My Thoughts and Reflections

L ORD , you have examined me.  You know me.  You know when I sit down and when I stand up.  Even from far away, you comprehend my plans.  There isn't a word on my tongue, LORD, that you don't already know completely. Psalm 139:1-2, 4 (CEB) During this season of Lent, I have read and talked a lot about how Jesus experienced abandonment from his closest friends and followers and ultimately from God before his death in order for us to never experience what abandonment from God is like.  Not only are we never abandoned by God, but God knows us intimately. God examines each of us and knows us.  He knows us so intimately that he knows when we sit down and when we stand up!  Even from the far and unfathomable distance of heaven from our location on earth is, he still knows and comprehend's our plans.  How amazing is that?!?  God knows us!  He knows each and every word that we will utter even before that word come...

Lord , you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 (NIV) What a beautiful verse to start the day with!  Proclaiming praises to God's name, worshiping him, and singing about the great things that he has accomplished in this world!   I admit, it is easy to sing praises like this at the beginning of a sunny, blue-sky morning after an awesome evening of worship on Ash Wednesday.  Last night was an incredible beginning to the season of Lent and what better way to celebrate God's forgiveness of our sins than by praising his name? I am so thankful that the Lord is my God.  There is no other in all of creation.  He is the one and only, the Great I AM.  I love being able to exalt and praise God's name for this reason and many more.   Isaiah proclaims that in perfect faithfulness God has done wonderful things that were planned long i...

Draw your strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1 (CEB) No matter where I am in life, one thing remains the same in how I conduct my life.  That one thing is the necessity for me to continually draw my daily strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus. When I rely on myself, I let myself down. Sure, I have some bright moments, but inevitably, I will meet temptation, fail to resist it, and fall flat on my face. Paul's admonition to Timothy in this letter is so important for all of Christ's followers.  If we draw our strength from the grace that is in Jesus, then our passion for Christ will far outweigh the fleshly passions and temptations that confront us throughout the day.  If our passion for Christ increases, it increases as we continually and daily draw on the grace that Christ has made so readily available to us, then we will not have to worry about those temptations when we meet them.   If you failed to start your day...