Our culture is all about “self.” We chase self-actualization (self-fulfillment) and self-improvement; we teach self-respect, self-confidence, and self-esteem. We believe that we are self-made in our professions; we work hard to be self-reliant in our relationships. We pursue self-indulgence and self-gratification; we are self-absorbed, self-important, self-promoters and self-righteous, which makes us enemies of God’s people. We will use anyone and anything, in our self-serving quest, to make ourselves happy. Our culture is all about self.

Some of these things are not necessarily bad. However, apart from Christ, they are. We should be defined by the Word of God, not our culture, or our successes and failures. To be self-righteous means that you think you are better than someone else, or morally superior. God’s Word teaches that we are righteous because of Jesus’ sacrifice. To be made righteous means that we have right standing with God, not because we did something, but because God did something and gave it to us. If you have truly accepted Jesus into your heart, which means you are now following Him, you have been radically changed. We go from being selfish and about ourselves, to being unselfish and a servant to others. Now it’s not just about me, but about pleasing God and loving my neighbor as myself. Selfishness will rob you of peace and joy. It will remove any fulfillment you might desire. Only being unselfish, submitting to God, and serving others will bring you true joy, peace, and fulfillment. Judge yourself for your own good.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Do you have a good vision for your life? Are you living or only existing? According to a study, sponsored by the Ford Foundation, researchers found that 23% of the population has no idea what they want from life and as a result, they do not have much. Furthermore, 67% of the population has a general idea of what they want, but they don’t have any plan for how to get it. In comparison, only 10% of the population has specific, well defined goals, but even then, seven out of 10 of those people reach their goals only half of the time. The top 3%, however, achieved their goals only 89% of the time. This means that 90% of the population has no idea or plans for what they want out of life. Without a solid life plan to take hold of, you will have no direction or peace of mind. When you have no goal or vision for your life, according to the Bible, you will perish or run wild (Proverbs 29:18). You become an easy prey to petty worries, fears, troubles and self-pity. These are all indications of a lack of strength in your life which lead to failure, unhappiness, and loss. Without strength you cannot persevere.

We must have a goal or vision for our lives. As believers, our goal is the finish line. Our finish line is when we pass from this life to eternity. Without that goal in our lives, we run wild, act the way that we want, and live the way that we want. However, with purpose of a heart in God, it will guide our lives in a direction that when we get to the finish line, we will be allowed into God’s Heaven. You have two choices: you can merely exist or really live. Our finish line, our goal, should be to please God in every area. You need to ask yourself, “Who or what is directing your life?”

Just a Thought,

PSS

How are you living? I mean really living. Are you living for the moment or are you living for an eternal reward? We are all eternal beings. When we die, we will either live in heaven or in eternal darkness (hell) forever. I mean forever. How you live today will determine where you will spend eternity.

Most people, in our culture, live for the here and the now; they are only thinking about having fulfillment right now. They will say things like, "I want to be happy right now. I want to do whatever makes me happy." They believe that what they think will make them happy right now matters, without even a thought about eternity. There is no thought about what will happen when I die; there is only the thought of "as long as I get what I want right now."

Walking with God and serving God will require that you discipline yourself and you purpose to please God, instead of pleasing your emotions and desires. What does God say? Where are you storing your treasures? Are they here on earth or in heaven? Where? That is a big decision. Do you put God’s ways first and His Word? Or are you impulsive and desire instant gratification, regardless of what it might cost you? Are you truly ready to meet our maker or are you so consumed with getting what you want down here, you will do whatever it takes to possess it? These are all your decision. I personally put off some things here in order to be prepared for eternity. I can discipline my life to say I really want to do this or that to gratify my flesh, but because I don’t want to miss out on eternal life with God, I don’t. It’s that simple. Keep your life and you lose it, lose your life and you find it. It is your choice.

Make the right choice; choose God and His ways.

Just A Thought,

PSS

Franklin Roosevelt said, “Selfishness is the only real atheism; aspiration, unselfishness, the only real religion.” People today, as much as ever, are looking for purpose. Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? In our quest, as a people, our world has become more and more stingy and selfish. Instead of realizing that we are all created in the image of God and He the Creator knows how to fulfill His creation, we are caught up with the ideas of me, my, and what’s in it for me. We are given purpose when we realize that we are all created to do good works, to help others, learn to share, and to be unselfish. Studies have shown that we naturally get a good feeling from helping. This reflects the truth that we are made to help others and love others. Scientists have begun to research the effects of helping others and what they call a “helper’s high.” Selfless behavior has been linked to the release of endorphins and oxytocin, both of which stimulate pleasure centers in the brain. Think about it, selfishness destroys and causes issues in our lives, as well as our bodies. We were created to live selfless lives by helping and serving others. Maybe we can all take a look at our lives and see how we can all live more selflessly and truly serve others.

Just A Thought,

PSS

In life, we will all encounter storms, hardships, setbacks, hurt and disappointments. There are no exceptions; nobody gets to live in this world and think that he or she will be immune to them. We should not think it strange when the storm is upon us, but we should be prepared for them. If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail. I am not sure who said this, but it holds true. You do not prepare for the storms of life while you are in them, you prepare before they even happen.

The Bible teaches us that we should prepare for them by doing the Word. In Matthew 7:24-27, the storms come to both of the men; the difference was that the one who did the Word of God was not consumed by the storm. The one who ignored and chose not to do the Word of God, failed and great was that failing. When we fail in life or falter during a tough time, it is not hard to see why. Yet we will blame or find fault somewhere else. However, the truth is that we just were not prepared for the storm. We know that storms are coming and will come. Most of the time in life, they just happen. Everything seems to be going well. Then out of the blue, here comes bad news. It does not mean that we won’t hurt or experience fear. What it does mean is that we won’t allow the hurt and fear to overwhelm us, especially to the point where we walk away from God. We will build our life’s foundation on the Word of God and be a doer of it. Then when the storm happens, we will be prepared to overcome.

Just A Thought,

PSS