February 5
Bloom Where You are Planted
… each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.
1 Corinthians 7:17 (NIV)
Have you ever awoken from a sweet dream only to find yourself surprised, even disappointed, you were back in the real world?
Well, here's the real reality, while our dreams can be enjoyable, God’s are best. These are the ones we should be enjoying. And guess what—God’s dream for us starts with the here and now, and the best life of all starts with desiring Him (see Psalm 37:4).
It all begins with the decision to serve Him, to trust Him, to love Him … right here, right now.
You see, the Great Gardener has planted us in choice soil. Our calling is to bloom where He plants us, and become the people He calls us to be. So ... are you a sunflower who wanted to be a rose? Understand His desire. Accept His design and hold your head high!
Lord, You are all-wise, and You know best. Thank You for making me who I am and placing me where I am. Help me hold my head high and shine for You. Amen.

February 4
Flip the Switch On!

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 (NAS)

A light is most effective when it is dark outside. But to be effective, it must be turned on.
In a similar way, God wants us to light our world. He designed us for good works that glorify Him (Ephesians 2:10). To be effective we need to be turned on to this truth—engaged in what he calls us to do.
If the God of the universe made us for this, why should we hold us back? Afraid of the darkness? He will light the way. Afraid you will lose out in a world you are just passing through? You will gain so much more in eternity—it will blow your mind! Fear of failure? In Him, you are already a success.
Jesus blew through all these challenges and He will take you and me safely through them too. He holds us in His hand (John 10:28) and He will lift us up to shine for Him. All we need do is flip the switch.
Lord, help me hear your voice, see your path, and step boldly into Your will. Shine through me. Amen.

February 3
He’s There for You
They were terrified, but he called out to them, “I am here! Don’t be afraid.”
John 6:19-20 (NLT)
My 8-year old son has been dealing with a fear of the weather—wind in particular. Many times, he has hurried to our bedside and—after passionately describing the noise of a wind-rattled screen, or the ominous shadows of swaying trees—asked to sleep with us.
Each time we would comfort him, take him back to his bed and encourage him to pray, to trust God, to be brave. Some nights were better than others. Occasionally, we would get a return visit.
Then last night a huge windstorm hit after our son fell asleep. We could hear the mighty wind pummel the house, rolling down the length of our upper story, shaking every screen on the front of our home. At three in the morning quiet footsteps approached our bed and a tiny voice whimpered, “Can I sleep with you? The wind is really bothering me.”
I lifted the covers, and he crawled in between Mom and Dad. Safe and sound, and warm and comfy, he quickly fell asleep. It reminded me of how God comforts us. He watches over us all the time, even though we may not feel His presence. His promise is true: “Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV) And in time, when I really need His comfort, I find He’s there for me.
Lord, thanks for listening! Bless us with the knowledge of Your presence and free us from our fears. in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

February 2
The Great Secret
… when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NIV)
People all over the world look for the secret to life, and here it is—submerged in Ecclesiastes—buried in wise old Solomon’s heart.
Unfortunately, too few have enjoyed the secret. Faithful Abraham discovered it, as did suffering Job and David the shepherd boy (who later became king of all Israel!). They embraced this truth and you can too. Would you like to know what it is? Are you ready? Here it is: Become the friend of God.
Too hard? Impossible? Some people learn this with hardly a thought. Others never get it, and yet, it is really quite simple. If you and I will stop ignoring God's quiet plea and focus on Him, if we will pursue Him and His interests, we will become His friends. And in the process, we will learn of His deep, deep love for us. While life will not suddenly become easy, we will discover His provision for all we need, and we will uncover the mystery and challenge of His plan for us. Being God’s friend is a wonderful thing. He offers the gift to us all. It’s a gift from our very best friend.
Lord, help us learn Your ways. Help us to draw closer and find true peace in knowing You—really knowing You! Amen.

February 1
The Greatest Pursuit
Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things … it all belongs to you.
And the entire assembly praised the Lord … They feasted and drank in the Lord’s presence with great joy that day. 1 Chronicles 29:11,16,20,22 (NLT)
Do you want to find real joy?
People everywhere look for happiness. As a nation, we have always sought to ensure citizens had the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Finding peace and joy and happiness is important to us is it not? Under David, the nation of Israel found these things … and more. As the people gathered to dedicate the work on the temple, King David gave a speech, and his description of this greatest of pursuits was, well, a bit surprising.
The truth David staked his and their futures on was this: they owned nothing. It was all God’s. Everything belongs to God, David said. Their families, their success and wealth, their very lives were all His. And, as they dedicated the materials Solomon would use to build His temple, they all praised God. The result? One of the biggest and happiest parties ever seen in all of Israel.
The truth for us is simple: we can follow their example. We too can trust God, acknowledge His greatness and allow His peace, His joy, His happiness to overwhelm us. We can be just like David, who in the solitude of tending sheep (1 Samuel 16:11) learned that pursuing God was the greatest pursuit of all!
So let it be, Lord. So let it be. Amen.

January 31

The Gift We All Can Give

... giving thanks always … Ephesians 5:20 (NKJV)

What thanks can we render to God for you …?
1 Thessalonians 3:9a (NKJV)

In His encouraging letter to the Ephesians, Paul challenges them to walk in the light, to use their time wisely, and to give thanks always for all things. You see, Paul knows, giving thanks is a wise thing and something God appreciates deeply.

For one thing, it takes our eyes off self and places them where they should be—on God and, in a positive way, on our neighbor. The Thessalonians were not perfect, but Paul thanks God for the joy they gave him. He also prayed for them, that he might see them and help them grow in their faith.

Too many times, we don’t see the blessings surrounding us; too often, we fail to thank those who allow us to experience God’s joy; and let’s face it, we complain too much. In order to bless God and others this needs to stop! We need to learn from Paul.

In spite of all Paul went through—shipwrecks, and imprisonments and beatings—he pleads with us: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Lord, Paul was right. Thank You so much for the blessings You surround me with, for peace and health, and especially for the people You bring into my life. Bless them I pray! Amen.

January 30

Turn and Turn Again

… you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
1 Thessalonians 1:9b (NKJV)

There is no greater discovery than when one hears God's quiet call. It is enough, or should be, to make us do a one-eighty and move away from our idols of selfish desire and toward His selfless love. This is the life He has for us: glorifying Him, living for Him, pleasing Him in every way.

The new believers of Thessalonica found this exciting life of love and lived it with zeal. The wonderful lesson they teach us, the truth Paul shares here, is that this life is for anyone at anytime—even older ones who have strayed far from God’s path. If this includes you, you can come back to Him and rediscover … the abundant life He has for you!

Listen! Jesus whispers, “Come. Follow Me!”

Lord, help us turn away from our idols and toward You. Fill us; use us; bring glory to Your name. Amen.