This morning as I am sitting here enjoying a cup of coffee, there is a little bit of a chill in the air, and I am reflecting back on my childhood. You see, in a few days I am celebrating another year of life, another year of God's blessings. Fifty One years ago I was born, I came into this world, God breathed life into me. I think about how life seemed so simple back then, not having to make any decisions, except for maybe thinking about what I wanted to be when I grew up. Of course, that doesn't last too long before you become a teenager, with all types of decisions to make and then of course you become an adult and the decisions keep coming, hoping you have made the right ones, looking back and knowing not all have been good.
I am sure we have all made decisions in our past, choices we wish we could go back and change, but we have to remember, whatever happened in the past does not have to affect our future. Too often we would make decisions based on emotional responses, as we are only human, but again, the choices we made in the past, do not have to determine who we are today, who we will be tomorrow, or who God wants us to be. Good or bad, right or wrong, up or down, God already decided who you were created to be even before you were born. We may have made choices in our past that have detoured us or maybe even derailed us from God's plan for us, but once you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you were right back on track, walking the right path, following the right course, becoming the person God created you to be.
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
There are those who believe we should forget the past, move forward, look to the future, live for today. And in some aspects, I believe that is true, we should forget about the bad things in our past, the wrong choices we made, the questionable decisions we followed. However, I also believe we should not forget everything about our past. I am sure we each have some fond memories of our childhood or school years or college or serving our country. To remember the past and to reminisce of times gone by does not mean we have to live in the past, or to beat ourselves up for the decisions we made. Each day we wake up, God is giving us a new day to live, a new day to become who we were created to be, a new day to praise and worship our Father in Heaven.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3
As you look at yesterday, or the day before, or the week before, or years ago, do not let any bad choices you made then, determine who you are today. Do not allow the questionable life you lived dictate the path you are walking now. Whether you believed in God your entire life or like me, were saved later in life, He has always been with you and with me; he has always watched over each of us, allowing us to make our own choices, but never allowing anything to come against us that he knew we could not handle. God has a plan for each of you, it is written in the book of life, however, it is up to you to walk the path he has laid before you, keep your faith strong in him, allow him to guide you and direct you and lead you to all he has planned for you. You may not see a way ahead of you, but your faith, your hope, your prayers allow God to show you the way.
"For I know the plans I have for you " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
I am speaking to you as one who has lived most of his life by my own will, and only a few years ago being saved and now living my life by God's will, which allows me to be happier, more fulfilled, have a better understanding of my life and what I was created to be. There are so many who walk this world with no place to go, who live their life day by day with no real plans except to survive another day. That is not the life God intends for anyone, that is not the life He intends for you or for me. But until those who are lost open their eyes, open their hearts, open their minds and get away from all the lies and deception of the media and turn to the word of God, they will never know true happiness, they will never know our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they will never know God's never ending, always enduring love for them.
As I speak a blessing over each of you this morning, always remember, I am here for you if you ever need to talk or get something off your chest or if you need prayer for yourselves, your family or your friends. Please do not hesitate to contact me.
May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace
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Dear Father God, thank you for blessing us with this day and loving us as Your children. Watch over each and every one of us as we start each day, as we go through this week, keeping us in the palm of Your hand. Guide us in our daily lives, directing us on the path You have planned for us, bringing forth the dreams you have planted in each of our hearts. For we know who we are and whose we are, children of the most high God. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
"Keep your Faith strong, your Hope alive and your Prayers never ending."
God Bless
Pastor Mark
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