WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH YOURSELF?

“I do not know what to do with myself” is a common complaint. You can’t do much with other problems until you deal with this one.

What JESUS did with Himself.  He used His life on earth for a purpose that was greater than the moment.

He kept the Father’s will always in mind.  Remember:  “He who sacrifices his conscience for a selfish ambition burns a beautiful picture to obtain the ashes.”

You can decide to correct some destructive habits:  jealousy, temper, etc.  Not easy, of course, but diligent effort will produce amazing results.

Try doing something that you know God will approve.  “All evil is due to unused life.”  (Erich Fromm) e H

The Four Steps of Character Destruction

A lesson of history is that the more association with evil we have the less evil it appears.  The commonness of vice makes it seem harmless and respectable.  But neither ugliness gets pretty nor wrong gets right by association.

The Four Steps of Character Destruction

1.      Association with evil

2.      Condoning evil

3.      Embracing evil

4.      Addiction to evil

TO AVOID:

“Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

Romans 12:9

Want to make this a better day?

To make this a BETTER DAY, remember:

“We live in deeds, not years;

in thoughts, not breaths;

in feelings, not in figures on a dial.

We should count time by heart throbs.

He most lives who thinks most,

feels the noblest, acts the best.”

Created in the image of God, you and I have the opportunity to discipline ourselves to careful thinking… to distinguish between good and evil… and with the grace and forgiveness of God to seek to live the best way we can.

Can you afford to ignore God?

Some are so busy worrying about their stomachs that they do not allow their food to digest.

It is wise to be concerned about life.

It is foolish to become so anxious that you cannot face life.

        

To gain strength for TODAY, REMEMBER:

   

                                                                          

You are unique.  God created you that way.

You have some unused strength.

Evil seeks to defeat you by making you afraid.

Created in the image of God, you have

sources of strength provided.

You can associate with God.

Without God you are like an unplugged light bulb.

Jesus is saying to you daily, “Come unto me...”

YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO IGNORE HIM!

What keeps your heart running through the darkest days and longest journeys of life?

Hope is the fuel that keeps our hearts running through the darkest and longest journeys of life.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE CREATION OF HOPE

1.      God knows you…your predicaments, opportunities, strengths and weaknesses.

2.      God cares for you…He is patient.  He allows you to start again…to get up again.  He always sees the best within you!

3.      God is stronger than evil. Therefore, history, your history, is going somewhere with purpose.  The final word will not be disappointment but fulfillment...not defeat but victory…not death but life.

These sentences are punctuated into reality by the coming of Jesus, His life, His death, His resurrection, His kingdom, His invitation and His promise to bring all history to a glorious conclusion.

TODAY - Is The Only Time We Have

Changing the mirror will not change a person’s reflection.  Only a change in the person will create a new reflection.  This is true of both a physical mirror and the mirror of the soul.

Improvement in the spiritual mirror begins with the recognition that one has been created in the image of God.

You can follow Christ who came into history to provide forgiveness and strength to anyone who accepts His invitation.  (If you are serious about doing this, read the New Testament book of Acts to find what people did in the first century following the victory of Christ over evil and death.  Christ has not changed over the centuries.  He extends the same invitation today.)

The time for both of us to create a proper reflection in the mirror of life is – TODAY! 

The past is gone and the future has not arrived…so TODAY is the only time we have.  

ARE YOU FEELING LOW...

“If you are feeling low, do not despair.

The sun has a sinking spell each night,

but it comes back up every morning.”

Ask yourself, “Have I ever had a day that I did not survive?”

In times of despair or frustration, Jesus advises:

ONE:  God know how you feel. He knows you by name.

TWO:  God cares.  He has created you in His image.

THREE:  God will compensate.  Defeat will not be the last word for the one who                          comes to Him with an obedient, trusting faith.

CRITICAL QUESTION:

Why believe that the preceding three statements are reliable and true?

POWERFUL ANSWER:

The presence of Jesus in our history.  He came at a certain time and at a certain place.  He died on a Roman cross. He arose from the dead.  He lives as the victor over death and evil.  He continues to invite each of us.  He says, “Come unto me…”