Showing posts with label happy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happy. Show all posts
I’d
like to invite you to think back to the day when you last purchased something
new. Perhaps it was a new car, a new
pair of shoes, or even a new bag of potato chips. Do you remember that “new car smell?” Or the way your new shoes were so clean and
bright? And it’s always more fun to pull
out the first whole potato chip, as opposed to reaching down in the bag for the
last few crumbs!
What is
it about something new? It makes us feel
happy and at times, it may even bring back fond childhood memories of a new
bicycle or a new puppy or kitten to love.
As humans, we are not generally attracted to old, ugly, discarded pieces
of merchandise. While someone once said
that “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” we can be assured that there
are some pieces of trash that are just that: trash. Still, we continuously find ourselves trying
to sell this “trash” at yard sales, flea markets, and the like. Or we may determine that something we own
simply needs to be placed in the infamous “file 13.” No matter how they get rid of the “junk,” people
usually follow the old adage, “Out with the old and in with the new.”
Every
365 days, we are given something new: a new year. Every year, we virtually are given the chance
to hit the reset button. We have the
chance to live a fuller life, love a lot deeper, and laugh even harder. A new year brings with it the opportunity to
make amends with family or friends or spend more time with your parents,
spouse, or children. Yet, in our rush to
get through another day, there are times when we simply stick to our old ways.
Likewise, there are times when we keep driving the same car, even though it’s broken down five times in the last week. God may have even sent the money for the down payment on a new car, but we keep putting it off until next week. And those new shoes in the closet never get worn because they’re not “broken in” yet. So, we continue wearing our ragged pair instead. Then we can hardly finish our work day because of the pain in our feet from the worn out soles that offer no support.
Similarly,
you may already be ignoring the New Year.
Instead of using this fresh start as a reset button, you may be
continuing to live as before. You might
be living in fear, feeling unloved, or struggling with no hope in sight. You may have plans to give God your life next
week, next month, or next year. Your old
life is “broken in” and while it has its flaws, a life with God may seem even
more uncomfortable, much like a new pair of shoes. Yet, a life with God will be clean and bright,
filled with God’s amazing unconditional love and grace.
God
often opens doors for us in our lives.
He may open the door to a better paying job, a new home, or a new
family. He may even open the door to a
new life with God at the center. When
God opens a door, He gives us the choice as to whether or not we will walk through
it. If we just stand there on the wrong
side of the door, nothing will change. But
if we take that first step across the threshold, everything changes.
God’s
Word says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he
is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17
NIV). This is the first day of
2013. Don’t wait any longer to begin
a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
He will restore your hope, fill you with joy, and mend your broken
heart. Throw out the old, ugly parts of
your life and replace them with new, joyous ones. Take that first step. Walk through the door. Embrace this New Year by beginning a new life
in Christ.
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
Have you ever said, “I’m on cloud nine?” If you have, it is likely that something
wonderful happened in your life at the exact moment you uttered these
words. Perhaps you heard the words,
“You’re hired!” or “It’s a Girl (or Boy)!” or “Will you marry me?” And you likely remember the date, time, and
location where this special event in your life took place. But, what about all of the days, months, and
years leading up to this exhilarating moment?
Undoubtedly, you experienced some highs and lows, and maybe even some disappointments
along the way. Still, you eventually arrived
at the moment where you reached the destination on your journey – cloud nine.
When I think about the journeys we take in life, I have
come to realize that there are many similarities between our day-to-day
experiences and those of many reality television show contestants. Their journey through various challenges is
not unlike our journey through life, with its many highs and lows. At times, contestants may make a mistake or
encounter an unexpected detour. Along
their journey, they make good decisions and bad ones. Yet, one team always prevails and finishes the
journey victorious, having made it to their “cloud nine” experience – being
proclaimed the winner of the competition.
Our lives bear a striking resemblance to these programs,
in that our lives are also a journey.
While we are not striving to win $1,000,000 or the title of sole Survivor, there are many daily
challenges that we must face. For
instance, in the business world, everyone wants to get ahead. Instead of clues, they attend “power lunches”
to try to get to the next rung on their way to the top of the ladder of
success. And a mistake may not cost them
their lead position in a competition, but it may cost them a promotion, their
job, or even their reputation. But in
the end, there will be those who make good decisions and find their way to the
“cloud nine” they are searching for, such as a promotion or increase in salary.
Personally, I find that the journey to cloud nine can be
quite difficult. Now, I am not talking
about the end of a race, or even recognition in the workplace. I am talking about this journey we call
life. And no, we’re not truly searching
for cloud nine. But, we are on a journey
to eternity. This journey is very
difficult at times. While we may have
joyous times to celebrate, there may be other times when sorrow fills our
hearts. We may hear the words “You’re
Fired” or “You’ve had a miscarriage” or “We’re getting a divorce” instead of
the words above. During these times, God
will bring you peace. He will remind you
of the cloud nine that you seek. And He
will help you move toward your goal, filling your heart with joy once more.
There are times when it would be easier to just
quit. Or it may be tempting to follow a
different path. God’s Word says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that
leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many” (Matthew 7:13 ESV).
It might seem easier to travel down the
wide road, at least for a little while. Inevitably,
though, you will find that this road leads to great disappointment. The decision to travel down this road leads to
a dead end – Hell. If you’re on this
road, I want to strongly encourage you to turn around. It’s not too late. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. Ask Him for directions to cloud nine. Follow His steps and don’t look back. You will be on a journey like no other, never
seen on television. God can do more than
you ever imagined, and I can assure you, His dreams for your life are truly
incomprehensible!
Every day, I continually strive to put one foot in front
of the other on my journey to cloud nine.
In my life, I have experienced many ups and downs. Some have been minor, such as the
disappointment of a missed visit with a friend, and some have been major, such
as the saddening loss of my mom. Still,
I know that God will be with me in every circumstance. He will give me strength when I am weary, joy
when I am sad, and hope when I feel hopeless.
The road I am traveling on may be straight and narrow, but God is
leading the charge. Won’t you join me on
this direct route to the ultimate “cloud nine” – Heaven? The journey to cloud nine may be challenging,
but just wait until you see the view from the top!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer