Carol and I Just Celebrated our 49th Wedding Anniversary
on Dec. 30, 2021
January 2, 2022
Hello, friends of Dave and Carol and Basic Idea Ministries,
It really is hard for us to believe that we’ve known each other for 51 years and been married for 49, but it is true. What is even more amazing is that we like each other more, love each other more deeply, and look forward to our future together. Both of us realize we have more days behind us than in front of us, but even that is “more than just ok” (see song at the end) because Jesus Christ holds our future. So we’re good with it!
For right now though, I have a decision to make. I can’t make it for Carol or you. That decision is to ask God what He wants me to do to cooperate with Him. He is making me, changing me, conforming me to the image of Jesus Christ. After all, that is the promise He makes to each of us who follow Christ Jesus as Lord of life.(Romans 8:29 – “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”)
I recognize that God is sovereign over all things and people. What that does not mean is that I can sit on my hands and do nothing expecting all of life will be easy. Even a gift must be received. But when the gift is eternal life and forgiveness, the opened “package” provides many wondrous opportunities to be engaged in God’s plan for me and for my involvement in the lives of others.
Engaging in the lives of others still begins with my choices. With that in mind, I am praying and considering what God wants me to do differently this year…starting now and starting at home.
Physically, my health is pretty good overall, but it gets harder and harder for me to maintain a healthy weight. Last year, Carol and I chose to share entrees which are usually pretty large anyway. We travel about 3000 miles a month meaning we eat out often. Splitting entrees has saved us money and me calories. Even with that move, I maintained but did not lose weight to a healthy place. This year’s step is for me to reduce the size of my portions even more. With continued walking for exercise, perhaps in 2022 I will reach my weight goal. We’ll see how well I stick to the plan and whether or not it works.
Relationally, I have adopted a phrase that applies not only to my personal relationships with other people but also my relationship with Jesus. Here’s the phrase “all for the glory of God”. This Bible verse applies in I Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” That even applies to the Physical goal, doesn’t it?
Spiritually, it looks like I am back to the simple goal of doing whatever I do so that God is honored, that I am submitted to His will, that I put His desires and will for me above my own, and that I live to demonstrate I love God with “all my heart, soul, mind, and strength”. My second priority then is to love others as I love myself. Don’t you think that would give glory to God and focus on His greatness and goodness.
This 52 week plan may not be all that profound, but with the new year on us I don’t want 2022 to have all the same results as 2021. Last year was a great year, and I thank God for His goodness, love, and provision for me, my family, and ministry, but if He wants more for me – an I know He does – then I want to be in a position to receive it, appreciate it, and worship Him through it.
And one last thing….I know that so many people need to see Jesus Christ illustrated and hear His Gospel explained. I want to be used of God to live loved and show God’s love to others by my life and by the words that I speak as I share the Good News of salvation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
For us mere mortals locked into time and space for the moment, life can be a complicated maze, can’t it? But what if it isn’t meant to be that at all? What if it is a straight line of simply living to the glory of God rather than being consumed with our own honor, our own needs and wants, or even the pleasing of everyone else (which is impossible anyway since others don’t know what they want most of the time and they’ll probable change their minds in the next five minutes? God’s will is often difficult but usually not complicated. What can I do to receive His love, believe He loves me, then give that love away by putting His will and the needs of others ahead of my own pleasure. Simple? Yes. Difficult? Sure. Impossible? No. With Holy Spirit inside us living Jesus’ life through us, nothing is impossible. After all, we are promised that we will be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah.
This makes my goal setting seem trivial, but it is a place to start.
If you think of me or us, would you simply pray (I Corinthians 10:31) that God would accomplish all He has in mind for me / us this year, and that I would cooperate with His plan rather than fight it or ignore it? I would appreciate that. After all, as of the writing of this installment of the 52 Week Plan….I Ain’t Dead Yet!