Greetings:
A LIFE VERSE?
I shouldn’t be surprised. I knew it was coming. It comes every year about this time. But, even though I should have been expecting it I am suddenly overwhelmed by how fast life is passing by. What in the world happened to Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas? It seems like one day I am expectantly looking forward to all the wonderful times of family, church, feasting and fun. Then, before I know it -- it is all over and a New Year has begun.
This year it is much more real because of my recent health problems. Each day, each holiday, each relationship is much more precious because I am acutely aware of how fragile and fleeting life is.
As I thought about this recently I thought about how I got here – to this point in my life. From a child, to a teenager, to an adult I considered where God has taken me. From a somewhat difficult childhood through the struggles of the teen years and into adulthood I look back and see that God was always there. No matter how long, how rough, how dark, how lonely the way seemed I remembered my mother’s words “trust God and His love for you and He will never cease to surprise you. And He hasn’t!
One of my favorite verses is: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” - Proverbs 3: 5-6
But today I would have to proclaim with Paul: 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. -Ephesians 3:20-21
This verse is all about where God has taken me and brought me. The Lord has never ceased to blow my mind and exceed my wildest dreams. Trusting the Lord with my life has made all the difference, in my sense of self, who I am, who God created me to be and for what purposes he created me to accomplish, from leading me to my amazing wife and children, my wonderful church and even to “walking through the valley of the shadow of death and fearing no evil”. God IS ABLE to do EXCEEDINGLY MORE than we could ever ask or imagine according to His power at work within us. His power is in me because of Jesus Christ. Only by Jesus and the power of his Holy Spirit am I able to testify to the greatness, goodness and glory of God. To Him be the power, and the glory, in the church, in the world, and in my life.
Today this is the most important Bible verse for me. This is the verse that has significant meaning for me personally and will carry you through life’s journey. It may change tomorrow or next week or… -- God’s word has a way of speaking to us according to our needs and circumstances at the time.
How about you? What’s your special verse at this point in your life journey? And how or why did you get that one? We would love to know. I think it would strengthen our church family and enable us to pray more specifically for each other.
If you will let Anna Watts know and we will put them in the future newsletters.
See you Sunday, Mitch.
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