Close of the holiday season

As the holiday season draws to a close, I must admit there's a sense of relief. I know that sounds negative, but it's true. This is the most depressing time of year for me...for a multitude of reasons. This year has been exceptionally difficult. As I've reflected over this last year, I've thought of so many things I regret...choices...decisions..relationships. There's been much grief, much wasted time and resources. My prayer for this new year is that God would grant me the grace to let go of the past, including the people I must let go of..the mistakes and miscues, and refocus my hope in the only One in whom hope can reasonably and sanely lie...Christ. For my friends, and for anyone who just happens by this blog and reads this...I ask that you would offer a prayer in my behalf. Regardless of what this new year might bring, I pray that my mind would be staid on Him who is worthy of all my time, resources, thoughts, goings and doings. Amen. May the new year bring blessings to all who read this.

Christmas morning

It's Christmas morning and I'm the only one out of bed so far. I've been sitting here pondering many things..mostly recent events that have transpired at my church home...things that have caused me to wonder where the church (both this local body and others in my denomination) is headed. At times I feel as though I'm caught up in a nightmare from which I can't wake up. It's all so surreal, that sometimes I have to remind myself that these things really are taking place. In many churches today it seems that worship has changed...I'm not speaking of style here...rather the object of worship. It appears that the things that are worshiped most are the buildings, the programs, the pastor, the denomination, the trappings of religion, and even "worship" itself. I cannot help but wonder how long God will allow these things before He judges us harshly or simply removes the candle...Lord help us all.

Finding God's will in decision-making

I've had many decisions to ponder lately. School, work, finances, etc. Anyone who's ever had to make some weighty decisions before (and I think that would include all of us), has been faced with the dilemma of several possible options. How do we choose that which is best...which for the Christian would be according to God's will? That's a question that will no doubt be answered in various ways...describing various methods for arriving at a decision. A couple of days ago I listened to a four-part sermon series on decision-making and God's will. I have to admit I was really taken to task for some of the ways I've tried to go about determining just what God's will is in any particular decision. The preacher first laid a foundation by determining from scripture, the difference between God's decretive (secret) will, and His preceptive (laws, statutes, precepts) will. He then went on to describe several ways in which Christians go about determining God's will in their decisions....impressions, open or closed doors, circumstances, etc. It was a real eye-opener for me...I've been guilty of employing more than one of those methods. This is a sermon series I think deserves a listen by any Christian...especially before making any weighty decisions. Here's where to find it: Link
The 4 sermons are found on pages 2 and 3, titled: "Decisions, discernment, and the will of God".