If you have opinions and express them, people will disagree with you. If you have standards and live them, people will disagree with you. If you choose a path and follow it, people will disagree with you. And that’s ok.

So many times it doesn’t require anything more from you than acknowledging the disagreement.

There isn’t a need to solve. There isn’t proof or presence of right and wrong. There isn’t value in a debate.

People have different perspectives. Disagreements exist. Escalate beyond that only if there is valuing in doing so.

~ Brian Knight

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Romans 12:18 NIV

“Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.”

Proverbs 17:1

“Our past failures never prevent God’s willingness or ability to use us. In fact, our weakness is a great opportunity for the display of His glory. In our own strength, we are totally ineffective. But when we submit to the Lord’s authority, we can experience His victory in whatever He calls us to do.” Charles Stanley  

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Cor. 12:9

From the first chapter of Scripture, the Bible makes a case for the dependability of God.  Without exception when God spoke, something wonderful happened – there was light, land, beaches, and creatures.  God consulted no advisers.  He needed no assistance.  “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:9).  God is strong.  He does not overpromise and under deliver.  “God is able to do whatever he promises” (Romans 4:21).  

“It is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18).  God will keep his promises! It must happen because of who God is!  And because God’s promises are unbreakable our hope is unshakable. ~ Max Lucado

There are many things in life that cause us to worry, thinking about possible future outcomes. Instead of focusing on negative possibilities, we can chose to direct our thoughts to God’s Word.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” (Psalms 27:1, 5)

We have nothing to fear because our confidence is in God. We can hide under the pavilion of God’s house, where we find spiritual family, and pastors and leaders who care for our souls. In the local church (the pavilion of God’s house) is safety, security, and a wealth of godly relationships we can access. There is true deliverance and healing for our souls – ministry of the Word of God that brings increase in our faith, and instruction for godly living – ministry and small groups for prayer and spiritual/emotional support in times of testing. Dwelling in God’s house means much more than the occasional service attendance. This glorious pavillion of covering and blessing is available to all of us who invest in and partake of it. When we do, He will set us on a high place of heavenly perspective. Jesus is the strength of our life. There’s nothing and no one we should fear when we abide in His presence in the house of the Lord. ~ Kirk Henderson

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

Proverbs 3:5-8

“God gives grace to the humble. To those who humbly trust him with all their heart, he gives the grace of guidance. To those who humbly refuse to be wise in their own eyes, he gives the grace of refreshing peace. To those who humble themselves under his hand, he will give the grace of exaltation. And to those who humbly cast their cares on him, he gives the grace of carrying their cares.

Cultivating humility before God is among the healthiest things we can do for our souls.” ~ Jon Bloom

From Bill Buckley: “When I met my future wife in college, I began pursuing her! Not just a little bit. I went after her! There was uncertainty and insecurity in me about us until the moment I realized that she was pursuing me as much as I was pursuing her. 46 years later our love is stronger than ever! It’s the same with the Lord. If you’re not confident that He seeks you, desires you, and loves you, you will always be insecure and hesitant in your relationship with him. You will never fully give your heart to someone you’re not fully convinced desires you. The world is full of Christians who love God in a measured way. But it’s those who love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength who will change the world (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”

Mark 12:30) because perfect love destroys all barriers between us and the Lord (“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

1 John 4:18). He’s coming after you right now. You can believe in His wholehearted love for you!”

“What makes a person a Christian is not our love for God, which is always imperfect, but God’s love for us.” ~ Tim Keller

The good news of God is known as the gospel. It is good because God is good. He loves each one of us enough to sacrifice His own Son for us, even though we could never be good enough. We could never work hard enough for God in order to please Him. What is the work of the gospel? “Jesus said, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

J.D. Greear says we should preach the gospel to ourselves every day. It keeps us grounded in truth and focused on what God is focused on. Here is what he prays every morning, and a great example for us:

“In Christ there is nothing I can do to make You love me more. And nothing I have done that makes you love me less. Your presence and approval is all I need for everlasting joy. As you have been to me, so I will be to others. As I pray, I will do so according to the compassion you’ve shown at the cross and the power you demonstrated by the resurrection.”

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:21

“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

2 Corinthians 5:15

“God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and he raised him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God.”

Romans 4:25

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:16-17

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7.

The Bible is not big on emotions like fear, worry, and anxiety. Typically, it counsels that we should refrain from having them. Do not fear”(Deuteronomy 31:6), “Do not worry”(Matthew 6:25), and “Do not be anxious,” are just three of the examples it talks about. Being anxious is the exact opposite of an emotion the Bible often encourages: peace. In John 14:27, Jesus doesn’t say He’s going to the Father and leaving us with anxiety. Rather, He says He is leaving us with peace. Peace is the standard operating emotion of a Christ-follower.

When anxiety strikes, turn to God, not to the situation. When you do, then something good happens. The peace that transcends all understanding pacifies your troubled heart and mind. You may not understand how God can resolve your situation, but that’s why it’s called the peace that transcends understanding. You’ve given the problem to God, you’ve “cast your cares” (I Peter 5:7), and it is up to Him to figure out how things should be handled.

Don’t forget the thanksgiving part of the recommendation. After all, if we’re not thankful for the many things God has already given us, why would we expect He will give us even more?

Today I hope your life and mine will be an example to those around us of how to trust God for peace and not resort to anxiety, strife, anger and bitterness. Even if it is beyond our understanding, God will work it into our life if we make Him the priority!

Most of us consider this to be the beginning of a new decade. I ran up on a post (from wait but why.com) that had some mind-blowing facts:

• When World War 2 started, the Civil War felt as far away to Americans as WW2 feels to us now.

• Remember when Jurassic Park, The Lion King, and Forrest Gump came out in theaters? Closer to the moon landing than today.

• Y2K? Closer to the 70s than today.

• O.J. Simpson trial is now half way between the 1960s and today.

• If you’re 60 or older, you were born closer to the 1800s than today.

But the most incredible thing about kids today: most of them will live to see the 2100s!! 😮

Let’s take this reminder as a challenge to live purposeful lives. My purpose for 2020 is to ENCOURAGE. What’s yours? 2021 will be here in 12 short months. Let’s make those months, days and minutes count… not simply for our well being, but for the glory and honor of our Savior and Lord!

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Psalms 90:12

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

1 Corinthians 9:24

“… One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13-14

A good worship test for all of us would be this; Am I having to sustain what I worship or does who I worship sustain me. There is only one person that we can worship that sustains is , that is Jesus Christ. Don’t waste your 2020 year having to run after, suffer for, surrender your life these little gods that you have to hold up and support. Let the true God sustain you and hold you up.

~ Calvin Williams

I hope you are blessed and recharged to have a great New Years and a fulfilling, productive 2020! Thank you for your friendship and your encouragement to me!