Sunrise
His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden. Habakkuk 3:4
The sunrise is a very interesting phenomenon to observe. The way total darkness slowly turns into light, until you see the fullness of the sun. The same can be said about our life before we have Christ in it. The darkness can shroud our heart and mind, but until that moment we fully accept Christ, we won't see the shining sun in our heart. As I watch the crest of the sun this morning creep above the horizon, I can see why God provides such a slow and even process, instead of showing everything at once. The splendor is there for us to enjoy and also to remind us that He is in control of the world, the universe and everything He has created. Also, as the sun rises you can look straight at it without it blinding you as it does in the rest of the sky when you observe it, and I honestly think that God allowed this to happen so we can see His glory every single morning, unless it is cloudy. God's glorious creation is something we need to take more time to view and reflect on, for it was created for us to enjoy while here on earth.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 30, 2022
Friday, December 23, 2022
Fantastic Friday #868 - News
News
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2: 8-11
What news are you waiting on? Is it a job, information on your health or something that you have been waiting on for a while? We all wait for news, and sometimes we are waiting a long time. People, years before Christ's arrival had waited on a Savior, someone to rescue them. I can only assume that when the day finally came as the news of His arrival spread, people were full of joy and relief. Finally, He had arrived, and if you notice, the people considered the lowliest were the first to hear about Christ"s arrival. The nice thing about us today is that we don't have to wait on Christ, because He is already present. We may have to wait on answers to our prayers, but we don't have to wait on His arrival in our lives. Just think of the joy the shepherds must have felt on that day. I can't imagine hearing an Angel of the Lord, but I can imagine hearing the still small voice guiding me daily. Remember, you don't have to wait because the good news is already here.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2: 8-11
What news are you waiting on? Is it a job, information on your health or something that you have been waiting on for a while? We all wait for news, and sometimes we are waiting a long time. People, years before Christ's arrival had waited on a Savior, someone to rescue them. I can only assume that when the day finally came as the news of His arrival spread, people were full of joy and relief. Finally, He had arrived, and if you notice, the people considered the lowliest were the first to hear about Christ"s arrival. The nice thing about us today is that we don't have to wait on Christ, because He is already present. We may have to wait on answers to our prayers, but we don't have to wait on His arrival in our lives. Just think of the joy the shepherds must have felt on that day. I can't imagine hearing an Angel of the Lord, but I can imagine hearing the still small voice guiding me daily. Remember, you don't have to wait because the good news is already here.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 16, 2022
Fantastic Friday #867 - Trip
Trip
4 Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net
and have set traps for me along my path. Psalm 140:4-5
As I get older, I am constantly keeping an eye out when I walk over things that I might trip over. I know that if for some reason I go down, the result will not be very good and I might be spending some time in an emergency room. Each morning when I walk my dogs, I am constantly having to balance not tripping over them when they get under my feet. Just like this scripture points out, the enemy is always there trying to trip us up. It could be something as simple as getting swallowed up in the gossip of a conversation, or something that you do that you think is only slightly dishonest. Snares are built in a way to trap us when we least expect it to, and believe me when I say that snares are everywhere. We can combat those snares if we pay close attention to what God teaches and what we should do in all those situations. We need to remember to keep God as our guide to help us avoid the snares and battle them when we can get trapped. Keep your eyes to the front and don't let them waiver. I hope we can all avoid tripping, and while we might from time to time, just know there can be forgiveness if you prayerfully petition God.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
4 Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net
and have set traps for me along my path. Psalm 140:4-5
As I get older, I am constantly keeping an eye out when I walk over things that I might trip over. I know that if for some reason I go down, the result will not be very good and I might be spending some time in an emergency room. Each morning when I walk my dogs, I am constantly having to balance not tripping over them when they get under my feet. Just like this scripture points out, the enemy is always there trying to trip us up. It could be something as simple as getting swallowed up in the gossip of a conversation, or something that you do that you think is only slightly dishonest. Snares are built in a way to trap us when we least expect it to, and believe me when I say that snares are everywhere. We can combat those snares if we pay close attention to what God teaches and what we should do in all those situations. We need to remember to keep God as our guide to help us avoid the snares and battle them when we can get trapped. Keep your eyes to the front and don't let them waiver. I hope we can all avoid tripping, and while we might from time to time, just know there can be forgiveness if you prayerfully petition God.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 9, 2022
Fantastic Friday #866 - Ask
Ask
22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16: 22-24
When you ask for things, do you ask the Lord or do you just throw up a comment about wanting something. Do you spend your days thinking about what you want vs. what you need? During this season of giving, I see a lot more wanting without a thought of whether or not someone truly needs something. I often think about what I ask the Lord for and how I ask. Now reading this scripture it reminds me that I must ask for what I need in His name and I need to be thoughtful of asking for things I want. God wants a relationship with us and for us to rely on Him, so I encourage you to be thoughtful of what you ask for and how you ask. We need to remember that Joy is something that is not waning if we have true faith in the Lord and what He can provide.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16: 22-24
When you ask for things, do you ask the Lord or do you just throw up a comment about wanting something. Do you spend your days thinking about what you want vs. what you need? During this season of giving, I see a lot more wanting without a thought of whether or not someone truly needs something. I often think about what I ask the Lord for and how I ask. Now reading this scripture it reminds me that I must ask for what I need in His name and I need to be thoughtful of asking for things I want. God wants a relationship with us and for us to rely on Him, so I encourage you to be thoughtful of what you ask for and how you ask. We need to remember that Joy is something that is not waning if we have true faith in the Lord and what He can provide.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 2, 2022
Fantastic Friday #865 - Changing
Changing
Who is like the wise?
Who knows the explanation of things?
A person’s wisdom brightens their face
and changes its hard appearance. Ecclesiastes 8:1
This week I saw something I have never seen before in all my years on this earth. It was a tree that had multiple color changes going on, but at the bottom it was still green like it was in the middle of summer. Only 50% had changed, and when the sun shined on it, the changing colors were highlighted but the green colors looked dull and unchanged. I could not explain what was going on with this tree, just like I cannot explain how people can change from their sinful ways to a life free of sin. All I know is that God can create change in all of us, and His hand in our lives never fails. Something else you notice in a changed life is their face is bright and wonderful just like the leaves on the tree. We need to remember what that feels like and continue to change our lives for the better. Let God shine on you and change you, you will not be disappointed.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Who is like the wise?
Who knows the explanation of things?
A person’s wisdom brightens their face
and changes its hard appearance. Ecclesiastes 8:1
This week I saw something I have never seen before in all my years on this earth. It was a tree that had multiple color changes going on, but at the bottom it was still green like it was in the middle of summer. Only 50% had changed, and when the sun shined on it, the changing colors were highlighted but the green colors looked dull and unchanged. I could not explain what was going on with this tree, just like I cannot explain how people can change from their sinful ways to a life free of sin. All I know is that God can create change in all of us, and His hand in our lives never fails. Something else you notice in a changed life is their face is bright and wonderful just like the leaves on the tree. We need to remember what that feels like and continue to change our lives for the better. Let God shine on you and change you, you will not be disappointed.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
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