Perhaps no American tried harder to change for the better than Benjamin Franklin. Printer, author, scientist, politician, diplomat, inventor, he taught himself to speak five languages. At 79, he began the process of mastering 13 virtues including moderation, sincerity, and humility.
Today, improving yourself has become a national obsession. As you decide to lose a little weight or learn a foreign language, consider the following building blocks for developing your spiritual life….
1. LIVE WITH OPTIMISM. In 1984, Norman Cousins, in a speech at Pepperdine University, said, “No one knows enough to be a pessimist.” You know, he’s right. You would have to know that your problem couldn’t be solved, that life has little or no meaning, and that you personally have no impact on life. But in fact, the opposite is true. God wants you to believe the best is coming your way. So trust Him. Anticipate that He will make something exciting happen to your soul in 2010.
2. WORSHIP WITH PASSION. “Shout with joy to God, all the earth.” (Psalm 66:1). “My lips shall praise you.” (Psalm 63:3). Worship is not a moment in which we are entertained. God is the audience, so praise is always active, assertive, demonstrative, and never passive. In 2010, make the choice to rejoice.
3. LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. For whatever reason, we are too impressed with daily events, fads, headlines, and sound bytes. These give us a short view of life. We lose sight of the grand movements of God. Yet, it is the big picture, not the passing excitement that shapes the future. “For this world in its present form is passing away,” writes Paul. There are no accidents. God is working out His will and I encourage you not to miss it in 2010.
Think about this quote: “Before you go to bed, give your troubles to God. He’ll be up all night anyway.” I hope you’ll make 2010 a year for God.
-Gregg Lee
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Perfect Gift
Most of you are familiar with the great Christmas song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Can you name all twelve gifts? I cannot, I have to admit. I get confused every time I sing that song.
Each year PNC Bank calculates the costs involved in the gifts that are mentioned in the lyrics of that great song. For instance: this year a partridge in a pear tree would cost you about $160, while three French hens would cost in the ballpark of $50. Five gold rings would run you about $500 and you can get ten lords-a-leaping at about $4,500 (although I don’t have a clue where you would get those). PNC Bank estimates that the cumulative cost of all 364 gifts mentioned in the song would exceed $87,000.
Well I don’t know about you, but I will not be shopping by that list this year. Most of us will spend considerable time and money trying to find the perfect gift for those we care about. I guess the real value of a gift is measured by the recipient and the personal sacrifice of the giver. Value is rarely measured in terms of the price tag and is usually more of an emotional response than a logical one.
So what is the perfect gift? Beyond question, the gift of eternal life is the greatest gift that we will ever be offered. It addresses our need for forgiveness and has eternal durability. And, it costs Jesus His life on the cross….a price that He paid with joy (Hebrews 12:2). He left heaven, suffered among men, and died in order to purchase our pardon.
I think Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 9:15 are fitting, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”
-Gregg Lee
Each year PNC Bank calculates the costs involved in the gifts that are mentioned in the lyrics of that great song. For instance: this year a partridge in a pear tree would cost you about $160, while three French hens would cost in the ballpark of $50. Five gold rings would run you about $500 and you can get ten lords-a-leaping at about $4,500 (although I don’t have a clue where you would get those). PNC Bank estimates that the cumulative cost of all 364 gifts mentioned in the song would exceed $87,000.
Well I don’t know about you, but I will not be shopping by that list this year. Most of us will spend considerable time and money trying to find the perfect gift for those we care about. I guess the real value of a gift is measured by the recipient and the personal sacrifice of the giver. Value is rarely measured in terms of the price tag and is usually more of an emotional response than a logical one.
So what is the perfect gift? Beyond question, the gift of eternal life is the greatest gift that we will ever be offered. It addresses our need for forgiveness and has eternal durability. And, it costs Jesus His life on the cross….a price that He paid with joy (Hebrews 12:2). He left heaven, suffered among men, and died in order to purchase our pardon.
I think Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 9:15 are fitting, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”
-Gregg Lee
Monday, November 23, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
As most of you know, I’m a quote fanatic. So, here are some great quotes on Thanksgiving. Enjoy!
Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.
-Henry Van Dyke
True thanksgiving means that we need to thank God for what He has done for us, and not to tell Him what we have done for Him.
-George R. Hendrick
An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.
-Irv Kupcinet
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
-Marcus T. Cicero
Gratitude is the heart's memory.
-French Proverbs
Gratitude is not only the memory but the homage of the heart rendered to God for his goodness.
-Nathaniel P. Willis
If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get.
-Frank A. Clark
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.
-Johannes A. Gaertner
When we pause to think, we have cause to thank.
-Anonymous
For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.
-Clarence E. Hodges
I hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving!
-Gregg
Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.
-Henry Van Dyke
True thanksgiving means that we need to thank God for what He has done for us, and not to tell Him what we have done for Him.
-George R. Hendrick
An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.
-Irv Kupcinet
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
-Marcus T. Cicero
Gratitude is the heart's memory.
-French Proverbs
Gratitude is not only the memory but the homage of the heart rendered to God for his goodness.
-Nathaniel P. Willis
If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get.
-Frank A. Clark
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.
-Johannes A. Gaertner
When we pause to think, we have cause to thank.
-Anonymous
For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.
-Clarence E. Hodges
I hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving!
-Gregg
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