Have you looked up into the night sky recently? On a clear night the myriad of stars are beyond numbering. If you are fortunate enough to live in an area devoid of artificial light, the number of stars visible to the naked eye increases exponentially. Imagine yourself in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, rain pelting you and your crew, swells rocking your primitive wooden canoe as your navigation depends upon the accurate reading of stars and their changing elevations on the horizon, now obscured by a thick blanket of clouds. No charts. No compass. Yet, hundreds of years ago that is precisely what the ancestors of Hawaii did as they set out from Samoa, Tonga, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Marquesas Islands – a small band of ocean explorers. They were dependent upon God’s creation.

To put it in the vernacular, “We’ve come a long way, baby!” But are our lives any more assuredly “on course?” Today we have charts, maps, radios, telecommunication, compasses in ships, planes, & cars, GPS systems and satellites to guide us. It is much more difficult to get really lost. We’re proud of our accomplishments. Yet despite many folk’s professed independence, we are still dependent on God. Not only do His physical laws still hold full sway, but also His spiritual laws. Though we ought to use our intellect to develop our critical thinking skills, we should never depart from the Lord and His eternal truth. We, too, are lost without a solid relationship with the Lord and His Holy Spirit to guide us. Jesus assured us when He was about to leave this earth that He would send the Holy Spirit, “Who will lead you into all truth.” (Jn. 16 :13)

The Holy Spirit is our sure Guide. God’s word, the Bible, is our spiritual compass. With so rich a tool at our disposal, why do we neglect to read it and follow its directives? Why are some so ready to discount parts that run contrary to today’s societal norms? Have we reached such a level of arrogance that we dare to challenge the Lord God Almighty’s word? Job ventured down that course once, was castigated mightily, & fell on his face in repentance. Neither Job in his despair and rebellion, nor his companions in their assessments and counsel, were capable of resolving Job’s problems or providing him the wisdom to move forward. And when God did finally intervene, He began with challenging words that must have stung, by asking, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” Treat yourself to a short read by perusing Job 38-42; they are short chapters but provide an interesting insight into our attitudes and the Lord’s dealing with our presumptive wisdom! It’s apt to haul us all up short!

But God’s “Whoa’s” are not meant to immobilize us; simply to redirect us on His course. He’s looking for people whose focus is on Him, whose reliance for life is on Him, whose solutions are found in Him, and whose satisfaction and joy are found in a rich relationship with Him. If we would be as intent on receiving our “daily bread” from time spent with the Lord, as we are in getting our morning cup of coffee – I’m just saying! – He has immeasurable treasures stored up for us if only we will follow the path He so lovingly sets before us. So whose path will you chose? The world’s or the Lord’s?

Shalom,
Dot Cutter

It was a bitterly cold night. A fresh blanket of deep snow lay on the ground and the temperature had dropped to near zero. The moon was full, glistening on the snow, lighting up the open yard and adjacent woods like daylight. There at woods’ edge stood a small herd of deer. Their tracks, clearly visible in the snow along the trail, revealed telltale evidence of where they had come from – grazing on our euonymus bushes – and where they were heading. No need for a flashlight that night to identify the night sounds! Off like a flash our dog leaped forward. The chase was on. With a full moon and no snow it might have been an even match, but with snow depths in excess of a foot she was no match for their long legs. Moments later she returned, obviously excited and pleased with herself. She had cleared the yard of “intruders.”

I shivered. It might look like daytime but the moon lacked the warmth of the sun’s rays. It had no light or heat source of its own. It could only reflect the sun’s light. Had it been a cloudy night without snow, we would have seen nothing along the conifer-rimmed edge of the woods. Those deer would have been concealed from view and remained undetected.

Later I reflected on that incident, thinking how our lives sometimes mirror nature. Apart from Christ, we travel through life with only our natural understanding and learning to guide us. In truth, we are navigating in darkness of mind. But with the Holy Spirit living inside us, who lights up our hearts and minds with discernment and wisdom, we can avoid stumbling over the fallen logs in our path. In prayer we seek the path the Lord has set before us and rest assured that His directions, though at times appearing to be take us in a strange direction, have purpose and provision.

One look around our churches, our nation, and the world reveals people with diverse opinions on how life should function. There is precious little agreement. And much of what is set forth as expert opinion, in reality bears little resemblance to God’s perfect plan for His people. Too often we are determined to go in ways that directly conflict with His already revealed plan. We think we know best. Some even say we don’t need God to muddle up our plans, thank you very much. Some believe His ways are outdated. And sadly, others’ decisions have profound impact on all of society. Unintended consequences are an all too frequent result of ill thought through plans.

BUT — there is hope! We, God’s children, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are meant to be lights in the darkness. Sometimes we are only a candle or a flashlight in a vast world, but remember the song, “This Little Light of Mine?” It says, “I’m going to let it shine.” We can purpose to carry the light of Christ into our corner of the world every day, by how and what we speak (truth liberally seasoned with love). We can be men and women of action in government by contacting those we have elected to represent us, holding them accountable to govern and legislate in ways that are consistent with our laws and Constitution. We can effect change by carefully considering where we place our monetary support, giving only to those groups who reflect God’s plan and withholding from those whose positions conflict with God’s word. We can and should engage in bold but respectful discourse with others of divergent opinions. Led by the Holy Spirit and prefaced with prayer, we can be mighty educators for God’s kingdom.

Through prayer and action we can put the enemy to flight. Scripture assures us that one can put a thousand to flight and two ten thousand. For too many decades God’s people have bought the lie that “we don’t talk politics or religion in polite company.” Perhaps if we and past generations had been bold enough to do so, we wouldn’t find ourselves in the present predicament. Today’s society is not the result of a “suddenly,” but is the culmination of a gradual denial and erosion of Truth. Do we realize the little tapped resource of power we can wield through dialogue and prayer? We become powerhouses for shifting the course of events.

So what “intruders” do you see lurking on the perimeter of your personal space? Threatening to alter your family’s values? Encroaching on your freedoms? Intimidating you into silence on a variety of important issues? Adulterating the Truth you expect to hear in any Christian setting? Altering historical facts to fit a new paradigm? May we not be found idle in repelling these assaults to the Christian faith, deluding ourselves that “this little thing” doesn’t make that much difference. Every action or decision that we allow that is contrary to God’s Truth indeed makes a difference. Let us, as His redeemed people make our mark for His kingdom as living lights in our misguided world.

Shalom,
Dot Cutter

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul proclaims the centrality of the resurrection, not only in the life of a believer, but also in God’s plan for all the cosmos. Beginning at vs. 20, Paul proclaims the resurrection of Christ as the “first fruits”, a taste or forerunner of something even greater. For believers, it is the promise of our own resurrection, but in verse 24‐27 Paul proceeds to portray the resurrection as the guarantee that God’s purposes for all creation will be fulfilled. Because of the resurrection, the Son will reign until everything has been “put under his feet.” The day will come will Christ will be triumphant over all (Philippians 2:9‐10).

Because of the resurrection, God’s people can be assured that His purposes will come to completion, and God who is the source of all things will be revealed as “all in all.” Hope and change are ultimately found in the promise of transformation in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We live in confidence that God’s purposes for our lives and all creation will be fulfilled.

Hallelujah!

A mere four days ago I was marveling at the tenacity of some daffodils, tulips, and iris that were poking their heads up through parts of my garden. Knowing that in another day they would become blanketed by one of New England’s deepest blizzards, I chuckled that it would be sometime before I’d see further evidence of growth. Years ago I might have despaired that they would even bloom after being tricked into thinking spring was on the way. But experience has taught me that in spite of tremendously adverse weather, these hardy bulbs will not only survive but produce an abundance of glorious color in a few short months. They are so programmed by our Creator to do so and no hardship of our weather will deter them.

Likewise our spirits become tempered by the adversities and challenges we face. Similar to the variety of tempered steels produced for specific purposes, each challenge is lovingly fashioned to yield the precise characteristics the Lord needs us to possess to become strong, flexible, resilient, vessels of influence for His kingdom. In forging steel, too much tempering produces brittle steel; yet in Jesus’s hands there is no such risk. He designs the exact parameters to exert on each of us. Instead, each of our ordeals combines to strengthen us and is then woven into the fabric of our faith. Most of our troubles are of the ordinary garden variety that we triumph over. But there are those things that are so horrific, so deep, so gut-wrenchingly personal that although they eventually become part of our inner foundation of faith, they may never be verbally shared with others. Rather they become part of our inner testimony to God’s faithfulness. Others sense the steely resilience that enables us to withstand the hurricanes of loss, the tsunamis of sorrow, the blizzards of adversity, and tornadoes of life that would otherwise leave us broken, leveled, tattered, and pummeled into dust.

An expert surfer rides the largest of waves by getting on top of them or in the curl, always staying just a tad ahead of the leading edge and prepared to exit at the precise time to avoid getting crushed under its awesome power. The truly proficient delights in riding cocooned inside the tube with its smooth, glassy surface. It is a beautifully breathtaking sight to behold but fraught with danger. The surfer seems confident in his skill. And as I watch I marvel that we are blessed to experience that same sense of confidence when we realize we can live safely ensconced in the Father’s promises and faithfulness.

Psalm 27 is an exuberant expression and declaration of faith that we need to activate during trying times. Whether our trial is an assault from the world, the flesh, or the enemy, we should be resting peacefully, assured that the Lord’s strength is always adequate to keep our fear in check. What assurance the last two verses provide as they state, “I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage; and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Discouragement is a common ploy of the enemy, but God’s word trumps his threats every time. Turning again to the Psalms, #144 begins as a song of praise that puts the enemy to flight ,(I’ll bet he isn’t praising but shuddering!) for it says, “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle – my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge.” That declares our victory to the enemy and to ourselves before any battle has even begun. And that is the fulfillment of the promise given in Isa. 26:3 that says, “I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Know and take heart that “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord will raise up a standard against him.” (Isa. 59:19)

So shoulder to shoulder we, in joyful confidence proclaim that we are men and women of God, soldiers of the cross, destined to lift high His royal banner proceeding from victory into victory till every foe is vanquished and Christ is acknowledged in the earth as Lord of all.

Shalom,
Dot Cutter

As a child, January was a month that seemingly stretched on interminably, devoid of anything special to look forward to. Christmas was behind me and although enjoyment of winter activities was nearly limitless in the snow country I grew up in, school was just humdrum. But February — a month featuring love with images of hearts, flowers, and chocolates — was laced with special focal points. Valentine’s Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, and Washington’s Birthday provided teachers with an abundance of raw material to incorporate into lessons, and classrooms came alive with visuals that delighted us. Those two memorable presidents projected love — love for country and their fellow men — and with their characters and lives highlighted, history came alive momentarily.

While memories are a form of history that keep us connected with our past and can serve as guideposts for the future, they lack significant power. Lincoln and Washington are dead. But Jesus is alive and full of power for now and the future. Memories may have power over our emotions, either encouraging us forward or keeping us trapped and immobilized, even traumatized by the past. Memories can be influencers of decisions, but they have no actual power to change the course of events. Conversely, Jesus’s power activates circumstances, weaving together His plans and purposes for the present and the future.

As Christians, filled with and empowered by His Spirit, we are veritable powerhouses for influence and change through prayer. Do you realize that? Do you pray with that confidence? God, our Creator, Sustainer, and lover of our souls, knows the end from the beginning, and that fact needs to be in the forefront of our minds so we openly declare it into the atmosphere. That simple declaration alone weakens the enemy’s position. True, we have limited knowledge of the future, but the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, steering us through the obstacle course of life. We are not powerless pawns on the chessboard of life. Right in our own prayer closets or joined with other believers we can be history makers.

So what is on your radar screen of concerns? One glance at the news and we have a wheelbarrow full of targets. Our churches, our country, our culture is out of sync with the Lord. And we are his enlisted soldiers, at attention, ready to be briefed on His mission. Let’s keep our spiritual ears open to His leading and be ready to address and pray into what is on His heart so that we may faithfully advance His kingdom here on earth. Neither Washington nor Lincoln shied away from the challenges of their day, but diligently sought the Lord in prayer and faithfully followed His path. May we be found equally as faithful.

Shalom,
Dot Cutter

Comfortably seated in front of our decorated tree, Christmas is but a few days off, but as you read this, we will already have launched into a new year. Our tree will be down and the decorations packed away for another year. So it is that I am pondering what we will see in the year ahead, for we are living in a time when the world’s influence has successfully cultivated a lifestyle that is increasingly independent of God. Immediately a line from Clement Moore’s poem The Night before Christmas shot like an arrow into my thoughts pointing to an analogy of the clash between this world and God’s kingdom. It states, “He was dressed all in fur from his heat to his foot; and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.”

Here the Holy Spirit was using a beloved children’s Christmas image to illustrate to me an unwitting portrayal of sin. Our lives are tarnished by sin. By contrast, as we contemplate the Nativity, we see in Jesus, the glory, the purity, the light of the world coming to wash away the ashes and soot from our lives. And what did the wisemen bring? Gifts of silver and gold –symbols of purity, of things that will not perish but have lasting beauty and value. In contrast Santa has a bundle of toys flung on his back – toys, the perishable things that bring temporary happiness and satisfaction for the moment.

Not to throw cold water on an author’s imaginative desire to entertain children, but really—how long do Santa’s pleasures last? As long as a child’s belief in the make believe, or the interest and durability of the toy! It’s fun for a time, but can it compare with the inner (or perhaps outward) glow of one who has spent time in the presence of Jesus? When Moses came down from the mountain after 40 days, his face shone with the reflected glory of God (Ex. 34:29).

So whose image do we reflect and carry into the world? And how do we keep it gleaming? By daily experiencing His refreshing presence and by frequent repentance and cleansing from sin’s tarnishing ashes and soot. It’s an ongoing process and one that keeps Christmas alive all year, as Emanuel then is truly God with us and in us. It keeps people wondering and sometimes asking what makes us so different. It provides an opportunity for telling folks about an experiential Jesus who lives as a never ending wellspring of joy in our hearts, packaged in a way they can relate to.

That is the kind of Christmas treasure that is never packed away until next year. The Holy Spirit is so brilliant He will use the worldly aspects of our lives to teach us His truths and show us how to share them with others. May we purpose this year to be more sensitive and alert to His nudges and the parallels he reveals that we might be more reflective of His glory to a world that is still distant from Him. What a joyful thing that would be to anticipate this year!

Shalom,
Dot Cutter

Tucked in the back of my walk-in closet on the floor sits a box whose contents wax & wane full to nearly empty. During the year, something strikes a chord of excitement in the gift registry portion of my brain, I make purchases which reside in that dark, secret environment until a birthday, anniversary, or Christmas comes around . A “stash” reduces the stress of shopping with a deadline breathing down my neck. It’s also great fun to take stock occasionally, reminding myself of the treasures I have stored.

This pattern of stored preparedness carries over into other areas of life from garden seeds to leftovers on the top shelf of the refrigerator that sometimes get converted into “elegant aftermaths.” So some months ago it seemed consistent & a judicious use of time to start jotting down in a notebook, ideas that came to me for future Crier articles. But today, one day before the deadline, Im unimpressed, uninspired. They all sound shallow, hollow, trite, used up. Conclusion? They are not “it” for this month. Funny, how I thought I could stockpile manna — shorten the development of the article by by-passing time spent with the Lord seeking His heart & “now” word! How foolish! And worst of all, that by-passing would deprive me of the joy of His Presence.

Who wants to live off leftovers? That is not to say we should not pre-plan; nor should we assume the Lord will never provide for us ahead of time. But stockpiling is counterproductive. Instead what I can stockpile is an archive of God encounters that will constantly reinforce the foundation of my faith. These are events, situations, resolutions to problems — some small, others enormous — that remind me of His mercy & grace, faithfulness & sufficiency, love & kindness. And like wood that is stacked & seasoned in preparation for a fire, these provide a ready foundation for life’s next trial or challenge.

Funny again! But as I journaled this soliloquy, I became aware that the Lord had transformed it into a conversation with Him. He was reminding me that seeking God’s heart doesn’t always have to be an intensely concentrated task. It can be as relaxing as a conversation with a good friend. For He’s not reluctant to share His heart; but — it has to be on His terms. Just when we get comfortable & think we have Him & some aspect of our life in Him figured out, along comes a curve ball or a blank wall, or a huge pot hole to tumble into. And I can fairly hear Him chuckling with glee, as He shouts out, “Surprise!” Not because He tripped me up & is about to abandon me, but because He presented me with a fresh awareness of His creative nature, of how much He treasures me & the time I spend with Him. So He concluded by saying, “And you were going to content yourself with sifting through your dusty old literary attic? Not today!”

Today as you read this, & together as we approach this Christmas season, my prayer is that it brings fresh hope, excitement, & anticipation to each of us, to seek Jesus in whatever way He desires to reveal Himself to you, confident that it will be tailor-made just for you because He delights in you & you are precious in His sight. What greater gift could He give than the spontaneity of Himself?

Christmas Blessings to all,
Dot Cutter

Old houses and barns often contain an interesting assortment of treasures from previous generations. Recently, ours revealed a decades’ size stack of Life Magazines from which by brother-in-law extracted an issue from the week I was born. Perusing through it I paused at an article about a mountain climbing expedition on one of Alaska’s peaks that was a monumental challenge back in the late 1930’s. Numerous peaks such as Denali and Everest were for centuries considered insurmountable. Lives were lost or men turned back, faced with horrendously strong winds, frigid temperatures, deep snow, icy precipices, deep but hidden crevices, and low concentration of oxygen. Even today these pose a major challenge to the most expert of climbers. And no matter what mountain you choose, there is frequently just one reasonably accessible route to the summit.

Our lives are replete with challenges. Some are small and relatively easily overcome with a little astute thinking and planning. Others seem to reluctantly relinquish their solutions only when submitted to others for insight. But, then there are those for which none of us sees a solution. Those are the ones that when finally conquered are retold with the words, “Against insurmountable odds.” Those are also the ones that bring us to the end of ourselves and, either in exasperation or relief, we turn to God. “Insurmountable odds” — now that’s a challenge I suspect the Lord relishes; for it tests our faith while giving Him a wide open opportunity to showcase His power, ingenuity, and brilliance. It’ s time for Him to say, “Surprise!” as we step out of the way.

Our propensity for self-sufficiency unwittingly leaves God out of the equation thus limiting the potential for the outcome. We are seldom as smart as we think we are. And when we come to grips with just how ineffective we really are in our own right, we often become so discouraged that we provide room for the enemy to gain a foothold, at least in our thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 reinforces this truth with these words, “For as he thinks in his heart, so he is.” When our “insurmountables” lead to discouragement, and discouragement escalates to hopelessness, we may either collapse under its weight or we turn to the Lord.

So what insurmountable obstacles are of concern to you? They may be personal finances or health issues, family relationships or job security, educational dilemmas or generational responsibilities, national or international issues. The list is limitless. Whatever is seemingly spinning out of control, the Lord of the universe has not lost His grip nor run out of solutions. With Him all things are possible.

I am so grateful for the Word of God that refreshes my memory and helps me to stay the course. Isa. 46:9,10 is a power packed passage that jolts us back into reality when hopes flag. It says, “Remember the former things of old; for I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things that are not yet done, saying ‘My counsel shall stand and I will do all My pleasure.’” Wise is the man or woman whose life is so enmeshed in the Lord that there is little separation between the two. That person’s assessment of events may indeed be as negative as the pessimist’s, but his outlook remains positive because he views those “monumentals” as opportunities for God’s brilliance to shine through. He looks for and expects to see positive outcomes because he lives out of Rom. 8:28, “That all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” When we are perplexed we are uplifted by Jeremiah’s words in 33:3, where God says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.” Those are promises that we can hang our hats on.

So when the events of our days threaten to rain down on us like a giant nor’easter, we can send our discouragement and the enemy packing as we declare with confidence that our God reigns!

Shalom,
Dot Cutter

Amazement filled us as we gazed in wonder at an assortment of fish we’d never seen. Aboard a glass bottom boat in Bermuda, we were viewing for the first time colorful fish of varied patterns & shapes. Oh, I’d had an aquarium of tropical fish as a teenager but those were fresh water fish, distinctly less exotic looking than these in the ocean. I was transfixed by their beauty.

Many years later we had opportunity to again view these beauties in the British Virgin Islands. But this time we were snorkeling, which put us in their element & significantly broadened our viewing field. You see, from the boat our vision was limited by the dimensions of the glass window. We could see only what swam directly under the boat. Swimming on the surface, our view was limited only by the clarity of the water. In relatively shallow water we could swim amongst the fish & move from one grouping to another, always being careful of nearby fragile coral formations. From the surface we could also see various formations & ship wrecks 50-100 feet below though we could not access them.

On numerous vacations since then, we have continued to enjoy this part of God’s creation immensely. But our view of the deep in still limited, for we have never ventured into the sphere of scuba diving as have our sons. Scuba would take us into a whole new realm of viewing species that don’t live on the shallow reefs. Or we could penetrate those caves, tunnels, & ship wrecks. It is, I am told, an exhilarating experience but one I shall have to content myself with hearing about & viewing on video.

Reflecting on those delightful activities that have so enriched our vacation experiences I saw parallels to our spiritual pursuits. Every so often it is wise to take stock of where we are in our relationship with the Lord. Are we still moving with Him, have we lagged behind, or have we veered off onto our own course? So I asked myself, “Where an I in my spiritual pursuit of God?” Am I availing myself of opportunities to go deeper? Do I search out books & other literature that expand my understanding? Do I spend quality time with the Lord, just sitting in His presence open to what He might deposit into my thoughts? Do I pursue Him for His direction on any given situation? Or am I plunging in with my own limited wisdom? Do I fellowship with other Christians who are actively pursuing Jesus discussing with them events that are currently & will in the future impact our lives? Do my thought & endeavors have any positive impact on anyone else? In short, is my life with Christ deepening & broadening, or am I stuck in that glass bottom boat?

As we embark on a new year programmatically, perhaps we each need to ask the Lord where He is calling us to expand & deepen our relationship with Him. I sense Him saying, “Launch out into the deep & let down your nets for a catch.” So I’ve decided to go fishing with the Master; wanna come along?

Shalom,
Dot Cutter

There is nothing quite like a rainy spring holiday to send one searching for a pastime to wile away the hours. Such was the case several years ago when visiting my husband’s parents’ summer home. The old Chickering grand piano that had been in the family for generations became the focus of his attention that afternoon. Previously I had attempted to play it, but it was so out of tune as to be pathetic. But aha, inside was a tuning fork that spurred him into action. A few hours later he emerged, triumphantly proclaiming his success. Success? Well, sort of. A simple scale sounded pretty good, but the flaws became obvious when I attempted a piece in its entirety. Since that day it has been donated to a local museum where it was professionally tuned & now resonates with the delightful sounds it was intended to produce.

Not only do instruments need to be in tune with themselves but, when used in a concert setting, with each other. They are tuned to what is known as concert pitch & just before a performance, each instrument tunes to the note of A above middle C as sounded on the oboe. Why the oboe? Because it is a fixed pitch instrument which cannot be tuned but neither can it go sharp or flat.

With many sounds, views, & opinions all vying for dominance in today’s world, how do we know which ones to listen to? to consider? to follow? And the church is no exception. It, too, offers a variety of “options”, many designed to accommodate or justify every imaginable lifestyle. Society tells us, “It’s not right; it’s not wrong; it’s just different.” But is it?? Where do we find the “concert pitch” for life?

God calls our self-serving proclamations sin. The Bible tells us “All have sinned & fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23) Though we have an endless need to be affirmed, to be assured we’re okay just the way we are, God’s remedy comes through relinquishing ourselves to the saving grace of Christ alone & adherence to his standards. Our willfulness & propensity for self gratification leads us to deviate from the Truth & embrace things God refuses to tolerate. In short our hearts & minds need to be tuned to the “perfect pitch” of His revealed will. Only when we use the Lord as our oboe can we be assured we will not stray off track.

So whose “oboe” are we going to listen to? God’s, which will lead us into peace, love, joy, & fulfillment of His will for our lives & His kingdom? Our own? Or that of the enemy – sometimes disguised as educators, writers, counselors, TV commentators, even pastors, statesmen, well meaning friends? Remember the enemy’s stated goal is to steal, kill & destroy? When those options are set before us, the choice seems quite obvious. Choosing God’s path is a first step & perhaps the easiest. Following it requires diligence on our part to spend time with Him daily, to seek the Truth by studying His Word, in worship, in prayer with more time spent listening & less time talking, in fellowshipping with other Christians. The rewards each of us will reap will be a life enriched immensely by the power of the Holy Spirit Who resides within us.

Hoping you have enjoyed a blessed summer full of refreshment & are eager to launch into a stimulating pursuit of God this fall. Find your niche, get set, & dig in. Together let’s create a symphonic masterpiece worthy of our Lord. Great rewards await you!

Shalom,
Dot Cutter