Next
This word came to me during Bible study. It is a great word with a lot of ways of using it. “What are you doing next?” “Next time I’ll know what to say and not be rude!” “Hmm the next thing on my list is…”
The question is – What does God have planned for you?
What is your “Next”?
My next is that I am attending the Youth & Family certification school at Wartburg Seminary. This will be a six month program of study. I will attend a week of school from May 2nd-8th. There will be online classes and discussions. We will get together in Nov, for the final part of the class.
My husband Shawn is working on his Next. Our children are grown or rapidly growing and working on their “Next” too. I find I’m not needed like I was when they were younger. This has been an awakening time in my life. Have I prepared them for life? Do they have all that they need to journey forward? Do I have what I need to journey forward? With love and guidance here I go!
Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to grow in faith and knowledge and work to plan and implement the future of St. John’s Youth & Family ministries.
Matthew 6:33 “But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Dear St. John’s Family,
Is Jesus on your list? Where does he fit into your daily life? This came to mind yesterday as I was leaving the grocery store. I tried to follow my shopping list by only buying items we truly needed to get us through the week. Then I wondered how am I getting through the day? I do make “Lists” for my job here, with my Hallmark job, my families’ life, upcoming projects at home and all those other things for which you need to get organized.
Well, where does he fit in? Before you get out of bed, before you get to the office hoping your day goes well? Second shift, as children are coming home hungry & suffering from homework overload, how about in the evening when the day is over and you are in your comfy clothes letting the stress of the day fade? At what point in your day do you find Jesus on your “to do” list?
I’ve been thinking that maybe Jesus should be on all of our lists and probably the first thing on the list as we move through our days. Martin Luther admonished us to pray and even gave us prayers for each part of the day. Why can’t we make the effort to bring Jesus into our daily lives, learning how to trust in Him and to recognize and thank Him for the blessings we experience every day?
Just to give an example of how you can apply this and not make it “work” but a celebration, as you enter the store to start your shopping, thank Him for the bounty on display and thank Him for the ability to feed ourselves, our families and the community around us. As we leave for work, thank Him for the day we are about to begin and ask for strength to deal with the stresses we know are to come. By placing Jesus at the head of all our lists, I have to believe we will be drawn closer to Him each and every day.
One last question for you to ponder: Do you have the joy, joy, joy deep in your heart? Do you put Jesus First, Others Second and Yourself Last?
