Newness of Life With Singing.

  The question has been asked of me before, as I sang a line from a popular tune:
"What did you you do with that money I gave you?"
"What money?"
"That money I gave you for singing lessons."
  It is true, I can't seem to be able to carry a tune in a bucket.
  I have told people that I sing just like a prisoner- always behind a few bars and trying to find the key.
  But even with my struggles in the sounding great department, I continue to sing from my heart.  Especially, as I am encouraged to do so from God's Word:

  "I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises."- Psalm 101:1

  So, at least two places are reserved for belting out a song or two- when I am alone where I and He only have to hear, and during the time of singing at church with others, where my voice can be enveloped by others as we sing of God's worthiness to be loved and praised.
  Thankfully, even with a less than stellar voice, I am told this:

  "Praise the LORD!  For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful."- Psalm 147:1
 
  For all He has done, our hearts give thanks to God.  For who He is, we give praise to Him.  Praise is ascribing greatness to Him, recognizing His majesty, acknowledging His goodness and grace and all-sufficiency.  We were created for this, to know Him and enjoy Him forever, and while here as pilgrims in this life, to bring fame to His name.
  "Praise the LORD!  Such an exhortation may properly be addressed to all who owe anything to God's favor.  And which of us does not?  Pay Him we cannot, but praise Him we will, and not only now but forever.  For it is good to sing praises to our God.  It is good because it is correct.  It is good because it is acceptable with God, beneficial to us, and stimulating to others...Singing divine praises is the best possible use of speech.  It speaks of God, for God, and to God, and it does this in a joyful and reverent manner.  Singing in the heart is good, but singing with heart and voice is better, for it allows others to join in." - Charles Spurgeon

  And in one of my personal favorite passages of Scripture, the tables are turned in the most incredibly unsuspecting way. 

  "The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing." - Zephaniah 3:17

  Walking in newness of life is made richer and abundantly refreshing, knowing that He sings over us. 

A prayer:
  Father in Heaven, to know that you loved me so much that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for me, for my sin, and then be raised back up by You, alive and Sovereign, is something I want to sing about now and forever.  You are worthy of praise. Thank You also for encouraging me even more, letting me know You rejoice over me with singing as I live the life You have treasured me with.
In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

 

Newness Of Life In Growing.

   "I don't wanna grow up..." was made famous by the old toy store commercial.  But truly, it would not work very well if growth never occurred.  Parents acknowledge that one of the hardest jobs and realities they know is that they are preparing their kids to go out on their own into a great big world. We also see that, in nature, certain things come together to ensure growth.  Back home in Alabama, a lot of rain this summer has brought about some tremendous blooms and limbs heavy laden with fruit and more trips out to cut the grass before it gets an upper hand.  The rain helps the growth, along with ample sunshine, and many times pruning is necessary too for optimum growth.
  As with growth in nature, we are also looking to grow.  We need light from the Son, Living Water, and yes, pruning is inevitable too.
  
2 Peter 3:18 says, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ."

  Walking in newness of life requires us to examine our lives for any darkness where sin may dwell and stunt our growth.  God lets us know that we need to confess our sins to Him so that we can know His powerful forgiveness and cleansing.  Walk in His light, and let Him grow grace and wisdom in you.
  Some of the evidence of growth are:
*Living wisely (Romans 16:19)
*Walking by faith and abounding in faith (2 Corinthians 5:7 & 8:7)
*Teaching others the truths of God (Matthew 28:20)
*Serving others in love (Galatians 5:13)
*Encouraging others daily (Hebrews 3:13)
*Giving cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7)
*Being merciful (James 2:13)
  He is the Living Water.  We need not wait for summer rains.  He replenishes and refreshes every thirsty soul that calls to Him.  As we spend time going back to the Bible, time and again, our growth is assured.
  "When believers want to find and know the truth the way some people look for national treasures, when believers crave the Word as passionately as an infant craves milk, they will grow and mature and become like Jesus Christ." - John MacArthur
  Pruning can be painful, but vital for us too, to mature and bear fruit in our daily lives.  Read John, chapter 15 for more about pruning, but also about abiding in Christ, which is something we really need to get, really want to understand.
  A prayer:
  Dear Father, help me realize how important these few years on earth are and to concentrate on growing in grace and knowledge and the things of eternal value. In Jesus'name, Amen.
 

Newness of Life Rejoicing Always.

  It's worth it.  Keep climbing the hill, even when it becomes difficult.  When I go hiking, I remind myself occasionally of the facts that it is good for me, that the view can sometimes be spectacular, and that the difficult steps draw me closer to my rewarding goal.
  Also, in life, we can see that the tougher times can actually be good for us, making us stronger, taking part in growing our faith, helping us gain wisdom and tools to use later in similar hard times and in helping others.  Asking God for His strength and help and comfort brings us to places of enjoyment, and even rejoicing as we look back and around and forward.

  Look to God's Word into the book of Habakkuk, chapter 3, verses 17 through 19:
  "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls-
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills."

  So, He will give those who live by faith a confidence in times that seem so rough. Confidence like that of a surefooted deer has in climbing mountain terrains.  Like a victorious army, in God's strength we will occupy the high hills.

  At times, as we work hard traversing the lean times of life while also depending on God's unending grace, we are able to see some spectacular views.  We can rejoice and be thankful always.  When we do, we should take occasion to celebrate. 

  "As brilliantly as the sun shines through some days, there are many days that it does not shine at all.  Some days the clouds cover the mountains, and I must remind myself they are still there. And so I must continually remember that it is God's love that perfects, that makes the windows of our lives clear, that helps us see.  There's much we don't understand now.  All the more reason to accept grace and praise Him exactly from where we are." - Nancie Carmichael

  Then there is the reward of drawing closer to God as we walk in newness of life through dry desert times and valleys of decision and high uphill climbs.  I have found that in the most incredibly stressful and sorrowful times, God has drawn me ever closer to His heart.  There is no better place to be as we wait to know our real home in heaven.

Please pray with me:
  Father, in You there is no room for despair because You are the God of hope.  Please help me to trust You completely and call upon You while You are near.  In Jesus' name, Amen.
 

Newness of Life With Nothing To Lose.

  What have you got to lose?
  Today I found a CD that I lost a year ago.  It was in my truck, but I had searched there many times before, so it must have been freed from captivity somewhere along the way and finally slid into view. I do not like losing things, especially some great music by Fernando Ortega, but it happens.  It makes me think, though, about how, with all the stuff we accumulate, we can easily lose a thing or two.  I lost two mini Swiss Army knives in the very same place.  I used them for opening boxes while stocking the shelves of a store. I just put them down in the wrong place, and I am sure they found their way into someone else's hand or the bottom of the baler. Don't you hate it when you lose money?  Or a piece of valuable jewelry or your senses for a time or two?
  Chris Rice, in his song "Kids Again", sings that "we had so much more back when we had so much less to lose."
  As I think about all that may be lost materially, I cannot help but think also of what I cannot lose.
  This is why my thankfulness overflows to God.  He does not change His mind about our salvation.  Once we trust in His Son,  He says we are never lost again. 

  "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand." - John 10:27-28

  "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."- Hebrews 7:25

  If you read that last verse again, notice the word uttermost. It carries the meaning of completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity, forever.  That is powerful truth to help you walk in newness of life, encouraged to keep on keeping on in the struggles and discouragements that beat against us.  Take heart and take courage knowing He is strong and mighty to save and sustain and satisfy.

   "This is a precious mercy.  Coming to Christ you do not come to the One who will treat you well for a little while and then send you about your business, but He will receive you ...and you shall be His forever." - Charles Spurgeon

"Once in Christ, in Christ forever,
Nothing from His love can sever." - Anonymous

  Newness of life is living to know Him more here as we wait for His glorious return.  He is our Living Hope.  Please let someone know today about the hope you have in Him.

A prayer:
  Father, you love me that much. You offer me the gift of eternal life through your Son, and then make sure that when I receive that gift, I will never be lost again. Thank you LORD!
  I praise you and pray in the name of the only one mighty enough to save - Jesus, Amen.