Saturday... I hope to, but just in case.

In my reading this morning in 1 Timothy, I came across a phrase that spoke to me about the beginning of a New Year. I Timothy 3:14 (MSG) says, "I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I am delayed, I'm writing this letter so you'll know how things ought to go in God's household, the God-alive church, bastion of truth."

Paul was a very driven man but also a very caring man. He planted many churches. He would spend time with them and then move on to a different area to plant a new church but he still had the a burden for the church he left. He couldn't be with them so he sent letters to them. He would say over and over, I hope to visit you soon but just in case.

Now in heading into the New Year I'm sure you have some hopes. I know we all hope that this virus is taken care of. There are many other hopes that we each individually want to happen but do you have any just in case they don't? Or is it all or nothing?

Paul did not put his total hope on one thing, he had a back up plan and it was a very effective back up plan. I hope to come and see you but just in case I can't, I'm writing this letter. I hope this happens but just in case I'm still going to do something.

Now God doesn't always reveal His plan about tomorrow. Yes, you may have a plan and it is important to have one but it still comes down to as Proverbs 1:7 says, "Start with God - the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning."

That is where you put your hope and your just in case. So what if you hope something is going to happen in the New Year and how will you deal with it just in case it doesn't happen? The hope is important but so is the just in case. The key is to start with God! Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo...

Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do

Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT), "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do. No, not the fact that I can go out my front door and look out at night at the marvels of the sky. I can do that and it is amazing and it takes my breath away each time I see it. Yes, that is a fact but the reality of who did that and the wisdom and the faith that I have to believe that and to marvel that the one who did that cares about me makes such a difference in how I live my life. Yes, God really does. That is so wonderful for us to believe. And that is why faith and wisdom are so important. Now whatever belief you have at how that marvel happened must also be believed through faith. And the sad thing to me is that more and more people have been taught that there is no God and therefore he did not have a h...

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together!

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together! They really do. And this is what caught my attention this morning as I was reading Proverbs 2. Verse 1 (NRSVUE) says, "My child, if you accept my words and treasure my commands within you." Verse 3 (NIV), "Indeed i f you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, Verse 4, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, Verse 5, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." And verses 9-11, " Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." There will always be some effort we must do, some ifs for the thens to be realized in our lives. So many of us want to understand without the ifs. But the thens are so worth, so very worth the effort. Verses 5-6 in the Ampli...

Todays Beginning

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