Yesterday, fresh, crisp, cool air rose above the morning dew. Clusters of songbirds resting in the colorful trees, joyfully graced the neighborhood with their music. Leaves sailed delightfully to the ground in their last dance of glory. All around, the earth was transitioning into a season of harvest, gathering and celebration of God's love.
The gorgeous colors of fall and the excitement of the birds led to a few questions. Has my harvest been fruitful? Am I gathering with others and celebrating God's love? Am I happy in my heart? Out of the overflow of my heart comes joy and enthusiasm, if it's in my heart. If joy is not there, then I need to ask for it. If excitement is barely visible, then I need to pray for more. If I smile only once in a while, then I need an increase in smiles. The Lord is eager to grant these requests. For when I ask Jesus Christ for more of Him, He pours out joy, peace, and an excitement for life, in abundance!
May the wonder working miracles of
God's amazing love bring a breakthrough in your life.
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What a pleasant surprise to open the front door and see a rabbit in my yard. As I watched, the bunny nibbled on a blade of grass and some weeds before hopping onto the sidewalk. Then it stopped and looked at me. Who was more curious? The rabbit or me? For a precious moment, we connected. Our eyes locked. It posed for a picture, then ran off.
This reminded me of the precious moments when I become aware of God. Am I more curious about Him or He about me? Scripture says that the Lord delights in His creation. He rejoices over His people with singing. When I look at Christ, I can picture our eyes locking, too. But I don't see the look of fear that the rabbit exhibited. I see goodness, joy and glory. I see acceptance, mercy and love.
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Be filled with joy today. The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, the leaves sway in the breeze. The birds are singing, the grass is greening, the sky is clear and blue.
Be filled with joy today. Christ is for you, His love surrounds you, His Kingdom resides within. His grace is upon you, His blessings are on you. Reach out and gather them in.
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Over a trillion tiny snowflakes dance through the air, on a dark winter night. The falling snow clings to the trees and blankets the earth, in a covering of gentle whiteness, that awaits the rising sun. What a joy to look out the window in the early morning light, and see the world encased in white!
What a joy to know that I am encased in the brightness of God's love — that my sins are covered by the purity and holiness of Jesus Christ and the complete work He did on the cross. What a joy to know that Jesus is making me whiter than snow as I trust in Him, and celebrate the risen "Son" who sits at the right hand of God the Father. What a joy to know that Christ extends this blessing to everyone who is willing to accept it.
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Are you looking for a great book to read during Lent, listen to a 2-minute reading from Awaken Me! 40 Day Challenge. Click here.
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When we celebrate, we want to be happy. When we celebrate the ending of a difficult or challenging year and enter into a new year, we are happier. When we celebrate the good things in life, we become cheerful. When we celebrate Jesus, happiness escalates into exuberant joy!
Take time to celebrate. Celebrate life! Celebrate your friends and family, or neighbors and co-workers! Celebrate the warmth of the sunlight or the stars twinkling at night! Celebrate Jesus Christ, who pulls us out of the darkness and brings us into His light!
Enter the new year with a celebratory spirit. Desire a happy heart. Draw closer to the Lord. For the Christ is bringing His people into a vintage season! Let the redeemed of the Lord celebrate!
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Darkness slowly crawls into the background as the sun peeks its head over the horizon. It's another dawn, another day, another opportunity to enter into life. But am I ready to embrace the gifts that await me?
As the sun rises, will my heart also rise up with brightness and joy? When the daylight pushes away the darkness, will I also be willing to let go of yesterday's pain? When the sparkling dew or the morning frost washes the day with newness, will I also be willing to wash away the memories of past mistakes so I can embrace the new opportunities that come today?
Awaken, O my soul, and enter into this new day with a right heart, a positive attitude, and forward-facing thoughts. Help me, Heavenly Father, to embrace your gift of a new day with joy and thankfulness. Thank you, Jesus Christ, that You will be walking me through today. Holy Spirit, break through every barrier that binds me, and let me feel your guidance every step of the way.
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Unnoticed by the two squirrels chasing each around the yard, is a blue jay. From the top of the roof, the bird watches the squirrels run up and down several trees before racing race across the top of a fence. The gray squirrels leap into a neighboring yard, and wrestle each other in a pile of dried leaves. When they grow weary, the smaller squirrel scampers to the nearest tree and stretches itself across a wide branch. It's buddy disappears around the corner of the house.
A moments later, the blue jay flies to the squirrel's nest. The bird starts pecking the carefully woven leaves and twigs, pulling out seeds and nuts. Then the bird pokes its head out of the nest and looks around. The squirrels still haven't noticed, so the blue jay hops to a lower branch and begins extracting food from the sides and the bottom of the nest. A second blue jay arrives. Together, the two birds feast on the banquet they found.
It is easy to understand the importance of guarding our valuables, but sometimes we forget to guard the treasures in our hearts. Let us work hard to hang onto these precious gifts of joy and peace from Jesus Christ, and be alert to things that try to rob them from us.
May you breakthrough every obstacle that is keeping you from the abundant peace and joy that Jesus Christ has for you. For more encouragement and inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com
It is good to practice being like a child — to sing in the rain, to dance in the storms, to watch the puffy, white clouds go by. And sometimes, to get silly.
It is good to let go of our worries and cares, by placing them in the capable hands of Jesus Christ, so we can bask in the light of His love, be filled with God's wonderful peace, and experience joy in our heart.
May you practice being like a child today, and enjoy the freedom that comes from Jesus Christ.
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Only a few leaves remain on the poplar tree, but they glisten in the sunlight and dance delightfully in the wind. They are more jubilant than the surrounding maple trees that still have most of their foliage. What causes one tree to clap its hands with excitement while the other trees sway casually in the breeze? Is it the way the leaves are attached to the branches that enable them to be more attuned to the breeze?
Attach me to You, Lord Jesus Christ, in a way that causes my spirit to soar. I want to dance in the wind of your Holy Spirit and praise You with zeal and excitement, like the tree outside my window. Thank you for the light of your awesome love that causes my heart to want to stand up and cheer for You.
May you breakthrough every obstacle that is keeping you from dancing in the wind of the Holy Spirit and being filled with the joy of Jesus Christ. For more encouragement and inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com
The leaves and the branches bend and sway joyfully in the wind.
They do not stress or strain, but clap their hands with exuberance.
This is where we need to be:
Flowing freely in the love of Jesus Christ...
Enjoying the wind of the Holy Spirit...
Riding on the waves of God's grace...
Dancing delightfully through the storms of life...
Well-rooted and well-grounded in the Word of God...
Fearless of what is happening in the physical realm...
Rejoicing in what Jesus shows us in the spiritual realm.
Rise up, children of the Living God.
Rise up and be like the trees that way joyfully in the wind.
May you breakthrough the barriers that are keeping you from dancing through the storms of life and sailing on the wind of God's Holy Spirit. For more encouragement and inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com
