Recently I enjoyed a cruise in the Caribbean with my husband. We arrived and departed from 5 different ports hundreds of miles from each other. We sailed each night and usually arrived at the ports right before dawn. Most mornings I was awake before sunrise and was able to see our arrival in the dim light of the new day. Each time the lights of the island would first be seen and then closer and closer until I could see the dock and the dock workers ready to help this huge ship, carrying over 4,000 people, steer into a certain place and tie up. I could hear the engines shut down to almost stop and gently the captain would maneuver the second largest cruise ship in the world gently up to the exact spot and stop right on our scheduled time and place. This is an amazing experience. I was so glad I could trust the captain and crew to get it right!!
But no matter how amazing a feat men can do, our Lord does greater. He is the Captain of our ship of life and anywhere we sail, He has already charted our departures and our arrivals, our schedules and our destinations. In three of the gospels, Matthew 8, Mark 4, and Luke 8, we are told the story of when Jesus just spoke to raging waves of the sea and the waves were calmed. Jesus knows how to handle the waves of our lives and guide us safely to where He wants us to be. And in the final trip of our life He will guide us safely home. Have you turned the ship of your life over to Jesus? Is He the captain who steers where you will go? I am so glad I can trust Him to get it right!!
Right now in Michigan and in surrounding states there is a stomach flu attacking us! Whole families are being put down for a while with headaches, fevers and vomiting. My own 9 year old grandson was a victim to it and now we are all waiting to see who is next? The good news is that it seems to be only the 24 hour variety and most folk recover quickly. It is highly contagious!!.
What are people in your world “catching” from you? Are they receiving the good news of Christ and His saving grace? What attitudes will your family learn from you and pass on to others? Negativity, bitterness, unforgiveness. bigotry and even sarcasm are germs that we can pass along and contaminate our world for generations. A sickness of the soul that is hard to cure developes. Galatians 5:22-23 tell us what to give others. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control are the “germs” that we should pass on to others so that they will “catch” a sight of Christ in us. Be contagious! Pass it on. Let others catch Christ from you!!
Change is constant, disruptive and often can disturb our view of life. I have lived in our house in Michigan for 27 years and there have been a few changes to either the house or the yard around it. Some would say we live “out in the country” although our little town with a McDonald’s is only a few minutes drive away. But I like the serenity of the views out my windows of fields and trees. And until lately there has been an old barn behind our house that I have watched “weather” over the years and taken many pictures of it. It is not on our property and so we have just had to watch while it got older and each wind storm took boards away, one by one. Recently the owner finally pulled what remained down and now there is no picturesque barn in my back yard view. I felt a little down, missing that old friend. I don’t like the current view of a heap of rubble. Change, disruption and disappointment.
Have you felt that recently? About a relationship, a job, a church, national politics? Have you had your faith shattered by the moral failure of a religious leader? Is your family in turmoil?? What views in your world have been pleasing for a time, to later come crumbling down? Do you have your eyes on the ONE who never disappoints, who never will fail you? The Christ Jesus, Immanuel, babe in the manger is the Savior of the cross who will always fill our vision with His glory and His provision for us. Life here on earth often gives us a pile of rubble but we are told in Hebrews 12:2 to “look unto Jesus, the beginning and the finishing of our faith” From the manger to the cross His life gives us hope and peace and visions of what is yet to come! “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” We already started 2019, which will bring many changes. Have a blessed 2019 in Him!!
Some Christians make negative noises about making New Years resolutions for some reason I have never understood. I think any time we decide to make positive changes in our lives and desire to follow through is a good day! In scripture, Daniel “purposed in his heart” about not defiling himself and God honored that greatly. The beginning of a new year is a good time to reevaluate our lives and determine to become more Christl like. Setting goals and devising plans is a positive exercise and can give us a boost to get started. There is an old saying, “if you fail to plan you are planning to fail”. I would pray that as Daughters of the King we are planning to be victorious!
Get a devotional book and purpose to read it and your Bible every day. Choose some scripture to memorize and chart out the verses and the days. Read a chapter of Proverbs every day, every month throughout the year and you can’t help but become wiser! (31 proverbs fills every day of every month) Make a prayer plan and pray regularly and often. Plan wise spending and giving of your finances. Start a healthy eating plan (again). Determine to walk 30 minutes every day. Whatever the Lord puts on your mind to change or plan for, do it!! Call it a resolution, or purpose, or dedication. Just plan time to make the changes with God’s help that will draw you closer to His image. God has plans for you and He will bless you. He told His people in Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for you.” Planning is a God thing. Go ahead, make some resolutions!!
Happy New Year!! 2019 has arrived and we are all expressing good wishes to family and friends. A new year with new opportunities and possibilities! I looked through the Bible for what God says about new things and I found quite a lot! New covenants, a new heaven and a new earth, a new song, a new mind and others. Our God is a God of newness. Old things are passed away, behold all things are made new! I especially love the verses from Lamentations 3:22-23 ” It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.” The mercies and compassions of the Lord are NEW every morning! He is faithful!! His faithfulness is great!!
Each day we get up with a fresh shower of mercy and compassion from the Lord. Let us live in that mercy and share it to those around us in this new year. Give grace to others. Have mercy on those who bother you or have issues around you. Have compassion on the downtrodden and needy. Be a new you in 2019 and show others Christs newness! Have a very blessed NEW Year!!
