"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD."
Solomon - Proverbs 16:33

2012 looks like it's shaping up to be a really interesting year! Perhaps it's too early to be dogmatic but it seems the ingredients are coming together for this to be a year that'll be hard to forget. Consider some of our realities: we're still in the middle of all kinds of economic stress both nationally and globally; nobody seems to know how or when the economy will get fixed; from a militarily perspective relationships between nations have never been more strained; individualism has become the new world order; the foundation of any nation, the family, is under assault like never before and is quickly fading as a priority from every perspective; we're in an election year (need I say more); and most tragic, universally God has become whatever you want Him to be. By the way, have a great day!!

Seriously though, if we stopped to look at life from a glass is half empty perspective (me) we could seriously wonder if there's really a God out there and if there is, does He really care. It wouldn't be that difficult to loose hope. I had the privilege this week to join a modern hero of our faith (I won't mention her name because it's the last thing she'd want me to do) who invited me to come and share Jesus with a friend of hers (91 years old) that she had been sharing with for some time. When I discovered that she didn't know if she really believed the Bible to be true or Jesus to be real I asked her if there was any hope in what she believed. Her eyes welled up with tears and she quickly said "No, I have no hope." We shared with this precious woman that Jesus is the only source of hope.

Where's your hope…this economy, your job, some relationship you have or are pursuing, your bank account, your religion? All of these end up hopeless!!! There's only one hope and His name is Jesus! He is the only true God (life) and He is in absolute control (security & peace) and He loves us more than we can possibly imagine (provider & protector). Once we've met Him and come into a relationship with Him we need only to get to know Him more. The more we know Him the more we trust Him and the more we trust Him the more we obey Him and live life on His terms which necessarily means life and peace and security and provision and protection and HOPE no matter what our circumstances hold. We begin to see His magnificent hand in everything, even the heartbreaking realities of life.

Consider what the King of all creation said, "Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just has I have planned so it will stand." (Isaiah 14:24) God doesn't just randomly allow our circumstances. The King of all kings orchestrates everything in our lives for our good and His glory! He does all He does out of His nature and character: grace, mercy, patience, kindness, holiness, justice, righteousness, LOVE! If you ever wonder about God's love you only need look at the cross (Romans 5:8).

"Father, today please get my eyes off of my circumstances and fix them on Jesus. Please loosen my grip on all that is hopeless and make me cling to Him. Thank You for all that You're doing in my life that moves me closer to Him, that makes me seek Him, cling to Him. Thank You, gracious King, for Your loving hand in my life. Please cause me to see Your hand in all You bring to me."

His Kingdom Come,

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