MONDAY 1/17 – SLOW

You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; – James 1:19 NASB

This passage speaks to so much more than running off at the mouth or letting your anger get the best of you.  I believe it is more about patience. For when we are patient, we listen well, we don’t have to be the first to speak or say whatever pops in our heads, and we take time to think things over before we react in an unChristlike manner. I’ll be the first to admit that patience has never been my strong suit but with age & strong promptings from the Holy Spirit, I am growing in this area.

TUESDAY 1/18 – REST

I decided to take this another way and recommend some worship songs that help me to find rest.

• Come Now is the Time to Worship
• Blessed be Your Name
• Agnus Dei
• Show Me Your Ways

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 NASB

If you’re not familiar with one or more of these songs, a quick YouTube search is all you need.

(Libby, if you are reading this, thank you for choosing these songs for church last Sunday.😉)

WEDNESDAY 1/19 – RENEW

January is the perfect time to pursue renewal in our lives. I’m not just talking about a new workout routine or trying the latest fad diet. No, I am talking about becoming a NEW PERSON IN CHRIST! Are you ready to surrender your life to Christ? Not just the “church” part of your life but your WHOLE being…all your habits, all your thoughts and all your actions?

Renew – to begin or take up again; to resume, to make effective for an additional period; to restore or replenish; to make, say, or do again. to revive; reestablish; to recover; to restore to a former state; make new or as if new again; to begin again; recommence; to be restored to a former state; become new or as if new again.*

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. – 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NASB

In keeping with my “theme” please watch this message by Pastor Ryan Welshans, entitled EVERYWHERE.

I say, “BRING IT ON!”

*dictionary.com

THURSDAY 1/20 – SPARK

The song Pass it On kept running through my head this week as I pondered what to write for “spark”.

Pass it On – by Kurt Kaiser

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That’s how it is with God’s Love,
Once you’ve experienced it,
Your spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring,
When all the tress are budding
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;
That’s how it is with God’s love,
Once you’ve experienced it.
You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring,
You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend
This happiness that I’ve found;
You can depend on God
It matters not where you’re bound,
I’ll shout it from the mountain top – PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

I’ll shout it from the mountain top – PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

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So I ask you, what spark will you pass on today? Will you do it with love & joy in your heart, or will your spark be malice & discontent? No matter what is swirling around you, be it “good” or “bad,” it is up to you to choose JOY. As a Christ follower, people are always watching to see how we react.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

FRIDAY 1/21 – POSSIBILITY

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. – Psalm 5:3 NIV

It is crucial for me to start the day in the presence of the Lord. This practice is the only thing that adequately prepares me for all the possibilities in the day ahead. When I omit prayer or reading scripture in the wee hours of the morning, the rest of my day is off-kilter. But when I deliberately open my heart and mind to God’s plan, the possibilities stretch before me endlessly.

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