I am still in amazement of what I wrote yesterday. The reality of living in Jesus is starting to sink in. All of my life I’ve attempted to do just what scripture tells me to do like: put on the full armor of God, commit all of my fears to Him, trust in Him, do not be anxious, and so much more! Somehow, I’ve always thought of these as things I must do because Christ now lives in me and I should be “strong in Him”. Yet, for me, I always saw myself at risk of failure. This shell of a man couldn’t seem to keep “enough Jesus” in him to stay on top of all he was suppose to be.
Now comes yesterday where I read in my devotional that “I am in You and You are in me”. I stopped and thought–“What, I am in Christ?” Then I read II Corinthians 5:17 which says in part, “Therefore if any man is in Christ he is a new creation…” So, what stood out is “in Christ“. Christ wasn’t just in this shell of a man. I am in the Son of the Living God! Wow, does that ever change my perspective of the chance to live freely in Christ. Of course I can be free if I’m living IN HIM. I can see in my mind that each morning as I start my day I choose to step into Christ and this makes all of the difference in the world!
This morning I will be singing a solo in our choir number. I anguish over times like this wanting it to be perfect for God and afraid I’ll screw it up. As I began to journal I started to write that I’d be glad when the morning was over. I was checked at this point and wrote I will surrender my fear and look forward to being a tool in Christ’s hands.
Later in my devotional time I read the gospel truth that not only does Christ live in me, but I too live in Christ, II Corinthians 5:17. In fact it says I’m a new creation IN CHRIST. Somehow all of these years I’m anchored myself in the truth that Christ is in me, but the fact that I can be in Him? That truth has never entered my mind until now. Good grief, I’ve always known Christ is everywhere so my understanding I can be in Christ should just be known and understood. However, that hasn’t been the case for myself until now. I’ve always felt unworthy of Christ being in me, but knowing I can be in Him makes a world of difference! As I am in Him, He is also in me. WOW! What a wonderful wake-up this is! This morning I will sing with great GRATITUDE!
We made it home and hosted a big family get-together last night with the bride and groom even attending. They are planning a later in the year honeymoon since the bride, my granddaughter, starts her first teaching job next Monday. They have one more reception tonight which will end the festivities.
The journey of today is to simply catch things up in the yard this morning, attend a 60th wedding anniversary party this afternoon and go to the last reception tonight. Life will go back to more normalcy starting tomorrow. It has been a great week watching how God orchestrates so many details when He is asked to be the One in charge. It has been a joy to watch and take a little part in.
There are times in our lives when words are insufficient for describing events in life. Last night’s wedding was one of those. I’d never experienced a wedding of a grandchild until last night. I always think of grandkids as “little ones” who sit on your lap and you bounce around. Even though that hasn’t been the case for several years with my own, their young adult lives still have all of those wonderful memories. Now, however, the wedding has brought about an event which awakens me to the beauty of their having entered adulthood. The entire event was lovely, God-honoring, and just plain fun–even for a grandpa!
I love how God brings things together. My new grandson is exceptionally good hearted and fun. He is such a fine addition to our family and my granddaughter is such a fine addition to their family. How rich I am!
Today is the wedding. Yesterday was an enjoyable time getting set up done. The wedding is on the shore of the lake which will be a beautiful setting. This morning we finish the details of set-up that couldn’t be done until today. It is such a wonderful tribute to God’s blessings in their lives. They are a God honoring couple.
Today we are in Donnelly, ID for the baptism of our granddaughter and her fiancé. Tomorrow will be their wedding. The rest of the day following the baptism we will be giving assistance to setting up for tomorrow’s blessed event. It is an outdoor wedding so the set up is a little different.
The focus of my devotional time couldn’t be better. It is all about opening my arms lifted upward to receive God’s glorious Gifts of Love, Grace and Mercy. I often get lost in the details of the work and only afterwards looking back do I see God’s handiwork. It seems God is wanting for me to open my eyes beyond the tasks at hand and see His Handiwork while it is taking place today. It is like a new experience for me. However, I am looking forward to how it comes together. God is so AMAZING!
Have you ever fretted over something for a period of time wondering why God didn’t do something during the time? Then, when you finally take a moment to release the fret and turn it into praise, God acts. This action is something I have to contend with as part of me. I’m not sure in the spiritual world what fretting does to interfere with God’s design, but I do know God doesn’t want me in the midst of fret. He wants me in the midst of thanksgiving and praise, not for what He so much has done, but having “faith of a mustard seed” to move the mountain that seems unsurmountable. I think this is called TRUST!
This morning as I was journaling I was brought to this message once again. I might be somewhat better at praising God ahead of time when problems arise, but I sure haven’t made this a first choice when it does. My flesh wants answers much more quickly removing the problem. Yet, I know that when God works His Miracles, not only does the problem go away, but everyone involved has taken a step closer to knowing God and trusting Him. God is our AMAZING GOD!
Thursday of this week my oldest granddaughter is getting married. Today our Oklahoma family is flying in for the upcoming event. Tomorrow our oldest grandson flies in for it. We all head tomorrow to the wedding location. I’ve looked forward to this for many months. Today, as the reality of this begins, I reflect on the importance of family. I love family and desire for us to have unity and purity of heart. Satan knows God’s importance of family and does all he can to destroy family bonds. I can get caught in his traps at times, but I’m always brought back to the Strength of God’s Family. His Strength is far greater than anything Satan could do. So, today I rejoice and thank God for His and my family.
How humbling it is to know that each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made, knit in our mother’s womb and we can know this full well! Psalms 139:14.
I started my journaling this morning with the message to Jesus that I often struggle to tell my accountability about my off and on temptation/struggle with any type of porn. My pride wants to have me look like a person who has moved beyond such a thing. The pride goes on to say things like, “you can’t be a good leader if you still struggle with such ugly sins”. I want to be completely honest with my sponsor in spite of this pridefulness.
Well, as only God does, as I was reading my devotional, its topic was the importance of confession so one doesn’t have to deal with the painful infection caused by unconfessed sin lingering in our system. I smiled and thanked God for this message. I have no problem getting the message/s from ones I sponsor telling me of their struggle. I receive the message without judgment and give support and thanksgiving for their honesty. Yet, my own pride wants to deny me of this support trying to make me look stronger than I am.
Being sold out to Jesus doesn’t remove the arrows of temptation from Satan. However, when we follow Christ’s scripture to us confessing to someone we trust, we overcome by His Strength. This all happens “one day at a time” for that is when Christ’s Strength is available to us. He is I AM!
Today’s focus is the truth that I find Jesus Strength in my life one day at a time. By now I’d think I would be living this truth out without any need of reminders. However, just yesterday I’d written about the roots of abuse going so deeply into me that I’d likely struggle with it the rest of my life.
As I was journaling this morning I was asking God how do I ever move beyond this and replace this struggle with the roots of His Truth that I’m a new creation? Instantly the words “one day at a time” were given to me. It was then that I thought, “Well, I’ve live 70+ years wanting to have this struggle replaced”. The new roots of truth are young and I’ll need to keep nurturing this truth so the old lie can be choked out with the roots of truth! I do this by believing and relying on God’s truth one day at a time for that is how I find the Strength within me–The Holy Spirit. The temptations only come in my todays and that is why The Holy Spirit is found in me in my todays. It sure makes good sense!
Earnie Lewis 