“When one bases his life on principle, ninety-nine percent of his decisions are already made.” Unknown

I find great comfort knowing that I can decide before I decide. If I choose to follow the wisdom of God’s word, then all my other decisions need only to follow suit. If I entertain a certain thought, will it reflect the wisdom of God? If I ask myself before I speak or before I do something, will this follow my decision to follow Christ? Decide now the principles you will follow before you decide anything else. “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”

“Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me a my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24 “Conversations Within” ts 3/23/2019

“None of us are getting out of here alive…” Nanea Hoffman

Health is a wonderful blessing, but don’t worship it. We should all strive to live healthy, but at the same time realize it is healthy to make our peace with diminishing strength. Learning to accept life’s limitations is both wisdom and happiness. If we a fortunate, we will grow old and eventually wear out. Jesus promises eternal life, but not in this place or in this body.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Ps.73.26 “Conversations Within” ts 3/22/2019

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.” Zig Ziglar

A joyful heart works wonders for health. Joy is often expressed because of good health, but it can also be the very cause of it. Live gratefully and we will live joyfully. We may think that if we could only be healthy we would find peace and joy. The truth is when we find peace and joy we sometimes get our health back.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Prov.17.22 “Conversations Within” ts 3/21/2019

“Today more than 95% of all chronic disease is caused by food choice,...and lack of physical exercise.” Mike Adams

How true it is that so much of life is determined by what we eat and how we exercise. It is silly to think that eating right and exercising pertain only to physical health. What we feed our soul and how we exercise our spiritual life is probably more important than what we feed and do with our body. We all need to give thought to the best ways to nurture both. 

“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Jesus. “Conversations Within” ts 3/19/2019

“Good health is the mind, body and soul living in harmony as one.” Unknown

We should not neglect the mental, physical, or spiritual--doing so can have adverse effects on the others. Every thought we entertain, every word we speak, and every action we perform either contributes to, or damages our health. Consider a few diagnostic questions. Is this thought healthy? Are these words wholesome? If I do this, will it improve or hurt my overall health? Learning how to listen and evaluate healthy and unhealthy behavior is the wisdom of life.

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3Jo.1.2 “Conversations Within” ts 3/18/2019

“The trouble with always trying to preserve the health of the body...is that it is so difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind.” ~G.K. Chesterton

We are a society obsessed with health; and like all obsessions, this one has also proved to be unhealthy. It is one thing to take care of your health and another to obsessively worry about it. Beyond trusting God for daily provision, there is little need to worry with health. He has promised to provide all that is needed each day and surely health is factored into that. Take what He has provided and do what you are able to do with it.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life...your heavenly Father knows what you need.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 3/17/2019

“Happiness is a state of mind.” Meme

Happiness may be more than a state of mind, but it is a big part of it. I learned years ago that a person can be in a peaceful place but have no peace in the heart. One can also be in dire circumstances and yet be fully at peace. It is wonderful when our inner and outer life coincide in goodness, but until they do, we can still choose the happiness that come from living life from within.

“The Kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 3/16/2019

”Religion is man searching for God. Christianity is God looking for man.” Martyn Lloyd Jones

True peace is found in an undivided heart. God is seeking such hearts. An excellent illustration is the child looking for the mother, who is also ever looking to her child. Look for God and know this, He has been looking for you.

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2Chron.16:9 “Conversations Within” ts 3/13/2019

”This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” God (speaking of Jesus)

It is still dawning in my soul, but I am coming to understand that living for God’s enjoyment is my highest purpose. Understandably, God finds pleasure in His children, when His children find pleasure in Him. In this He is no different than any grandparent who looks with eager expectation when the grand-kids excitedly want to come over to Nana and Papa’s house.  Shared joy is always the best joy.

“I always do those things that please him.” John 8:29 “Conversations Within” ts 3/13/2019

I am convinced that God loves me, I am not sure that He always likes me.

My faith tells me that because God loves me, he is always working things for my good. This is of course the nature of love. Loving, as opposed to liking, involves actions more so than feelings. Just as we can love someone without liking them, it only seems logical that God loves people even when He doesn’t like them. We might say that God is loving us into the kind of people with whom He enjoys spending time. So, who does God like to hang around?

“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Is.66.2 “Conversations Within” ts 3/11/2019

“Grace is not given because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.” St Augustine

God’s favor is often an unconditional expression of grace, even so, there are things we do that please Him and some things we do that don’t. Grace, not good works, is the basis of our acceptance before Him. This does not mean that we should not do good works. Indeed, God gives us grace for that very purpose. The problem is twofold. One is when we start trusting our good works, rather than trusting His grace. The other is to think we can accept grace and ignore its design to lead us to good works. 

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph.2.10 “Conversations Within” ts 3/10/2019

“God made me fast. ... And when I run I feel his pleasure.” Eric Liddell

What better purpose is there in life than to live for the pleasure of our Father and Creator? What better way to do that than to have a reverent regard for Him in all we do, and to look to Him in faith for the strength to do it? You are His to enjoy, He is yours also to enjoy.

“The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who trust His unfailing love.” Ps.147.11 “Conversations Within” ts 3/9/2019

“It’s not luck, it’s God’s favor.” Meme

To have God’s favor is to have everything. The truth is that we all have it more than we know. Fortune doesn’t smile on people, God does. Certain aspects of His favor flow freely from His fullness, not due to any reasons earned or deserved by us, but simply because He has, for His own reasons decided to give it. This does not mean that God necessarily likes what we are doing, but He chooses instead to love and bless us in spite of it.

“For out of His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.” John 1.16 “Conversations Within” ts 3/8/2019

“Don't use a lot when a little will do.” Proverb

There are a number of benefits to a minimalist approach to life. One is that it helps us stop wasting time on possessions that drain our energy so we can invest it in things of lasting value. Minimalism teaches us to consider not only the worth of our purchases, but also the work they will require from us to own them. There are many areas in our lives that could benefit from a good pruning. Travel light. 

“Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 3/6/2019

“Keep it simple.” Adage

It is amazing how easy it is to complicate life. Holidays, birthdays, weddings, or a just a day’s outing often become so complicated they cause more stress than enjoyment. The simpler we keep it the better it becomes. Give priority to quality interactions with others, not the event itself. Do not get lost in the kitchen, or the decorating, or the planning. Whatever you do, do it together and keep it simple.

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 3/6/2019

“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” Albert Einstein

A simple life is as much in our understanding as it is in our practice. One complements the other. How we understand God, the purpose of life, our responsibilities, and our relationships, will have a direct impact on the way we experience life. It makes perfect sense that if we simplify our understanding, we will simplify our life. Anything to complex to explain to a child may not be worth wasting time thinking about.

 “Like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Ps.131 “Conversations Within” ts 3/5/2019

“Live simply that others might simply live.” Elizabeth Ann Seton

Motives matter. One person makes a purchase because they have a materialistic approach to life, and another does so to support someone trying to make a living. We can be a conscientious  consumer who contributes to the health of society or a greedy consumer who devours the resources of the planet. We should give thought to our purchases if we want to contribute not just consume. 

"Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 3/4/2019

“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” Plato

The simple life is contentment. Ask for daily bread and be satisfied with what your Father sets before you each day. Learn the meaning of the Shepherd’s verse, “I shall not want, because the Lord watches over me.” The key that unlocks such contentment is found in the treasure chest of a grateful heart. Offer up your heartfelt thanks and contentment will abundantly flourish in your soul.

“Be content with your wages.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 3/2/2019

“The happy life be these...wisdom joined with simplicity.” Sir Henry Howard

We are told to “keep it simple,” and it may just be that such a life may very well keep us. Simplicity can protect us from so many harmful things--overindulgence is a big one. Wisdom joined to simplicity teaches us how to travel light, to attend to what is needed, and avoid weighing our life down with too much. “Keep it simple” is more than a motto, it is a manner of doing business in what we purchase, in how we eat and drink, even in conversation. 

“...we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 2Cor.1.12 “Conversations Within” ts 3/1/2019

A humble attitude is expressed in modest actions.

A modest approach to living usually grows in the soil of a humble heart. Modesty is a gracious consideration of our own actions and how they affect others. It seeks not to offend or injure others in words or actions and asks the simple question before doing something, “Will doing this bring benefit  or harm to others?” 

“Clothe yourselves in humility.” “Conversations Within” ts 3/1/2019

“Life is a long lesson in humility.” James M. Barrie

I think that humility is borne to us on the wings of perspective, the perspective of knowing one’s place in the world. Surely God is teaching it to us all of the time. I do not mean that His goal is to put us down, but to help put us in the place or service to others. In fact I think He means to lift us up and make us all little Jesus’. It is true though, that sometimes the way up is by first going down.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4.10 “Conversations Within” ts 2/28/2019

“Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.” Unknown

Dismiss any temptation to call attention to your accomplishments. Accomplishment is its own reward when we find joy in what we are doing, not for being noticed by others for doing it. We were put here to be useful to one another, not praised by them, not to brag but to bless.

“Let another praise you and not your own mouth.” Prov.27.2 “Conversations Within” ts 2/27/2019

“Humility is just as much the opposite of self-abasement as it is of self-exaltation.” Dag Hammarskjöld

One way to get God’s favorable attention is when we stop desiring prideful attention from others. God’s favor is everything, and the humble have it. Don’t think for a moment that humility is thinking about how unworthy we are, it is when we stop thinking about ourselves at all. It is one thing to realize one’s shortcomings and another to appropriate the grace to do something about them.

“God is opposed to the proud , but give grace to the humble.” 1Pet.5  “Conversations Within” ts 2/26/2019

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.” CS Lewis

It is common when driving to run across that person who drives like they are the only one on the road. God forbid that I am ever such a person. Think of others. Awake to the people around you and serve. Open a lane, even offer a parking spot to them rather than seeing who can get their first. Escape the prison of serving only yourself, and wake to the joy of serving others. 

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Phil.2.3 Conversations Within” ts 2/25/2019

“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.” Unknown

We all need to apologize from time to time which means we all need to learn how to do it properly. Be sure not to start any sentence with, “I was wrong to do this, but....” Openly, and honestly without excuse, confess your wrong doing. Be sure to end with these simple words. “Will you forgive me?” This encourages the healing to begin in them as well.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed.” James 5.16 Conversations Within” ts 2/24/2019

”On the other side of fear lies freedom.” Unknown

Imagine a life free from want, from fear, from doubt, worry, even hurry. Imagine how wonderful it would be to be free from all guilt, and any need to impress others. Imagine the freedom to decide and then be happy with your decision. Can you envision a freedom to love unconditionally, and free from desire to judge. Imagine such a life, then freely take the hand of Jesus and follow Him into the open air of His freedom.

“If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.” Jesus  Conversations Within” ts 2/22/2019

“Freedom is the power to choose our own chains.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau

How true this is in a world that knows first hand the abuses of “free will.” So why does God respect our choices when it allows so much evil? C. S. Lewis offers an insightful answer. “Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.” The best use of free will is to give ourselves to that which yields superior and lasting happiness. That of course is found in loving and being loved by God. All love must be voluntary.

“I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good apart from you.” Ps.16.2 Conversations Within” ts 2/20/2019