JANUARY 2000
Someone has written: "I said to the man who stood at the gate of the years, 'Give me a light that I may safely tread into the unknown.' and He replied, 'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be unto you better than light and safer than any known way.'"
As we enter into the New Year, the new millennium, may I share some suggestions that may help us? Maybe we could use them as a guideline:
1. Travel light. Shed excess baggage, such as failures, disappointments, worries, grief and resentments of the past. Stop opening old sores and bad memories.
2. Live one day at a time. The man or woman of faith refuses to shove into the unknown future the decisions that should be made today. Present responsibility comes first.
3. Be generous. A world reeling with greed, intolerance, bitterness, prejudice, hunger, disease and cold needs now, if ever, every drop of simple goodness in our veins.
4. Face our problems with faith and courage and not run away from them, resent them or fear them. Because you are children of the Most High God, you do not have to work alone.
5. You need to see the Christian lifestyle as a joyful privilege rather than a duty!
6. If you cannot change your circumstances, change your attitude. Sometimes you feel you could do a better job with your life if you could start over. Rather than a new environment, maybe a new inner life would help. Pray for insight to see new opportunities in the present surroundings.
7. The secret of relaxation is essential to health. Stress endangers our dispositions. Our emotions are frayed and irritation clouds the air about us. Inner quietness must be cultivated.
8. Resolve to trust in God for the future. God supplies strength to carry our load, wisdom to solve our problems, and grace to enrich every experience.
John 14:2-3 tells us, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also." These are wonderful words to remember as we enter into the unknown future with a known God. He is always there for us - he will never leave us nor forsake us.
May God bless, until next month.
Pastor Bob
| DECEMBER 1999 |