A Jacket - A Prophecy

I looked at the jacket. It had been worn for years, it was fraying on the shoulder and there were holes apparent everywhere on it. It was just about wearable but it was obviously on its last legs. If it were an animal it would be mercifully put down.

There was an evident need for something new to cover in a way suitable for the season ahead. The next step would see changes made, that process would necessarily be hard as letting go of something that has served for so long is hard to let go. Yet it was clear that the old has past and it was time for the new to come.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

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Daily Thoughts – Celebrate: New Hope

Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on. (1 Peter 1:3)

There is a fatal approach to life that says this is all there is; it’s pretty miserable and it won’t get better so the best we can do is make ourselves as happy as we can until we die. Indeed if that is all there is life is pretty miserable. The claim of Christianity is that Jesus lived, beat death and lives on as an Example. That gives us an enduring hope that says there is more to life than what we see. This is cause for continual joy and celebration to the Father that makes it all happen.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts – Celebrate: New Mercies

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22, 23)

In hard times when it’s difficult to smile let alone celebrate there’s something worth remembering. Like a beam of sunshine on a rainy day and the glowing ember in a fire there is something irresistible about the never-ending love of God. That love is expressed in mercy – not feeling the full brunt of life’s miseries. For bad though things may appear things could be worse – whether missing that accident, seeing a smile instead of a frown, eating rather than starving, having a friend and not being lonely, life and not death. Every day new mercies are offered for our celebration.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Daily Thoughts – Celebrate: A New Day

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

There are two ways to approach the day, first the ‘Oh no, another day where … [cue list of negative experiences expected]’, or the approach that the writer of this Psalm takes. This approach is not an idealistic view that ignores life’s real challenges. It is however a focus not on the circumstances that may or may not occur in the day, but the Father of Love who has not only laid the day out for us, but even promised to walk with us through it in all its highs and lows. That assurance in itself is worth celebrating.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd