Work with all Your Heart

1 Thessalonians 1:3
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters...

In Bible college we learned about working in ministry. Many of my classmates went on to be pastors, children's ministers, and youth leaders. But most of us have worked in secular jobs. Teachers, carpenters, office managers, and librarians. I'd been home with my children for years before I worked in public. Raising kids had been my ministry and I enjoyed it. I loved encouraging and shaping their lives and ministering to their friends.

Dad was a cook in the service.

When I entered the workforce, I struggled to figure out how I was to minister when I wasn't in a ministry position. I wasn't prepared. I had days where I thought what's the point. Sure, I earned money and liked what I was doing. But, how was I to show people Jesus. When I read Colossians 3:23 it started to make sense. Whatever I do, I do for God. It's all for him. I needed to be a faithful employee, honest, encouraging and serving. So whoever I worked with or met saw Jesus in me. I have a confession. I still have days when I get down and wonder what I'm doing. Just last week I felt that way. My friend posted Col. 3:23 on Facebook, and  there it was-- the verse I needed. As a believer, no matter what I'm doing each day as long as I'm obedient and faithful to God, my work is valuable to him. He sets my path, as long as I work with all my heart and with faith, I know I'm fulfilling his purpose.

He's With Me Each Day

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

When is today not today? When I live in the past or long for the future. The days I can't let go of circumstances, the desire for the "good old days," or a lack of resolve over hurt feelings. How about the days I can't wait for vacation to roll around; or that longing for the weekend that starts dogging me on hump day? Then there's the fretting, what's going to happen, will this work out, will that fail. Today cannot be itself if I'm always looking back or leaning forward.

God wants me to let the past go. Learn from it, appreciate it, but let go of any hurts and forgive. He encourages me to trust him for tomorrow and all the days after that because he has them covered. Jesus urges his listeners in Matthew not to be concerned about tomorrow. Don't worry, each day has enough trouble without adding anxiety and stress.

God meets me every morning. He's with me each day. For that I am thankful.

The Most Magnificent Light

Psalm 97:11
Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

John 1:4-5 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The rain shot from the sky as the sun shined through. We've experienced a lot of rain this month in Ohio. Yesterday as the drops poured, the sun stood its ground (or would that be sky?) and shined anyway. So bright that sunglasses and visors were required. Isn't that life as a believer? No matter how much difficulty dumps on me, God's light warms me and brightens my path.

Psalm 97 reminds me of God's joy-filled light. And John, he tells the true story of the most magnificent light. Jesus, the light that carries me out of the storms, the light that lifts me up, the light that saves my life. Torrential rain, dark clouds, crashing waves, no matter what I face in life, the light of Jesus shines brighter, warms my heart, and pulls me out of the darkness. I pray that you know Jesus and have allowed him into your life. He's the true light. 

No Matter What

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Over the years my faith has grown in many ways. From learning the Ten Commandments to understanding what it means to have a deep relationship with Jesus. The growth occurs in many ways. Reading the Bible keeps me grounded in God's truth. Prayer connects me to the one who loves me. The Holy Spirit whispers in my ear (although sometimes he has to shout) and guides my path. And then there are the trials. The difficult tribulations of life. My personal life and life as a whole. Trials that drop me into a frying pan of fire and circumstances that make me so sad I cry tears of grief. No matter what life throws at me, I have one solid place to stand-- on the word of God and the hope he gives.

Life brings difficulties; decisions that challenge, acts that appall. Yet I know without a doubt, I have God in my corner, Jesus as my Savior, and the Holy Spirit as my comfort. When I'm hurting, grieving, shaking my head at life on earth, I can hold unswervingly to hope and the promise of God's faithfulness.

If you have Jesus, you're on solid ground. Keep that as a promise you can hold in your heart.