We need to understand that God is a personal God. He cares about the individual. He cares about the one. Luke 15:3-7 speaks of a man who would leave the ninety-nine to find the one. At times, we have been taught that thinking God cares about me is false. Why would He care about everyone, especially someone like me? We also say and think thoughts like “we are not important enough for God to care about.”

This could be exposing how we really think about ourselves. Sometimes you believe that in some way you don't measure up, or that others are more important. You may even think that surely God has more important things to do rather than help you with your problems. This is not true. Fake humility is thinking poorly of yourself, having low self-esteem, or having a poor self-image. It's not healthy; feeling inferior is self-defeating. God cares about you. The big things to you are big things to God; the small things to you are big things to God. God has the ability help all of us at the same time. No one is more important to God than you are.

True humility is defined as being lowly of heart, not arrogant or boastful, ready to serve, and teachable. If you are truly humble it means that you do not think badly of yourself. Let’s begin to think better. God cares about me and is interested in helping me. He doesn't see me as a nuisance or someone who is bugging Him. He doesn't say, "Don't they know I have bigger issues to deal with?" God cares about every aspect of your life, so be encouraged! God wants to help you and be your friend. Whatever you are dealing with, large or small, God is your source. He will help you if you pray and follow His instruction manual, the Word of God (the Bible). God cares.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Focusing on one thing can help us accomplish our goals faster and more often. The best multitaskers can really only give their full attention to one thing. Even the best of them cannot concentrate on everything with the same degree of attention, at the same time; something will lack or not be done as well as something else. We must learn to focus and maybe even focus on one thing at a time. People today might have a huge goal or a dream, and it may be big. The way to accomplish it is to take one step at a time, one bite out of it at a time. Sometimes we set the goal so high that at times, if we are not careful, we get discouraged before it ever gets accomplished. What if we were to concentrate on only one thing? Focus on one step at a time towards the ultimate end. How much more could we accomplish? A study done on incoming freshmen, conducted by Columbia University, found that when given seven goals that were thought to be attainable, out of 2,312 students, only 719 students achieved one of the goals. Later, they conducted a similar study. This time they only asked the freshmen to choose one goal. They asked them to write it down and keep it in a place where they would see it every day. The results that they found, at the end of the school year, were astounding. Of the 2,371 students surveyed, 2,040 (86%) achieved their goal. The study showed the power of learning to focus on one thing at a time in reaching our goals, our dreams. We should get one thing done and then move to the next thing. As we look at our lives and see a need for improvement in some areas, or maybe it’s a desire to learn something, remember the power of focus. Focus on one aspect at a time. I believe that you will find, when looking back, how far you've come and how much you have accomplished.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Welcome to 2015! I believe that this is the year of growth, spiritual growth. We all should want to grow and mature in God’s ways. Anything that is healthy will grow. The Christian life, in a lot of ways, is a parallel to our physical life, in that we are “born” and then we are supposed to grow and finally we are to attain maturity. I Corinthians 14:20 says, “Brethren, do not be children (immature) in your thinking; continue to be babes in (matters of) evil, but in your minds be mature (men).” When we are born-again we are babes in Christ; this means that we are new to God’s kingdom and unsure of His ways. We must learn to operate and function now as Christians. However, we all need a desire to grow. Some never get out of being a “baby” Christian. The characteristics of a new baby are: having no responsibility, every need is taken care of, and not contributing or involving him or herself. These characteristics boil down to a “free ride;” therefore, their relationship with God remains very fragile. As a new Christian, we should grow. In the physical realm, children want to grow and as parents, we want them to grow. We get excited about their first words, first steps, and really excited when they are potty trained.

There is no difference within the spiritual realm. We should grow, contribute, and consistently learn more each day about who our Father in heaven is, who our Lord Jesus is. We need to walk, talk and act like Him. We will only grow as we learn the Word of God. Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). We need to hear and learn the Word of God and practice it. Let’s be committed to getting involved and really growing and maturing. A story has been told of a little boy who fell out of bed and when asked what happened, he said, “I guess I just stayed too close to the gettin-in place.” That is exactly why many people fall away from God, after they are born-again. They stay too close to the gettin-in place and do not grow to maturity. Welcome again to 2015; this will be the year to grow.

Just a Thought,

PSS

I have noticed that the happiest people that I know are those who give of themselves and their resources. On the other hand, the most miserable people that I know are selfish and greedy. Is this a coincidence? We should develop a heart for giving. Once we learn this principle and apply it to our own lives, I believe that we will have more joy, peace and happiness. In church terms, people think that if they tithe, they are givers. Even though it all begins with tithing, and every Christian should give their tithes to a local church, in reality tithing is returning to God what is rightfully His. Giving starts after the tithe, not before it. You return a tithe, and give an offering. Being a giver means that you give as the Holy Spirit prompts or directs. God is a giver and we should act and think like Him. We do not give to get, we just give. Our society has become more selfish and as believers we sometimes listen to the world and its philosophies instead of honoring God and obeying His word. Let’s learn to become true givers and watch how God restores peace, joy, and happiness back into our lives. The word “blessed” means: “happy, fortunate, and to be envied.” Let’s strive to be blessed.

Just a Thought,

PSS