What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?
Today’s question on WordPress was “what are your morning rituals?
For me it involves at cuppa, my Bible, prayer and some type of devotional. This is how it has been for many many years. While the format of tools may change slightly at times, it is always first thing in my day.
Sometimes I use an electronic Bible on my phone or iPad, sometimes it is my real paper Bible. Sometimes I do Our Daily Bread and other times I do a Bible reading plan on the YouVersion Bible app. And it always involves prayer.
For me this morning ritual helps me to start my day right. It is helps to focus in on God and His kingdom. It helps me to think less about myself and more about others and the work God has for me to do.
Over the years I have talked to a lot of people about my faith in Christ. Some just don’t understand it.
Some think following Christ is about obeying a set of rules. When in reality God gives us boundaries to keep us safe. The Bible says we follow a narrow road for our own good.
Some think it is about living a good live to find God’s acceptance and salvation. When in reality is is about accepting what Jesus has done for us in dying for us on the cross.
Some think this life is all there is and we are born, live and die. When in reality the Bible says we are eternal beings who will spend eternity with Christ or without Him.
Often the people I speak to have never read the Bible. So this is where I start them. I encourage them to read the Bible. I encourage them to read either Luke or John and take note of Jesus’ words that are normally in red letters.
When they read the Bible they start to see the real Jesus, not how the world paints Him. And when they see the real Jesus, they see it is more about what He has done for us. This is when they start to understand.
Today I would encourage you to start with the Bible. Read about Jesus. Find out who He is and what He has done. It is my prayer that this will help you to find true understanding.
It you don’t have a Bible you can find one at www.biblegateway.com or look for the YouVersion Bible app in your app store. They are both free to use.
I am currently doing a four day Bible reading plan on the YouVersion Bible app. It looks at Abraham, Joseph and David and how they overcome their setbacks. I am finding it encouraging and thought I would share it.
Hope is a simple word, but something we all need desperately. In an ever changing world, we all need hope to hold on to. Hope keeps us looking forward to the future with the expectation of good things happening.
Before I came to Christ in my early 20s I thought I had hope. Despite not being in good health, I hoped to find my wife, get a good job, buy a home and that my health would improve. All of these things did happen, but they were all limited to this life.
After I came to Christ I found the hope I really needed. It was a hope for this life and a great hope for the next. I was now right with God, my sins were forgiven, I had a calling to serve and I had a heavenly hope for when this life is over. I would spend eternity with Christ.
After following Jesus for more than 30 years my hope is stronger than ever. Despite the world around me not looking good at times, I still have a great hope that is found in Christ. He is my true north or my anchor when life is tough. He holds me in the palm of His hand and He is far greater than anything life can throw at me.
Hope for me today is all about H.O.P.E. It is about Holding Onto Promises Eternal. This is true hope. The hope we have in Christ. The hope that He is preparing a place for us. The hope that He is coming back. The hope we will spend eternity with Him.
Yes I still have hopes and dreams for this life, but my ultimate hope is in Christ. My ultimate hope is eternity with Him. This life may last another 5, 10 or 20 years for me, but my true life will begin when I take my last breath here and I see His face. Oh what a great day that will be!
For me the compliments I remember and the ones that come when I am feeling a bit flat or low in spirit. They seem to make it through and touch my heart.
A few weeks ago someone I know well and have worked with said this to me, “You have a real gift of pastoral care. Wherever I go to work where you have been, the people rave about your care and compassion”.
The person did not realise at the time, but I needed that compliment more than they knew. It was more than I knew too! When I got home I shed a few tears of thankfulness and appreciation that my work was making a difference.
As someone who has worked as a Pastor, Companion Carer and now a Chaplain, we do what we do in response to the call and gifting God has given us. But sometimes, we need encouragement from the people around us too. It builds us up and encourages us to keep serving.
So, on that day, at that time. Hearing someone say those words really touched my heart. It lifted my spirits and encouraged me to keep pressing on in my service to God by loving and serving others.
PASSIONAustralia.blog 