FORMING GOOD HABITS!!

     I have heard for any number of years that if you repeat something for 21 days, you will have formed a habit, and every day after that it will become part of your daily routine.  Well , I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have put this to the test, only to get to day 12 or 17 and  miss a day or two.  On July 18th I decided to try one more time.  I had gotten lax in my quiet time.  My time with the Lord had gotten sporadic to say the least.  This really bothered me, but I never could seem to form that daily habit.  On July 15th Karen Kingsbury issued her New Testament Challenge.  I didn't see this until the 19th or 20th - can't remember just which day it was.  Anyway, I read two chapters a day until I caught up.  I have not missed a day of daily devotion and reading a chapter in the New Testament.  All this said simply means that "they" (whoever says all these type of things) are completely right!!  Ever day since the 21st day has been easier.  But what is most important about this, is that I am doing what God wants me to do.  Everyday I read His word, study a devotion, and spend time in prayer with Him.  Does this make me "better" that you or anyone else?!?!  Not hardly!!  All it means is that I don't go a few days or weeks before I confess my sins and get back on track with HIM!!!  It also means that I have a better chance of figuring out what He wants me to do on a daily basis.  So, I am going to issue you a challenge - if you are not spending time with God each and every day, commit to trying to do so for 21 days.  I believe you will be amazed at what you will learn and  how much easier it will become.  So, why don't you give it a try.  You certainly can't lose anything, but you just might gain a whole lot!!  Take care dear friends.  See you at the House!!

New Testament Challenge

Last month Karen Kingsbury issued a challenge to her facebook friends.  If you started reading the New Testament, one chapter a day, you would complete it on Easter Sunday 2013.  She began on July 15th.  I was a few days behind, so I read a couple of chapters a day to catch up. At the same time my daily devotion (A Year with Jesus) was also covering Matthew.  So each day I have Karen Kingsbury & R.P. Nettelhorst helping me to understand the book of Matthew.  How awesome is that!!  I would challenge each of you to join the New Testament Challenge.  You can catch up by reading two chapters a day.

There are two things that stood out for me from Matthew.  In Chapter 15 when Jesus feeds the four thousand, it may not have been so remarkable.  After all earlier He had fed five thousand.  When He healed the first blind man, or made the cripple walk, or exposed the demons, people were amazed.  But the more miracles He did, the less remarkable the people could have seen them.  Friends, we do not want to become so familiar with Jesus that we lose sight of how marvelous He really is. 

"Every day, lives are saved, homes restored, sins forgiven, relationships mended.  One person's miracle is much like another.  The blessings of God surround us.  Don't lose sign of them!!"(1)

Another aspect of this chapter is showing how with little, God can do much!!  Never say you have nothing to give, be it money, talent or time.  God can use the little that we have and multiply it into thousands!!

Take care dear friends.  See you at the house!!

(1)  A year with Jesus