Today's Choice is Huge.

Joshua 24:15

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Ex. 32: 26

then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!”

Deut. 30: 15

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

Ephesians 2:13,14.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

CHOOSE:  The Gospel, True Worship, Biblical preaching, prayer. 

John 3: 16

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!

Stay the course

I believe God's Word encourages/commands us to remain faithful or stay the course.  With the Bible being our map, we might have to do more than glance at it. Some of us should ask ourselves are we on the RIGHT course.  Many times, we say we are sincere in the direction we are headed. We know we can be sincerely wrong as well. Confession and repentance will change our mind as well as our direction.

If you and I are guided by emotions or culture's behavior, we will soon discover, we have slowly gone off course.  The Word of God, prayer and depending on empowerment from His Holy Spirit is what the true Christian will need in order to navigate the "seas of life."

Truth will lead us where we NEED to go. Truth is not what we always want to hear. Paul writes to Timothy that in the last days we'll desire to hear only what we want to hear, having our ears tickled.

It is no secret that this culture and its paradigms are headed for the "rocks of life."  The church in general, is joining the convoy as we veer off course away from God and his Truth.

We have been obsessed about painting the cruise ship, swabbing the deck (mopping?) Some are even down below sleeping in our bunks. We have lost sight of the mission and destination

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

We have been sent (rough waters and all) into all the world with the Gospel. We have chosen rather to dock in safe harbors on every street corner.  We are singing the songs of the sailor while actually being land lovers.  We have counted the cost and we're staying in safe waters. Ships are safer there but are built to handle the stormy seas.

Then there is joy and rest from a job well done.

We have been cruise ships far too long. We must also be rescue boats in the fog shouting "come aboard, come aboard!"  We need all hands-on deck and full speed ahead.

Let's get the map out and read it. In these uncertain waters, we have to get back to the truth and stay the course!

 

A Well Amongst the Flowers.

Sitting still with memories.
A well amongst the flowers,
containing thoughts of a family drawing
life giving water,

Containing cold drink
for a passing stranger.
Children dropping stones
to hear the echo,
while they picnic nearby.

When the family moved on,
Ol' well cried 'til it was dry.
Farmhouse is gone now,
once in a while the children visit,
speaking, while the well.. echoes
their hello and goodbyes.

To you and I,
it's just a well amongst the flowers.
To some it's buckets full of memories.

Perhaps you and I have been useful
to provide God's comfort even gave others...
memories and will leave a legacy.
Allow the Lord to develop you
into a well amongst the flowers.

Amazed

There were occasions Christ was amazed by the faith of some people he met.  Some not even of the Children of Israel.

In the book of Mark, He had done many great miracles and taught the crowds.  They were amazed at His power and authority.  In Mark six they had little faith.  He could do only a few miracles. They were even offended by the message.

It says He was amazed by their unbelief. Amazed by the faith of some. Amazed by the lack of it in others.

With what group, do you and I stand?

ABC's

A mother and father speak proudly about how smart there twin son and daughter are. The are young and still in elementary school.   They can read well and do math, above expected level.  Both will most likely graduate high school early and enter college while friends are still thinking about Winter formal dances and proms.

"We let them be creative and make his own decisions even express themselves. That's why we never tell them no."
 ..You're impressed.

"Before we eat," The Mother proudly says;  "Show us all your math tests from school"
 "No!  I don't want to!"
She whispers to you;  " All A's."

"Okay, show Pastor how you can read."
" NOOOOOOO!!!"
 (they don't say no,  the kids do. Hmm).
 "Do you want to go on the computer?"
 "Yes."

They say: "Well, that went well."
You say: "Yes it did.  They really enjoy that computer."

My word for children, as well as parents, is don't just hope for great grades. Get a great education.

JOY TO THE WORLD!

Wherever you are in this world;

 God’s plan of salvation is God’s loving invitation for every person, in every nation, to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ. Sin separates us from God, but because of His great love, God sent His Son, Jesus, who lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. The gospel calls us to respond by believing in Jesus Christ, turning away from sin in repentance, confessing our faith in Him, and being baptized into Christ. Through this response of faith and obedience, we receive forgiveness, new life, and the hope of eternal life. Salvation is God’s gift, offered to everyone regardless of nationality, culture, background, or past. The question is not whether God has made a way of salvation, but how will you respond to His invitation?

The heart of Nehemiah.

Just a note:
Did you make those New Year resolutions, or goals?  New year's or not; We've a couple months left...It's always a good idea to stand back, regroup, plan, then go for it.

That may include a plan for your vocation.  It could also mean a plan for the vacation!  Let's plan and go! With that said, it might be time to be still and discover the plan of God. 

See what's needed, get the vision, pray, plan, then catapult into God's action.  Now you're looking like Nehemiah of the Bible!