Before I Knew God ...

Hope-Full Living

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Before I Knew God ...

November 25, 2024 • Lori Hatcher • Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 46:10, Job 42:2

Give

When I was 18 years old, I had to decide where to go to college and what to study. I opened a career catalog, read the job descriptions, and chose Dental Hygiene.

For 40 years, I’ve worked in this profession, through my children’s early years, during our homeschooling journey, alongside my professional writing career, and now, as I help care for my parents and grandkids. The Holy Spirit didn’t bring me to faith in Christ until after I’d chosen my career, but I know God guided my decision. He led me into a profession that has allowed me to accomplish everything he’s called me to do while providing a reliable part-time income. As a Christian, I want to seek God for every decision, but I’m comforted to know that even before I knew God, he knew me and was ordering the circumstances of my life for good.

We Wish to See Jesus

November 24, 2024 • Jeremy Klaustermeier • John 12:21, Hebrews 12:1–3, Psalm 96

I’ll never forget the first time I saw the words, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” etched in metal plates on the pulpit at our church. At first it struck me as quite odd, but as I’ve been a pastor now for many years, it makes perfect sense. As I get tempted to spend the precious few minutes I have in that pulpit talking about the latest trend or railing against the latest thing that offends, the Lord brings me back to those words. All of us, as Christians, need to have our hearts and minds refixed on this same request that the people made to Philip that day. We need to show people and tell people of Jesus, because he is what matters, and he alone is the way of salvation.

Tense Times

November 23, 2024 • Ed Grube • Psalm 90:1, Psalm 90:1–6, Matthew 24:36

Time sometimes makes us tense. There always seems a need to be somewhere on schedule. Some cultures are much less compelled by time. Languages operate by tenses. Some count it vital. (Like the astronaut adjusting to connect with the space station.) Does God ever let time get in the way of his loving us? Does he ever miss an “appointment?” God has his own time zone. He is the God of time, no matter what time it is or will be. Don’t get tense about your salvation. God has always been on time to take us to heaven. Remember “For while we were still weak ... Christ died for the ungodly ... while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8).

God’s Perfect Timing

November 22, 2024 • Harriet Monn Stennfeld • Isaiah 65:24, Psalm 50:15, Luke 11:9

A friend recently wrote me that she had been sitting in her doctor’s office waiting for her scheduled appointment when she suddenly had a heart attack. Some might see that as convenient, a remarkable coincidence, or a lucky break. As Christians, we recognize it as God’s perfect timing. She was grateful, looking back later, that she was in a place where immediate help was available from medical personnel who knew what to do. We may not always experience such a quick response to our problems and/or prayers, but God is always there to help — in his time and in his way. All we need to do is ask. Pray! Pray! And give thanks!!