JANUARY 7, 2012
| From Pastor Roger Just seen on CNN: Lena Paahlsson, in Sweden, found her wedding ring 16 years after she lost it. The ring was extra special because she designed it. She was working in the kitchen doing Christmas baking with her daughters in 1995. She placed the ring on the kitchen counter while she worked. When she was done, the ring was gone. They searched everywhere, even pulling up the floor boards, with no luck.In October of 2011, they were picking the last carrots in her garden. When they pulled up one of the carrots, her ring was around the top of the carrot, right where the root meets the leaves. They assume the ring must have fallen into the sink and become mixed with potato peels that were composted or fed to the sheep. Everyone is searching for something. Success. Love. Belonging. Peace. Hope. The list goes on, but it's a list of our thoughts and desires. Some just look around the surface of life, hoping they will be lucky enough that what they desire will pop up to the surface, at the right time, in the right place. Others plan their search more industriously, making their own luck. Rarely is either group totally satisfied with the results. In 2 Chronicles, the kingdom of Judah was in disarray. Verses 1-4 (italics are mine): "The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them." NIV Isaiah reinforces the thought: "Seek the LORD while he may be found, call on him while he is near…" Isaiah 55:6 NIV The blessings that come from seeking and finding God are many:
Amos 5:4 summarizes this beautifully: "Seek me and live…" The L.I.F.E. Journal plan is being used by many in our church family in their search for communion with God. There are many other Bible reading and study plans available. Whichever one you choose, don't be discouraged if you miss a day, a week, a month — start again. And again. And again. God never forsakes those who seek him (Psalm 9:10). | What's happening: Pray for our mission team in Fiji. They're coming home Thursday -- Yes, this week, not last week. THIS WEEK Tuesday, Jan. 3 Thursday, Jan. 12
|
