23

Jump Start # 1129

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1129

1 Thessalonians 2:7 “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.”

  In our passage today, Paul is reminding the Thessalonians how he conducted himself and what he did when he was with them. Paul’s stay was short. The church was young. He had to flee to save his life from persecutors, especially Jewish. They were trash talking Paul. They were trying to undue the good that he had done and to undermine his credibility with them.

 

Paul begins with a series of negatives.

  • We were not pleasing men (4)
  • We were not using flattery speeches (5)
  • We were not coming with a motive of greed (5)
  • We did not seek the glory of men (6)

 

What we did do, was come to you gently as a nursing mother. Paul’s example is a great reminder for us, especially parents and teachers, preachers and shepherds in God’s kingdom. We forget that sometimes. The moment often gets us worked up and we enter a discussion with guns blazing. We sometimes forget that the loudness of our voice does not give strength to our arguments. No one is killed by thunder.

 

Throughout the N.T. the call to answer, restore and correct with gentleness is found. Truth doesn’t have to be shoved, forced or demanded. It says what it says. I’ve had to learn this. Being a preacher and a parent sometimes I brought my preaching voice home. A person can be firm, stand for what they believe and still be gentle. I think this is something that time helps us with. The older one gets the more they understand this.

 

A few thoughts for us.

 

1. When discussing religious topics with someone who disagrees with you, try to stay on one subject. Often, the discussion turns into chasing rabbits. Have you ever tried to chase a rabbit? I have. They don’t run straight. They run this way, and then they run that way. They zig zag all over the place. It’s hard to keep up with a rabbit. That is the flow of many religious discussions. It starts with a question and before long, it’s zigging here and zagging there and a person can spend two hours but they haven’t accomplished much. I often bring a pad of paper to the table. When a question comes up, write it down. We’ll get to that one another day. Stay on the subject. Now the same could be said about flipping all over the Bible, going from one verse to another verse. Focus on just a few verses but really work them. Turn those verses inside out and get the understanding. When someone wants to chase rabbits in the Bible, write those verses down on your pad of paper and promise to look at them later. Few verses and one topic at a time.

 

2. I try to find out what version of the Bible my friend that I’m studying with has. I then try to bring the same one that he has. It’s easier when both read the same. I often will have my friend read a passage out of his own Bible. This does a couple of things. First, he sees it. This is not from your Bible, but his. Secondly, if there are no more studies, he’ll take that Bible with him where ever he goes. When he happens to turn to that page, he may remember the study you had. It may then connect with him.

 

3. It is important to know where a person is at and begin there. Jesus always did that. How do you know? You talk with them. You ask them to tell you their story. You listen. For some, they are not sure there is a God. Others believe in God, they are not sure about the Bible. Still some think the Bible is missing some parts. Others understand inspiration and accept the Bible. Each of these people need to begin at different places. There is not a one size fits all program to teach. You must be able to adapt and meet people where they are. This is important.

 

4. Go slowly. One of the mistakes we tend to make with our friends is to drown them with so much information. We are busting to tell them everything but they are not ready for that. Go slowly. Slowly. Be patient. You are planting seeds to grow mighty oaks. They may ask you about the book of Revelation and the mark of the beast when they do not grasp some fundamental concepts yet. Hold off for now.

 

5. You goal is not the baptistery but rather a disciple of Christ. There have been many who went to the baptistery who were not ready for nor willing to make a commitment to Christ. Teaching Christ will lead to counting the cost and having a heart that truly wants to follow Christ.

 

6. When someone differs, don’t get mean, ugly or call them names. Don’t make fun of what they believe. That doesn’t prove you right. Our faith stands upon the Bible. If they name someone who is a poor example of Christ, apologize, but remind them that Jesus isn’t that way. We follow Christ. If they have been hurt by something someone said in the past, apologize and remind them that Jesus never treated them that way. Your goal is to connect them to Jesus, not your church. Don’t get into the car shopping syndrome where two churches are compared like we compare cars. It’s not which church is better or right, but what does the Bible teach. Emphasize the Bible. It’s not what the church teaches, it’s what the Bible teaches.

 

7. Remain kind, sweet and a friend no matter what happens. Pray for open hearts. Pray for the right words to say. Pray for patience. Pray that God can use you as an instrument to help others.

 

Teaching is such a great opportunity. It starts in the home. It continues all the days of our life. Teach through every medium you have—electronically, phone, face to face. Remember, people will judge your faith, your church and your Christ, by the way you conduct yourself. Honest, true, and kind—nothing beats that.

 

Roger

 

 

 

20

Jump Start # 1128

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1128

2 Corinthians 5:2 “For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from Heaven”

  The apostle Paul experienced what many moderns would call the “shopping mall syndrome.” You may have never heard that expression before, but you understand the feeling and the experience. You walk into a mall and you are not sure where the store is that you are looking for. You find a directory that shows the layout of the mall. A bright arrow points to where you are now. Where you are now is not where you want to be. You want to be in front of the store that you came for. Shopping mall syndrome. Wanting to be somewhere else. I’m not where I want to be. Paul left that way. He was here but he wanted to be in Heaven.

 

There are many experiences like that in life. Men can be that way at a wedding. They wish they were somewhere else. Many feel that way when they visit the doctor or dentist. Southwest Airlines used to run ads that showed people in embarrassing situations and then their slogan, “Wanna get away?” Some are that way when it comes to worship. You can tell. The look in the eyes, if they are even opened, says, “I wanna get away.”

 

For Paul, it was a longing to be with God. This Corinthian passage isn’t the only time Paul expressed this. He told the Philippians, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain…having the desire to depart and be with Christ.” He told the Romans, “we ourselves groan within ourselves…waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” Paul had his eyes set on Christ and his course locked in to Heaven. That’s where he was headed and that’s where he wanted to be.

 

He wasn’t like the three year old who went kicking and screaming. It wasn’t, “well, if I have to go, it might as well be Heaven instead of Hell.” There was no looking back. There was not reluctance on his part. Let’s go. I want to go. Let’s get out of this place.

 

That type of thinking does a few things to us.

 

First, it keeps us from being bogged down with stuff that doesn’t matter. We can fuss about the minor things in life and lose sight of the big picture, we are headed to Heaven. Politics does this. I guess that’s why I’m not very interested in that subject. There is a place for politics, but so much of what is done, discussed and debated, really doesn’t matter. They major in minor things. They lost sight of the big picture. Having this Heavenly view and hope keeps stress at a minimum. Problems are temporary. Some day we’ll leave those all behind us.

 

Second, this heavenly view pushes us to work harder, better and faster. We only have so much time. We can spin our wheels and spend too much time in the huddle of life making plans that nothing gets done. Times wasting. Get to the point. Get after it. Soon, we are out of here. It makes us appreciate today. This is the day that I have. I must make it the best that I can.

 

Third, this heavenly view brings comfort. I have too many friends who are suffering with cancer now. I have no magical words. I pray every day for them. They are great people. They are wonderful Christians. It seems that the bad guys never get sick. Why don’t the terrorist ever get cancer? I hate to see my friends sick. I hate to know what they have to go through. Their faith is strong. They are courageous. Some day they will be done with all this stuff. The future is bright. The future is Heaven. There, not just for them, but for all of us who walk with the Lord, will be peace, joy and love. They will never feel bad again. What they are going through now will end. What all of us are going through will end, if we continue to walk with the Lord. The lonely heart…the broken heart…the heart that grieves…the heart that is disappointed…the heart that longs to do right and be right…there is comfort coming. God shall wipe away every tear. The tears caused by pain. The tears caused by sorrow. The tears caused by guilt. The tears caused by fear. Gone. Wiped clean. Wiped, not by the hand of an apostle. Not even by an angel. But God, Himself, shall wipe away every tear from our eyes. All tears.

 

Fourth, what this does, is get us serious about our walk with Christ. We are wanting to be in Heaven. We groan from within. It’s a deep longing. We want it. It won’t just happen. It doesn’t fall into our laps because we want it. We must do things. We must throw off the sins that entangle us. We must pull the weeds from our hearts that crowd out the word of God. We must remove our selves from places and people that are not spiritually profitable to us. We must watch our steps, out time, and our attitudes. We want to go to Heaven. It’s time to polish that soul. It’s time to shape up and get at it. This thought alone is all that is necessary to get a tired body out of bed and headed to the church house to worship God. Those that only have their big toe in the water of God don’t understand this. They attend when it’s convenient, and that generally means, when there is nothing better to do. Travel, shopping, sleeping in—for some, trump going to worship services.  Not so, for those who want to go to Heaven. They’ll put things on hold for God. They’ll drag those tired bodies after a twelve hour shift at the hospital to church first and then they’ll go to bed. They have a place that they want more than sleep, and that is the presence of God.

 

Longing for Heaven makes us clean up the junk in our hearts. Gossipy ways and thinking you’re better than others is tossed out. We need to be like Jesus. We want to be around Jesus. It makes us serious about our walk with Christ.

 

Paul longed for Heaven. How about you? Has it been a while since you’ve thought about Heaven? Does it only cross your radar when the preacher happens to mention it? I had a daughter that got married last year. I have a son who will be getting married next year. People who are soon to be married think, talk, plan and long for that wedding. It’s on their mind often, especially for girls. They read magazines about weddings. They look at wedding sites that give them ideas. They talk to friends about their weddings. You’d think they are getting married…and they are! Shouldn’t we be the same about Heaven? After a while our friends ought to say, “You really want to go there don’t you? It’s all you talk about.”

 

Paul longed for Heaven. I wish more of us did. Don’t you want to be there? Wish it was now, how about you?

 

Roger

 

19

Jump Start # 1127

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start  # 1127

1 Timothy 4:16 “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; preserve in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

 

Pay attention. That is something that is heard nearly everyday in classrooms and in homes. Paying attention is the reason why most states now make it illegal to text and drive. It’s hard to pay attention to the road when you are looking at your phone. The opposite of paying attention is day dreaming, looking about, in a haze, mind wandering about. Focus is another word that defines paying attention. The other day I was driving to a church building that I had never been to before. I was to preach that evening. I was on the right road, but missed the building. I couldn’t find it. There were so many signs, traffic and stores that I never saw it. I had to call my friend Zack to find out where the place was. I wonder if that happens to us in life as well. There are so many things to look at, so much going on, that we don’t see each other. We don’t notice. We fail to pay attention.

 

We can live in the same house and still be strangers. We come and go and do the small talk but don’t really get to sit down and share life. This happens in marriages and it happens in parenting. The sad consequence of this is far too often in a marriage, one drifts apart and the other never realizes it. One is starving for attention and the other person wasn’t paying close attention. Eventually they find someone else who will give them the attention that they long for. By the time the other person realizes it, it’s too late.

 

In parenting, far too often, parents are the last to know that their kids are doing drugs. They didn’t catch the change in moods, grades and attitudes. They didn’t pay attention to who their kids were hanging out with. Then one day the school calls, or worse, the police knock on the door. The parents are shocked. They had no idea. They were not paying close attention.

 

The same lack of attention in a congregation is the reason some slip through the cracks. That’s a common expression we use. I’ve often wondered why there are cracks? Maybe if there wasn’t any cracks, no one would slip through them. But someone slowly and silently drifts away from the group. In time he stops attending all together. His lack of attendance becomes the visible sign. There were others. Prayer life has been suffering before this. His enthusiasm was dying before this. His connection to the word of God was falling off the charts before this. By the time any one notices, by the time someone finally pays attention, he’s long gone. His faith is shelved and he has moved on to other things. Why? Some shepherds weren’t paying attention. Some pay more attention to the balance in the check book than they do the condition that the sheep are in. As a result, some slip through the cracks.

 

Paying attention. Preachers want that on Sunday mornings. When I was a teenager, we wrote notes, not about sermons, but mostly to girls, during preaching time. We didn’t pay much attention. Today, it’s the phone and tablet. Now, it’s surfing, games and texting instead of writing notes. Same principle. Same problem. Not paying attention. I wish now that I had. I never thought about preaching back in those days. I didn’t think a whole lot about Jesus in those days. I didn’t pay much attention back in those days. Some of those lessons would have helped me, had I paid attention.

 

Paul’s words here are not about marriage, parenting, shepherding or even paying attention during worship. It’s about one’s own spiritual condition. We are to take ownership of our souls. It’s not the churches job. It’s not elder’s job, it’s my job to get serious about the Lord. Paul’s words are: “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching…” Watch yourself. Look at yourself. Examine yourself, as he would tell the Corinthians.

 

Pay close attention. I wonder if we really do that. Do we do that when we sit down to watch a movie? Do we do that when we chase all the rabbits we find on Facebook? “Ten things every parent must know…” Or, “The way you truly know you are in love.” Or, “Ten books you must read before you die.” Or, “What every Christian is afraid to admit.” Or, this advice and that advice. This link and that site. Do we pay attention or are we being influenced, taught and led down some wiggly places that takes our hearts away from Christ?

 

Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Listen to what you are saying. Do you hear yourself? Do you follow your own advice? Do you give it but not heed it yourself? Pay attention.

 

The sheep that does not pay attention will look up from his grazing and realize that the flock has moved on. He will find himself alone and in trouble. He wasn’t paying attention. Blame the shepherds for not telling your. Blame the environment. Blame the times we live in. Blame your upbringing. Paul says, “Pay attention to yourself…” Everything has an influence and an impact. The music does. The shows do. The articles do. The friends do. Even we do. Pay attention. Be careful what you are putting into you heart and soul. Not everything is healthy. Not everything is good. Some things may not be bad, but just not helpful. I’ve been to India. Some of the things I saw people eating, probably wasn’t bad, but I certainly wouldn’t put them in my mouth.

 

Pay attention. Pay attention to how you are doing. Paying attention will recognize whether or not you are growing or stagnating. It will show whether you are leveled off or increasing for the Lord. Pay attention to yourself.

 

Where I live, we pay attention to walking and driving in the winter. If you don’t you’ll fall on the ice or wreck your car.

 

Paying attention begins by seeing yourself as you really are. James used the example of a man looking in the mirror. He sees himself carefully and clearly. This is where paying attention begins. No games. No smoke. No excuses. Where am I spiritually? Am I getting stronger or am I drifting? Am I winning the battle over Satan or am I stuck on the merry-go-round of sin, doing the same wrong things over and over? Is my character, my attitude, my outlook, my hope where it ought to be? Or, am I consumed and obsessed with the trivial, worldly and mindless junk of today. Am I more interested in who wore what dress to what Hollywood award show or who remains in the competition, or what team is winning than I am where the church is and where I am spiritually? Pay attention.

 

The rich man in Luke 16 didn’t pay attention to what matters the most. He certainly paid attention to his finances. He dressed and ate well. He died and he had neglected his soul. He did not pay attention to those things. His five brothers were following in his steps. They were not paying attention to their lives. They would be with him in misery unless they started paying attention. The sad thing is that we will join them to if we do not pay attention.

 

Paying attention will allow you to make corrections, adjustments and changes. It will smooth your rough edges. It will make you go back and apologize when wrong. It will push you to do more. These things happen when one is paying attention.

 

You can tell when a college guy has been paying attention to his looks. His clothes may actually match and not be wrinkled. His hair may actually be combed. He may have even showered. Amazing how nice someone can look when they pay attention to self. The same is true spiritually.

 

Pay attention…have you done it in a while?

 

Roger

 

18

Jump Start # 1126

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1126

John 11:26 “So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”

  John 11 records the resurrection of Lazarus from the grave. The chapter is rich with emotion, drama and proof that Jesus is the Son of God. Word came to Jesus that Lazarus, His friend, was sick. Jesus delayed. He waited two days. He knew the day the news arrived that Lazarus had already died. Jesus was doing this to prove a lesson for the apostles. There was a new level that He needed them to believe. He was the greater than the greatest enemy. He held the keys to life and death. He could undue all that Satan did. So Jesus waited. He then traveled on the fourth day to Bethany, the village where Lazarus lived with his sisters, Mary and Martha. It was at this time that Jesus called forth and Lazarus came out of the grave.

 

Often we do not understand God’s time table. We want God now. We want answers now. We want problems solved now. We want relief now. And God delays. He waits. God allowed Job to sit in silence. The Psalmist wondered where God was. The silence was worse than the pain. For Mary and Martha, they prayed that their brother would get better. He got worse. They hoped that Jesus would come. He delayed. It is at these times that our minds and our doubts tend to take over. We question whether God loves us. We wonder if the silence is a punishment for a wrong we did. We think that God doesn’t care about us. God waits and our faith struggles. Three times in John 11, by Martha, then Mary, and then some of the Jews who came to comfort, the expression, had you been here,’ is used. Had Jesus only come. Had He been there, Lazarus would be alive. Instead, Jesus delayed. He allowed Lazarus to die.

 

Lazarus experienced the journey of death into the next world. His soul and body separated as James describes death. He entered the room where the righteous dead are. There he suffered no more. There he was comforted. Never to feel pain again. Never to grow weary, hungry or discouraged. There with the Bible greats such as Joseph, David, Abraham and the prophets. He was in the world where there is no darkness, no crime, no fear, and no sorrow. He made it. Lazarus was truly home. For four days he was there. Then, just as suddenly as his death, his soul was demanded back. It was united again with his body and out of the grave he came. Back to the world he knew and had left. Back to this family and back to the limitations of earth. He would need to eat. He would get tired. He would have to work. Lazarus was back. Back from the dead.

 

It is interesting that there are many conversations between Jesus and Mary. There are conversations between Jesus and Martha. But the Bible records no words of Lazarus. Especially, at this moment, when he returns, nothing is stated. He doesn’t reveal what he saw, felt, heard or was with. We can imagine, but his lips remain quiet. What a contrast that is to the modern books about people who died, claimed to have gone to Heaven, and some how came back. They weren’t resurrected by the power of God. They came back naturally. They report what songs they heard and what people they met. They tell of colorful horses and beautiful images of Heaven. These folks write books. Millions are sold. They become the cornerstone of belief for some. How strange. How strange that NO ONE resurrected in the Bible ever repeated what they experienced. Paul, inspired and chosen by Christ, declared that it was unlawful for him to repeat what he heard when he was taken to the “third Heaven.” Yet all these others today not only do what Paul couldn’t, they write books and make tons of money off the experiences. These accounts do not stand with any Biblical support or evidence. Lazarus never said a word.

 

We also see that the resurrected Lazarus had to die again. He had to go through the whole process of becoming ill and losing his life. Everyone who was resurrected, had to die again. All that is, except Jesus. He was the first raised to never die again. He is considered the ‘first fruits.’ We will follow, in time. I wonder if Lazarus knew that he was being used to teach the apostles a faith lesson? I wonder if he understood all that was going on? I wonder if things happen to us, not to that scale, by God, to teach others faith lessons?

 

Through all of this great account of the resurrection of Lazarus, we find Jesus in control. He traveled to Bethany which was only two miles from Jerusalem. The Jews had tried to kill Jesus earlier. He was able to go there without incident. Jesus was in control. With all the emotions around the grave of Lazarus, the questions, the “where were you?” the tears, Jesus was in control. Jesus is always in control.

 

For Mary, Martha, Lazarus and even the apostles, John 11 reveals events that they didn’t fully understand or know why it was happening. Jesus did. The same happens to us. We often do not understand why things are happening to us. Some things may bring tears to our eyes. Some things may alter and change our lives. We don’t know why. Our prayers may not be answered the way we wanted. Faith triumphs. Faith, trusting in God, is the key. We want to know, but we don’t. We want things a certain way, but they are the opposite. We want things to remain but they change. Faith, trusting in God, is the key. He knows. He will get us through. He never gives up on us.

 

Faith makes all the difference. We walk by faith and not by sight. We look at the things which are not seen. We fix our eyes upon Jesus. That’s the key. That’s what Mary, Martha and the apostles came to learn. It’s what we need to learn as well.

 

Faith is the victory.

 

Roger

 

17

Jump Start # 1125

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1125

Joshua 1:2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.”

 

Moses My servant is dead. That was the shortest funeral address ever. For the past forty years, Israel woke up every morning to Moses being the leader. He brought them out of Egypt. He led them through the wilderness. As a new generation grew up, it was Moses the leader. Now as they were ready to finally step into the promise land, a change was taking place. Moses was dead. Joshua would lead them. Would Joshua be as good as Moses? Would Joshua know what to do?  Would the Lord remain with Joshua? Would they like Joshua? Many questions. Many fears.

 

This simple verse reminds us of some profound truths.

 

1. Change is a part of life. Only in eternity do things remain the same. Things here do not remain the same. For some, this is exciting. New adventures. New chapters in the book of life. Students move through the school system and graduate. Off to college. They graduate. They find a job that launches a career. Often that is away from hometown. New people. New places. New congregation. Change. Some do well with that. Others don’t. Others want things to remain the same. It never does. Some change is very hard to adjust to and deal with. The spouse that returns from the cemetery to an empty house. Things will never be the same. Change. The parents that see that last child move out. Things will never be the same. Change. The aging parent that must move out of his home and into assisted living. Things will never be the same. Change. Some of these changes brings tears to our eyes. We want things to remain as they were but they cannot. In the midst of all this change, God remains on the throne. For Israel, Moses was gone, Joshua was the new leader, but it was the same God, the same plan and promises, the same hope that they had. That helps us. The God we have prayed to for years, is the same God that sees us now and walks us through the new changes.

 

2. Sometimes we make the transition to change harder on ourselves by resisting what is happening. God prevented this with Israel, but leading the way and announcing the change. It was God approved. God wanted Joshua leading the nation. To resist Joshua was to resist God. The changes in our lives are not so “divinely” chosen. As a result we can go down kicking and screaming and resisting change and all that does is make life more unpleasant and it takes much longer for things to move forward. An aging parent resists leaving their home for assisted living. This is not easy on any one. Health and safety demand that this be done. There are no other options. The parent can make this an easy transition or it can become a nightmare. A church changes preachers. That happens. I’ve been the preacher who is the new guy in the pulpit. Some accept things and make the transition very easy. Others constantly make comparisons to the former preacher, thus making the transition very awkward. I’ve found that the sun still comes up, the birds continue to sing, and life moves on, after change. There is no going back and reversing the change that takes place. So we can fight it, pout about it or move on as God wants. Moses was dead. There was no bringing him back. Israel could stay where they were. They could refuse to move on into the promise land, but that’s not what God had planned. God’s goal for them was to move on without Moses. Death makes change very hard. It forces us to change when we do not want to. Those unprepared, such as having no will or life insurance and savings, put their loved ones into positions of having to encounter more changes. The family may not be able to afford the house now, which means another change. We all change. We age. We can anticipate, plan and help those around us with the change or we can make things harder than they have to be. Forward looking, thinking about the next five years, the next ten years, helps with the change process. Churches need to do that. Families need to do that. Each of us need to do that.

 

3. Someday I must face my death. We don’t like to talk about that. It often frightens us. Ignoring it, putting it out of our minds, does not change the fact of what will happen. It is appointed unto man once to die, is what Hebrews tells us. This will be the greatest change of all. Death isn’t the end of our story. There is no “The End” to our lives. The cemetery is not where the journey ends. We live on and on, as one of our hymns goes. Living today, living short sighted, fails to see what awaits on the horizon. Living today ignores consequences of sin and eternity with God. The Lord prepared Joshua to lead Israel. It wasn’t a random choice. It was the obvious choice. Joshua was groomed long before he knew he would take that role. The same with David. God was shaping him to be a king before he ever gave that much thought. Preparation. Plans. Putting things in place. Stewardship demands this. Love requires this. Thinking these thoughts can make us sad, morbid or they can lead us to laying foundation stones, making plans for smooth changes. The wise servant of Christ is aware that someday will be his last day. He does move through life with a cloud above his head. We walks by faith. He makes each day a blessing. He does what he can. If he is given another day, he continues on. Each day is a gift. Each day is a blessing. Each day is an opportunity. We make plans, but we also know that someday will be the last day. Change will take place. We will move on to the eternal where all things will remain. There is not hurrying up because I have somewhere else to be, not in the land of the eternal. That is our destination. That is where the journey is completed. That is where we stay.

 

Change. It happens all the time. It happens right before our eyes. Some change is easy and some very hard. Moses was dead, yet Israel had things to do. Life was moving on with God. And so it is with us.

 

Roger