Finger Prints & HEART PRINTS

Wherever we go today, we leave “fingerprints” on everything we touch.  So our fingerprints identify our geographical locations of the day.

We also have the opportunity TODAY to leave “Heartprints” on each person that we contact.  Let us resolve that we will leave “Heartprints” of compassion, understanding and love.

A PRAYER…

“Lord, we ask for wisdom that with sincerity we will touch hearts as your instruments to inspire and to encourage.  May our “Heartprints” be recognized as being in Your direction and honor.  Through Christ.  Amen.

God and False Guilt

Charlie Brown, Peanuts comic strip, moaned, “Everything that I do makes me feel guilty.”  A poorly informed conscience can create a miserable mind. 

Examples of improper thinking:

“God expects perfection therefore it is impossible to please Him.”  FALSE.  REALTY:  God invites each of us to turn to Him on a journey that is to be for a lifetime.  He expects us to grow and He patiently encourages as we clumsily make our way.  Jesus came into our history to make victory possible for those who seek God with sincere respect for His word. 

“I’ve made too many mistakes for God to forgive me.” FALSE.  REALTY:  Jesus came because all of us are sinners.  Paul’s words, “Christ came into the world to save sinners, and I am the foremost (chief) of sinners.”  I Timothy 1:15

What have you done to better yourself today?

“By the YARD, life is HARD; but by the INCH it’s a CINCH.”

Jesus taught day-by-day, inch-by-inch, living.  He said, “Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.”  Matthew 6:34

JESUS GIVES DIRECTIONS

1.      See yourself as God see you.  Using the example of the care the Father gives for a sparrow, Jesus concluded, “You are somebody! So stand up straight and recognize both your importance and responsibilities!”

2.      Accept your God-given, unique talent.  You are qualified to do something.   Do not waste time comparing yourself with another or becoming envious of another. Develop yourself an inch TODAY!

3.      Turn to the foundation that will not fail regardless of the “earthquakes” of life.  “Seek first His kingdom…that is, His authority.”  The God described in the Bible has revealed Himself in a historical, “human” setting.  Through Jesus, we can see the love of God for each of us. 

Do you have a 'sound proof' head?

Unless there is within you that which is above you…you can be easily overwhelmed by the things that are around you.

Regardless of your age, Jesus can make a new person of you.  He can smooth away all of the wrinkles of your soul.

You can be born again!!

The book of Acts in the New Testament describes what people did to enjoy “newness of life” through the grace of God in Jesus.

The complete authority of Jesus was declared by the Apostles and the early Christian teachers.  Those who believed this declaration were instructed to “repent” (to turn their lives in His direction for a life-long journey).  The believers made a public statement of their faith in Christ.  They were baptized.  (Read the reminder that Paul gives of baptism to the Christians in Rome.  Romans, chapter 6)

You and I cannot afford to have “sound proof heads” to the teachings of the Bible!!

Have you been disappointed lately?

“…been disappointed recently?” 

Probably your answer, “Yes!”

But what can a person do?

Turning to unchecked, self-pity will create a spiritual acid capable of destroying one’s emotional fabric.

THEREFORE:

MAKE TIME to count some good things…not easy but possible.

DETERMINE to do something worthwhile for another. This is a painful exercise for one’s emotional muscles.  This calisthenic does wonders for the dedicated practitioner, however.

REMEMBER God is concerned about your hurts.  The fact that Jesus came into our history is proof of that concern! 

CONSIDER there is an “afterwards.”  The capacity to hope is one of the distinguishing factors of being human.  Only humans can dream…with perseverance some dreams can be fulfilled. 

What Kind of Words Do You Speak?

Kind words do not wear out the tongue…SO SPEAK THEM!!

You and I think on an average of 60 thousand thoughts daily…we speak an average of about 5 thousand words daily. 

We do not always have a choice as to the thought material that is introduced to our minds.  WE DO HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHAT THOUGHTS ARE TO BE RETAINED.

We have a choice of the words that we speak.  This is a God-given awesome choice.

You and I can make this world a better place by words of kindness, courtesy, thoughtfulness, encouragement and support.  YOU AND I HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GOING TO SPEAK THESE WORDS!  

LISTEN!!!

LISTEN TO THESE WORDS OF JESUS:

“I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in me will live,

even though he dies…”

“Let not your heart be troubled;

you believe in God, believe also

in Me.  In my Father’s house are

many mansions…I go to prepare

                 a place for you.”

                 John 11:25 & John 14:1,2