Monday, December 29, 2014

STEPPING INTO THE FUTURE

Though we should make plans for the future the best we can (Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, Prov. 21:5 NLT, ) according to what we know of God’s will and His purpose for our lives (People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord’s plan will happen, Prov. 19:21 NCV), the day-to-day “following” of the path He lays out for us is a step by step progress (Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path, Psa. 119:105).

We would really like to have a blinding searchlight which illumines our path for miles ahead.  In the ancient world, the best you could get was an oil lamp or possibly a torch with burning pitch.  Think of how it would be to climb along a treacherous mountain path with just an oil lamp or a torch.  To step to one side or the other would mean possible death.  But you had the light you needed to put one foot in front of the other. 

On life’s rocky journey, what do you really need to see?  The whole path for miles ahead or where next to put your foot?

Be thankful and delighted that God has provided illumination for the next step in your path.  Embrace the year ahead, a journey with an unknown outcome, but with the secure promise that the Lord God will walk alongside you as you walk alongside Him in obedience to His revealed will.

It’s better to bind yourself to a trustworthy Guide than to bind yourself to some ideal outcome that may or may not happen for you.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.  Don’t assume that you know it all (Prov. 3:5-6 Mes).

Monday, December 22, 2014

THE GRACE OF CHRISTMAS TO YOU


Comfort, comfort my people, says your God (Isa. 40:1).

May the comforting grace of God be yours this Christmas, and may the truth of His salvation through His Son Jesus bring renewed hope, life, and love to you. - David and Charlyn

Monday, December 8, 2014

TV ROMANCE

Dr. Jeremy Osborn from Albion College in Michigan tracked 390 married couples in a study he titled, “When TV and Marriage Meet.”  Couples answered questions about their satisfaction with their spouse, relationship expectations, level of commitment to the marriage, TV viewing frequency, and how much they believed that TV relationships were actually realistic.  Overall, the study found a simple pattern:  When belief in TV romances goes up, satisfaction with your actual romantic relationship goes down.  In other words, the “on-again, off-again relationships on TV shows – built up by sweeps weeks and season finales – impact what you think a wife or husband should be.” (Science Daily, “When TV and Marriage Meet: TV’s Negative Impact on Romantic Relationships”)

Simply put TV romances can rob your marriage of romance.   Consider the time you may put into watching TV romances and the time you put into keeping the romance alive in your marriage.  Which gets more of your time?  Decide to give more time to real romance and less to TV romances.

You are all sons of light, sons of the day, and none of us belongs to darkness or the night. Let us then never fall into the sleep that stupefies the rest of the world: let us keep awake, with our wits about us. Night is the time for sleep and the time when men get drunk, but we of the daylight should be alert, with faith and love as our breastplate and the hope of our salvation as our helmet. 1 Thes. 5:4-8 (Ph)

Monday, December 1, 2014

I WILL THANK YOU - PSALM 9


Christmas is coming and always thankful