Wednesday, January 29, 2014

You Can Help Me Adjust My Attitude


I need an attitude adjustment!

January is often a month when we do our best to look at things more positively, to approach problems or challenges with a better attitude. Philippians 2:5 says: "The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had."

What is that attitude? Verses 6-8 tells us Jesus gave up all He had, and took the nature of a servant; He was humble and obedient.

One of the blessings of blogging is how God uses what other's write to adjust my attitude to more closely follow what He expects of me. When my pride is hurt, or I am feeling disgusted or pessimistic, God makes sure I read a few eye-opening posts from my favorite Christian bloggers to change my perspective. Sometimes I don't even have to look all that far to find encouragement--for me it often comes in the form of an email with the latest post from the blogs I subscribe to. I come away with a humbler, more appreciative mind-set and an improved outlook.

Blessings!
Pam
©2012 Pamela D. Williams

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Laying the Foundation


“Because of God's special favor to me,
I have laid the foundation like an expert builder.
Now others are building on it.
But whoever is building on this foundation
must be very careful.
For no one can lay any other foundation
than the one we already have—
Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:10-11

My nephew Levi built the beautiful house in the photo above. Though he will tell you he is no expert, he showed great wisdom by hiring those who are experts to do those tasks that he wasn’t qualified to do, like pouring the footers for the foundation.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The Gift Goes On

Wild Birds Unlimited
One of our favorite Christmas gifts this year was a birdseed snowman on a metal hanger. It is a gift that keeps on giving. The snowman itself was a gift, of course, but the birds’ enjoyment of the snowman has also been a gift.

It reminds me of the gift of sharing our faith.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Rev. Crow

Photo courtesy of Bing.com
“And God said,
‘. . . Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.’
So God created . . . every kind of bird.
And God saw that it was good.
Then God blessed them, saying,
‘. . . Let the birds increase and fill the earth.’
This all happened on the fifth day.”
Genesis 1: 20-23

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A New Year; A New Creation



At the beginning of every year, many of us take the time not only to reflect on the past 12 months, but to plan for a better us in the unspoiled days ahead. I love to crumple the last page of the old calendar and tack up a brand new one. A new year means a chance to change the future for the good, the opportunity to begin anew, and an occasion to view life with a fresh perspective.

The best way we can kick off the New Year is by committing our lives to God—whether it is for the first time or the fiftieth time! For me, the Scripture that says it best is 2 Corinthians 5:17:

“Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being;
the old is gone, the new has come.”

That's what I want for 2014--a renewed relationship with Jesus! As I read my devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries this morning, the New Year's prayer by Wendy Blight hit home:
"Heavenly Father, I praise You this day as God, my Creator. You are the Author of my life. You are the Strength of my heart and my Portion forever. You are all I need.
My heart's desire in this New Year is to grow closer to You. In knowing You better, I will know myself more because my identity is found in You.
I want to become a person after Your own heart. God, I ask You to help me each day carve out time to spend with You. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, a heart to receive, and a mind to understand all that You will teach me. Make my heart tender to hear Your voice each time I meet with You.
Take Your Word and penetrate my heart. Create a hunger deep inside my soul for more and more of You. May nothing else satisfy me more than You.
Give me a heart of humility. If there is anything in me that keeps me from hearing You, reveal it to me. Convict me. Move me to confession. Cleanse my heart and renew a right spirit within me so I can be in perfect fellowship with You. 
Fill my heart with Your truth. Plant it deep so that it takes root. Move me. Change me. Transform me. Empower me to live out what I hear and learn.
Every day of this New Year, make my life one long walk of obedience in response to Your Word and Your Holy Spirit Who lives and reigns in me. Let Your love and Your Word shape my life. This is my prayer offering. I ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen."
Will you join Wendy and me in praying this prayer? This year will you offer yourself to God and yield to His will?

Blessings!
Pam

©2014 Pamela D. Williams