Yesterday I mentioned in my post about life returning to a routine. I wrote how I function better in this environment. What is also connected to life returning to its routine is what “life” expects from you in this routine. Routine is not just about one living with structure, the world in which this structure abides has expectations in it. This reality truly hit home yesterday. For a few weeks I was not exposed to the needs of the ones in counseling. I was not exposed to the needs of our Celebrate Recovery ministry. My own family limited their needs knowing I needed to be with Kathy. Yesterday seemed to be the day when life returned to its normal pace. As I reflect on this today I smile thinking how much I forgot that “routine” has in it I had set aside.
What I mention in the above paragraph I can now place into my commitment for this year. I will put each of these needs into first: Keeping my eyes on Jesus, Listen to His Voice and then Obey His Commands. Taking a moment to keep these three actions in place as I live each day is amazingly doable when I keep in mind that this very day I AM is with me and already has in store what my part is to be. I am really young at this but I want to grow in this process each day ahead of me knowing to do this one day at a time. Thank YOU JESUS!
I just got home from taking our oldest grandson to the airport where he returns to the air force base where he is stationed. He’s such a fine young man. It makes grandpa proud to see him maturing and loving his walk with God.
Today I head back to counseling. I’m glad to get this restarted. I can only stand the randomness of “time off” for so long. I work much better with a predictable schedule.
As I began journaling before heading to the airport I wrote that today is day 2 of my three commitments. I cringed as I thought about obeying His commands for I know myself too well, I wrote. Instantly I was once again reminded that the commitment is only for today. Tomorrow will be a commitment when I get to tomorrow. My focus needs to stay only on today. One of God’s powerful names is I AM. Remembering that I AM is with me and I can rely solely on His Strength and not my weakness is a tremendous assurance. We will do this together. It makes me smile as I write this knowing for these 24 hours I have I AM with me. I have known this for years. Somehow I’m now beginning to live with this truth in my heart. Boy, is God ever GOOD!
WOW, A new year has begun. I’m usually very glad to have the previous year close, but this isn’t the case this morning. Yes, I’m fine with 2023 ending, but for the most part, the year was more about growing in Christ than it was about anything else.
As I began my journaling this morning I was reflecting on the past year and looking ahead into this new one. I instantly was brought to the three commitments I’ve made: Eyes on Christ alone, Listen to His Voice & Obey His Commands. The first two I can work on and feel these are doable. The 3rd, well, I have become well aware of my selfishness in my flesh. I use to compare my flesh/desires with my brother and/or my dad. In so doing I could feel ok about my sin/s even though I knew I sinned. Mine weren’t as evil or hurtful as theirs were to me. These past few years have taken my eyes off of them and onto my One and only Savior and Lord–Jesus Christ. I now accept and see my sins as no different in the eyes of God than those of my brother or dad. They are both forgiven and in heaven and I am forgiven too. All of this to say that as I journaled I told Jesus that I didn’t think I was strong enough to obey His commands. As I wrote this I was instantly reminded that I CAN do this remembering that I do it one day at a time. In today I AM is with me and I can rely on His Strength. I don’t need to rely on my weakness.
God is amazing and I love starting this year with the assurance of His Promises. He is the GREAT I AM! And, I AM is with me each and every new day. Praise His Holy and Precious Name!
Today brings to a close this year of 2023. I’ve already journaled some of the strengths of the year. My most selfish strength of the year was the bountiful garden it provided. Everything I planted yielded well and that is not common, but it sure is appreciated! I’ve also loved and appreciated what God is teaching me through the counseling program. Even though Kathy’s stroke was said to be mild, there is nothing mild about the reality of it and its impact on our daily living. It has awakened both of us to the frailty of our life in its flesh. I know this life is temporary, but until something like this happens, I sure have taken it for granted.
What I wrote yesterday is paramount for me this year. If I am going to live for Christ, I don’t want any longer to put boundaries around what it is to look like. Being fully obedient to Christ in all aspects of living is my commitment for the coming year and for the rest of my life. I’m sure this will be challenged as each day comes, but I want to be steadfast in my commitment. As I close out this year, I will do so with thanksgiving in my heart and a firm desire to begin the new year devoted to living out Christ’s calling within me. I know to live this out one day at a time.
As this year is drawing to a close I am being convicted to heighten my attention to three items I have highlighted at the top of my prayer list. They are:
Eyes on Christ Alone
Listen to His Voice
Obey His Commands
As I have been living through this year, I have been repeatedly nudged to grow in my intimate walk with God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit. For months I only had #1 on the top of my list. I then realized if I am to grow in this intimacy I needed to listen carefully to Christ’s nudges–His Holy Spirit within me. Lastly and extremely important, if I’m to be truly intimate with Christ, I must obey what His nudges say. It is then that intimacy can grow and complete itself. Following all three of these steps as I live out each day completes my Trust, my Faith, my Confidence in Jesus Christ being Lord of my life.
I’ve lived so long putting parameters around the obedience to Christ’s voice thinking I could trust “this much”. Little, at the time, did I realize how that limited the intimacy–trust I had in Christ being Lord. Today and every today for the rest of my life, I want to live out these three steps. These are not to be suggestions, but commands. Following them grows a desire for the most precious intimacy one can ever know!
Last night Kathy and I went to Celebrate Recovery (CR). It was Kathy’s maiden voyage returning for the large group time. She didn’t stay for small group, but it was so nice to have this step develop. I did stay for small group and afterwards I asked how it went for her? She said she was glad she went and the amount of time was just right.
My focus these past several weeks has been centered around what is best for Kathy. Last night, having stayed for the entire time of CR, I realized just how much I missed it. The genuineness of conversation, the truth of one’s struggles and the truth of God’s Mercy and Grace abounds in this ministry. I needed to hear the testimony given and hear again how God is using this man’s past to help others with their present life. The small group time following the testimony gave truth to this.
I enjoyed greatly the testimony, but what struck me more than anything was just how important it is to have an environment where the truth of one’s struggle can be talked about openly without judgment and criticism. Instead, there is support and guidance with reminders that we live out our lives one day at a time. We don’t need to worry about tomorrow for God is present today. Tomorrow will take care of itself when we arrive for God will arrive there with us. Wow! Simple truth but amazingly difficult to keep in place. With the help of accountability and God’s Spirit within us, we can do this!
The kids are on their way back to Oklahoma. The house is quiet and this time it stays that way. Only our oldest grandson is here and will be until after New Years. He is a quiet soul anyway and will be a great help in putting the house back in order helping grandma with the chores she usually does at this point.
Little by little life will return to some type of normalcy. What I know more than ever before is that what I have called normal will still be temporary. God has never intended for our earthly life to be permanent. It is a time to find Jesus, decide if we are going to believe in Him and bring Him into our lives. We can then decide if we will serve Him with all of our heart, mind and soul. Following this life will be one that is eternal where all of life’s woes will be behind us and will no longer have any control or temptation to control us. I look forward to this eternal time. Yet, I have grown to enjoy each of the days we presently have living them for one purpose and that is to glorify our Lord and Savior–Jesus Christ.
When I was in college so long ago I remember a professor explaining how degrees from college work. As a novice student I thought that the more degrees one had the smarter he was in everything. However, I was told it is just the opposite. The higher the degree the more intricate knowledge one has in a small area of a topic. Now that I’m at the age I am I find myself knowing less and less. A big difference is that now I know this and I’m ok with it. When I was younger I thought I was stupid if I didn’t know. Now I realize just how true the statement was the professor told.
I wrote yesterday that I’m into Revelation in my Bible reading. There is an immense amount of this book that goes beyond my comprehension. As I was reading my portion this morning I realized again that all of this is going to come about, but what’s important for today is what I have written on the top of my prayer list: 1) Keep my eyes of Jesus; 2) Listen to His voice; 3) Obey His commands.
I don’t care as much about what one has learned from man’s institutions, what is truly important for daily living are these three items. They are my assignments each and every day.
Today’s Bible reading had me start in Revelation. Almost two thousand years ago it was written. It uses the phrase “coming soon” in several spots. We on earth cannot fathom this term of coming soon when it pertains to us and also to the people 2,000 years ago. Yet, in eternity, there is no measurement of time so it would be soon.
What is amazing to me is that the sins of the day back in the time of the scripture’s writing were very similar to ones of our days. That in itself is horribly sad, but what is even more sad to me is that our society is protecting the sins as being OK. They are not only OK, but they are even encouraged. My heart aches with this truth. NO sin is OK.
Christ came to save the people of this world and the time of Christ’s return is being delayed so that no one needs to be lost. Lets make everyday count in our living for Christ. Lets not let a nudge slip by us that God’s Holy Spirit is using to have us reach out to someone. Our lives matter to Jesus and so does the life of the one He nudges us to reach. I want to live for HIM–JESUS CHRIST!
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all! One of my brother’s called an hour ago and I couldn’t answer it. There is someone sleeping in every room of the house except the den where I have my devotions. I couldn’t talk for fear of waking someone/s. I text him back instead. Somehow Christmas this year seems most happy that this much could be the same as others in the past. Not everyone is here yet, but the rest will be coming later this morning. A couple are sick and I pray they will be well today and able to join us all.
The Lord God Almighty is glorified today for coming into this sinful world of ours and giving us a pathway to freedom we would never know otherwise. How grateful I am for Jesus Christ–Son of the Most High God! To think He made it possible for you and me to be adopted into this Heavenly Kingdom is simply incredible! Don’t let this opportunity slip by if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Trust Him as your Savior and Lord. Ask Him to come into your life (heart) and He will. Yes, you’ll want to confess your sinful ways to Him and Yes, He will forgive them for that is just what He does. His Grace is sufficient for each and every one of us! Thank You Jesus!
I worship YOU Almighty God–there is none like YOU!
Earnie Lewis 