Intentional Encouragement

      "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."  Isaiah 26:3, 4      I like Little Caesar’s Pizza. It’s not so much because it’s the best pizza that I’ve ever tasted (though I like it). It’s more because I can run by and pick up a couple of pies on the way home; it’s convenient and doesn’t cost me much.      I remember when the chain really became popular years ago. The “Pizza! Pizza!” slogan was huge. It was a great new concept. Buy one pizza; get the second one free. They used to come in long, thin, white bags on a sheet of cardboard. You don’t get the second pizza for free any more, but they are still less expensive than most and pretty tasty.      The promise in Isaiah 26 that I quoted earlier is that those who are stayed on God; who keep their trust completely in the Lord will ex...

      I realize that the New Year is already a couple of weeks old, but I thought I'd share some thoughts with you about the importance of starting well.  I’d like to talk to you about good beginnings .   No matter how good the book is, if the beginning doesn’t start out "good," you are not likely to stick with it for the duration.   If the plot doesn’t look interesting in the teaser, you aren’t likely to spend your time watching the entire movie.   Even news casts have commercials to tell us what they will be talking about that evening.   Everyone wants to attract our attention at the beginning, so that we will pay attention through to the finish.      It is the beginning of another year and I believe that God wants your attention.   Possibly there have been some previews that He has shown you regarding this coming year.   Maybe they are exciting; you’re getting married…you’re going to become a grandparent...