Joyful Beginnings

(photo courtesy of  Public Domain)

In the beginning, before time began, God created the heavens and earth. Out of the void He called earth. Out of darkness He called light. As the earth took shape and filled with many wonderful plants, He spoke the animal kingdoms into being. Out of clay and dust, He shaped a man and called him Adam. And out of Adam, right below his heart, he removed a rib and created woman. The man named her Eve. 

The beginning of all life is in God's control. It's how we choose to live our lives that brings God glory and honor. How will you live your life this year? Is it really a New Year for you and I? Or just the same old everyday stuck in a rut tradition? 

Who is your heart focused on? What you want or what God wants for you? Whose desires will you choose to put first? Yours? Or God's. Making the decision to be God's servant will be easy; following through on that decision will be challenging. As soon as you throw down the gauntlet, the devil will be right there in your face to try and prevent you from being obedient and faithful.

"This is the day which the Lord has made: I will rejoice and be glad in it." says the Psalmist. But, what happens if the power goes out? Will you still be thankful? What will you do if someone hits your vehicle, while you are in it? Do you call him/her an idiot driver? Or do you thank God for it? It is hard to praise God when you are tempted to be unkind and mean-spirited. Do it anyway. Praising God in the midst of the trials and temptations of everyday living is the only way you will get through it with peace of mind; keeping not only your sanity intact, but your compassion and empathy. 

Let us begin today with joy. 

Coffee, Tea or God?

Coffee, Tea or God?

In Exodus 20, God outlines the Ten Commandments which He had written for us. His first commandment to us is not to put any other gods before Him. So, I was thinking. Does this include coffee, too? If the first thing I need in the morning is a hot cup of coffee to get my juices flowing or my eyes popping, does that make coffee my god?

Isaiah 63:1 says “Early will I seek Thee”. Gee, I don’t see where it says “right after my first cup of coffee” or “when I’m awake enough” or “when I’m old enough”. Early must mean ‘early in my life or early in my day’. Perhaps, also, God means to seek Him out early before every decision so as not to bring added troubles onto ourselves. Not waiting until I absolutely have to turn to God, but turning to Him simply because He is the first person I want to see in the morning.

“Good Morning Jesus. Thank You Holy Spirit for guiding me and directing me to the place which God has prepared for me today. Thank You God for watching over me while I slept, for your protection on my family and myself.”

As Jeremy Camp sings, “In the morning when I rise give me Jesus”.

Now, I’ll have that cup of coffee.