Let Me Pick Your Brain

 The two of us sat on his back porch eating dinner and watching a bowl game. In the course of our conversation, he brought up a topic that has long fascinated me. I started picking his brain for more information. I am a curious person by nature. I asked question after question taking in all my friend's expertise. In fact our evening ended with me still asking him questions about a different topic. I might still be there if Brenda had not pulled me away. 

I spent a good portion of this morning doing research on the internet about a topic related to the church. I sought answers from all points of view. I then fired off an email to an expert for his thoughts and recommended resources. I followed that up with a phone call to another expert. All in an effort to learn and make the best informed decisions as possible. 

I have been out of formal education for a long time now but, I still have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and to learn. There is so much I dod not know. So much about God I have not discovered. Truths in the Bible I have not mined nor taught. Spiritual experiences I have not enjoyed. I want more. 

All around me are people who have gone further, discovered more, dug deeper, and experienced greater God encounters than I have. I want to learn from as many of these people as I can. I am still a student at heart. Partly this is done by reading. I am currently reading five books. They all interest me. I read a little in one and then some in the next and so forth. I want to pick other people's brains to be more effective. There is no end to knowledge. There are so many books and so little time. 

There are people who have great wisdom on a variety of topics. They have so much to offer if we just take the time to ask. I want to spend more time asking. Learning. Growing. Progressing. Listening instead of taking. Asking instead of answering. 

The information highway available through the internet has a labyrinth of information available at our finger tips. More information than we can possibly ever use on every topic imaginable. It is overwhelming how much information is out there to be consumed. Not all that information is true. Some must be sifted through scripture. We can be well informed students of life, culture, history, politics, the Bible, theology, prophesy, and every other topic imaginable. 

I hope we will make a more concerted effort to pick the brains of people, books, and other sources of knowledge in 2022. May we progress in our understanding this year. Especially as it relates to knowledge of God and His word. Happy picking my brothers and sisters. May God give us the hunger and the capacity to keep learning while we still have life. 

What Lies Ahead?

 No doubt by this time you have heard numerous greetings and hopes for a happy and prosperous new year in 2022. Truth is none of us knows what lies ahead. It may turn out to be the greatest year of our lives. It could also be one of the most trying years we have faced. Only God knows what lies ahead. 

Whether you are filled with great optimism about 2022 or carry a more pessimistic outlook, one thing is for sure. Whatever happens in 2022 God will still rule and reign in supreme control. He will see us through both triumphs and defeats. He will stand by our sides in times of grief as well as gratitude. He will not forsake us when we fall into sin nor be overly impressed when we do right. His love will remain steadfast. 

So no matter what lies ahead, we can be confident that our God will see us through. He will faithfully meet our needs. He will shoulder our burdens. He will grant peace in turbulent times. He will comfort in sorrow. He will offer guidance in times of confusion. He will be both mountain mover and miracle worker when needed. He will be strength in our weakness and perseverance when it would be easier to give up and throw in the towel. He will be our light in the darkness, our refuge in the storms, our reason to praise at the midnight hour. He will be faithful and true. He is the great I AM. 

We need not fear 2022. Go ahead and dream. Just let your dreams be God inspired rather than self driven. Go after those God inspired dreams. He will be all. you need to see those come true. 

After living over five decades, I am convinced of this truth. 2022 will bring seasons of great joy as well as some of sorrows. 2022 will present some challenges to overcome as well as some testimonies for over comers. In this fledgeling new year, there will be opportunities to trust God. There may also be times when doubt could possibly creep in. Keep your eyes on God and stay focused in His word. They will not fail you no matter what lies ahead.