Every day is a gift of Life!

 I have decided to get back to my blog. I remember choosing the title “Present Thoughts” because I wanted it to refer to both thoughts about my days right now and to the idea of life being a gift, a present from God. I read two devotions this morning. 

The first one was from a book called Our Worth to Him by Mark Paustian. What I read today was about Jesus’ parable about the tax collector and the Pharisee in church, how the tax collector saw his sins and felt unworthy but the Pharisee was proud of his life and sat right up front. Remember what Jesus said?  “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.” (PLuke 18:14)The rest of the devotion reminds me of the reason I need to attend worship, to be reminded of my unworthiness and hear about God’s saving Grace, through Jesus, through the Word in Scripture. It reminded me that sometimes  I go to church for the wrong reason, maybe because I want to visit friends, or because I have volunteered to greet or help with the service slides, and sometimes that old Catholic girl in me says it’s my obligation to not miss church…thank you Holy Spirit for reminding me how God’s grace is for me and how much I need it, I need to be in church to say thank you to God.

The second devotion came from the Meditations app, which focused on the verse that says “You are like sheep going astray” (1 Peter 2:25) While I never left my faith, there were times in my past when I didn’t listen to the Holy Spirit in how I lived. But even in my present life there are times when I am distracted and let my focus be on politics and evil in the world or my own desires for more _____. Thank God for Jesus, the Good Shepherd who finds us and brings us back to Him. 

I especially like the prayer that started the Meditations devotion and am writing it here, changing it to make it about me:

Lord Jesus, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. I often become distracted with the cares and concerns of this world. Keep my focus on you and shine the light of your word on my path as I journey through life strengthen me to follow your message of truth that I may have your gift of life and have it to the full. Amen.