One Measley Talent or Many?

What are you going to do today? Have you made a plan, or will you just wing-it? Either way,I want to encourage you to engage your talents - use the gifts God has given you. Ephesians 2:10 says: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." What better way to walk in those good works that God prepared for us, so long ago,than to use your talents to do so. We can all do something well, or at least better than some others can. Look for opportunities to be kind and loving with what you do well. Don't hide away wasting what God has entrusted to you. We know from the parable of the talents that He takes a dim view of not using your gifts. You may not feel very talented in any way, but be warned! Don't follow the example of the servant who was given only one talent, so he buried it. God clearly has things for us to do today and He has equipped us to do so. Hunt for opportunities to walk in the good works God has already prepared for you!

My Appetite

I am aware that the way I eat is not always so healthy. There is too much processed food with preservatives and who knows what additives in my diet. One of the problems is that I'm used to it and actually like it. But I'm aware that I need to form new habits and break old ones. Otherwise, my body will run poorly.
Isn't sin like that? We are so used to thinking and acting in unhealthy ways, we have developed a taste for it.
Well, what do I do about this? The first thing is to become aware of it. If you're like me the thoughts of changing overwhelm me. I feel like I could never turn this around. And if I could how would I go about it? Even just getting to the point where I no longer have a taste for what is unhealthy seems an impossibility. My will power is easily disregarded when it comes to some things. So here is my starting point: prayer.

Heavenly Father, I know I need to change, but I don't know how. I don't even have an appetite for what's good. Please put Your good and perfect desires within me. Give me an appetite for precisely what my body/spirit needs. I know we are all unique and I know that what one person needs might not be MY greatest need, so please give me the knowledge and wisdom that I need to live a holy and healthy life today and every day. Help me to take care of this body you have given me.

I confess that I am discouraged with the thought that a change for me is too late and won't do any good. But I give this to you and ask for the hope I need and belief in Your goodness and wisdom to inspire me to pursue what You have provided for my strength and clarity of mind.

Thank you, Lord.

To Hide My Sin...or Not

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed." James 5:16

If my goal is to make others think highly of me, and I hide the truth about what i am really like without the redeeming grace freely offered to me as a child of God then I must not preach the gospel - that is to say I must not mention the dreadful and shameful death on a cross that my Saviour had to die. You can't have it both ways. Either my depravity sent Jesus Christ to the cross or His death was not necessary. We must not shrink from the exposure that the cross uncomfortably puts us through. His horrible death was necessary to save me and I must not allow pride to make light of His gift or deny the truth about it.

He endured shameful exposure before the world - for me - and for you.

Let us then not hide our issues with ongoing sins, but instead pray for one another and receive Godly counsel. This is healing.

Morning Prayer

Morning has come. Thank you, Lord for all of the opportunities you will give me to live by faith and please you. Thank you for planting in the day ahead, new opportunities to be an overcomer. I know I'll be tempted to live according to what I see, but when that happens, remind me of what You have done and who I am. Help me to relax into Your arms and be like the trees I see outside of my window. The wind blows and gusts with sheets of rain bending them before it all. They don't resist the tempest, but trust in their roots to hold them securely and keep them from blowing away. I trust You, Lord and though the wind may howl and the storm may beat against me, I will not blow away. The fight is not mine, but Yours.

A Gloomy Day

I'm tired of waking up to the sound of rain and of cold temperatures. I'm weary of knowing the sun is behind a cloud and feeling the unsatisfied ache for light. The sight of bare unfruitful trees and a landscape devoid of life enforces the feeling that spring will never come.

I am tempted to let all that I see set the tone of my day. But somewhere deep inside comes the cry, "This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" God planned this day before the creation of time. In His wisdom He set up the seasons. He will work all things so that good comes to the ones who love Him and are called according to His purposes. The one who knows the beginning from the end is in charge! Nothing is left to chance. He knows best.

So, when I awake to another day of the same sickness; the same pain; the very same problems; and everything I see just looks like more of the same, I will remember, though it doesn't feel like it - it's all good. It's all according to plan. I don't have to see it to believe it! This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Praise Him in the Night

It's one thing to praise God when things are going the way you want them to. It's easy to praise when things are agreeable to you. But to praise God in the night - the night of sickness; the night of loneliness; or the long night of fear.... to praise in the darkness of pain or need; to praise when all you can see is confusing and discouraging - this is faith. This is pleasing to God. God's enemies will flee and He will draw near.

"Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who serve in the Lord's temple during the night. Lift your hands toward the sanctuary and praise the Lord...." (Psalms 134)

The World and our Walk

I read this morning that we have been saved to pray and that prayer is part of the reason God saves us. Sometimes life gets crazy between medical issues, appointments, tests, evaluations, non-medical issues, etc., but if we develop the habit of connecting with God in the midst of all those things, then we are facing the world WITH Him. It doesn't really work too well to try and clear a space for Him somewhere in our busy day. But if we walk through it all in His company, and stand with Him when need be, constantly listening for His voice, then we have fellowship with Him. The world sees our walk with Jesus.

Lord,
I invite you to walk with me all through this day. Let my ears be tuned to Your voice. Thank you, Jesus.