My 100th post will last 100 days.
100 Days with God
Day 1.
How to be.
Isn’t that what we all try to figure out?
How to be a kid?
What to be when we grow up?
How to be an adult?
How to be successful?
How to be liked?
How to be somebody?
Be angry…just don’t hold a grudge.
Be sad…just not devastated.
Be curious…just not foolish.
Be careful…just not controlling.
Be forgiving…just not a pushover.
Be helpful…just not an enabler.
Be like God.
Be humble, kind, good, patient, loving, joyful, peaceful, and have self-control.
Be like God.
Ephesians 5
Day 2.
“They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”
John 12:13
When Jesus entered Jerusalem they greeted Him with shouts of praise. When Jesus enters our life we should greet Him with shouts of praise and continually praise Him. We have all hope because of Jesus. Fullness of joy because of Jesus. Eternity of peace because of Jesus. The cure for depression, boredom, restlessness, could be lack of worship. Add worship and see if you begin to subtract certain struggles in your life. Even though life is not easy, we can cope so much better when worship is part of our lives. Hosanna! Hosanna Jesus! I am thankful tomorrow is Sunday and time to gather with fellow Christians in worship to our King. I am privileged to have the opportunity to teach the preschoolers about worship tomorrow.
Hosanna!
Day 3.
We were teaching the preschoolers at church about the crucifixion and resurrection today and we asked them why did Jesus die on the cross. A 4 year old girl said “Because Jesus loves us more than He loves Himself”. What else do we need to know?
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
If you don’t know Jesus…please give Him a chance. If you do know Him…please share Him this week.
I love Jesus week! Can’t wait!
Crosspoint Baptist Church, Trussville, AL, Good Friday service noon this Friday, Celebrate Recovery in Springville – Celebrate Jesus this Friday 7:00 p.m., Crosspoint 8:15, 9:30, 10:45 a.m. Resurrection Sunday. Join me for one or all…and I am looking for more.
Day 4.
JUST WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH AND I WANT TO GET GOING…GOD STEPS IN.
We all will face times in our lives when one, or everyone, fails us.
Why do they fail us?
Perhaps…jealousy, anger, they feel inadequate, they would rather judge because that releases them of responsibility of helping us, selfishness, or maybe fear.
They fail us because of sin. In chapter 3, Paul tells us that people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. AVOID SUCH PEOPLE. He further states that these people are always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
Paul tells us to follow him and have faith, patience, love, and steadfastness, and to be sober-minded and fulfill our ministry.
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul found that his friends had let him down. He was in prison and felt deserted. Demas was “in love with this present world” and deserted him. Other friends had left him. One friend he sent away and one had done him great harm. He did not hold a grudge and asked for none to be held against them. Luke was his true friend. The Lord stood beside him and strengthened him.
Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:17 “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.” 3:19 “The Lord knows those who are his.”
No one can take Christ from us. They can betray, judge, desert, and abuse but they cannot take Christ from us when we are Christians.
Paul is asking Timothy to come to him soon. To bring Mark with him. Paul asked for his friends whom he believed were true and loving friends.
Now we ask ourselves “what kind of friend am I?” Would I have been one who left Paul? Loved the world? Would I have stood with him? Would he have asked me to join him?
Also, when I feel deserted I must remember “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
May we all find true friends, be true friends, and more than anything remember that Christ is always the true friend.
With the world competing to have the most friends on Facebook, let’s remember that the number one person we should send a friend request to is Jesus Christ.
Day 5.
God will do one of three things when you struggle with something:
Deliver you out of it. Allow you to go through it – and be with you along the way. Or take you home.
Paul said in Romans 7:15 “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
Even Paul, with all of his wisdom, love, and knowledge of Jesus had something he struggled with. How awesome that he shared that and it is included in the Word of God. It brings me great comfort to know that it is normal for me to have imperfections, weaknesses, etc. He explains that he desires to do what is right but his sinful flesh fails.
But praise God…”but the Spirit helps us in our weakness” Romans 8:26
Why struggle? Rom. 5:3 “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope”
So, we have to thank God for the weakness…it makes us stronger.
Thank Him for the opportunity to understand suffering because we must remember He understands…after all Jesus is the one who died for us. He understands.
Day 6.
“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!” Romans 4:16 – Paul
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Forgive.
Day 7.
Luke 20: 55(HK) And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of(HL) the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59And after an interval of about an hour still another(HM) insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61And the Lord turned and(HN) looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, (HO) “Before the rooster crows today, you will(HP) deny me three times.” 62And he went out and wept bitterly.
How many times have I denied Christ? Doubted Him? Doubted His Love? Denied his Power? Disobeyed?
Yet, He loves me. Yet, He forgives me.
Day 8.
Luke 23: 44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
And Jesus would have died, even if you were the only one. In the words of a 4 year, “He died because He loves us more than He loves Himself.”
John 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Day 9.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Tomorrow is coming…..
Day 10
“And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” Luke 24:3
Can you imagine the confusion Mary Magdalene felt when she saw a shell of cloth with no body; a shell of a tomb with no body. I’m sure her own body felt like a shell due to the consuming grief. Jesus said to her, “Mary”. Can you imagine her amazement and extreme joy when she saw Him and heard His voice once again.
He is risen. The one and only living God. Jesus.
Day 11.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4
God gives us rewards, trials, and responsbilities because He trusts us to handle them. Think about your life and feel privileged that God trusted you to have the courage, strength, intelligence, kindness, etc., to handle the things you have overcome. How awesome is the thought of God trusting us to do something? He is our Rock and we can always trust Him. Perfect peace.
Day 12.
Love is a verb. A verb is a word that shows action.
God was the greatest example of love in the Old Testament. He created the world in awesome wonder and fashion. The world could be plain and boring. It is not. God gave us soft grass to roll around in. Beautiful flowers of all shapes and colors and fragrances. A sun that we gives us light and its warmth makes us feel lighter. At night when we need darkness to calm us into rest, He provided just enough light with a moon and twinkling stars. He gave us a vast ocean that knows to stop exactly where it needs to. In the ocean are amazing creatures like whales and dolphins and cities of beautiful coral. There are even fish that we can eat in the ocean. He could have given us only animals we can eat, but He loved us enough to give us animals we can love and admire. We have birds that sing to us. Dogs that play with us and we can call friend. Kittens that purr. Butterflies that begin as ugly caterpillars. Caterpillars all creepy with multiple legs wrap themselves in cocoons. They become new creatures and out bursts the delicate and precious butterfly. In the New Testament we learn of the love of Jesus. Jesus’ love was a verb. God loved us enough to send Him. Jesus loved enough to heal the blind, the lame, raise the dead, love the children, and weep in His friend’s grief. He loved us enough to allow the guards to take Him. He didn’t have to do it, but He did. He loved us more than he loved Himself. He suffered a horrible death because He loved us. He suffered so that we would not have to. He took the place of the sacrificial lamb. Jesus is the example of love.
People say they love so many things and so many people. Saying it is one thing. Loving is another. Love is giving when you don’t have enough for yourself. Love is listening when they are saying the same thing over and over. Love is forgiving when someone isn’t sorry. Love is focusing on the good instead of the bad. Love is allowing someone else to take credit for something you have done well. Love is doing something for someone, even though it is something you hate to do. Love is realizing when someone is upset they are upset for a reason. You might not understand that reason, you might not agree, but they feel it and believe it. Love is caring more about the comfort of another than of yourself. Love is serving. Love is serving another. Love is a ministry. Love is an action.
Christ told us that we are to love one another the way He loved us.
I know someone who would give me his last crumb of bread, wipe my tears before he cries tears of his own, risk being sick to take care of me, never judges, never condemns, is never jealous, is ever patient, is steadfast, is kind even when others are not, and loves me even when I don’t love him. His love is action love. He truly tries to imitate Christ better than just about anyone I have ever met.
I want to love in action. Love in deed. Love in truth.
Love.
Day 13.
Acts 9:18 “And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight.”
Saul was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” v.1
Jesus spoke to him from Heaven and asked why he was persecuting Him. He lost his sight for three days when this happened. God sent Ananais to Saul.
How often in life we do things; say things; think things that persecute Jesus. The One we are to worship we give our most quiet praise. The one we are suppose to proclaim we give our smallest voice. The One whose name is holy…we use His name in vain. Are you in a situation where you have lost sight of Jesus? Are you so stubborn that scales have grown over your eyes so that you cannot see the truth? Has God sent an Ananais to help you regain your sight? Pray for the Ananais’. Pray for sight. Pray to remember Jesus.
Day 14.
Sometimes we have to get off the roll-a-coaster and let others stay on. It is not easy to get off a moving roll-a-coaster with all of the turns, twists, drops, and jolts. Sometimes the roll-a-coaster gets dangerous and you afraid to stay on and afraid to get off. Sometimes you realize you are on the roll-a-coaster because you think you can straighten the runs, align the twists, flatten the drops and soften the jolts. You cannot.
God can. God can. And He will. We must let Him. “He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” Psalm 107:29
Day 15.
“Who are you, Lord?” Acts 9:5
Paul asked Jesus who He was. Who is Jesus to you. He should be Lord of our lives.
Day 16.
I have nothing to boast about but Jesus Christ. And Boast I do!
Day 17.
1 Corinthians 13 love….amazing love…I pray I can demonstrate that kind of love.
Day 18.
Make peace with God.
Make peace with others.
Have peace yourself.
Day 19.
Selflessness
Day 20.
Just as I am. Not perfect. With sin. But forgiven, just as I am.
Day 21.
A friend loves at all times. All times. All.
Day 22.
I am strong when I am on Your shoulders. Thank you God for lifting me from the miry bog, so many times. Psalm 40:1-3
Day 23.
Thank you Lord for listening to me when I am not making sense.
Day 24.
Thank you for seeing the good in me when I am soaked in sin.
Day 25.
Thank you for speaking to me when I refuse to listen.
Day 26.
Thank you for finding me when I hide.
Day 27.
Thank you for lifting me when I fall.
Day 28.
Thank you for holding me when I hurt.
Day 29.
Thank you for being Holy so that I may lift my hands to you and say thank you.
Day 30.
13I write(V) these things to you who(W) believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. 14And this is(X) the confidence that we have toward him, that(Y) if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5
Day 31.
I’m ready to fly. I’m ready to soar. I’m ready to leave this world behind.
Praising you God.
Day 32.
God answers my prayers. He is patient and loving and so kind. He loves me beyond what I deserve.
Day 33.
How precious the children are at my church. Their love is pure and sweet and I cherish them. Jesus does loves the little children. I’m so glad I’m a child of the King.
Day 34.
When I remember my limitations and am faced with challenge and hardship, I am reminded that God is limitless. How awesome is our God!!!
Day 35.
What is worship? Worship is honoring God. Worship is praising God. Worship is remembering God.
When you add worship to your life, you add joy. It is the most simple thing you can do and has the most incredible impact.
We go to doctors to get medication to calm our nerves, mend our broken hearts, and help us sleep.
We go to counselors to talk about our fears and pain. We ask them to help us fix it.
We learn skills or seek hobbies to try to find something fun to do so that we may forget the harship.
We buy pretty clothes, fun toys, and communicate on the internet to try and fill the void.
Worship will add joy to erase the pain.
Worship will mend your broken heart, silence your fears, calm your nerves and fill the void.
Worship at church. Don’t be ashamed or afraid. Lift Holy hands to the only Holy God.
Worship while driving.
Worship while eating.
Worship while cleaning.
Worship while working.
Worship when in worship.
I promise that worship works.
Day 36.
“And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” Isaiah 32:17
What more do we need?
Day 37.
Sometimes we serve the purpose of God and don’t even realize. Ask God daily to use you.
Day 38.
Lord, let the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart please you.
Day 39.
What mercy God shows Ahab in Exodus 21 -22. Check it out.
Day 40.
Little David kills Big Goliath. We have that same strength, that same power, because we have that same God.
Day 41.
God will use our sin for His purpose. Wow! How mighty and merciful is our Lord!
Day 42.
It is so hard to let go and let God. When life is not fair we want to even the score, right the wrongs, set things straight! Why do we think we know better than God? Our creator. Our creator is faithful. Is going to remain faithful. “O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.” Isaiah 33:2
Day 43.
In this unstable time what do we do? We turn to Isaiah 33:6 “and He will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;”.
Day 44.
God does not allow us to wander in the dark. He never leaves us. He doesn’t sit back and watch to see how things turn out for us. He knows. He loves. He guides.
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it” Isaiah 30:21
Day 45.
God has reminded me all week that He is faithful. When the enemy attacks…He is faithful. When life isn’t fair…He is faithful. When I fall…He is faithful. When I forget…He is faithful. Today, I woke knowing that today was miracle day and God was going to prove His faithfulness…again. He doesn’t have to prove anything but He loves me so much that He continues to show me. He provided. He protected. He surprised. He brought joy and laughter. He brought peace. He brought hope. God is faithful.
Psalm 121
Day 46.
“renounce ungodliness and wordly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”
Making Jesus the Lord of our lives in this busy “me focused” world is difficult…BUT when we do and let HIM lead us…when we turn toward HIM and from this world… and from ourselves…BLESSED HOPE.
Day 47.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…mind of Christ…beautiful life.
Love…today let’s focus on love. How can we give love? Are we allowing ourselves to see the love Christ is giving us? Focus on love.
John 3:16; Hebrews 10:24
Day 48.
For so long we thought our stability was in our family, or love, careers, education, or perhaps the fun activities that help us enjoy life.
We were wrong.
The only thing secure, the only thing stable, the only thing we can truly be certain of is OUR SALVATION.
When we accept that we are sinners and Jesus paid the price for our sin on that cross, we become saved.
That salvation we can be certain of.
It is secure. It is stable. We can KNOW it.
I used to say I hated to have my “KNOW” taken away.
I hated to be cheated on or lied to because the betrayal made me feel so out of control.
I felt my life was a lie.
You can have KNOW in Christ.
In these unstable times of our economy and our country, we may have certain – absolute – for sure – without doubt – KNOW…in Christ.
Is your child going to choose the path you hope for him…you cannot know.
Is your football team going to win the championship…you cannot know.
Is your job going to be there tomorrow…you cannot know.
Is your love of your life going to love you for life…you cannot know.
You can know Christ and in Him you can KNOW.
“and He will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge…” Isaiah 33:8
Day 49.
Ephesians 13:14 “For this reason I kneel before the Father”
So, we should ask ourselves “What would it take to make me kneel before the Father?”
God blesses us when we realizes we are weak and He is strong.
Meek and humble.
Day 50.
In honor of day 50, let’s all take $50 this month and give it to someone. Pray about and God will lead you. Share your stories if you like. There is awesome joy in giving.
Proverbs 11:24
“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty”
Day 51.
I am undeserving, yet you forgive me. I am unloving, yet you love me. I am weak, yet you give me strength. Thank You Lord.
Day 51
When is the last time you read about Paul’s conversion? Take some time to read the book of Acts. If we only had the zeal Paul had. “And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogoues, saying ‘He is the Son of God'” (Acts 9:20)
Day 52
“Peter lifted up his voice and addressed them…’you (God) will make me full of gladness with your presence'” (Acts 2:28).
Your career will not bring you gladness. Your kids will not bring you gladness. Your spouse will not bring you gladness. Hurting your ex-spouse will not bring you gladness…God will give you gladness.
Day 53
Paul talked about “peace with God”. Romans chapters 1 – 5 is Paul’s explanation of redemption, justification, righteousness.
We have no ability to make peace with God or place ourselves in right standing before Him. The only way is through faith in the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.
Peace with coworkers, friends, children, family, your spouse….wanted – needed – difficult.
Peace with God – absolutely necessary – impossible without Jesus but as simple as believing and accepting His gift.
Day 54
Ephesians 5:21 says to be submissive to one another. Isn’t that all the counseling we need? Isn’t that the bottom line of every self-help book? Isn’t that the answer to depression, anxiety, love? Isn’t that love? Submitting…isn’t that what Christ did? If he can, why can’t we?
Day 55
and God is with me every day. He blesses me when I am not a blessing.
Day 56
Psalm 61:3 “…that they may be called oaks of righteousness”. If only I could be called a seed of righteousness, yet I cannot.
Day 57
“God cannot bless what we do not give. Jesus is the subject of the Bible. Giving is the theme of the Bible.” Pastor Steve
1 John 3:17
Proverbs 28:14
Day 58
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” Isaiah 2:3
Worship is the soul’s response to God. Worship this Sunday!
So I didn’t complete this post. I was tempted to change the title but that seems like cheating. I could feel like a failure for not finishing or I could say days 57 until present have been in God’s hands. Every moment, every shelter, every encouragement, every hope in Him. Every moment.
kim
Unveiled & Untangled 