Thanking God for 2017...Seeking God for 2018

Today is Sunday, December 31st.
We normally meet with the brethren at Solid Rock Bible Church this morning, but due to the extreme cold temperatures and snow (see the screen shot from my weather app taken this morning), our pastor sent out word yesterday that we would cancel the meeting today. Many of the church live out in the country, and here in Iowa that means gravel roads, which can get icy and drifted over. A lot of us drive some distance to get to the church meeting, so Adam decided on caution and asked everyone to stay home, warm, and safe.


I posted the Bible reading plan I use here on the Iowa Seed Sowers website in one of the tabs in the header, as a downloadable file for anyone interested in using it.

Today takes me through the end of the Old Testament for the year, Malachi 1-4, through the end of the book of Psalms for the second time this year, Psalm 150, and through the New Testament for the second time this year, Revelation 22.

Malachi 4

I'm not suggesting this is some great accomplishment:  it's really not that much time in the word to follow this plan, and plenty of people spend more time and go through more scripture in a year than this. But it is a way to stay in the word - to stay disciplined like anything else that's important - and as I reflect back on 2017 I'm thankful for the privilege to have, read, and meditate on God's word. Some don't have it, and long for it.  

Mary & I got to spend some time by the fire last night, praying for all the witnessing opportunities we had in 2017, and that people might come to understand the gospel and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ through it. We prayed for people, lost and saved, and also for what the Lord would bring for us in 2018.  It reminds me that we are all living on borrowed time: the prophet Daniel tells me that not only Belshazzars' breath, but mine as well, are in God's hand (Daniel 5:23), and God can take it away any time He sees fit.

Revelation 22

I hope you, too, can look back on 2017 and thank the Lord for the treasure of His word, and maybe for witnessing encounters and evangelism outreach where you live. And in 2018, let's provoke one another - challenge one another - to even more love and good works, the ones we are commanded to walk in as born-again followers of the Lord Jesus (Hebrews 10:24, Titus 2:14, Ephesians 2:10), filled with love & humility, and by God's amazing grace.

Leaders Must Be Readers....

It's a beautiful Saturday here in Central Iowa, and I usually try to get out and share the gospel with my friends, neighbors, and complete strangers on a day like this. But, not today.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I struggle with a lung illness that really knocks me down once or twice a year, and that is certainly the case today! Actually, I've been struggling all week, and have missed some work because of it.

So, I guess the Lord is wanting me to rest my body, meditate on His word, be full of thanks for all the He has done, is doing and will do in my life. I know He's got a new body waiting for me - a glorious eternal home for my soul that will never get sick, run down, or wear out.

But even in rest, we can redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 4:5). An evangelist once wrote,
"Leaders must be readers." 

And frankly, I have been lazy lately. Not with the Bible; I read through the Psalms & New Testament twice in a year, and the Old Testament once. But I've been lazy in reading other edifying books that can help me grow in Christ and be more useful in His service.

Well, no excuses...Mary got me Dave Hunt's "Judgment Day!" for my birthday, and Mark Cahill sent me his latest book, "Reunion" as a gift a while back. And while the Bible comes first, I get the chance to read a couple of good, godly other books now, and trust God will teach me some good truths through these brothers.

Quick question: Where are you leading people?

We all influence other people in this life: friends, family members, neighbors, kids at school, and people we pass on the street or in the store. Are you leading them closer to Heaven by your words & actions? To do that, you have to be saved yourself. If that's true, are you pointing people to the only One who can save them from Hell? That's what I want to do, and I want to encourage you to this end as well.

For those of you brothers and sisters who are not physically unable to be about the Father's business, please reach out to someone with the gospel for me today, will you? I'll be praying for you to boldly share the truth in this dark, dying world, and that many will be turned to our mighty Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

And, prayer for my recovery, strength, health, etc., are greatly appreciated. Paul.