No Matter the Weather, the SON Always Shines!

It has been a dreary few weeks here in West Virginia. I don't think it has stopped snowing and the temperatures are about 25 degrees below normal. We haven't seen the sun in weeks - until today! I woke up this morning and looked out my window expecting to see what I have seen the last few weeks - snow on the ground and still falling. But to my surprise and delight I looked out to no snow falling and the sun shining. Granted it is still cold outside but we are supposed to have a high of 23 degrees today! But the sun is shining!

I immediately thought of how dreary the weather had been and how dreary it had made me start to feel. While I cannot always get out of the house due to physical limitations, it is still depressing to not be able to do anything even if I feel like it because of the weather. And for such a long period of time. I haven't even been able to celebrate the holidays with my daughter yet because of the weather.

But then I thought of no matter how dreary the weather is and no matter how long it is that we don't see the sun, God's SON always shines and is always there for us! What a comforting thought to know that God's son Jesus Christ is always there to help us through the cloudy times! He is our encourager when times are gray. He is our shelter from the storms of life. He can turn sadness into gladness, gloom and despair into hope and reassurance.

Lord, thank you for your SON who always shines. Thank you that no matter how dreary our lives may seem and no matter how many storms we may face, He is always there for us to brighten our day, to protect us, to love us, to shelter us. Thank you, Lord!

When Jesus spoke to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

NEW CREATURES IN GOD

Have you ever heard the story of the farmer who brought his pig into his home, washed him, polished his hooves, put some perfume on him, put a ribbon around his neck and brought him into his living room. The pig looked, and smelled, wonderful! He made a wonderful pet - until the door was left opened! Then the pig went outside as fast as he could and jumped into the first mud puddle he could find? Why? Because he was still a pig!! Nothing the farmer could do on the outside could change who the pig was on the inside. He was still a pig!!

We are like this pig. You can clean us up, put nice clothes on us, make us smell good, put us on the front row at church. But unless we are born again and have Jesus in our heart - we are just like that pig. Our nature has not changed and our true colors will come out. We need to be born again and have Jesus in our heart for our nature to be changed!

Thank you, Lord, for changing us, for cleaning us up and for giving us a new nature!!
Thank you for making us new creatures!

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:4-6


ALL THINGS NEW - STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN

THANK YOU, JESUS

We have been so used to thinking of giving thanks for the blessings in our lives that we find it hard to think in terms of being grateful for God's gifts that are hidden in experiences that we try to avoid.

We need to give thanks to God for the opposition we meet, the resistance that has forced us to put forth our best efforts, and the disputes that have compelled us to re-examine our arguments and eliminate the flaws.

We need to praise God for the struggles that have made us grow, the defeats that have made us humble, the losses that have made us cautious, and the dangers that have kept us alert.

We need to thank God for the risks we have had to take that have shown us hidden strengths we didn't know we had.

We need to be grateful for the enemies we have made, for to have no enemies means we have not taken any issue with the wrong, defied evil, or rallied to the defense of the oppressed.

We need to be grateful for our critics who tell us the truth about ourselves.

But above all, we need to thank God that good has come out of evil, that struggles we would have preferred to avoid have turned into blessings, that because we are confident and secure in his love and goodness we have found strength and courage to face whatever comes - to run the race that is set before us.

Thank you, Lord, for all of your blessings, even those we don't see as blessings as the time. Thank you for the strength you give us to run the race you have set before use.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but alto to have who have long for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8


WE FALL DOWN - CHRIS TOMLIN

TEN EXCUSES TO NEVER WASH

1. My parents always forced me to when I was little.
2. People who wash are hypocrites and think they are cleaner than others.
3. There are so many different brands of soap, I'd never know which one to use.
4. I used to wash, but is was the same thing every time and I got bored with it,
so I quit washing.
5. None of my friends wash.
6. Washing is a scam that is perpetuated on people by soap companies who are just
trying to make money.
7. I'm still young. When I get older and need it more, I'll start washing.
8. I'm so busy I can't find the time to wash.
9. I know some people who are regular washers, and they once hurt my feelings,
so I'm not going to wash anymore.
10.It's not like I've totally quite washing. I still wash on special occasions
like Easter and Christmas.

Now, would you like to hear ten excuses why people don't go to church??
1. See #1 above.
2. See #2 above.
3. See #3 above.
4. See #4 above.
5. See #5 above.
6. See #6 above.
7. See #7 above.
8. See #8 above.
9 See #9 above.
10.See #10 above.

There is only one way to wash away our sins and that is through the blood of Jesus. And we need to remember that we need to keep clean "between the ears", not just behind the ears!!!

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SINS - THE GAITHERS

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART

Sometimes in our lifes we become so stuck in the same routine. We get up at the same time, go to work or whatever we do during the day, come home, sit on the couch and watch TV. Not much ever changes. We become complacent and content with the way things are.

But sometimes God wants to shake things up! He wants to change some things in our lives. But we become so used to the way things are, whether that is good or bad, that we close our eyes and our hearts to what God wants to do in our lives.

Recently, God has been speaking to me about some things He wants to change in my life. I have been guilty of having a hard heart towards these changes. In fact, I totally ignored what God was saying and pretended I didn't hear Him. Well, I woke up this morning and He was telling me loud and clear! I realized I truly need to soften my heart and open my eyes to what He wants to do in my life! God truly wants what is best for us if we will only listen to him and follow Him. While change may not be fun at times - it is easier just to keep things the way they are, if God is telling us to change things then we need to listen! Certain things have been the same in my life for a long time and while I won't say that I am really ready for change - it is scary - I will say that I am excited about what God has in store for me, even though I don't have a clue what it is! I am putting my trust in Him!

Life really is full of changes but the one thing that never changes is Jesus Christ!

Lord, I pray that you will soften my heart and open my eyes to what You want to do in my life. Thank you for always wanting the best for me and for never giving up on me, even when I don't always listen to You.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in his toil - this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART - MERCY ME

GOD'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS

It is kind of gloomy outside today. Looks like it is going to rain, but at least it is warmer! I was praying and trying to decide on my devotion today when I came across this story that seemed to fit the weather! I am not sure who wrote the original story, but I love it!

WINDSHIELD WIPERS

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly my son spoke up from his buckled-in position in the back seat. "Mom, I'm thinking of something." This announcement usually meant he had been pondering some fact for a while and was now ready to expound all this his 7-year-old mind had discovered. I was anxious to hear.

"What are you thinking?" I asked. "The rain," he began, is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God, wiping our sins away."

After the chill bumps raced up my arms, I was able to respond. "That's really good, Matthew." Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little boy take this revelation?

So I asked..."Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you." Matthew didn't hesitate one moment to answer: "We keep on sinning, and God keeps on forgiving us."


Just like the mother in this story, I got goosebumps when I read this story. This 7-year-old child had such a wonderful answer to the rain and windshield wipers! Let us all thank God that He is like windshield wipers, continually wiping our sins away!

Thank you, Lord, that You always wipe away our sins no matter how hard it rains! Thank you that by your grace we are forgiven. Thank you for the wonderful thoughts of children who help us remember your wonderful glory!

---This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24

ANGELS IN MY LIFE

I have been so blessed by so many people in my life - some I know, some I haven't seen for years but love dearly anyway, and some I have never seen before in my life. The last few weeks have truly reminded me of how many "angels" I have watching over me!

I thank you, Lord, for putting these angels in my life. They have brought smiles to my face, laughter to my heart, eased my physical burdens, and taken a load off my financial burdens. And they have all done so without any request from me - just for living and giving the way You would have them do. I truly feel so undeserving of their friendship, their love and their generosity but so, so grateful!

I pray, Lord, that You will show me the ways that I can be an "Angel" to others as they have been to me. I want to be a blessing in others lifes and to show them that You truly live in me and how blessed I am!

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Acts: 20:35

JESUS MEETS OUR NEEDS

Yesterday was a tough day for several people I know. My best friend's daughter had a tonsil abscess and had to have surgery to remove the tonsils. This was after spending all night the night before in the emergency room and being sent home, only to have to go back yesterday morning. Her youngest daughter also had to go to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with pneumonia and is on seven medications. On top of that, her mother has been sick for several weeks and just can't seem to get well. My poor friend is being stretched in so many directions and she is just exhausted. And I am 10 hours away and feel I am absolutely no help!

My daughter's best friend and roommate's grandmother fell and broke her foot and is in the hospital. Then she finds out her brother has a staph infection and is in the hospital! Both are several hours away from her - in different towns. She feels so helpless because she can't go to see them because she is having car problems. I offered her my car but she isn't sure what she is going to do.

I feel so bad that I can't help two people who I truly care about and are in such need. But even though I can't be of much help, I know Jesus can. In Mark 5:25-34, it speaks of a woman who had been ill for 12 years. No doctors were able to make her well. Then she heard about Jesus and believed that if she could get to him and just touch him, she would be healed. When Jesus asked who touched his clothes and she told him her story, he responded in a comforting voice, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (Mark 5:34).

Jesus is just as interested in your needs as he was interested in this woman's need many years ago. It does not matter how big or small your need is - Jesus is there for you. Whatever your need is, Jesus will meet it. All you need to do is ask.

Verse for the Day: Mark 5:25-34