"A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you." Isaiah 26:3

A little six year old girl takes measures in her power regarding her future financial security. Call her very prudent or highly neurotic, she puts pretty much every penny she makes in the bank so that
when she grows up she will have the means to take care of money matters. She is bound and determined to take care of any physical and material needs with the money she has amassed.

The coaches have always seen the young boy as an exceptional athlete. He seems to especially excel at baseball. He loves playing sports and his parents might even love his playing sports more. It is time to start thinking about high school and a college scholarship and then who knows? How will we get him to perform at the highest level? How much time each day will he need to devout to baseball? What camps and coaches will we seek out? How much money will we spend in specialized coaching and training?

Now, it is truly important to be prudent financially at the same time remembering that money is not the cause of peace in our hearts. Have you ever seen a u-haul following a Hertz limousine to the
grave? Peace comes from knowing, loving and serving the One who will raise us from the grave.

We have bowed down to the God of sports in this country. It is not wrong to want to do well in sports but how much is too much? Most athletes who do well in high school will not be good in college.
So, what are all the hours and days and $1,000's for? What does it all have to do with God's peace?

What if our firm purpose was to have God and His peace? In the big picture, our money, games, physical bodies are here today and gone tomorrow. Money and sports can provide a temporary high but not eternal blessed assurance. Eternal blessed assurance is the peace of
putting our whole lives in the hands whom will make all things well today, tomorrow and forever. That is why the baby Jesus came- to bring us peace.

What do you invest in that is lasting? Make it your firm purpose to invest in Jesus and know everlasting peace and blessed assurance.

If we have the peace of Jesus in our lives, we have everything. If we do not have the peace of Jesus, we have nothing.

You and I are the reason for the season,
Fr. John