morning! I’ve been doing a lot of reminiscing lately. Do you ever do that? Just spending some time going over in your head how things were at different times in your life? I’ve been thinking about things that warmed my heart as a child, and there were lots of them. Times with my parents and the lessons I learned from them. Crazy stuff with my siblings that have happened over the years. Times with my girlfriends that will stay with me forever. And all the ways Alan loved me that will be forever etched in my heart.
On tough days, those memories make my heart smile. It’s as if the memories make my heart do the Happy Dance. And when your heart is happy, everything seems better. As great as those memories are, I stopped and asked myself what memories I was making with Jesus as I walk with Him every day. I could make an endless list of all the ways He has blessed me but that’s about what He’s given me.
What things am I giving Him? When He thinks of me, am I warming His heart? When I finally see Him face to face, will He remind me of a time when we …? I want Him to know that when I do things, I’m doing them for Him. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” So lately, before I do something for others, I just simply tell Him and remind myself that “Lord, this is for you.” When I’m walking in Heaven with Jesus, I want Him to be able to put His arm around me and tell me of a time when I warmed His heart. So, what memories are you making?
26…Perspectives
Good morning! What sounds better to you, $9.99 or $10? What about 365 days or one year? It’s all about your perspective, isn’t it? Have you ever wondered why some people refuse to accept the Lord’s invitation for salvation, especially with how crazy this world is becoming? For those of us who have accepted the gift of salvation and know that Heaven is our forever home, it’s often hard for us to understand why anyone would want anything but that.
Before we accepted the path that Jesus made possible for us, we most likely had the same false perceptions as those who haven’t accepted Jesus yet. Do you remember some of your perceptions at that time? You might have thought things like you could never see yourself as being good enough or you thought that God would never forgive your wheel barrel full of sins. And maybe you thought if you became a Christian, the days of you having any fun would be over. But then, someone came along side you and started speaking truths in your life and you started wondering if maybe your perceptions had been wrong. As Believers, we are the living example of Christ. Those who have yet to come to faith watch us carefully to see if our words match up with our actions. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you …” We are here on this earth to further God’s kingdom. Just like someone helped us see God’s perception on life and death, we are called to be ready to help others see life from God’s point of view. Are you prepared to do that? I pray we will always be ready and sitting on “Go”!
27…Train Them Up
Good morning! We’ve all heard the saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but that’s not always the case. Yesterday as I was waiting to see my doctor, a woman and four kids came into the waiting room. Within a few minutes of their conversation, one of the kids started loudly giving his responses. The real problem wasn’t that his voice was too loud, but what he was saying. Let’s just say if that language was used in a movie, it would have to be R-rated. The mother quickly let the rest of us know that he was not her child but a friend’s child that she was babysitting.
It was a great reminder that it makes a difference what we do and say around children. They observe our behavior and hear our words and often repeat them. You don’t have to be their parents or grandparents to make a difference either. It can be a neighborhood child, or your friend’s kids, or just a child you see a lot. Since we know that children look up to adults, we need to be aware of our surroundings and who is in earshot of what we are saying and choose our words carefully.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” As adults, we have a wonderful opportunity to influence the next generation for Jesus. So, here’s to choosing our words and actions carefully, especially around children, and giving them something good to imitate!
28…In God We Trust
Good morning! When I was little, there was a cute little chant we’d say when we saw a penny on the ground. “Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck.” When I was putting groceries in my car, I saw three pennies on the ground and “the kid” in me picked them up. Of course, that familiar saying went through my head. I picked the pennies up and looked to see what year was on them, something Alan got me doing, and then I was reminded about what was inscribed on the coins, “In God We Trust.”
Is that inscription something we do all the time? How about when life comes raining down on us with hurricanes, fires, or earthquakes? Or what about when the doctor’s report isn’t what we prayed for? And do we trust when relationships are strained or even ended? Our founding fathers knew that to live this life, we needed to put our trust in the Lord ALL the time and in EVERY situation.
Psalm 20:7 addresses the trust we need to have in the Lord. “Some boast [trust] in chariots, and some in horses; but we will boast [trust] in the name of the Lord, our God.” For our era, that verse could be written as …”Some trust in their own power, and some in their money; but we will trust in the name of the Lord, our God.” You could easily replace those things we trust in, to lots of other things the world boasts, or trusts in, but the last part of that Scripture will never change … we will trust in the name of the Lord, our God! What or who do you place your trust in? Praying your answer is always JESUS!
29…Blessed Assurance
Good morning! As I was watching the weather forecast on TV, I was again amazed how they can determine what the weather will be like over a week away. Even more amazing is the fact that the Farmer’s Almanac predicts the weather a year in advance. Now it’s true that their predictions aren’t always accurate, but they’re close. I can’t tell you what will happen in the next hour, let alone next year but I know someone who can. You guessed it … God.
Even though God doesn’t show us in advance everything that will happen throughout our lives, I am confident in the plans He has for us because Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’”
Then as I was flipping through Jeremiah, I found this verse in Chapter 17, verse 7. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.” We all look for certainties in life. It helps us deal with the things that come our way. If I had no other assurance but those two verses, I wouldn’t need to worry about what lies ahead for me in the future because God has already figured it out and He’s the One that can make it good. We can be confident and rest in the Lord knowing He has great plans ahead for our lives. Here’s to seeing what God has in store for us!
30…Seeing Their Hearts
Good morning! I was walking down memory lane and it took me to the deli that Alan and I owned. I have so many great memories there. Because of the deli, I met some amazing people and this Veteran’s Day reminded me of one of them.
The deli operated on the honor system. Once people had finished eating, they just came to the register, told us what they had, and paid us. It was there at the register that I saw people’s hearts. It was at the register that people would ask to anonymously pay for someone’s meal or even for an entire table of people. I got to see the giver and the excitement they had to do something nice for someone else. And I got to see the receiver’s face when they came up to pay their bill
