There are consumers, and there are contributors in this world. 

What can ___________ do for ___________?

John F Kennedy, at the end of his inaugural address, coined this saying: “My fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” This was 1961. Since that time, our society has shifted from asking, “What can I do for my country?” to, “What can my country do for me?” The way people are today, if the Church quoted this expression, it would go something like this: “Ask what my church can do for me — ask not what I can do for my church.”

The world’s view:

Our society is more of a consumer society. See, consumers focus on self; contributors focus on others. Consumers think small; contributors think big. Consumers lack vision; contributors see the vision. Consumers lack values; contributors know what’s important. Consumers are maintainers; contributors are multipliers. There is a big difference.

God’s view:

The word of God says that the world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. A consumer is stingy; a contributor is generous. God’s word goes on to say that if you help others, you will be helped. 

We should all strive to be contributors with our lives. We should all contribute to the church — serve, give, attend. If we do this, we release God’s hands to bless us and help us.

Just a thought, 

PSS

God’s House — Your House

We live in a broken world.

A corrupt world:

A world that has lost its true identity. A world that worships itself and has rejected God and His ways. A world that is hopeless and corrupt — motivated by the root of all evil (money). The Bible teaches us about the Church, about families: how we are to live and the life we should all strive for. 

A broken world:

In Luke 4:18, Jesus said He came to heal the brokenhearted. That’s you and I. There is a little brokenness inside all of us. Families are broken, with divorce rates very high, depending on which study you buy into. People are now living together instead of marrying. Homosexuals are marrying, and our society is applauding it. It’s not real — God does not accept that type of marriage. God is the One who ordained marriage between one man and one woman (only). All other marriages are just the reflection of a lost, broken society. 

Jesus — the Healer:

One study found that the divorce rate among Christians is much lower than the world’s. But it defined what a true believer, serious about their faith is: someone who: 1) goes to church at least once a week, 2) reads their Bible and other spiritual books, and 3) prays privately and together. If you do these things, the divorce rate significantly drops. So, the answer to what ails society is Jesus and the word of God. 

Begin today to ask Him to heal you and strengthen you so you will become the most effective believer you can become.

Just a thought,

PSS

Persistence Pays Off

Sometimes in life, when life happens and things aren’t going well, the only thing we have left to do is persevere.

Weather the storm:

Whether it’s a business, marriage, or a workplace situation, we need to keep going forward and to hang in there. We have to learn to weather the storm and never quit. Quitters never win or succeed. Those that persevere and keep going and keep pushing look for ways to make it work and obtain the prize.

Overcome obstacles:

So many people have a habit of quitting and giving up as soon as they encounter an obstacle. They see obstacles as a “no” or too hard to overcome. Webster’s Dictionary defines persevere as: to continue in some effort, course of action, or pursuit in spite of difficulty or opposition.

Practice perseverance:

This is how we should adjust our attitude: by attaining perseverance instead of quitting. Some quit way too soon, and this is a reason why, for some of us, nothing seems to work out for us. It’s not that things couldn’t work out — it’s that sometimes people quit on a dream, a job, or a marriage way too soon.

Let’s purpose to develop habits that will help us, not defeat us.

Just a thought,

PSS

Where Is Your God?                       

Who or what owns first place in your life? It should be an easy thing to tell if someone observes your words, your actions, and where you spend your time. 

In the government?

Too many people are transferring their allegiance from God to the government. This is dangerous, not just as individuals, but also as a nation. God said if He holds the first place in our lives, He will provide the things we need to live (Matthew 6:33). We ought to seek Him and His ways and His line of thinking. 

In the trunk?

There are those who put God in the trunk like a tire jack and get Him out only in case of emergency. No one likes to be treated like that, and yet that is how some people treat God. He is either first or not. If He is first, everything falls into place. 

In the driver’s seat?

God loves you, but He will lead you only if you allow Him into the driver’s seat. Whatever you are the most passionate about, or where you spend most of your time and money, will be first in your life.

I believe that, as you take inventory of your life, you will make the necessary adjustments to ensure that God has been given His rightful place on the throne of your heart: first place.

Just a thought,

PSS

William Burroughs once said, “Desperation is the raw material of drastic change.”

From analyst to catalyst:

Webster’s defines desperate this way: driven to or resulting from loss of hope; offering little chance for improvement; hopeless. To become so desperate can either be a good turning point or can become a point of destruction in our lives. When we become so downcast that we realize something has to change, and we become sick and tired of being sick and tired, only then will we decide to make good changes in our lives. 

From destruction to construction:

It’s actually a good thing when we discover that some of our behaviors are creating destruction and hurt. That’s when we can adjust our thinking and our attitudes. We shouldn’t allow circumstances to get so bad that we make foolish decisions out of desperation. The bottom line is that sinking so low that you become discouraged may not be the best place to be, but if viewed from the right perspective, it could be the catalyst to cause long-lasting transformations in our lives. 

Let’s continue to grow and develop our character and our way of life so as to live peaceably with ourselves and others if possible.

Just a thought,

PSS