Weekly Spiritual ReadingsJanuary 6, 2016Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:4-5 Bluidkiti's Recovery ForumsRecovery Links Daily Recovery ReadingsDaily Spiritual MeditationsDaily Prayers ***********************************************************Look ahead with expectation and joy. Our King & Friend walks with us into the new year. Regardless of your past, God will take the life that you offer Him and use it for His glory.What our Lord did was done with this intent, and this alone, that He might be with us and we with Him. --Meister EckhartIf God is your co-pilot, swap seats!God desires that we give thanks as an act of faith and obedience. We can learn to trust that God will walk with us through whatever lies ahead. If we feel ourselves slipping into a pit of sorrow, we can trust that God will hold us up.Today let's celebrate and embrace what God is doing in our lives.God is always present.***********************************************************NEW VERSION OF FOOTPRINTS Author UnknownImagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns.For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends! This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints, that once etched the sand next to Jesus', are now walking precisely in His steps.Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.Eventually they disappear altogether.There is only one set of footprints: they have become one. This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints are back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints.You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: "Lord, I understand the first scene with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you.""That is correct."" ... and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps; followed you very closely.""Very good. You have understood everything so far.""... when the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like you in every way.""Precisely.""So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first."There is a pause as the Lord answers with a smile in his voice. "You don't know? That was when we danced.""To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven. A time to weep, a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance." Ecclesiastes 3:1,4***********************************************************DON'T FORGET TO SMILE Author UnknownA little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.When the mother's car drove up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her, "What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?"The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty, God keeps taking my picture.May God bless you today as you face the storms that come your way.And don't forget to SMILE!***********************************************************Upside Down by Sally I. Kennedy"I am the Lord, and I do not change." Malachi 3:6"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you." Psalm 89:14Have you ever laid on the grass and looked at all the stars when it’s really dark outside? Or leaned way back and gazed up at a deep, blue clear sky, the leafy tree tops and the puffy white clouds?Things look different when you look at them upside down. They look really cool! Seriously, if you haven’t tried it….try it! It’s a little dizzying but it’s neat.When things are upside down in our personal worlds, well. that’s not so nifty, and not so cool. Upside down in our lives seems to come in sneaky and unexpected ways, taking us unaware and by surprise. It’s not a stretch to easily get confused, upset, irritated or even panicky. Given a little time, though, most things sort themselves out.And the good news here is even if your world does turn upside down there is always someone you can turn to who is rock solid. You can always look to the Lord. Our Father God is consistent, ever-faithful, relentless, constantly-pursuing, lavish, and extravagant love. And, He is always there for YOU.Believe me this is good news when things turn upside down.***********************************************************I AM PREPARING YOU for what is on the road ahead, just around the bend. Take time to be still in My Presence so that I can strengthen you. The busier you become, the more you need this time apart with Me. So many people think that time spent with Me is a luxury they cannot afford. As a result, they live and work in their own strength—until that becomes depleted. Then they either cry out to Me for help or turn away in bitterness.How much better it is to walk close to Me, depending on My strength and trusting Me in every situation. If you live in this way, you will do less but accomplish far more. Your unhurried pace of living will stand out in this rush-crazed age. Some people may deem you lazy, but many more will be blessed by your peacefulness. Walk in the Light with Me, and you will reflect Me to the watching world.ISAIAH 64:4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.JOHN 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”PSALM 36:9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. ***********************************************************Forget the Former Things by TomThese passages from an Old Testament prophet and a New Testament apostle always seem to have relevance, but especially at this time of year. This is what the Lord says— He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:16, 18-19, NIV)Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 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 3:12-14, NIV)The message is simple. The wisdom is timeless. The practice is challenging. It is one thing to celebrate the end of a year and the beginning of a new with parties and fireworks, it is quite another to follow through with your plans to do things differently in the New Year. It is much easier to make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight than it is to have the discipline to resist the Snicker’s bar in the cabinet ten feet from you. It is much easier to say you are going to exercise more than it is to put those walking shoes on and head out the door.It is much easier to say you are going to let go of your bitterness and resentment than it is to go to the person who hurt you and say, “I forgive you.” And, it is much easier to say, “I forgive you” than it is to actually forgive. It is much easier to say you plan to trust God more in the New Year than it is to simply trust Him. It is important to make the promises and resolutions to do things better. It is equally as important to forget and leave the past behind. The passage from Isaiah says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”You must forget and leave behind your failures. You messed up. Move on. Start over. Forgive yourself. Stop dwelling on the past. Things did not go as well as you had hoped they would. Okay. Try again. Stop dwelling on the past.You were hurt deeply. I am sorry. As long as you interact with people there is as risk of getting hurt. Keep interacting. Stop dwelling on the past.You did great things last year. Good for you! Do not rest on those accomplishments. Do even greater things this year. Stop dwelling on the past.Stop dwelling on the past, look for the new things God is doing, and join Him. ***********************************************************Walking with Women through the WordHello 2017Goodbye 2016….hello 2017As I pursue social media I see all manner of quick witted quotes and poetic phrases about the new year. Everyone is creating goals and writing resolutions.Me? I’ve never been big on making resolutions or setting goals. To be honest, by mid-January I’ve failed so I let myself forget about the remaining 11½ months. Maybe you can relate.Several years ago, as one year closed and new approached, the Lord pricked my heart with a Bible verse. This verse kept showing up over and over again. In songs. In sermons. In my daily Bible study. The repetition got my attention. I knew God wanted the verse to be my focus for the upcoming year. Every year God has faithfully given me what I call a spotlight verse.This year my spotlight verse John 21:22, Jesus replied, If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me. Jesus was speaking to Peter who at time was concerned about what was going to happen with John.God wants me to follow Him and not be concerned about or compete with what He is doing in or through those around me.No catchy one-liners for me simply follow Him.What does God require of you in 2017?***********************************************************IS YOUR HUT BURNING? Author UnknownThe only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground
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