“If you no longer believed in the future, you would lose all hope.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14 from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 99). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

I start each day with exciting anticipation. The reason is because I start my day reading the Bible and in prayer. My faith is strengthened by the Bible and my anxieties are given to God through prayer. It is a great way for me to start my day.

How do you start your day? Some turn on CNN, Fox News or their local news station and get all discouraged and fearful. The task of those outlets of information is to get you hooked on them so they push the negative to keep you involved. It plays on your fears, your anxieties to an unbelievable level. It tells you that things in life are getting worse and that kills our hope

But the Bible pushes hope. It tells you that God has a wonderful plan for your life. It says that you are loved by God. It says if you need anything just ask. It says that everything in your life as a Christ-follower works out for your good. It says for us to give Him our cares because He cares for us. It says that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that we could live forever. Over and over it shows how to live by faith and to have hope in our present and to believe in our future.

I started today with some things that were of concern to me. As I was reading in Psalm 50 in the Message, I found that God wants me to “call for help when you’re in trouble – I’ll help you, and you’ll honor me.” So I stopped and told Him of my needs and I knew that He heard me because He said He would and the answers have already come. I love the adventure of living with God in my life.

So how has your day gone?

Comments

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life. It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed. Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life. Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you. You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good. Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because God is good He will use e

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle? Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who have messed

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident. In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose. In other words you are not an accident. I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth. In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man. And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ” Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like? Like that characteristic is a curse or something. Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God. Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Jesus did answer the question about the blind

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