Work in the New Year

As we get full swing into 2025, I want to remember that there is work to do. God tells us to be diligent. The Bible tells us how to be “approved to God”. We need to work towards that goal.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the instruction and encouragement You give us in Your Word. Please help us to obey what You have commanded. There is nothing better.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Number of Days

Christmas this year was bittersweet for me. I love the opportunity to spend time with family, but this year my 100 year old grandmother’s health declined. We spent some days sitting in her apartment and at her bedside. Watching loved ones fade is a hard thing to do. Hospice workers can tell you that dying is hard work.

For my grandmother to live 100 years is an amazing lifespan. And yet according to the Bible that is a fleeting or short amount of time. Knowing that life after death is for all eternity (also in the Bible) puts our lives here on a different scale. 100 years isn’t even a full drop in the bucket in comparison.

While watching my grandmother die was a hard thing to do, I am so thankful that she trusted in Jesus to save her from her sins. I am confident she is in heaven. I know without a doubt that my soul will be in heaven when my body dies. I think that we will have some fun conversations again some day.

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus Christ, I pray you will today. It doesn’t matter how long you live, death comes all to quickly. Please find out Who God truly is and accept His way. I truly believe you will find God’s way is worth it.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love of my precious grandmother. Thank You that Christ’s love is offered to all. Please guide those of us who have accepted Christ’s love to share the truth with others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Don’t Lose the Meaning of Christmas

Christmas seems to come and go so fast. There are so many things going on through December that time seems to fly.

My biggest concern with the busyness is that we will lose the point of Christmas. We all need salvation from sins. Jesus came to earth to be born as a baby, grow to be a man and die for our sins. When we trust in Jesus to save us from our sins, God becomes our stronghold. God will help us; He is our refuge. I hope these thoughts are in our minds all year long.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing salvation. Please help us to remember what You provided for us.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

God’s Preservation

I love the verses that remind us of God’s protection of those who have trusted in Him. These verses tell us that God will not forsake us. We will spend eternity with God after our bodies die. I look forward to that Day.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the promises You give. Please help us to turn away from evil and do good.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Established by God

This is a continuation of Psalm 37:4. We are told to delight in the Lord. In these verses we are told that God establishes the steps of those who delight in God’s way. God gives wonderful gifts, but we need to seek Him with joy.

Christmas is a wonderful time to remember the joy of the angels announcement that the Messiah had been born. If we read and study the Bible, we can find many reasons for joy and delight.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your word. Thank You for giving many reasons to delight in You. Thank you for Your provision. Please help us through this season and every season to spend time delighting. We often need help to keep looking into what You have for us.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.