Blessed Life Of Goodness (B.L.O.G): 2009

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We've added years to life not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

To all my friends in my life, thanks for being MY FRIEND!
By George Carlin

I wonder... have you thought about this...
Why is it that we are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with life, when in many ways we have never had it so good?

We have more disposable income than ever before; we are living longer and are healthier than we’ve ever been.
But yet there are many unhappy and dissatisfied people in our world.

How can we discover true joy and freedom in life?
People are searching for the answer to this question in many different places.

Leo Tolstoy, author of War and Peace wrote a book called A Confession, in which he tells the story of his search for meaning and purpose in life. He describes how he rejected Christianity as a child. As he went through life he became very ambitious. First of all, he thought pleasure was the answer. Having a great time. He entered the social world of Moscow and Petersburg, drinking heavily, sleeping around, gambling and leading a wild life. But it did not satisfy him. He then thought maybe money was the answer. He had inherited an estate and made a large amount of money out of his books. Yet that did not satisfy him either. He then sought success, fame and importance. But still he said, it didn’t satisfy. Then he thought, maybe the answer is family life, to give his family the best possible life. He married in 1862 and had a kind, loving wife and thirteen children. He had achieved all his ambitions and was surrounded by what appeared to be complete happiness.

And yet 1 question brought him to the verge of suicide: "What meaning has my life that the inevitability of death does not destroy?" He searched for the answer in every field of science and philosophy, but without satisfaction. Eventually he found that the peasant people of Russia had the answer he had been looking for, in their faith in God through Jesus Christ.

I've notice that it's a common belief that once you're a Christian, you'll start living a boring, underprivileged and unrewarding life as you need to give up the pleasures of modern living like clubbing and partying thru the night. And to give up the vibrant nightlife is like asking you to stop seeking fun, enjoying life and start living like a monk/nun in a monastery.

In your mind you're thinking,"How abundant or fulfilling can that kind of life be? Joyless, dreary and unexciting? No way man..."
Well, nothing can be further away from the truth.

Jesus came to unveil and teach us the way to abundant living.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV)

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 (NJV)

What exactly is Abundant Living?

Abundant life is NOT:
1. It is NOT necessarily a life of comfort and ease
2. It is NOT dependent on outside circumstances, but more on how we respond to circumstances
3. It is NOT necessarily obtained quickly. It may take time for us to experience abundant life, because it is a process that often takes time

How can we know if we are living life in its abundance?

Abundant living IS happening when:
1. We learn to live each day in the light of Christ.
2. When we can look back on the past, without it ruling the present.
3. You are filled with faith, hope, peace, joy and love, and live without anger, greed, guilt, envy, or thoughts of revenge.
4. You are secure in who you are, so you are at peace with God.
5 You love the unlovable, give hope to the hopeless, friendship to the friendless, and encouragement to the discouraged.
6. You can look back in forgiveness, and forward in hope, with gratitude to God.
7. You recognize, develop, and use your God-given physical, mental, and spiritual abilities to the glory of God and for the benefit of mankind.

Then again, you can be saved and still live a life that is as dry as a corn shuck. If you do not live as close to Him as you should, you will probably think the Christian life is boring, the church is dead and that your life is no different than that pagan who lives next door.

If you want to abundant life that Jesus can give, it will require you to walk in close communion with Him. This might mean you will have to start praying. Maybe you will have to read you Bible. You might have to find your way to the church house with a little more regularity. You might even have to stop doing some of those things that hinder God from moving in your life like He wants to.

The Author Of The Abundant Life – The Bible tells us here that God is the giver of abundant life. Many people live a life that is in a rut. They do the same things in the same way every day of their lives. There is no excitement. There is no overflowing joy. They never see anything out of the ordinary. That is not the kind of life Jesus saved us to live! He saved us to live a life that is filled with His presence, power and glory, a life that extraordinary and overflowing in the unusual.
When a person is walking with the Lord, as they should be, they will be constantly seeing the Lord working in them and around them in wonderful, supernatural ways.

Do you want a life that is different?
Do you want a life that is filled with the wonder of God’s work in and around you?

Paul says the way to have that kind of life is to get to God. He alone can give that kind of life to His children. The secret lies in being saved and in living close to the Father! Jesus promised His children that their lives would be different if they came to Him. "Whoever believes in Me... streams of living water will flow from within him" John 7:38

Before we decide that the Christian life is dull and boring, let’s make sure we have lives as close to the Lord as we can first. If you can get close to Him, your life will be anything but boring!