Hello. Another year is now upon us. Many people look to the beginning of a new year as a time of change and refreshment.

They leave the burdens and hurt of the previous year behind, and look to the next year with high expectations.

Having high hopes is both good, and having a positive outlook can impact the outcome exponentially.

A word of caution though with plans, a word from our Lord. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring.” Proverbs 27:1

That being said, I am not trying to bring anyone down, as my family and I too have high hopes for 2023. We are making major life changes.

We will be moving into a motor home and starting full time ministry as traveling misionaries traversing the continental USA.

My desire rather, is that we each be humble in our expectations, and always saying Lord willing, for we of our own power can do no good, but it by the power of God.

The power wrought in Christ working to us-ward. God has plans for each of us, and if we allow our plans to fall in line with His plan and His will, then we need not be fearful, but we must maintain a humbleness in our plans.

May your plans be found in line with God’s, and may they be blessed this year.

We cannot love God without loving people.
We cannot love people without loving God.

This duality of love is perfectly displayed in the cross.

the cross is the very image of love.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

The cross is where he who knew no sin, became sin, that he might take away the sins of the world, redeeming us to proper sonship in the Father.

A cross is made of two poles, one vertical, one horizontal.

If you take away the vertical pole, you have a beam laying on the ground.

If you take away the horizontal, you only have a post.

If you love God, but not people, you only have self-righeouesness.
you will drive others away until you are a pillar of isolation. There will be noting to hold to when the tides of life crash in, and others will flee, searching for something they can grasp to save them from their drowning. This haughtiness is not love of God, but a love of the self and one’s own perceived self attained holiness.

If you love people, but not God, you will promote self-destrucive behavior that will result in brokenness and the end of which is destruction. You will encourage and promote acceptance and understanding, even when the path is destruction. this is a false love, a false teaching whose end is only death.

There can be no true love for God, unless you love people, and there can be no true love for people unless you love God.