Just Be Faithful
Sure it’s a brand new year but it’s a brand new year on the tale end of the old one and so much weariness is there, just after the busy Christmas season, and yet, it’s still time to get moving and get going once more.
Weary soul, do not give up just because you don’t see evidence of fruit. Don’t throw your strong faith to the wind in your perplexed and tired spirit of life. Do not lose heart for the good of all things or for the good of your ministry. Your reward is great and is to come from our God, the giver of life, in His time, but , your now reward is that still, small voice at the end of the day that whispers into your weary heart “You were faithful, in the small things! Well done thou good and faithful servant!” Ah, yes, and we dare not ponder the failures or the successes of the day but just be obedient to God’s leading. Rely on Him! Hope in Him! Find courage in Him and rise up with new strength for the weary days! ~k
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
Galatians 6:9, 10
“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
New Year’s Resolution
So here we sit with maybe some disappointments about the whole last year and maybe you thought you left the old baggage at the 20.15 terminal but it beat you to the 20.16 gate didn’t it? It arrived before you did and so here you sit on the brink of the first day of a new year and it’s the same old, same old. Wouldn’t you just know it? That’s because bad news travels fast, bondage doesn’t break easily and old habits die-hard.
Some things just didn’t go as planned and some things were left undone and some prayers weren’t answered and some things we just wish were different somehow. But they’re not, so ~ what do you do with that? Hey, you! There are things that we just can’t undo and some things that just can’t be made different by us. Those things we have to accept and place into God’s hand for good keeping. Habits? We can make our new resolutions and begin with every good intention to change, but the old stuff creeps back in as “Self” creeps off the altar of sacrifice. The loose end stuff creeps in to leave us reeling in guilt or fear or insecurity and disappointment and so perplexity reigns instead of peace and what do we do with that?
David knew all too well the evil about him, and invokes God’ s help while praising His character. He knew how to pray to our God of mercy and compassion. “Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. Protect me, for I am devoted to You. Save me, for I serve You and trust You. Be merciful to me O Lord…..O Lord, You are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for Your help.” Psalm 86: 1,2,3a,5
So, beautiful soul, ask for God’s help as David did. Pray to our faithful God who understands all the chaos of your heart and knows about that baggage that haunts you even into the New Year. Pray David’s prayer or pray a personal prayer on this brand new day of a brand new year. Open the windows wide on 2016 and without a speck of fear or disappointment or frustration breathe in the fresh air and newness of life.
A new resolution? Yeah, for sure! Go ahead and let go of the past and step into peace with God.
I can choose to dwell on my insecurities, my weaknesses, my hurts, disappointments, my frustrations and the failures of my past, allowing the enemy to crush me under the weight of their load, or I can lay them at the foot of the cross with a broken spirit, stand back and watch God make beauty out of ashes as He weaves His golden threads in, around, over and through the confusion of my broken dreams. God doesn’t want my perfection, He only desires a humble, repentant and willing heart. His desire is to pour His unconditional love and grace upon me to bless me, and give me peace, but He won’t control me. He gives me the freedom to choose “His life” over the enemy’s death. The choice is up to me. ~k
Begin again and watch God do something new!
“Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 14: 18 – 19
So after Christmas past, is there more? Maybe for you it’s one down, one to go or maybe two more celebrations with family or friends. How was it? Was it all you expected it to be? Was it everything you hoped for? O.k so the bones are weary after all the preparation and the muscles ache now, on the let-down after the day. Perhaps it was a tough day for you, where expected, warm moments maybe weren’t so warm after all. Perhaps they turned into strained moments with uncomfortable meetings and greetings? Oh yeah, the hurt was brought back to the surface and what you thought had healed really wasn’t healed at all. Now, on the day after Christmas past, the struggles still hang on and the walls still surround and the battles are still there, yeah, even after Christmas! A wonderful time has come and gone, and your hope for reconciliation or acceptance or even just forgiveness just didn’t go as planned and it’s over once again and the emptiness of it all still sits heavy within your beautiful soul.
Don’t you just love God’s sense of humour to give us a built in smiley face on the moon to look down on us earth people. Even through cloudy skies He gives us His assurance that all is well.
You need a sweet, hug from God today! A hug snuggly wrapped in His favour and blessing! A gentle hug so sweet and so tender that all the bad stuff pales in comparison to this grace hug from the One true Light of the World that shattered darkness, with His birth on that night so long ago! It was for you right here and now. Right where you are ~ He’s there still ~ to shatter your broken world and bring Hope and healing, into your moments of pain. So, when the struggles still struggle and the hurt still hurts,and the walls are still high and pain still goes so deep, even after Christmas, get with God and get to know His Son, Jesus. Let Him lavish you with a divine love so unconditional it will make you blush as you realize what He loves you out of with no strings attached. So today, when it all seems wrong and hard and when places are just difficult, let this true Jesus be your friend and light your way! That’s why “Christ”-mas came! To bring light and peace and joy into the world and to bring light and peace and joy into yours!
Psalm 34: 18
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
John 12:46
I am come as a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Advent
Relax! Enjoy this Christmas season as we celebrate the birthday of our Lord and Savior ~ The Messiah, Our King! Find the Hope, love and warmth that’s tucked inside God’s beautiful gift, given to a needy world, and let it make a difference in your life.
Feeling alone? So were the lowly shepherds, out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night after night after night. It was they who were chosen to receive the birth announcement with exquisite, “Out Of This World” props!! A star of wonder, lit the sky and 3D angels with muti-media and surround sound filled the heavens to proclaim this royal event. The lonely, lowly shepherds followed the star, sought him out, found Him in the stable and knelt to worship Him. I wonder if you’ve found Him? Wise men went searching for Him and wise men still do! Wise men found Him and wise men still do. Advent
“When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child”.…
Hope and Healing In Hard Places 