed down trying to carry our own burdens or spinning out on all our problems. We would know that he will carry our burdens for us and work things out as he sees fit ("cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" - 1 Peter 5:7). If we truly believed he loves us, we wouldn't compare ourselves to other people and come up feeling cheated. We would accept what he has given us (including our looks, intelligence, personality, gifts, talents, etc) knowing he gave us those specific qualities for a reason.

We wouldn't question his “no's” when he doesn't give us things we ask for, whether it's a job or a relationship or better looks or a winning lottery ticket. If we truly believed he loved us, we would be completely content in his love, and not feel compelled to strive for acceptance by endlessly doing things for him. Instead, we would obediently do things he asks us to do - because we are overflowing with gratitude that he’s come to save us and give us a meaningful life (he said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" - John 10:10). If we truly believed he loved us, we wouldn't be searching for happiness in things like hobbies, or clothes, or food, or cars, or people, or more stuff for our house. Those things are well and good, but they will never make us eternally happy. 

If we really believed the words of that children's song, we would find joy in knowing that God not only loves us, he knows the number of hairs on our heads! (Matthew 10:30). We would trust him so much that we would whole-heartily jump into his arms like a little child diving off a bed into a parent's outstretched arms. Yes, it’s that simple. Unfortunately, we are such block heads that we have to be reminded of his unconditional love every day. Yet, even in our spiritual Alzheimer’s, he loves us anyway. Imagine that.

Thou Shalt Not Grumble

grum·ble

intransitive verb
To mutter in discontent

Synonyms: beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, complain, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, yammer, yawp, yowl.



You'd think we would learn from the Israelites. After 430 years of brutal slavery in Egypt, they were finally delivered. Exodus 15 tells us that Moses lead the people of Israel through the Red Sea into the desert of Shur. The mighty Egyptians drowned. Moses & the Israelites sang a song of praise to God. And after three days in the wilderness, what did they do? Drum roll please ...

Exodus 15:24 "So the people grumbled..."

It would be easy to sit and judge. But truth be told, if I were in their sandals, I'd probably have done the same thing, perhaps even sooner. This pack is killing my back. I have to go to the bathroom. I'm thirsty. She's annoying me. When's the next rest stop? When life gets hard, and pressures come, our gut response is to complain. The problem is that griping accomplishes nothing. In fact, our negativity only makes things worse.

What amazes me is that time and again, God provided for those grumbling Israelites. More amazing is that, although I don't deserve it, he provides for my pitiful grumbling self as well. Paul says in 1 Corinthians that "our forefathers ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them..."

God was not pleased. That's the rub. Paul warns us to learn from the Israelites' mistakes. He lists three sins NOT to commit: practicing idolatry, sexual immorality, grumbling (1 Cor 10:5). Just in case anyone wants to minimize the sin of whining, it's pretty clear. So how do we stop? Well, Paul concludes that passage by assuring us that God will not give us more than we can handle. When we are tempted, He will provide a way out.

Today I will look at what is occupying my attention. Am I grateful for what God has given me? Or am I only focused on what I don't have? What difficulties I face? What people are currently annoying me? Today I will choose to turn my gaze upward and meditate on God's promises. I will thank him for what he has done, and for what he will do in my life in the next 24 hours. When I am tempted to grumble, I will stop & ask for his help.

Psalm 73:23 says "Yet, I am always with you, you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel and afterward you will take me into glory."

Waiting on Him

When my daughter, Valerie, was just a toddler, a friend at church asked her when we were going to come over for a visit.

In a sad, small voice, Valerie replied: “Mommy says soon, but soon never comes!”

When I think of my little girl’s hopeless response, I am reminded of the countless times I, too, have felt that same pang of despair while waiting on God. We live in a fast-paced world, often expecting instant answers and immediate results. It is so hard to remember that God’s timing is not our own. He is never in a hurry.

Meanwhile, we wait. Perhaps we need His guidance on an important decision. Maybe we are struggling with a difficult relationship, a challenging job, or an illness that just keeps hanging on.

No matter what our trial, God encourages us to be “Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12, NIV).

This, of course, is easier said than done. How can we remain patient in affliction? I believe the key is in the latter part of this verse: if we want to experience true joy in all circumstances, we must be “faithful in prayer.” When we pray, we are opening the floodgates for God to fill us with His hope.

Perhaps that is why I love to read the Psalms. David continually exemplifies this principle of non-stop communication with God throughout his life. No matter how seemingly dark his circumstances—facing a fowl-mouthed giant, hiding from King Saul in a cave, or experiencing the devastation of losing a child—David continually reaches out to God for help.

That is how he could proclaim: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry"
(Psalm 40:1, NIV).

Jesus Is My Pay Pal

A while back, I tried to purchase a doll online. I hadn’t been on Ebay for several years, so I hadn’t used PayPal either.

Of course, I couldn’t remember my password. When I tried to click the “reset” button, it didn’t send me an email. I hit the button about 10 times, typed in those googly letters for security. Ahhhhhh! I just wanted to pay for the doll. I tried to re-register on PayPal.
“That email is already in use.”
No kidding? Then why don’t you send me a password re-set?
I try to call.
I click on the “call me” button.
It says, “We show that you have an active email. Check your email.”

Ultimately, I gave up in utter frustration. I’m just going to start over with a new identity. I registered for a new Yahoo email address and a new PayPal account. Finally, I was able to pay for my purchase.

How does this relate to God? Well, before I knew Jesus, I had made a complete and utter mess of my life? No matter how many different ways I tried to fix it, I just made it worse. I wasn’t connected with God, so I didn’t have any help. I was trying to do it alone. Finally, one night at a Christian music concert, I surrendered God. I said, “I’m sorry God, I can don’t do this by myself any more. I give up. I need you; please forgive me.”

From that moment on, He took over and wiped my slate clean. He gave me a new name. He gave me the “access code” – J-E-S-U-S is my password. All I need to do is use HIS name. He is the ultimate PayPal. He paid the price for me to have access to God in this life, and in Heaven for eternity.

Romans 5:1-2 (The Message) "By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us — set us right with him, make us fit for him — we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise."

Finding Love In A Pile Of Leaves

One day after work I was feeling a little down and dejected.  I had just been notified that I didn't get a promotion that I interviewed for.  I decided to go for a walk around my old elementary school to enjoy the beautiful fall colors. Perhaps it would cheer me up and get my mind off my disappointment, I thought.  I put on my IPOD shuffle, and started walking. I prayed that God would speak to me.

The song, "Forever Love" by Francesca Battistelli came on as I rounded to the back side of the school. One verse says, "from the bottom of my heart I'll sing to you. From the depths of who I am I love you. With everything inside I'll run to you 'cause all that I've become I owe to you...

Right as I heard "I'll run to you," I looked up and saw a dad raking a huge pile of leaves in his front yard. His daughter (who looked to be about 6 or so) was running full speed and joyously diving into the pile. I turned around and started bawling. Just seeing a father and daughter, the little girl's trust and her joy, the way the father prepared the pile and waited for her. It was just precious. In that moment, I heard a message from God about his love for me.

So there I was, walking, and crying.  The next song on the shuffle was Bethany Dillon's "All I Need". Although I'd asked a friend if she could join me, as well as my husband (who didn't feel good), it ended up being just me and God on the walk.  You know what? That was enough!

Here are just some of the words of Bethany's song:

You are all I need when I'm surrounded
You are all I need if I'm by myself
You fill me when I'm empty
There is nothing else
You're all I need...

...I hear You whisper loud
You're still the God that opens seas
Every flower, even me
You're all I need

When I started my walk, I felt down and dejected, but God lifted me up by showing me love in a simple pile of leaves.

Does God Give Directions?

Directions? What should I do? Where should I go? What should I say? What should I think? In the Bible study that I'm currently doing, Experiencing God, by Henry & Richard Blackaby, we are looking at the concept of how God gives directions. In the Old Testament, God uniquely spoke to His people. They knew it was God. They understood what He said. When God spoke, that was an encounter with Him.

Okay, so how do I have that kind of encounter? When God speaks to me (not audibly, but in my heart), I don't always know that it's Him. Sometimes it's just lil' ole me trying to figure things out myself. Sometimes it's my codependent people-pleasing personality trying to fix everything and everyone around me. Heck, sometimes it's just indigestion.

I'll be honest, it's not always easy for me to hear from God. Especially if I'm so busy talking (whining) that I'm not open to receive from Him. There are also times when my heart is hurting too much.  I'm just too shut down. Sometimes I wish that God would come and talk to me in a burning bush like he did Moses. Or perhaps he could send an angel to sit and have some Starbucks with me face-to-face? But alas, that doesn't seem to be his plan.

Isaiah 55:8 says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord." Yep, that's the truth. My thoughts are selfish. My thoughts are usually about getting my way, or feeding my flesh. But God's thoughts are so much higher than that!

This study is reminding me that God talks to me (and gives me directions) all the time, and in many different ways: through the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and through prayer. He also uses songs, sermons, and best of all, Godly friends. If I want directions, all I need to do is ask. And then shut up and listen.

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." Amen (Psalm 143:8)