Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 16 – No. 5214 December 27, 2014
Thought for the week: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." – Martin Luther King, Jr.
I was in the six item express lane at the store quietly fuming.
Completely ignoring the sign, the woman ahead of me had slipped into the check-out line pushing a cart piled high with groceries. Imagine my delight when the cashier beckoned the woman to come forward, looked into the cart and asked, "So which six items would you like to buy?"
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal recently stirred a group of conservatives to sustained applause in Iowa when he reminded them of a profound truth... "The United States of America did not create religious liberty, religious liberty created the United States of America."
There's a wide-eyed little youngster who believes you're always right;
And his ears are always open, as he watches day and night;
You are setting an example every day in all you do,
For the little one who's watching wants to grow up just like you!
"Research Proves: 90% of the thoughts you have today are the same thoughts you had yesterday ... until you observe them and stop the patterns. Think differently!" – Dr. Henry Cloud
"You are not what you think you are. What you think—you are."
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" – The Bible, Philippians 4:8, (KJV).
The most traditional way to measure the quality of one's life is to evaluate success by listing accolades, achievements, and acquisitions. After all, in its simplest terms, success is getting what we want and most people want wealth and status.
Yet, as much pleasure as these attributes can bring, the rich, powerful, and famous usually discover that true happiness will elude them if they do not have peace of mind, self-respect, and enduring loving relationships.
Peace of mind doesn't preclude ambition or desire for material possessions or high position, but it assumes a fundamental foundation of contentment, gratitude, and pride—a belief that whatever one has is enough and an attitude of active appreciation for the good things in one's life.
Feeling successful can generate satisfying emotions of self-worth, but feeling significant—that one's life really matters—is much more potent. Peter Drucker, the great management guru, captured this idea when he wrote of the urge many high achievers have to "move beyond success to significance."
The surprise for many is that one of the surest roads to significance is service. It doesn't have to be of the Mother Teresa missionary variety. Parents who sacrifice their own comfort and pleasure for their children are performing service, as are teachers, public-safety professionals, members of the military, and volunteers who work for the common good.
In addressing graduates, Albert Schweitzer said, "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Jesus said, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."1
I read recently about certain ants that have a passion for the sweet glandular substance given off by the caterpillar of a large blue butterfly. According to the article, the ants can become so enthralled by the substance they carry the supplier into their nest with great delight. What they don't realize is that the caterpillar gorges himself on the ant larva.
Usually such a threat would be attacked by an army of ants and destroyed or repelled. However, because they enjoy the caterpillar's tasty secretions so much, they become "addicted" to it. In so doing they are oblivious to the fact that their young are being destroyed!
In reality many of us are addicted to something. It may not be drugs or alcohol, but anything we habitually or compulsively use or do to avoid facing our inner unresolved problems (such as fears, hurts, losses, anger, guilt, inadequacies, etc.), is an addiction. It may be work, religion, gambling, spending, eating, smoking, relationships, sex or any of a score of other things--some of which may be very enjoyable.
Of one thing we can be sure, when our life is being controlled by addictions, we don't grow and we can damage and even destroy our children, our closest relationships, and our physical, emotional or spiritual health. Besides, an addiction is often a counterfeit of the real thing, and when we settle for the counterfeit we can stop ourselves finding the genuine.
Only when we are ruthlessly honest with ourselves, and admit to God and at least one other safe person that we are addicted, can we get God's help to face the causes behind our addictions and seek the help we need to overcome them.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, if there is anything I am doing or using to medicate or deaden any unresolved problems in my life, please deliver me from the sin of denial, and give me the courage to admit my problems and find the help I need to face and resolve them. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name. Amen."
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Oprah Winfrey: "Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi." – Oprah Winfrey
1. Bible concordance and Bible helps
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"Because the world is hungry,
go with bread.
Because the world is filled with strife,
go with peace.
Because the world is filled with deceptions and lies,
go with truth.
Because the world would die without,
go with the love of God."
