Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
December 29, 2024
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1 There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens: 2 a time for giving birth and a time for dying, a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted, 3 a time for killing and a time for healing, a time for tearing down and a time for building up, 4 a time for crying and a time for laughing, a time for mourning and a time for dancing, 5 a time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones, a time for embracing and a time for avoiding embraces, 6 a time for searching and a time for losing, a time for keeping and a time for throwing away, 7 a time for tearing and a time for repairing, a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking, 8 a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for war and a time for peace.
Good Morning. Happy Lord’s Day!
As we approach the end of 2024, it is time to reflect upon this past year’s trip around the sun. Each year brings new blessings and challenges. As we age, our perspective changes in many things. Activities that brought excitement in our twenties or thirties might bring fear now. Meanwhile, things we thought were boring in our younger years now bring great enjoyment.
Along my faith journey, I am amazed at how God reveals things and thoughts to me as I am ready to receive them. When I read the Bible, I glean things of which I was previously unaware. It wasn’t that those ideas were hidden; I just didn’t have the context for that level of understanding yet.
It’s like watching a movie made for children. When you watch as a kid, it satisfies your current level of emotions and thoughts: it’s cute, funny, or even sad at times. When you watch the same movie years later, you think, “Wow! I didn’t know it taught a moral.” The movie itself didn’t change, but your perspective and maturity allow you to see beyond its entertainment value.
We should embrace every day and its blessings and challenges as we praise God, pray continuously and give thanks for all things.
Loving Lord, We are your children! May we live each day to the fullest as we encounter our blessings and challenges. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: In all things, rejoice and give thanks to God.
Praise, Pray, and Give Thanks! Pastor Liz
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