WOW~! It's a NEW YEAR again... HAPPY 2022!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR... again... feels like I just wrote it... (and looking at this blog I did)

I originally tried to focus more on my writing and it being one of the cre8tive outlets that I would use more in 2021... and again, that wasn't done as well as I had hoped. Thankfully, I have other outlets and did use my writing in other ways (I did set up an Instagram with @mitzshewrote after one of my favourite TV shows growing up Murder She Wrote, where Jessica Fletcher (aka Angela Lansbury) was a mystery writer.) 

However, this year of not writing here on the blog was not seen as a failure. I did also grow in other areas, and of course, we all know that even though 2020 was an interesting year, 2021 was also interesting and had its own ups and downs. As we grow older, we see that time seems to fly by quicker. The old saying was always "Time flies when you're having fun", but clearly I don't have to tell you that 2021 was not all fun and games (and I love games)! But seriously, this year seemed to fly by. 

As 2020 came to a close, and 2021 began, we were still bogged down by the Cov!d pandemic and the effects of it, whether it hit your home, close to home, or at least someone you knew. Whether or not you believe in the complete pandemic, there obviously has been a lot of things attached to it that have changed the world we live in. (Not going to get into it - move on!)

As 2022 begins, I am in a more contemplative state of mind and have had a lot of days of relaxation and time to myself (which is yes unusual)... but it reminds me that God is the ONLY one who brought us through. Although things around us have changed greatly, He has NOT changed. He isn't surprised by what is happening. Whether you believe in Him or not, He is there, and He is the One who sits on the High Throne. As believers, we can boldly go before that throne due to His love and grace. This year is a year to help bring in the Prodigals and the Lost souls to the Kingdom... time is moving quickly and time, as we know it here on earth, is quickly coming to an end.

NOW is the time... TODAY is the day of salvation... January 1st, 2022... is the PERFECT day for you to begin your FIRST STEPS (or steps again) with the FATHER, His Son JESUS, and our comforter and guide HOLY SPIRIT!! In the story of the PRODIGAL SON, which I just re-read in one of my devotions, it says, "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20) You have to do your part and take the first step towards the Father, whether it's a first step or a u-turn back, and then God in His great love and compassion will run to you! IF THIS IS YOU... then take the time to "come to {your} senses" (Luke 15:17) and come (back) to the Father in repentance. We are ALL sinners, and we all have felt those feelings of unworthiness. But the Father calls us back as a SON, not just a servant!

Now, maybe you are like me, still a sinner who is saved by grace, but you haven't truly run from the Father, you've stuck close like the older brother. (He still sinned in his own ways, but the Father forgave him). Where was the older son while all this was happening?? In verse 25 it says, "Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working...". The older son was working and doing his part. Taking care of the fields was his responsibility. The verse continues, "When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on." Then he hears the news of his brother returning home, and goes into a form of self-pity. Instead of being happy that his brother has returned (and can now take some of the responsibility for the work), he wallows in his own self-pity. Self-pity leads to our own fall, which can lead to anger, depression and despair. The Scriptures say that "The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in." (Luke 15:28) BUT GOD...  His father came out and begged him... and again wallowing and his anger turned to depression, and he complains to the father about all that he has done for him, and that he never even got a young goat for a feast with his friends. The father then reminds him that ALL he had was always the sons all along. The Scripture says "His father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours." (Luke 15:31) So, the older son could have had a young goat for a feast with his friends... he could have had anything that belonged to the father; to the family (other than the wealth inheritance that was given to the younger son earlier in the chapter).

Now normally, this parable is spoken of or taught, in regards to the Prodigal Son, or in regards to the Father welcoming the son home and it is compared to the Father welcoming those who have strayed from the faith... the Prodigal Son has been compared allegorically to those who once loved the Father and were 'Christ-followers' who have now walked away from their beliefs. The Father obviously is God the Father. He has so much love and compassion for all to come to know Him and be in a relationship with Him, as a 'son'. The older son should be happy for a lost soul to come back to the Father. But this time around (& I'm sure I've thought about it before, but it hit me this time), I'm stuck on the fact of the older son and those words found in the 31st verse above, "Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours." The older son was faithful to the father, therefore like a believer who has been faithful to the Father, doing the work and staying by Him. In the parable, the older son at that moment was mad about a young goat for a feast, but really, the father said 'EVERYTHING that I have is yours'... so it got me thinking, what else does the FATHER have for us that we have not 'asked for' or just taken hold of... because everything that He has is ours.

I always hear of different preachers or teachers speaking of "open heavens", and the verse that has come up a lot in recent teachings is "we have not, because we ask not" (James 4:2)

So let 2022 be a year of new chapters, clean slates, salvations/lost being found, prodigals returning, and believers asking and receiving more and more from the Father... 

BE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

Happy 2022 Blessings to you and yours!

 

What's your #ONEWORD for 2021?

     So we all know it has been a year... as we sit back on NEW YEAR'S EVE 2020, we can reflect on the year that has passed and wonder about the year ahead. Most NEW YEAR'S EVE nights are spent with friends or family, enjoying food and festivities... but again 2020 threw a wrench into those plans, and the government and their Covid-19 regulations have put an end to getting together. Again they want to throw us into isolation and try and put fear into our lives as we enter the new year. But we are not isolated alone, we always have GOD with us. He is our wisdom, strength, peace and more!

     Usually during the end of the year, and the beginning of the next year, people make resolutions. They decide on things that they want to change or need in their lives. Some people choose to make more time for family; make more time for God; read the Bible more; lose weight or have a more proper diet or choose to eat more healthy foods; etc. However, most people don't stay with some of the resolutions they make, and so for the last several years people have chosen #oneword or #onelittleword for the year ahead.

     I somehow don't have a record of words I have chosen, but I remember in 2017, I (along with Holy Spirit) chose "resolute" and "#finishwell" in 2018. I don't remember what word was chosen for last year... I know "vision" was a big theme as it was 2020. Our vision sure was cleared this year, physically and spiritually. We saw that although the world was in chaos around us, our GOD was still in control and on His throne and gave most of us PEACE. Our vision was altered as we shifted our vision on things of the world to things of the Kingdom. During the first quarantine, we grew closer to God and His Word. He allowed our vision to be focused on Him. This year, I believe Holy Spirit is leading me to the #oneword #onelittleword PURSUE. Pursue after Him... Pursue after Truth... Pursue after what is Right...  I was led to a Bible Verse found in 1 Timothy 6:11 which says, "But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness."

       I enjoy learning more about WORDS and ETYMOLOGY (the study of words).  The word etymology derives from the Greek word ἐτυμολογία (etumología), itself from ἔτυμον (étumon), meaning "true sense or sense of a truth", and the suffix -logia, denoting "the study of". The word pursue in the Greek means; "to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after; to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal; to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire". I also like to take words apart and choose other words to go along with them... so taking the letters in the word PURSUE, I can pull out different things that I will PURSUE this year. 

PURSUE

        Prayerful - 1 Thess. 5:17

        Understanding/Wisdom - Exodus 35:31

        Righteousness - 1Timothy 6:11

        Spiritual Truth  - Psalm 86:2 & Psalm 78:2

        Unwavering Faith - Matt 21:21

        Excellence - Proverbs 31:10; Ruth 3:11; Matthew 5:16; Philippians 4:8

    I love to learn and am a #lifelonglearner and have always loved God and His Word. But it means a lot more when you walk in relationship with Him and gain understanding and revelation when reading or being taught His Word. This year will prove to be a time of greater growth in the Lord spiritually and I have #greatexpectations to what is going to happen.

What's your #ONEWORD?? Let me know in the comments and I can keep you in my prayers when I am reminded of you. THANKS!

BE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

PRODIGALS Come Home...

What makes a PRODIGAL?

A Prodigal is defined online as "a person who leaves home and behaves recklessly, but later makes a repentant return." We first hear the words "Prodigal Son" in the Bible, in Luke 15. Jesus tells three parables about the LOST. Have YOU ever been LOST?

There are different aspects to being LOST:

1) Going somewhere you have been before or know where you are going but taking the wrong path to get there.

2) Not knowing where you are going as you've never been there, and taking the wrong path to get there.

3) You followed someone and they have led you the wrong way

4) Being left in the middle of somewhere not knowing where you are

Either way you are considered LOST... you need GPS or a map or someone to lead you in the direction you are supposed to go.

The LOST spiritually are those who don't know Jesus, or they know Jesus and have wandered away from Him. They are the ONE lost sheep, or lost coin or lost son. A prodigal knows the One they are running from. They know the Truth, yet still follows the lies of the world. When they finally make the decision to turn back to the Father, He is always there waiting. No matter how many steps you think you have taken from Him, He is right there when you turn and repent. Repenting doesn't always consist of a bitter, evil past. We as the "other son" have to repent continuously for sins committed. No one is perfect. The Christian life isn't a perfect life. In the parable in Luke, the older son is angry that the Father is celebrating the return of his little brother, the son who was lost. He was upset that the Father never celebrated him or gave him anything special. That is sometimes our behaviour as a follower of Jesus. We don't realize all the GOOD things that come with being a son. We become complacent and then bitter when new followers receive good things and walk in the blessings of God our Father. Whereas we who are committed followers have the same blessings and can walk in that truth as well.

A prodigal just has to turn, and repent. that's all. He has to admit he was wrong for choosing the path most taken. For either choosing to go it alone, or following the crowd in the wrong way. The LOST need to be found. Someone has to help bring them in. A sheep needs to hear the voice of the Shepherd to know where to go. What does it take for a PRODIGAL to return? let's spell PRODIGAL and find out some of the keys to COMING HOME.

P is for PRIDE - They have to let go of their pride and admit they are wrong. They have chosen an easy path in some cases, but it really is the wrong path. If the path doesn't lead you to JESUS and FREEDOM, then you are captive to your sin and the enemy. If you are not for Him, you are against Him. We need to HUMBLE ourselves and admit we need a Saviour.

R is for REPENT - To repent is to basically turn from that which is wrong and do what is right. We will not always do what is right, but making the effort is at least a better option. Picture yourself driving down a road, the wrong way. How do you go the right way? You have to make a U-Turn. Our Father allows U-turns in our lives. One of the words in the GREEK for repent is

"metanoeo", meaning 'to change one's mind or purpose'. You change from RECKLESS to REPENTANT.

O is for OBEDIENCE - A simple step to doing that which is RIGHT comes with obedience. Once you have repented and turned from your sin, you basically are making the choice to listen to God and do what is right and true. Obedience is even trying to do that which is right. A Christian doesn't live the perfect life, but is attempting to live their life with the attributes of Jesus or Christian character.

D is for DECISION - It is after all still your choice. God has given us free will to decide what to do. But he also gives us DISCERNMENT so we know right from wrong. Anything that is against the Word of God is not right. We need to CHOOSE this day for ourselves whom we will serve. Self or God? The enemy, Father of lies and hate or the God of truth and love?

I is for IDENTITY - Part of the reason people stray from the Lord after knowing Him is that they want their own identity. They have lived what they feel is their "best life" apart from Him, but when they realize how much they need Him, they want to see themselves as a slave or servant not as their real identity as a son (or daughter). Just like the Prodigal son in Luke 15, He states " I will go home to my father and say, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant'.” Our Father wants you to know that you are His child. He is your Father. One sentence I have always remembered is "If you want to know who you are, you must first know Jesus". Our identity rests in Him alone. He has called us and chosen us even before the beginning of the world, and even when we were in our sin. "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8 NLT

G is for GRACE - It is only by God's grace that we are SAVED. God grants us repentance by His grace alone. Grace is getting something that we don't deserve. We deserve death as the penalty for our sin. Because of love, and His grace and mercy, God sent Jesus His Son to take our place as the sacrifice once and for all. All because of the goodness of God! "Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" Romans 2:4

A is for ACCEPTANCE - God accepts you the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you that way! He accepts us back into His family, and He has His arms open wide when you turn to Him. The prodigal son was a long way off from the Father, but the Father was always watching the road for the son to return. The son was returning defeated and disheartened, but the Father was running to Him with open arms thankful that his lost son was now found.

L is for LOVE - The Father's love for you is unending. No matter what you have done, or where you have gone, or even when you don't profess your love for Him. His love is truthfully UNCONDITIONAL. His love stretches farther and deeper, higher and wider than we can ever know. 

At some points in our lives we followers of Jesus are all like the prodigal son, we have slipped into temptation and sin, and think we cannot get out, and think our sin has tarnished us. But we can run to the Father again and again. But God didn't give us grace to keep on sinning. We are supposed to learn from our wicked ways. Each time we may feel like we have failed we can say "I run to the Father again and again and again and again..." 

Check out these lyrics to the chorus of "Run to the Father" by Cody Carnes:

I run to the Father
I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I'll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again

Here is the link to the song on YOUTUBE (link opens in a new window).

Jesus told the parable of the Prodigal Son to make a point:

It doesn't matter what you have done, how far you have run,

Just COME HOME!

So, PRODIGALS come HOME!!

Love you all! Be BLESSED to be a BLESSING!