Thank You For The Light

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 'I am the light of the world: he that followes me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12

Early morning is my favorite time of day, when everything is fresh, new and quiet. I don't have a jillion thoughts going through my mind to distract me. It's my best time of day to hear God's voice.

This morning a bright light in the sky grabbed my attention. I watched it make its way across the sky and knew what it was. I wondered how long it would appear as light. Eventually it changed its trajectory and the dull, dark shape of an airplane emerged. 

God spoke to my heart (don't you love it? God speaks to our hearts). The plane appeared as light because it reflected the light. As long as it flew in the right way it reflected brightly the source of the light. When it turned away, it appeared as a dark object in the sky. 

His simple lesson to me was this. As we walk in the light (keep in His Word and obey Him), we reflect His light and glory. When we turn to a course away from Him, the luster is extinguished.

Thank You, Abba Father, for sending Jesus, the Light of the World. May we honor and obey You that we may be a true reflection of who You are, light to a dark and dreary world.                  Amen.

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of Light." Romans 13:12

God Is Good

"O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For HIs lovingkindness is everlasting."                   1 Chronicles 16:34

"Good" in the Old Testament is described as possessing moral excellence or virtue, not corrupt, not evil; kind, merciful, gracious, polite, reliable, real. In the New Testament good is described as excellent in nature and characteristics and therefore well adapted to its ends; beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, honorable. These are some of the words man has used to try to develop the meaning and concept of God's goodness. Interestingly, along with all that we think of as good is this final description: To manure, to improve."

You read that right, "To Manure, to improve." It led me to thinking on God's goodness in allowing trials into our lives. In life, excrement is necessary. The production of it removes unnecessary waste and impurities from our bodies. In terms of farming, amending soil with fowl and animal solid waste enriches the soil to produce a bountiful harvest.

So...do we see the goodness of God when He allows a dunghill in our lives to rise as a mountain? Those trials that come our way more often than we like? The one we're going through right now? The testing that is making us cling more tightly to God in order to get through?

"...(do you not know that) the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Romans 2:4b

"...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1

"...press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us." Philippians 3:14

Father God,

You are Good all the time! Bring forth Your goodness upon us and within us. Lead us to repentance for our sins against You.

Thank You that Your Good-ness gives us Your forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.                                                                                                                                             Amen

Gratitude

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Colossians 2:6-7

"For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;" 1 Timothy 4:4

"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;" Hebrews 12:28

Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness according to Webster’s dictionary.  Gratitude towards God and all He has done for us makes us want to serve Him in every way possible.  Being thankful tends to nullify any negative feelings such as anxiety and depression.  Thankfulness and/or gratitude brings about a healthy attitude towards our circumstances, our relationships and our place in the world as a child of God.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of Your Son who gave His earthy life for us in order to give us eternal life.  I am beyond grateful for this sacrifice of love.

God Is Sovereign

"The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; He guides it wherever He pleases." Proverbs 21:1

"For royal power belongs to the LORD. He rules all the nations." Psalm 22:28

We awoke this morning to the news proclaiming the election of a new President of the United States of America. On the face of things, an unpopular (and seemingly unrighteous) choice has succeeded to a position of authority over us. But, does that person have authority over us? Influence, certainly, but "authority.?"

Consider this quote from Max Lucado (My Prediction for November 9th):

"Understanding God's sovereignty over the nations opens the door to peace. When we realize that God influences the hearts of all rulers, we can then choose to pray for them rather than fret about them. Rather than wring our hands we bend our knees, we select prayer over despair."

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this reminder that You are sovereign. Even when the king (or President, Premier, Chancellor, Prime Minister) has goals which would consolidate power in man and try to eradicate the Name of God from public conscience, YOU are sovereign. YOU change hearts. Not one thing and not one person escapes Your eyes and Your influence. 

Thank You that we can have Your peace and pray for our leaders. We do pray for them to be changed according to Your will, that they will have restored vision of righteousness, that they will seek Your face and have the strength to act courageously. May Your will be fulfilled on earth as it is in Heaven.                                                                                                                                          Amen

"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD's loving kindnesses indeed never cease. For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:21-23

Thank You For Your Hand Upon My Life

"Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, You speak of giving Your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?"  2 Samuel 7:18-19

Dear Father God;

I am so eternally thankful for Your hand on my life, for being the Author and Finisher of my faith. Lord, I thank you for knowing me, for loving me, for bringing me through life and all of its circumstances safely to this point; for offering and securing for me (and everyone!) a lasting inheritance and dynasty with You in heaven. You, oh Lord, are my King, my Redeemer, my hope. Thank You.