From:
Date: January 7, 2019
Subject: It's January 7; Good Morning Union


“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…”      Matthew 6:33

Welcome back everyone!! Or, if you are new this semester, then a special FIRST welcome to Union College. If you ARE new then let me explain Good Morning Union. It’s our daily email devotional just for our campus. It’s my way of focusing us on Jesus first thing in the morning. We all get it so it’s available for classroom worships or dorm room discussions. I just want to illustrate to you that faithfulness to God brings blessings and focus for the day.

So, here we go! What I still like about school is the change to “start over” each semester. I have a clean slate and I get to decide how I will fill it. The greatest discovery I have had is the importance of starting the day with God. There are LOTS of ways to do that and I used to say it didn’t matter when in the day I connected with God, as long as I did it. I’m starting to change my mind, even for all you night owls (of which I am NOT!) There is something about the first thing that happens in my day that helps set the tone for the rest of the day. If I start with Jesus and get my life in harmony with His then I just find the day goes better.

I’m not even talking about a massive quantity of time; just SOME time where I stop and focus on Him at the very first of my day. As my verse for today says, if I seek Him first, the rest will fall into place. So my recommendation as we begin this new semester with a clean slate—start with Jesus each day and see if life goes better. Just try it, what can you lose?

Have a great day focusing,

Pastor Rich

 

Quote for the day: "Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him."           Hudson Taylor

 

PS        Guests from China are with us looking for teachers in their language schools. These calls are a part of the regular student mission program so visit with them at their table in the Ortner Lobby, then start the process of being an SM with us in Campus Ministries.

PPS     HeartScan forms will be available after 8:30 this morning in Campus Ministries. Deadline for completion of the form is next Monday.