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.

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

WE HAVE THIS MOMENT IN TIME

Live in the moment
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”–Psalm 118:24

In 2021 I excitedly attended a Bill Gaither concert in Tulsa, OK with my sister and niece. One of the songs that the group sang was titled, “We Have This Moment Today.” It was one of my favorite songs. The chorus says, “yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come, but we have this moment today.” This suggests that we are not to worry about yesterday because we can’t get it back, and the sun may never rise on tomorrow so we shouldn’t fret about what we will do the next day or the next. We are to live for today–in the moment.

Today can be considered the “first day of the rest of your life” because yesterday is gone and today is a new, fresh day. The choices and decisions that you make today will affect and impact your life going forward. Will you choose to accept or reject someone in your life today; love or hate your friend or yourself; and forgive or not forgive yourself or others? Life is full of choices and these choices could definitely have a profound affect on yourself and others.

So how do we choose wisely?

  • With wisdom: Proverbs 4:6-7 says: “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.” It is only through the guidance of wisdom and understanding that we can make those choices that God wants us to make every day.
  • With certainty: Luke 1:4 says: “…so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” We can make right choices by reading God’s Word, through prayer, and living every day in His promises for our lives.
  • With passion: Matthew 6:21 says: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” What we are passionate about is what we think about. Are we passionate about living for the Lord and leading others to Him? Or are we caught up with the things that surround us which can also burden and weigh us down?

Ephesians 2:8-9 says: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We are to believe in God’s grace for the moment of today.

Isaiah 58:11 says: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

God’s love will guide you with: His Hands, His Word, and His Grace. How will you allow Him to guide and walk with you on your journey today?

Blessings,

Yvonne

The Full Armor of God

Armor of God
Ready for Battle

Your life is good. Everything seems to be going your way. God is answering all your prayers: a good job, healthy family, lots of friends. Until….now you want to question everyone and everything including God for what’s happening in your life. After all, God promised to take care of all your needs (Philippians 4:19) and answer all your prayers (Matthew 7:7). Now all you can think of is “where is God” during your hour of need?

In times such as these, we need to continue to focus on I Timothy 1:7: “God has not given us the power of fear but of a sound mind…” Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV) It is at this time that we need to “ready ourselves for battle” against fear and self-doubt.

Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us to put on the full armor of God:

  • Belt of truth–buckled around your waist;
  • Breastplate of righteousness in place (protect the heart);
  • Sandals of peace–feet fitted with readiness;
  • Shield of Faith–extinguishes arrows of the evil one;
  • Helmet of Salvation–trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection; and
  • The Word of the Spirit–Word of God

THEN we must secure all of these with the Power of Prayer.

The enemy will use fear and self-doubt in trusting God’s Word when we are faced with unforeseen circumstances. We must BE ALERT and continue to trust in the Word of Truth and the leading of the Holy Spirit by putting on the full armor of God when we go into battle against the “powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil” which try to turn our eyes off Jesus and His love.

Trust your heart. Believe in the One who can comfort you, strengthen you, and guide you into all truth. Don’t believe in the lies and whispers. Put on the full armor of God and He will protect you from the enemy. God is the power we need to trust in and continue to believe in for everything that happens in our lives–both good and bad.

If you believe that Jesus died and rose again and that He is the source for you to rely on, then go to Him now and lay all your burdens at His feet. He will carry you just like the poem says in “Footprints in the Sand”.

May the Lord continue to help us as we ready ourselves for battle against the enemy today.

Blessings,

Yvonne