![]() How easy it is to be bogged down by the regrets of yesterday, and to be immobilized by the uncertainties of tomorrow. We often go through the day alternating between “Why did that have to happen yesterday?” and “What if I can't handle what may happen tomorrow?” Neither our regrets nor our fears have anything to do with what really matters the remaining hours of this day. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Jesus implies there is no point in worrying about tomorrow when today's plate is already full. Today and tomorrow we are to move forward by faith. Matthew 6:25-33 reminds us faith steps in the direction to seek first God’s kingdom (the church) and His righteousness. Decide today that you will give no weight to what's already gone and that you will spend no emotional energy on what is yet to arrive. Concentrate on doing your best to please the Lord today (2 Corinthians 5:9). Lamentations 3:22-23, Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Remember yesterday, today, and tomorrow's plate is linked to God's love and mercy. They come new every morning, washing out the remnants of the past, offering strength for today and hope for tomorrow (Romans 12:1-2). Clark Tatum
![]() Loving our families and other people requires paying attention. It is an all too common of a scene. A couple sits at the breakfast table. One spouse, let’s say the husband is immersed in the newspaper, while the wife is pouring out her heart. Frustrated, she finally complains, “You are not looking at me and you are not listening to me. You are not paying attention!” Maybe in the evening when husband comes home and flips on the TV, his wife or children want to talk about the day, but his ears and eyes are tuned into the TV. His wife, son or daughter finally complains, “You are not looking at me and you are not listening to me. You are not paying attention!” You want to have a better marriage, better communication with your children, or with your parents; you want to be the best Christian you can be, than live in God’s love. Living in God’s love means you will listen and it is not just a casual listening to what God says. It’s the kind of listening that says, “I want to hear what you have to say,” type of listening. The Apostle John writes to the believers and tenderly says, Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18). Love shows. Love cannot be hidden – you see it. There are all kinds of things Satan uses to distract us, but when we love as God loves us, we will stay on track. Clark Tatum
![]() I appreciate the attitude of the captain whose battalion was surrounded by the enemy. Tremendously outnumbered, he wanted his men to understand what it meant to be a soldier under his command. He said, “Men we are surrounded by the enemy. Don’t let one of them escape.” What a spirit! Here are two pressing enemies that surround us. Pressing Problems can grip down on us and be crushing beyond our ability to endure (2 Corinthians 1:8-11). With every problem therein lies seeds of opportunity. We can learn things during tough times that may escape our learning during other times. We may learn the value of looking up and out during times of trial. Continue to pray for families who feel the heartache of life’s storms. It is during the pressing problems of life we need to understand the power of God’s love and how nothing in all creation can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-39). Evil Forces blast on the scene of our lives and they can be overpowering and seemingly suffocating. Satan and his forces can’t keep us down (1 John 4:4). Because of Sin all sinners, which is everyone, desperately need to know the love and forgiveness of God (Romans 3:23, 6:23). Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 15:10). Let us do what we can to see no one escapes God’s love and forgiveness. Clark Tatum
![]() A little girl was lost in a farming community. Her mother had looked all over for her child. She finally realized that she had probably wandered out in the large cornfield. The mother rallied help and the helpers joined hands and walked through the field calling the little girl’s name. They found the girl scarred, but alive. Wonderful things happen when people join hands. That story expresses our need to join hands of faith, love, service, and sacrifice in expressing partnership in the Gospel. God has forgiven us in Christ, our Savior, and He has united us in Christ our Savior, and He has united us with Him. At the same time, He has united us with each other that we might build each other up and help the church grow. How many lost ones are out there who need to hear the Gospel? How many tasks are there which go undone? If we would remember to join hands, more could be found and more could be done. Everything is better when we join hands. How joyful and uplifting our worship becomes when we join hands together and sing praises to God in our assemblies of worship on the Lord’s Day. It is pleasing to God when He sees His people joining hands in the work of the Kingdom. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Clark Tatum
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February 2025
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