Look to the Future, Not to the Past

This morning as I wake up I remember as a child we had to keep the faucets dripping, put a light in the pump house, and various other things to keep the water pipes from bursting and the pump from freezing. Back then it was hard work to do simple things. Some of you may have to still do these things but for most of us we don’t anymore. There are other things that used to be laborious that we now have much easier. I’m glad for the most part that things are easier. Outhouses and rub boards are pretty much a thing of the past. Cisterns and well buckets have given way most everywhere to a simple twist of the faucet. 

I am thinking too of my own children being young. We had all the grands with us recently and for a moment I could get melancholy that the children I raised are all grown. We had a great time with them and still enjoy reminiscing about their childhoods.

If I just reminisced about the past, pretty soon I’d be wishing I could go back. Unknown days are ahead. We’ve not lived them. We don’t know where we’re going with God but we are going into the future. He has a plan and He’s leading us. We are excited to know that God’s Word tells us that even in our old age God has something for us, so even though we might become quite aged there is still much to do for the Kingdom of God when we follow Him with our whole heart.

The Egyptians left behind slavery. They were taken out of the land of Pharaoh with a strong and mighty arm of the Lord. Many signs and wonders were evident in their lives. They were heading out to points unknown but as long as God was leading it would be good. The wilderness looked fine to them compared to the slavery they had endured. Until they lived there.

God speaks to my heart: Each and every day is a new day with Me. I know there are times when you’d like to go back – maybe to do something over and better, maybe just to enjoy those wonderful memories. But I am not leading you to the past. I am not leading you to relive the good times and I am not leading you to relive the bad times. I am leading you into the future. It may look like a wilderness to you. But you can rest assured that every step I take before you is a step you can take with confidence. Living in the past has no merit whatsoever. Today is the day to live your triumphant life in Me. My name is I AM – I AM here, I AM leading, I AM preparing you for the future, I AM leading you through and teaching you much about My character and nature, even when you don’t know where you are going. 

Oh beloved! Trust the Lord. Let Him lead you out of the past. Let Him use you fresh and new today. Let Him give you a hope for the future. Let Him turn what looks like a wilderness into sacred ground. He will provide everything you need in abundance, along with grace and peace and joy. He loves you and He’s for you and His plans are outrageously good for your heart, your mind and your soul as you live in the light of His Word and follow Him all the days of your life. 

Psalm 78:19 They spoke against God; they said, "Can God really spread a table in the wilderness?”

Psalm 25:9 He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.

Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow

Jeremiah 31:17 “There is hope for your future,” declares the Lord…

Psalm 71:18 Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

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.

The New Year is Full of God's Hope

Nothing left under our tree but some loose dry needles. Since we got a live tree again this year it looks like we’re going to have to dispose of it pretty quickly.  Just a month ago it was green and the needles were supple. Freshly cut from the earth, it was gorgeous. Now it’s about done in. We can’t keep it over for another year. Without roots and soil and water it won’t make it. The evidence is there already. It’s done for.

This year has flown by. Just yesterday 2013 came upon us with such promise. If you’re like us, there were some great things that happened this year.  And if you’re like us, there were some not so great and unexpected things that happened.  When you open up a new year it holds lots of wonderful plans and hopes and dreams. But you can’t carry that calendar over for another year either. Everything written in it is done. That’s the past. It too must be thrown out with the Christmas tree.

We cannot do one thing about bringing a dead tree back to life.  We can’t do a thing about repurposing a calendar for another year. We can’t do anything about the outcome of the months we’ve spent in our lives.  Even though the tree has died, the year has dwindled and our plans have come and gone, not to be seen again, we can keep the good things for future reference. We can also look to the not so good events as our record of overcoming the odds, staying the course and celebrating the victories. We can pack away the ornaments from the boughs to place them on the new tree, we can catalog those good times, those precious moments to fondly remember in our hearts and we can open up a new calendar with high hopes and bright purpose.

I have a bad habit of keeping broken ornaments. I don’t know why. But God speaks to my heart and tells me to throw out the broken. Discard the past. I cannot relive it. I cannot bring it back to life. I cannot revive the year. It’s been spent. Whether I spent it right or misspent any of it is of no concern now.  God says look to the future.  Even the good things - and there are always good memories, great moments and fond reminiscences – have to be put in their place. We cannot live tomorrow fully if we’re holding onto the used up yesterdays. It just can’t be done.

Oh beloved, rejoice! A new year is approaching.  In a few short days it will be 2014 and the calendars will be brought out with clean spaces signifying the clean slate God gives you each and every day. For you who are dealing with loss, God says this could be the year of redemption, regeneration and renewal. For you who are walking through dark hours, this new year holds lots of hope for better days of health and happiness.  For all of you, it is time to throw out the old and take in the new. It’s a new day. It’s a great time to ask God to give you fresh plans and renewed purpose.

Regardless of your age, your abilities, your education or your pocketbook, God wants you.  He wants to take you into newness of life with Him. He wants you to believe Him. To receive His promises and to live in the light of His Word like never before. It’s a new day God has given you today and it’s a new year ahead to live it with gusto and victory. Your life is full of significance because God loves you and He’s for you!  No man can pronounce you done for. No system can pronounce you obsolete. No religion can say you’re not good enough. Because God says behold I AM doing a new thing with you beloved!

Blessings to you as you seek Him with all your heart for that's where we truly live and move and have our being whether it’s the end of a year or the beginning, He’s with you all the way.

Hebrews 6:18-19 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil…

Acts17:28  For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring. KJV

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

I Timothy 4:10 With a view to this we toil and strive, [yes and] suffer reproach, because we have [fixed our] hope on the living God, Who is the Savior (Preserver, Maintainer, Deliverer) of all men, especially of those who believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to Him). Amplified

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Run to the Spirit of Christmas - Christ Himself!

Our whole family loves A Christmas Carol. There are many versions, from the original movie of 1938 to the most recent Disney remake of 2009.  The story revolves around Ebenezer Scrooge who has spent his life being a grumpy self-centered agnostic. Because of the original Dickens’ story and subsequent movies, people with his personality are referred to as “Scrooges”, especially during the Christmas holidays.

There are three ghosts or spirits in this movie as well. They are sent to try to get Mr. Scrooge back on track and to help him see the error of his ways and thus to give him redemption. Through the visitation of these three spirits – Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future – Mr. Scrooge is sent on a trip of self-discovery and self-loathing, but eventually he finds himself changed and the change becomes well…dramatic to say the least.

We too have to deal with these spirits or issues - Our past, our present and our future.

Christmas past may hold the pain of unrealized dreams and hopes. Nobody’s perfect, especially parents, so there may be hurts that make us unable to enjoy today. If we hold onto those hurts we will find ourselves mourning what we could have had rather than enjoying what we do have. Are you hurt beyond imagination and still reeling from things you could not control? Or maybe you did the wrong thing and you’re still making yourself pay.

Christmas present holds much promise. This year will be perfect! But it’s hard when others don’t share the joy of the season. Or you are facing tragedy, resentment, unforgiveness. Like ornaments that are so heavy they bend the limbs of the Christmas tree beneath the load, these weights tend to bend us over and make us want to forget Christmas altogether. Who needs the pain?

Christmas future holds the highest hopes. We plan for the future and ignore the present because somewhere in the future things will be better, right? So we hold so tightly to our imaginary day somewhere in time ahead that we can’t enjoy the present. We feel destined to repeat the same offenses, but all the while hoping, just hoping that things will be better next year. What is in your perfect Christmas? Love, joy, peace? You’ll never find them on your own.

Oh beloved, run to the Spirit of Christmas – the Lord Himself!  He will take your mistakes and sorrows and rejections and replace them. Just as ornaments on the tree get broken and ruined, God takes each one and gives us a fresh new start! Just as our trees get old and lose their needs, God gives us a fresh today! No need to live with the past, it’s dead and gone. And, His future for us is brighter than the Morning Star! Let the Lord love you today and watch as He says, “Crawl up in my lap and let me tell you about your wonderful life! Speak your Christmas “wish list” into My ear! Give your past mistakes, present worries and future hopes to Me and let Me remake the entire movie into our love story! For I have loved you always. I AM with you in your past, I AM with you in your present and I AM with you in your future. If you let me, I AM able to make this a Christmas without regrets. Don’t turn your eyes on the tinsel or the glitter or the packages or the people, even those you love oh so much! Just turn your eyes on Me, the Author and Finisher of your Faith. I love you and I AM on your side. This is my gift to you this Christmas. Rejoice in My Love for I AM your Redeemer!

1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

2 Samuel 23:5 “Truly is not my house so with God? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured; For all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow?

 Job 42:2 “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

Romans 8:29 We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. (Amplified)