Day 3238: My relatives’ Christmas get togethers start today!

Scripture: May grace and peace be mine from God my Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am to praise the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ!  Ephesians 1:2,3

Thoughts/questions: Most of us desire to be blessed and today’s verses say that we ARE given blessings. However, sometimes our idea of blessings is answered prayer for healing, safety, finances, relationships, etc. Yet here is a list of what spiritual blessings we already have, even though we don’t often pray for these!

• We are chosen by Him before the creation of the world.
• He sees us as holy and blameless.
• We are adopted as His sons and daughters through Jesus.
• He extends His glorious grace to us through His Son.
• We have been redeemed through Jesus’ blood.
• He forgives our sins past, present and future.
• We have access to His wisdom and knowledge.
• He marked us with the seal of the Holy Spirit guaranteeing our inheritance in heaven.*

Spiritual blessings – valuable for now and eternity, but aren’t sought after as much as physical blessings. Maybe things should change! Please reread them and be truly blessed!!!

Suggested Prayer: Living God of the universe, You have blessed me for eternity, yet I focus on the here and now. Help me to receive Your spiritual blessings every day . . .

*from H*VMI

Day 3237: TGIF during the Christmas season as well – Thank God I’m Forgiven!!!

Scripture:  But God demonstrated His own love for me in this: while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me!  Romans 5:8   Jesus said: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” John 8:31  Jesus said: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  Matthew 6:14,15

Thoughts/questions: We hear so much about God’s unconditional love and rightfully so as without it, whose life could stand before the holiness of The Almighty God? However can there be a conditional God who still exhibits unconditional love?

Conditions are usually expressed by an if/then statement. If you do this, then something will happen type thing. Responses are based on someone meeting the conditions set forth. Does the Bible have a few ‘ifs’ within its words? Yes – over 1500 depending on the translation!

That’s a lot of conditions, with today’s verses giving you an example of three ‘ifs’ used by Jesus. Yes, God will love us REGARDLESS; however, He still has ‘great EXPECTATIONS’ for our attitudes; our thoughts; and our actions!

A great love combined with great expectations for His children – sounds like any good parent, and God is no exception. We can’t live in one of His two worlds! Unconditional love alone – cheap grace. Total focus on the conditions – legalism! Combined? A perfect balance of changed lives motivated by love! Contrary to secular Christmas movies, THAT is the real meaning of Christmas!

Suggested Prayer: Father God, Your unconditional love is more than I can comprehend! Help me to show my love by a changed life . . .

Day 3236: Had a chance to lead 90 kids bring Christmas gift bags they created and filled to less fortunate. Everyone was blessed!

Scripture: Being in very nature God, Jesus did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped. Instead, He made Himself nothing, took on the very nature of a servant, and appeared in human form.  Philippians 2:5-7

Thoughts/questions: During the Christmas season, the reality of God being enclosed in human flesh is considered with amazement and wonder! His nature and being wrapped in a body of cells. A body trapping the Almighty God and Prince of Peace within its constrictions and restrictions.

We know the most important part of Jesus was not His earth suit, but it was His God nature that was eternal and would live past the eventual death of that body. But I don’t think we always realize that we too are very similar to Jesus when He was on earth. Yet we tend focus on our bodies as if they were our source of life and continued existence.

But no, we too are primarily spiritual, eternal beings trapped in a similar earth suit with its limitations. We hesitate to depart from this encasement, while our Father knows that our release from physical captivity will be the best day of our existence. When we can truly be all we were meant to be!

Be thankful for your earth suit, but don’t worship it. Seek to minimize its importance in your lives! Look forward to your eventual release! It ain’t heaven yet, but soon and very soon it will be!!!

Suggested Prayer: Dear Jesus, You are my example, my role model, my hero and my Savior . . .

Day 3235: Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!

Scripture: For in Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28a

Thoughts/questions: The previous two days we looked at ‘we live’ and ‘move,’ and now we will focus on ‘have our being.’ Used as a noun, it is the nature or essence of a person! Who we really are – the inner person – our being! Used as a verb, being emphasizes how the noun or subject is, was, or will be.

And in Christ, our being is both the noun and the verb! When someone asks, ‘How are you,’ the essence of who we were, are, and will be should be the answer, but we get away with simply saying, fine! No, there is SO much more to our being than that easy answer

In the U.S. we have an annual State of the Union address. As the year ends and a new one begins, this is an excellent time to consider the state of our being! How is this most important inner person doing? Regardless of circumstances past and present, is your being learning from the past, excited for the future, and living in the moment?

Or has the outer package become your priority rather than what truly will last forever?Our being MUST be based on our relationship with Jesus, as in Him our being becomes complete! Yes, it is only in Him we live and move and have our being!

Suggested Prayer: Dear Jesus, so often I forget to give credit where credit is due! Without You I am nothing . . .

Day 3234: Two weeks and it’s CHRISTMAS!!!

Scripture: For in Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28a

Thoughts/questions: Yesterday the devo was on the phrase, we live. Today it will be on, and move. Two things about in Him we move. 1) We get to move! Sounds simple and basic, but . . .  I visit my Mother-in-law at a care center and sometimes see certain residents in the hallway. They do not move at all. And then there are children’s hospitals where little or no movement is made by some patients. Physically we do move; others don’t; we need to be thankful daily that we move!

2) We move, but where? God has given us mobility, and many of us have freedom in addition, yet are we using that mobility wisely? Are we using our abilities to serve others or self? What if Jesus spent a year with you and wherever and however you moved, He was physically right by your side? How would that look? Might be a bit embarrassed at times???

And yet, He IS there wherever we go; and IS with us in whatever we do! Yes, in Him we move, so let’s be thankful and let’s be wise and careful about wherever we go and whatever we do!!!

Suggested Prayer: Living God of the universe, I move only because You allow it. Help me to be continuously thankful and to use my physical abilities wisely . . .

Day 3233: Mondays can be fun days too! How’s that attitude?

Scripture: For in Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28a

Thoughts/questions: This is a short verse, but we will do a devo on each phrase! Today is We Live!!! If you read relatively fast, it takes about 70 – 90 seconds to read an average post on God2me. During that time, 6 people die in the United States alone as approximately 7,500 people die each day in the U.S.

So today, did everyone in the U.S. wake up like you did? Did everyone make it to work or their initial destination? Did everyone make it from 9 – 5? Will everyone make it home? Once home, will everyone make it to bed? The obvious answer to these questions is a resounding – NO!

But today you may escape and survive to live another day. Why? Initially because life itself is God’s gift to us. And not only did He breathe life into us, He also gives us each new breath because of His mercy towards us!!!

Our very lives depend on God. It is in/of/because of Him that we live! Thank Him today and every day for that life. Tomorrow, many won’t be able to do that simple thing . . .

Suggested Prayer: Everlasting Father, only You are the Author of my life. I am, only because of You. May I ever be thankful, and may I also be humble knowing that You are God and I am not . . .

 

Day 3232: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

Scripture: (Jesus speaking) “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.“ John 15:4

Thoughts/questions: Recently a God2me post was about how God has chosen to partner with us. The two of us combined to make the perfect union! Other posts have been about God bringing us from darkness to light, and that we are the light of the world. Another post discussed the need to be broken before God!

Recently I came across an analogy which pulls those three concepts together – A Glow stick. The light of a Glow stick comes from the uniting of two separate chemicals. How do those two unite you ask – by the glass vials being broken allowing the two to become one. After being broken, the Glow stick lights up the darkness! It’s full light only appears after being broken!

A union depending on brokenness bringing forth light – that’s US!!! A brightly shining Glow stick! Hopefully you’ll never see another one without remembering how similar we are to them!

Unite with Christ by inviting Him into your life; be broken completely depending on Jesus; and then let His light shine through you!

Suggested Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for allowing my light to shine because of You . . .

Day 3231: We should never get tired of TGIF on Friday!!! Thank God I’m Forgiven!!!

Scripture: For God gave me a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. II Timothy 1:7   I will have no fear of bad news; my heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. My heart is secure, I will have no fear . . .  Psalm 112:7,8a

Thoughts/questions: After I made my second sky diving jump, I bought a T-shirt that added sky diving to a popular saying at the time, ‘No Fear, shut up and jump!’ ‘No fear’ was a catch phrase during the 90’s, but fear is inherent within us and often serves as a safeguard or warning.

But God’s desire for us to live without fear has been consistent throughout! Rather than just trying to muster up courage and attempt to eradicate fear, He gives us the reasons as to why we are not to have fear! First, He has not given us fear as a gift, but His gift is for us to live a life of power, show love, and demonstrate self-control! We are to focus on these attributes with the result – No Fear!

Secondly, we don’t have to be overcome by fear, even when bad news knocks at our door.  Our hearts can be steadfast and secure BECAUSE we trust in our loving heavenly Father Whose promises give us hope based on faith and again, No Fear!

With God it’s far more than a mere phrase on a T-shirt! He wants our fear to be replaced by faith resulting in power, love and self-control! Put those in your heart and mind, not on a shirt!

Suggested Prayer: Almighty God, may my trust in You grow to the point that I am able to live without fear . . .

Day 3230: Tis the season to be jolly, but I’m actually ???

Scripture: No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:25

Thoughts/questions: Friends, not acquaintances, are to be treasured. True friends can be counted on when others fade. True friends will be at your funeral!  So many factors are involved in the quality relationship we call friends, that true ones are sometimes hard to find.

And Jesus has called us His friend! Sometimes it seems like this might take away from His true status as Almighty God. We are to consider Him as our friend, but we must be careful not to equate Him to our buddies. He is that true friend – that friend Who laid down His life for His friends – us!

We are blessed that He considers us friends, and He is our friend with an asterisk. *So much more than any mere earthly relationship. The real deal!

So, we are to be thankful He calls us friend, and humbled to be able to call Him the same!

Suggested Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being my friend . . .

Day 3229: I’m thankful for the decisions my kids have made. This is a blessing in my life, but God has not ‘blessed’ me in a special way while others might not be.

Scripture: (Jesus speaking) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:30  Who (God) has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant . . . II Corinthians 3:6a

Thoughts/questions: There are two extremes among those who say they follow Christ, and the truth seems somewhere in the middle. One extreme says that whatever happens is all God’s doing not theirs, while the other end attempts to accomplish God’s work by their own strength.

However, there is a partnership that God has made with mankind illustrated by today’s verses. The yoke Jesus refers to is the 2 animal yoke that connected 2 oxen who worked the fields together. The other, the covenant, is a contract between God and humanity with Him fulfilling His promises as we are the ministers who fulfill our end of that contract!

So in a sense it is all God, and there is nothing we can do in and of ourselves, EXCEPT that He’s chosen to partner with us, as we are yoked together and execute our end of the new covenant! Why God has partnered with us, I don’t know. He certainly could have done everything by Himself. But we ARE partners!

Humbly we are to accept His work in and through us knowing that we can’t do anything without Him, and God has chosen not to do everything without us! A true partnership!!!

Suggested Prayer: Father God, thank You for allowing me to partner with You and accomplish Your work here on earth . . .