1 Peter 1:13-15

"So roll up your sleeves, put you mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old groves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now"

Jesus lived a life of enthusiasm and proclaimed a message of hope which attracted crowds and has changed lives now for more than 2,000 years. Peter's message is a calling for us to be the same, to "roll up our sleeves" and "put our minds in gear", to live in enthusiasm as Jesus did and to serve as a beacon to others. May we be such believers today. Our current world desperately needs enthusiasm for life!

Deuteronomy 31:18

"The Lord is the One who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."

We often fail to meet the expectations of others, or of ourselves for that matter. But when we have those cloudy days, we should not lose hope and become discouraged. Instead we should focus forward knowing that God is on our side. He understands when we fall short. His expectations are that we get back up and move ahead with faith.

2 Corinthians 5:17

"If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!"

The Bible clearly teaches that when we welcome Christ into our hearts, we become new creations through Him. Our challenge, of course, is to behave ourselves like those new creations. When we do, God fills our hearts, He blesses our endeavors, and He transforms our lives forever.

1 Timothy 6:6-8

"Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that.

We live in a world in which we are bombarded with messages to find peace and pleasure in purchases and consumption. The reality is though is that those things are fleeting and instead of providing pleasure they offer pressure. The true path to contentment is a spiritual gift from God. When we keep our focus on Him and His intentions for our lives, when we keep Him at the center of our focus, peace and contentment is what we find.

Matthew 10:7

"As you go, preach this message: "The Kingdom of Heaven is near"

We have a world around us that needs to hear and see the love of God and witness the mission of Jesus. We cross paths everyday with people that have this very need. Now, we don't have to be forceful or offensive in sharing, but rather recognize the opportunities that are placed before us everyday and act. As Christians it is our calling, our mission, to bring His glorious kingdom to this earth. We do that by walking in the footsteps of Jesus and sharing His good news.

Ephesians 4:2

"Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love"

If you find yourself in opposition with someone, open your ears and listen, open your heart and feel, open your mind to understand, and ask yourself if acceptance is in store.

1 Peter 5:5

"God is against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble"

It is very easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements in comparison with what we owe others. in other words, reality breeds humility. So, instead of puffing out your chest and saying, "Look at me!", give credit where credit is due, starting with God. And, rest assured: There is no such thing as a self-made man. All of us are made by God..and He deserves the glory, not us.

Psalms 42:7-8

"Deep called to deep at the noise of your waterfalls; all your massive waves surged over me. By day the Lord commands His faithful love; by night His song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life"

I love the beautiful imagery of the waterfall. The ever-flowing, falling water from above and splashing into the pool below. It's powerful but at the same time peaceful and calming. The writer of Psalm 42 speaks of bouts of depression and He likens the love and peace of God as the waterfall that washes over him and brings him new life of encouragement and hope. There is something comforting knowing that our Creator, our Heavenly Father, is always there. Through his nighty power comes gentle love that calmsall uneasiness in the pool of our hearts.

Genesis 2:18

"It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him"

The reading today reminds us of our Heavenly Father's need for connection with us and reminds us of our human need for connection with others. In a world that has strayed so far away from God's created plan, He is asking us to heal the connection that He established long ago. His intention then is intention now. May we find common ground in our homes, in our marriages, in our society. A common ground in the groundwork He laid so long ago. The gift of life, the give of love and connection.

Phillipians 3:13-14

"One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press forward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus"

We are called to live with conviction in Christ, to be willing to take a chance, take a risk, do something uncomfortable in order to learn, to move forward. A chance to learn something about ourselves, a chance to better understand God's plan for our life, the challenges He has in store for us. The chance to glorify Him.