A Walk In Faith

Everyday, we encounter a world full of color.  Sometimes the colors are bright and vibrant inviting us to live life to the fullest with our arms opened wide.  Other times, our days become overshadowed with bleak and dreary shades of gray thrusting us into the darker side, which can consist of sadness and tears. During these dark gray moments of life, we often choose to hide in an attempt to shelter ourselves from the raging storm.

But I have found that no matter the color on any given day, this short phrase located in God’s word “and it came to pass” has provided me much comfort, especially on those gray days.  Life is too short.  I must keep my eyes on the Author and Finisher of my faith.

Time is moving so fast that the days run together and the colors begin to blur.  However, I have encountered the color of God’s grace in this great passage – Romans 8:35-39

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

   “For your sake we face death all day long;
   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have a grace-colored day,

Janice

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Did you know that everything we say and do begins with a thought?  For instance, this morning when I woke up I thought about writing a message for this Blog and then perceived an idea for the message.  It all began with a thought.

The Word instructs us to take every thought captive.  Second Corinthians 10:5 states, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I enjoy visiting with our granddaughter.  Sometimes, her and I play with her crayons and coloring book.  It is fun to look through the pages and pick a picture and then choose which color of crayons will fill up the segments of that picture. 

So it is within our thought lives.  Did you know, that we get to choose the stories and thoughts that will play in our minds each and every day? And we also get to choose, how we will color and paint those stories and thoughts?  When we speak to others and share what is on our minds, we paint a picture with our words.  What color of crayon will we choose? What pictures or imprints are we sharing to those whom we communicate?  Is it something, lovely, admirable, or pure?

Psalm 119:11 declares, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Everyday, I make an attempt to read the word of God.  My hope is to fill myself with God’s word and to remain in His will.  This passage of scriptures assures me that if I hide his Word in my heart, it will enable me to not sin.  I like that color of crayon, don’t you?

Colors are all around us, plus our minds are forever thinking.  Let us choose today to paint a picture that is true, and noble, and right, reflecting God’s love – first in our minds and then spray-painting with our speech.

Today, let’s color our minds with God’s word.  I tend to believe that ‘peace’ is the color of His (Jesus) eyes.

Have a Wonderful Easter

Janice

 JANUARY

Use the entire month of January to develop a Resolution Plan, and then you can’t possibly fail the New Year Resolution within two weeks. The 2011 plan may include: attending a small group study, joining weight watchers or some other weight loss program (your city hospital might sponsor a program), help out at the local Red Cross or the County Food Bank, rearrange your house, help a friend or neighbor paint a room, visit a shut-in, check out the Senior Center and see if they need some renovations – large or small, check out the city parks to enjoy and contribute to their upkeep.  These are just a few ideas. Let’s make 2011 a good year to reach out to our communities. Seek God’s guidance and set your Plan according to your abilities and budget.

FEBRUARY

Valentine’s Month.  Pray over your New Year’s plan and put your heart into it. Make a commitment. Join whatever it is you have decided to join, put aside money to meet the need you committed yourself too, purchase the items you need to succeed, and put a voice to your plan.  In other words – set in motion your New Year Plan.

MARCH

Spring. So spring into action, by continuing to follow through with your New Year Plan.  Double-check your list, share with others what you are doing, re-affirm your commitment, re-evaluate your goals, and do your New Year Plan.

APRIL

Easter/rebirth.  Let those spring rains remind you of new life waiting to burst forth.  Stay focused and recommit to follow through to accomplish and fulfill your New Year Plan.  Remember, when we reach out to others God’s love shines forth illuminating the way. Follow Through.

MAY

Flowers.  Your labors will produce a harvest if you stay the course.  After joining weight watchers, it took months to see results.  But the neatest thing I discovered was the support I received and was able to give to others. This weight loss plan was no longer just about me, it has become a time of sharing and concern for others in their endeavor to be healthy. Hopefully, you will have discovered this golden nugget of truth, that when we get involved with others, we become a blessing to each other.

JUNE

Summer.  Let the summer sun warm your heart as you grasp a new appreciation for your New Year plan’s progress. The outcome should result in helping others.  If you have fallen short of your New Year Plan, this is a great time to re-commit.  Pray. Then, re-read and re-do your Plan.  We have all fallen short of the goals we have set at one time or another. Get back on track. Re-affirm your 2011decision and commitment. People will be affected by the Plan of this I am resolute.

JULY

Fireworks.  Ready to ignite your Plan. Do something for someone else that will blow your mind.  This is an awesome experience.  Pray about it, then just do it!!! Smile, smile, smile….

AUGUST

The heat is on. Are you fulfilling your New Year Plan?  Remember this is your first 12-Step New Year Plan. Worried about perfection, well you can perfect it next year.  Simply, see this plan through to completion.  Whoever said that a good deed needs to be perfect? A good deed just needs to be done.  Perfection comes after much heat has been applied and the dross has been burnt off. What ‘s left shines like gold or silver.

SEPTEMBER

Fall is here.  The pruning season has begun. Perhaps, you may have to cut back on some of your ideas or good intentions.  But focus on what is important.  Only three months before we get to begin again.

OCTOBER

Harvest time.  Someone is reaping a benefit from all your hard work and commitment. Believe is a big word. Be sure of this, God is smiling down on you from heaven because of your Plan.  Many are the plans of man, but it is God’s purpose that prevails. It’s all about Him.

NOVEMBER

Thanksgiving. Give thanks for all that He has done. When God walked upon the earth he completed his Plan, what about us?  Remember, that he who has begun a good work in you will see it to completion.

DECEMBER

O Holy Night. Celebrate a year of accomplishment.  I have learned that greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. And we can end the year rejoicing with the angelic choir announcing and proclaiming that ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given’, along with ‘For to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’  What a Plan!!! 

Happy New Year,

Janice