Thanks to the Lord

Thank you! It's such a simple phrase, yet it is one that we don't say often enough. It should be something we say daily but we take so much for granted and we often forget to be grateful. Family, friends. home, pets, food, clothing, and of course, freedom are all just some of the incredible blessings we are thankful for. 

Freedom in Christ and freedom in our country are two of the most special privileges we have. There is nothing quite like freedom. In our country we enjoy freedom because of the sacrifices others made for us. In Christ we have the gift of freedom and of knowing it has already been paid for in full. There is nothing we can do to earn or lose what Jesus already so graciously did to pay the price for us. What an amazing and incredible gift we have to be thankful for. Think about that. You are free not because of anything you have done but rather because of the sacrifice and love of others and of Jesus. 

Jesus, thank you for loving us so much and giving us the gift of freedom. Thank you too for creating us with free will and allowing us the ability to serve and sacrifice for others. It is because of you that we have, and cherish, all that we are thankful for.  In you we stand in awe and raise our hands and voices in never ending praise and gratitude.

Let all that I am praise the LORD. O LORD my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty. Psalm 104:1

Happy Thanksgiving!

Spending Time

Photo Credit Deb Blankenship

Most of us don't think of time as being limited. If we did, chances are it would be spent in a much different way. Think about it. Consider your week or your month or your year. Where are you spending your time? There are studies that provide insights into the average amount of time you spend sleeping, using an electronic device and even waiting. It's quite surprising to learn that Americans spend about 5 hours a day in leisure time, half of which is spent in front of the T.V. However, only 9% of Americans spend any time each day in religious or spiritual activities. 

What about you? Are you spending time being drawn into the daily drama of our culture or the peace and grace of Christ? Do you have time set aside for watching your favorite reality show but spend no time in a daily appointment with the Living God? If you find yourself being worried, anxious, stressed and overwhelmed with the world, consider altering your day and spending more time with Jesus. You will find the difference to be incredibly positive.

Jesus provided us an important example of the nature and risk of being distracted away from Him. We are blessed to have had this account shared with us by Luke.

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary,who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Hype

No matter the time or age, the enemy will try to distract from and hide the truth with hype. Hype is nothing more than smoke and mirrors, twisted words, deflections and spin to confuse. Hype is not new. It has been around since the Garden of Eden. That tricky serpent used hype to deceive Eve way back then. He knew just what to say and how to say it. The truth was twisted and so eloquently covered up and packaged into a lie that was believable. Just think about it. Eve was in the Garden of Eden with all its beauty and love but still the devil found a way to create a lie so believable he tricked even her.

Fast forward to the time of Jesus. The hype then was how Jesus, the very Son of God, would disrupt the status quo and harm the order of the world as the Jews knew it. The truth was right in front of them! God himself spoke to them and taught them and loved them but they did not see through the hype. You know the rest of the story.

Today, in the day and age of social media, the devil with his hype is having a field day. It is as though the serpent from the garden is right in front of the eyes of every human constantly. Still disguised, and with smoke and mirrors beyond measure, the enemy clouds the minds, hearts and souls of the people. 

Don't be fooled by hype and lies. Be thoughtful and still. Ask the Lord to give you eyes that see the truth and can help you to discern deception and made up spin so you will know the way to act in opposition of the enemy.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." Matthew 23:27-28

Jesus is The Answer

The world sure is in a sad state. If you are not careful you will find yourself caught up in a whirlwind of drama and chaos.Violence, division, hype about politics, glorification of celebrity, and consumerism have taken the spot light. It is rare to find a voice or leader speaking about or focusing on anything but themselves. It's a challenge, if not an impossibility, to identify someone providing a focus on the simple message of love and goodwill. 

You can be that someone. In fact, if we each were that someone we could influence the message and impact our corner of the world. Share the truth of Jesus Christ. While the enemy continues to lie and deceive, you will be letting those you interact with know the truth.  He is the Living God in whom all good things come.Jesus Christ is the answer.

Love

Savior

Strength

Beginning and end

Way, truth and life

Strong tower

Living water

Refuge

Grace

Peace

Hope

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame"

Romans 10:9-11

Begin With God

Photo Credit Casie Steele 

@http://steeleapeek.blogspot.com

@SteeleaPeekPhotography

There He is, right where you are. Yes, it's God. Do you see Him? Oh, right, you are in the middle of something you will stop to acknowledge Him in a bit. I know how that is with life being so busy. What's that you say? Oh, another issue and an interruption so you can't talk with God until later when things settle down. OK, I understand.

Your day of must do's, need nows, can you please, and oh by the ways, can soon become an unending cascade of time spent without acknowledging and being with God. Begin your day with Him. Start with words of praise and prayers. Ask that He guide you and that the Holy Spirit would accompany you in peace and safety through the day. Request the light of Christ around you and your loved ones and that God protect you like the pupil of His eye. Then praise him again and let him know that you love so much the way he cares for you. Thank him for sending his Son to rescue and share your heart with Him. Now walk all day in the grace of Jesus with full confidence that you are in his perfect care. End the day with God. Thank Him and sleep well lifting your heart and cares to Him.

God is the perfect beginning and end to each and every day.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Revelation 22:13