Are you tired of your appearance?

The other day I heard someone say that when they passed a mirror, all they could think of is, “That can’t be right.” It’s funny in a way, but unfortunately, in today’s world, there’s a lot of emphasis placed on what we look like on the outside rather than what we look like in our hearts.

Psalms 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Charles William Eliot, former president of Harvard University, had a birthmark on his face that bothered him greatly. As a young man, he was told that surgeons could do nothing to remove it. Someone described that moment as “the dark hour of his soul.” Eliot’s mother gave him this helpful advice: “My son, it is not possible for you to get rid of that hardship…But it is possible for you, with God’s help, to grow a mind and soul so big that people will forget to look at your face.”

Yes, it’s true. All of us have things we’d love to change about our bodies. And many of us tend to spend an awful lot of time and money trying to change, fix and cover those things up. But I think there is much truth in Mrs. Eliot’s words. When we are shining boldly for the Lord, I don’t believe anyone sees them!

Do you REALLY want to make a drastic difference in your appearance today? Let’s stop focusing on our outward issues today and start focusing on what really counts — walking uprightly and wholeheartedly with the Lord — a spiritual extreme makeover! We will glow like never before, at a low low price and 100% guaranteed!

Are you a Christian in name, or by actions?

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel….. (Ezra 7:10

Jesus, in Matthew 15:8, quoted Isaiah saying, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me”. The scribes and Pharisees he was speaking of had substituted their own laws for those of God’s, simply giving lip-service to the Lord. We are guilty of the same when our actions do not follow the truth our lips declare we believe. When the way in which we live does not reflect our professed beliefs, I have news for you, we don’t really believe them! It’s like a man talking about the power of gravity but then walking off of a cliff because he didn’t really think he would fall.

When we don’t live out the truth we say we believe in, our faith is dead. For “as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26). The life, the essence is gone from our faith when we don’t live according to it. All our Christianity is in this condition is an empty husk, a mausoleum for our decaying words. If we are genuinely in Christ, we “ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6). It is the Spirit led flow of a believer’s life to “do”, or put into practice, what we learn from Scripture. Be encouraged to live out the truth that we profess.

Ask yourself these questions today and answer honestly both to yourself and the Lord:

• Is there a lack of joy in my Christian walk?
• Do I neglect prayer because I don’t actually believe it does anything?
• Do I neglect the Bible and simply listen to what others have to say about it?
• Do I, like the Pharisees, honor God with my lips but not with my heart or actions?

Be encouraged: abiding joy is possible and it grows from living faith, prayer is both heard by God and powerful (James 5:16), and it is our glory to search Scripture for its deep wisdom (Proverbs 25:2).

15 Things God won’t ask you

1. God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.

2. God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3. God won’t ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, but will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy.

4. God won’t ask about your social status, but will ask what kind of class you displayed.

5. God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if they dictated your life.

6. God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary.

7. God won’t ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones.

8. God won’t ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others.

9. God won’t ask what your job title was, but will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

10. God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others.

11. God won’t ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend.

12. God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

13. God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask how you treated your neighbors.

14. God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the content of your character.

15. God won’t ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but will ask how many times they didn’t.

What I’ve learned, and sometimes the hard way

I’ve learned– that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned- that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.

I’ve learned- that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I’ve learned- that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned- that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned- that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.

I’ve learned- that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned- that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I’ve learned- that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned- that you can keep going long after you can’t.

I’ve learned- that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I’ve learned- that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I’ve learned- that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I’ve learned- that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I’ve learned- that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I’ve learned- that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I’ve learned- that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I’ve learned- that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I’ve learned- that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned- that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned- that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I’ve learned- that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I’ve learned- that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological.

I’ve learned- that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I’ve learned- that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.

I’ve learned- that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I’ve learned- that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I’ve learned- that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned- that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I’ve learned- that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I’ve learned- that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I’ve learned- that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I’ve learned- that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.

I’ve learned- that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned- that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I’ve learned- that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I’ve learned- that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings and standing up for what you believe.

But the most important lesson of all is that no matter how bad I mess things up….no matter how far I stray…now matter how much of a sinner I have become…Jesus died on the cross, I am forgiven, and God always loves me. Now that is a lesson I cannot afford to forget.

How should a Christian respond to terrorism?

How should Christians respond to terrorism? The question we must always ask is: “What does the Bible say?”

The terrible tragedy that occurred in New York City and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001, and now Boston,  released a full range of emotions–anger, hatred, rage, despair, compassion, and more. We saw people at their worst and at their best.

How should Christians respond to terrorism? The question we must always ask is: “What does the Bible say?”

#1 The Bible says that God has established government and government is endued with God’s authority to protect its citizens and punish those who terrorize them.

The Bible is quite clear about why legitimate governments are established and the extent of their authority. From the apostle Paul we learn:

“The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1).

“There is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1).

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1).

Perhaps most appropriate to the case of the terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon are the following:

“Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:2).

“Rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong” (Romans 13:3).

“He (the ruler) does not bear the sword for nothing” (Romans 13:4)

“He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4).

CONCLUSION: We submit to legitimate authorities because they are duty bound to act against those who disobey the law and harm others. We also submit for the sake of our conscience. The terrorist attacks on September 11th were both unlawful and unconscionable. The United States government has both the right and the duty to God to pursue and punish those who committed these terrible acts and those who harbor them.

#2 The Bible says that we are not to take punishment into our own hands but to defer vengeance to God through legitimately established governments.

Again the apostle Paul:

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil” (Romans 12:17)

“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath” (Romans 12:19).

The Bible teaches that vengeance belongs to God because only He knows perfectly the hearts of men and only He can temper vengeance and justice.

“It is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19).

“It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip” (Deuteronomy 32:35).

“It is mine to avenge; I will repay” (Hebrews 10:30)

“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God . . . . The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished” (Nahum 1:2-3).

God’s vengeance is ultimate vengeance when He shall judge all mankind. But as seen above, He vests legitimate governments with the responsibility of being His present agents of vengeance, not individual citizens.

CONCLUSION: While it is the right and the responsibility of our government to respond nationally and militarily to these terrorist attacks, it is not our individual right to respond. It is equally unlawful and unconscionable that US citizens would retaliate out of anger against those with Arabic or Middle Eastern surnames or faces. God and those legitimately established governments have the responsibility for vengeance and retaliation, not citizens of the state.

#3 The Bible says that the way to overcome evil is not through personal retaliation or hatred but through personal good and compassion.

One more time the apostle Paul:

“Do not be overcome by evil” (Romans 12:21)

“Overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21)

“He who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8)

Add to this the words of Jesus:

“Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39)

And read what the psalmist David said:

“Do not fret because of evil men” (Psalm 37:1)

“Trust in the Lord and do good” (Psalm 37:3)

“Do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” (Psalm 37:7)

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath” (Psalm 37:8)

“Do not fret-it leads only to evil” (Psalm 37:8)

David, Paul and Jesus understood God’s command to Moses:

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:18).

Undoubtedly during these days of anger and rage we will hear people quote God’s Word inappropriately. Many appeal to the so-called “imprecatory psalms” (Psalms 35, 59, 69, 109, etc.) to justify retaliation. But these psalms were not motivated by personal revenge. Behind these cries for justice was the recognition of a divine moral governance in the world and a call for God to exercise judgment as well as grace.

While the psalmists were aware of the constant battle between good and evil, they had no concept of the future judgment where God will punish those who take the lives of innocent people and reward those who live godly lives. The only justice they could conceive was the “here and now” justice. We can see far beyond that.

SO HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN RESPOND?

#1 Let’s show the world in these desperate days what the love of God is like.

The discipline of love in the face of adversity is what distinguishes the Christian from other people (John 13:35). This is a time for us not only to show Christ’s love to our brothers and sisters in Christ, but also to others who need to feel the warmth of that love in the cold aftermath of loss.

#2 Let’s be much in prayer for the safety of those who are demonstrating love to others by their brave actions.

Our military forces, police, firemen, rescue workers, doctors, nurses and volunteers of all kinds are living out Jesus’ words, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Those who risk their lives for others are set in stark contrast to the cowardly terrorists who used the lives of others as a shield for their despicable acts. Let’s pray for these men and women and thank God for them.

#3 Let’s speak up for understanding, tolerance, justice and forgiveness.

While you and I cannot tolerate the methods of these terrorists, their actions arose from the frustration of their feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Who better to try to understand that hopelessness than those of us who have found hope in Christ. We need to be vocal in our insistence that there should be zero tolerance for any backlash of hatred against Muslims, Arabs, or people of Middle Eastern descent living in America. That will demonstrate the love of Christ. “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15).

#4 Let’s be a voice for calm in an atmosphere of hatred and retaliation.

James said it so well: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. For man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (James 1:19-20). This is both a time for patriotism and a time for patience. Let’s be patriotic Americans who bring God’s Word to bear on the national debate about how to respond to terrorism.

#5 Let’s be men and women of prayer, both for those who victimized and those who were their victims.

Pray for the friends and families of those who have lost lives due to terrorism. Pray for those who heroically continue to fight terrorism. Pray for our President and his aides as they formulate an appropriate response. Pray for Christians everywhere who have the opportunity to minister hope and comfort to bereaved families. “Pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

And while we pray for the families of the victims of terror, let’s pray as well for the families of terrorists. God’s grace and love extends to them too (John 3:16). Pray that God will break through their hatred and that the Holy Spirit will soften their hearts and draw them to Himself in salvation. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44)

The Christian response is always to look for the fingerprints of God in every situation. The New York City and Washington D.C. disasters were devastating–as well as the on-going war on terror–but let’s seek opportunities to bring hope and forgiveness, help and grace, in the midst of that devastation. Let’s seize every opportunity to speak of God’s love and man’s need. Let’s do the work of an evangelist, a comforter, a friend. Let’s respond as Christians should; let’s respond with God’s love and care. God bless you as you do.

The above article is from http://www.backtothebible.org, and I encourage you to visit their site. I just couldn’t find the words to say what was on my heart regarding the bombing in Boston, and luckily the organization above could. Pray for Boston.

The misery of being rich

Some people search for joy in materialism. There is a vast difference in making a living and making a life. Many make a fabulous living, but have a pathetic life. And there is a lot of difference.

In 1923 eight (8) of the world’s wealthiest people gathered for what the press called the most important economic conference of the century. Those 8 men were the president of the largest steel company in America. The head of the largest utility company. The head of the greatest commodities company, The president of the NY stock exchange. A member of the presidents cabinet. The greatest bear on Wall Street, and the head of the world’s largest monopoly.

What happened to those 8 powerful men? Rich. Whose lives were larger than life. Who certainly knew how to make a living. But what kind of a life did they have. 25 years later a press reporter followed up on their lives. And here is what happened to them.

The president of the largest steel company, Charles Swab, died bankrupted. — The Utility Executive, Samual Insel, died a fugitive from justice. Exiled in Greece. His fortune gone. The greatest Commodities speculator, Art Quetin, died, absolutely penniless. — The president of the NY Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, went to the penitentiary, where he died. — A member of the presidents cabinet, Albert Fall, was released from prison, so he could go home and die. — The Greatest Bear on Wall Street, Jesse Livermore, committed suicide. — The head of the world’s largest monopoly, Ivan Kruger, committed suicide.

They all knew how to make a living, but they didn’t know how to make a life. They did not have joy that made life worth living. What about you? Are you sacrificing your health for a few more dollars? Are you sacrificing the joy of your marriage for a few more dollars? Are you sacrificing the joy of your children by spending money like water on them, to keep from spending time with them?

What sense does that make? If you leave them a fortune and they do not have what you have, they will loose it very speedily. The Bible says, “A child left to his own way will bring its parents shame.” What’s your decision?

So you are making lots of money. Big deal. If there is no joy in your life, if there’s no joy in your home, if there’s no joy in your marriage, if there’s no joy with your children — IF THERE’S NO JOY WITH GOD — You are not going to have real joy, lasting joy, meaningful joy, until you make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life.

What goes around comes around

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to eke out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman‘s sparce surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the little boy Farmer Fleming had saved. “I want to repay you,” said the nobleman. “You saved my boys life.”

“No, I cannot accept payment for what I did,” the farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer’s own son came to the door of the family hovel. “Is that your son?” the nobleman asked. “Yes,” the farmer replied proudly. “I’ll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he’ll grow to a man you can be proud of.”

And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming’s son graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the nobleman’s son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son’s name? Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said what goes around comes around. Jesus said it much better. “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

Trusting God through the hard times.

God is God and He is Able — Mo Matter What the Circumstances Are God Can Do It

Fear is the believer’s greatest enemy. When a believer has fear, he cannot have believing faith. Fear paralyzes, frustrates and cripples. Fear also involves torment as as 1 John 4:18 states. Someone said, “Fear is the prison of the heart.” Trusting God in hard times requires refusing to be frightened, refusing to be immobilized, refusing to panic.

In his first Inaugural Address in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt said these famous words: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Regardless of one’s partisanship, these words still ring true.

God’s Word is filled with powerful exhortations to not be afraid. In Deuteronomy 31:8, Moses said, “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Isaiah was told to “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you. For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’” (Isaiah 35:4; 41:13)

In Genesis 26:1 and following, God’s Word records that there was a famine in the land. Abraham may have told his son, Isaac, about the famine he had experienced years before as recorded in Genesis 12:10, and how he had gone down to Egypt. Now Isaac was experiencing for himself a severe famine, and may have considered taking the same action. But God told Isaac, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I will tell you. I will be with you and will favor you with blessings.”

Isaac obeyed the Lord and stayed where he was, trusting God. Verses 12 through 14 state that “Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with blessings. And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and distinguished; He owned flocks, herds, and a great supply of servants, and the Philistines envied him.” Isaac could have panicked and reacted out of fear. Instead, he trusted and believed God, and defied the negative circumstances surrounding him.

God is God, and He is able. Period. No matter what the prevailing conditions are, God can still do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 promises, “And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing.” (2 Corinthians 9:10 Amplified Bible)

The lesson in Genesis is to not thoughtlessly react, but to listen for God’s quiet whisper and to have a hearing ear to hear His specific guidance tailor-made for the given situation. What worked before may not work now. Isaac could have just packed up and gone to Egypt, but God told him to stay right where he was and plant, even in famine. The results were fantastic, but God is the God of the fantastic.

Author and speaker Dale Carnegie once said, “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

Today’s hard times necessitate trusting God. It may be disastrous not to. Whatever happens, refuse to fear, don’t panic, but first seek God’s counsel. If it is unclear at the time, seek the counsel of proven Christian people. God can speak through them, too. No matter what is going on, remember what Jesus said. “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

A little Bible trivia humor for the night…:)

Sometimes it’s good to laugh at ourselves…Here’s a lillte fun for the night.

Question: Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?

Answer: Noah — he was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Question: Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?

Answer: Pharaoh’s daughter — she went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little profit (oops, that should read “prophet”).

Question: What kind of man was Boaz before he got married?

Answer: Ruth-less.

Question: Who was the first drug addict in the Bible?

Answer: Nebuchadnezzar — he was on grass for seven years.

Question: What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?

Answer: Yahweh drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury.

David’s Triumph was heard throughout the land.

Honda… because the apostles were all in one Accord.

2 Corinthians 4:8 describes a group traveling in a Volkswagen Bug: “We are hard pressed on every side.”

Question: Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?

Answer: Samson — he brought the house down (Judges 16:30).

Question: Where is the first baseball game in the Bible?

Answer: In the big inning. Eve stole first, Adam stole second. Cain struck out Abel. The Giants and the Angels were rained out.

Question: How did Adam and Eve feel when expelled from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23-24)?

Answer: They were really put out.

Question: What is one of the first things that Adam and Eve did after they were kicked out?

Answer: They really raised Cain.

Question: What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?

Answer: “Your mother ate us out of house and home” (Genesis 3:6).

Question: The ark was built in 3 stories. The top one had a window to let in light. How did the bottom two stories get light?

Answer: They used floodlights.

Question: Who is the greatest baby-sitter mentioned in the Bible?

Answer: David — he rocked Goliath to sleep.

Question: Why was Goliath so surprised when David hit him with a slingshot?

Answer: The thought had never entered his head before.

Question: If Goliath would come back to life today, would you like to tell him the joke about David and Goliath?

Answer: No, he already fell for it once.

Question: What is the best way to get to Paradise?

Answer: Turn right and go straight.

Question: Which of Yahweh’s servants was the Bible’s most flagrant lawbreaker?

Answer: Moses, because he broke all 10 commandments at once.

Question: Which area of the Promised Land was especially wealthy?

Answer: The area around the Jordan where the banks kept overflowing.

Question: How do we know that Job went to a chiropractor?

Answer: Because Job 16:12 says: “All was well with me, but . . . he seized me by the neck”

Question: Where is the first tennis match mentioned in the Bible?

Answer: When Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court.

Question: Which Bible character had no parents?

Answer: Joshua, son of Nun (Joshua 1:1).

Question: Why didn’t Noah go fishing?

Answer: He only had two worms.

Question: How do we know that they played cards in the ark?

Answer: Because Noah sat on the deck

Only 363 days left in the year, how will you spend them?

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.—Psalm 90:12

Well it’s the 2nd day of the year, and most of us are off to work and ready to put 2012 on everything we sign…:) As we all start off on our new resolutions and a fresh spring in our step, I wonder how much thought we really give to each day. How much planning do we do to make sure that each one is given it’s full worthiness to the Lord? How much indeed.

According to a statistic published some time ago, the average life span of people in the United States is 25,550 days (70 years). Some of us are already past that number, while others may never reach it. My calculator tells me that as of today I have lived 18542 days. Maybe you want to check just how many days you have already lived (Or maybe you don’t…lol).

As we count our days, we are reminded that they are limited. As someone once put it, “Life is a temporary assignment.”

That’s why the author of today’s verse asks the Lord to help us number our days—so we will realize we have been given only limited time here on this earth, so we need to make the best out of each moment. The psalmist wants us to remember that what really matters is how we use the days he gives us.

And that raises some important questions: How will we use the remaining 364 days of this year? Will we use them in the way the Lord wants us to? Will we use them to serve him and to serve the people God places on our path? Are we willing to use our gifts and talents, our resources and our time to build his kingdom in whatever place he puts us?

We are not given another year simply to take up space. Wherever we may find ourselves, God wants to use each one of us. Ask yourself today, “How does God want to use me?”