As we closed 2019 and rang in 2020 … I have been thinking about a couple of things.

First, I am thinking about our family and friends who have gone on to meet their reward in Christ. I’m

reminded of the words of John the Revelator, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.””  Revelation 14:13

Second, I am also keenly aware that we are a day closer to meeting our Lord!  Every day we are closer to meeting our eternal destiny which should motivate us to do what is needed to make sure that we are in an active relationship with Jesus Christ.  Paul says, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and

envy.  But you put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the flesh, to fulfill its lust.”  Romans 13:11-14

Then finally, it makes me aware of the massive job we have to take advantage of the opportunities that God places before us to share the message of His Son, Jesus Christ with those who are lost.  People are dying every day without the saving GRACE of Jesus Christ.  God is depending on you and me to help them come to know, obey, and live faithfully to Him.  What an amazing responsibility we have as disciples to the One Who died for the World.  Paul also says, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.  For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 15:58         

Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." - James 4:15

We all make plans!  We have plans for travel, plans for business, plans for family, for fun, and for the future.  For me, part of the fun is planning. 

We even have great quotes for planning. Check these out…

1. “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

2. “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” …

3. “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

4. “Good planning without good working is nothing.” …

5.     “Plan your work and work your plan.”

My personal favorite is….”Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” (Mary Oliver). The reason I love this quote is because it is the one question about planning that has the greatest impact. 

Someone once said, “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives” which is also very true and it takes a lot of time, prayer, study, and thoughtful planning to spend a life well and to be prepared for eternity. 

Are your 2020 plans made within the walls of God’s will? Many hapless, helpless, and hopeless people don’t consider the Lord or His will when deciding and planning how life will be lived or whether they will meet God in eternity. 

Decide now to include the Lord in your 2020 plan and be prepared to meet Him in eternity so you can hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

“Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16)

“All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15

Our Christian life is a cause for celebration, but sometimes we don’t feel much like celebrating. If fact, when the weight of the world seems to bear down upon our shoulders, a celebration may be the last thing on our minds . . . but it shouldn’t be. As God’s children, we are all blessed beyond measure on good days and bad. This day is a non-renewable resource - once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. We should give thanks for this day while using it for the glory of God!

 Let us ponder these thoughts; What will be your attitude today? Will you be fearful, angry, bored, or worried? Will you be cynical, bitter or pessimistic? If so, God wants to have a little talk with you.

 God created us in His own image, (Gen.1:26) and He wants us to experience joy and abundance. However, God will not force His joy upon us; we must claim it for ourselves. Today, and every day thereafter, let us celebrate the life that God has given us. Think optimistically about yourself and your future. Give thanks to the One who gives us everything, and trust in your heart that He wants to give us so much more.

 Let us pray for an attitude that pleases our Lord. In every circumstance, we will strive to celebrate the life He has given us, and we will praise God for His priceless gifts. Amen!

“Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.” — 1 Corinthians 14:7-8  

The men who wrote the word of God were concise, clear, and effective in sharing, teaching, and preaching the word of God. As a result, people were taught faith, grew in faith, and obeying the faith. 

Today, we must be just as clear, concise, and consistent when proclaiming the truth and for the same reason!  The Lord is depending on us to preach the truth in love so that others will come to know, understand, and obey the truth!

If we decide to be, unclear, confusing, and vague in our teaching and preaching God’s Word, then we have missed the heart of what Paul wrote to the Corinthian church. 

This certainly doesn’t conflict with what Peter said about some of Paul’s writings (2 Peter 3:14-16). Peter says that few of Paul’s teachings were difficult to understand.  Which is certainly true. I do believe that even though they were difficult to understand they were nonetheless understandable.  A little more digging and studying would certainly reveal the truth that God intended and therefore be understood. The meat and potatoes of the Word take a little longer to prepare, serve, and eat. While it might take a little longer to get to eat and digest it is certainly worth it. 

However, don’t miss the fact that Peter says there are the rest of the Scriptures. Scriptures that are easy to understand. 

Paul was referring to (in 1 Corinthians 14:7-8) to teaching a clear and concise message. Preaching should always be understood and simple in order to produce obedient faith!

As we move forward and grow in Fulshear we are determined that our message will be easy to understand so that we aren’t only speaking into the air. 

 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” — Romans 10:17

The first song I remember my mother and grandmother singing to me was, “Jesus Loves Me.”  As a three-year-old I sat on my grandmother’s lap in a lawn chair and I remember asking her to sing it over and over again.  I have heard our teachers sing, “Jesus Love the Little Children” and I myself still sing this song to my granddaughter. When we have her for the weekend she asks, “We going to church papa?”  We have a great influence on people by our actions in worship.  We sing these songs to our children and grandchildren today.  We hummed these songs to infants when they are sick, hungry or just crying. Why? Because we were made to worship.

To worship God is to walk through the shadows into a familiar welcoming place, where the fire never dies, and the light is soft and glowing. To worship God is to know we are truly home, acting on a desire deep in our souls. Long before we rationally understand the truth of Christ, we want to praise someone or something for bringing love, joy, and hope into the world.  We are made to be worshipers -- worshipers of God from the heart. Thinking worshipers. Working worshipers.

Teach us to worship, Lord. Not just to be emotionally ecstatic or to just feel good, but heart-based worship of You, my spirit with Your Spirit.  “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)  “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” (Psalm 95:6-7).  “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.” (Psalm 89:7) The text

stresses the need for reverence on the part of those who would draw nigh to God and the Bible commands this throughout.  “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  Worship literally means to kiss toward; the act of homage or adoration paid to God.  The concept of reverence raises certain questions which need to be answered for us to more fully understand its significance.  Read Psalm 89:7 again.  “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.”   God is to be exalted above all else.  The natural question then is this:  Have you personally placed Him above everything? Have you worshipped Him reverently?  This is something we must ponder with ourselves and family.