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As you read this, July 29 (or after!), we will have just returned from an Alaskan cruise, courtesy of our oldest son, Mark, July 21 – 28. In order not to have to depend on Internet availability I know nothing about, in addition to shipboard activities and excursions, I set a goal for myself to have these blogs published before I left. And, by God’s grace, I’ve done it! I especially enjoyed writing about the 50th anniversary of the moon landing as well as the other topics that crossed my path since returning from Spring Canyon on July 6.

I was going to say that goal-setting and planning are uniquely human activities, but that’s not quite right:

Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer. (Proverbs 30.25, NIV)

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. (Proverbs 6.6 – 8, NIV)

Beginning tomorrow, I hope to be publishing blogs about things we saw or learned on the cruise. I won’t be surprised if some of those things have to do with what I hope is a well-oiled machine. I can’t imagine 2600 passengers, and 1100 crew on a ship that’s longer than 2 1/2 football fields.

I hope you’re having a good summer: rest, recreation, AND planning for the fall. We all have work to do.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalm 90.17, ESV)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him… Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3.17…23, 24, ESV)

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1.11, 12, ESV)