Desert Road~

Happy New Year's Eve!

We are about to usher in a New Year, and I am excited!  Fresh starts, new resolutions, hope on the horizon - that's what a new year brings.  And my prayer for us all as we move in to 2016 is that we will, as it says in Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. See the new thing God is doing.  He is making a road through the desert..."

What was your "desert" road this past year?  Did you travel through a dry, hard, unforgiving place that has left you craving cooling streams?  Are you parched and exhausted? Tired of the same ole' same ole'?

If so, then clap your hands and start thanking God because He is doing something new right now in your life. He is paving the way for you to get out of that mess. 

These verses are loaded with promise and hope, but before we can be alert and present, we have to let go of the past.  We must F-O-R-G-E-T.  Let's take a step of united faith and believe that if God is telling us to stop hashing and rehashing our history, it’s because it’s possible.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I take You at Your Word and pray that You would help me forget all the junk that brings me down. Help me focus on You and the new and glorious thing You are doing in my life..  I thank You for watching over me and my family this past year, and I look to You for every single thing we need this new year.  In particular, I desire deeply to be able to let go of ________________________;it’s a joy killer, it constantly crushes my hope, it consumes my mind, and it sometimes helps the fear creep in.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

Hindrances and Hurdles~

Tuesday greetings,

My Christmas shopping is in full swing, and I am about done.  I am on a first name basis with my UPS driver, and several times a week our mail carrier has to trek it up to my door and drop off packages.  I also enjoy receiving cards from friends and seeing how their children have grown, as well as sending out my own cards.  Just today we had our office luncheon, and last Saturday I was out until 3AM at another holiday party.  Plus, I am famous within a one-block radius for my annual talent show every December 25^th.  It’s just my siblings and me, and it’s a lot of work but also great fun.  So much activity happening in my life this month, and it’s because I am preparing for Christmas.    

I feel, however, that I am leaving something out…

Wait!!! IT’S JESUS!

“Prepare for God’s arrival! [clear away the obstacles]; 
Make the road straight and smooth.” Isaiah 40:3

The most important thing to do during this time of the year, and always, is to prepare for God’s arrival.  The way the word “prepare” is used in this verse means it’s an ongoing activity.  We don’t just prepare once.  We prepare every single day.  We must constantly clear away whatever is standing in the way of God getting to us.  Sometimes, for me, it’s the busyness of the season that keeps me from spending time with Him.  How ironic!  Christmas exists because Christ was born and in the huffing and puffing of getting stuff done, Jesus is overlooked.  Other times it’s my bad attitude.  Sometimes its even been watching TV.

But that’s why the precious Bible exists.  To gently remind us to get it together and prepare.  To proactively remove, clear away, delete, and purge any and all hindrances and hurdles that block our relationship with God. 

We all have a say in how easy or how hard we want to make it for God to get to us.  And I hope we are all saying “YES!” to making it straight and smooth because in doing that God will get to us in a jiffy.     

PRAYER: Dear Lord, How wonderful that right now as we pray, we are preparing for You in our lives.  Come to us, precious Lord, and bless us and our families.  Grant us wisdom, health, peace, joy, and hope.  In Christ’s name, AMEN!