Reflection for the Day

Here is a Scripture to encourage those who try to serve the Lord with their whole heart:

"And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered."

2 Chronicles 31:21 NKJ

Taking Time to Worship

I am blessed to have several Christian radio stations around Southern California, allowing me to fill my drives with inspiring music. There have been times when the words of a song will touch my heart, confirming God's love, and encouraging me in my walk with the Lord. I love how my kids will join in on a song, giving praise to God. It comforts me to know that truths of the gospel are being inscribed deep in their hearts and minds.

Worship plays a vital role in our faith. It allows us to be intimate with our Lord and God by stirring our souls for a deeper fellowship with Him. I am always amazed at those who come to church late so they don't have to sit through worship. They miss the whole point of getting into an attitude of praise and wrapping themselves in the hope of His grace and mercy.

Take time to give honor to God through your singing. Take time to worship.

Sitting Still

I was at a piano recital the other day for young inspiring, and perhaps not so inspiring, pianists. Even though the recital didn't last more than an hour and fifteen minutes, it was difficult to sit still for that amount of time. We are so used to getting up and running here and there, rarely stopping for a breather, that we find it hard to sit for longs period of time. Even church service creates a challenge at times.

Yet God wants us to be still with Him. In Psalm 46:10a it says to "Be still and know that I am God..." The Hebrew phrase here means to leave off handling things by our own efforts. We are to give ourselves completely to God, and that often requires us to spend time "listening" to Him. When was the last time you spent some quiet time with God? When did you last get on your knees and just listen? It's hard to sit still, but if we want intimacy with our God, then we need to make that time to get to know Him better.

First Response

We all have bad days. None of us are immune to issues that cause anger or frustration or pain. But how should we deal with these days? Should we hide in a corner? Should we call all our friends and express our anguish and our woes? Should we confront the issue? I say none of the above. We should pray first.

If God is our Lord, He needs to be our first source of help. We need to rely on His wisdom and guidance. Sure we may have godly friends who give wonderful advice; but God should be our first-response team. Our godly friends can participate later.

Will God answer right away? It really depends on the situation. But when we entrust our cares and concerns to Him, He will take the circumstance and work it for His glory. Giving Him the problem helps to strengthen us because we are sharing it with Someone big enough to handle anything and everything.

The prophet Jeremiah had many bad days. Yet He wrote in Lamentation 3:22-23, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

You can have a new morning after a bad day. But you must first give your problem to the Lord.

Full Length View

I dread clothes shopping. It's not because of long lines or high prices; I know a few bargain places where I can find clothes at decent prices with quick lines. I dread buying clothes because I have to look in the mirror to try on the articles I wish to purchase.

It's no secret. I'm in my mid-forties. I no longer have the nice figure I had twenty years ago, way before my four children. But gravity and age seems to be ganging up on me lately. I gave a heavy sigh when I had to try on some capris the other day, and it wasn't because I was struggling to pull the pants on, either. It was because of the image I saw reflecting back at me.

Now, I know that the outside isn't the most important feature of a person. The inside is what counts. But sometimes it would be nice if the two would match up more often, especially as we age.

Thankfully God only will judge me for the inside. To Him I am beautiful because I am His child. And, I have a new body to look forward to in Heaven that won't sag in all the wrong places. So, I say, let's stop looking in those full length mirrors, and let's start seeing ourselves the way God sees us: as the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8).

Spring Cleaning

Yesterday we took on a major spring cleaning project that was way overdue. We started the long laborious process of organizing and cleaning out our garage.

It took us several hours in over ninety degree weather. We pulled everything out from the middle of the garage, and then started sorting through boxes and reorganizing shelves. The job was dusty, grimy, and tiring. The main problem was that there was just so much stuff, most of which was junk. Our neighbor was gracious enough to let us use one of his trash cans because ours were filled beyond the brim.

I was reminded of how much junk we keep in our lives. Bad habits, unforgiveness, grudges, and bitterness are just a few examples. As Christians we need to clean out the things that drag us down spiritually. When we confess these to the Lord, He cleanses us, allowing for more room in our hearts for the things that matter.

It takes time to clean out everything. Our garage will take a few more days, but if we are persistent and consistent, then we will soon be able to find what we're looking for instead of bumping into all the clutter.

Do you have too much junk in your life? Try a bit of spring cleaning Jesus style.

Following the Sun

My little sprouts of tomatoes and sweet peppers are a lesson in faith. They have struggled up from very small seeds and continue to grow with the water that I give them. But they also follow the sun. Each morning, as they sit on the ledge of my south-facing window, they stretch to gather the warmth from the rays of sunshine that come streaming through. As the sun traverses the sky, the plants slowly creep in that direction, making sure they catch every available drop of light.

We need to be as diligent to follow the true Son, Jesus. We are strongest when we align ourselves to receive His full amount of love, strength, wisdom, and peace. Through Him we grow so that we may be a benefit to those around us. When we turn to Him we get stronger; when we ignore Him and turn our backs on Him, we face the danger of withering away.

Be like a plant and follow the true source of life: follow Jesus.