Who Do You Live For?

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 95: Today, I am grateful we can answer, "Who do you live for?"

This scripture struck me in a different way than it has before. This question came to mind, "Who do I live for?"

"Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15     

For many years I did not regularly wear a cross as jewelry. I know some might think that is strange. I know many who wear it every day as a statement of what they believe and who they believe in. 

For me, I was fearful of bringing shame to the cross he carried and died on for my sins. I did not want my sin and imperfections to bring him shame when people saw a cross around my neck. I did not want to be the one who failed to be a good example of His love, mercy and grace in a moment of a quick tongue or short patience. I did not want to be a failed testimony. 

 Then I had a friend who wisely said, "Valerie, that cross is your price tag."  Wow! It was such a fresh and different way of looking at it. I wear it often now. I worry less about bringing shame to the one who purchased my sin debt and focus on the gift that came in the ugliest and most brutal sacrifice of the One who did not deserve it. 

We proudly wear the names of our sports teams, designer labels, and favorite musicians. Our t-shirts bear the names of our favorite games and beverages. We show who we live for by how we spend our time. 

If we attend a worship service every Sunday that is 52 hours a year. We give our jobs 40 or more hours a week. Add in Sunday School and it is only doubled. Going to church is not evidence of who we live for, but it is a sign. 

What we wear on our clothes is a sign. Do we "enter in His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts? Do we enter his courts with praise?" Do we wear a cross as a lucky charm or as a reminder of the price he paid?

I am still very serious about not misrepresenting His choice that gave us a pardon and a way, but I wear the cross anyway, with understanding and humility. I did not deserve his gift, but somehow... He thought I was worth it. He thinks you are worth it, too. 

He lived in uncomfortable human skin and endured the cross for you.

Today, I am grateful we can answer, "Who do you live for?"             

Everything Will Be Fine

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 95: Today, I am grateful everything will be fine. 

 "The LORD replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” -Exodus 33:14 (NLT)

I need to memorize this verse. If you have followed "Daily Gratitude" very long, you know I love Moses. 

Jill and I took our Wednesday night kids at church through the Old Testament. We both learned so much, even though we were both raised in the scriptures. Somehow, I think she and I learned as much as the kids that year. God is always good. God is always faithful. In the hardest seasons we can know that He goes with us. We can trust in His rest, even when struggles come. 

Always. Everyday. Through every trial. Everything will be fine with you. Everything. That phrase is unique to the NLT translation, but it is simply another way of restating that he will bring us to a place of rest, restoration, and for the Israelites, the Promised Land. 

As the blood on the door protected the firstborn sons from death, the blood of Jesus protects those who believe and call him Lord. Another echo from the Old Testament into the new. We can learn to rest in him, because he keeps His promises. 

Through the Blood of the Lamb, death is merely a door. It is why Paul and Silas had no fear. Nearly all of the disciples died for sharing the Good News. The world prefers negativity, hate, and self-serving goals. 

Jesus offers restoration and life, but that does not mean there are never hard times. But He goes before us and with us. He is not bound by time and space. 

Today, I am grateful everything will be fine. 

Vision

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 94: Today, I am grateful for vision.

"Be Thou My Vision" is one of my favorite hymns. The words perfectly focus on a heart that focuses to see God. It is excellent. 

As we get older, we often require help with our vision. My readers are always nearby. I have many pairs. I can see far away, but I cannot read or see well up close without them. 

How many times is life like that?  When trials, struggles, and hard times are up-close and personal, we do not understand. Our vision is blurred by what is happening in the present moment. 

God sees both. Let Him be our vision. In the distance, there will be some clarity. Some things may never be entirely clear to us, but when we ask Him to "be our eyes," the world looks different. 

"My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies." Psalm 6:7

In the trials and the celebrations we can pray "Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art; Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Time to take on the day! 

Today, I am grateful for vision.

Be Excited

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 93: Today, I am grateful for the choice to "be excited."

It is the simple joys that make life good. My dear friend, Jim Sedgwick, was one of a kind. He often said, "Make every day a holiday and every meal a feast." It always made me smile, but it stuck. 

My first year at Peoria Alternative High School, they didn't really have space for me to have an office. I met with students everywhere and often joined the classes to connect. Our work coordinators were Cleve Klopfenstein and Jim. They were both over a decade older than me and I learned so much watching both of them. They shared their space with me when I was homeless. 

Cleve... well I still refer to as one of the great loves in my life...  he adored his wife and raised his family with faith, integrity, and intention.  I've written about Cleve before. I will again.

Jim was the guy who proudly wore his White Sox fan gear in a place that was split between the Cubs and the Cardinals. He lived his life with excitement and enthusiasm. He would be excited for church choir, although he went every week. He was excited every time he helped a student get a job, even if he knew it would be a challenge to help them keep it. He would fret and get frustrated at the battles of keeping 100 students employed or volunteering... but then he would celebrate the little things... like something he and lovely wife Linda would do together. Jim was as rare as his White Sox jersey in Central Illinois. 

I do not know if Jim intentionally chose excitement or if it was in his nature. He was a one-of-a-kind. He has been in Heaven's choir for many years now. He is not forgotten. I often say, "Make every day a holiday and every meal a feast. Be it a PBJ or a steak dinner. Simple life choices are sometimes the biggest game changers. 

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."-1 Thessalonians 5:18

Choose joy. Be excited for that next cup of coffee and rain that stops just before you have to go out. All things. 

Today, I am grateful for the choice to "be excited."

New Things

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 92: Today, I am grateful for the chance to do new things.

Technology changes so fast. It can be amazing, exhausting, and frustrating. Still, it is the gift of "new things" that gives us a chance to stretch, learn, and grow. 

New things can be uncomfortable at first, but like new shoes, it takes time to break them in. Some will be new favorites over time. 

"Look at you doing that thing you once thought you couldn't do." -Eliza Todd

When our hearts need encouragement, we can remember we are all works in progress. We are still being molded by the Master Potter's hand. 

Time, relationships, practice, instruction and prayer all are part of the journey. Be patient. Be kind to yourself and others. Do not forget to enjoy the journey. 

This is one of my life scriptures:

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." -Isaiah 43:19

I am not particularly brave by nature. I like the safe route. I pack extras, "just in case." When I risk a step outside of my comfort zone, there is often exhilaration and delight. I am reminded that the author of fear and lies is the enemy of our souls and the father of the "I can'ts." 

Try something new this week. It is good for the soul. 

 Today, I am grateful for the chance to do new things.

The Art of Pottery

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 91: Today, I am grateful for the art of pottery.

Our school mascot is the "Morton Potters." I thought it odd when we came nearly 40 years ago, but I have come to love it. Shaping lives is what schools and communities do. (The name came from the "Morton Pottery", a local business that was important to the community.) 

The Love of my Life has been watching a series, "The Great Pottery Throw Down." The competition is fun to watch. Each artist has a unique style and vision. The comradery between the artists is special. Clay can be finicky and the best plans can go awry. Still, they keep trying. 

There is an element of understanding that whatever they envision and intend, the kiln makes the magic and breaks hearts. Some pieces do not survive the heat. Some things come out better than expected. I can see why those who are called to the kiln find it rewarding. 

My dear friend and artist, Brittany Du Pont, always reminds me that until the clay has been fired... it can be reworked and saved. Some clay is harder to work with than others, but with patience and determination, it can bring beautiful outcomes, much like her work with Jr. High students discovering their art. 

I love this scripture:

"And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand." Isaiah 64:8

Sometimes, we are a mess. There are times we seem impossible to shape, mold, and save. Sometimes, great patience is required of the Master Potter. I keep going back to this thought, "The opposite of impatience is surrender." 

I am so grateful for the Master Potter who uses every experience to help shape us. He sees our potential and longs for us to discover it, too. 

Today, I am grateful for the art of pottery.

Prophecy

 Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 90: Today, I am grateful for prophecy. 

The word "prediction" tells us something might happen. Prophecy tells us that something will happen. People are quick to point to prophecies that "did not come true" in the Bible. The difference is the response of the people of God. 

"But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all." -Isaiah 53:5-6

What a powerful prediction from approximately 700 years before Jesus was crucified! Can it be a coincidence that it was as if a poet stood at the cross trying to take it all in 700 years before the actual suffering of Christ. 

God predicted judgment on Nineveh, but... much to Jonah's dismay, the people recognized God meant business and they repented. Jonah did not have to work that hard, and truth, he was disappointed in the outcome. He did not like the Ninevites, but God's mercy is real when hearts change. Perhaps the bigger footnote should be the power of God's word to change hearts and lives. For Nineveh, it meant hope, life, renewal, and making a change. 

About 5 years ago, while excavating the sight of Sodom and Gomorrah, curious archeological evidence was discovered. There are videos all over YouTube from the first discovery to when they began to dig deeper. The people did not heed God's warning and He did what he said he would do. 

The Bible describes burning sulfur and fire raining down from the sky which permanently destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24). Predictions may or may not come true. Prophecy is so much more. There are false prophets too. 

Isaiah 53:5-6 gave us the "what to watch for" when determining if Jesus was the Messiah the people longed to see. They were so busy with their own political scene, building wealth and affluence, and grasping for power, they miss it! 

Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are easy to read prophecy. Those passages powerfully point to the truth of God's Word.

I am grateful for prophecy and Biblical Archeology. Some people need "the science."  Jesus said, "The rocks will cry out" in Luke 19:40. The evidence is in the archeology... and the stone that rolled away.

I find it fascinating. The response of the people still is in play. 

Today, I am grateful for prophecy.