Forgiven

The Good News Today Is.....our heavenly father forgives us. "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you." (Matt 6:14) Forgiveness is a strange thing. We can (and should) forgive others even if we don't feel like forgiving them. Forgiveness is an act of will, not an emotion. Our forgiveness does not have to be accepted by the one we are forgiving to be effective. As soon as we forgive someone, we are blessed by the act. We are set free from the burden of holding a grudge. Holding a grudge is an emotion, and it's hard work to keep it going. Give forgiveness freely, so that you might receive forgiveness freely. Lighten your burden today.

Holiday Blues

The Good News Today Is...."You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Rom 5:6 This is what I came up with while I was frowning at the headlines this morning. Shootings in Walmart, worker gets trampled in Walmart - Black Friday. These headlines are exactly why I live out in the sticks, and why I don't go shopping on Black Friday. I try to shelter myself from some of the ugliness of the world. Yet it seeps in, and that's when I have to remind myself that Christ died for the ungodly just as much as for the believer. Unnecessary death - it gives a whole new meaning to holiday blues. May there be mercy abounding in the midst of the hurt.

Good News is Not Always Good

The Good News Today Is...also the bad news today...we have free will. If people all make the right choices then free will is a win-win situation. That is how it is intended to work. "'Everything is permissible' - but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible' - but not everything is constructive." 1Cr 10:23 If everyone in the world only did those things that were beneficial and constructive things would be different in our lives. Of course we can only control what we do with our own lives, so that's where we need to concentrate. When we have choices to make we should consider if our choice is both beneficial and constructive. The more we do that, the better we make our world.

My Thanks

The Good News Today Is......"For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son" John 3:16. That is something everyone can give thanks for.

Family

The Good News Today Is....we all have family. Well, that may not seem like good news to some of us. There are those in every family tree that we sometimes wish belonged to someone else's family tree. Maybe there are some who wished they belonged to a different family tree and not their own! But family can mean more than just blood relatives. Jesus told the disciples, "My mother and brothers are those that hear the word and put it into practice." Luke 8:21 No matter what skeletons are in your family's closet, you can be in the family of God.

The Smile of a Child

The Good News Today Is.....our children are still born innocent. When I read the news and I am bombarded with all of the pain and suffering in the world, it is hard to focus on the good. Yet as I look at a baby and there is such innocence and happiness in their smiles, I realize we are still born innocent. We can still teach our children the way they should live and we can rescue the brokenness through the innocence of our children. Invest yourself in a child and help them to grow into adults that shine with the fruit of the spirit. "let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Mark 10:14

Just Trust

The Good News Today Is....We have a God that we can trust. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Pro 3:5. This has always been one of my favorite verses. It reminds me that just when I think I know it all - I realize I don't have a clue. I just have to trust. I have 3 dogs and 3 cats and would have more critters if I had the time or money. I can tell you that they trust me implicitly. They know if they are hungry I will have food for them. They know if they need attention I will stop what I am doing and give them attention. The thing that really gets me is that they know if they are hurt I will make it better. Even if it gives them pain while I'm taking care of their hurt, they let me do whatever I need to do, and just look up at me with trusting eyes. Some how they know that I am only doing what I need to do to make them all better. That is the kind of trust we need to have for God. Even when things aren't going our way, we need to trust that God will only do that which is necessary to make us better. We don't have to understand it, just trust.

The Times Are Changing

The Good News Today Is.....some things never change. We all react differently to change. I happen to revel in it. Change to me is challenging, exciting and prevents boredom. There are those - including some in my immediate family - who react to change with great anxiety and it produces much stress. Our world is so rapidly changing right now that even those of us who find change exciting are starting to feel some of the stress. Our government is going through a huge upheaval and our economy is doing who knows what. The government is bailing out big corporations while Exxon-Mobil reported profits in the billions of dollars. Small businesses are closing their doors one right after another. No one can have any sense of security about the world around us at this point. The good news is that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Heb 13:8 When times get tough our focus should remain on the rock. Jesus will always be the same and will always be our savior. Some things never change.

You Are Loved

The Good News Today Is.......a special wish for all....Eph 3:17-19. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how long and high and wide and deep is the love of Christ." Today my hope is that you know that you know that you know (without a doubt) my friends - that you are loved!

Make a Joyful Noise

The Good News Today Is....there is music in the world. I love music and at one time I used to be able to say that I really liked all kinds of music. Now I'm showing my age because I just can't wrap myself around heavy metal, hip-hop or rap. Oh well... what I do know is that one of the quickest ways to become worshipful for me is through music. It can make my day and turn a bad mood upside down. "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord," Eph 5:9 Put on some great music today and praise the Lord! It will put a smile on your face.

Be Prepared

The Good News Today Is....I am always trying to prepare. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1Pe 3:15. I was a girl scout for many years and I remember the motto - be prepared. What I am preparing for is a little different now than it was when I was with the troop. Now I stand with a body of believers instead of young ladies around a campfire. Being prepared to answer everyone who asks for a reason why I am a believer takes a lot of preparation. As believers we have a responsibility to study the bible, fellowship with others, join in breaking the bread, and in prayer. These are the ways we prepare ourselves to be able to answer everyone who asks and to give them the reason why we have the hope that we do.

Expensive Freedom

The Good News Today Is....."You were bought at a price, do not become slaves of men." 1Cr7:23. I started to write that this is good news because we never need to be forced into a life that makes us conform to the ways of the world. Then I felt myself wondering if I would still feel that way if I lived in a "third world" country instead of the U.S.? It is a question I ponder often because I do realize just how blessed I am to live where I can have religious freedom without recourse. Our goal should be to have a faith deep enough that we believe our freedom was bought for a price and we stand on that promise no matter what the consequences are or where we live. There may come a time when we are asked to stand up and be counted as children of God and we may have to pay a price for that - are you ready?

There are Angels Among Us

The Good News Today Is....there are those who share. When my husband got sick and could not work an "angel" of the church helped us through hard times. The mother of my best friend recognized our needs and each week would give me grocery money so my children would be provided for. She continued this every week until the disability payments kicked in - we never went hungry. Acts 4:32 "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." In a world where we have companies like Citicorp who will lay off over 50,000 employees - yet still pay their CEOs exorbitant bonuses, it is good to remember that there are still angels among us that will share and take care of those who are facing great needs. My prayer today is that the 50,000 employees who will soon lose their job will meet an angel and in that angel find the savior.

Truth or ?

The Good News Today Is......we know the truth. " 'What is the truth?' Pilate asked." (John 18:38) While Pilate didn't understand what the truth was, we clearly have no excuse to be confused. The truth is readily available to us, in our bibles, on TV, on our computers, in many books. We have an abundance of resources. The truth is in the beauty of nature, in the starry skies, in the everyday miracles of life. We know the truth. All we have to do is accept it.

Be Kind Today

The Good News Today Is....there are bumper stickers that say - "Do random acts of kindness." With a barrage of negative bumper stickers, whenever I see this one a breath a sigh of relief. There are still people in the world that believe in kindness. I saw another bumper sticker one time that brought a sigh of sadness, it went like this - "I like Jesus just fine - it's you Christians I can't stand." A very sad truth, too many of "us Christians" have forgotten to do random acts of kindness. We have forgotten to act like Christ. Just for today practice doing random acts of kindness and maybe tomorrow it will come easier. Psalm 145:4,7 "One generation will commend your works to another. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness." To be remembered for our Christ like actions and leave a legacy for our children to follow is a noble goal to aspire to.

Mercy Me

The Good News Today Is.....God gives His mercy to many - 1Ti1:13 "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief." Thankfully God does not judge in the same way our fellow humans judge us. Even if we have made some big mistakes God can be merciful. When we change our ways, repent from our sins, and accept our savior we are given a clean slate in the eyes of God. We do not have to be caught in a circle of darkness and sin - we have been given a choice. God will set us free.

Step By Step

The Good News Today Is....life is to be lived step by step. Gal 5:25 " Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Sometimes we might take giant steps and sometimes we might take baby steps, but we should always stay in step with the Holy Spirit. Don't run ahead or fall behind, just take life one step at a time and you will always have a helper right beside you. And then you will have the fruit of the Spirit, and all will know by your actions and your deeds.

That's What Friends Are For

The Good News Today Is......we have friends. "If one falls down his friend can help him up." Ecc4:10 When we're little and fall down and get a boo-boo our friends feel our pain almost as much as we do. They cry with us and hold our hands as we get our band-aids. When we grow older sometimes our bruises are not so obvious, but our friends are still willing to hold our hands and cry with us. Our friends are willing to pray for us in our times of trouble when we might be going down the wrong path. Pray for your friends this day - that's what friends are for!

Who Holds YOUR Hand?

The Good News Today Is...."My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2. How can anyone go wrong if their help comes from the Lord? The maker of heaven and earth can help any one of us. As for me - I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand - that's great news!

What We Will Be

The Good News Today Is...... 1Jo3:2a "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known." Do you know how much hope is in this simple sentence? If I am already all that I will be as a child of God I might as well throw in the towel right now. Thankfully I am changing every day from glory to glory until I get it right. And, thankfully it hasn't been made known to me all that I will be, because then I would definitely throw in the towel, knowing that I could never be good enough. Yet in my faith in God's word I can have hope - and not just hope, but hope everlasting.

Encourage One Another

The Good News Today Is......we don't have to do this alone. "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1Th5:11 We are meant to help each other and encourage each other everyday. Do you know someone that needs a little encouragement? Pick up the phone and give them a call. When someone is looking down at the grocery store - give them a smile. Not only will it make you feel better, but perhaps they will return the favor just when you need it most.

A Renewable Spirit

The Good News Today Is..... we have but to ask..."Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10) So you've had a bad day - the good news is that you can ask God to correct your heart and your attitude and to renew your spirit - for you have not received a spirit of fear, but a spirit of sonship!

Be Still

The Good News Today Is.....Psalm 37:7....

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." It doesn't matter what happens around us, only how we let it affect us inside. When life is tough, be still and wait patiently on the Lord. If we take the time to quiet ourselves and take our problems to God, we will have no need to fret.

Peacemakers

The Good News Today Is...."blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9 We are all called to be peacemakers, which is so very hard to remember during an election year. What better reward for being a peacemaker, than to be counted as a son of God? In any way we find possible in our own lives, let us remember to be peacemakers; at home; at work and within our communities.

God Is God

The Good News Today Is......that God is still God no matter who is president.