Forgetting Those Things that are Behind

Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me.
Philippians 3:13 ERV

Have you chosen a New Year's resolution or motto for 2021? I am always in awe that the turn of a single calendar page can bring such an expectation of hope for the future. I think Thomas Jefferson perfectly captured the essence of a new year when he said, "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."

Oftentimes, we allow past mistakes or misfortunes to hold us captive. I don't know why we do that. Do you? God Himself tells us through His prophet, Isaiah - Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing... (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV). If we can be SO hopeful for God's blessings and change with the turn of a single calendar page, does it matter the actual date on it? Remember God's mercies are new EVERY morning. Each day is a new beginning.

That's my resolution for the year - forgetting those things that are behind. I choose joy. I choose life. I choose Jesus.

What are your dreams for the future? Keep reaching for what is ahead - one beautiful NEW day at a time!

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for new days and new years, new beginnings, and Your mercies that are new every morning. Thank You for encouraging us with Your Word. Help us to stay focused to accomplish Your plan and purpose in our lives. Open our eyes to see You, our ears to hear You and our hearts to follow You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

About Heaven

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:1-2 NLT

What do you hope for? What are your dreams? On what have you set your sights? Is it the new house - the new car? The raise or a new job? Getting the kids through school? Being healthy? Retirement?

If it's true that our direction determines our destiny, where are we striving to be? Are any of your hopes, dreams or goals set primarily with the idea of moving you further along on your way to Heaven? There is a reason I ask. I had fallen into the abyss of "If I can just get through this... If I can make it to that... or till then..." I'd lost sight of our true goal, and I'm wondering if maybe you had, too.

Paul warns us in Philippians 3:19-20, that those who think only about this life here on earth are headed for destruction. And then he reminds us that we are citizens of Heaven. I had to ask myself, "Am I as homesick for Heaven as I was for Texas when I was working in another state?" I hate to admit that I'd never thought of it in that way.

For me, I need to refocus. I must stop judging people's actions and pray for their salvation. I have stopped looking at the bad that's happening in the world and set my sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ our Saviour sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.

Prayer:

Father,
            We do not want to be enemies of the Cross. Change my heart, O God, to think about the things of heaven, and not the things of earth. Forgive me for losing sight of the goal. Help me to remember that my real life is hidden with Christ in You. And when Christ is revealed to the whole world, we as Your children, will share in all His glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Dream Come True

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.  James 2:17-22 NLT [underline emphasis is mine]

This passage is about living out our Christian walk. We can't just say we're a Christian. The testimony - the witness - is what people observe in our walk. Just saying it and not living out the tenets of true Christianity is wasting the air it takes for us to say it. 

I also believe this same principle applies to the God-placed dreams and desires in our hearts. What is your dream? What is it you want to do or accomplish while on this earth? Are you just wishing it would happen? Are you praying? In addition to praying, what are you doing about it? Yes, I said 'doing'! 

Okay, first we have to be sure it lines up with the Word of God. We can't expect God to honor anything that opposes or compromises His Word. Make sure the dream coming true would honor God. Stay true to its holy intent. 

Second, follow Scripture. To start, read Psalm 37, and NOT just verse 4, (Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart). Notice the word 'also' in that verse, then when we read the chapter, we find it means 'in addition to' delighting ourselves, there is also trusting God, committing to Him, not fretting, not envying, etc.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: There is a huge difference between asking for something and actively seeking it. What are YOU doing toward making it happen? You have to do something - you have to be an active part in it. If you want to be a motivational speaker, an executive, a parent, a teacher, a musician, a writer, a singer - are you doing something about it EVERY day? Are you learning? Are you actively seeking to build your skillset for whatever it is? If and when the opportunity arises, will you be ready? Are you making preparation - all the while trusting God?

You may think too much time has passed and you're too old now. Just as a reminder: Abraham was 100 years old; Sarah was 90 and past the age of child-bearing. That didn't stop Isaac from being born. Why? Because Abraham believed God and kept planting seed. 

What is YOUR dream? What are YOU doing about it?

Prayer:

Father,
         Ignite us again! Blow on the dying embers of our dreams and desires. Fan into flames those with holy purpose. Burn off the ones born only of human desire. Fit us for the purpose that You have placed deep within hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Whatever Works

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

Recently, I was reminded of two things: 1) that we should be sure to tell our testimonies of what God has done for us so that others can be encouraged and praise God with us, and 2) that God will use whatever works to get us where we need to be. So let me do that.

At the turn of the millennium, my career was in transition. I had gotten a couple job offers from out of state and had actually accepted one. It seemed like a good choice. I had discussed it with my youngest child who had for all practical intents and purposes moved out when he graduated and went to Master's Commission. He was excited for me and encouraged me to take the position.

Everything seemed like it was okay, but I felt like there was one missing piece and I couldn't put my finger on it. However, I moved forward with the process because I couldn't find a reason not to. I was one week away from moving when I went to see my son in Waco to spend the weekend with him. We had a good visit and then Sunday afternoon, as we were having our last meal together for a while, I told him I still felt like there was a piece missing and I had the feeling it was going to come from him and asked him if he had anything he wanted to say. At that point, he confessed that he was not ready for me to be 15 hours away, after all, but he didn't want that to stop me. Immediately, I had total peace. It was the missing part. I told him I was a mom first and an employee second, and I wasn't going anywhere, and that God would work it out.

And He did. My employer was only too happy for me to stay. My future employer was very understanding and said we'd talk in a couple years, and life went on.

A few years later, I got another offer from the same company, but for a different position. It was actually for my life-long dream position - to earn my living as a writer. In my mind, it couldn't get any better - I had no higher aspiration. That was it! I thought the only thing better than that would be to actually be in Heaven.

I packed up, and headed out. I had a tentative start date and I figured I'd get there early and get fully settled in before I reported to my dream job. The day I arrived, the manager I'd been talking to turned in her resignation and anyone she'd talked to was put on hold because "what might fit for one manager might not fit for the next one." I knew I hadn't missed God on the move, but I couldn't figure out what went wrong. Anyway, long story short, I was absolutely miserable. I worked a temp agency job for months. When I finally did get a job at the original company, it was in HR, and I hated it. I cried every day on my way home. I just did not understand what God was doing nor why He'd moved me from my beloved Texas to do a job I hated. I wasn't happy.

Finally, I came to the place where I was on my face before God and laid it all at His feet. "Whatever You want, Father. If I'm here for no other reason than to be a part of the church where You've led me, then I will do that. I just don't want to miss Your will." Within a month, I had a job offer from the church where God had led me! It was His plan and purpose all along, but I would never have left Texas to work for a man I'd never met. I left Texas to live my life's dream. It didn't happen the way I wanted or had planned, but it turned out to be exactly where I was supposed to be at the time. And I still got to write for a living. God took my plans and altered them to fulfill His. Whatever works...

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for loving us enough to direct our steps, and for using whatever it takes to get us to our ordained destination. We want to follow closely in Your footsteps, Father. Shine the light of Your Word on our path to clearly mark the way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen