2 Kings 23:3 - New Life 3

The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

The Israelites often renewed their covenant with the Lord, The repeatedly would fall away and God would accept them back. We are often this way when we begin a new life. It is so easy to turn back to the old, or never fully commit to the new life we have begun.

Weight is always an issue for me, I'll do well for a while then, I go back to my old habits. It is a stronghold in my life. Different people have different strong holds. After hearing a sermon on Psalm 52:3-4 (lies and deceit), a man wrote the IRS, “I can’t sleep knowing that I have cheated on my income tax. Enclosed is a check for $150. If I still can’t sleep, I’ll send the rest.”

Lord, thank you for giving us infinite do overs. Please help us to stick to the commitments we have made. Amen.

Galatians 6:15 - New Life 2

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Sometimes what we see is not what is important. Some of the Jews in the formation of the new church thought the new Christians had to follow Jewish laws concerning circumcision, but what is truly important is in the heart, that which is unseen. What we see is not always true.

Which reminds me of a story...

“Has your son decided what he wants to be when he grows up?” I asked my friend.

“He wants to be a garbageman,” he replied.

“That’s an unusual ambition to have at such a young age.”

“Not really. He thinks that garbagemen work only on Tuesdays.”

Lord, thank you for looking at our insides, not our outsides. Please help us to look beyond what we see when looking at others. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Life 1

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

This week I am preparing to be the MC for a ladies breakfast with the theme of new life...so I will be sharing some of the things I plan to share here.

Sometimes when we make a change in our life, people don't exactly know what to say. It’s amazing how a person can compliment and insult you at the same time. Recently, when I greeted my coworker, she said, “You look so gorgeous, I didn’t recognize you.”

Lord, thank you for renewal and new life. Please help us to get rid of the old and embrace the new. Amen.

Proverbs 4:26 - Graduation Day

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Today my son is graduating from high school. I am so proud of him I could almost burst. As he completes this chapter in his life and heads off to college in the fall, I would like to share this verse with him. All of Proverbs 4 is great advice for a young person heading out into the world on their own.

Lord, thank you so much for my son and his successes (and his failures). Please help him to grow in his relationship with you. Amen.

Acts 5:20 - Tell the news

“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

We are so blessed and feel so thankful to God for giving us a new life, we want to tell others about it. We aren't sharing our faith to make other people feel bad about their choices or because we think we are superior. We share because we are commanded to and because we love people and want them to experience the new life we have found.

Lord, thank you for giving us a new life. Please help us to tell others about this new life. Amen.

Revelation 21:4-5a - The ultimate renewal

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

This is what we have to look forward to. This is the ultimate renewal, when all of our earthly cares and desires will be gone. We bring glory to God to say thank you for this amazing gift.

Lord, thank you for the hope of heaven. Please help us to live now as the new creation we will be. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - New!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

This is a new year, Today is a new day. Now is a new minute. Every second of every day we have the opportunity to start over. If we are in Christ, we can ask God for forgiveness and receive it, then start anew as unblemished.

Lord, thank you for this new year and opportunities to start over and over. Amen.

Ephesians 4:22-24 - New self

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Once we have decided to follow Christ, we take off the old self and put on the new self. This is not something we do by sheer will alone, The Spirit helps us. We just have to let the Spirit guide us with a new attitude in our mind into the new creation we are meant to be.

Lord, thank you for teaching us and giving us a new self. Help us to be like you in true righteousness and holiness. Amen.

Romans 6:4 - Wanna live a new life?

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

It is almost the new year! What better way to usher in 2016 than by committing to God, being baptized and starting a new life?

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to have a new life with you. Please allow me to be of assistance to anyone who is considering giving their life to you and be with those making the decision. Amen.