July 2008

"Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore." Psalm 105:4

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Thought: A New Creation

Over the past several months, I have been listening to a series of workshops on truth. Reviewing some of the Bible's basic truths has been such a blessing! Consider the truth that we are new creatures.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

Notice the scripture doesn't say, "if anyone is in Christ, he must work hard to be a new creature"; it says we already are new creatures. God has given us His life and righteousness--we are complete in Him.

We no longer have to vainly struggle to conquer or please God on our own. We already are pleasing to God because He sees Christ's life when He looks at us!

Not only do we not have to vainly struggle, but we don't have to let the cares and temptations of the world enslave us. The truth is that God's strength and power are ours. He has broken the bonds that bind us.

Next time you feel worried or upset, stop and remember that, if you are in Christ, then Christ has set you free. Choose to walk forward in trust and surrender instead of fear and discouragement.

Story: A Mixed-Up Butterfly

Anna felt so excited when her butterfly kit arrived in the mail. She could hardly wait to watch those caterpillars turn into butterflies!

After a few weeks of watching the caterpillars eat, turn upside down, and form their chrysalides, the very first butterfly emerged. Anna could scarcely believe her eyes--the caterpillar was completely gone! In its place was a beautiful butterfly.

With her mother's help, Anna opened up the little container in which they'd been watching the butterflies and set the butterflies free. Anna watched as one after another flew gracefully through the air. How different the butterflies looked than the caterpillars!

But one of the butterflies wasn't flying away like the others. This butterfly was crawling around on the ground, almost like it still thought itself a caterpillar. Anna looked to her mother for an explanation.

Her mother shook her head in bewilderment. "I don't know what's wrong, Anna dear. Perhaps that poor butterfly doesn't yet realize it doesn't have to crawl along the ground anymore. Maybe it doesn't understand that it's been given wings and a new, glorious life. Or maybe it saw the blood that came when it began to pump its wings and got scared."

Anna looked at the butterfly that was choosing to crawl around the ground when it didn't have to anymore. She didn't think she had ever seen anything so sad in her life. Oh, she hoped it would begin living like a butterfly soon!

Home School Tip: Dealing with the Piles

- By Cris Loop

Have you ever noticed how quickly things tend to pile up if we're not careful? We put off sorting the mail until "a little later," and before we know it, we have a huge mound of paperwork to tackle. We take a week or two off weeding, and we find ourselves facing a jungle. We put off dealing with child-training issues, and before we know it they've escalated to unbearable levels. We plan on watching our food intake "next week," then grow overwhelmed by the mounting numbers on the scale.

Looking at the things we've let pile up can be overwhelming and discouraging. It seems impossible sometimes to deal with the things we've allowed to pile up--to start afresh when things have gotten out of hand.

Recently, the Lord has been giving me the strength (and courage) to deal with a few of my piles by reminding me I am a new creature. God has given me His strength and spirit, which means I have no excuses not to be faithful with what He has entrusted to my care.

While I understand that sometimes we need to let some things pile up because God has called us to work on other things at the time, for me, they were mounting because I was putting off the things God had given me to do. I can't tell you how freeing it has been to begin working on the things I know God has called me to do, whether or not I "feel" like doing them at the moment. God is always faithful to supply the strength and energy I need when I'm willing to be obedient.

This month, I would like to encourage you to deal with whatever may be piling up in your life. As God's dear child, you don't have to live enslaved. First, ask God to show you the areas you need to deal with, then ask Him for a plan on how to attack them. Don't expect everything to get dealt with in one day--try maybe focusing on one area for 15 minutes each day. Don't let the piles enslave you--let the knowledge that you are a new creature transform even the daily details of life.

Hymn/Poem: He Giveth More Grace

- By Annie J. Flint. You can view sheet music or listen to the song at http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/He_Giveth_More_Grace/.

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.