DAY 109

Tender new life.

It amazes me how tender and tenacious life can be at the same time. God is mindful of that. How He formed us out of dust, but designed us to live with Him and with Him overcome the world.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

⁷Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

⁸For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Trust in the Lord and you will hang tough through life's storms. More than that you will see that it is the Lord hanging on to you.

Psalm 145:9
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

DAY 108

Time -- Is like an ocean wave forever rolling on. For once you think you have it, you look and find it gone.

Can't hold it, can't keep it, can't store it away. Like the Manna the Lord showered on the children of Israel in the wilderness, the time you've been given is for use now.

Mark 1:15
And (Jesus) saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel

Luke 21:8
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Ephesians 5:15-17

¹⁵See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

¹⁶Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

¹⁷Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Today, seek the Lord, rejoice in His Goodness, and wisely use the time He has given you.

DAY 107

Matthew 24:7
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Wars and rumors of wars - check

famines and pestilence - check

earthquakes - definitely check

My oil is full - workin' on that

Read Matt 25 about the 10 virgins. 5 wise and 5 foolish.

Matthew 25:4

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Oil usually signifies the Holy spirit. So, is my light shining? Where do I get this oil?

From the Lord. Seek Him, get to know Him deeply, and worship Him. Abide in Him.

How's your oil tank? Check your fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Learn to be grateful, accepting God's grace, and giving it to others and your tank will begin to fill.

DAY 106

Psalm 8:9
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

And what is that NAME?

Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved

In time of trouble, cry out the Name, Jesus. In times of joy, Praise the name, Jesus. In times of prayer, pray in the Name, Jesus.

Jesus - the name you need to know. The One you need to believe. Lord of all.

DAY 105

Jeremiah 29:13

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Seeking God, just how do we do that?

He left us a journal of letters and books, Study His Word.

Get up early before the day becomes cluttered and pray, praise, and worship Him.

Listen and do as He tells you.

And rejoice.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God is good and greatly to be praised.

DAY 104

1. Psalm 30:10
   Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
   

John 15:16

¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

What a relief that the Lord is our helper. And that He sent His Holy Spirit to always be with us to comfort and lead us. We are not alone.

And that in a nutshell is what the Bible is all about. We were never designed to live without God and we need Him. Our loving Father in heaven made a way for us to be reconciled by His son Jesus Christ.

Why try going it alone? Take God at His word and seek Him. You won't be disappointed.

DAY 103

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

In these days of trouble, pray, give thanks, walk in the grace that He has shed upon you, and extend words of life to those around, remembering:

1. John 15:4-5
   Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
   5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Don't be fearful, instead cling to the Lord and listen and do what He says. We are His laborers but only as we abide in Him.

Praise always to Name Above All Names - Jesus - the Prince of Peace, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb that was slain, Our Redeemer and Savior!

DAY 102

Psalm 107:20
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Praying for the nation of Japan. That the people would see the mighty hand of the Lord comfort them. That they would know the truth and out of this darkness would come to know the joy of salvation.

For our God is merciful, desiring that all may be saved. He reaches out His hand and calls for those perishing to reach out and take His offer of life.

And out of desolate lands, He brings new life. A life everlasting.

So may it be with Japan.

DAY 101

John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

I hear the word grace whispering in my spirit. Sifting my thoughts and views of others, grace changes me.

The abundant life given by our Heavenly Father. Not because of what we have done, but because He is Love.

John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Walk in grace and rejoice in the free gift the Lord has bestowed upon us.

DAY 100

2 Peter 1:4 ²Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

³According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Stuff. Materialism has crept into our culture so deeply that things, toys, goods, and entertainment have consumed us. We are a nation of not only consumers but a nation of the consumed. Even our faith has been bought out by the need for stuff so that we can prove we are blessed.

The abundant life in Jesus is so much more than stuff - the big house, fancy car, or luxurious vacation. Not that there is anything wrong with having these things, but they are not what the abundant life is all about.

An abundant life is one lived fully in the knowledge of God's love and grace.

The garden of Eden oozed abundance for its occupants. But the serpent perched in the one forbidden tree. His forked tongue darting in and out whispered to the woman - you lack.

How often do we set aside the promises and gift of Grace God offers us and choose to believe the lie - that we lack?

Choose life this day. Resist the enemy and his message of lack and walk according to the promises of our God who loves us wholly.

DAY 99

1 Peter 3:15 (New American Standard Bible)

¹⁵but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

I'll be on the road again today. I love to travel. And one thing that I enjoy thinking about on my wanderings, I am carrying the Holy Spirit in me to places I go.

Praying for the lands and people around me and rejoicing that He lives and HE lives in me.

Be Ready

DAY 98

Grateful

I wondered why this wasn't spelled greatful. Then couldn't figure out what was good about a grate - a frame of metal bars for a fireplace.

Aha! Grateful is derived from the latin - gratus - also the derivative of grace.

Grace is the freely given unmerited favor and love of God.

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,” - 2 Timothy 1:9 NIV

Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

So next time you say you are grateful - know it is from the favor of God and His love.

DAY 97

Abundance

John 10:10 Jesus said ....

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. And He promises to give us life more abundantly.

Do we believe it?

I was asking the Lord why I find it so easy to find fault. I don't like that critical outlook that I so easily fall into.

His answer - You are seeing through eyes focused on lack.

Hmmm, thought about that. Of course He is right.

I was actually thinking that if someone didn't do something as well as I thought, that put me closer to doing it right, -- closer to Him

Not true. God loves each one of us wholly. It doesn't matter what so and so did or didn't do. His love for me is complete.

God does not operate in lack. He can create a universe with a word, feed 5000 with a loaf of bread and 2 fish. He can meet my needs and everyone else's without shorting anyone else.

He is all in all. Trust Him. Look through eyes focused on the abundant life in Christ. He has it all.

DAY 96

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” - Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

Psalm 9:10

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Trust Him. HE is our only hope. All else will fail -friends, companies, nations. But the Lord your God will see you through the hard times.

Don't run when He calls but listen and do as HE says.

Revelation 2 ¹¹He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

Listen

DAY 95

Isaiah 25 (NASB)Song of Praise for God's Favor

¹O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

DAY 94

This tree is shouting, "Spring is here!"

I stopped and took a picture of this tree. Many years I pass by a beautiful tree or flower, thinking that I'll take a picture tomorrow. But by the time I get around to it, the flowers are gone.

Reminds me of the manna the Lord showered on the children of Israel in the wilderness. They could only use a day's worth and couldn't save it or store it.

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.

Why do we fret over tomorrow and miss what the Lord has for us today? I know that the Lord has treasures and special blessings for me, but often I miss them, choked out by the troubles of this world, even the pleasures of this world.

I purpose to set my eyes on the Lord and watch for His Mighty Hand. And rejoice in the goodness of God. Proclaiming that He is Lord. TODAY, as well as yesterday and tomorrow.

DAY 93

Psalm 145:9
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Take God at His word. He is good to all. And all includes everyone. Look for His good in your life, knowing that the enemy seeks to plunder your joy and faith.

Do we go through hard times? Yes, but never alone.

Joshua 1:9(NIV)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.””

Go, run the race set before you. Rejoicing that the Lord is with you and not against you.

DAY 92

Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The birds are singing spring is near. The trees are preparing to open up with new life.

God's promise for new life is illustrated by His creation every year. It will happen.

Even if you are in the dark of a troubled time, look for the evidence. A spark, a tender ember of faith that says He is watching over you.

That small whisper that says HE will work all things for good to those called according to His purpose.

Purpose this day to walk in the newness of Life evidenced by the glory of God that shouts all around us.

DAY 91

Yep, I'm on another mini road trip. This beautiful animal lives at Fossil Rim Wildlife Park.

The wonder and array of the variety of animals the Lord created amazes me. I can just picture the Lord having fun making such a diverse world, and then bringing them to Adam to name.

Evolution? Takes a lot of faith to believe this all crawled out of a slime pit. If it was all about survival of the fittest, seems like everything would be brown or green.

Just look around at the glory of God's creation. His fingerprints are on everything.

Just ask Him.

Revelation 4:11 ¹¹Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

DAY 90

Little wisps of fog float across the pond looking like clouds on earth. One of my surprises for the day. The Lord was telling me He always provides things of wonder for us to see, but we often miss them.

See how many treasures you can spot today. They might look like a kind smile from a stranger, or a sweet song from a bird welcoming spring.

Maybe even discover how you can bring joy to someone else.

Psalm 34:8
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

It doesn't take any more time to think on what is good than it does to think on what's wrong.

Choose to look for the good things, trust God to handle what's wrong, and rejoice in the day.