A Little More
In 2024
1. Do A Little More
2. Love More In 2024
3. "MORE"
4. Be More Faithful In 2024
5. Watch And Pray More In 2024
6. Seek For More In 2024
7. Give A Little More In 2024
8. "More About Jesus"
1. Do A Little More
With all the health issues I had last year, I didn’t get much done. This year my goal is to do a little more. I thought of several areas of my life in which I want to put forth an effort to get a little more done. On the Spiritual side I want to pray more, read my Bible more, and trust in the Lord more. For others, I want to love more and forgive more. I want to be a better Christian and hope to give more to the Lord; more thanks, more time, and more praise. And for my health and daily living I hope to exercise a little more and catch up on cleaning that I wasn’t able to do last year. What are some things that you want to do “a little more in 2024”?
2. Love More In 2024
Let’s begin with “Love”. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Several times in the Bible God tells us to love one another. Love is the center of all the other commandments. In 2024 let’s strive to love the Lord more, and show more love towards one another.
“36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
“More Love To Thee” by E. Prentiss written in 1852.
“More love to Thee, O Christ,
More love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make
On bended knee;
This is my earnest plea:
More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee,
More love to Thee!”
3. “MORE”
Melinda Sykes Greene shared her word for the New Year and I asked her permission to share it with others.
“Every year I try to have a word for the year. This year my word is “MORE”. This has nothing to do with more earthly things but more of Jesus, more family, more time in God’s word, more thankfulness, more love of others, more patience, more kindness, and less me!!
If you have a word for the year share it. Would love to see everyone else’s word for the year. Happy New Year here’s to 2024.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 38:37-39”
Thank you Melinda for sharing!
4. Be More Faithful In 2024
A year ago, my Oncologist told me that my resistance would be very low while on chemo so I should not go anywhere, or be around people, and he specified the grocery store and church. So, I missed going anywhere except for the hospital and cancer center for about 6 months. After the chemo effects had worn off enough for me to even feel like going to church, I was so excited about going. I wanted to hear the singing and the preaching. I wanted to see my church family and fellowship with them. It was a joy to be back in the house of the Lord and I knew how David felt when he said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 122:1) I hope that I can be more faithful to church in 2024. We read in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” During Covid we listened to sermons online, and that was good, but I am afraid that some people got so used to being out of church, they didn’t miss going, and didn’t go back to church. As signs of the times point more towards the coming of Christ, we need to draw closer to God, and going to church is a great way to grow in the Lord. Let’s be more faithful in 2024.
5. Watch And Pray More In 2024
Jesus told His disciples to “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” (Mark 13:33) We are to watch for the coming of the Lord. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:42) Today I want us to think of another way we can “watch and pray”. It is important to watch over one another. Winter can be especially hard on the elderly. Check on your parents and grandparents. It can also be hard on families with young children. There may be people you know that don’t have a source of heat, or food and clothing that they need. If you can’t help them financially, you may be able to find someone who can. Times of sickness can also be worse in the winter months. A phone call or text can show them that you care. There are many of my family and friends who are going through heavy trials of sickness. They are in storms that I can’t help them with. My prayer list grows every day. I can’t relieve their pain and suffering. I can’t lift their burdens. But, I can pray! James tells us to “… pray one for another…” It was a great encouragement to me when friends and family let me know that they were praying for me during my cancer and chemo. It gave me a greater desire to want to watch and pray for others. You may know someone who feels like David when he said, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” (Psalm 142:4) People are hurting. We need to watch for them, and pray for them, and show them that we care. And even more, we need to show them that Jesus loves them and cares for them.
6. Seek For More In 2024
There are probably many who are striving for more in the New Year. My quest is not financial or material things. When our children asked what we wanted for Christmas we told them we have what we need, and really don’t have any wants. But, I am seeking more. Moses told the Israelites, “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29) I am seeking more of the Lord’s will for my life. He brought me through many health issues and near death last year and I continually pray that He will show me what He wants me to do. I am seeking the Lord to lead me in the right path that He wants me to go. I am seeking the Lord for joy and strength. “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.” (Psalm 105:3-4) Since our pastor retired last year we are seeking a new pastor for our church. We are praying that God will show us the right man that He has chosen. Michael and I have been listening to many preachers online as we seek for the Lord’s will. It has been very encouraging, and we have faith that God will lead the church and the right preacher, to bring them together. We have precious promises from God’s Word. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (Proverbs 8:17) “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) It is important to seek the Lord while He is near. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7) Are you seeking for the things of God more in 2024?
7. Give A Little More In 2024
Except for the widow, of whom Jesus said, “For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (Mark 12:44), I believe that each of us could give a little more in 2024. Malachi 3:10 encourages us to give. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” When our children were young it never ceased to amaze me that every time I passed along a bag of clothes they had outgrown, the Lord sent someone that gave me two bags of clothes for them. The more we shared and gave, the more we received, just as the Lord said in Luke 6:38. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” It gives me great joy to be able to give to others. Last year my garden was planted later in the season, and it was smaller, but the Lord still blessed it and I had enough to share with my family and friends. I am praying that I will be able to plant more this year and have even more to share. One of my ongoing goals has been to go through my house and give, or throw away, the things that we don’t need. I enjoy going through one cabinet, closet, or room at a time to clean, and after the break I had last year, I am ready to begin again this year and give a little more. When we think about giving we can also look beyond “things”. We can give our time, to someone who can use some help. We can give our talents to the Lord, and to help others. And we can always give thanks to the One who provides all we have! “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18) I think we all can give a little more in 2024.
8. “More About Jesus”
“More About Jesus” is a great old hymn written by Eliza E. Hewitt, published in 1887. As we close our thoughts on “A Little More, In 2024”, what could be more appropriate than “More About Jesus”! It reminds me of the words of John the Baptist in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
1. More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.
Refrain:
More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.
2. More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.
3. More about Jesus, in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing His voice in every line,
Making each faithful saying mine.
4. More about Jesus on His throne,
Riches in glory all His own;
More of His kingdom’s sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of Peace.
