What do you do when you’ve done everything you know to do and things still don’t work out? That’s where we find David in 2 Samuel 12.  His baby boy was sick and David was taking it hard.  So he dropped everything and went to prayer.  He fasted.  He lay each night on the hard, cold ground.  When friends tried to make him more comfortable or get him to eat something, he refused.  He only cared about one thing – his child being healed.
 
This went on for seven days until David sensed the worst.  No one had told him that the child had died.  David was in such a sad state they feared what the news might do to him.  So he asked, and they told him.
 
Then David did something that puzzled everyone. He got up, washed, put on a fresh change of clothes, went to the House of God to worship, then came home and ate. His friends thought he would be a basket case, but he wasn’t.  He explained, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again? 
I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:22-23)

David knew he had a kingdom to govern, many people to care for, a family and remaining children to support and guide. He also knew in his heart that he and his baby son would be reunited in eternity.  So standing on the promises of God, he committed it all into the Lord’s hands and went on with his life.
 
What do you do when you’ve done everything you know to do and things still don’t work out?  Paul said, “And having done all…stand.” (Ephesians 6:13).  Stand on the promises of God and keep going.  Then what?  You stand. And after that, what?  You keep on standing!

 There are some things in life for which answers will not be given until we reach eternity.  So commit it to God and get back to the business of living and what God has called you to do.  
 
By the way, did I mention the future blessings? Don’t forget them.   The baby that died was the first son born to David and Bath-sheba.  But that’s not the end of the story.  A second son was to come along as a result of that union.  His name was Solomon, and the rest is history!
 
Pastor Todd Weston


 
 
 

If life is a race with each year representing a lap around the track, then we have just come around the final turn and are on the home stretch for 2012.  
  
A few months ago our son Paul David, along with Noah Erickson and Michael Patton, competed in a triathlon event that involved swimming, cycling, and running.  It was a long and physically demanding race.  However, I noticed that as the finish line came into view, each runner picked up the pace and finished strong.  Some actually sprinted across the finish line! 
  
It’s one thing to start.  It’s another thing to endure.  But what about the virtues of finishing well?  
  
As we near the end of 2012, consider how you can finish the year strong.  Think of your family relationships.  How can you pick up the pace there?  What about your professional life?  Maybe just that extra push of effort is all that is needed to put you over the top! What about your health?  Why wait until the New Year to make the resolution to exercise, lose weight, eat right, and drop the bad habits?  Start now.  Finish strong.  And what kind of year has 2012 been for you spiritually?  No matter what the answer may be, I encourage you to kick it into gear now and finish the year well.  
  
A few Sunday’s ago our treasurer, Ed Erickson, gave a Generosity 212 (G212) update.  G212 is an initiative we launched in June of 2011 to address a serious budget shortfall.  The idea behind G212 is that at 211 degrees water is hot, but at 212 degrees water boils. Boiling water creates steam, and steam can power a locomotive.  What a difference one degree makes!
 
In the G212 initiative we were all encouraged to consider stepping up our giving by one degree.  The result was amazing! That little extra push solved the budget shortfall and enabled the church to fulfill all of its financial obligations.  Thank you RLA church family for your generosity!
 
Now, let’s finish the year strong!  If you have any questions concerning where you stand on your giving, please contact our bookkeeper, Vicky Tyson.  She will be happy to assist you.  You may contact her by calling the
church at 239-495-0400, or by email at, busadmin@riveroflife.ag.    
  
We have run a good race. We’ve rounded the final turn.  The finish line is now in view.  Let’s make 2012 a year to be
remembered as together we finish strong. 
 
Pastor Todd Weston

Ephesians 5:20 is one of those passages you read and wonder, “Does it really mean what it says?”  What does it say? “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Everybody gives thanks from time to time for certain things.  The challenge presented by Paul is in the words “always” and “for all things.”  Does God really expect us to give thanks always and for all things?  Yes He does.  In the words of Joni Eareckson Tada, a born again believer who became a quadriplegic as a result of a diving accident, “Giving thanks is not a matter of feeling thankful, it is a matter of obedience.” 

To be thankful always and for all things is to recognize God’s control of our lives in every detail.  It’s to understand that God is constantly working through all the up’s and down’s of life for our good (Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6).

So why should we be thankful always, for all things, to God the Father?  There are many reasons.  Here are just a few:

1.      Our blessings outnumber our problems – Start counting and you will find this to be true.  Even when it seems your troubles are many, your blessings are more.

2.      Our blessings outweigh our problems – In 2 Corinthians 4:17 Paul talked about our “light” afflictions.  Put your blessings and problems on a scale and you will find that the blessings win!

3.      Our blessings will outlast our problems – Again in 2 Corinthians 4:17 Paul talked about our momentary problems and our eternal blessings.  The problems we face today will not last, but the blessings of God will.

So give thanks to God!  Not just occasionally, but always.  Not just for some things, but for all things.  “For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).  Jesus said that.  There are two key words in this statement. 

The first word is “must.”  You can hear the intensity in the Lord’s voice as He said, “I must.”  That phrase appears in the imperative mood.  That means it’s a command that demands action.  Jesus was compelled to do the works of His Father. 

The second key word is “while.”  Jesus said He must do the works of God, “while it is day.”  The sense of urgency comes from the fact that no one knows how long “while” is.  It may be a year, a month, a day, or even an hour.  Jesus did the work of God with a sense of urgency because He knew there was only so much time.  The day of opportunity would not last forever.  Soon the night would come and the opportunity to work would be over.

To each of us God has given a work, and there is limited time to do it.  I think especially of parents with children still at home.  You have been given a window of opportunity to mold and shape your child’s life for God.  Right now you have the opportunity to influence your children for Jesus.  To lead by example.  To make an investment that promises eternal dividends.  Please, don’t squander this most precious opportunity.  Make the most of it.  Work while it is day.

For every person there is a night coming when no more work can be done.  Whether it is at death, or when our opportunity to work is gone, we must work while it is yet day.  So redeem [lit., rescue from loss] the time (Eph. 5:16).  Postpone your procrastination.  Seize the moment God has given.  Live in such a way that when the day is past and the night has come you will be able to say, not with regret, but with the joy of a task accomplished, “It is finished!”

Pastor Todd Weston