Keep On Keeping On

Philippians 3:13-14

No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven

Lamentations 3:22-24

The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"



The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. Every day is the day the Lord has made, as Psalm 118:24 states, and “we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

One can make a resolution or promise to oneself any day of the year, and keeping it or breaking it is in their hands. One thing the Bible does say in Ecclesiastes 5:2,4 and 5 is that if one makes promises or vows to God, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.“Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”

Setting a goal or several goals at the beginning of the new year can be stimulating, but it’s the motivation to keep the resolution that is important. One can determine to pray more, read the Bible more, go to church regularly, or volunteer more, but these resolutions can fail without correct motivation.

The incentive must come from within with purpose and a plan. Even though there might be a setback at times, the best thing to do is to immediately start again

Go in Peace and Serve the Lord

Found in James 4:
While selfishness produces conflict, humility produces submission to God.

Selfishness is the foundation for all conflict.
When two hearts want different things - and neither is willing to sacrifice for the sake of the other - conflict arises.
Selfishness is the cause of war, crime, and interpersonal conflict. By looking out for ourselves, we think we can get what we want from life.
In contrast, the Lord teaches us that humility, not selfishness, results in satisfaction in life. Promote yourself, and wars and conflict result. Even God is against you (v. 6).
But live in humility and wars and conflict cease, assuming all parties participate.
And the Lord will lift you up

Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q660KO2hTD0&feature=related

From 101 easy ways to make the world a better place:
http://hubpages.com/hub/101-Easy-Ways-You-Can-Make-The-World-A-Better-Place
101. Look for new and better ways every day to make the world a better, happier, and more pleasant place to live for everyone. If we all did just one thing every day, we could really begin to make a positive difference worldwide.

.....the immediate blessing is just seeing that you have made a difference to the benefit of someone other than yourself.

"In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" Matthew 25:45

Perspective

Give Thanks to God for ALL that HE has done.

Get the right perspective. When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He's so big we can never kill him." David looked at the same giant and thought, "He's so big I can't miss."

A canny Main farmer was approached by a stranger one day and asked how much he thought his prize Jersey cow was worth. The farmer thought for a moment, looked the stranger over, then said: "Are you the tax assessor, or has she been killed by your car?"

Remember the hard times so you can appreciate the good times.

You can always look around and see people who seem to have it easier than you do, people who don't seem to have the same challenges or the same problems that you have. You can see people who appear lucky or who seem to have been born in the right place or the right time, or you can look around yourself and notice many, many people who seem to be worse off than yourself.

If you take the time to put your situation in perspective with others around you, is it easier to be grateful for what you have? I know it helps me.

Perspective makes all the difference in how we handle life. Without perspective, small problems seem insurmountable, and we ignore warning signs. But with perspective, hard situations don't overwhelm, and we can find our way to thankfulness instead of despair.

Were there no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts, and no one to thank. Christina Rossetti

To God Be the Glory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtenFJ6x75k&feature=related

When Good isn't the Best

from Love Worth Finding 11/2/10

If you want to be a victor in the race God has for you, you must learn the discipline of laying aside some weights. Many times these weights are good things in our lives. But good things are bad things when they keep us from doing the best things.

Life would be simple if it were a choice between good and bad. But typically it's a choice between good and best

I'd Rather Have Jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZO34y1_4BY&feature=related

Calm in the Storm

When Jesus told Peter to come to Him on the water, He did not command the impossible. Peter walked on the water, Matt. 14:29.

Yes, he panicked. He traded cheer for fear because he looked at the waves instead of the Master. He looked at the water instead of the Man who made the water. He believed the outward, natural symptoms instead of the Word that created the sea. Peter was beginning to sink. He did not sink. He looked back to Jesus. He reached for the hand that controlled all circumstances.

Take your eyes off the circustances. Cast your fears aside. 'Though the storms are on every side, they do not need to be on the inside. Then you will hear His voice, "Peace, be still." You will see that behind the cloud, the "Son" still shines.

Isaiah 26:3, gives us the remedy for dealing with the storms of life.

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”

Storms are inevitable. But we also have the confident assurance that the Lord will shelter us in the storms. Do you want peace in the midst of your storm? Place your trust in the Lord and do not allow the storm to shake your faith. Praise the Lord that He is greater than any storm we will encounter!

Sheltered in the Arms of God, Lynda Randle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxlcMfvSMqI&NR=1

Who Do You Serve?

Bottom line: don’t make a theater production out of your faith. “Watch me! Watch me!” is a call used on the playground, not in God’s kingdom. Silence the trumpets. Cancel the parade. Enough with the name-dropping. If accolades come, politely deflect them before you believe them. Slay the desire to be noticed. Stir the desire to serve God.


read more from Max Lucado, Outlive Your Life http://www.maxlucado.net/_product_107242/Outlive_Your_Life_%28Hardback%29

Is it to be Understood, or to Understand?

When we take our eyes off our fears, our doubts, our struggles and focus on someone else's needs, we somehow forget our own, for a little while. In believing the power of God's promises for others, our confidence in His promises for us seems to grow as well.

Lord, Thank you for the power of Your Words that give me courage to become who You've created me to be - to go to places You're calling me to go and climb spiritual heights that are out of my reach without Your help. Give me Your encouragement today, and help me encourage someone, too. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Encouragement from Renee Swoop

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." Flora Edwards

Daniel O'Donnell says it very well,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q660KO2hTD0&feature=related

Wisdom from the Psalms
Psalm 110:1
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool
Prayer: Fill me with Your patience, Lord. When I see others receive rewards, help me to rejoice in their benefit rather than be bitter that I did not receive it. Amen.