Questions and Answers

We just returned home from a trip to see our grandsons and their parents. Our trip there left me with some questions: Did I have to pay extra for my luggage because it went to a different city than I did? Why couldn't the airport post the correct gate information when flights change gates? Was it really necessary for us to miss our connecting flight in Atlanta just so we could have time for lunch? Isn't there a better time to deliver lost luggage than midnight?

As important as my travel questions are, they aren't nearly as important as some of these questions that people face everyday. Why did I do such a stupid thing when I knew it was wrong? Is any habit really worth placing my relationship with God at risk? Am I really happy when I am out-of-step with God? Can God ever forgive what I've done? Why am I alive? Where do I want to spend eternity? Is there any real reason why I cannot choose to live for God right now?

Let me try to answer the questions that deal with life. We usually do stupid things because we are trusting ourselves instead of leaning on God. No habit is worth risking a positive relationship with God. No one is ever truly happy as long as he or she is out-of-step with God. God can and will forgive anything we confess to Him. We are alive for two reasons: to prepare for eternity and to share God's love with others. Hopefully, you want to spend eternity with God. Surely there is nothing legitimate that can keep you from choosing to live for God.

Now, will you answer my travel questions? I can't seem to come up with any good answers.

Strategic Planning

Unusually crowded days require strategic planning. A doctor's appointment followed by the need to meet a repairman followed by another appointment recently threatened my sanity and my ability to be on time for everything. To keep from missing the middle appointment, I purposely arrived at the first appointment thirty minutes early hoping that I could get in and out quickly. It worked! I was actually finished with my appointment before the appointment was even scheduled. That made it possible for me to be on time for the next meeting which made the entire day go smoothly. It doesn't work that way all the time, but it certainly would not have worked if I had not made a plan and followed it.

Strategic planning helps us in our walk with Christ as well. Leaving things to chance leaves gaps and huge holes in our understanding of God and keeps us from developing the faith we need to face life. By developing a plan and following it we can become stronger Christians and be better prepared to overcome whatever obstacles we face. Our plan may be as simple as reading the Bible every day or as complex as pursuing a degree in theology. Here is the good news: your plan will produce positive results and will help you grow stronger if you trust God to help you develop it and then put it into practice.

God Builds His Church

After enjoying an unusual visitation by the Holy Spirit in our services on Sunday, I was intrigued when I picked up the Bible for my devotions the next day. The verse that caught my attention was this one found in Psalm 127:1 (NLT) Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. I was also reminded that Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 (NLT) ...upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

Far too often we are so consumed with trying to "make the church grow" that we forget that it is God who builds the church. We must let Him do His work. Sure we do our best planning, but then we must place the church in God's hands so He can build it as He alone can. When He is in full control, the church is better equipped to fulfill it mission and becomes stronger in the process. It is exciting to watch as God builds His church!