Novel Idea!

Jan 12 & 13

God wants to prepare me for today. He knows what lies ahead of me, where as I have a vague idea based on what I would like to get accomplished. Instead of making my list and venturing out about my day, He wants me to spend time with Him. Seeking Him, and waiting for Him and spending quality time with Him. I need to start the day focused on him, and as I go about my day, through every step that’s taken, I need to redirect my thoughts on Him; to continually keep Him on my mind and by the end of the day, I will have walked with Him. “His abiding presence is the best road map available.

My Saturday didn’t go anyway that I thought it was going to go when I woke up. I had planned a few things to do and was detoured with a friend to head to a rather large mall, about an hour from us. We were there for about 3 hours but away from home for about 5, so needless to say, I was able to get 2 of my 4 items done that day. Normally, I would have really fretted over not getting the other things accomplished. I would have been upset with myself and disappointed. I didn’t read this till later in the evening and it was only then that I realized how much God used me to help my friend more than I thought I was helping. How can anyone be upset for not accomplishing their particular goal for the day when you realize that you accomplished a goal for God?

Ex 33:14 says, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

John 15:4-7 reminds us that we are to “remain in Him, and He will remain in us.”  The branches can’t bear any fruit if is doesn’t remain apart of the vine. We need to remember that we are apart of Jesus. He’s the vine and we are the branches. He will bear much spiritual fruit in us, if we remain in Him.

At this time of the year, in Massachusetts residents and farmers are preparing their yards and land for the upcoming spring. They rake up all the dead branches and prune back their shrubs in anticipation of what will be a beautiful garden or a bountiful harvest, but the interesting thing they do is that they don’t just discard all the branches into the woods. They put them in piles and burn them. Those that garden usually try to turn some of the ash into their soil. I’m reminded of this passage many times during this time of year; “If anyone does not remain I me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”  I want to grow and be healthy in the Lord. So I’m looking forward to being pruned, and trimmed up! It’s time for a healthier, stronger faith in the Lord.

Jan 13^th

To go along with the 12^th’s reading on allowing God to prepare our day; this reading is about trying to view each day as an adventure, which has been carefully planned out by our guide. (Paraphrase- “Jesus Calling”) That we need to be thankful about our day, knowing that it’s a precious gift. We need to continue to learn to trust Him for each and every moment of the day. To resist our own desire to do things our way again, is the hardest thing to overcome, however just knowing that to look through this day through God’s eyes or knowing that He’s right next to me helps me to be ready for any unexpected events that come my way. That’s peace in itself! So, “this is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Let’s remember what it was like to be little kids once again. When our father, grandfather or big brother would walk in front of us and we would try to walk in their footsteps. How their steps were so big and far apart, yet with some effort we could step a little bigger, or jump into their steps. I think that’s how we should look at 1Peter 2:21; “knowing that Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps.” (paraphrased)

Well my friends, I hope you're growing as much as I am. I'm not ordained, just a loving follower who's trying to grow a much deeper faith. Till next time, Shalom!