Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Monday 11/22/2010)

Today’s Devotional Written by A Voice Crying loud in The Wilderness: Tracy A. Dixon

Temporary or Permanent Ink??

Isaiah 49:16 (Amplified Bible)

16Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me.

Today's message in the music comes from Jordan Sparks song, "Tattoo". One of the lines in the song says: You're on my heart, just like a tattoo. I'll always love you. Last week while taking Jai to school, I was listening to the "Steve Harvey Morning Show" and he had callers discussing tattoos they regretted they had and why. The number one regretted tattoo was that of a name and the location of it on the caller's body.

Most callers had put a person's name that they thought would be in their life forever but had fallen short of that dream and left for whatever reason. Some had parents who in a matter of moments, turned on them and had broke their heart. Almost all of the callers had the tattoos put in very visible places for all the world to see. As I listened to Steve and his crew give suggestions on possible ideas to alter the original tattoo, the above scripture popped into my head.

I began to wonder whose name God would call into the show to tell Steve about. How many church going, Bible card carrying members, tongue talking believers would be on the roll call? How many names would Christ say He regretted putting on the palm of His hand? How many started out so faithful, so focused and so sold out that He permanently inked their name into the palm of his hand, only to look up one day and not be able to find them at anybody's church on a Sunday morning? How many times a day does He see the daily reminder on the palm of His hand and wishes He had used temporary ink?

Today as you begin a new day of destiny, ask yourself are you ink worthy to be tattooed on the palm of His hand. Make choices that please God, and not ones that disgrace Him. Let us choose to be permanent ink for God, and not down low Christians. Let us be an outward representation of Christ, and not a cartoon character hidden by the things of the world. Don't make God have to alter Victor to Victorious, or Jo to Joyful on your behalf. He's got the whole world in His hands...... are you a temp or permanent name?