How to make Mondays better!

Monday morning – a new week stretches out in front of us.  What is on your agenda?  Maybe you are among the fortunate and, being August, you are on a break at the beach or in the mountains.  Or, perhaps you’re in an occupation that demands top output in the Summer months so you are working long hours? Or maybe you are one of those people who say, “Agenda? What’s that?” – and you drift from day to day. For most of us, Monday is like a reset, the back to work day after the weekend.  We take up the responsibilities of life and, hopefully, do so with the desire to honor the Lord. This is your mission, Christian!

“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth …  For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:6, 9-10, NIV)   Another translation says we must ‘walk worthy.’   As we make our way through the day, we aim to be people who are responding to the Spirit, thus creating a better world!

We are a ‘called’ people and answer to the One who commissions us.  Knowing this, we place every decision we make in the context of that calling.  Whatever our ‘occupation’ may be that produces an income, our ‘calling’ to be a follower of Christ is of greater priority.  We are Christian first; then a teacher, plumber, landscaper, dentist, lawyer, mother, father, farmer, et cetera.

When we are aware of that sense of calling, it makes life richer. Instead of dragging ourselves through yet another day, we pray to ‘make the most of every opportunity.’   I can promise you this – wherever you go, whatever you do, there are people who to be loved, evil that needs to be confronted, beauty that needs to be created. This is our calling!  We are priests who hold out God’s goodness to those with whom we live. Yes, we are a “the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you.” (1 Peter 2:9, The Message)

Right now, right where you are – breath this prayer:
“Spirit of God, give me the insight I need to live in Your calling.
Awaken my understanding to the opportunities you are creating for me to do Your work.
As I respond with ready obedience, may my life reflect goodness and light into evil and dark places.”

Here is the word from the Word – “As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!” (2 Peter 1:3, NLT) “So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.” (2 Peter 1:5, NLT)  “And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:11, NLT)

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Beautiful Things

 All this pain,i wonder if I’ll ever find my way?I wonder if my life could really change,At all?

 All this earth,Could all that is lost ever be found?Could a garden come up from this ground,At all?

 You make beautiful things!You make beautiful things out of the dust.You make beautiful things!You make beautiful things out of us.

 All around,Hope is springing up from this old ground!Out of chaos life is being found,In You!

 You make me new, You are making me new.You make me new, You are making me new.

Lisa Gungor | Michael Gungor

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