One Day At A Time

Take one day at a time…just breathe

Since the beginning of the New Year 2024, many of us have begun to make a new “to do list” or as others call it: New Year’s Resolutions. Instead of making a list for the coming year, I decided it was important for me personally to begin “taking one day at a time.”

Matthew 6:25-27 tells us that we are not to worry about what we eat, drink, or the clothes we wear and that our lives are more important than food and the body is more important than clothes. Many people wonder “how can this be” because food and clothing are the essence of our everyday living. Jesus then tells his disciples to “look at the birds of the air” who neither sow or reap yet your heavenly Father feeds them. How much more valuable are we than them–when we worry can it add a single hour to our life?

Matthew 6:33 sums up the chapter by telling us to “seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Worrying seems to be a part of our human nature. Just look around at what is happening in the world–it would make anyone worry for the future. But Jesus is telling us that if we stop our worrying and begin trusting in God our Father, He will provide for all our needs.

Philippians 4:6-7 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Paul wrote this letter to the church at Philippi to encourage them and give them some practical advice on how to live the Christian life, and to rejoice in the Lord always and be content no matter what the circumstances.

Remembering to take one day at a time is a way of reflecting on and being in the present–one moment/day at a time–and meditating on all the promises that God offers us to live our best life for Him. It doesn’t mean that my mind doesn’t wander and try to think about the next day, but as I concentrate on just one day at a time, the day has become more meaningful because I am not thinking about what I “have to do” tomorrow or next week. I am living “in the moment” and enjoying what each day brings and trusting in God’s provision for that day.

If I am living one day at a time, I keep myself from worrying about what is going to happen the next day and so forth. I am living in the present of God’s grace and mercy. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” If we are living for the future, we are not able to be still to listen to all the wonderful things that God wants to bless us with. Try taking one day at a time and begin living your life in this wonderful brand New Year 2024.

Blessings,

Yvonne

QUOTE for the Day: “Our adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in ‘muchness’ and ‘manyness,’ he will rest satisfied.” Richard J. Foster

A New Year…A New Beginning

New Year’s Eve 2023

Tonight when the clock strikes midnight and the gigantic, glimmering ball drops in Time’s Square in New York City, 2024 will begin around the world. The million people crowding Time’s Square will begin to sing “Auld Lang Syne” and grab the person’s hand next to them as they usher in another year.

I love “new beginnings”. They give us a fresh start of what is to come and not about we have left behind. It is a time to move forward from the reminder of all the unexpected things that have happened in 2023. Those who have lost loved ones and those who were given a life-threatening physical diagnosis (and who have had a hard time moving from their despair) can find consolation and strength in moving forward one day at a time with the help of friends and family and leaning on the One who is our “strength and shield.”

Whatever our situation has been in 2023, we can trust God with the unknown and the new. II Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” We can look to the beginning of 2024 with a new sense of anticipation in all that God will and can continue to do in our lives as long as we rely on and trust His promises that “all things work together for good to them who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”

May you find his strength, guidance, and rely on the assurances of God’s promises in the coming New Year 2024.

Blessings,

Yvonne

Reading: “Be Still: 90 Devotions for the Hopeful Heart” by Cleere Cherry.

JANUARY 2023 POEM: HIS GUIDING HAND

Trust in His guiding Hand.
Trust in His guiding Hand by walking in Faith.

A few nights ago, I woke up with a poem that I knew the Lord had given me to share. Oftentimes, in the still of the night, calmness, and quietness, God will speak to our hearts and reassure us that He is there no matter what our circumstances.

As simple as this poem may appear to be, it spoke volumes to me when I needed His reassurance of His care and direction for my life. My prayer is that you would open your hearts and continue to live by Faith and not by what is supposed to be happening–we do not always see God at work at the time we are going through something–but He is always there.

HIS GUIDING HAND

“His guiding hand, His guiding light

Is in my heart, Day and Night.

So I will trust in His Love

I will trust in His Light…

And In His Loving Arms to hold me tight…

Through hurt and fear, because He promised to be near.”

I continue to read “One Word a week” using the book “Focus” by Cleere Cherry Reaves and every time I re-read the word for the week, I learn something new about “not losing another day to distraction” but allowing God to speak to my heart in all aspects of my life for that day.

Just remember that:

“Everything that happens to you has meaning. Every moment of life has purpose. And God doesn’t step away from you for a single second of the journey.” Dayspring: “God In Every Moment” by Bonnie Rickner Jensen

May the Lord be with you in this New Year 2023 and may His blessings be many and your faith be increased.

Blessings,

Yvonne

CHRISTMAS 2022

The lighting of the advent candles through Christmas
Four weeks of lighting the Advent wreath candles leading up to the birth of Christ candle.

The gifts are wrapped and the decorations and food are ready to welcome family, friends, and loved ones during this blessed time of year–the birth of Christ. Families have traveled by plane, train, or car to be with one another during this “wonderful time of year” and to renew and rekindle their relationships.

Recently, while talking to a new acquaintance, he mentioned that he had five children–all adults now but living in different states–who would all be together for the first time in many years. Distance and time were the biggest factors that were keeping his family from getting together every year during the holidays. Even though they all talked on the telephone throughout the year, visiting family and friends in person would be so much more fulfilling. You could see the person’s face, hear their voice, and see their emotional reactions on certain topics.

As we all celebrate the birth of Christ together (via in person, on the phone, text, email), let us remember “the reason for the season” and that as Christians we can celebrate the hope, joy, peace and love that this time of year brings to each and every one of us.

“Hope keeps the heart open to possibility, steady through change, and courageous in challenges ahead. It stands on faith…and that’s the strongest foundation of all.” –“God in Every Moment” by Bonnie Rickner Jensen

Merry Christmas and a very happy, blessed New Year.

Yvonne

Becoming more in Christ in our every day circumstances…more of Jesus, less of me

John 3:30: “He must become greater; I must become less.”

Since March 2, churches around the world have been celebrating the lenten season–a time to remember events leading up to Christ’s crucifixion and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. This is also a time of reflection, prayer, and reading of God’s Word to help us be a mirror to reflect God’s love in our lives.

I was gently reminded of the Lord’s presence in my life this week when I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night and heard these words: become more. My immediate reaction was to be reminded of hurtful words that I heard several years ago that “you could have become so much more.” These were not comforting words to me at that time, and they were said by someone who didn’t really know me that well. But these words haunted me at that time because it made me feel inadequate, and I questioned everything that I did and had become up to that point in my life. I wondered why the Lord was reminding me of this encounter.

So the next morning I looked up scriptures pertaining to “becoming more in Christ” and to my surprise, I was led to a book by Lysa Terkeurst entitled “Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl” written in 2009. I knew then that the Lord was directing me to read her book and immediately ordered a copy. She is such an accomplished author/writer, is president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, and has a number of best selling books.

While reading this book, I was reminded that Jesus is the only measure of my worth. I am not defined by what other people think of me. Proving myself worthy to others should not be the measure of my faith. When I need Christ to be my guide–He is there. When I need Christ to help me forgive–He teaches me how. When I need Christ to help me love–He shows me how He lived and loved everyone around Him. When I need a friend in times of doubt, worry, or fear–He guides me to the scriptures to calm my heart and soul. Oftentimes, He leads another person (via phone call or in person) to just listen and also share their own experiences to help me at the very moment I need them.

During the Easter season, I am reminded of a love far beyond our comprehension–a love so unconditional–that I want this kind of love for my husband, daughter and grand children, friends and other family members to be just that way. Unconditional love that reaches beyond how we are feeling at the moment so that we can look past our circumstances.

Psalm 103:5 tells us that “He fills my life with good things!” God wants the very best for us. He is not looking at all the things we could have or should have done in our lives. He has a purpose for each one of us and sometimes that means that the path He asks us to choose is not going to be the path that others (family or friends) have or want for us.

They say “experience is the best teacher.” What better teacher could we have other than Jesus Christ our Lord. The scripture tells us that “greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” As we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord, let us be reminded of the love, joy, compassion, and hope that he has given to us all and “become more like Christ” in our every day circumstances.

Blessings,

Yvonne