Dear Lord, we ask your presence with us as we come to the close of a year like no other in the life of our country, our churches, our families, our business and our individual lives. Amen.

Four Verbs For Today and Tomorrow

I’ve been searching for verbs to give direction to our lives as we close out this year and look forward to a new year. It was an interesting study even when I limited the verbs to those beginning with the letter “E”.

I thought what verbs could apply to all of us and give us direction and blessing?

- To EXPLAIN is for teachers.

- To EXHORT is for Preachers.

- To EXAGGERATE is for Sophomores.

- To EXERCISE is for Athletes.

- To EXCEL is for The Bears!!

But now, here are four verbs for ALL of us.

EVALUATE - A good beginning for me after each festive sermon. To write suggestions for everyone. A good time for everyone to evaluate relationships, traditions, use of our time and priorities. Robert Browning says it well. “The world is too much for us: late and soon, getting and spending; we lay waste our powers.” St. Augustine says it even better. “O Lord, thou hast formed us for thy self, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” But Jesus says it best. “Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness; and all these things shall be yours as well.” Yes, this is a good time to evaluate, and this brings us to a second verb.

ELIMINATE - Try with God’s help to eliminate anything that does not bring Glory to God, Serving Others, or Enriching Your Life! That’s a narrow lane, I know, but it is suggested for us, by Jesus Himself, that He will forgive us when we fall short. But two or three easier eliminations can be starters. ELIMINATE the negative. ELIMINATE the tawdry, the vulgar, the gaudy, the cheap. ELIMINATE judging others as we consider the log in your own eye! And now this brings us to the third verb, which could be the most valuable for you.

EMBRACE. There is a story about the Norwegian sailor, Olaf, who had to leave for a year long voyage the day after his wedding. He returned to his cottage on the hill and was so happy to see his wife that he shook hands with her. The Prodigal Son was embraced by his father. Embrace your loved ones. Embrace the baby in the manger.

Don’t be afraid of the subjective. Luther said, “All dearest Jesus, Holy Child, make Thee a bed, soft and filled within my heart that it may be a quiet chamber kept for Thee.” To believe is fine, but to embrace is needed. Consider why people choose Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

We can profit much by EVALUATION, ELIMINATION AND EMBRACING. These can all be “win-win” courses of action. And now we come to the last verb.

ENCOURAGE - This opportunity is open to everyone here and it is needed by everyone we meet - every day. As the letter to the Hebrews puts it: “We should keep on encouraging each other.” Paul exhorts us “To encourage the faint hearted” and “To encourage one another!” If I were “King”, every team in the big athletic leagues - basketball, football, baseball, etc. - every team would have a full time “encourager” on the staff to encourage players when they are in a slump and to encourage every coach that’s trying to keep management, the players, the press and the public happy. Every home requires at least one “encourager.” Every church needs several vocal “encouragers.” The boss and the mail boy both need “encouragement.” But maybe mothers need encouragement most of all! In closing, let me read an excerpt from a Christmas card that I received. Sue and Ed, Mark and Carina, Vicky and Alfred and Steve all are walking on water. Their children are all wonderful and excelling, and finally this, “The kids are all involved in every sport and educational project, and Kathy is the ‘encourager’ and transporter.”

God help us all to ENCOURAGE one another.

God help us all to EVALUATE objectively.

God help us all to ELIMINATE wisely.

God help us all to EMBRACE warmly.

Amen.