I watched some New Year’s resolutions people were making last night when I couldn’t sleep. They were interesting and got me thinking. I always tell myself that if I just do the next right thing that I don’t need to make resolutions. But this was more. They were really making plans to do the next right thing in detail. There are so many things that take a little thought that you can implement throughout the year. Do some investigating of charities that you can support on a regular basis. Tithing at your local church. Do you realize only 10% of people actually tithe anymore but you really can’t afford not to. Tithing makes the world go round. What about the over abundance of stuff you have and don’t need. Who could be blessed by it. Give it away. Become a blessing to others by giving, tipping, giving compliments and encouragement. Speak life and not complaining and grumbling over yourself and others. Go out of your way to talk to people and lift them up. Work in different ministries and help out those in need and the marginalized. I always thought that because I’m in a wheelchair that I can’t do much but there is so much I can do. Offering to pray for others that may seem down or just might be a little grumpy because of what they are currently going through in their life. Life can be difficult and people have many battles they are going through. Rejoice over the little things throughout the day. There are so many things to be thankful for. People in other countries have so much less than Americans do but yet they are so much more grateful for all that they do have. What can you do to make a difference in your world in 2024.
Month: December 2023
True Peace
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
At this time of year Christ was born and he wants everyone to know that he came to bring peace to all people. One thing we can all use is peace. The peace that Jesus brings is not like any peace this world can offer because it is perfect and it is free. Most people just don’t know what they are missing out on because unless you have experienced it you will never understand it. People don’t trust God because they don’t know him. They believe what they hear and what they have been taught by their family or in school or college more specifically. And because schools stopped teaching about God they are being taught a distorted belief. People may have been raised in a church but because people are not perfect and often make mistakes we have learned to distrust them. They may have also lost someone they love and blame God and don’t want anything to do with someone who took the one they love. This is so sad because they don’t know what they could actually have for free just for the asking. Most people say they don’t believe the Bible but they have never actually read one. They believe just what they have heard from others who have actually never read one either. This is so sad because they are walking around with a deadly disease that will eventually kill them and living an unhappy life for no reason. People can be unhappy, depressed, confused and insecure because they don’t know the unconditional and very satisfying love of the one who made them just to be in a relationship with him. He knew that what we needed more than anything else in this world was deliverance from sin and death. With that forgiveness comes acceptance and a relationship like we have never had before. And one that will give us that peace that we have never felt before. Because once he has forgiven you his blessings and favor rest upon you forever.
Real Life
“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:25
I love watching people. It’s amazing what some people live for. Things they just have to have in this life to make them happy. Things that aren’t even good for them and they can bring an early death. Such as drugs, drinking, smoking and over eating. Or just eating the wrong foods for a healthy life. People can spend so much time on their phones and spend so little time with people they say are important to them. This life is only so many years and really we don’t know when it will end. I almost died when I was just 45. I had a very severe stroke and was unable to speak or move anything but my eyes. Locked in was how they described it. They didn’t give me much hope of surviving or having any quality of life. But God wasn’t done with me and my life really began when I had almost lost it. I had plenty of time to think about it. Laying there flat on my back. Before my stroke I had been living for myself, doing whatever I wanted. Drinking and hanging with my friends I was a wild one. Now I can see how stupid it all was. But at the time I thought I was living for the moment. People tend to think they just have to have what they want but most often we are dining on scraps when God has a feast just waiting for us. He tells us he has an abundant life waiting for us but until you take him up on his offer you will never know. I learned to fly and even had my own plane. I had a well paying job that I could do when I wanted so I could fly wherever I wanted. Compared to now I’m living in a nursing home and my body physically doesn’t work very well any more and I’m in a wheelchair but I have an amazing and wonderful life that I wouldn’t trade. It is more learning to be grateful for all that you do have and not focusing on what you don’t have. I have learned to live every moment to the fullest. And people are very important to my life. It doesn’t matter which people just how important relationships are. Especially family and I talk to them all throughout my day and every day. Same with good friends. God has become so real and vital for the best life and it is so fulfilling.
God’s Glory
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hand.” Psalm 19:1
Either people are physically blind or they choose not to see what is right in front of their faces. Many people only believe what they have been told to believe. They don’t question life. God said you need to become as little children to see the kingdom of heaven. We need to have questioning minds and hearts. Children want to know things because at birth they don’t know things and are always learning something new. They do believe what they are taught but it needs to make sense to them. What is good and what is bad. What’s right and what’s wrong. Why, is a very big question to a child. Things are simple to a child, they don’t really understand complicated. You can ask a child if something is good or bad and they will tell you. A puppy? Very good! A cookie? Good. Falling down, not good. Burning your finger, not good. What if we go farther. The sun rises like a clock every morning. Rain comes to water plants and gives us water to drink. These things are good and important even though rain might spoil our plans. You still wouldn’t want it to never rain. A ripe strawberry, a beautiful red rose, the sun setting over the ocean. Millions of stars in the sky at night. Could they just come from nothing? People are all so different and we all have different personalities and dreams and desires. We all think and reason and understand. I know I’m not a plant that just popped out of the ground. I’m too . God’s complex. I couldn’t have come from an ape or a fish because they can’t think or reason. And nothing begins without a seed that has everything inside of it to create exactly what the seed has inside it. So where did seeds of everything come from? Evolution only explains how one thing becomes another thing, sort of, but something has to start evolution. A big bang? Not technical enough to explain life. Sorry! I loved camping as a child and I can sit on a mountain overlooking an awesome view and sit for a long time there is just so many awesome places and things to discover. I could never see it all in 100 years. So why is it so hard for people to believe that there is something that created everything? Something bigger than us? Why are we here? Where do we go when we die? You need to question life and how you fit into it. Keep searching for answers until you find answers. I love to read and I learn so much by reading everything I can. God’s word is a good place to begin, you may be surprised what you find.
Be Prepared
“Therefore keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:42
We have been waiting for thousands of years and at times it seems like we have all the time in the world. But this life is very short in comparison to eternity. Not a thousand years, not a million, but forever. Do you know where you will spend forever? Good or horrible we will one day see the face of God and eternity will be here. We may die tomorrow in an accident or Jesus may come to take his children home. Will you be ready? It is very easy to be sure and know without a shadow of doubt. It all depends on the life you live right now. Today. Does that mean you have to be perfect? No. Nobody is perfect. And our loving father knows that and he doesn’t care because he loves us. But he hates sin. So how do we as sinners get anywhere near God. We just believe that his precious son Jesus Christ did die to take all our sins away. It was the ultimate plan and though it was a horrible plan for God and his son, they did it anyway because we are so important to him. He wants everyone to spend eternity with him in paradise but many won’t take him up on his offer. They think they don’t need it. Such a sad mistake which lasts forever. Once you are banished from his presence there is no light and no goodness ever again nothing that you used to enjoy on God’s beautiful world. So think long and hard about tomorrow.
Then She Spoke 