We all become cold and miserable when we splash in the mud

 2 Corinthians 5:17 “ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old is gone, the new has come!  19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation….21 God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

I didn’t have to reach my Grand-boys how to slash in the mud.  They just naturally found the puddles and jumped in them.   It was just “in them” to do it.   That is the way sin is.    The first time I saw my grandson splash in the mud puddles. I thought, “It’s fun to slash, let him splash as much as he wants. He has boots on.”  Then he got really dirty,  even inside those boots. We had to go home and change and not go to the park because he would’ve gotten too cold and miserable.   That’s also the way sin is.  we can splash around in it and it can be fun for a moment, but then it’s cold and miserable.  No matter how far we fall in our sin,  all sins are forgiven through Jesus Christ. He died once and for all of our sins.  Therefore if you’re caught up in sin today, returning to the same old patterns you thought  you had conquered.   Shake it off!!  Start over, accept the forgiveness. Jesus died to give you. Walk in the your new creation,  even if you just messed up again.   You are His “new creation even when your sin is fresh.   Repent, accept the forgiveness Jesus gives you,  be reconciled!!

Shake off the dust let your peace trturn to you

 Matthew 10:12 “As you enter a home give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust of your feet when you leave that home or town.”   Shake the dust off your feet and let your peace return to you!!   There are many times when we can’t help someone.   No one is beyond God’s help!! We can pray for people and TRUST God.   This is letting your peace return to you and shaking off the dust.   God has a bigger plan, than you can see.   He is God!!

Are you listening?

 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.”…..19 “For they have not listened to my words, “ declares the Lord, “words that I sent them again and again by my servants the prophets.  And you exiles have not listened either.” declares the Lord.”

God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, to hive us hope and a future.   Many times we don’t enter into His promise, because we don’t listen and because He loves us, He cannot reward disobedience.    Where and what is God telling you through reading His word?  Are you listening and obeying? Or do you think you have a better plan than God?

Take it head on! Don't Numb out

 Proverbs 23:29 "Who has woe?  Who has sorrows? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?  30 Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.  31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!  32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.   33 Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things."   What great reasons to stay away from alcohol!!!   It’s easy to want to “numb” ourselves from the pain in this world.  What I have found, is if I take the pain on in complete awareness and TRUST God in it all.  I have PEACE in pain, not just a temporary relief that leads to more pain.   I hope this helps you today.  You may not struggle with wine, but many of us “numb” ourselves with something.

Do you turn to God or something else in your trouble?

Let His peace and Joy rule your heart

 1Thessalonians 5:15 “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.  16 Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Be joyful

Always!!! Happiness is fleeting Joy is a way of life.   Joy is letting the peace of God rule your heart in all situations with all people!!  John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  Take His peace and joy with you today in all you think, say and do.   This would be putting on your faith!

Bind love and faithfulness

 Proverbs 3:3. “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Let love and faithfulness, never leave you!!  Often we love people only when they love us back.  We love when others are good to us.  We are faithful to when we “feel” their love for us.  These verses makes me question my love for people.  Do I show conditional or pure love, to love others?  We are to love others as Jesus loves us.  That would be putting on love and faithfulness, no matter what our beloved actions and behaviors are.   Sometimes we have to love people from afar.   We can have purity of heart towards them even if we can no longer can tolerate them in our lives.   Love and faithfulness what a beautiful way to live.   

Conquer anxiety

 Proverbs 4:25 “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.”   Fix your gaze directly before you!!!  Do the next right thing!!!    When we wallow in our past or do things we know we shouldn’t, anxiety grows.   We are all prone to; not do what we want to do and do the things we don’t want to do.   It’s our human condition.   Shake it off and try, try again.   Let your eyes look straight ahead and your gaze directly before you.   Conquer your anxiety by accepting the forgiveness Jesus died to give you and do the next right thing.   We cannot change what is done.  We cannot change even a moment ago.  We can shake it off and  keep trying!!