Listen to Godly Advice

Everyone of us have times when we can't figure out what to do. We may need to talk to someone or perhaps need to hear someone preach the word so that it can speak to our inner being. Our church recently hired a pastor to fill a vacancy that had lasted almost one year. During that time we had other speakers but it wasn't the same as having one person as a source for encouragement and advice. Listening to someone explain the Bible has taken on a new meaning. New insights, a new focus in our life, and a leader who has made a commitment to stay and assist with church growth. How much more we gain from having a leader who seeks out God's will.

Perhaps many times we turn to someone else close to us who is living a godly life. We can learn from them about how to gain a real closeness with the Lord. We can either be the one seeking out advice or the one giving advice, but the real important part for any Christian is being sure that the answers are based on the Bible and its teachings. It's not what others say that is important; rather it is what God says in His word. He is the majestic leader of our Christian faith and the one we can rely on for direction and discernment.

To Be More Like Christ

Walking with God isn't easy and when life presents challenges during this year, I need to know that He will be with me and give me the right direction if I will follow His leading. It's hard to believe that half of the month of January has lapsed and I need to keep my commitment to Christ to be more like Him and to be available to friends who need help. That may be something like prayer, a chat on the phone, or running an errand but whatever that is it needs to be motivated by love. Doing it just because I have to or think I need to is not taking the right attitude. So for this month and for the year ahead, I am trusting God to give me the right direction and to open my eyes to new opportunities.

A NEW YEAR

With the start of 2009 most people set aside resolutions or goals that they want to achieve during the year. The hard part of this is keeping the resolution. Many people can work hard to make progress but many fall short of their goal and quit after a month or so. Keeping the commitment sounded easy but in actuality it is much harder than it was made.

I could say that I have a long list of resolutions for this year but I really don't. I am trying to keep an open mind to opportunities that come my way and will try to trust the Lord to give me guidance and direction. Our church has been without a minister for a year and this Sunday we will finally have a new minister in the pulpit. It will be refreshing to hear sermons from a whole new perspective and hopefully our church will begin to grow both in numbers and in a closer walk with the Lord.

For this new year I challenge each of you as well as myself to keep my eyes on the Lord and watch for his presence in each day of the year. You will be amazed at the little ways that He lets us know His presence.

Preparing for the New Year

It's time to look ahead to 2009. 2008 was difficult in many ways. Financial problems plagued everyone and many people lost significant dollars in their IRA or retirement funds. Stability was a term that took on a whole different meaning. There is no way to guarantee stability in a world that is uncertain and changes from day to day. The only stability for a Christian is to stay focused on Christ and trust Him to be the stronghold in our lives.

2008 also had many global problems such as weather disasters with heavy snowfall and ice, raging wildfires and flooding. Fatalities from serious accidents like airplane crashes, commuter train wrecks, and the collapse of bridges and other structures that were deemed safe cost many people their lives. The constant struggle of war in areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan has cost many soldiers their lives as they work to overcome terrorist activity has made the headlines throughout the whole year. Problems in Israel were just making the headlines today so the conflict of war will continue to be a problem.

For the year 2009, I propose that each one of us look towards God's word for comfort and help on dealing with the uncertainty that is all around us. I need to depend on His word to guide me, motivate me, and give me the stability that I need to exist in a world that claims to be Christian yet often ignores Christ. God help me to see things from your eyes and to stay close to you during this new year.

CHRISTMAS

What better time than Christmas to reflect on the importance of God and what He did for us! The Christmas season is one that seems to exude joy almost everywhere you look. Brilliant colors, twinkling or glittering lights and special music to celebrate the birth of Christ. A sense of anticipation and the joy of shopping. Oh, yes, I know the season can be hectic and make some of us grumpy because of all the demands that seem to pop up everywhere. And I have been there.

During the last few years I have tried to keep the pace simple so I am not overwhelmed. Many people are without family, in nursing homes, in hospitals or simply alone and without hope. That's what needs to be emphasized. There is hope in Christmas because of the birth of Christ. That gift from God is the greatest gift anyone can receive. Take time to read the four gospels and their account of the birth of Christ. Let your mind wander back to what really is the most important thing of all.

FAMILY: HINDRANCE OR HELP?

Family can sometimes be a little scary. You love everyone or at least try to love everyone yet if your family is not a Christian family that supports you in your belief. There are all types of people in this world. We all know about the good, kind ones that make you feel great. But then there are the difficult ones, the ones that have a criminal background, addicts and drug users, downright hateful people, and those that always try to get ahead in life without caring about anyone who gets in their way. We don't get to choose our family yet we need to try to maintain our Christian faith in spite of all the family problems. It may seem like these families are a hindrance to our faith but God has a special purpose for you in your family

Some of us are blessed with good, Christian families that have taught us to love and serve God. We are used to getting up on Sunday AM with church and church-related activities being important. I've often wondered how it would be to grow up in a family like Billy Graham's or in a group of Christian singers who tour from place to place sharing their faith with others. I wonder how my life would be different if my background had been different. Of course, I didn't grow up in those environments. God gave me a family that was important during my childhood and I still have many pleasant memories. Consider your blessings and make your life count for God. Consider yourself fortunate if you have a good Christian family to support you and thank God for their help.

COMMITMENT

Making a decision to serve God is not always easy. For one thing, many things in life pop up along the way making it harder to stay on track. For me, I have problems getting up on Sunday mornings if we have been to Little Rock for a concert and I don't get home until 2:00 AM and can't fall asleep until 5:00 AM. I want to be in church but physically I am exhausted and need the rest. The danger here is allowing that pattern to be an excuse for not attending church.

Probably the best way to serve God is to find a church that is caring and outgoing and has a place for you to serve. No task is too small. Perhaps it is a greeter at the front door or a person who counts the number of people in attendance. It doesn't mean that you have to be a teacher or someone who sings in front of church either alone or with another group. When God opens a door of opportunity follow His leading and you will experience joy as you serve Him. Make a commitment to seek His will and see where he leads you.