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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Lamentations 3

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

    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.

    You might also enjoy: The gospel, the best news you will ever hear!

  • First Day – Remembrances and anticipation

    First Day – Remembrances and anticipation

    blurry image of my first day of school c1963

    This is far from the clearest photo in the world, but here I am, ready for my first day of school. Yes, they had schools and even cameras back then. My mother took it out of the apartment building window.

    I’m looking pretty dapper in my little uniform and carrying my lunch bag. My companion was a slightly older friend who lived in the same building and attended the same school, but I don’t recall her name. I remember her nickname, but it wasn’t flattering.

    The school was on a military base in Germany, where my father was posted during his career in the Canadian Armed Forces. I have a few school memories but don’t remember the first day. I suspect that I was terrified.

    I might have been nervous about going to school for the first time, but the truth is I love learning. Other than a few years in high school, I have loved school. I have been upgrading my education since leaving high school.

    I love the first day of school. You get all new supplies, new classes, and meet new people. You also get exciting new syllabi (or syllabuses, if you prefer) to read. Yes, I read them because they tell you much about what to expect and are quite helpful.

    Even when I am not in school, I love to learn. I suppose I am a bit of a geek. When the instructor asked a question, I was often the annoying student who jumped up and down and said, “I know, I know.” I didn’t do that to show off. I wanted to share what I had learned, and my high school friends may never have seen that side of me.

    Every day is an opportunity to learn with the Lord. Our first day is the day of our conversion. We are born again and given a fresh start. We are babies in the faith.

    From there, every day is the next first day in our journey with the Lord, which will last forever—a new day to experience His mercy and learn about Him.

    The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

    A new day to walk afresh with Him.

    Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2 ESV

    I confess that I look forward to the most incredible first day of them all, after the day I became a Christian. On that day, I shall see my Lord and Savior face to face for the first time.

    Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 ESV

    They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Revelation 22:4 ESV

    There are many books out there where people claim to have been to heaven and returned. Yet none I know of talks about meeting the Lord; it is always family and friends.

    Of course, I look forward to seeing my family and friends. Yet, first and foremost, I long to see the one who gave His life that I might live.

    He knew me before anything existed outside Himself. He loved me when I was an unlovable rebel and mocked Him. He is an even bigger fan than my mom, and that’s hard to beat.

    On my first day in glory, I will see His face. What a moment that will be.

    I look forward to seeing you there, but after I meet Him.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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