MORNING HAS BROKEN

But the Lord said to Samuel,
Look not on his countenance,
or on the height of his stature.
I have refused him:
for the Lord sees not as man sees;
for man looks on the outward appearance;
the Lord looks on the heart.

 

 

 

Be careful, then
before you pass judgement.
Do you want other people
judging you?
Do you know enough
about someone else
to cast stones?
Is it your business anyway?
God knows what’s up
with each of us.
He is fully aware
of the verbal bully,
the shrinking violet,
the bombastic know-it-all.
God knows where
we’ve chosen to hunker down
in the greater scheme of life.
Let your guide be God.
He knows the way.
There are rules to follow:
love God with all your heart
and all your mind,
and the second
is important, too,
love your neighbor.
A third woven throughout
God’s word and his Son’s message
is simply this, be kind.

Based on 1 Samuel 16:7

Grace

LOST AND FOUND

I lost my ife
to Grace’s gift,
no longer alone am I.

Known, remembered and redeemed
my Lord, my Master
heard my cry.

Found now on
Glory’s shore
seeing Christ I'm lost no more.


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If you would like to receive notification of updates to Joy in the Morning, please enter your e-mail under the "follow by e-mail" box in the upper right column. This blog is written by a mature (in age only) and imperfect Christian who loves the Lord. Please like and share if you find this message inspiring.

Believe

Look to the Light 

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Compassion and mercy sound good in theory, until someone you love disappoints you time and again, and you feel guilt and remorse because your parenting skills were woefully lacking. The adult son who struggles with addiction or anger issues seems flawed beyond redemption. The adult daughter, whose poor choices lead her into one abusive relationship after another, from which you cannot – despite your best effort – extricate her. Where does this behavior come from? You did the best job you could, and yet these disappointing examples of your bad parenting are like a shadow on your life.   

Perhaps that’s where the problem begins and ends. The lives of these people you love are based on their personal choices, made outside of your influence, and not necessarily because of it. Perhaps your focus on the shadow obscures the Light. That’s where compassion and mercy abide, in the Light. Compassion means to have sympathy and concern for someone and to show kindness toward them. Mercy extends forgiveness and understanding. Nowhere in there does either of these exact guilt. Nor do they require you to “fix” the other person. Nowhere does it say you need not have compassion and mercy for yourself. God is at work. Know it. Believe it. Live it. Grace abounds, not because of who we are, but because of who God is.

Trust

Be strong, banish fear and doubt. Remember the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 

Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. Really. Please. Don’t. So much is bandied about in the ether, a never-never land few of us understand, that it is imperative to be suspicious of what comes your way, especially in those massive forwarded messages. I appreciate the sentiment when someone forwards interesting links. They want to share something they believe is important, funny, informative or cute. Too frequently when I follow up and try to find the original source, it is often attributed incorrectly in the version I received, or not a real experience, but a tearjerker story a talented creative writer conjured up. Nor am I keen on the “Jesus Loves You” e-mails and links that imply that if I don’t forward this message on, I’m just not with the program, I’m not a real Christian, I’m sadly flawed because I don’t spread the word or keep the candle burning or plant another seed (or 20, which seems to be the magic number to assure my membership in the club of three percent who will pass it on). What I believe, and can find firm corroboration for in Biblical texts, is that Jesus loves me whether I pass on an e-mail link or not; this truth is the glue that binds together disparate people from all over the globe. I don’t need to forward an e-mail to assure me of my place in God’s love. I have God’s word, and that’s enough for me.

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Peace

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The price of freedom

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:9-11 

As we celebrate our country’s independence perhaps it is also a time to evaluate another battle. This nation’s independence was won through sacrifice and perseverance. It was also paid for in blood. The lives of many have been lost in the name of freedom and democracy. So it has been historically and continues into today. Fighting a world away causes ripples in our lives making us feel less safe and more fearful. Battles for democracy in countries we can scarcely imagine rage as people try to break away from repressive rule.

A similar battle goes on in our lives every day. We are assaulted in countless ways by alluring messages that take us away from our faith. We are bombarded with reasons to question God’s plan for our lives and the world. We consider moral imperative to be repressive and confining. We want to be free of restrictive covenants and judgment. We want to do what we want to do, no matter the cost. Fortunately for us God is a vigilant protector. He provided for our salvation through the blood of our Savior. His Grace assures our pardon. The battle continues, but the Victor stands ready to lead us away from temptation and toward His light. Through prayer and praise we can find a place of peace even in the midst of conflict.

Reach Out

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To understand is to grow

Psalm 119:34: Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.

In our desire to be self-sufficient, we forget that on our own we are alive but lifeless. We have no purpose except to please ourselves. When we turn to God and ask for the only help that matters, we begin to grow and look outside our own little world and look for ways to help those God puts into our paths. When we reach out we grow inside. When we look up our horizons expand. When we bow our heads in prayer we know we’ve made a connection, the most important connection of all. God loves us through the transitions in our lives, the good ones and the life lessons that can be wrenchingly painful. When we isolate ourselves with people who are just like we are, we never learn and grow. Only when we look to our neighbor and try to understand them can we see God’s plan at work, not just in us, and the people who are like us, but in all people everywhere

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Faith

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Life's little surprises

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 

Trying to make sense of life is a waste of time. Really. Who knows when a sinkhole will open up and swallow you? That is not a defeatist outlook; it’s a realistic view of life. You do not know from one minute to the next when that crest of success, power and self-satisfaction will drop right out from under you. Maybe you’ll survive it; probably you will, but not without a few bruises along the way. That’s when faith comes in. You no longer have what you had before, but you have something new, different, unexpected and sometimes in your mind unmanageable. That’s when God does his best work. It’s not like you can make a list of what you want God to do. He has his own list and it’s way better than yours. Trust. Have faith, not that you will get your way, but that God has a way ahead.

Lord, in all ways help me to be steadfast in faith. I trust you because I know I cannot trust myself to always do the right thing for the right reasons. Amen  

God's Love

God so loved the world...

God is a jealous God. God is a wrathful God. God is a loving God. God is God. When I was a child the idea of God was frightening to me. I saw Him as a bearded guy who could stomp his foot and shake the universe. A Spirit so all-encompassing I couldn’t take in His magnitude and it scared me to think some One knew everything about me. The story in Genesis about the flood is a reminder that God did run out of patience and stomp his foot. Only Noah and his family were spared. How much of this story can be put into an historical context? What can we learn from this horrific event? Is it that God so loved the world He wanted to purge it of selfish behavior and destructive choices? In time He would take a different approach to alter the course of human affairs. God so loved the world that He gave His son that we might be saved. A babe in a manger. A man on a Cross. Christ arisen. Grace unlimited.

Trust

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

Stronger than you think

 In Genesis 37 we read the story of family treachery. The coat of many colors was tainted with blood. Jacob was convinced it was the blood of his beloved son, Joseph. Though much loved by his father Joseph was resented by his brothers. Relationships sink or swim on as little as this. None of the family could predict what God could and would do with this act of betrayal. The story is a reminder of how important it is to be absolutely certain God’s plan is greater and more intricately connected to end results than anything we can do. Trust in the Lord. Be strong under fire. Make the most of who you are. God has promised to be with you, even when those around you sell you out, life hands you bitter gall instead of ambrosia, health fails, and trouble bubbles. You are stronger than you think, not because of who you are, but because of who God is.

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This message of inspiration will also appear in the One-February issue of Happenstance, a digital magazine available by subscription. For a look at past issues go to http://issuu.com/vandermeerbooks. Your comments will be appreciated.

The Promise

Open Doors

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46: 1-3

The faithful of God

are not promised forever happiness,

that isn’t the way life works.

Life happens, devastating in its brutal reality.

God did not promise

a trouble-free existence.

We endure loses we do not think we can bear,

but we do.

God does promise to be present with us.

God gives us backbone,

Christ gives us comfort,

The Holy Spirit gives us understanding. 

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Hope and Faith

There Are No Barriers

Image: clipart.com

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

People are often branded early in life and unable to get past whatever label is pinned to them.

She grew up with abuse and cruelty, her fate is sealed.

He grew up with alcoholic parents, he will be an alcoholic.

Domestic violence in that house shaped the children; they will grow up damaged.

And the list goes on.

God recognizes no barriers. He sees in all of us the potential for change and renewal. His promise is to be with us in all circumstances and to see us through whatever may occur. We change our future when we give up who we are to God and allow him to be at work in us.  

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Joy in the Morning

Yes I Can!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23, 24.

What part of dieting do you like? Anyone have a good answer to that question? Dieting is a negative experience no matter how you look at it. Too often it’s a review of the “can’ts.” I can’t eat when I want to. I can’t eat what I want. I can’t eat too much. I can’t have PIE!

Instead of thinking negatively, try using a healthy living approach and then work at it with all your heart.

I can feel better if I walk regularly. I can eat this because it is healthy for my body. I can lose weight if I make healthier choices. I can be of service when I stop thinking of the negative experience of dieting and start thinking about other people.

That piece of pie you thought you couldn’t do without? Make a gift of it to a shut in, someone who probably needs and wants your company more than they want that piece of pie.

There is always a choice

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Minister and author Max Lucado writes in Everyday Blessings, that the Bible is the story of two gardens, Eden and Gethsemane. Eden was the beginning, and Gethsemane was far from being the end.

In a few words Lucado reminds the reader there are consequences to the road not traveled and the path taken. We have choices every day that take us away from or toward God. Jesus leads the way, but each of us gets to decide whether we will follow. There was one path Jesus took that none could walk with him, the path that led to the hill where he would be put to a brutal death. And then came the garden moment when he was seen by two women who went to honor his death only to find he was very much alive. We enter into the Lenten season to prepare for his resurrection celebration. God with us, God in us and God for us.