Looking Ahead

To set up a list of goals is an admirable venture, but those should not be the standard by which the success of the year should be measured.  They are mere guidelines and wishes to be considered until whatever life throws your way comes along. Such serendipitous occurrences are to be embraced as learning moments, quickly assimilated into our experiences. Once there, they can be pondered, mulled over, and decisions can be made as to how great an influence each will be on us and our relationships. Let us not be afraid to discard any which have a negative effect, however. Whatever you use to fill your mind and heart will spill over into all aspects of your life. So strive for positivity. Reach out and live in the Light.

Yes, It's Been a While

For over a year, I've been sitting back and watching, listening, reading, and pretty much not wanting to react to a lot of what's been going on. That doesn't mean I'm not aware of it, or that some of it has me concerned. It just that, as in my last post, I've felt becoming upset and lashing out doesn't seem to be productive. So, let me preface this post with that statement.
It seems to me that we seek out new ways to perpetuate our anger, our outrage, our sense of injustice in this world, so much so, that many small things seem to stoke our ire, making us do and/or say things we may later regret. That being said, may I propose that it's possible we turn a blind eye to the greatest injustice of them all - our destruction by our God of justice, brought about by our almost constant turning away from Him, our disobedience to His ways, and our blatant disregard for His feelings towards us (many times done "in His Name", although it's hard in retrospect to see how that was true).
We get all indignant when someone who thinks they are important says or does something they think matters, when, in the big picture, both are insignificant, as transient as a morning frost. As Scripture says, we strain at gnat while we swallow camels. Time to stop getting upset over trivialities and start living for our Creator by building up and rescuing His creation, sometimes one person at a time.
It has been said you can catch more flies (bees, bugs...) with honey than vinegar. It's time to step up to the plate, determined to send on out of the park (or at least get on base), than to argue with the officials over every call. We are the chief determining factor as to the impact our lives will make on others.
Imagine if God reacted as we do over small slights, puny human reasoning, slips of the tongue. Where would we be? But, fortunately, He does NOT! Instead, He corrects us, He disciplines us with love, mercy, and grace. This includes times when God allows us to go off half-cocked, because He knows full well of our ability to figure it out in the end, if we just trust Him. This plays well into all things working for good.
So, remember the words found in Philippians 4:4-8:
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

Peace, my friends, build one another up. Live what is good. Embrace what is divine. Love God. Love people. Serve the world.