Growing in Grace

They think the whole world revolves around them! - Ezekiel 38:12 In the early sixteenth century, Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish astronomer, developed a sun-centered system of astronomy, rejecting the Ptolemic theory of the earth as the center of the universe. Copernicus argued that all the planets revolve around the sun and that the earth rotates on its axis once every day. Because of his groundbreaking work many consider him to be the father of modern astronomy. Photo Credit False religions revolve around something other than God. They may revolve around nature, self, a philosophy, a set of rules, or a prophet. Christianity is centered on the person of Jesus Christ. But even believers have to struggle against our human nature, which thinks that the world revolves around us. Christ must be at the center of our life. Only then are things in the proper order. -From  The One Year On This Day  by Dianne Neal Matthews; May 24

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. -2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV Photo Credit The midnight Ball Drop at Times Square in New York City, one of the world's most famous New Year's Eve traditions, dates back to 1906. Paul serves as a good example of how old things pass away when we become a new creation. When he met Christ, he left his old life behind, including his old name. Some of us try to live our new life while hanging on to old sins, old wounds, or old failures accompanied by a load of regret and guilt. God doesn't want us dragging around baggage from our past that weighs us down and stifles the joy he longs to give us. Time is too precious to waste it dragging around old things that we need to "drop." -From The One Year On This Day by Dianne Neal Matthews; December 31

The waves of death overwhelmed me; floods of destruction swept over me. -2 Samuel 22:5 In late December 2004, the most powerful earthquake in over forty years struck deep under the Indian Ocean off the northwestern coast of the island of Sumatra. The disaster obliterated cities, villages, and holiday resorts. As of February 16, 2005, the death toll from the catastrophe totaled close to 288,000. Photo Credit When we're reeling from sudden disaster, it's hard to think about anything except to wonder why. It seems impossible to focus on God's goodness at times like that, but that's what He wants us to do. He is working in all things and will bring healing and restoration in His timing. As believers, we can recall that time when His forgiveness and grace swept over us and brought redemption and eternal life. Even if we lose everything, including our life, we will still have the most important thing. -From The One Year On This Day by Dianne Neal Matthews; Decembe...

"If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt," they moaned. -Exodus 16:3 The day after Christmas is National Whiner's Day. God has been listening to a lot of complaining since He created humanity. After He miraculously delivered the Israelites from slavery and led them through the Red Sea, they whined that He was trying to starve them. When God gave them manna, they whined for meat. He sent them quail, but also a severe plague. God assigns our ministry and places us in the environment where He wants to use us. When we express discontent with who we are or whine about our circumstances, we are complaining about His provision. God wants us to demonstrate trust that He knows what is best for us and will work things our for out good. -From The One Year On This Day by Dianne Neal Matthews; December 26

Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord . -Romans 7:25 Many people think of the Bible as a puzzle that can't be solved. The key that unlocks the Bible is Photo Credit Jesus Christ. He is Eve's promised offspring who would crush the serpent's head. He's pictured in the scarlet thread Rahab tied in her window so her life would be spared (Joshua 2). He's represented in every object in the Temple. He became the perfect Passover lamb sacrificed for sin. Jesus is the fulfillment of three hundred prophecies about the promised Messiah. Seeing how the Old and New Testaments fit together is more exciting than solving a crossword puzzle because we come to see that there's a cross all through the Word. -From The One Year on this Day by Dianne Neal Matthews; December 21

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 November 26 in 1789 marked the first time our country observed a holiday by presidential proclamation. The United States had no regular national Thanksgiving Day, although some states celebrated it yearly. In 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as "a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father." Succeeding presidents issued similar proclamations until 1939, when President Roosevelt named Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November. It's easy to express thanksgiving to God when we're experiencing his abundant blessings. When we're struggling with trials and difficulties, however, our natural tendency is the opposite of gratitude. Yet God instructs us to be thankful in all circumstances. Setting aside time for thanksgiving every day is being obedient to God's proclama...

Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. -Galatians 1:10 The ceremony dedicating the Gettysburg National Cemetery took place on November 19, 1863. It featured famous orator Edward Everett. His two-hour speech covered various topics. Then President Lincoln spoke for two minutes. Major newspapers applauded Everett's address and ignored or criticized Lincoln's remarks. Fifty years later, the chancellor of Oxford University declared Lincoln's Gettysburg Address "a pure well of English undefiled." We all know how fickle human opinion is. Yet we struggle with a desire to gain approval from others. As believers, our responsibility is to do what pleases our heavenly Father, not what pleases those around us. Seeking popularity can become a form of idolatry, if that's what we base our behavior on. When we make pleasing God our first priority, we demonstrate our t...

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. -1 Peter 2:12 There can be no more valuable ministry than providing God's Word to people who have never had Scriptures written in their native language. All believers are responsible for a different type of translation. Our life is to be a translation of God's Word that can be read by those around us who might never open a Bible. All our actions should reflect God's love. When people watch us, they should see a living translation of the gospel of Christ. -From The One Year On This Day by Dianne Neal Matthews

I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power. -Psalm 69:29 Even believers can get caught up in wrongs ways to deal with the pain of life's trials and disappointments. A relationship or an activity that starts out as wholesome may end up poisoning our life if it causes us to stray from God. We can be prepared to deal with emotional pain by having God's Word memorized in our head and heart. That way, our source of pain relief can never be tampered with. - The One Year On This Day by Dianne Neal Matthews Photo Credit