Today is the Day

Here we are, nearly two weeks into the New Year and January is nearly half over. It’s hard to believe that times flies by as quickly as it does.

 

Today, I believe God is reminding me that I cannot take anything for granted. Especially not time. Wasted time doing meaningless things will keep me so preoccupied that I won’t have time for the important things that need doing.

 

So I believe there are some meaningless activities that I need to weed out. It’s a good time to start, at the beginning of this New Year.

 

Perhaps there is something you need to weed out as well. Perhaps you need to focus more on God than a meaningless activity. If so, let’s do this together. Let’s spend less time on a meaningless activity and more time in God’s presence (Bible reading, prayer, worship). I know by doing so that we will make the most of 2014.

 

The post I share with you today is about one of my favorite restaurants. Enjoy!

 

A Chicken Farm

 

I have a favorite restaurant here in Colorado. They serve fried chicken that is moist and juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. There is also kidney bean salad, pickled beets, cottage cheese, coleslaw and corn fritters served family style and unlimited. And don’t forget the shops, a petting zoo, and live music throughout the week.

 

whitefencefarm.com

whitefencefarm.com

There are two problems however, I have with this restaurant. First, it is pretty far from where we live and there is really no reason to be “passing by.” It takes at least 45 minutes to get there. So a planned trip to dine on this delectable fair is a must.

 

The second problem is that they close down the restaurant for the whole month of January. With my birthday in January, my favorite restaurant is always off the list for a place to celebrate. How disappointing!

 

The good news? The restaurant is still open 11 months of the year and we make several trips during those 11 months to get our fill of this great food.

 

More good news? God doesn’t take time off from caring about you and me. He is always there when we need Him…and when we think we don’t need Him.

 

Just read through some of the promises found in Scripture to gain a deeper understanding of how God will always be there for us. He is an amazing God!

 

In the Old Testament we find God reminding His people of His dedication to them. God promised to be with them. And He always kept His promise. We can believe that when God promises to be with us, we know He will be.

 

The Hebrew nation received word of this promise as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. Not only was God with them (Deuteronomy 31:6), but they were assured by Moses that God was going before them. “The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said.” (Deuteronomy 31:3 – NIV)

 

Joshua also received this promise as he prepared to take over leadership of this great nation. “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5 – NIV) With God on his side, Joshua certainly had nothing to fear.

 

King David assured his son, Solomon, that just as God had been with him through his life, God would be with Solomon as he ruled Israel (1 Chronicles 28:20).

 

David also shared some of his feelings through the Book of Psalm. How God was with him each step of the way. We can be assured that God will be with us, just as He was with David.

 

God was with David as he dealt with the pain of death. In Psalm 23:4 (NIV), David shared his assurance of this fact. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

 

David also assured others that God would be there continuously. Psalm 121:3-4 (NIV) says, “He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

 

In Psalm 139:7-12, David stated that he could not hide from God’s Spirit. Wherever he went, God was with him. Whatever situation he faced, God was there.

 

Isaiah proclaimed to Israel that God would be there for them in Isaiah 41. Throughout this chapter, God recounts His actions. What He had accomplished and would accomplish through Israel. And God also declared, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 – NIV)

 

In the New Testament, we see more promises of God’s presence. Jesus, speaking to His disciples, told them, “And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b – NIV)

 

We find in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 that God will be with us to comfort us. Just as we have been comforted by God, we are then able to comfort others.

 

And we see in the Book of Hebrews a reminder of God’s words. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5 – NIV)

 

God will be with us. We never have to wait for Him to return from vacation or re-appear after a break. We can hold onto the promise that God is with us.

 

There are more Scripture about this particular promise from God. Do you have a favorite? What verse speaks to you and assures you that God is always with you? What passage do you grip tightly when everything seems to falling apart around you? I would love to hear what you have to say.

 

The restaurant, White Fence Farm, will continue to be on my “I cannot wait until February” list. Just as sure as I know that, I know that God has been and will be with me through it all.

 

He’s been with me through the rough times. He’s been with me through the rebellious times. He’s been with me through the joyous times. And He isn’t going to stop for all eternity. God is so faithful. And for His faithfulness, I’m eternally grateful.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

 

EPILOGUE: My husband and I went to White Fence Farm in December. It was the last weekend the restaurant was open before their close in January for a month. Their Christmas decorations filled each area of the restaurant, shops and waiting areas. The snow began to fall as we waited. It was very beautiful. We waited for over an hour to get our table, but the meal was well-worth the wait.

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