Saturday, January 15, 2011

Change of Plans

God is All-Knowing

I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.  Jeremiah 10:23

This week’s Deep Freeze that hit the southeastern United States is an effective reminder of how even the best laid plans don’t always happen.  With a week’s worth of appointments and meetings postponed or cancelled, we are reminded that there is a power greater than ourselves and that we are not in control. 

We can make all the plans in the world, but we can never know what the future holds.  Only God knows the future.  Sometimes His plans are at odds with ours. God promises however, that good and perfect gifts come from Him if we trust in His plan for our life. Are you willing to accept that your heavenly “Father Knows Best” and embrace all that God has planned for your life? 
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

Because God is all-knowing, through Christ we can trust His plan for our life.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Second Chances


God is Gracious


Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”  Genesis 9:15-17

The New Year can signify a time to start over, to make changes, to do things differently.  For that reason, many of us look forward to a new year – sometimes wishing they came sooner than every twelve months because as fallible humans, we welcome an opportunity to “do it over”.

Since creation, God has provided new beginnings. Noah built an ark so mankind could start over, but it did not last.  Then God made a promise to Abraham to make him the father of a great nation if he trusted God.  Abraham was faithful, but as time wore on, God’s people became more and more wicked.  They turned from God and took matters into their own hands – a strategy that ultimately leads to destruction.  Then, for 400 years God was silent.  But God is a God of second chances. He extended grace once again by sending his Son Jesus.  Jesus’ sacrifice illustrates the extent of God’s love for us and through Jesus we are able to know God personally.  With the 2011 New Year upon us, will you turn over the controls; once and for all and find your second chance in Jesus?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

Because God is gracious, through Jesus we have been given a second chance.