Happy Groundhog Day

 Proverbs 2:1 “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as a hidden treasure 

, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  6 For the Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”    

Today is Groundhog Day. Will we have six more weeks of winter or will spring come early? Groundhog Day is also associated with repeating the same thing over and over, living the same day, over and over.  If we do not learn from our mistakes, we repeat them.  History repeats itself.  Let us  seek the knowledge of God, understanding and insight.  Let’s apply that to our lives, so we don’t get caught in the trap of repeating the same hurtful patterns over and over.  Happy Groundhog day!

What are you zealous about?

 Galatians 5:19 “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexually immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 Idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, fractions, 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you, as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23, gentleness, and self control.  Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires .   25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

Galatians 4:17 “Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good.  What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.  18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good and to be so always and not just when I am with you.”   

What are you Zellous about today?  Are you being Zealous out of people pleasing or God pleasing?   Good thing to contemplate today.

Forward in Faith

 Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him…..15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them… 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin for a short time.”   FAITH, is putting our TRUST in God fully.  As I read these verses, I am reminded to simply BELIEVE He exists and He has prepared a city for me.   When I look longingly for the past I cannot embrace the future.  Many times the allure, of my sinful nature 

Entices me to go back to old familiar ways.  This is like a dog returning to its vomit.    Familiarity is comfortable even if it’s painful.  Today, let’s put on our FAITH and press forward to the city He has prepared for us!!

Refrain from anger, do not fret

 Psalm 37:8 “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath, do not fret-it leads only to evil.”

Refrain from anger, turn from wrath it leads only to evil.  Do not fret.  Wow!  How profound! You don’t have to look far to see people getting passionately angry.   When I let myself get angry and upset my emotions are easily tipped to rage.  I used to live this way.  The roar inside of me would be so loud it consumed me.  I have found it is better to seek first to understand, love people where they are and not take offense in the first place.  When I let even a sliver of anger, fret, worry and wrath in my soul it destroys  my peace. Today if I’m tempted to be angry with someone or something, I’m going to stop. Try to see their point of view, pray then leave it in God‘s very capable hands.

Stand in awe of God

 Ecclesiastes 5:7 “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.  Therefore stand in awe of God.”    Stand in awe of God!!!  

Many times I can go into daydreaming about what I want instead of standing in awe of God.  The secret of happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.   Learn to be content,  where you are,  right here right now!    Are you able to stand in awe of God today? Or is your mind racing with much dreaming and many words?  Be inspired to stand in awe of God!!   You’ll be amazed at how BIG He shows up and how small the dreams and words become.  😇🙏

God made the good times and the bad

 Ecclesiastes 7:14 “When times are good be happy; but when times are bad consider: God has made the one as well as the other.  Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.    ……21 Do not pay attention to to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you- for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.”

“When times are good be happy and when times are bad consider God has made the one as well as the other”, how profound!   Many times our bad times take us further in understanding and depth than our good times.  Sometimes, we allow ourselves to have bad times because of the words people say.  Take heart!   Words can come quickly and are often not a pure reflection of the heart, just a temporary frustration.  The word of God assures us, we  are enough through the powerful gift of Jesus.   Let His word strengthen you today whether in good times or bad.

Put on Faith be fit for anything!

 Hebrews 11:1”Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see…..6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him…….24 By faith Moses, when He had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin for a short time.”

Hebrews 11 is the great faith chapter. Today, I am using it as a mirror, do I have great faith?   Many times God says, “No” or “Wait” to my prayers.   During these seasons I can “feel” a shrinking back of my faith.   How ridiculous!!! Great faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.   Great faith has us TRUST in the difficult even when we can’t possibly understand.   Today, will you leave the sins that are ensnaring you and walk boldly in the upward call of God?   May we each hold unswervingly to our faith today!!