BABY STEPS

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Those small steps will add up, and you'll be at your goals before you know it. 

NEW DAY, NEW POSSIBILITIES

 

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?

MARCH MADNESS begins this week! It's the most wonderful time of year for college basketball fans. Fans of all ages are looking forward to see if their team can win the NCAA championship. 

What are you looking forward to in your life? 

Luke chapter 2 tells us about a man named Simeon, who was also looking forward to something in the future. Of course, he wasn't looking forward to a basketball championship, he was looking forward to a Savior. And God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. So, when Joseph and Mary bring 8 day old Jesus to the temple, God's promise is kept to Simeon. What Simeon had been looking forward to actually happened. Simeon sees and holds the Savior of the world!

There are a lot of people looking for a Savior in this world. Some are hoping for a political savior in this 2024 election year. Others are looking for a spouse or someone significant in their life to bring them meaning and purpose. They long for their life to have peace and hope.  

I want to encourage you to be like Simeon and look forward to Jesus.  

Look to Jesus for PEACE. 

Simeon takes baby Jesus in his arms and says to the Lord, "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace." (Luke 2:29 NIV) 

Seeing Jesus gives Simeon peace. 

Look to Jesus to SEE WHAT GOD IS LIKE. 

In Luke 2:30-32 we read Simeon announce that Jesus is "a light for revelation" which means He is revealing to the world what God is like. 

I pray that you and I will have eyes like Simeon to look to Jesus and see God's salvation in the world today. May we see His grace and truth and wisdom for all of the decisions and encounters with people we will have today. Jesus is the way we can truly have something to look forward to in this life. 

TROPHY LIFE

Growing up I had a trophy shelf in my bedroom. It was full of little league and basketball awards, and even my 3rd grade spelling bee champion trophy. I was very proud of these trophies. So proud that I would take time to dust them in order for them to shine brighter.

As I grew up and moved away, I left those trophies behind at my mom and dad’s house. But the idea of trophies never left me. 

My life and my Christian service became about the collection of trophies on my shelf. 

I was very proud of them. 

But God did not create me to be a trophy collector. God did not call me to shine so I would be noticed. God created me to shine His glory, so that people would notice Him. 

If I make being a consistent Christian my goal in order to accumulate more trophies, then I’m missing the point. My trophies do not make me more appealing to God. Anything that shines brighter than God in my life will actually cause me to be separate from God! 

I have to let go of past trophies (and failures) and focus on the true prize that Jesus has called me to win. 

I cannot follow Jesus into the future if I’m holding on to the past. 

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

God did not create me to be a trophy on His shelf. He created me to be close to Him and reflect His glory so others would notice Him, not me.