“You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV).
It is the time of year to think about new resolutions we can make for the Lord. I think also it is time for us to look back and see areas in our lives where we tried to follow deceitful desires. Let’s face it we all have slipped up. As we look to the New Year we can think of ways where we can have better attitudes. I imagine the New Year as a clean slate on what I can do to be a better person or become healthier so I can serve the Lord longer.
I am not that great keeping my resolutions though and I am determined to make that different this year. One of my areas I want to work on is becoming healthier. The bible is pretty clear about how our bodies are the temple of God. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV) It is easy to forget that God is in us and we must keep our bodies in good condition for His sake. How are you doing in this area? Are you eating healthy and exercising? All of us need to be more conscientious about what we put in our mouths and what it can do to our bodies. God expects us to serve Him to the best of our abilities and this is difficult if we are not healthy.
Another goal of mine is to read the Bible every day and really study it.
How many of you really do that? We are to study the word so we can be able to tell others about God’s wonderful grace and love for them.
Showing others in scripture how God will help them is very powerful.
It is important that you know what the Bible says. It shows us how to live a life that pleases God.
These are a few of my resolutions. Take time to pray and ask God what He wants you to accomplish this year. Notice what thoughts come to your mind and jot them down. Make a list and keep it in your Bible so you can revisit it at least once a week. God needs you to be faithful in this. Think of your resolutions this year as a covenant with God and really try every day to follow them.
Dear Lord,
Each year we make resolutions but fail to keep them. Let us be faithful with our resolutions for you this year so that we can grow as Christians. Help our attitudes to be Christ-like and pleasing to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Mystery That Lies Within You by Ann E. Broughton
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests’” (Luke 2:13-14 NIV).
The angel appeared to the shepherds to tell them that the Christ child was born and that they would find him lying in a manger wrapped in cloths. Then the heavenly host appeared praising God. Can you imagine what went through the shepherds minds at that time? Angels appeared only on rare occasions to people. Even though the angels told the shepherds about Christ being born, they would never know what it is like to have Christ dwell in them.
Have you ever let it sink into your heart that when you accept Christ as your Savior, you have him inside of you. Angels long to look into these things concerning the Holy Spirit that lives within you when you become a Christian.(1 Peter 1:12) The angels can’t have Christ in them. Doesn’t that make you feel wonderful? You have something the angels long to know about. But none of this could have happened if Christ had never been born in that lowly manger.
Now you can have Christ in you because of that birth many years ago. This is what Paul says about this mystery. “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 NIV). I think we take this for granted too much. The Christ child was born to die a horrific death on the cross for you so that you can have the Holy Spirit inside of you. The Holy Spirit is the seal for your redemption. “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” (Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV). To have Christ in you is powerful, but you must do something with it. What is Christ calling you to do for Him? The power that lies within you is so great, but what have you done with it? It is not enough to accept Christ as your Savior and live the life you always led.
Christ wants more from you than that. He gave His life for you, so it is time for you to give up yours for Him.
Dear Lord,
During this season may we remember not only the birth of Christ, but also the fact that Christ is living within us and gives us the power to do wonderful and amazing things for Him. Let us not take it for granted, but let us be in constant prayer to know what your will is for our lives.
In Jesus’ name
Amen
The angel appeared to the shepherds to tell them that the Christ child was born and that they would find him lying in a manger wrapped in cloths. Then the heavenly host appeared praising God. Can you imagine what went through the shepherds minds at that time? Angels appeared only on rare occasions to people. Even though the angels told the shepherds about Christ being born, they would never know what it is like to have Christ dwell in them.
Have you ever let it sink into your heart that when you accept Christ as your Savior, you have him inside of you. Angels long to look into these things concerning the Holy Spirit that lives within you when you become a Christian.(1 Peter 1:12) The angels can’t have Christ in them. Doesn’t that make you feel wonderful? You have something the angels long to know about. But none of this could have happened if Christ had never been born in that lowly manger.
Now you can have Christ in you because of that birth many years ago. This is what Paul says about this mystery. “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 NIV). I think we take this for granted too much. The Christ child was born to die a horrific death on the cross for you so that you can have the Holy Spirit inside of you. The Holy Spirit is the seal for your redemption. “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” (Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV). To have Christ in you is powerful, but you must do something with it. What is Christ calling you to do for Him? The power that lies within you is so great, but what have you done with it? It is not enough to accept Christ as your Savior and live the life you always led.
Christ wants more from you than that. He gave His life for you, so it is time for you to give up yours for Him.
Dear Lord,
During this season may we remember not only the birth of Christ, but also the fact that Christ is living within us and gives us the power to do wonderful and amazing things for Him. Let us not take it for granted, but let us be in constant prayer to know what your will is for our lives.
In Jesus’ name
Amen
Sunday, November 28, 2010
God's Greatest Gift by Ann Elaine Broughton
“For it is by grace you are saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8 NIV).
As we think of the Christmas season ahead we naturally think of gifts, but the greatest gift given to us is the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is up to us to accept this wonderful gift and live for Him. After we have received God’s gift of salvation, striving to please the Lord in every area of our lives is so important. During this season many people give to the poor and perform acts of service to help others. Being a servant of God is so important and during this season there will be ample opportunities to show God’s love. Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians what benefits service to others can bring. “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else” (2 Cor. 9:12-13 NIV). People who are touched by our kindness may be compelled to ask us why we are helping them. It is an opportunity to tell them about God’s wonderful grace and His love for them. This service for others should not stop at Christmas, but we should be helping others every opportunity we get all through the year.
Dear Lord,
Help us during this Christmas season to show your love by helping others.We know that the Christmas season gives us many opportunities to serve others, but help us also to serve you by giving to others all throughout the year. As we do this let us be a witness of Christ’s love to everyone we have contact with so that they will see Christ in us and be blessed by our unselfish service.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
As we think of the Christmas season ahead we naturally think of gifts, but the greatest gift given to us is the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is up to us to accept this wonderful gift and live for Him. After we have received God’s gift of salvation, striving to please the Lord in every area of our lives is so important. During this season many people give to the poor and perform acts of service to help others. Being a servant of God is so important and during this season there will be ample opportunities to show God’s love. Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians what benefits service to others can bring. “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else” (2 Cor. 9:12-13 NIV). People who are touched by our kindness may be compelled to ask us why we are helping them. It is an opportunity to tell them about God’s wonderful grace and His love for them. This service for others should not stop at Christmas, but we should be helping others every opportunity we get all through the year.
Dear Lord,
Help us during this Christmas season to show your love by helping others.We know that the Christmas season gives us many opportunities to serve others, but help us also to serve you by giving to others all throughout the year. As we do this let us be a witness of Christ’s love to everyone we have contact with so that they will see Christ in us and be blessed by our unselfish service.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Give Thanks By Ann Elaine Broughton
“Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV).
How thankful are you for all the blessings you have in your life? Do you thank God daily for His love for you? This is the season to give thanks and to remember all the blessings in your life. But every day should be a time to give thanks to God. If you are like me, you start your prayers with all your requests concerning your loved ones. I have decided to make a list since I have a tendency to forget these days. But I am also going to make a list of blessings. Too many times it is easy to dwell on the needs so much that we don’t focus on what God has done for us. I think it is important for us to take time each day to be thankful. When you feel really down, take out a piece of paper and start writing down the things you are thankful for. If you have a roof over your head and food to eat, then you are very fortunate since many people in the world don’t have a home or food.
Take Paul and Silas as an example of praising God even in dire circumstances. They were thrown into prison because they were preaching about Jesus. They were severely flogged and beaten before they were thrown into prison. They prayed and sang hymns to God and God heard them. There was an earthquake and the prison doors opened and the prisoner’s chains came loose. They remained there and were able to witness to the jailor, who was baptized along with his family. Amazing isn’t it? Could you have been praising God in that circumstance? It is something to think about since many Christians today in foreign countries are in prison. We should be thankful that we can worship God freely without the fear of being thrown into prison.
This Thanksgiving take time to make your list of blessings and give the Lord sincere thanks for all He has done for you.
Dear Lord,
We take our blessings for granted every day. Help us to be more thankful every day for all you have done for us. Help us to remember all you did for us in the past, especially when it seems like there is no hope in the present. We know you will never forsake us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
How thankful are you for all the blessings you have in your life? Do you thank God daily for His love for you? This is the season to give thanks and to remember all the blessings in your life. But every day should be a time to give thanks to God. If you are like me, you start your prayers with all your requests concerning your loved ones. I have decided to make a list since I have a tendency to forget these days. But I am also going to make a list of blessings. Too many times it is easy to dwell on the needs so much that we don’t focus on what God has done for us. I think it is important for us to take time each day to be thankful. When you feel really down, take out a piece of paper and start writing down the things you are thankful for. If you have a roof over your head and food to eat, then you are very fortunate since many people in the world don’t have a home or food.
Take Paul and Silas as an example of praising God even in dire circumstances. They were thrown into prison because they were preaching about Jesus. They were severely flogged and beaten before they were thrown into prison. They prayed and sang hymns to God and God heard them. There was an earthquake and the prison doors opened and the prisoner’s chains came loose. They remained there and were able to witness to the jailor, who was baptized along with his family. Amazing isn’t it? Could you have been praising God in that circumstance? It is something to think about since many Christians today in foreign countries are in prison. We should be thankful that we can worship God freely without the fear of being thrown into prison.
This Thanksgiving take time to make your list of blessings and give the Lord sincere thanks for all He has done for you.
Dear Lord,
We take our blessings for granted every day. Help us to be more thankful every day for all you have done for us. Help us to remember all you did for us in the past, especially when it seems like there is no hope in the present. We know you will never forsake us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
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