Month: January 2017

When I awaken each morning, it is interesting the many things running through my mind.  Still, no matter how busy the day is to be nor how late I may have worked the evening before, God, by His Holy Spirit, reminds me of Who HE is.

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty.
Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house,
O Lord, forevermore. (Psalm 93)

Who is God? He is Almighty. He is robed in splendor and majesty. He is merciful. He is gracious. He is kind. He is wonderful. He is Strength. He is Eternal. He is Holy.

What a thought that God Himself said to His people,

“Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

We are to consecrate ourselves to be holy, like God.  He said this to His people several times in Leviticus 11:44, 19:22, 20:26, and other passages.  Then Peter, in 1 Peter 1:16, quoted this same statement to the people of the New Covenant, the New Testament Church, you and me.  As I read these scriptures, I become intensely mindful of the importance to seek holiness.

We know it is possible for us to become holy because God has commanded us to do it.  Holiness is something to be grasped by us, a quality we can seek after.  While I will never fully reach that pinnacle of perfection that He is in this life, the GREAT NEWS is through God and the sacrifice He made for me through Jesus Christ, I CAN BE HOLY.

We know God has a marvelous plan for each of us and by His grace, He has provided a way for us to access that plan.  As we entrust our lives to Him, we progressively become more like Jesus as we seek Him and live out each day.

God desires to be found by us, so we pursue the Lord and He makes known to us His presence.  The prophet Jeremiah revealed to us that God wants us to seek after Him, so we can fulfill that plan to prosper us, when he wrote,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

In your daily endeavors, pursue God first. Pursue Him with the very essence of who you are; your heart, mind, soul and strength.

Seek Him.  Find Him.  Be Holy.

 

 

Goal. A statement of desired destination or intention.

Objective. How we plan to achieve our goal.

Here we are, January 2017, checking 2016’s accomplishments in the rearview mirror and looking through the windshield at the array of roads and deciding our destination.  To make that determination we need purpose.

Purpose. The “why” that motivates us to action.

Without purpose we lose our sense of direction, to be tossed about at the whim of every circumstance.  Instability.

Conversely, with purpose we gain FOCUS. We sit upright, belted in, on the right road and confidently accelerate forward.  Possessing purpose produces the “why” of what we are doing.  We have the vision, the goal, the objective, in mind and take action based upon the end result we have envisioned.  Stability.

Possessing purpose produces the “why” of what we are doing.

James, the brother of Jesus, addressed the concept of stability. In his writing he instructed when we place our faith in God and ask for His wisdom, He will give it to us freely, without reserve.  However, when we ask and then doubt, we are tossed about spiritually and emotionally. (James 1:5-8)  That doubt is derived from lack of purpose.

God creates each of us with purpose. He intentionally places within us a unique combination of personality, abilities, talents, and gifts and these components work together to fulfill God’s purpose.

As Christians, we know our purpose is set forth in the Great Commission, found in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life.  Our mission is to carry out the assignment to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, make disciples, baptize them, and show them how to follow Him. (Matthew 28:18-20)  With our individuality, we each address this mission uniquely.

Jesus taught that we, His disciples “…are the salt of the earth …” (Mt 5:13) Salt performs a specific function.  While salt adds flavor, it does so by changing what it touches.  Salt is used to cure meat products because it first kills microorganisms in the meat.  Secondly, as the salt is poured over the meat, it pulls the water from the inside, allowing the salt to enter and flavor it from the inside out. Salt is the agent of change to the meat.  When Jesus spoke about those who carry His name being the “salt of the earth,” he meant, as we (the salt) go into the world, we will change it.

Jesus pours the salt of Truth into us and it changes us, curing us of our sin and sinful natures. As we are continuously being cured for every good work in the Lord, we are taking that same salt into the world and pouring it onto others.  As we pour the salt of the Gospel into the lives of other people their lives are changed. We are to be the agent of change in this world for the Kingdom of God.

Our goals and resolutions are derived from our purpose and there is joy, along with the experience of satisfaction and accomplishment, which accompany fulfilling that purpose.

We each bring our unique flavor to the world by living in it and sharing Christ, salting our sphere of influence, making it different from when we arrived.

Know your purpose.

Stand firm in it.

Salt the earth.

Change the world!

As I look into this new year and finalize my resolutions, I keep coming back to the statement, “I resolve.”

People often discuss whether they make resolutions or set goals. This can pull on our emotions as we optimistically look forward and at the same time, feel trepidation about not being able to achieve what we have set forth for ourselves.

I set goals AND I make resolutions. Why? Because they are not the same thing.

The Oxford dictionary defines goal as the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result. Whereas a resolution is defined as a firm decision to do or not to do something.

A goal is something external to go after, to get.  

When I set goals it is because I want to achieve something. For me, I have a vision of the direction I want to go and things to accomplish that will move me toward my vision. I set goals and objectives to achieve, which will systematically move me forward.

A resolution is a decision, a mindset, a heart attitude.

Along with that same vision for my life, I have things within myself to change, improve, or be removed. I identify those with resolutions.

A resolution is made within the essence of who we are. When I say, “I resolve,” I am saying, “I will allow nothing to keep me from making this change.” These internal resolutions will also move me forward and help me ultimately fulfill the vision for my life.

Beginnings.

The first book of the Bible is Genesis. Genesis itself is defined as the origin or mode of formation of something. The Bible begins with these words, “In the beginning, God … ”

January 1st.

TODAY is the genesis of this year, the formation of something new. TODAY, from the beginning of this year, GOD.

Beginning the new year TODAY reminds me that each of these 365 days matter. Whatever I choose to do with them, each day and each decision contains eternal value. Whatever I do, wherever I go, and no matter the circumstances each day brings, I want everything in my life to be for and about the One, True and Living God.

I posted on our Facebook wall yesterday (@VineSweetConnection) that 2016 was quite a ride for our family. I can still feel the emotional whiplash! Yet, here we are, STANDING and READY for 2017!

TODAY it is 2017 and my hope for us all as we embark on this year is:

We invite God’s magnificent presence to be made manifest in our lives, daily! The power of the Holy Spirit empowers us to carry out the purpose for which we were created! The love of Jesus Christ fills our hearts and compels us to draw others to Him.  May we experience the nearness of God in our lives EVERY day. May Holy Spirit’s presence be the bounce in our step, the twinkle in our eyes, and the sparkle of joy in our heart!

In all this goal setting and resolve, the vision cast for my life is a result of prayer and seeking after God’s purposes for my life. As you set your goals or make your resolutions or like me, you do both, prayerfully consider this:  Each day contains eternal value. What will I do with it?