Monday Morning Encouragement -- Stewards of God's Varied Grace

 

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:" 1 Peter 4:10

Have you ever thought of yourself as a steward of God's varied grace? If you are a follower of Christ, that's exactly what you are. 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Forever Guarding

"The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and forever."

Psalm 121:8

All of our days are lived under the watchful eye of our Lord. From our first cry outside our mother's womb, to our last breath on earth, He is guarding and keeping the ones who trust in Him. Jesus said, "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand" (John 10:29). We don't need to fear the path that lies before us, for God is intimately familiar with each twist and turn it may take. He goes before us and behind us, and at the same time He walks with us. We are surrounded by His presence. The Lord will guide us in this life, and when it is over He will take us into the glory of the next. 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- The God Who Moves Mountains

"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him." Mark 11:23

As a new Christian, many years ago, I was confused by Jesus' words in Mark 11:23. Was I to believe that if I wanted a physical mountain moved, all it would take is to believe it could be moved without doubting and God would do it?

Monday Morning Encouragement -- That's My King!

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son," 

Colossians 1:13

Now that Easter Sunday, which we also call "Resurrection Sunday" is behind us, there may be a temptation to go on about life as usual. 

The celebration is over. 

Resurrection Sunday

Source: www.heartlight.org

 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Easter Break

A Joyful Cottage is on Easter break. I'll see you in two weeks!

He is Risen!

 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Look Back, Look Around, Look Up

"I remember the days of old;I meditate on all Your doings;I muse on the work of Your hands." Psalm 143:5

When we are in the midst of a trial and peace seems far from us, it's a perfect time to stop what we're doing and mediate on the goodness of our Heavenly Father. 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Captivated Worshiper

 

"Make His praise glorious." Psalm 66:2

What does it mean to make God's praise glorious? According to Pastor Steven Cole, "making His praise glorious does not mean getting pumped up by group enthusiasm or by music that has a catchy beat. Rather, it is the overflow of our hearts when we are captivated by God’s all-satisfying glory in Christ."

 

To be captivated means to be attracted and held. So perhaps when we are so attracted and held by God's beauty, holiness and fullness in Jesus Christ that nothing else will satisfy, that is when our hearts overflow with glorious praise. 

I desire to be a captivated worshiper every day. How about you?

Today's music video Here I Am To Worship sung by Tim Hughes is one of my favorite praise and worship songs. May it bless you and draw you closer to the One who is worthy of all our adoration.

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- All for His Glory

 

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

When I was a young mother I read a devotional by Gigi Graham Tchividjian that impacted me at the time, and which has stayed with me for many decades. 

In her devotional she recounted how one day after getting her children off to school she walked into the laundry room and was overwhelmed with the amount of dirty clothes she faced. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered that she had just done three loads the day before. After getting the first load into the washer, she tidied up the house and headed for her son's bathroom where she began cleaning the tub. Once more she began to weep. She was tired and discouraged. She writes:

"Sitting in the middle of the bathroom floor, sponge and cleanser in hand and tears streaming down my cheeks, I found myself fussing, crying and praying all at the same time."

In that moment God met her right where she was and reminded her that even cleaning a bath tub is a way of serving Him.

The truth is that even the smallest and most mundane things we do can be an act of great service to the Lord, and used to bring glory to Him. As we launder clothes we can thank God that He has provided those clothes. Scrubbing the floors we can praise God for our homes. Putting fuel in our vehicle we can lift our hearts in gratitude to the Lord that we have transportation. All that we possess belongs to Him, and it is only by His grace that we have them to enjoy.

This morning I made an egg sandwich for breakfast. As I cracked the pretty pastel egg into the frying pan, I marveled at how my friend's hens (from whom I buy my eggs) lay beautiful pale green, beige and pinkish eggs. This is God's doing! He created those hens and gave them the ability to produce food encased in glorious color. The avocado I sliced for my breakfast was another reason to praise the Lord. He has given us food that pleases the eye, as well as our tummies. All for His glory, and for our good.

Today's music video Glory to God Forever by Maranatha Music is a praise song that I hope will lead you to worship.

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Soul Talk

 

"Why are you in despair, O my soul? 
And why have you become disturbed within me? 
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him 
For the help of His presence." Psalm 42:5

Have you ever felt so discouraged that you had to talk your soul into hoping in God? This is what David does in Psalm 42. He had seen the faithfulness of God in the past and had experienced great heights of joy. And yet, at the time of this writing, he is depressed. 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- The End of the Law

 

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness  to everyone who believes,"  Romans 10:4

Two decades ago the Barna Research Group conducted a survey of professed Christians. At that time, "half of all adults (50%) argued that anyone who 'is generally good or does enough good things for others during their life will earn a place in Heaven.' Almost half of the non-evangelical born again Christians adopted this view, in spite of the fact that they have prayed for the forgiveness of their sins and asked Jesus Christ to be their savior – actions which they believe were the basis of their assurance of salvation. Apparently, large numbers of the non-evangelical born again adults believe that people have a choice of means to salvation, either the grace-alone or the salvation-though-works approaches."