I Smile

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. -2 Corinthians 5:17

     A few years ago, singer Russ Lee came out with song titled "I Smile". When you discover how his life was changed by Jesus Christ, you'll know why he sings a song that says, "I smile when I think about the way You turned my life around. I smile when I think about the happiness in You I've found."

     When Russ was 17, his days were wasted on drugs, alcohol, boredom, and pain. His life was full of self-inflicted trouble and hopelessness. One day, while listening to an old rock song called "I Can't Get No Satisfaction," he realized that this described his life. Two days later, a friend invited him to church. There Russ heard that real satisfaction comes from knowing Jesus Christ, so he reached out in faith to Him.

     So, what was the first thing Russ did after trusting Christ? According to the book Touched by The Savior by Mike Yorkey, Russ said, "I walked back out to my car. In the trunk was a garbage bag filled with drugs I had been selling. I won't be needing these again, I thought, and I was right. I threw the bag away. From the day forward, God transformed my life from inside out. I became a new creation."

     No wonder Russ Lee can sing with exuberance, "I Smile." Can you?

BECOMING A NEW CREATION
To find out how to have new life in Jesus, read the booklet
Why Does It Make Sense To Believe In Christ?
A song in the heart puts a smile on the face.

Noble Plans

A generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand. -- Isaiah 32:8

     There's a difference between saying," I would like to visit England sometimes" and saying, "I'm planing to visit England next week." One statement expresses a desire; the other indicates definite preparation.

     So often we enter a new year with hopes, desires, and resolutions that can be seeds of positive changes. But the key to what actually happens in our lives is in making definite plans. That involves thought, purpose, and effort.

     Isaiah wrote about a future time when "a king will reign in righteousness" (Isaiah 32:1). This prophetic passage tells us about the coming rule of Christ, but it also gives us a principle that we who bow before Jesus as King can apply today. Isaiah contrasted the schemer who "devises wicked plan" with the generous or noble people who "devises generous things" (vv.7-8). As Christ's followers, we are to be generous people.

     What plans have we made for increased generosity this coming new year? Are we only hoping to give more time attention to others, or have we made some specific commitments? If we want to help a person or a cause financially, have we written the first check?

     This is a great time to make noble plans that honor God with our vision and generosity.

In Jesus' name our prayer we raise,

Whose guiding hand has blessed our days;

And may we, Lord, in godly fear

Serve You throughout this coming year.

God's plans include you.
Do you plans include God?

Restoring The Years

"I will store to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten." -- Joel 2:25

     How many years have you lost to the locust? Have self-indulgence, sensuality, sinful motives, and personal ambition robbed you of joy, peace, and fruitfulness? Perhaps you feel discouraged when you think of all the time that seems to have been wasted, never to be reclaimed. If so, consider the words of the lord through the prophet Joel. God told the people of Israel that even though they had been disobedient to Him and had been disciplined through a plague of locusts, there was still hope. The Lord said that He is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness" (Joel 2:12). Then He promised. "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten" (v.25).

      When we confess our sin to the Lord, He is quick to forgive our past and fill our future with hope. He can bring good out of our wasted years. He does that by teaching us humility through our failures, and by helping us to understand the weaknesses we have in common with others.

     Although our previous years may have been blighted by sin, God is eager to restore us and give us much fruit from our labor.what we have learned from the past can now result in productive service for Him and heartfelt praise to Him. The year ahead is filled with hop.

Forgive me, O Lord, for all of my sin,

Please make me pure and cleanse me within;

To You I confess, my ways have been wrong;

Restore now my joy and fill me with song.

No matter how dark you past,

with Christ your future is bright.