be patient...

be patient. I am not a patient person. I've gotten used to having a million things to do and a very little time within which to do them. So guess what, I get jittery, stressed and do not practice patience very well.

Today is a day where patience will reign. I will breathe, I will slow down, I will accept that some things have their own pace and it doesn't always match mine. I will not explode, I will not get irritated, I will kick back and let the stress go and let the patience flow. I'm not a very lovable person when I'm impatient - in fact, I don't even like myself when I act that way. I think challenging myself to be patient today will be a good thing for me and those around me. How about you?

So, for today I will be patient. No matter what, I will keep my cool and be better off for it.

be amazed...

be amazed. Be amazed at how much Jesus loves me and be amazed at what He was willing to endure just for me.

Many times you hear a parent saying, "I would die for my kids." The love and protectiveness of a parent can be an awesome force. You'd jump in front of a bullet for them. Would you do the same for a friend? How about someone you don't even like? Would you submit to torture, humiliation, excruciating and prolonged pain for the guy down the street who doesn't even know your name? Would you silently suffer through imprisonment, beatings, whippings and hatred for the sake of a stranger? If push came to shove I think we can all admit that we might lay down our lives for someone we deeply love, but not necessarily for anyone else. That simple fact reinforces the amazement we should have about the depth and power and sacrifice of Christ's love for all of us - whether we love Him back or not.

So for today I will be amazed. Amazed by the overwhelming gracious love that He pours out on anyone and everyone. It's so far beyond my abilities that I can only be awestruck in wonder of His amazing generosity - and be eternally grateful that His love isn't as limited as mine.

have peace...

have peace. It is done. The price has been paid. It has been accomplished.

Jesus suffered for me. Jesus died for me. Jesus rose for me. Jesus saved me.

So, for today I will have peace that my salvation has been accomplished through His actions. Amen.

get back up...

get back up. We all have flaws, we all have struggles, we all stumble, and we all get knocked down sometimes. The trick is to get back up!

Jesus knows your failings. He knows your hardship. They are not a surprise to Him. But He doesn't want you to lose heart or faith. Let your faith strengthen you to get back up after you've been knocked down. God is working in ways we do not have the ability to understand. You may get knocked down, but He will keep you from being knocked out - so don't give up, get up instead! If things aren't going right in your life - keep trying, make some changes, accept the things you cannot control and control the things you can (your attitude and your actions). God will dust you off, strengthen you, and ready you for the next battle - but He helps those who help themselves, so you have to get back up first.

So, for today I will get back up. I may be weak and unsure, but I will believe that for today God is with me. That He will protect me when I get back up. I will put my faith and trust in Him and not my own motivation or strength. I will get back up and let God do His work in and through me.

imagine what could have been...

imagine what could have been. It's almost Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday when Christ died and rose for us. Have you ever thought about what life would be like if those events never happened?

Life is difficult and there are lots of problems all over the world, but even as bad as we think it may be sometimes - it could have been much much worse. Hopelessness, defeat, pain, frustration, darkness, gloom, hatred, vengeance, despair... that's what I think daily life, every day for eternity would be like without the Glory and Love of Jesus Christ. When I think about that, I rejoice and give thanks for every day that I receive that has joy, grace, forgiveness, peace, light, love and hope! I have a better life here and a better life to come because He gave up His life for me. I'm glad I don't have to live in a world where that hadn't happened, but it's a good reminder to imagine that place so I don't take for granted the sacrifice Jesus made for me.

So, for today I will imagine what the world could have been and thank God that it isn't that place. My hope and help come from the Lord - what a wonderful blessing.

sit in the sun...

sit in the sun. Instead of being locked in your office all day, get out into the sunshine! The days fly by. When it's winter, we long for summer. When it's summer, we complain about the heat. Many of us are trapped indoors for most of the day and we don't get to enjoy the season! At some point today, I will sneak the time in and sit in the sunshine. I will gaze up at the sky, let the warmth hit my face, feel the cool breeze and enjoy. Maybe you like to sit out in the morning, maybe you love mid-day heat, or maybe the final glimpses of sunlight at dusk are your favorite. Whichever gives you joy, take advantage of it today and be glad that you've lived another day, that the sun is shining down on you, and that your world is a little brighter. So, for today I will sit in the sun. I will be thankful for the seasons of the year and the seasons of my life. I will be grateful that God blessed me with the light and life that the sun gives and the light and life that the Son gives!

bear good fruit...

bear good fruit. What do I provide to others? How do I treat them and myself? If people were asked to characterize me, what would they say about me? I think we all like to view ourselves in our best light. We tend to whitewash or rationalize the things that we know are our flaws. I think we color our perception of ourselves with a delicate brush because we know that we're trying. So, for today let's try harder and let's focus on the fruit of that labor and make sure it's what it should be. We all have the ability to bear good fruit. Through kind words, compassion to others, reserving judgment, helping out, being a shoulder to cry on and even praying we can bear good fruit and show others what we truly believe in. We can show God's love and our desire to be more like Him through these efforts. With a hopeful heart our fruit may be sweet tasting to another who needed God's love today. So while we go about our day today, let's focus on what kind of fruit we are producing. Let's try our hardest to put our beliefs into practice. So, for today I will bear good fruit. I will make a conscious effort to produce sweet smelling, sweet tasting, bountiful fruits that will nourish those around me with love. My fruits will not be perfect, but they will be my best effort and with God's grace and help they will be appealing and acceptable.