“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13

In our busy world, it can be difficult to recognize God’s presence in our daily lives. With the pressures of work, family, and personal responsibilities, we may feel distant from God, unsure of where He is. However, Scripture encourages us to seek Him continually, reminding us that God is always near, waiting to be found by those who earnestly seek Him.

Focusing on God requires a deliberate effort to slow down and create space for Him in our lives. It could be a few moments of quiet prayer in the morning, a short walk in nature, or reading Scripture before bed. These moments help us recalibrate our hearts, allowing us to see God’s hand at work.

When we pause to focus, we begin to notice God’s presence in the small things—a kind word, the beauty of creation, or a moment of peace. God is not just present in grand gestures but in everyday blessings.

By seeking Him with intention, we learn to trust that He is guiding and loving us every step of the way, even in the ordinary moments.

-Brent Seifert
 

Any good baseball player knows the value of forethought. He decides before the pitch what he will do if the ball comes his way. Then, if he must make a play, he won’t waste time making a decision. The split-second save may be the difference between a successful play and an unsuccessful one. 

Jesus was well fortified with forethought. When He faced temptation in the desert, He responded with words learned long before His trial. He acted with speed. He wasted no time in making the crucial decision! 

I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” 

Taken from the book “Right Angels” by Ralph Bryant. Ralph is an elder and the preaching minister for the Abell Street Church of Christ in Wharton, Texas.  

It seems more and more that people are getting entangled in all kinds of disagreements. Whereas agreements used to take place quietly behind closed doors, now they are taking place on social media in view of the entire world. As Christians we are called to be different than the world around us (I John 2:15), thus we should not participate in arguments like those outside of Christ do, but unfortunately, we still find ourselves involved in arguments. The Philippian letter helps us end arguments.  

Philippians 4:2 

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 

Agree in the name of the Lord instead of arguing. 

Philippians 4:4 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Rejoice in the Lord instead of wasting time arguing. 

Philippians 4:8-9  

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

Focus on these things instead of arguing. 

 
If you find yourself in an argument just look to Philippians and you will find a way out. 

Be Strong and Courageous, 
Paul 

Vacation season is upon us! Soon we will hit the highways, byways, and airways, heading to our far away destinations. With great expectations we’ll travel to our favorite spots for fun, adventure, rest and relaxation. Finally, after a long winter, we can forget about work and life’s dreary obligations for a week or two. In our Americanized state of mind, we have come to believe that we deserve a break from the norm and long to get away from it all. Not only do we take one or two weeks for vacation but must include several weekend getaways as well. It is true that there are time when we need a break. Jesus and his disciples took time to rest from the work of ministry (Mark 6:31) and we too need to take time to relax and refresh ourselves.

Sadly, as many Christians head out to the make memories in distant places, they take a vacation from the Lord as well. Sundays are spent doing vacation stuff instead of meeting with the saints and worshipping our Might God. There is no singing, no praying, no sharing of the scriptures, no remembrance of Christ with the Lord’s Supper. When we do this, we make a conscious and willing decision to neglect corporate worship which is sinful according to Hebrews 10:23-31. Jesus calls us to be His disciples every day (Luke 9:23) which certainly includes Sundays during our vaction.

While online booking our hotels and making reservations, finding a place to worship should be included as part of our vacation planning. The experience of meeting and worshiping with a congregation in other places can be very rewarding. If we return to the same location yearly, we can develop relationships with Christians there and enjoy Christian fellowship while at our favorite vacation spot. Let’s not take a vacation from Jesus!

-Jay Launius 

I was thinking about all the anticipation surrounding the eclipse. Hundreds of thousands of people made reservations months in advance for places to stay along the best track possible. Leading up to it, everyone was so excited and talking about it. People on social media were letting their friends know where they were watching from. And as the eclipse began to happen, pics started flying over the internet. Central West Texas was packed! 

I wonder how many hours and how many dollars were spent to watch something that happened so quickly? Sadly, thousands and thousands of folks only had brief glimpses through the overcast skies. 

Interestingly, we've known for hundreds of years when this eclipse of the sun would occur. For the last hundred years or so, we knew the precise minutes it would start and end. I think of Genesis 1:14-18, “And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.”  

Then I thought of the Son! Unlike the solar eclipse, but just as sure, the Son is coming back in all his radiance. One major difference is we have no idea when that event will occur. But I wonder just how much excitement and anticipation there is about that event? Are we talking about it? Are we planning for it? Are we letting others know there's a great place to be when it happens (in His church), and there's a bad place to be when it happens, (outside His church). When the Son appears EVERYONE will see Him. Everyone will see the true light of the world.  

I Thessalonians 4:16-18, “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” -Jim Taylor