“Your best days are in front of you.” Cecil Williamson

Do I really believe this? Are my best days in front of me, or is this just wishful thinking? It may very well be wishful thinking if my plans conflict with the Architect of hope and happiness. It makes perfect sense that God has plans for those who love Him and good plans at that. Our future is tied to those plans or not. It all comes down to this very simple question: “Do I want what He wants an am I will to align myself with it?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer. 29.11  Conversations Within” ts 12/22/2018

“It is wise to realize that God can catch you when you fall, He just might use the ground to do so.” Unknown

God uses ordinary means. It should come as no surprise that He will use aspirin to cure headaches and hangovers and upset stomachs to teach us to eat and drink with moderation. God is present in natural law as much as in miracles. A sharp edge cuts because He designed it that way. Gravity is a gift that should be respected. In fact every gift from God should be received as much with reverence as with thanksgiving.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1.17 Conversations Within” ts 12/20/2018

“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you have been buried, but actually you have been planted.” Christine Caine

It helps to remind ourselves that every trial God allows in our life, is for our good. His intentions toward those who love Him are always kind, and He places us where we can be the most use to others. What some see as a demotion may very well be a promotion in God’s eyes. Remember the words, “Low,  I am with you always.” The pun is intended. Lowliness is the favorite attitude of Christ.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 12/19/2018

”If you want something you never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.”

Try something new if you want to see change in the New Year. A new you often begins with steps in a new direction. Break old unwanted habits by establishing desired new ones. Forget going boldly where no man has gone before, just go somewhere you've never gone before.

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and loved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience." Col.3.12 Conversations Within” ts 12/18/2018

“Don’t cry over spilt milk.” Adage

Do not waste time bemoaning what is, move on. Don’t even give it one second of thought lest you linger over it and waste valuable time, time that could be used to climb “further up and further in” to the glory that awaits all who hope for a better life in God.

“Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1Pet.1.13 Conversations Within” ts 12/18/2018

Peace on earth! I would settle for peace at home.

I come from an argumentative family. The truth is that none of us like it. We just do it. All the arguments in the world can be traced to many of the same arguments in the home. If there is any place on earth that needs the peace of Christ it is in our own homes. One meaning of Christmas it that Christ will come sit down at the family dinner table, join our hands together and say the blessing of peace. Join hands at His table, forgive your differences and be merry.

"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Rev.3.20 Conversations Within” ts 12/17/2018

“The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than its value.” Charles Dudley Warner

Christ is God’s gift to the world short and simple. His excellent gift is both appropriate and valuable. Christ came that God might forgive our sins. What could be more appropriate than that to a world needing forgiveness? And, consider the cost His gift came to us? “Amazing love how can it be that Thou my God didst die for me.”

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2Cor.9.15 Conversations Within” ts 12/16/2018

“May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.” Meme

Christmas Eve celebrations may look forward in faith as much as they look back with joy. The eve of Christ’s first coming stirs in our heart a quiet hope for that eve of expectation at His second. The faithful wait with eager expectation to the end of all sorrow and pain where glory unspeakable awaits. The tomorrow of all tomorrows is upon us more than we know.

“Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Rev.22 Conversations Within” ts 12/15/2018

”If you love someone, tell them because hearts are often broken by words left unspoken.” Pamela Daranjo.

Do not hide the light and warmth of your love. Leave no doubt of your affection for the people in your life. Tell them. Tell them often. People like to hear the words, “I love you!” Say them, not just in parting, or the end of a phone call, but unexpectedly, without reservation and wholeheartedly like you’ll burst if you don’t.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” 1Thess.5.11 Conversations Within” ts 12/13/2018

Nurture your appreciation for others and you nurture your affection for them.

Love can grow cold even after years of loving service, especially after years of service without a sincere appreciation “towards” the ones you serve. You read right. It is not only important to express appreciation when someone serves you, it is important to be grateful for the people you serve. Otherwise bitterness may spring up in the garden of your service where you meant affection to do so.

“I thank God continually for you and I never give up praying for you…” Eph.1.15 Conversations Within” ts 12/12/2018

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.” C.S. Lewis

Why would we want a relationship that could potentially crush our heart? Because the alternative is to know nothing and possibly be left in the hell of a self-centered life. Make your peace with it. Love can surely be painful, but absolutely and positively more than worth it. How can we be sure? Well, the wisest Person known has chosen to walk this path and calls us to join Him. Who am I to question God’s wisdom?

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3.16 Conversations Within” ts 12/11/2018

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Elizabeth Barrett Browning

We may wonder how we can be “in love” with someone especially if we have fallen out of love with them. I mean, you either have feelings for them or you don’t, right? Well not quite. Our feelings often follow the investments of our time and energy. If we want to be in love and stay in love with someone, love them with action--put sincere time and energy into the relationship. But be sure to do so with gratitude, not bitter resentment. Nurture appreciation and you nurture affection.

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 12/10/2018

“There is no power greater than true affection.” Seneca the Younger

I used to think that emotional love was weaker than the love of action, but I now realize that the love of affection, properly expressed, may fuel the resolve of the love of action. Actions come so much easier when we feel strongly about someone. It is also true that the love of our emotions and actions need the guidance of wisdom, and so it seems the true love involves all three, the mind, the will and our emotions. God said as much when He asked us to love with our whole heart. 

“And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” Gen.29.20 Conversations Within” ts 12/10/2018

“Only in love are unity and duality not in conflict.” Rabindranath Tagore

There is a unity in love. I am referring to the unity in the love of action and the love of strong affection. I am beginning to realize that true love expresses both. Strong affections for someone naturally flow into powerful and beneficial actions for them. It is true that emotional love can be hurt, but rather than trying to hurt back true affection will give way to those actions that heal.

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” Conversations Within” ts 12/8/2018

The morning reboot!

The stuff of everyday life can slow down our fruitfulness so much so that it becomes necessary to reboot, to dump all the mental and emotional clutter, refocus and remember life’s purpose. Not only knowing the purpose of life, but being able to recenter ourselves around it, yields a sweet inner peace. Do I know how to center myself? It may be something as simple as closing your eyes for a moment and speaking core values to your heart until focus and its peace returns.

“You will keep in perfect peace, the mind focused on You…” Is.26.3 Conversations Within” ts 12/5/2018

“I find that we are all such sinners that it is better to leave the judging up to God.” Gandhi

I think we will all have a better day if we stop passing judgement, not only on others, but on ourselves as well. Leave all judgments to God, and accept the simple and wonderful truth that He offers to accept any and everyone who looks humbly to Him for grace. Bathing in His gracious acceptance may help us with our own acceptance of others. 

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7  Conversations Within” ts 12/4/2018

“Learning to ignore things is one of the greatest paths to inner peace.” Unknown

How easily am I provoked? Easily enough, I am sad to say. Lord make me sensitive to others, but not sensitive to their provocations. Help me possess my soul in patience, and close the door on all that would rob Your precious inner peace. I want to live deliberately, not reacting to people or circumstances, but to consciously respond, and always with gentleness, kindness and self-control. Amen!

“Come to me...I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 12/3/2018

“You will never have this day again, so make it count.” Meme

Time is too precious to waste. The encouragement to make this day count would be true enough even if nothing was working against us. Sadly the passage of time is always working against us in this place. Rust happens. Age encroaches. All we have to do to destroy our possessions, or ruin our health, or harm our relationships is NOTHING. Everything good in life must be actively maintained. Do we really have a day to waste?

“Make the most of every opportunity, because the day is evil.” Eph.5.16 Conversations Within” ts 12/2/2018

”Good day!” (Every day greeting)

When we use these words, and others like them, are we just being polite, or do we really mean them? Well, we probably want most of the people in our life to have a good day, but it is easy to live on autopilot and fall back on a cliche when answering a greeting. But since we are respectful enough to say these words, could we not be conscience enough to pray them. We are able to turn every parting word into a prayer for blessings. This way the people in our life may very well have a “good day.”

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6.24 Conversations Within” ts 12/1/2018

“It’s a good day to have a good day.” Meme

It is as simple as that? Can I have a good day, simply by choosing to have a good day? There are always unpleasantries beyond our control, but we can always choose our attitude toward them. Is having a good attitude enough to have a good day? Well, it will certainly help by laying a solid foundation for follow up actions that build one. Is there ever a good reason to not have a good attitude?

“Let this attitude be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” Conversations Within” ts 11/30/2018

“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next." C.S.Lewis

I want to share the same vision of life that Jesus has. He works from Heaven, I work on earth. We both work to see the Kingdom of love and light come to earth. This does not mean that I should be “so heavenly minded that I am no earthly good.” The love Jesus promotes touches everything with goodness not just the soul. One cannot ignore the physical sufferings of others and be centered on the justice and mercies of Heaven.

“But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” 1 Jo.3.17 Conversations Within” ts 11/28/2018

“Won’t you be my Neighbor?” Mr. Rogers

Live a life of love and love the person in front of you, but certainly don’t stop there. Love without limits. After all, Jesus told us to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all.” Our efforts to love in His name should embrace the nations not just our nation, the world, not just the home front. Love your neighbor, but understand that God’s  view of our neighborhood if much bigger than our own.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”  Jesus Conversations Within” ts 11/27/2018

“Enlightenment is when a wave realises it is the Ocean” Thich nhat Hanh

When we help someone else we are helping ourselves. We are all sons and daughters of Adam and Eve--members of the same human tribe. We all have the same need of God’s love and forgiveness in Christ. Our connectedness is why Christ became one of us so that we can become one with His Father. When we wake to this oneness with God, we should logically realise our oneness and responsibility to each other. 

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Eph.4 Conversations Within” ts 11/26/2018

”Heal the world. Make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race“ Michael Jackson

God has made it abundantly clear that we are responsible not just to our own personal welfare, but the welfare of others. One reason God entrusts people with means whether money, or possessions, or influence, is so we can assist others in need. What others? God so loved the world, not just those in my neighborhood. Love without limits.

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” Is.1.17 Conversations Within” ts 11/25/2018

“A better world starts with a better me.” Meme

The focus of wanting to make the world better surely begins when I make myself better. I am not referring to the bettering of things like my personal finances, or building a better house, but pursuing better character. Perhaps at the top of my “to do” list each day, I should write something as simple as, “Be a better person.” It goes without saying that I will need help. Our Father offers it. 

“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Col.3:12 Conversations Within” ts 11/24/2018

“What man is a man who does not make the world better.” Balian of Ibelin (Kingdom of Heaven)

Spread goodness. Leave people and places better than you find them. Clean up after yourself. Even clean up after others if need be. Live each day enjoying and being enjoyed. Bless and be blessed. Give thought each day to the many ways that you can make life better for those around you. Live a life of love and love the person in front of you.

“Whatever your hands finds to do, do it with all of your might.” Ecc.9.10 Conversations Within” ts 11/23/2018