New Year Hopes: What Changes Are a Necessity for You?

We human beings need periodic change, whether or not we actually want it. We resist moving away from what is familiar because the threat of change creates anxiety or even fear. We will stay with what is familiar even when we are absolutely sure God would help us to change.

Overthinking what needs to be done is a means of putting off what should have been attended to much earlier. The beginning of a new year can be a new beginning for attending to your spiritual needs that have long since grown cold. 

Clear your mind and heart to make a place for God. Hear these words from Isaiah. “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear, for I am your God. I will make you strong as I protect you with my arm and give you victory.” Anticipate the very presence of God as you visualize what can be accomplished with his help and provision. Happy New Year!                 

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Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the advice of the Lord will stand.

~Proverbs 19:21 New American Standard Bible

We wait in hope for the  Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

~Psalm 33:20-22 New International Version

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How Are Expressions of Gratitude Helpful?

Jesus was consistent in warning us that the future is unpredictable. The economy is subject to change, and the political climate will not always be to our liking. The value of wealth can diminish without warning, yet in Matthew 6:34 Jesus tell us not to worry about tomorrow for it will present worries of its own.

There is no way to entirely control the future. Still, we as human beings need to be assured that life as we know it will continue undisturbed. Predictable change prompts us to rediscover gratitude and thanksgiving as we realize God’s provision and protection continue as we place our trust in him.

Expressions of gratitude should be permanent in our consciousness. Listen to this reminder. “Give thanks to the Lord. Remember the wonders he has done and his miracles. Sing praises to him and tell of his wonderful acts.” Thanksgiving diminishes fear and anxiety as we focus consistently on his love, his mercy and goodness. 

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Tell the heavens and the earth to celebrate and sing; command every mountain to join in the song. The Lord’s people have suffered, but he has shown mercy and given them comfort.

~Isaiah 49:13 Contemporary English Version

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Confronting Generational Challenges

Every generation is confronted with challenges to long-established ways of thinking that previously provided stability and security for daily life. September 11, 2001, brought home the undeniable reality that the wall of safety surrounding America could be breached by terrorists intending to instill fear that the conquest of our nation was possible.

Fear is a powerful emotion and is inescapable because so much in life is beyond our absolute control. Almost every day something is interjected into our lives that disrupts our predictable routines. It could be a minor event or some cutting-edge crisis with the power to turn our world upside down.

Faith is God’s antidote to fear and anxiety. When faced with fear and anxiety, faith in God’s power will stymie its impact. Cutting-edge faith is needed in a world of cutting-edge technologies and social advances. Cutting-edge faith hinges on the conviction that God’s purpose and plan will prevail.                           

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I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go. I’m telling you, “Don’t panic. I’m right here  to help you.”

~Isaiah 41:13 The Message

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Clear Fear from Your Conscience

Jacob was extremely troubled by the risk of losing Benjamin, whose mother had died giving birth to him. It's understandable that Jacob would be protective of Benjamin since he had been forced to come to terms with having lost Benjamin's brother Joseph some years earlier. Now Jacob was forced to trust his older sons to safeguard Benjamin as they traveled to Egypt to buy grain.

 

Arriving in Egypt, they were invited to a luncheon with Joseph, where Benjamin, Joseph’s full-brother, was the guest of honor. Once again, the money paid for the grain was put back into their bags along with Joseph’s special silver cup. Benjamin would later be accused of stealing this cup.

Seeking reconciliation is a delicate undertaking. Imagine Joseph thinking that he had one chance to unite his family, made up of the ten jealous brothers who hated him. God calls us to reconcile with whomever has wronged us. God is aware of and patient with our resistance, knowing we’re stressed out with fear and anxiety, yet he continues to push us toward reconciliation and new beginnings. Your spiritual health and clear conscience depend on it.  

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For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.

~2 Timothy 1:7 The Living Bible

There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life – fear of death, fear of judgment – is one not yet fully formed in love.

~1 John 4:18 The Message

Trapped by Past Sin – No Secrets!

          

Can you imagine the anxiety and fear Joseph's brothers must have felt returning home from their trip to Egypt to face Jacob without their brother Simeon? He was being held in custody as assurance they would return with their younger brother Benjamin. "Be sure your sins will find you out” became a reality for these brothers.

The trap these brothers fell into is classic. They had lied to their father about Joseph and covered it up for decades. Remember the men who bombed the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four little girls? Decades later, those guilty of the crime had to face justice for what they had done. There are no secrets for God.

The good news is that God’s forgiveness is available, and forgiveness brings unspeakable joy and peace to a troubled soul. Choose to confess what cannot be hidden from God. When you take this step, restoration of fellowship with Christ Jesus and others is attainable. May God give you courage to take this step for a new beginning.  

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“But if you don’t do what you say, you will be sinning against God; you can be sure that your sin will track you down.”

~Numbers 32:23 The Message

In Scriptures God says, “I swear by my very life that everyone will kneel down and praise my name!” And so each of us must give an account to God for what we do.

~Romans 14:11-12 Contemporary English Version

Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

~Psalm 51:12 The Living Bible

Christ's Coming: A Time of Transition - Part 2

We’re all confronted with change that may not be easy to accept into our thinking and belief patterns. Transitions often collide with anxiety and fear, which produce opposition to God-appointed changes that are destined to take place. What helps to reduce anxiety and fear associated with transitions is the belief that they are appointed by God Almighty.

When God sent Jesus to be the Messiah, God alone possessed in-depth knowledge of the appointed transitions awaiting his people. “To God be the glory, great things he has done.  So loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the lifegate that all may go in.” God grant you peace and joy. Merry Christmas and God bless you!

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To coordinate with KHCB’s “Five Days of Christmas” programming, I will post special Christmas thoughts on my blog Tuesday-Saturday, December 20-24. On those days, KHCB will air only Christmas music and short thoughts from the programmers.

On Monday, December 26, my blog posts again will coordinate with the radio broadcast schedule of Attitudes/Answers that airs at 5:45 PM on KHCB radio at 105.7FM in the Houston area. To stream it live or for a listing of sister stations in TX, OK, LA, and FL, you may click on the KHCB link in the "About Me" section of this page.

Feeling Afraid? Remember Your Faith in God - Part 3

Fear is one of the culprits that prevent capable individuals from seizing their highest potential. So many persons have excellent possibilities, but can't seem to find the confidence to pursue their ideals. Even when opportunity is present, fear or anxiety may evolve into procrastination, causing hesitation until the opportunity has passed.

Submitting to fear and mediocrity undervalues your ability to reach higher. Mediocrity can be comfortable and safe but cannot quiet the inner voice that knows there’s an untapped higher purpose. Disappointment with oneself because of failure to utilize untapped possibilities challenges us to rise above mediocrity and press on toward the high calling we know is possible.

We discover God’s perfect plan when we’re willing to let go of the familiar and venture into the unknown. Consider Abraham, who left familiar surroundings for an unknown land - God's promise to give to him and his descendants, who would evolve into a nation. He activated the faith God gave him and reached for his highest potential.