It has been a month since I posted my blogs to begin our New Year with HOPE. I pray you had a good beginning to 2018.  I had the privilege to travel to Thailand and Cambodia.  It was an amazing trip and God was faithful to teach me as I traveled.  I want to share a few reflections before we begin our Lenten journey on February 14th.

 

Psalm 34:1-3

I will praise the Lord at all times.
    I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the Lord;
    let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
    let us exalt his name together.

David’s words convict me today.  I am so blessed and need to constantly give glory to God for His blessings in my life.  I see the less fortunate around me and need to constantly give encouragement and hope to others both physically and spiritually by sharing Jesus’ love with those I meet.  I am blessed to have a church home and fellowship groups filled with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  I need to have a heart for the lost and seek to support those who reach out beyond where I can physically go myself.

How about you?  Do David’s words speak to you today?  He tells us what He needs to do and what we can do together.  As you encounter others, do you speak with an attitude of praise towards God?  Do you give God praise for the big and little things He does for you each day?  Do you work with others to encourage those that are suffering and downtrodden with their lives?  Do you gather with others to praise God and lift His name on high?  David’s thoughts are convicting and encouraging as we seek to serve God right where we are.

Visiting places in the world, outside of my familiar sphere, shake up my thoughts and help me to see others and their needs more clearly.  It helps me to see God’s love for the world in a new and fresh way.

 

Looking inward and outward in Christ,

Linda

 

 

 

 

Now let us turn our thoughts towards Lent, which begins on February 14th.  That will be a 6 week journey towards the cross and a time of repentance and reflection.

Well, we have survived the first week of 2018!  I hope the promises I suggested to strengthen and uplift you gave you a needed jump start to begin the New Year with a positive and encouraging outlook!

Lamentations 3:21-23  God’s mercies are new each morning and we can count on His faithfulness.    Isaiah 40:28-31 God does not grow weary and we will be lifted up by Him.    Deuteronomy 31:6  God will never leave us nor forsake us.      Zephaniah 3:17  God saves, quiets us with His love and rejoices over us.    Galatians 6:9-10  Keep on doing good and working to build up others especially our brothers and sisters in faith.    Isaiah 41:10  God promises to strengthen, help and uphold us through Jesus.     James 1:2-5  Be positive about life’s trials knowing He is transforming us into someone who is more and more like Jesus.     Jeremiah 29:11 God has plans for our lives and they are good.

I will leave you with 2 more from Philippians today.  Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  God’s plan of action:  don’t worry, pray, thank Him  =  peace, protection for heart and mind.    Add to these thoughts Philippians 4:19 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  God promises that His resources are greater than any need we will have in 2018.  What a glorious hope and provision we have in Jesus!

Cling to these verses as you walk forward this year.  Claim their truths.  What God promises,  He delivers.  God is ever faithful.

Looking forward with Hope in Jesus,

Linda

 

James 1:2-5 is one of my favorite passages because it is filled with hope.  James wants us to realize that the things we face in our lives build and shape our character.  Facing the trials of life with hope and faith creates steadfastness within us making us more and more like Jesus.

James 1:2-5 ”  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.   If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

How is this of any help as we begin a New Year?  It helps us look at life’s events with positivity so that we are looking for the change in our own character brought about by exercising our faith  in Jesus.  God promises that placing our faith in Him will hone and sharpen us to where it will seem we are lacking nothing.  He adds in verse 5 that if we find we are lacking wisdom, we only need to ask God and He will give us wisdom.

Are you facing a difficult trial right now?  Consider it an opportunity for growth in faith and trust in Almighty God.  Cling to Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”   God is good and has good things planned for you now and throughout eternity.  We don’t know the future but we know for sure who holds our future.  Commit to trusting Him today and you will see and feel the character of Jesus within you.  Adopt an attitude of gratitude even in suffering because you know for sure that God has good things planned for you, He is good and He is in the process of making you more and more like Jesus!

Rejoicing in suffering takes purposeful thinking and faith,

Linda

This ancient promise was given to Isaiah, the prophet, to encourage the Israelites because they were facing deportation to Babylon for their sinfulness.  God knew they would return renewed and strengthen after that time of disciplining.

“Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

What encouragement do we get from this promise as we venture into a New Year?  God promises that His presence with us will dispel our fears that may come from circumstances, people or things.  God tells us not to be dismayed.  I looked this up and being dismayed means having a break down in one’s courage by sudden danger, disheartened thoroughly, disillusioned, alarmed or bothered.  That covers a lot of different circumstances that God does not want us to fear in this New Year.  Fear does not come from God and He does not want us suffering because of it.  God promises to strengthen and help us each day.  He further commits to upholding us with His righteous right hand.  In scripture this refers to Jesus who is now seated at the ‘right hand of the Father.’ (Acts 2:33)  What a blessed promise to us that Jesus will be right there each day of this year upholding us.

As you begin this New Year, why not write this verse out and have it where you can see it each day?  Let the truth of God’s promised provision sink into your heart.  When God says, “I will”, He means it because God is truth (1 John 5:6) and does not lie. (Hebrews 6:18)  What God says you can count on today and all the days this year.  He won’t change His mind as God is immutable, unchanging. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 

Walking each day of this New Year with God’s assurance,

Linda

God desires that we be persistent in our walk with Him.  It is the day by day living and walking in communion with Him that causes us to grow more like Jesus each day.  Sometimes fighting and doing causes us to lose heart and become discouraged.  70 times  in the Bible God said, “Do Not Fear” or “Do Not be discouraged.”  Fear and discouragement do not come from God but from Satan.  Our enemy, Satan, desires that we not grow and that we turn away from God.

Here is a promise to encourage you in your daily walk with Jesus.  Galatians 6:9-10 from The Message translation:  ^{9-10 “}So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.”   God knows we will get tired but He encourages us that all the pain and struggle will be worth it.  There will be something- a good crop, brought about by our labors for Him.  He encourages us to keep on working and holding onto the fact that He will produce good from our labors.  God encourages us to work for the good of all but especially for those closest to us- other believers.

So be encouraged today to keep on keeping on with doing good.  God knows our struggles and desires that we have a persistent attitude towards life and serving others.  Today live each moment looking for who God wants you to bless by being the very presence of God to them.  Reflect Jesus and do good for Him with a renewed attitude.

Renewing my attitude for good this third day of 2018.

Linda