Thankful for New Mercies - Thanksgiving Devotional #9

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

This is a sunrise in Galveston, Texas. Seeing it, this Scripture began to run through my heart and my head - our Promise for Today - "His mercies are new every morning..." and Psalm 19, "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship."

I can't help but think how many sunrises I have ignored or taken for granted while getting ready for work or wanting to sleep through on the weekend. And then I wonder how many times have I ignored God in the display of His craftsmanship or taken for granted the miracle of love that God's mercies are new every morning and that His faithfulness is so great? How many times have I not come to a COMPLETE halt to give God glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving for ALL that is available to us on a daily basis?

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for giving us eyes to see and the ability to enjoy what You have created. Thank You for all that You have done, do and continue to do for us every moment that we breathe. Thank You for multiple mercies that are new every morning and for Your great faithfulness. Teach us to be faithful and so grateful, too. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorite - Shine the Light

Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
Ecclesiastes 11:7 NLT

I stopped again this morning to watch the sunrise out over the water. I wanted to witness the miracle of it one more time. I am fascinated with the wonder that each sunrise has been unique for as long as there has been the dawning of a new day.

This morning I was struck with the realization that even before the sun actually appeared on the horizon, the clouds of night began to reflect the light of it. And the light replaced the dark with beautiful color. Just like the Son does in our lives. We may not see Him, but as we draw closer to Him, He gives us beauty for ashes.

For me, sunrise never loses its wondrous beauty. I have watched many new days dawn over one beach or another. Some by design because I got up early just to watch the sunrise. Other times were because I'd worked all night long and on my way home, the sun rose to greet me. And then there were the times when the night seemed to go on forever, not only in the dark of the night but in the dark of my soul, as well. Times when I despaired of ever seeing light again, and yet faithful, just as sure as there is a heaven, the sun would peer over the horizon, glimmering, shimmering across the water to the sand at my feet, spreading its warmth around me, my hope rising with the sun. And I would be reminded one more time that Jesus is the Light of the World.

What a blessed hope! No matter how dark the night of your soul, Jesus came so that you might have LIFE and have LIFE more abundantly. He IS the hope to light our way. And the Light overcomes darkness EVERY time.

Prayer:

Father,
           Shine Your Light to show us the way. Cause us to be a true reflection of You and Your Light, to provide hope for the hopeless in a lost and dying world. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Every Morning

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

Where I live, this is the view we can enjoy in the morning. This was yesterday morning's sunrise. It was the last day of my sister's visit so we hopped in the car and drove less than a block so she could get up close to take pictures (and I could sit in the car in my pajamas...). My sister is the one with the photographer's eye, but from the car, I took this particular picture as Scripture began to run through my heart and my head - our Promise for Today - His mercies are new every morning... and Psalm 19, The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.

I couldn't help but think about how many sunrises I have ignored or taken for granted while getting ready for work or wanting to sleep through on the weekend. And then I wondered, how many times have I ignored God in the display of His craftsmanship or taken for granted the miracle of love that God's mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness. How many times have I not come to a COMPLETE halt to give God glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving for ALL that is available to us on a daily basis? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for giving us eyes to see and the ability to enjoy what You have created. Thank You for all that You have done, do and continue to do for us every moment that we breathe. Thank You for multiple mercies that are new every morning and for Your great faithfulness. Teach us to be faithful, too. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen