NOVEMBER 23, 2018

“Your words, thoughts, intentions and actions today are your best hope, comfort, building blocks and insurance for tomorrow. But it is now alone that is guaranteed – tomorrow is a dream, a maybe a potential gift.” 
― Rasheed Ogunlaru

EZEKIEL 29-31

18“ ‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword. (31:18) 

JAMES 5

10Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

12Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

JOURNAL 

In many ways so much of the message of the Bible is about learning to be humble and to realize that we are not Gods. God is the only God and our lives can vanish in an instant and we cannot prevent ourselves from withering away. Eventually our bodies all go the way of the earth. To live in denial of that is to try and become more than what we are. In the same way it is tempting to seek God for the purpose of trying to make things easier, or for the purpose of creating better circumstances for ourselves. Rather than seeking God simply in obedience to glorify him, it's easy to slip into a mindset where we seek to use him for our own purposes rather than seeking his. 

God loves each of us and has given us the amazing gift of life to be used in the time that we have on this earth. To live it apart from relationship with him will only bring further misery and destruction. Live in the now...live in this moment. Do not spend my time worrying about what tomorrow will bring. The reality is that my tomorrows will be made better by living fully engaged in today. For the more I am focused on loving God and loving others fully today, then it will translate into a better tomorrow. 

Today is what I have, this moment is all you've given. To venture away from this mindset is to unhinge my heart and mind from you. You are not yet in tomorrow you are here in this moment today. 

This is the lesson...this is the message...so simple yet so rare in this world.

19My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

JAMES 5:19-20