Good morning Lord Jesus, my desire today is more of you, less of me.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new! ” (Revelations 21:1-5)
God’s love and grace always offers us the hope of change,of newness, of impossible hope. He is a God of second, third, and unending chances. He is a God that also offers us 2023, a gift we did not earn. God offers us another year with a clean slate of possibilities for our lives. As we prepare to go into another year, take a few minutes now to reflect on all blessings from the past year. Not just financial and materials blessings, but the times you were forgiven by others for mistakes you made and things you said. The times by God’s grace you did not get what you deserved. The times you had the gift of both receiving love and giving undeserved love. As you reflect back, if there comes to your mind a family member or friend you are at odds with and you need to reconcile with them, get in the car, pick up the phone and do it today. Maybe it is God who you feel you have been at odds with, your relationship with Him is not what it should be and you need to reconcile with Him, then get on your knees now and do it! Nothing is guaranteed and now is always the time to do the next right thing. “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)
My family, I pray today as you end this year you will seriously do what I asked of you. I pray you will spend time looking back at how truly blessed you are. I also pray you will spend time today preparing for the coming year by reconciling relationships with others and if needed with God and making things right before the new year comes, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me.
And again, I thank God for all of you who read and journey through these daily reflections The Holy Spirit guides me through every morning. I thank you for any encouraging comments you have posted, and any partnership though prayers or financial support you have given me and my family. We raise our own support as local missionaries to our community, and you are a gift to us! God bless you my friends in 2023!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Please Partner with us Before the year ends!
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with me and One Direction Community to support our ministries. My wife Nancy and I are in a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. We would be so grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
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