26/3/21 Day 33

TODAY'S VERSE: 26/3/21 Day 33

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” - Philippians 1:6

 

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Spring is here in all of its glory! I love it! I love spring break, spring training, the beginning of baseball, the emergence of green grass, getting to use the deck or patio, the Easter season … all of it!

What I don’t love is having to take the time to remove the clutter that has accumulated over the winter. And let me tell you … this year was BAD! This year I spent four whole hours sorting through a massive pile of stuff that had accumulated since last November. There was dirt and grime, things I had been missing (like my son’s bike!) and stuff I didn’t even know we’d collected (apparently we stored someone’s soccer ball all winter). Heck, I even found the wrapping paper from our Christmas gifts that never made its way into the recycling bin. After looking back at my weekend, I’ve come to this conclusion ... it was not the best way to spend a Saturday, but it needed to happen.

As we begin to round the final bend of the season of Lent and look ahead to Easter, I have to believe God still has a little spring cleaning to do in all of us as well. Where is it life seems to feel most agonizing these days? If you could change something, what would it be? Would it fall in the realm of your vertical connection with God? More trust in him? Or is it a horizontal one? Maybe anger is getting the best of you. Maybe it’s time to get some things off your chest. Whatever it is, it’s ok. We all share a need for God’s grace and the need to reminded his work of restoration in us and our hearts is marathon and not a sprint. I’m pretty sure the Christians living in Philippi struggled with this as well. It’s why Paul wrote to them saying he’s confident that “… he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion ...”

Hear this, you may be facing some tough challenges, but God is not done yet. 

Pastor Andy Hermanson

TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, thank you for loving us. Finish what your grace has begun in us. Amen 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

17/2/21 Day 1

Image
TODAY'S VERSE:  17/2/21 Day 1 “To all who mourn … he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.” Isaiah 61:3 TODAY'S DEVOTION: Oh, Snow! You charmed us with fresh beauty upon arrival but so quickly became a beast better suited for departure thanks for stopping by now please go ... we’re done with you even as you choose to stay with your record-setting mountains lining our sidewalks accompanied by whipping winds bone-chilling cold short gray days and long dark nights    tempting us to hibernate and cancel life for a season. Oh, Spring! How our collective soul longs for the Creator to make all things new. Surround us again with signs of new life –   songbirds, blooming trees and a full palette of lost color – promised changes that will fill our hearts with hope!   Our weary world waits for warmer days, and a Sabbath to praise our Savior again,   a family reunited...
Read more

18/2/21 Day 2

Image
TODAY'S VERSE:  18/2/21 Day 2 "When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who now they are sinners.” Mark 2:17   TODAY'S DEVOTION: Have you ever wondered what the qualifications are for being a part of what God is up to? Maybe more specifically, have you ever questioned if you are (or someone else is) a “good enough person” to share the Good News of Jesus? If so, you aren’t alone. But, here’s the good news … Early on in his ministry, there were a lot of people who were more than a little surprised by Jesus. In fact, a lot of religious people were down right offended by what he was doing and who he was doing it with. Not only was Jesus reaching out to those who were on the fringes, but he started to call those same people to be a part of the movement he was starting. Today we are living in the response to Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday we are re...
Read more

24/2/21 Day 7

Image
TODAY'S VERSE: 24/2/21 Day 7 “And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” - Mark 6:5   TODAY'S DEVOTION: I’ve always said you can tell a lot by someone’s posture.  Take a look around you next time you are surrounded by people. Body language can tell you a lot about what’s on someone's mind. Take students in a classroom for example. When a teacher engages kindergartners who have just come in from recess, what kind of posture do you envision? I envision urgently reaching for the sky as they raise their hands. Compare this with a sophomore English class and I’m guessing you’d agree, it will probably be much different. Our posture (physical and otherwise) says a lot about us, and it’s pretty evident when we look at Jesus’ ministry. In Mark 6, Jesus has rolled back into his hometown and their posture isn’t good. People seem to be fixated on the Jesus they grew up wit...
Read more