Who is like God?

I have been thinking about this since I read 2 Samuel 22-24 this morning. David poses a couple of questions, "For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?" (2 Samuel 22:32) My first response, "Exactly!" There is none like God. He is the Sovereign Lord Almighty creator of all things. He is the firm foundation on which to stand. He is the Savior of all called by His Name.

So why the struggle? If I truly believe the above, then why do I doubt? Why do I turn to my own way and not rely on the firm foundation of my Lord? I am a sinner! Ouch! I hate saying that but it is true. I put myself in the place of God. I think I am the rock, the firm foundation and I have it all together in my life. Just imagine trying to save myself but believe me I've tried it. So where does the struggle really come from? Pride.

It is pride that I struggle with, do you? My own self gets in the way of my serving a risen Savior. I think I know best and that surely I can handle whatever comes my way. But without God, I can forget it! Humility is what I need. If I truly follow my Savior, then I will seek to be like Him. He was humble. "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8)

What a challenge to walk humbly as Jesus did! On my own, I cannot do it but with the Holy Spirit who lives within me...I can be on my way!

A Prayer of Joy for the New Year

Here we are 3 days into 2009. Whoa!!! I remember when I was a child always looking forward to 10 years of age, then it was 16, then it was 18, then 20 and then it all stopped. The looking forward to the next year, the next age was not something I really had time for. They just kept coming until now I am in the 21st century. Now that's weird!

What is so weird about it? I was born in 1952 if that tells you anything. I could make sense of black and white T.V. and now they tell me we are going digital. What??? So many changes. I used to think that my grandma had seen a lot of changes going from horse and buggy to cars, from radio to T.V. but now I realize I AM GRANDMA!! I have seen a lot of changes with many more to come to be sure. Can you believe it? I'm that grandma writing a blog. :) Now that makes me laugh.

There is one who is constant and has never changed from one century to the next. Who? My Savior, Jesus Christ. He has entered this new year with me. He has promised me He will never leave me or forsake me. He has given me His Spirit and His Word. He has sacrificed Himself for me. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. This means a lot to me as I see so many changes each and every day. I know I can count on Jesus no matter what changes.

What has Jesus promised me for this year? He has promised me if I seek to live my life His Way then I can have joy. He does not promise me happiness for there will be many things in this coming year which will bring me great sadness and pain. He does promise to be with me through the difficulties to come and to provide me with comfort and peace. His comfort and peace bring me joy in Him, not in my circumstances.

My prayer for you this year is joy. So I say to you Have a JOYFUL New Year as you trust in the ONLY Savior, Jesus Christ.