“365 new days. 365 new excuses.” Instagram Post

 If my pattern holds, I will make efforts this year to improve various areas in my life and at the end of the year, I will fall short on many of them. No matter, I will still try to cooperate with the Spirit that lives in me as He encourages me to experience the life that Christ offers. This can only be done one step at a time. When you come to grips with being a sinner you don’t need an excuse to fail, to know you will. Thank God for His patient and tenacious commitment to our best life.  

“Keep in step with the Spirit.” Gal.5 Conversations Within” ts 1/1/2021

“10 p.m. is the new midnight.” Instagram Post

 It doesn’t bother me that I rarely bring in the new year, Well, I don’t bring it in awake. Somethings don’t require any effort on my part to occur, The passage of time is one of them. What does require my effort is to value the time given me, and to make the most of it. Sometimes the best use of our time is to get a good night’s sleep. Another is to go with the flow and let things run their course. God is working even when He asks us to take it easy and simply trust.  

“He gives to His beloved even in their sleep.” Ps.127.2 Conversations Within” ts 12/21/2020

"I can’t believe it’s been a year since I didn’t become a better person.” Instagram

I am still a sinner. You would think that after all this time, I would have learned to better tame my tongue, control my thoughts, and put away every unhealthy habit. I still struggle with being self-centered, judgmental, and fall short of loving others as I should. I still worry, and fail to trust God when I know He has never once failed me. Yep, another year and I still need God’s forgiveness and the grace He offers in Christ.  

“If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness. 1Jo.1.9 Conversations Within” ts 12/20/2020

”New year, same me.” Instagram Post

 I have a tee shirt given to me by my daughters that says, “Same shirt...different day.” I can get comfortable wearing the same clothing day after day. I have also entered a new year dressed in some of the bad habits of the old. Change is not only hard, sometimes it is slow, and If I am honest, it is too slow. It is easy to dally or procrastinate about bad habits that need to be abandoned and new habits that need to be embraced. Lord help me put on my game face and stop playing around with change.  

“…put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph.4 Conversations Within” ts 12/19/2020

“Here's to whatever comes next.” Instagram post

Learning to accept the unpleasant unexpected, stuff that will come our way this next year, is a good step toward dealing with them effectively.  Whatever pops up, rise up a deal with it, don’t fuss or fret over it, fix it. Do it calmly, without complaint, and as my generation is so fond of saying, “Keep your cool.”  

“Do not worry about tomorrow…” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 12/19/2020

“Is only 364 days until Christmas!” Elf

Looking forward to something, especially something that we have already shared and want to share again, highlights the value of sharing itself. Spend as much time as you can being a witness to the people in your life and include them as a witness to your own. There is a Swedish proverb that says, ``Shared joy is doubled the joy.” 

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”Jesus Conversations Within” ts 12/18/2020

Christmas is a celebration of gift giving. Let the celebrations begin! Let the celebrations continue.

What better way to view our lives than as a gift we give in service to others. Position yourself in people’s lives so they may open this gift every time they interact with you. Let them open the present of your presence when you walk into the room. How precious that Jesus is God’s present to us. To see Christ in this light dispels the darkness of all superstition and fear where God is concerned.  

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift” 2Cor.9.17 Conversations Within” ts 11/29/2017

“Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.” Dale Evans Rodgers

When you think about it, it astounds me that people around the world give presents to each other in celebration of the birthday of Jesus. To have lived such a life, one that inspires people everywhere to show love and kindness on your birthday is truly remarkable. What an impact Jesus has made on our world. Of course the same cannot always be said of His followers. I need to remember that any time I represent Him, it should leave His same sweet fragrance in the air.  

“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” 2Cor.2.15 Conversations Within” ts 12/14/2020

“Merry Christmas, Ya filthy animal.” Home Alone (the Movie)

We love decorating for Christmas. Even on the boat we have lights going around the life lines and up the mast. We string Christmas lights because Christ is the light of the world. The light shines in the darkness, my darkness, the darkness of my shortcomings. To admit this is our first step into His light.  

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Eph.5.8 Conversations Within” ts 12/15/2020

“This is the message of Christmas. We are never alone.” Taylor Caldwell

It is possible to “feel” alone even sitting on a crowded bus. Someone can “feel” alone even though God's presence is all around them. Christmas is for many, a season that intensifies these feelings of loneliness. Lord help us feel compassion and connect with the lonely. May your Spirit in us encourage and enable them to connect with You. No one should live life alone, and especially at Christmas. 

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Mat.1.23 Conversations Within” ts 12/17/2020

The hope of Heaven is not about a place we are going so much as it is about someone we are becoming.

It is easy to fall into the trap of focusing our energy on “believing” certain doctrines as a measure of what it means to be a Christian, rather than cooperation with the Spirit of Christ to be transformed into a new creature. The focus of Christ is to secure both a means for our forgiveness and at the same time transform us into little versions of Himself. This is accomplished not so much by following a set of rules as it is by a spiritual union of our soul to His. What is this like? We can invite Him into our heart and see. 

 “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 11/29/2017

How to keep your focus?

Everything that happens in our day is not necessarily a distraction, but an opportunity to help us keep our focus. In other words if I want my focus to be living a life of faith expressing Christian love, I can use whatever is in front of me to do just that. For example, if the phone rings, I can look for ways to express beneficial love to the person on the other end. I can not only create my do list each day, I can also measure the way I will complete it through the lens of love. I can even weed activities that do not allow these expressions.  

 “Abide in me.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 12/10/2020

“Focus is about saying No.” Steve Jobs

 Sometimes we have to break our focus in order to focus on what really matters. Anybody who has gotten their feelings hurt, knows how hard it is to let it go. This kind of focus can be unhealthy. It is wise to learn how to break our focus away from unhealthy things, like anger, worry, and despair so we can focus on what is good, right and true. 

 “For the grace of God...teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2 Conversations Within” ts 12/9/2020

“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” George Lucas

 Focus is important to me. Experience has taught me that when I focus on the distractions of this world rather than on the reality of God’s word, I have no inner peace, I lose my direction, and my emotions cloud my ability to reason. Like the hub of a wheel, if my center is out of center, my life will wobble. We were innately designed to trust God’s word above all things. To miss this is to miss out.  

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Ps.20.7 Conversations Within” ts 12/8/2020

“You keep putting one foot in front of another and one day you will look back and see you climbed a mountain.” Anonymous

The statement above is true enough, unless, of course, you’re walking in the wrong direction. If we are going to persevere and keep our focus, let us make sure that our focus will take us somewhere we want to wind up. Many hard headed people have lost out on valuable relationships simply because they held onto unhealthy notions, attitudes and actions. Keep on keeping on but make certain you are keeping that which is good.  

“A person who hardens their neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.” Prov. 29.1 Conversations Within” ts 12/7/2020

“The real labor is to remember, to attend … in fact to come awake. Still more, to remain awake.” C.S. Lewis

Finding life’s center only begins the journey; staying centered will lead us to complete it. Once we find our focus, the next skill is to keep it. It is only by relentlessly keeping that focus that any real progress is made. Once we wake to that “One thing,” God requires from us, the real task is to remain awake. It is not how we begin but how we end that matters.  

"No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Jesus Conversations Within” ts 12/6/2020

“If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.” C. S. Lewis

Like a good many people my age, I have my pains, but I also have much to be grateful about. Even now, my back has its morning stiffness, but I am grateful that an electric massager is kneading and relaxing my muscles while I reflect. We live in good days. These pains also remind me that this place is not home. We are all passing through. Unlike this place, the new Heaven and new Earth will be in perfect sync with God’s will, and so all that is out of place here will be healed there.  

“...nor pain anymore...” Rev.21 Conversations Within” ts 12/4/2020

“Be unstoppable! The art of never giving up.” Bethany Hamilton

 When we choose by grace and a determined force of will to “keep on keeping on” when we know our goal has lasting value, we mature the decision to live life from within. It is a worthwhile goal to be complete--to join what we know is good with what we do, and to feel good about it. Every choice is an opportunity to further the quest of spiritual maturity.  

“Let endurance have its perfect work that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1.4 Conversations Within” ts 12/3/2020

“Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!” Clint Eastwood (Heartbreak Ridge)

The good fight often begins with our attitude. Once we have won that battle, we can be sure the whatever fight we are in will be a good one. An “I can do this” attitude enables us to figure it out, instead of figuring on failing. A winning attitude will motivate us to adapt and change what is necessary to get it done. Do not let life worries weigh you down, rise up and overcome.   

“Fight the good fight.” Conversations Within” ts 12/3/2020

An overcoming attitude can turn every aspect of life into an adventure.

 I remember getting out of bed one morning, and just like that, my back went out and I went to the floor. We cancelled our plans for the day and my precious wife and I spent the next several hours figuring out how we could get me off the floor on to the couch. We laughed about it, and I screamed out loud, more than a few times, but on the whole we had a good adventure. Attitude is so powerful it can help one laugh even in pain.  

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” Rom.15.5 Conversations Within” ts 12/2/2020

Response to PAIN--Positive Attitude in Negative Situations

Learning to live with pain seems to be a skill we must inevitably acquire. Like other life challenges, our attitude can determine our success or failure. A positive attitude may not take the pain away, but it can help us nurture a healthy response to it, and even enable us to bear it with a smile. Someone wisely said, “Keep looking up... that’s the secret of life.”  

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Conversations Within” ts 12/1/2020 

I have played hard and now age is playing hard on me.

I love to play. I do not enjoy the pain that often comes afterward, but I am learning to embrace it as part of living life in a fallen world. I also appreciate that an active life is healthy and though I may hurt afterward, it is worth the price. One thing I do not want to do is make my pains worse by complaining about them. Smile and bear it, bear it and smile. The same soil that yields the fruit of pain also yields the fruit of health.  There is grace expressed in this prescription. 

“We reap what we sow.” Gal.6 Conversations Within” ts 11/30/2020

“I am having a good day!” Meme

 A good day begins with a good attitude joined to an active faith. Set the tone of the day first thing in the morning by rejecting everything negative, and do so by embracing and enjoying every blessing that comes from God’s gracious hands. Live as a citizen of Glory. Every spiritual blessing in Glory is already yours.  

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Heavenly places.” Eph.1.3 Conversations Within” ts 11/28/2020

“How to be happy? Decide every morning that you are in a good mood.” Meme

I wonder how many choices I make that are based on the moon I am in. I would hope that I am learning to make my mood a mute point in my decision making. Make your mood follow your choices and make your choices conform to the demands of love and goodness. Good choices will make for a good mood.  

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved.” 2Tim.2.15 Conversations Within” ts 11/27/2020

"When someone bases their life on principle, 99 percent of their decisions are already made." Anonymous

 To question our choices can be wise, but as wisely suggested, “not making a choice is a choice.” And, there are times when doing this is unwise. Decisions need to be made, hopefully not from fear or any negative emotion. Our choices should reflect our understanding of what is good, right and true. Praise be, help is offered.  “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 

“This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Is.30.21 Conversations Within” ts 11/26/2020

FOMO

I learned a new word this week-- FOMO, the fear of missing out. I would have to say that this fear sometimes gets the best of me.  I find it difficult to choose between several options. I second guess myself, and wonder if I make this choice, would another choice have been better. Talk about trying to decide what’s for dinner, or where to surf, not to mention life’s bigger choices. The simple truth is that the best choice may be the one we learn to live with.  

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Phil.4.11 Conversations Within” ts 11/25/2020