Your Destination is New Day Street!

Along with millions of other people, we watched the historic pairing of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater for the 50th anniversary tribute to the Beatles. We both watched the original visit to the Ed Sullivan show back in 1964 as did most of the kids our age. For us, the baby boomers, it was awesome. Reliving being an enamored young girl for me and for my hubby a teenager who ultimately had every record they ever made together. Many pleasant memories came flooding back as the songs reminded us of lost love, true friends and the meaning of life (for them at least).

We did not go to bed singing Beatles songs or pulling out memorabilia. We left the fun of the evening where it belongs – in the memory bank of life. We can’t go back to those times, nor do we want to. It was fun, but it’s done. We’ve got life to live and more memories to make so we look forward to what God is doing in our lives as we live a life that’s pleasing to Him. 

We all enjoy reliving past memories. But we cannot live in the past. Memory Lane can be visited but we must not live there. The past is where it belongs. The best of moments are part of history. As great as they are, as much as we enjoy the fun of it all, it’s just a memory. We can’t live in the past, for it’s already been lived. We have a future to walk into that holds as much promise as our greatest times of yesteryear. If we spend all our time reliving the past and trying to regain the moments of our youth we’ll miss living today. We’ll also miss looking to the future where we are to keep our eyes on the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus. 

Maybe you believe that someone has robbed you of your future. They cannot do this, for only God sets the future in motion, only God gives the calling to His children and only God says when the end will come. Maybe your life looked better back then than it does right now. Hold on, for God is making all things work together for your good as you keep your eyes on Him. 

Oh beloved! It’s important this morning for you to know that you have a future. It does not matter what your age is or what your past looks like, your future is bright with promise. God has put it in the hearts of all believers to look forward, not back. Today is the day to look ahead and ask God what today’s plans are for you. Every single day has its own special plans just for you. You are awake, you are breathing, you are able to get up and take nourishment, so God’s plan is with you. Maybe all your past memories are pleasant, maybe they aren’t. Either way, to live with your memories is to rob yourself of the blessing of looking ahead to Jesus. You can’t undo the mistakes; you can’t really live the greatest moments again. It’s time to do yourself the greatest favor you’ve ever done. 

Leave the mistakes at the altar with the Lord. He’s explained it in His Word, that He’s placed your sins as far as the east is from the west. You’ll have to leave your greatest accomplishments there as well. Leave them at the altar of praise and thank God for each and every one of them. But reach out to Him this very day for your next assignment and your richest blessings. 

You are more than your memories and your address is New Day Street! God loves you so much that He’s making a way for you to continue to walk in blessings, live triumphant and make great memories for your future. He’s for you so that you don’t have to fear what’s ahead, you only take a step at a time to walk in His ways and live for Him always.

You and I are very blessed, beloved, for He’s given us His great and precious promises so that we can live in the light of His Word! Go ahead, go out today and make some wonderful memories for the Kingdom and the Glory of God.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you.

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

You ARE On a Need To Know Basis!

Kids are so inquisitive. They seem to pick up on the very things you try to talk about in private. Their ears perk up more on the quiet whispers between adults than anything else. Ask them to clean their room, close the door, turn down the music or do their homework and they’re often oblivious.




I can remember asking my own parents for more information and mother hushing me. I can remember my ow...n kids inquiring and telling them never mind. I often remember hearing people say and may have used the phrase myself, “You’re on a need to know basis and you don’t need to know!”



Unlike kids, who don’t really need to know everything, believers are on a need to know basis and they do need to know everything! They need to know the Word of God, so they can live not just exist. With the entire counsel of the Word of God, children of the Heavenly King know how to live, how to manage, how to fight and how to win. Not only that, they need to know desperately what it means to be a child of God and just what all is available to them as His children.



Believers need to know that the entire Word of God is true. We need to know that the council of God is right for their life. We need to know that the precepts of the Lord are pure and that they will enlighten the eyes of our understanding. We need to know that the ways of the Lord are right and will keep us walking close to Him. We need to know that the Love of God is always available to us, along with His mercy, grace, and peace. We need to know that we receive our strength from waiting on the Lord.



We need to know how to walk in blessings, how to live in security and how to shine the light of the Gospel for others to see. We need to know that every single Word of God is written so that we may be strong and invincible, victorious over our enemies.



Oh beloved, what do you need to know this morning? What are you wrangling with? What have you heard? You may have gotten a bad report, been told wrong information and become discouraged, disappointed, fearful or worried. Those feelings are not from the Word. God tells you this morning that regardless of your circumstances, which are always temporary, He has a plan for your life and it is wonderful. His plan was settled for you before the foundation of the world so that when you could not see beyond your troubles you could rest on His Word and delight in Him no matter what. Run to His Word, read it all and live by it for that will bring you the Truth in the midst of a perverse generation that knows nothing about the Bible and lives in exact opposition to it.



God will always help you. He will either help you out or help you through. Regardless of your circumstances God is with you. His Word is His bond and you need to know this day, He loves you and He’s for you and that’s the most important thing you will ever know.



Psalm 119:89 Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven.



Psalm 119:45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.



Psalm 19:8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.



Philippians 2:15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,



Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.



John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free



John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Have You Got Good Reception This Morning?

Remember how we used to get different channels on our TV?  We laugh and point to our kids! Danny would say, “Melody put it on Channel 4”. She’d jump up and turn the knob to 4.  When I was a kid I would go out on the porch to turn the antenna for my dad, so his ballgames would come in clearer.  Occasionally the wires would come loose from the antennae and someone would have to release the pole and lower it in order to get those wires reattached. Sometimes a wind would come through and knock that antenna winding, so that someone would have to go outside and untangle things to get reception back.

Nowadays, the satellite installer has to make sure the satellite receiver is pointed in the right direction for you to receive the channels you purchase.  Without the satellite pointed to the source, you get nothing on the screen.

The same principle applies to the believer. As a spiritual receiver we must operate in line with the Word of God to receive.  Without our lining up with the Word of God, we receive nothing. My dad’s sports events wouldn’t come in if the antenna was on the ground. You wouldn’t see my kids hold the knob in their hands and expect the channels to change. Even with the remote controls we all now use, they too must be pointed in the right direction to receive.

You may have been trying to receive from the Lord, but find yourself getting nothing. Without turning to God you won’t get much reception, if anything. Eventually the signal will grow weaker and weaker. Hearing from God is your source of all you need, so turning your life towards His ways and His Word is what you need. You cannot turn His Words around to fit your needs, you have to turn your whole heart to Him to hear clearly and see His will.

Oh beloved, run to the One Who has all you need to receive! Seek His Face for only His Face will do! All other channels will give a distorted view of life and God.  But God’s Word will set you free, give you new life, make you what you can’t be on your own and set you securely on high! You will hear Him speaking love words clearly and you will hear Him saying, This is the way – walk in it! What wondrous love is this that the King of the Universe loves you and has made a way for you hear from Him!  He knows your troubles and trials, He knows your hurts and anxieties, He knows your dreams and hopes – He knows everything about you and His Word is a direct line to Him. Let Him speak Truth and Mercy into your heart today, for His ways are magnificent and His love is eternal.  Always and forever, no matter what, God loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth looking to Him for everything!

Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore, say to the people, 'This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.'

Proverbs 2:1-5 My child, listen to what I say, and treasure My commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.  Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.

Psalm 27:8 When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."

Where Do You Live, Beloved?

Both Danny and I moved quite a few times when we were kids.   Sometimes it required changing schools in the middle of a school year. That was never fun.  We’ve lived where we are now for the longest we ever lived anywhere. Now we travel a lot, both around the state and longer trips. When we meet people, the question usually comes up both ways, “Where do you live?” 

You may well be asked, “Where do you live believer?”  Do you live in the light of His Word? Do you live in the realm of His precepts? Do you know that you are a royal citizen of a holy nation?  We have indeed become strangers in this land, for our hearts no longer lean towards the secular but the spiritual.  We have a new country, heaven, as our reward. We are no longer content with the status quo. We find ourselves out of sync with today and looking forward more and more to a home with Jesus in heaven for eternity.  

Oh beloved, where are you living this morning? Are you living in perfect love? Are you living in mercy, grace and peace? Are you living by every Word that proceeds from His mouth? Do you realize just how wondrous this life in Christ really is?

God loves you (PERIOD)  God loves you because His essence and being is LOVE. He doesn’t love you because of anything you do or don’t do. This perfect love transcends our deepest failings, it overcomes our greatest needs, it covers our hardest lifestyles. It overlooks all, it never gives up on you! He loved you before you were conceived, He loved you in your mother’s womb, He loved you as He watched you grow and mature. He loves you when you accept Him as Lord and Savior and He loves you when you falter and stumble. He will love you, beloved, forever and always.  And because He loves you He is for you – to guide you, direct you, protect you, care for you, pick you up, dust you off, restore your losses, forgive your sins, bless your life, renew His mercies on your behalf, gather you up under His wings, walk with you through valleys, floods and more.

Oh beloved, live in the light of His Word, for there is no other place you can live so loved. Earth has lost its charm and heaven is waiting. Spend time with the love of your life and live loved!

Philippians 3:20  But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.

Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” (NAS)

1 Thessalonians 5:8  But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

Colossians 1:12  always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.

Psalm 119:93  I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me. (NAS)

Need Insight for Living? You Can Have It!

You know they make some great commercials. I especially love the insurance commercial where the girl is talking to a guy about what she read about his insurance company on the internet. She tells him “they can’t put anything on the internet that isn’t true”.   At the end of the commercial she walks off with a guy she had “met” on the internet who was a French model, only he definitely was anything but that.  Still she believed it and walked away arm in arm with him.

There are so many things taken as true today.  There are multitudes of infomercials extoling the virtues of one thing or another, all the time promising that their truth is the best.  If you buy it, you’ll be perfect, your life will be perfect, your future will be perfect. Just buy their product, the book, the dvd…whatever they’re selling.   There is much on Christianity as well. I find that I get lost in the information about all of it, unless I spend time in the Word. The more I fill my heart and mind with God’s Word the more easily I discern the false from the true.

Oh beloved, are you drowning in a sea of information? Have you searched everywhere for something to hang onto, something to make sense out of your situation? Maybe you want to do your own thing so you’ve sought out writers who believe you can do just that. Are you tired of running here and there and everywhere to find something that really touches your heart and changes your life? Run to God’s Word this morning and read! All the promises mentioned within the pages of the Holy Word are true. They will feed you, they will increase your beauty, they will add wisdom to your life and they’ll stay with you when everything else, everyone else, is gone.   

What wondrous love is this that the King of the Universe, the Self Existent One would write a Book just for you to live by? No ordinary book; written by no ordinary author; published by no ordinary producer.  Thank the One Whose name is Faithful and True! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters!

Psalm 19:8-10 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.  They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

Hosea 14:9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them...

2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Psalm 86:11  Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to Your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor You.