As we come upon New Year’s Eve, we often reflect back on our lives and flood our thoughts with many memories of the past year. We often re-evaluate our dreams, goals, aspirations and vision. We either become greatly motivated or unseemingly depressed as we remember the past year’s victories and defeats. But, we must look ahead with great expectation with hope.
It seems as if time is moving faster. I feel like I just posted my New Year’s message and another year is upon us once again. Did you do everything that you planned or wished for?
When we begin to realize that life will deal unexpected experiences and circumstances, we will begin to realize how precious life really is. Unfortunately, alot of people did not even see the end of this year. This should give us a fresh perspective and we should seriously begin to appreciate and value every season in life that we experience for we are not promised tomorrow. As each year passes, I begin to realize this more and more.
On another note, we should make every effort to live our lives to the fullest potential. What’s holding you back? Don’t keep putting off what you want to do in life. It’s time to make a change. Take the time to look to the future with great expectation with hope. Don’t let circumstances or people dictate or control your divine destiny. God is bigger than your circumstances. There will always be someone who will not agree or believe in what you want to do. Keep moving forward until you see results. Take each day one day at a time and don’t look at your overall goals which always seem to be overwhelming. Just take time to carve out a plan and work that plan until you harvest fruit.
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
— 1 Corinthians 2:9
May you be blessed with abundant health, peace, provision and protection for the upcoming year.
“Where there is no vision the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18
What is happening to America? As I watched the news unfold, I am horrified to see the world unravel in chaos within the school system as well as on every level in our society. What has gone wrong in America where school yards have become battlegrounds? Where shopping malls, churches and movie theaters have become targets of warfare?
The sense of morals and values as well as respect for life has been lost by youth and our adults. The media has also played a role in the social conditions where entertainment is being fed to the population as “Trash TV,” emphasizing murders, strong explicit sexual content and profanity in our daily lives. It’s also reflected in music, movies and other forms of entertainment. When someone constantly feeds off of negativity,subconsciously it eventually affects their psychological, spiritual, emotional and mental state. Not to mention all that they may be dealing with in their own lives. Others fester hatred in their hearts and do not have any value or regard for life. Period.
With the high level of social and economic problems in our country, people are losing hope for their future. It is evident in the continued senseless death of innocent lives being lost. This is a disgrace to our Nation and in the eyes of God.
It states in the Bible, the Lord will cut down the wicked. Although the wicked seems to reign at this present time, God is still in control and has victory in the end. Satan is defeated.
In the act of suicide, the people who are projecting violence on the innocent truly believe they’re escaping their evil deeds, but everyone will face judgement upon the earth. You cannot escape the consequences of your actions through death.
This act of violence is demonic but disguised as entertainment. The devil is a master illusionist and the master of lies. He is taking hold of minds to commit his work and to gain lost souls.
It also doesn’t help that the mentally ill, hate group or ex-con has the access to purchase and carry guns on the streets of America. We are living in a modern-day wild wild west.
With the increase of random violence, these acts are becoming desensitized. Something has to change for the better and not the worse.
Our vision has to be uplifted to a higher standard for what we accept and what is fed to us in this country. When you start accepting and compromising truth, morals, values, character and integrity, you will eventually start to experience the unravel of an individual, group, system, family, community, society and a nation.
It starts with the individual. There is power in one, but there is also power in the masses. Prayer was taken out of the school system and replaced with guns, bullying, sexual abuse and other forms of violence. This is unacceptable behavior and should not be tolerated.
This country has become much too passive which is causing additional problems. The mentality of the masses has to change for our survival. The answer is not bringing more guns to protect our children in the school system or in public places, but to eliminate the use of guns in this country.
There is a problem when we have to use guns as a control method to eradicate the problem. This country is out of control if you have to seek military measures to secure and protect our children and our nation. This is not the solution.
We are losing our children and our future. In the process, generation upon generation is lost. It’s time to take back what the devil has stolen from us. The proper vision put to action will lead us. How can one see clearly if they don’t carry a Godly vision to see effectively?
When the blind leads the blind, they fall into a ditch. We need the vision of God who is the Father of wisdom, grace, mercy, discernment and love to led the way. It’s time to raise the standard of the people because the season is here.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.
6 The Lord lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
As we enter the Christmas season, it’s important for us to shine the light of Christ into a dark and hurting world. This is the most meaningful time of the year besides Resurrection Day or Easter which is rooted in the Christian tradition.
“God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3-16.
God gave out of love for us. Unfortunately, the whole idea of the meaning of Christmas is being lost in commercialism. It’s now called a “holiday” rooted in expectation of “How much can I get?” “This is not what I wanted!” “Why didn’t I get that?” “I wish I could get that!” It’s the joyous events of running people over in the parking lot to get the latest tech toy, stressing out over bills that you have to pay in the New Year along with a host of other pressures that come along with the Christmas season.
Unfortunately this is an “I” generation which has caused a society full of demands, selfishness and greed. When was the last time you thought about Jesus? Do you know who He is? What He did when He came to this earth? The message is very simple. Love. That’s it. He provided love, demonstrated love and gave hope. Everything He represented was about love in a world that could not and still not understand or comprehend the capacity of His love.
It’s very hard to walk in love in you don’t know Him or have a relationship with Him. The natural man does not understand spiritual things because it’s foolishness to him.
Those of us who do have a relationship with Jesus have a responsibility to demonstrate God’s love to others. “The spirit of the Lord has anointed us to preach the gospel.” Isaiah 61:1. We were anointed and called for His purpose as a chosen vessel. This is not only to share His love in this season but it should be carried out 365 days out of the year. Emmanuel which means, “God is with us” and who also lives in us, so we should reflect His character at all times.
Let’s not get wrapped up in commercialism or depression because we over consume or can’t purchase or get what we desire. This is a time to reflect on the love that Jesus provided and sacrificed for us and in return we should share the same love of Christ with family, friends, co-workers, classmates and strangers.
The best gift you can give is your time to someone who is lonely, sick or in need. Let’s spend more time listening rather than shopping. Also, take some time out for solitude. Turn off the TV, computers, cell phones, Xbox, tablets, kindles, ipads, iphones, ipods, etc…You can not hear from God with so much noise and distraction around you. Spend some time reading the Bible to learn and understand the character of God and find a church that you are comfortable with that is spirit-filled.
If this is new to you, ask the Lord to open your heart and come into your life, forgive your past sins and make you new. Receive Him as your Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit will begin to teach you all things so ask Him to lead you to the truth and to find a church where you can grow in Christ. Transformation is a process so don’t expect a change instantly. The caterpillar eventually becomes a butterfly.
As we reflect on the real celebration of Christmas, let us remember Christ in a desperately unsatisfied, lost world.
Jesus stated, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follow me will not walk in darkness,but will have the light of life. John 8:12
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