The love of the Lord never ends in our life. The mercies of God are not just for a time our life, but they are renewed every day. God’s faithfulness is so large that we cannot express it adequately. God orders our steps. We endured storms, floods, and other adversities. In every case, no matter how difficult, God has never failed us. Great Is Thy Faithfulness.

The country singer George Jones had a hit song, “Who’s gonna fill these shoes.” The song speaks of country music legends and their contribution to the genre and wonders what up and coming artists would be able to carry on after the legends are gone. This same idea has been the subject of many sermons and speaks of elders of the faith and who will be ready to take up the mantle when they are no longer able to carry the weight. Bro. Long takes a slightly different look tonight, wondering not only who will fill the shoes, but he questions who will continue the race? It is not enough to merely put on the shoes, but the one who steps into the shoes has a job to do. They have to continue the work and build upon what the former shoe’s occupants started. Our text from Hebrews encourages us to run with patience the race that is set before us. We are not in this race alone. This race a relay race where each runner picks up where the previous one left off. As our elders finish their leg of the race, it is incumbent on us to run our portion of the race and press on to victory.

The country singer George Jones had a hit song, “Who’s gonna fill these shoes.” The song speaks of country music legends and their contribution to the genre and wonders what up and coming artists would be able to carry on after the legends are gone. This same idea has been the subject of many sermons and speaks of elders of the faith and who will be ready to take up the mantle when they are no longer able to carry the weight. Bro. Long takes a slightly different look tonight, wondering not only who will fill the shoes, but he questions who will continue the race? It is not enough to merely put on the shoes, but the one who steps into the shoes has a job to do. They have to continue the work and build upon what the former shoe’s occupants started. Our text from Hebrews encourages us to run with patience the race that is set before us. We are not in this race alone. This race a relay race where each runner picks up where the previous one left off. As our elders finish their leg of the race, it is incumbent on us to run our portion of the race and press on to victory.

The country singer George Jones had a hit song, “Who’s gonna fill these shoes.” The song speaks of country music legends and their contribution to the genre and wonders what up and coming artists would be able to carry on after the legends are gone. This same idea has been the subject of many sermons and speaks of elders of the faith and who will be ready to take up the mantle when they are no longer able to carry the weight. Bro. Long takes a slightly different look tonight, wondering not only who will fill the shoes, but he questions who will continue the race? It is not enough to merely put on the shoes, but the one who steps into the shoes has a job to do. They have to continue the work and build upon what the former shoe’s occupants started. Our text from Hebrews encourages us to run with patience the race that is set before us. We are not in this race alone. This race a relay race where each runner picks up where the previous one left off. As our elders finish their leg of the race, it is incumbent on us to run our portion of the race and press on to victory.

Corn-field mazes have become popular tourist attractions. People will pay for the experience of trying to navigate their way through a labyrinth formed in a farmer’s field. Life can be like that maze. We take wrong turns that lead to a dead end. We have to turn around and go back to find the right path. Some of us have forgotten where we are going. Abraham did not know where he was going, but he trusted God. He knew that his ultimate destination was somewhere higher than what he could see. He knew the destination was worth the effort and the journey he walked on earth. Mazes are easier to solve if you start at the end. In the maze of life, heaven is our goal, and working backward from there is the key. Once we get our mind focused on the end, life is so much easier. If we keep our eyes on the goal, the twists, turns, and dead ends of life are easier to handle.

Corn-field mazes have become popular tourist attractions. People will pay for the experience of trying to navigate their way through a labyrinth formed in a farmer’s field. Life can be like that maze. We take wrong turns that lead to a dead end. We have to turn around and go back to find the right path. Some of us have forgotten where we are going. Abraham did not know where he was going, but he trusted God. He knew that his ultimate destination was somewhere higher than what he could see. He knew the destination was worth the effort and the journey he walked on earth. Mazes are easier to solve if you start at the end. In the maze of life, heaven is our goal, and working backward from there is the key. Once we get our mind focused on the end, life is so much easier. If we keep our eyes on the goal, the twists, turns, and dead ends of life are easier to handle.

Corn-field mazes have become popular tourist attractions. People will pay for the experience of trying to navigate their way through a labyrinth formed in a farmer’s field. Life can be like that maze. We take wrong turns that lead to a dead end. We have to turn around and go back to find the right path. Some of us have forgotten where we are going. Abraham did not know where he was going, but he trusted God. He knew that his ultimate destination was somewhere higher than what he could see. He knew the destination was worth the effort and the journey he walked on earth. Mazes are easier to solve if you start at the end. In the maze of life, heaven is our goal, and working backward from there is the key. Once we get our mind focused on the end, life is so much easier. If we keep our eyes on the goal, the twists, turns, and dead ends of life are easier to handle.

In just a few days, we will say goodbye to 2020 and welcome the new year. A year ago, none of us could have predicted how 2020 would unfold. What has this year taught us, and how can we make next year better? First, we can take nothing for granted. Almost overnight, our world was turned upside down. We have learned to value what is truly important. Life can become cluttered, but when things began to change, we discovered that there were things that we could live without. This year has taught us what is essential. How do we want to close out this year and begin the new? We need to enlarge our capacity for the supernatural. We must become more sensitive to the presence of God and begin to recognize the unexpected place of blessing that He brings. We have to make His presence a priority. We have to learn to trust God’s plan. We do not understand the reason for the things that have happened in 2020, but we have to trust His plan. We must close out this year with more thankfulness. 2020 has taught us that we have to increase our capacity to extend grace and mercy to each other. As we prepare to welcome the new year, we want to do what Paul admonished us to do: forgetting the things which are behind and reaching toward those things that are before us. We must let go of the past. Let go of the pain, the hurt, the struggle, and the regrets. Look into the new year, reaching for something better. Turn of focus from the failure of the past and looking to the opportunity of the future. That is how to end the old and begin the new.

In just a few days, we will say goodbye to 2020 and welcome the new year. A year ago, none of us could have predicted how 2020 would unfold. What has this year taught us, and how can we make next year better? First, we can take nothing for granted. Almost overnight, our world was turned upside down. We have learned to value what is truly important. Life can become cluttered, but when things began to change, we discovered that there were things that we could live without. This year has taught us what is essential. How do we want to close out this year and begin the new? We need to enlarge our capacity for the supernatural. We must become more sensitive to the presence of God and begin to recognize the unexpected place of blessing that He brings. We have to make His presence a priority. We have to learn to trust God’s plan. We do not understand the reason for the things that have happened in 2020, but we have to trust His plan. We must close out this year with more thankfulness. 2020 has taught us that we have to increase our capacity to extend grace and mercy to each other. As we prepare to welcome the new year, we want to do what Paul admonished us to do: forgetting the things which are behind and reaching toward those things that are before us. We must let go of the past. Let go of the pain, the hurt, the struggle, and the regrets. Look into the new year, reaching for something better. Turn of focus from the failure of the past and looking to the opportunity of the future. That is how to end the old and begin the new.

In just a few days, we will say goodbye to 2020 and welcome the new year. A year ago, none of us could have predicted how 2020 would unfold. What has this year taught us, and how can we make next year better? First, we can take nothing for granted. Almost overnight, our world was turned upside down. We have learned to value what is truly important. Life can become cluttered, but when things began to change, we discovered that there were things that we could live without. This year has taught us what is essential. How do we want to close out this year and begin the new? We need to enlarge our capacity for the supernatural. We must become more sensitive to the presence of God and begin to recognize the unexpected place of blessing that He brings. We have to make His presence a priority. We have to learn to trust God’s plan. We do not understand the reason for the things that have happened in 2020, but we have to trust His plan. We must close out this year with more thankfulness. 2020 has taught us that we have to increase our capacity to extend grace and mercy to each other. As we prepare to welcome the new year, we want to do what Paul admonished us to do: forgetting the things which are behind and reaching toward those things that are before us. We must let go of the past. Let go of the pain, the hurt, the struggle, and the regrets. Look into the new year, reaching for something better. Turn of focus from the failure of the past and looking to the opportunity of the future. That is how to end the old and begin the new.