FANTASTIC Thought

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (MSG)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“Worrying means you suffer twice” – Newt – “Fantastic Beasts”

Now I will make a little confession.  I have not watched any of the Harry Potter films.  They first came out at a time in my life that had I seen them, I would have failed to remember them.  My family quite stoically refers to that period as “The Dark Times”.

Sounds a little Harry Potterish doesn’t it?

But…

Last night after an amazing day of vision casting with one of my new friends from CHRIST COMMUNITY CHAPEL (https://ccchapel.com/) and the swearing in of another powerful leader in Knox County Ohio, Judge Richard Wetzel, we made our way back to Hilliard and connected with my “girls”.  That would be my daughters and my energetic tween neices, Lilly and Stella.

So, after a trip to one of their “faves” Johnny Rockets, they pulled their “unPotterized” Uncle over to the movies and this film called “FANTASTIC BEASTS and Where to Find Them”. (http://www.fantasticbeasts.com/)

And I will be the first to quickly admit, I really liked the film. 

I did.  As have a few others evidenced by its 70+ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  And while I really enjoyed all the wizardry and the escapism the film provided, I was struck about mid-way through by the little quote that opened today’s OFH.

“Worrying means you suffer twice…”

That is good.

A little “Biblical” even…

We shouldn’t worry…

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. – Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)

Made me think. 

Today is the last OFH entry for 2016.

And those closest to me know that I tend to “worry” a little more than I should.  

I “fret” frequently.

What does 2017 hold for my current relationships in the opiate addiction fight?  They are tenuous at times.

Has GOD called me to share a message in support of the trafficked?

What about these new initiatives?  Am I to cast vision or roll up my sleeves?

What about the convergence of church and government? Is it a healthy path to help or a hindrance?

So many questions.

Few answers.

Lots of reasons to “suffer with worry”.

And yet Newt and Paul are saying worry is unhealthy and wasted motion.  Why suffer “twice” or as my grandma used to say frequently, “borrow trouble”?

Therefore, I must be intentional to “pray and petition” or worry will share it's suffering.

2017 looms in the distance for all of us.

New administration.

New uncertainties.

New challenges.

New expectations.

Let’s not weigh them down in worry; let’s not add to “our sufferings”.

Instead let’s commit to praying about those uncertainties and unanswered questions and TRUST that GOD in His amazing power and infinite wisdom WILL settle us down, soothe any of the suffering and remind us that ALL will be good as we allow HIM to replace the WORRY.

Remember…

“Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”– Arthur Somers Roche

Happy New Year!

I love you all

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE

WOODEN and THE WORD

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (MSG)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Looking for some guidance as 2017 starts to peek over the horizon?

I like this little nugget from John Wooden the legendary coach.  

Perhaps it can help.

“Be true to yourself.

Make each day your masterpiece.

Help others.

Drink deeply from good books.

Make friendship a fine art.

Build a shelter against a rainy day.

Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.”

― John Wooden

There is some rock-solid truth and instruction there isn’t there?

Be true to you…

…let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. – 1 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV)

May each day your masterpiece…

…this is the day that the LORD has made, rejoice and be GLAD IN IT! – Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

Help others…

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16 (ESV)

Drink deeply from GOOD BOOKS (especially the WORD)

Wisdom is better than pearls, and nothing you desire compares with her.…live with Good Judgment… (be) at home with Knowledge and Planning. Proverbs 8:11-12(ERV)

Make friendship a fine art…

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:7 (ESV)

Build a shelter for a rainy day…

A prudent person sees trouble coming…a simpleton walks blindly and is (often) clobbered. – Proverbs 27:12

Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings everyday… 

I (GOD) will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8 ESV

  

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

It is amazing what you can glean from a little WOODEN and the WORD isn’t it?

Question is will we “apply it?”

Have a blessed day today!

I love you all

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE

ONE DAY AT A TIME

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Here’s what you need to keep in mind. You no longer have yesterday. You do not yet have tomorrow. You have only today. This is the day the Lord has made. Live in it. – Unknown

Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.

Charles Dickens

You woke up today to a day loaded with possibilities.

GOD has flooded it with compassion and opportunity!

Lamentations 3:22-23 (V)

…enduring is God’s loyal love; inexhaustible compassion.

Here they are, every morning, new! Your faithfulness, God, is as broad as the day.

What happened yesterday is a distant vapor. 

Your “PRESENT” has the chance to be totally influenced, steered, impacted, and blessed by HIS PRESENCE.

It is not too late.

Nope.

I don’t care if you spilled the coffee all over the keyboard this morning. I don’t care if the boss started right in on you about an end of year project that was just added to the slate.  I don’t care if traffic was snarled or your spouse spent the morning snarling, GOD wants HIS best for THIS day for you.

EMBRACE it.  Chase it.

Activate HIM in it!

God is able to accomplish, provide, help, save, keep, subdue…He is able to do what you can’t. He already has a plan. God’s not bewildered. Go to Him. – Max Lucado

As we approach the end of the year and the dawn of a new one, the hope of a fresh start looms.  We love the turn of the calendar and the clean sheet of paper that comes with it.

So, reflect on where you want to improve.

Learn from the past but don’t be hindered by it.

GO TO GOD and do a little soul searching.

Then commit to making the MOST of THIS DAY!

Then remember that old lyric, that old familiar refrain…

One day at a time sweet Jesus

That's all I'm asking from you.

Just give me the strength

To do everyday what I have to do.

Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus

And tomorrow may never be mine.

Lord help me today, show me the way

One day at a time.

For:

The secret of your success is DETERMINED by your daily agenda. - John C. Maxwell

So, have a great TODAY!

I love you all…

Opportunities for Hope