Newness of Life With A Good Foundation.

  Sometimes I dream of owning a home and some of the comforts associated with it. At times, I have even put thought into the layout of the floorplan and the aesthetics of the outside. But whatever best-laid plan ends up on the blueprint, without a strong and firm foundation, trouble will abound.
  I see in life that the same applies.  Without building upon the right foundation, the brief time here on earth can be pretty fruitless indeed, even downright futile.  But the greatest news is that God graciously lets us know what foundations of living should and can be.

  "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it..." - 1 Cornthians 3:11-13a

  As one who has trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD, there comes the added blessing of strength to gird up the life and endeavors He blesses us with.  Therefore, whatever you put your hand to do, build on His strength and establish the work you do and the family you have and the time you spend in seeking His kingdom and righteousness, walking in newness of life.
  In the the work we do, we do well to remember God's Word in Colossians 3:23, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the LORD and not to men."

  In the establishing of our families, let us build upon the wisdom of God's Word, praying together and bringing glory to God together.  Let us strive not just to patch things up, but actually solidify the foundation.

  "There is no place where the foundation of America needs to be stabilized more so than in the home.  Strong families hold the key to a strong society, while conversely, weak families lead to a weak society.  This is so because every other institution in society is predicated on and dependent upon strong families.  And you can't have strong families without God as their foundation." - Tony Evans

  In all the ways we spend the time we have been gifted with here, starting with the sold rock of Truth is the key.  No better investment to make could match the time spent with God in His Word.

  A prayer:

  Father, I come to You with a thankful heart, grateful that You have given me the ultimate gift- your Son- to be the only foundation worth building upon.  Please help me to honor You with the life You give.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Newness of Life In Anticipation.

  What are you looking forward to?  There's just something about the anticipation of getting something new, waiting for a loved one's arrival, or getting a new set of circumstances.
  I remember as a kid, how I loved waiting for a piece of mail, especially if it was a package.  And, of course, at Christmastime, being able to tear into a wrapped surprise to see what was hiding underneath was always surrounded by excitement.
  Waiting to see someone you have been missing can be tough, but the beauty of their arrival after a season of anticipation makes it worthwhile.
  Then there is the waiting, sometimes in such difficulty, for a new bend in the road to appear, taking us to better days, or a situation of life to turn around, helping joy to be restored.
  In walking in the newness of life, we can experience unsurpassed encouragement knowing that God's faithfulness never changes.  That anticipation of waiting for something good and new actually can be known day by day.  In Scripture, it is amazing to see how God is pleased to give us something incredibly good and new each day.
  Lamentations 3:22-23 lets us know:

"Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassionate fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness."

  So, look for this amazing kindness from His hand.  Rise, and shine, and give God the glory due to His name each morning.

  Also, live with the anticipation of the return of the LORD Jesus Christ.  This is closer than it has ever been and may be closer than we think.
  Jesus said in John 14:1-3, "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
  He makes good on His promises. Always.
  Since His return is sure, examine your heart today.  Have you placed your trust in Jesus as Savior and LORD?   If not, today can be the day of salvation.  If you have trusted Him- His taking your sin on Himself, dying in your place, taking your punishment and then being raised from death, rejoice and remember His promise to return and the promise of heaven.

  Anticipating your real home, heaven, encourages you to live with eternity in mind and understanding this world is not all there is.  It will be an ultimate change of venue and circumstances, but we can already relish the goodness of it.
  "Believers regularly taste the sweetness of the same heaven to which someday we will go to dwell forever.  Praising and loving God with all your being, adoring and obeying Christ, pursuing holiness, fellowship with other saints- those are the elements of heavenly life we can begin to taste in this world." - John MacArthur
  The blessings of anticipation of new mercies each morning, the return of the Prince of Peace, and the hope of heaven can spur us onward and upward and closer to the heart of the Father.

A prayer:
  Heavenly Father, thank you for Your amazing mercies and amazing grace.  Please place in my heart a fervent longing for the return of Your Son and a willingness and boldness to tell others the good news of the Gospel. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Newness of Life Gaining Momentum.

  What do you know about Big Mo?  Momentum, by definition, is the product of an object's mass and its velocity, as you see in a boulder rolling down a hill, gaining ground and gaining force. When certain circumstances happen together, there is a creation of something that incites, a stimulus.  It is a little like what we were supposed to have in the US economy with an infusion of moves made together by financial experts.  And as you see in football, when players and coaches are on the same page and plays are made just right, there is created a force to be reckoned with that helps a team move down the field toward the end zone.
  In walking in newness of life, momentum can be seen too, when certain variables are met together, such as teamwork, knowing and doing the right things to develop healthy habits, and encountering confidence in believing God's promises and power.  With this momentum in place in our families and our marriages and our church and whatever endeavor we are working toward, we can begin to see an unstoppable march to bringing peace to our battle-worn lives and bringing glory to our Mighty God.

   "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:9-10

  If we want to know what is good, to put these things into practice, gaining momentum in this life, look to God's Word and make time reading and spending time with Him a treasured priority.
  Philip Graham Ryken has written, "Staying on track in life means going down the Biblical path.  The psalmist loved, read, meditated on, and prayed through God's Word.  As he did those things, he discovered that the Bible is like a smooth pathway for a difficult journey...The ancient path, the good way, is the Bible."
  Teamwork, whether it be a family or church or group of friends, gain momentum as they each do their part to make life better - by being concerned with the other first, working together, building relationships, and building the kingdom of God.
  "...a threefold cord is not quickly broken.."- Ecclesiastes 4:12
  As we understand and experience the precious promises of God (see 2 Peter 2:1-4), our confidence grows and helps us to face adversity that threatens to swing momentum away around the bends and twists and turns of life.
 
A prayer:
  Father in Heaven, thank You for being our abundantly available help and providing Your powerful and precious promises to us.  Please help us to look to Your Word for true wisdom and gain traction in the right direction- Your way- the only way worth going. In Jesus's name, Amen.
 

Newness of Life With Integrity.

  Do you delight in doing what is right?
  It is a key component in integrity (moral excellence that is developed in your mind and heart and showcased in your walk before a watching world around you).  It is conforming to God's directives as a pattern of life.
  And with integrity comes some expected benefits that encourage us as we walk in newness of life, like security and guidance and blessings for you and your family and a more vibrant faith.

  "He who walks with integrity walks securely..."- Proverbs 10:9

  If we want to know safety and security in our paths we choose and decisions we contemplate, then integrity of heart will be integral.  We develop this mindset by spending time in God's Word, where our minds can be renewed and our hearts refreshed as we let Him teach us from His storehouse of treasures of wisdom.  We need not fear any foe or mistake or moral failure when our integrity is intact and applied to the steps we take.  Even in a misstep, since perfection is not quite attainable, He restores us when we call out to Him, turn back toward Him, and realign our integrity with His commands.
 
  "The integrity of the upright will guide them..."- Proverbs 11:3

  What do you do when you don't know what to do?  We can see a great place to start - with an upright heart and integrity.  It is having a made-up mind, before a situation hits you head on, that you want to walk in His ways.  Then, when you come to a fork in the road, take it. Each time, with confidence, you can know the best way is His way.

  "The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him."- Proverbs 20:7

  Even better than knowing blessings yourself, knowing that walking in integrity also brings bountiful benefits to your children motivates us to diligently pursue pleasing God and trusting Him with the outcomes of the twists and turns in life's journey.

  Also, as you are growing in faith, remember how we are called urgently to add integrity.  2 Peter 1:5 says, "...in your faith supply moral excellence..."
  "Pay attention to being faithful, no matter where you serve.  Whether in the military, the ministry, the marketplace, or the home- be faithful." - Chuck Swindoll

  A vibrant faith awaits as we walk in newness of life, looking to bring glory to God and living an exemplary life that others will notice and wonder about. 

A prayer:
  Father, integrity is not automatic or produced with ease, which is why we desperately need You.  Please enable us to be determined and encouraged to be intentional in living a life of moral excellence, and therefore be able to experience Your incredibly good blessings that accompany it.  In Jesus' name, Amen.