Happy Independence Day

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
Using God's Gifts
God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you.
1 Peter 4:10 NLT

All men possess special gifts—bestowed from the Father above—and you are no exception. But, your gift is no guarantee of success; it must be cultivated and nurtured; otherwise, it will go unused . . . and God's gift to you will be squandered.

Today, make a promise to yourself that you will earnestly seek to discover the talents that God has given you. Then, nourish those talents and make them grow. Finally, vow to share your gifts with the world for as long as God gives you the power to do so. After all, the best way to say "Thank You" for God's gifts is to use them.

When God crowns our merits, he is crowning nothing other than his gifts. - St. Augustine, 100 Days of Prayer

God is still in the process of dispensing gifts, and He uses ordinary individuals like us to develop those gifts in other people. - Howard Hendricks

Almighty God created us, redeemed us, called us, endowed us with gifts and abilities and perceptions. To demean the gift is to insult the Giver. - Penelope Stokes

There's a unique sense of fulfillment that comes when we submit our gifts to God's use and ask him to energize them in a supernatural way—and then step back to watch what he does. It can be the difference between merely existing in black and white and living a life in full, brilliant color. - Lee Strobel

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, let me use my gifts, and let me help others discover theirs. Your gifts are priceless and eternal. May we, Your children, use them to the glory of Your kingdom, today and forever. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
You Are Blessed
I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill.
I will send down showers in season;
there will be showers of blessings.
Ezekiel 34:26 NIV

If you sat down and began counting your blessings, how long would it take? A very, very long time! Your blessings include life, freedom, family, friends, talents, and possessions, for starters. But, your greatest blessing—a gift that is yours for the asking—is God's gift of salvation through Christ Jesus. Today, begin making a list of your blessings. You most certainly will not be able to make a complete list, but take a few moments and jot down as many blessings as you can. Then give thanks to the giver of all good things: God. His love for you is eternal, as are His gifts. And it's never too soon—or too late—to offer Him thanks.

God wants his people to earnestly seek his will and to pray for it, and thus to become agents of the blessing God brings. - James Montgomery Boice, 100 Days of Prayer

You cannot persevere unless there is a trial in your life. There can be no victories without battles; there can be no peaks without valleys. If you want the blessing, you must be prepared to carry the burden and fight the battle. God has to balance privileges with responsibilities, blessings with burdens, or else you and I will become spoiled, pampered children. - Warren Wiersbe

When God blesses us, He expects us to use those blessings to bless the lives of others. - Jim Gallery

Think of the blessings we so easily take for granted: Life itself; preservation from danger; every bit of health we enjoy; every hour of liberty; the ability to see, to hear, to speak, to think, and to imagine all this comes from the hand of God. - Billy Graham

Today's Prayer
Lord, I have more blessings than I can possibly count; make me mindful of Your precious gifts. You have cared for me, Lord, and You have saved me. I will give thanks and praise You always. Today, let me share Your blessings with others, just as You first shared them with me. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
Cheerfulness 101
A miserable heart means a miserable life;
a cheerful heart fills the day with a song.
Proverbs 15:15 MSG

Christ promises us lives of abundance and joy, but He does not force His joy upon us. We must claim His joy for ourselves, and when we do, Jesus, in turn, fills our spirits with His power and His love. Few things in life are more sad, or, for that matter, more absurd, than a grumpy Christian. How can we receive from Christ the joy that is rightfully ours? By giving Him what is rightfully His: our hearts and our souls.

When we earnestly commit ourselves to the Savior of mankind, when we place Jesus at the center of our lives and trust Him as our personal Savior, He will transform us, not just for today, but for all eternity. Then we, as God's children, can share Christ's joy and His message with a world that needs both.

Christ can put a spring in your step and a thrill in your heart. Optimism and cheerfulness are products of knowing Christ. - Billy Graham, 100 Days of Prayer

It is not fitting, when one is in God's service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look. - St. Francis of Assisi

When I think of God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes leap and dance as they leave my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart, I serve him with a cheerful spirit. - Franz Joseph Haydn

We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way. - Gloria Gaither

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, You have given me so many reasons to be happy, and I want to be a cheerful Christian. Today and every day, I will do my best to share my happiness with my family and my friends. Amen

[Judy Harder]

 Daily New Life
     
Let God Decide
A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

The world will often lead you astray, but God will not. His counsel leads you to Himself, which, of course, is the path He has always intended for you to take. Are you facing a difficult decision, a troubling circumstance, or a powerful temptation? If so, it's time to step back, to stop focusing on the world, and to focus, instead, on the will of your Father in heaven.

Everyday living is an exercise in decision-making. Today and every day you must make choices: choices about what you will do, what you will worship, and how you will think. When in doubt, make choices that you sincerely believe will bring you to a closer relationship with God. And if you're uncertain of your next step, pray about it. When you do, answers will come—the right answers for you.

God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him. - Jim Elliot, 100 Days of Prayer

There is no need to fear the decisions of life when you know Jesus Christ, for His name is Counselor. - Warren Wiersbe

As we trust God to give us wisdom for today's decisions, He will lead us a step at a time into what He wants us to be doing in the future. - Theodore Epp

I don't doubt that the Holy Spirit guides your decisions from within when you make them with the intention of pleasing God. The error would be to think that He speaks only within, whereas in reality He speaks also through Scripture, the Church, Christian friends, and books. - C. S. Lewis

Today's Prayer
Lord, help me to make decisions that are pleasing to You. Help me to be honest, patient, thoughtful, and obedient. And above all, help me to follow the teachings of Jesus, not just today, but every day. Amen

 

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
The Remedy for Uncertainty
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves,
and it was completely calm.
Matthew 8:26 NIV

Sometimes, like Jesus' disciples, we feel threatened by the storms of life. During these moments, when our hearts are flooded with uncertainty, we must remember that God is not simply near; He is here.

Have you ever felt your faith in God slipping away? If so, you are in good company. Even the most faithful Christians are, at times, beset by occasional bouts of discouragement and doubt. But even when you feel far removed from God, God never leaves your side. He is always with you, always willing to calm the storms of life. When you sincerely seek His presence—and when you genuinely seek to establish a deeper, more meaningful relationship with His Son—God will calm your fears, answer your prayers, and restore your soul.

We basically have two choices to make in dealing with the mysteries of God. We can wrestle with Him or we can rest in Him. - Calvin Miller, 100 Days of Prayer

Fear and doubt are conquered by a faith that rejoices. And faith can rejoice because the promises of God are as certain as God Himself. - Kay Arthur

There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is a matter of mind: we cannot understand what God is doing or why He is doing it. Unbelief is a matter of will: we refuse to believe God's Word and obey what He tells us to do. - Warren Wiersbe

Mark it down. God never turns away the honest seeker. Go to God with your questions. You may not find all the answers, but in finding God, you know the One who does. - Max Lucado

Today's Prayer
Dear God, sometimes this world can be a puzzling place, filled with uncertainty and doubt. When I am unsure of my next step, keep me mindful that You are always near and that You can overcome any challenge. With Your love and Your power, Father, I can live courageously and faithfully, today and every day. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
Thanksgiving Yes . . . Envy No!
Stop your anger! Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others—it only leads to harm.
Psalm 37:8 NLT

As the recipient of God's grace, you have every reason to celebrate life. After all, God has promised you the opportunity to receive His abundance and His joy—in fact, you have the opportunity to receive those gifts right now. But if you allow envy to gnaw away at the fabric of your soul, you'll find that joy remains elusive. So do yourself an enormous favor: Rather than succumbing to the sin of envy, focus on the marvelous things that God has done for you—starting with Christ's sacrifice. Thank the Giver of all good gifts, and keep thanking Him for the wonders of His love and the miracles of His creation. Count your own blessings and let your neighbors count theirs. It's the godly way to live.

As a moth gnaws a garment, so does envy consume a man. - St. John Chrysostom, 100 Days of Prayer

How can you possess the miseries of envy when you possess in Christ the best of all portions? - C. H. Spurgeon

When you worry about what you don't have, you won't be able to enjoy what you do have. - Charles Swindoll

Too many Christians envy the sinners their pleasure and the saints their joy because they don't have either one. - Martin Luther

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, deliver me from the needless pain of envy. You have given me countless blessings. Let me be thankful for the gifts I have received, and let me never be resentful of the gifts You have given others. Amen

[Judy Harder]

 Daily New Life
     




Walking in His Footsteps
I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do.
John 13:15 MSG

As citizens of a fast-changing world, we face challenges that sometimes leave us feeling overworked, overcommitted, and overwhelmed. But God has different plans for us. He intends that we slow down long enough to praise Him and to glorify His Son.

Each day, we are confronted with countless opportunities to serve God and to follow in the footsteps of His Son. When we do, our Heavenly Father guides our steps and blesses our endeavors. He lifts our spirits and enriches our lives.

Today provides a glorious opportunity to place yourself in the service of the One who is the Giver of all blessings. May you seek His will, may you trust His Word, and may you walk in the footsteps of His Son.

WWJD = Walking With Jesus Daily. - Anonymous, 100 Days of Prayer

Christ is to be sought and bought with any pains, at any price; we cannot buy this gold too dear. He is a jewel worth more than a thousand worlds. Get him, and get all; miss him and miss all. - Thomas Brooks

To walk out of His will is to walk into nowhere. - C. S. Lewis

Imagine the spiritual strength the disciples drew from walking hundreds of miles with Jesus . . . (3 John 4). - Jim Maxwell

Today's Prayer
Dear Jesus, because I am Your disciple, I will trust You, I will obey Your teachings, and I will share Your Good News. You have given me life abundant and life eternal, and I will follow You today and forever. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
In His Hands
Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow;
you don't know the first thing about tomorrow.
Proverbs 27:1 MSG

Our world unfolds according to God's plans, not our wishes. Thus, boasting about future events is to be avoided by those who acknowledge God's sovereignty over all things. The old saying is both familiar and true: "Man proposes and God disposes."

Are you planning for a better tomorrow for yourself and your family? If so, you are to be congratulated: God rewards forethought in the same way that He often punishes impulsiveness. But as you make your plans, do so with humility, with gratitude, and with trust in your Heavenly Father. His hand directs the future; to think otherwise is both arrogant and naïve.

Our future may look fearfully intimidating, yet we can look up to the Engineer of the Universe, confident that nothing escapes His attention or slips out of the control of those strong hands. - Elisabeth Elliot, 100 Days of Prayer

Hoping for a good future without investing in today is like a farmer waiting for a crop without ever planting any seed. - John Maxwell

Tomorrow's history has already been written—at the name of Jesus every knee must bow. - Paul E. Kauffman

That we may not complain of what is, let us see God's hand in all events; and, that we may not be afraid of what shall be, let us see all events in God's hand. - Matthew Henry

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, as I look to the future, I will place my trust in You. If I become discouraged, I will turn to You. If I am weak, I will seek strength in You. You are my Father, and I will place my hope, my trust, and my faith in You. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
Obey and Be Blessed
By this we know that we have come to know Him,
if we keep His commandments.
1 John 2:3 NASB

Oswald Chambers, the author of the Christian classic devotional text, My Utmost for His Highest, advised, "Never support an experience which does not have God as its source, and faith in God as its result." These words serve as a powerful reminder that, as Christians, we are called to walk with God and obey His commandments. God gave us His commandments for a reason: so that we might obey them and be blessed.

We live in a world that presents us with countless temptations to stray far from God's path. But, when confronted with sin, we Christians have clear instructions: Walk—or better yet run— in the opposite direction.

To yield to God means to belong to God, and to belong to God means to have all His infinite power. To belong to God means to have all. - Hannah Whitall Smith, 100 Days of Prayer

Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ. - A. W. Tozer

Let us remember therefore this lesson: That to worship our God sincerely we must evermore begin by hearkening to His voice, and by giving ear to what He commands us. For if every man goes after his own way, we shall wander. We may well run, but we shall never be a whit nearer to the right way, but rather farther away from it. - John Calvin

God wants man to fulfill His commands as a human being and with the quality peculiar to human beings. - Martin Buber

Today's Prayer
Lord, let me live by Your commandments and let me help others do the same. Give me the wisdom to walk righteously in the footsteps of Your Son, Dear Father. And let me place my trust in You, today and forever. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
The Love of Money
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil,
and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:10 NASB

Our society is in love with money and the things that money can buy. God is not. God cares about people, not possessions, and so must we. We must, to the best of our abilities, love our neighbors as ourselves, and we must, to the best of our abilities, resist the mighty temptation to place possessions ahead of people.

Money, in and of itself, is not evil; worshipping money is. So today, as you prioritize matters of importance for you and yours, remember that God is almighty, but the dollar is not. If we worship God, we are blessed. But if we worship "the almighty dollar," we are inevitably punished because of our misplaced priorities—and our punishment inevitably comes sooner rather than later.

God is looking over the entire earth for men who have the proper attitude toward money and who will use it according to His direction and not according to their own interests. - Larry Burkett, 100 Days of Prayer

If the glories of heaven were more real to us, if we lived less for material things and more for things eternal and spiritual, we would be less easily disturbed in this present life. - Billy Graham

Christians have become victims of one of the most devious plots Satan ever created—the concept that money belongs to us and not to God. - Larry Burkett

Greed is enslaving. The more you have, the more you want— until eventually avarice consumes you. - Kay Arthur

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, I will earn money and I will use money, but I will not worship money. Give me the wisdom and the discipline to be a responsible steward of my financial resources, and let me use those resources for the glory of Your kingdom. Amen