Check Your Thermometer

We've had some interesting weather of late. On the day I'm writing this, the recorded high temperature dropped almost fifty degrees from the previous day. That would not have mattered when I was ten. No, I didn't tolerate temperature changes better when I was younger. I had a broken thermometer. It was permanently stuck on 75 degrees. No matter what, it was always the perfect weather.

But of course it wasn't. Even if the thermometer read 75, it was still 10 degrees outside. It was a good day to have a coat and mittens, no matter what the thermometer said.

Sometimes our spiritual thermometer gets stuck. Through neglect, inattention, and apathy, we often don't notice the lag in our enthusiasm for serving the Lord, and suddenly it has been weeks since the last time we read our Bible or prayed.

The solution is simple - use a thermometer that works. Satan will provide all kinds of excuses not to do so, but make the scripture a constant part of every day. Spend time reading God's word every day, and listen for his voice. Allow God's Holy Spirit to use the wisdom of His Word to take your spiritual temperature. Memorize scripture to take it with you as you go through the day. You'll find God warming your heart, no matter what the weather.

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Happy NEW Year!

"New"--it seems like a simple little word, one we've heard our whole lives, not worth much in a game of Scrabble, and one that we use all the time.

The dictionary defines it, of course, as 'having recently coming into existence." However,
for Christians, two of the definitions have very special meanings.... "being other than the former or old"  and, "different from one of the same category that has existed previously." How WONDERFUL that Christ makes us NEW...not like our 'old' self with all its baggage and sin (2 Cor. 5:17), and He gives us a DIFFERENT life--a life abundant (John 10:10).

In our humanness, we celebrate the start of the New Year--but as Christians, we have reason to celebrate our newness every day! And, we can look forward expectantly to the 'new heaven and new earth' to come! In the meantime, what a great promise is found in Lamentations 3:22: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning." Now those are reasons to celebrate!



Getting a Fresh "START" in the New Year

Stop Making Excuses - Proverbs 28:13 - A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.

Take an Inventory of Your Life - 2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.

Act in Faith - Matthew 9:29 - According to your faith let it be to you.
Refocus - Philippians 3:13 - …but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead…
Trust - Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

(Acrostic by Rev. Jim Mooney)