A Word for me, from Him booklet.
One is filled,
the other blank.
What will this New Year bring?
Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010!
My word for January is: Repent!
Revelation 2:2-5
"I know your works, your toil and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my names sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first."
6 comments:
Connie,
My word for the month is RELEASE and God's word tells me ~ "My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare." (Psalm 25:15)
My word for December was "new" as God was preparing me for a fresh start in 2010 after a stretching, and many times painful, 2009. His Word on the matter was, "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'" (Rev 21:15). So I wrote it down and became excited about 2010.
I bought myself a new devotional, in line with my word "new". After years with the old one, I thought it might be time for something fresh. After reading the introduction, I got excited again about the "new" that would happen in 2010. I was not disappointed on January 1st when God's Word to me was clear.
It began with, "The land you are...to take possession of is a land of valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." (Deut 11:11-12) And He called to mind other scripture that He has impressed upon me during other very challenging times of my life, when I thought, "I just have no more to give..." It is this: "Land that drinks the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God." (Heb 6:7)
Each time I remember that scripture, I am reminded that, of course, I have nothing left to give unless I first am filled by His Holy Spirit afresh. I cannot do anything worthwhile in my own strength, but only by being filled by Him am I able.
The devotional entry for January 1st was perfectly fitting, too. (I'm typing the whole thing here because it was soooo good.)
"Today we stand at the threshold of the unknown. Before us lies a new year, and we are giong forward to take possession of it. Who knows what we will find? What new experiences or changes will come our way? What new needs will arise? In spite of the uncertainty before us, we have a cheerful and comforting message from our heavenly Father: 'The LORD your God cares for [it]; the eyes of the LORD...are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.'
"The Lord is to be our Source of supply. In Him are springs, fountains, and streams that will never be cut off or run dry. To those who are anxious comes the gracious promise of our heavenly Father: If He is the Source of our mercies, mercy will never fail us. No heat or drought can dry the 'river whose streams make glad the city of God.' (Ps. 46:4)
"Yet the land we are to possess is a land of valleys and hills. It is not all flat or downhill. If life were always smooth and level, the boring sameness would weigh us down. We need the valleys and the hills. The hills collect the rain for hundreds of fruitful valleys. And so it is with us! It is the difficulty encountered on the hills that drives us to the throne of grace and brings the showers of blessing. Yes, it is the hills, the cold and seemingly barren hills of life that we question and complain about, that bring down the showers. How many people have perished in the wilderness valley, buried under its golden sand, who would have thrived in the hills? And how many would have been killed by the cold, destroyed or swept desolate of their fruitfulness by the wind, if not for the hills--stern, hard, rugged and so steep to climb? God's hills are a gracious protection for His people against their foes!
"We cannot see what loss, sorrow, and trials are accomplishing. We need only to trust. The Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It will be a good and blessed New Year!"
~Streams in the Desert, L.B. Cowman updated by Jim Reimann
So rather than a single word for January, He's given me a phrase, "Drink the rain." And I am sucking it down, praising Him for the hills, the valleys and the truth that He is making all things new in His time.
Forever His,
Sara
My word for January is pride.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proud people take little account of their weaknesses and do not anticipate stumbling blocks. They think they are above the frailtes of common people. In this state of mind they are easily tripped up. Ironically, proud people seldom realize that pride is their problem, although everyone around them is well aware of it.
My word for January was selflessness.
Love you Connie,
Sarah
PS Your the best.
My word for Feb. is Willingness. Laying down for the good of others what you have the right to claim for yourself. God's word says, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5.
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