Here is a very amazing thought for us to chew on! “God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness!” Genesis 1:26  Stop for just a moment and realize that this is talking about you and me!  We are made in the image and likeness of God.  This should challenge us to look at ourselves and others differently.  And when I say differently – I mean in a good and positive way!

God Said It! “God said!” For people to be made in His image was His idea!  God desires for us to take on His nature and character as seen in His Son Jesus.  We should seek to be transformed into His image and likeness, because it is in this place that we will find fulfillment by living in the purpose of our creation.

Only The Best! “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” God created us from nothing into something.  And not just any something – the something was in His image and likeness.  We may not always live up to our created potential, but the potential is always there, just waiting for us to tap into and experience the miraculous!

I remember as a young boy growing up in church that one of our sunday school rooms had a poster of a little boy with the following words above his head:  “I am special because God made me and God don’t make no junk!”  The grammar may not have been great, but the message was and is powerful.  You are special!  God made you and if He took the time to make you in His image, then you know He has to have an amazing plan for your life!

Take some time today to appreciate who God created you to be.  Also take a little time to appreciate who God created others to be.  You’ll be glad you did!

Wake Up! I woke up this morning with this Scripture in my heart and on my lips!  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from your presence And do not take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10-12

Powerful Prayer! What a powerful prayer for us to pray!  I challenge each of us to pray this prayer and mean it!  Just think of what could happen to and through your life, if you would take the time to pray this prayer with the expectation that God will be faithful to respond.

Create in me a clean heart, O God! God has to do it, because we cannot do it for ourselves.  If we are going to have a clean heart, it is because God comes into our lives and does for us – what we could never ever do for ourselves.  God wants to forgive and cleanse us, so that there is absolutely nothing that gets in between us and Him.  He does not forgive and cleanse us because we deserve it.  He forgives and cleanses us because He loves us and because we ask!

Renew A Right Spirit Within Me! We cannot have a right spirit, until we have a clean heart.  When God cleanses our heart, the next step is a right spirit.  When our heart is clean, we can expect God to renew a right spirit and a right spirit changes everything!

Do not cast me away from Your presence! I have no desire to step away from God and His protecting and blessing presence.  I need Him to deal with my sin, so that I don’t have to be chased away by His holiness.

Do not take your Holy Spirit from me! I have tried to do life by myself and have made the discovery that I can’t!  I need God’s breath of life breathing in and through my life.  I don’t even want to think about having to do life without His Holy Spirit breathing through me!

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation! I don’t deserve to be saved and in a right relationship with God, but I am thankful that He loved me with such an awesome love.  A love that motivated Him to send His only son Jesus to do for me what I could never do for myself.  Through my belief and acceptance of Jesus I am free to live in the power of a right relationship with my Creator and Sustainer and I have the joy of His salvation flowing to and through me!

Take some time to pray this prayer and let its power change your life!

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from your presence And do not take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and renew a right spirit within me.“

How Much? How much does it take for your life to make a positive difference in this world?  I was sitting in the waiting room of the hospital this morning and one of the things that I love to do is watch other people.  When I watch other people, I wonder what’s going on in their lives?  I can’t help but to want to know their story.

Conversation! This usually leads to me striking up a conversation, which almost always leads to the other person being very willing to talk about themselves and what they are facing.  I have found that just by listening and asking questions that often very nervous people will become relaxed and extremely friendly.

Praying! I end almost ever conversation with the promise to pray for the person and their situation, which almost always leads to thanks and a real look of peace on their face.  By the way, I am usually there to minister to someone else – this is just icing on the cake!

Ride Time! I had one of these experiences this morning while I was visiting the hospital.  While I was waiting with the family in the waiting room, I noticed a young lady there by herself who seem to have a good bit on her mind.  I struck up a conversation and in the end was able to be a blessing and receive a blessing.  On the way back to the office today, I could not help but think about how such a simple thing can make a significant and meaningful impact.  People in our world need to know that other people care and one of the best ways that we can show that we care is by taking time with and for others.

A Little Bit More! We really do not have to give a lot of ourselves to make a very big difference!  I challenge you and I challenge myself to give a little bit more.  If just a little bit – makes a difference, then just think about the difference that a little bit more will make!

Jesus Gave The Example! And by the way – isn’t this exactly what Jesus has done and is doing for us?  Think about it and look for an opportunity to give a little bit more of whatever you’ve got today!