We have hope...

“The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14

This statement of historical fact gives us hope for the future regardless of the problems of the day.

The “Word” in this reading is the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  He came into our world in the flesh to be one of us.  He came to pioneer the way to life for us in this world and in the one to come.

THEREFORE:

He understands us…He cares for us…He will help us…He paid the price for our sins that we might know forgiveness…He has made eternal victory possible for us. 

Are you willing to accept His invitation?

All of us think about the past and probably most of us are concerned about the future. (Pessimism declares that you learn to face the future by dreading one day at a time.)

The most important thing for all of us is to examine our hearts.  God wants each of us to develop our talents and to use our opportunities.  By looking within our hearts and by listening to God, we can make the future powerful instead of “dreadful”.

As far as the past is concerned, we can bring our lives to God to receive forgiveness…we can learn from the past…but we need to cremate and not embalm those items that are detrimental to dynamic living in the present.

God is willing to help each of us…the choice is ours to accept His gracious invitation. 

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.

Concerning Happiness...

Three Simple (not superficial) Principles:

1.      Give to others. COURTEOUS

            ACTIONS AND KIND WORDS

            are always welcome.  No great

            talent or money required.

2.      Forgive others.  Remembering how

            God has forgiven me through

            Christ will certainly enable me

            to forgive another.

3.      Counting blessings.  More than

            simple grade school math

            required.  (Try beginning by a

            quick contrast with other nations.

            Why did I deserve to be born in

            the USA?)

What "color" are your thoughts?

Your soul is dyed to the color of your thoughts,

THEREFORE:

THINK COURAGE.  When an obstacle is encountered, do what the wind does…whistle and keep going.

THINK HUMOR.  The best thing to have up your sleeve is a funny bone.

THINK LEARNING.  You do not “grow old.”  You become old by not growing.

THINK FORGIVENESS.  Remember that you need God’s forgiveness. So practice forgiveness to those about you.

THINK PURPOSE.  The only time that you need PULL is when you lack PUSH.

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.  

HOW TO BE CONTENT!

“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

                                 (APOSTLE PAUL)

To Be Content (Instructions for both of us.)

            Diminish Grumbling…this destructive habit devastates.

Face Reality…hold on to dreams by accepting painful responsibilities. This is the way that God opens the door to fulfillment.

            Don’t Compare Yourself to Another…You are unique.

                 Develop yourself…God will help you.

Don’t brood over the past…put failures in the hands of God.

                                    He FORGIVES.

            Appreciate the past…learn from it.  Do not ruin today by

            lamenting what the aging process does.

Don’t fear tomorrow…GOD ALWAYS GET THERE

                                BEFORE WE DO!

ARE YOUR FEARS MAKING YOU OLD?

“Fears not years, make us old.”

God offers a unique calmness to our hearts.

            This calmness is not detachment from duty and dreams.

            This calmness brings strength that enables us to be steady
             regardless.               

We have the opportunity to associate with the understanding Christ.

In Him there is forgiveness and daily renewal.

            In Christ, there is the power that comes from an enduring faith.

            This faith frees us from the TYRANNY OF DEATH.

Remember, it is not always the greatness of our troubles but often it is the littleness of our spirits that causes us to feel inadequate and weak.

                            Time invested in Bible study produces mental nourishment.