Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Thursday was my birthday and I had a lot to celebrate. It’s been two years since I hurt my neck and I am still amazed at the miracles God has done. During excruciating pain, He sustained me. When facing the fear of possible surgery, He made another way. He used pain to teach me perseverance and compassion and dependence on Him. And through it all, He demonstrated His great faithfulness and love every day.

So did His servants. My pastor anointed me and prayed faithfully for my healing as did dozens of friends. They called, sent emails and cards, and in so many ways lifted my spirits during one of the most difficult challenges I have ever faced. So this year, I am celebrating the unshakable faithfulness of God and those who love me and believed in His promises.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

    great is Your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”  Lamentations 3:22-24

Invest Wisely

I get so excited each January at the prospect of a new year full of promise. Each year God gives us 365 days to spend any way we wish. He gives each of us 24 hours a day to work, to dream and to share His love. Yet we complain often “there just aren’t enough hours in the day.”

God says there is. He says not to worry about tomorrow, but to focus on one grace-filled day at a time. He says: “be anxious for nothing.” He also tells us what to do with His gifts. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21) Jesus is not just referring to money, but to our time, talents, and energy, too.

How do you store up treasure in heaven? 1. Make God’s work a priority. “Seek first the kingdom of God” and support it with tithes and offerings. 2. Love others. “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”(1 John 3:17-18) 3. Live like Jesus who embodied God’s admonition in Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Investing in the work of God, who is faithful and generous and merciful, is the wisest investment you can make in 2014.