Short Devotion: Times of Refreshing

 

God grants us forgiveness so we can start again - Acts 3:19

 

Short Devotion: Begin Again - Colossians 1:19-20

 

Colossians 1:19-20 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (NIV)

For some folks, Easter is a special occasion when they feel as though they can start again. The resurrection of Christ gives them a hope of renewal in their lives and becomes the change agent that they have needed for such a long time. Just as the world around them appears to be coming alive, some people feel the same within themselves, so their spirits reconnect to God. They may not realize it at first, but this is the way that God, through Christ, reconciles them to Him. Those who were lost are found again; those who had fallen away are brought back and built up; those who were in despair or darkness are given the love and light that they require.

I don’t know about you, but I need to reset my life, too. It’s been a strange year and one which I hope never to repeat. I’m thankful that God has sustained the good folks around me – my family, my friends, my church folks – but I also feel ready to begin again and start a new journey of faith because I know that all things have changed.

Perhaps you feel the same, but before you or I take the first tentative step, we have to let God reconcile us to Himself first; in other words, God initiates the process and we let Him set the path for our new journey. Change comes to us each day, but the challenge for us is to see which changes God has begun and that we are invited to follow.

Q: How has God changed me through this last year? Where is God leading me now?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being with us each day of this past turbulent year. Let Your fulness fill our souls, allowing our lives to begin again. May we embrace Your Father’s love and receive His blessing of reconciliation. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

Today’s image is John’s latest Easter drawing called Son Dance. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Son Dance.

Pastor John

www.erinpres.org

Moment for Monday: A New Hope

Need to let go of the past and begin again? Here's a short message and two great Bible verses for you. :)

Minute for Monday: Something New

Monday Minute: Snow - Isaiah 1v18

 Today's Monday minute message :)

Begin Again - Hebrews 2:18

Hebrews 2:18 Because Christ himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (NIV)

I’ve already broken several of my New Year’s resolutions, so I can’t even keep up with my own standards. Like most of us, I start off with the best of intentions but quickly get distracted or even too comfortable to follow through with my self-imposed promises. I guess I can reset my determination and begin again – hopefully, I will resolve to accomplish all that I want to achieve this year.

Today’s verse reminded me that this is what Christ offers us each day – a fresh chance to begin again. When we fall into temptation and fail to keep God’s commands, Jesus gives us the grace to pick ourselves up and start once more. He doesn’t do this either from a smug and self-satisfied position of knowing that He is perfect; He forgives us because He understands what temptation is like and how prone we are to fall prey to our own selfish and sinful ways.

So, today is a new day. Christ offers all of us the opportunity to begin again. He not only understands our personal struggles, but He is absolutely able to help us let go of our sinful past, acquire His grace today, so we may walk with Him day by day. We are not fallen failures, we are forgiven sinners; we are not cast aside by God, we are embraced by His patient and enduring love.

Application: Allow yourself to be forgiven by Christ for anything you have done. Let this be a new day of restoration in your forever relationship with God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Savior who completely understands our struggle to keep God’s commands. Grant us Your grace and show us a better way to live our lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is a Communion drawing for the New Year. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: New Year.

New Year devotion - Living for God - Romans 14:7

Romans 14:7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. (NIV)

            Just after the new year, we’re all full of ideas and goals that we want to achieve. Most of us look forward to the possibilities and opportunities that the next twelve months may bring. It’s as if we’ve all been given a clean sheet with the ability to start again. A lot of people get energized by the turning of the year, so it’s a good time to begin something novel, tackle something fresh, and get excited about the new path that we’re on.

            As people of faith, we look to God to give us guidance and reassurance. We hope that all we want to accomplish is aligned with His will. We desire to do something significant and feel that our lives are not just worthwhile, but actually meaningful. In other words, we seek to be all that we can be, using the gifts, skills, and resources that we have managed to accrue and develop. When we use them effectively and devote them to God, we sometimes discover new blessings and opportunities coming our way. Through the giving our lives to God, we honor the important work of His Son Jesus. By choosing to bring our lives into line with God’s will, we are given a deep sense of belonging to God, no matter what lies ahead.

            Let’s hope and pray that 2018 will be an exceptional year in which we can deepen our faith commitment to God and develop new ways of experiencing significance in all that we prepare and plan to do. Time is a wonderful gift that should never be wasted; life is an amazing blessing that should always be celebrated. May God bless all of your hope and dreams by allowing your plans to succeed.

Point to ponder

What do I hope to accomplish this year? Have I truly asked God to help me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for allowing us to be restored to God’s favor, so we may truly experience belonging to Him. Guide us with Your Spirit throughout this year and help us to accomplish all that we seek to do. In Your Holy Name, we humbly ask and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to respond to today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Celtic Communion.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Celtic.