I Am The New Year

I am the New Year.

I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.

I am your next change at the art of living.

I am you opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the past twelve months.

All that you sought and didn't find is hidden in me, waiting for you to search it out with more determination.

All the good that you tried for and didn't achieved is  mine to grant it when you have fewer conflicting desires.

All that you ever dreamed but didn't dare to do, all that you hoped but did not will, all the faith that you claimed but did not have...

these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened by the touch of a strong purpose.

I am the opportunity to renew your alliance to Him to said, 

"behold, I make all things new."

I am the New Year.

From Truth Book

God with Us

Is during this time of the year that people will wonder and inquire about the baby born in the manger. This little baby became the King of the cross. Christmas proclaim the truth of Easter to come.

In Matthew 1:23, God called himself, "Immanuel"- which means, God with us! Not just God made us: not just God thinks about us: but God with us. God -where we are! 

God knows what it is like to be human. He is been here. He breathed our air and walked this earth. God..with...us!

Bethlehem was just the beginning. Jesus has promised a repeat performance. Bethlehem. Act 2. No silent night this time, however. The skies will open, trumpets will blast, and a new kingdom will begin. He will empty the tombs and melt the winter of dead. Dead you die! Life, you reign!

The manger dares us to believe the best is yet to be. I love Christmas because it reminds us how God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God!

From the book Because Bethlehem

by Max Lucado

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

A message every adult should read, because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and learned that I would have to be responsive when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned sometimes things hurts, but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking".

Each of us (parent, grandparent,aunt, uncle, teacher or friend) influence the life  of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?

Author Unknown

Benefits of Struggling

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.

Then it seemed to stop making progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.

But it has a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened!

In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready to flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.

And we could never fly.

Author Unknown

Something Shared

https://youtu.be/UQdKOr-sqb0

A Special Place

There is a special place in life, that needs my humble skill, a certain job I'm meant to do, which no one else can fulfill.

The time will be demanding and the pay is not too good and yet I wouldn't change it for a moment - even if I could.

There is a special place in life, a goal I must attain, a dream that I must follow, because I won't be back.

There is a mark that I must leave, however small it seems to be, a legacy of love for those who follow after me.

There is a special place in life, that only I may share, a little path that bears my name, awaiting me somewhere.

There is a hand that I must hold, a word that I must say, a smile that I must give for there are tears to blow away.

There a special place in life that I was meant to fill, a sunny spot where flowers grow upon a windy hill.

There's always tomorrow and the best is yet to be, and somewhere in this world, I know there is a place for me.

Author Unknown

Reflection of You

There is a story about a father and his young son who were walking through the mountains. Suddenly, the son fell, hurting his leg on a rock. He screamed, "Aahhh!".

To his surprise, he heard a voice repeating, "Aaahh!".

This made him even more curious. So, he yelled, "Who are you". Back came the same answer, "Who are you?"

Feeling a bit perturbed by this response, he yelled out, "Coward!" Back came the same reply, "Coward!"

He looked at his father and asked: "What's going on?" His father smiled and said: "Son, pay attention."

Looking across the valley, his father yelled to the mountain, "I admire you!" The voice answered: "I admire you!"

Again the man cried out: "You are a champion!" The voice replied, " You are a champion!"

The boy was amazed, but he was very confused. So, his father explained...

"You are only hearing an echo, the sound of our voices bouncing back from the mountains. However, this is really how life works. It returns to you what you think, say and do!

Our lives are a reflection of our thoughts and actions. If you want more love in your world, create more love in your heart. if you want to be treated with kindness, treat others with kindness. If you want more competence on your team, become more competent.

This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life. Life will give to you, everything you give it to it, only it will give you more in return. Your life is not ever a coincidence. Each moment is a reflection of you!"

The son listened and grew in understanding, and through the following years, he witnessed the true of these words in his life!

Author Unknown

Watch The Sky by Ryan Farish

https://youtu.be/lxwAxcKzVK0

How To Improve Your Vision

Did you know that the English word "thanks" come from the same root word of "think"?

 

And they not only share a similar background, they are related in another way. It seems the more we think, the more we thank. One woman illustrated the how thinking and thanking are related in a visit to the eye doctor.

 

She complained to her ophthalmologist that, as she grew older, her eyesight was getting worse. He examined her eyes and could not be encouraging about the future of her eyesight. But to his surprise, she did not seem to be upset.

 

She told him all she was grateful for...her deceased husband; her children and their families; her friends; the many years she has enjoyed upon this earth; her vast library of memories. She had done a great deal of thinking about these things.

 

"My eyesight is getting worse,' she summarized, 'but I'm not going to fret over that.'

 

Her doctor later made this observation: 'Her eyesight is poor, but her vision is better than most people.' She clearly saw what many never see - all the good in life. And she was content.

 

When we take time to think, and make time to thank, we see more clearly. It sound like a good way to improve your vision.

 

by Steve Goodier

 

Have a great thanksgiving day and THINK in all the blessings that you have.

 

 

 

An Inspiration - Solo Piano Original from Joseph Akins

https://youtu.be/xAbTJgLi3GM