Category: JOY

  • New Every Morning – God’s Gift of Another Day

    Sunrise over the forest with text of :New Every morning" and Lamentations 3:23

    I suffer from a variety of sleep issues, which are kept somewhat under control by a CPAP machine and a variety of meds. I confess there are mornings when it takes me time to move from “Oh God, it’s morning” to “Thank you God for the gift of another day.”

    When we wake up, no matter the circumstances, it truly is God’s gift of another day. It doesn’t always feel that way. We might be fighting giants of many kinds in our lives. We may be dreading things to come. 

    Or we might spring out of bed because great things are on the horizon, and we can hardly wait for them to happen. That special holiday begins, or we’re meeting with a loved one we haven’t seen in a long time. Maybe it’s simply because you had a really great sleep that night.

    We might awaken slowly with no particular thought of the day. It’s simply time to arise.

    For most of us, it’s likely a combination of the three. There will be seasons of one of the other extremes, but most days are simply routine.  

    When I awaken, it is a new day. I do not know what it holds, good or bad, but it is another day to draw close to the Lord and be made a little bit more like Him.

    The loving kindnesses of Yahweh indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul, Therefore I wait for Him.” Yahweh is good to those who hope in Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of Yahweh. Lamentations 3:21-26

    You might be more familiar with that verse in hymn form. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is your faithfulness, O God.”

    Whether it’s a great day ahead or a day of slogging through the mire, it truly is God’s gift of another day. New mercies. Fresh compassions. New opportunities to draw close to God.

    It is the LORD who ordains our number of days and the circumstances we face each day. He promises everything in those days will be for the good of those who love him. No pain or tear will go wasted.

    David touched on that idea with a Psalm.

     I will exalt You, O Yahweh, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my enemies be glad over me. O Yahweh my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. O Yahweh, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. Sing praise to Yahweh, you His holy ones, And give thanks for the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:1-5

    I don’t know what your day holds, but I do know that as a believer, you are safely held in the arms of an all-loving, all-powerful and Holy God. Hold fast.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone) 

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    SUMMARY

    Every morning—whether dreaded, anticipated, or simply routine—is a gift from God, carrying with it fresh mercies and new compassions that never fail. Whatever the day holds, believers are safely held by an all-loving, all-powerful God who wastes nothing.

    KEY POINTS

    God’s mercies are literally new every morning, meeting us exactly where we are—in struggle, in joy, or in the ordinary in-between.

    The Lord ordains our days and promises that every pain and tear will be worked for the good of those who love Him.

    Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning—so hold fast, no matter what the day ahead looks like.

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  • The Gospel – Spreading Joy

    Johnny-jump-up (viola tricolor) has a lot in common with the gospel

    If you’ve known me for any length of time, you likely know that my favorite flower is the Johnny-jump-up (Viola tricolor). It seeds prolifically, pops up in unexpected places, grows in rough conditions and brings a smile when you see one. It reminds me in many ways of the gospel, bringing joy.

    Only God knows how many gospel calls have gone out (He sows prolifically). The gospel is seeded through the words of the Bible. The life of Christians calls people. Our testimony calls people.  The Holy Spirit calls out the good news of the gospel in ways we can only imagine. Like Johnny-jump-up seeds, the gospel is being sown everywhere, bringing joy as it grows.

    The gospel takes root in what we might consider the hardest of soils and the worst of conditions. It’s sown into the hearts of the enemies of God, people who love their sin, and people who had no idea that they needed a savior or who at times rejected the concept entirely.

    It happens unexpectedly. Even you and I were transformed by the power of the gospel and God’s incredible, unending grace. The Lord died to cover our sins and bring us to life.

    When the gospel takes hold, the person is changed forever. It’s a beautiful sight to behold. The newborn is far from perfect yet (what newborn is?), but they are undeniably changed.

    A sinner is forgiven. An enemy is now an heir. A former slave to sin is welcomed into the Kingdom of God.

    I have to rejoice and smile every time I see or hear of the gospel bearing fruit. I know it isn’t just me. The Lord rejoices and all the angels in heaven do as well.

    Yahweh your God is in your midst, A mighty one who will save. He will be joyful over you with gladness; He will be quiet in His love; He will rejoice over you with joyful singing. Zephaniah 3:17

    I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

    In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10

    My Johnny-jump-ups bring temporary smiles and joy. The fruit of the gospel brings everlasting rejoicing.

    Let us do our part to sow seeds of the gospel and rejoice when we see what the Lord does with them.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone) 

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    SUMMARY

    The Johnny-jump-up becomes a picture of the gospel: spreading unexpectedly, taking root in hard places, and bringing lasting joy wherever God causes it to grow. Just as the flower thrives in unlikely conditions, the gospel transforms sinners through God’s grace and produces eternal rejoicing in heaven and among believers.

    KEYPOINTS

    ·  The gospel spreads widely through Scripture, Christian witness, testimony, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

    ·  God causes the gospel to take root even in hardened hearts and impossible circumstances, transforming lives completely.

    ·  Every repentance and changed life brings joy not only to believers, but also to heaven itself.

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