By Karen Moore
karenmooreauthor.com
We like to have a choice about how life works. We value our independent spirits and our God-given talents and abilities. As we step into the uncertainty of 2025, we may wonder what to think or what to do to make life make sense to us.
If we look out at the world, we may question our options and opportunities. After all, everything changes, and change brings what-ifs, either-or and maybes. It may not even be a question of the right choice, over just making a workable choice. So, what can you do to relieve the pressure of big decisions?
That beloved comic from the early 70s, Flip Wilson, gave us all an out when it comes to the choices we make. He’d put a big grin on his face and say, “The Devil made me do it.”
Though Wilson made us laugh with that remark, his slogan may not have been far from the truth. More often than not, a poor choice usually means we are stepping away from God and going on our own.
If you’ve ever read, C.S. Lewis’ amazing book, “The Screwtape Letters,” you might cringe at how easy it is for our minds and hearts to be influenced toward those things that are anything but good for us.
We close our eyes and jump in and wonder why we are drowning in personal problems we helped to create ourselves. Sure, we had excuses.
We had something we imagined to be a good reason, but the odds are we were looking at all the wrong things. We let ourselves be deceived by the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
So, what can we do to make better choices in the days ahead?
Remember this
Start the year by remembering that the devil, your poor choices, your general life messes aren’t the end of the story. You have made many good choices.
As a believer you’ve elected to take God up on His option, His opportunity for a bright future. You made the choice of a lifetime, when you chose to accept God’s love and mercy, His forgiveness and His plan of salvation.
Ding! Ding! Ding! You win! That choice makes a difference that you’ll notice every time you choose God first in 2025.
That choice means you have another chance to do things better next time.
Why? Because God has you covered. He restores you and offers His forgiveness.
He’s got your back.
So today, make good choices. Pray about them. Change your mind. Pray again. Seek God’s direction. You can be confident about every choice you put before God’s throne.
Just remember, He chose you to be His child, and He will keep choosing you.
Pregnancy resource centers need help
Monica Henderson, executive director of BSideU for Life Pregnancy and Life Skills Center in Louisville, Kentucky, says pregnancy support ministries need help from churches.
Churches can support pregnancy resource centers by being welcoming to women facing unplanned pregnancy, she said.
Referencing James 1:27, she said “unwed pregnant women are the widows, and their children are the orphans in the modern age. And women who are pregnant do not feel welcome at the church.”
Caring for single mothers can feel expensive and messy for local churches, Henderson noted.
“They want to do the baby bottle campaign and send a check and pack of diapers to the pregnancy center with all their prayers, but they don’t realize … 70–75 percent of single moms are unchurched. That is an extremely large segment of our society that is an unchurched people group.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — Excerpt from a recent article published by Kentucky Today.
What if you had a bird brain, the size of an almond, were stranded, sitting out on a freezing cold branch somewhere, facing an incoming winter storm. How would you know which way to fly to survive? Only our Creator God knows how He does this millions of times a day.
Bob Cosby, M.D.
Birmingham, Alabama
In order to be what we need to be individually, as a church, as a denomination, as the Christian faith, we need to stop having good intentions. … Good intentions are not enough. We’ve got to put hands and feet and words to it.
Dave Walsh, pastor
Ariton Baptist Church
Although the level of connectedness between people in our society has dropped, their need for connectedness has not. We want to be in community, and we all need friends. We need to be a friend to others like Jesus was. Throughout Jesus’ ministry He showed love for others by serving them. He was always compassionate. He respected people. He listened to people. He encouraged people.
Connie Dixon, president
National Woman’s Missionary Union
“Social media memes are good, but let’s not stop there. Let’s get specific in our prayers and with our giving. … Let’s immediately decide to help the people who have lost so much and face an uphill battle in the future,” said Phil Cooke, church communication expert, on how Christians should respond to the California wildfires.
When we try to make Jesus more palatable than the Bible does, so that He’s “acceptable” to a new generation, we’re not proclaiming the REAL Jesus who transforms lives. We’re just presenting a false god, conveniently named Jesus. The REAL Jesus doesn’t need a makeover. We do!
Shane Pruitt
National Next Gen director
North American Mission Board
“[Grace Klein Community’s efforts are] all so that we can shine the light of Jesus in the world. … You can’t talk to somebody about a relationship with the Lord you know without also pouring into them and doing something good. I think it’s just a good combination of the two,” said Liz Harrison, Grace Klein community engagement coordinator.
“I have sung in choirs from elementary school through college. Voice lessons. Recitals. Chamber singers. Beautyshop. All-State. But my fave is singing in worship every week with my momma.”
Dani Bryson
@_MommyIsALawyer on X
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
C.S. Lewis
“When a pastor spends more time voicing opposition to the evangelistic strategies and practices of other pastors than he does leading people to follow Jesus, there is a deeper spiritual problem in need of his attention.”
Wayne Bray
@waynebray on X
As Christians, we have much to be thankful for. What you choose to dwell on is where your worship will land. With so many distractions around you daily, worship must be an intentional priority. Don’t wait until Sunday to thank God. Start today.
Bobby McKay, pastor
New Liberty Baptist Church
Morton, Mississippi
“Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ And Jesus said to Him, ‘It is as you say.’ And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, ‘THIS IS JESUS THE KING of THE JEWS.’”
Matthew 27:11, 37
Todd Lafferty
@JToddL on X
“Spiritual poverty means we have nothing to offer God. We are totally dependent on Him.”
Jamey Pruett, pastor
Gilliam Springs Baptist Church
Arab, Alabama
There are churches faithfully ministering. … Find one, give it time, and flourish in your faith.
Dean Inserra, Florida pastor
@deaninserra on X
Don’t miss out
By Franklin L. Kirksey
Robertsdale, Alabama
Driving through Lauderdale County, Mississippi, near Meridian, you will encounter an unincorporated community curiously called, Whynot. Though some might ask, “Why?” the logical answer is “Whynot.”
Do you remember the hymn by Salathiel C. Kirk tilted, “Our Best”? He shares the following in the Refrain:
“Our talents may be few, these may be small,
“But unto Him is due our best, our all.”
Why not the best?
So many people miss God’s best for their life. Don’t be one of them.
Take a look at Psalm 106:13–15, which reads like a tragedy in three acts.
Act one (v. 13), what they foolishly doubted, reads, “They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel.”
We must remember God is great and God is good. This means He always has our best interest at heart.
Act two (v. 14), what they feverishly desired, reads, “But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert.”
First Corinthians 10:6 says, “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.”
Act three (v. 15), what they finally discovered, reads, “And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.”
A country preacher commented, “They got what they wanted but missed what they needed.”
Perhaps you have heard the expression: “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.” This is indeed a lesson we must learn by personal experience if we do not learn it from the experience of others.
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