At a Crossroads? Get Out of the Rut and Reach Higher - Part 1

Getting into a rut is relatively easy. All it takes is following a pattern of behavior for months or years. Dedicated to his practice, a young attorney paid his dues working long hours and weekends. Long, stressful days created fatigue and irritability, so when he arrived home, he was unable to provide the affection and acceptance his family longed to receive from him.

He progressively became alienated from his family, totally missing out on the blessings of being a husband and father. After years of alienation he came to a significant crossroads. As an older man, he was forced to choose between being a workaholic and being submissive to what God intended a husband and father to give and receive.

While his marriage may be irreconcilable, there is hope for being friends with the woman who once loved him. Reaching out to his children, he hopes to achieve some semblance of reconciliation. God's word reminds us that what seems impossible can be possible with God. Asking, seeking and knocking, while grasping on to patience, can be a winning formula.  

The Power of Patience: Taming the Temper - Part 2

Special family gatherings like Christmas or birthdays test our capacity to get along with others, even those we love. God creates us with the capacity not only to survive family gatherings, but to thrive and abound in love for each other. Deuteronomy 4:33 tells us how: "Walk in the way God has commanded so that you might prosper and prolong your days." You can do this with God's help.

To thrive in ways God intended, make a thorough examination of yourself and your lifestyle. Remember, your body is the temple of God. You may need to change some habits that are detrimental to your emotional and spiritual health. Do you live under too much stress, worry, and anxiety? Are changes needed?

Thriving includes seeking peace with God and others while there is time. Energies used in striving for power can be used to rebuild your emotional life, family life, and spiritual life. Listen to a choice St. Paul extends to you. "Let the mind of Christ Jesus be in you." This change is possible, so permit this choice be a first step for a new beginning. God bless you.