Monday, August 25, 2014

Labor Day

Labor Day is around the corner. That used to mean the end of summer vacation. Now it means that school has been in session for several weeks - we are ready for a break! Use this Labor Day as an opportunity to celebrate the opportunities we have to serve the Lord. It is a privilege and a joy we so often miss because we are not watching for the opportunities we have each day.

Psalm 100:2
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Colossians 3:23–24
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Brand New

New crayons, a full bottle of glue, a blank composition notebook, brand new folders, and everything loaded into a new backpack! A new teacher, new classmates, a new grade, and sometimes a new school.  Our backpack giveaway was last night, and it was so much fun to see the excitement of the kids as they picked the new backpack of their choosing, and then looked like Christmas, as they unpacked their bag of supplies custom packed for them, according to their teachers' specific requests.

The Bible has something to say about new beginnings, too:

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Isaiah 43:19 -  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Lamentations 3:22-23 - Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

The new school supplies will get used and wear out. However, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He gives life-changing gifts of freedom to anyone who follows him as Lord and Savior. Unlike our worldly gifts, what He offers is the ultimate gift, the greatest gift of all!