Basic Training

The Good News Today Is...we need to get back to the basics. Preparing for Sunday this has been the overall theme for me. I found this in my wonderings on the internet. I hope it has the same effect on you as it did on me:

This means we need to recognize God as:

• Our Source - Our derivation and reason for being.
• Our Force - Our dynamic for life and means of living.
• Our Course - Our direction and destination for where we ought to be going.

BACK TO THE BASICS!!!!!

The Great Commandment

The Good News Today Is...Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your strength and your mind. This is the greatest commandment. When the love of God is in your heart you are able to see the goodness in life, and in every person. Love your neighbor as yourself...ugh do I have to? Well if you love God with all your heart, then you will see your neighbor through the eyes of God and you will love them for the person God intended them to be. Even if they haven't lived up to that potential yet, and perhaps they never will, love them because God created them and has a plan for their life as much as he has a plan for yours.

Rejoice

The Good News Today Is...it's Wednesday. Ok - so I don't know what is so good about that, but I do know this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. There are those days when I truly have to remind myself of this, over and over throughout the day. Today feels like it might be one of those days. I just want to crawl back into bed and get under my covers for awhile. BUT....today God has something special for me. He has something special for me every day, I just don't always open up my eyes enough to see it. Today I will! I will remember this is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice in it. The alternative is too depressing! Rejoice! Rejoice! Again I Say Rejoice!

The Bible is the Word for ME!

The Good News Today Is...I am starting a new bible study. Studying the word of God is an amazing thing. Studying the bible gives us an opportunity to learn about history, faith, truth, and about ourselves. I truly believe that when we study the word of God and seek the message that God has for us in His word, our lives change. They become enriched, full and meaningful. The most exciting thing about studying God's word is that we get out of it exactly what we need from it. In other words we can study a passage at one stage in our life and learn what we need at that moment. Some time later we can revisit the same passage and learn a new lesson that fits in with what we need to know at that time. It truly is a living word. A word written for our benefit that we might become an enriched loving people of God. Dust your bible off and read it every day. You won't be disappointed!

Change for The Better

The Good News Today Is...people do change. I love this story posted at Preaching Today:

Australia is the only country in the world to have a picture of a convicted forger on its currency. Francis Greenway came to Australia--as many early settlers did--as a convict. He had been convicted in England of forgery. Once in Australia, he changed his life. He began to use his hidden skills as an architect. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Sydney, Australia, were designed by him; and they put his picture on the Australian 10 dollar bill. They believed he had changed.

Jesus always believed that people could change. He also helped them to change, just as He will help you to change

We Are Forgiven

The Good News Today Is...we are forgiven. Enjoy the music!

Right Here, Right Now

The Good News Today Is...we have an approachable living God. Think about that. We have a God that we can approach with anything. We can approach God asking for mercy - like blind Bartimaeus. We can approach God asking for glory - like James and John wanting to sit one on His right side and one on His left side. We can approach God offering ourselves as His servant. Whatever we approach God with, He is there. We may not like what we hear - like the rich young man who was told he must give all of his wealth to the poor and follow Jesus, but we have a God we can approach with anything. He knows us, He loves us, He cares what happens to us, and He will always guide us in the way that is best for us. God is right here, right now, approach Him with all the cares in your heart and accept His healing grace.

Show Me The Way

The Good News Today Is...we have a God who will take care of us and answer us in our times of trouble. To answer us, we must remember to ask. God says we have not because we ask not. When we really want what God wants for us, and we ask for it, He will answer.

"Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." (Pslam 143:7-8)

Show me the way - for to you I lift up my soul. Amen.

More Books

The Good News Today Is...I found more thought provoking book titles. Sometimes I read the titles of Christian books and just imagine the lessons inside. I never have enough time to read all of them to see what the author actually wrote about, but if the title gets me thinking - then at least I am looking deeper inside. Here are a few I found today:

Living in Confidence in a Chaotic World
The Choice
Radical Gratitude
Wild at Heart
Prayers That Rout Demons
Angels on Assignment
Interview With the Devil
Don't Stop Laughing

Now I have some things to keep my mind occupied today. I can imagine what is included in these books that would be a message God would want to share with me. I believe I shall ask Him.....

Walk Humbly

The Good News Today Is...we know what God wants us to do. "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) The problem is to figure out how to do it. We do not always act justly, we do not always love mercy, and we have no clue how to walk humbly with God. It's not that we can't do these things, it's that we are stubborn about letting go of our system of justice, making sure every one gets what they deserve (good or bad). Just remember when you hear yourself exclaiming, "It's not fair," perhaps it is time to do a little soul searching. These words should trigger you to stop thinking about the way the world thinks of things and walk with God. It might not be fair in our way of thinking, but God has a plan. Maybe you need to walk humbly with God and ask Him what is going on - I think the answer will surprise you.

Choose Obedience

The Good News Today Is...I have been reminded to choose obedience. Today's daily devotional at Christianity Today was a reminder that often we spend way more time choosing what we want to do with our life, than asking God what it is we should do with our life. I believe we don't ask because then we would feel guilty if we didn't obey. It is easier to get up every day and work on our to-do list than it is to be led to visit someone in the hospital and not be able to finish our list. If we don't think about what God might want us to do, we don't have to make a choice, and then we don't have to feel guilty. Read the devotional by clicking here - it will make you think a bit.

Strength Beyond Normal

The Good News Today Is...we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. As I continue to read about being a good servant I have to repeat over and over to myself that I don't have to do it alone. As I ask myself if I can drink of the same cup as Jesus and follow the same baptism as Jesus - I have yet to convince myself I can do it. One of the things about being a minister of the gospel is wondering if you will have the fortitude to stand up to persecution should you face it. I think I can - I hope I can - I'm scared I wouldn't! We are so blessed in this country to truly not have to worry about persecution. So far we are still free to practice the religion of our choice freely without retribution. I pray that it remains so forever that I might not have to drink the cup and follow in the baptism. Yet - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Great Service

The Good News Today Is...we are meant to be servants. Not slaves. Not to live in bondage. We are meant to serve out of a heart of love for our family and community. Mothers do this almost automatically for their families. Jesus wants us to do this for everyone we meet. "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." (Mark 10:43-44) This lesson is so hard for most of us. We equate power and glory with being the leader - being the most important - the first. Jesus equates power and glory with being a servant. A heart of servitude and humbleness will go further in the kingdom of God than any plans we have here on earth to be great in the eyes of man.

Praying for Others

The Good News Today Is...someone, somewhere is praying for you. You may not feel it, you may not know it, but it is really happening. This was a lesson taught to me by a pastor of my youth. You see there are people praying for others all the time, every day. "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18.) There are great prayer warriors out there that live the verse of Ephesians 6:18 and they continue to pray for you and for me - for the saved and for the unsaved. They understand the power of prayer and they don't need to know you to pray for you. Isn't that just about the best news you've had in a long time? Someone is praying for you! You didn't have to ask for them to do that, you didn't have to tell them you needed those prayers...they are just praying for you because that is what they do. So forget about some of the things that have been worrying you lately and wrap yourself up in the knowledge that prayers are being said for you this very moment. Amen.

Bless You

The Good News Today Is...from an e-card sent to me:

LOOK UP
Look up and lift up your heads because your redemption draws near. Luke 21:28

LOVE ABUNDANTLY
Have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart 1Peter 1:22

HOPE ALWAYS
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

AND PRAISE GOD
Rejoice in the Lord you who are righteous and praise His holy name. Psalms 97:12

WISHING YOU A BLESSED DAY!

Pray Today

The Good News Today Is...prayer can keep you sane. Well - it keeps me sane anyway. I pray every time I can get a word in edgewise. In other words when I'm not so busy I can't think to pray. That means I have times during the day when I pray that are fairly odd. Like when I'm in the shower. No one can call me on the phone, no one comes in the bathroom (usually), and my brain is given a break from the demands of being wife, mother, accountant, pastor - all the different hats I find myself wearing. I am alone with God (yup, in the shower). I can pray uninterrupted and quietly. I also use my time driving to pray, I don't have the radio on, I don't think about what I need to do when I get where I'm going, I talk to God instead. These are the moments that I can talk to God and listen to the still small voice. I don't think God cares where we are when we pray, just that we do pray. "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16) Did you read that? The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Why wouldn't we pray? Wherever we can, whenever we can. Prayer is powerful!

God's Beauty

The Good News Today Is...we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Twice this morning as I was reading my e-mail I came across this fact. Once was while reading a post on facebook from a young lady I know in medical school. They apparently are studying the kidney right now and as she is learning the intricacies of the working of the organs in the human body, it is renewing her faith that God is the creator. The other time I came across this was in a daily devotional that I have e-mailed to me. Today the reminder was not to compare ourselves with others because we are made by God, with His purpose in mind, just exactly the way he needs us. This is a little bit of a harder lesson...I want to be 30 pounds skinnier and 20 years younger...hmmm, what's up with that? Somehow I think getting these two messages within a couple of minutes of each other doesn't seem to be a coincidence. "For I am God's beautiful masterpiece. He has created me anew in Christ Jesus, so I can do the good things He planned for me long ago." (Ephesians 2:10.) As the saying goes, God doesn't make mistakes - I am beautiful in His eyes and He does have plans for me....and the same goes for you!

Do The Word

The Good News Today Is..."I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward." (Mark 9:41)

I ran across this from Proverbs 31 Daily Devotions:

I went onto our balcony to see if I could get a glimpse of him, wondering what he might be doing. As I scanned the pool area, I caught sight of a homeless man sitting on the side of the road leading to the public beach entrance. I remembered passing him the day before as he was sleeping in the grass. Today, however, he was sitting with his legs crossed, coffee in hand, talking to someone. I leaned a little further over the edge of the balcony and my heart skipped as I realized it was my husband. The two of them were sitting on rocks, drinking cups of coffee, engaged in conversation.

Sometimes we forget to put into practice the things we know we should do. Thankfully there are those who are doers of the word. I pray to be among them!

Living Simply

The Good News Today Is...God is our Jehovah Jirah - our provider. There is a lot of hype about living simply these days, yet I wonder if we as Americans can even comprehend what that means. Living simply and depending on God our provider. Hmmm - I can see where I have problems with that thought. We have an abundance of possessions and things in our lives that get in our way of living simply. Even when we try to reduce the possessions and things in our lives we have too much intellectual input, too many obligations, our appointment books are full, our lives are busy, and we love it! That's a real problem. If we are always doing and having, how can we meet Jehovah Jirah? If we never give God the trust to be our provider, we will never have a provider in God. That means we will never truly experience living simply.

Never is Always

The Good News Today Is...

God is with you when you are happy, when you are troubled, when you are wealthy, when you are poor, when you are feeling wonderful, when you are sick, when you are with friends and family, when you are alone, God is always there.

Questions That Lead to More Questions

The Good News Today Is...answering a question with a question helps us to think of the true answer. "Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife? (Mark 10:2) The Pharisees question Jesus. Jesus answers, "What did Moses command you?" (Mark 10:3) From here Jesus turns the conversation away from the legality of divorce and turns it to the promise of marriage. He gets us to reflect on the true intentions of what God really wants from his people. He wants covenant relationships where people honor each other and live in love and peace. If we were able to live our lives in true covenant relationship, the way God intended, the way it is promised to be in heaven, then the question of divorce is irrelevant. That's the true answer, divorce should be an irrelevant subject if we are all living according to God's plan. We still have a long long way to go to get there, but knowing the intention will help us to see the way. The intention is beautiful - we should focus on that and try to live in love and peace.