New Year's Resolutions...?

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV It's New Year's Eve--another year has passed & a new one is about to begin. It's time to reflect on accomplishments and failures of the past year & ponder the possibilities of what the new one holds in store. As for me, I am not usually one to make New Year's Resolutions. I always feel in doing so, I am setting myself up for yet another failure or disappointment. The past year has been hard for me. I find myself still struggling to adjust to the changes forced on me through Dee's death. At the same time, there have been good things that occurred. Through it all, GOD has been faithful to me even during a time I have had difficulty in remaining faithful to Him. As usual and in my humaninty, I've failed Him and others in multiple ways. I've sought to be forgiven & I've done my best to offer forgiveness to those who have hurt or offended me. Self-forgiveness seems to be the hardest to give. I think that is partly what the above Scripture is talking about. I've heard it said that you can't move forward if you are always looking backwards & nothing could be more true. Imagine if you will a runner, running backwards. He/she can't see what is ahead because their focus is in the wrong place. Yet, when they turn their back on what is behind them (the past, possibly?) & look forward--they are once again able to see clearly & avoid obstacles in their path. Satan is far smarter than we give him credit for. He knows if he can throw our past up at us and keep us from focusing on the good GOD has in store for us, that he will forever keep us distracted and disable the plans GOD has for our lives. We must look to GOD & praise Him even in the most difficult of times. We must learn from our pasts, but leave it there where it belongs. It is the past for a reason & as Christians, we are no longer the people we once were (2 Corinthians 5:17). We must train ourselves to stretch spiritually, in much the same way an athlete trains his/her body physically. It is not an overnight thing--but a process, a lifestlye, a series of right choices. Just as an athlete can't neglect the physical body & expect to be a warrior in sports, we can't neglect our spiritual life & expect to be warriors for GOD. We must stay in the Word, we must seek GOD's Will, and most importantly--we must obey Him rather than following self. Our goal is not the end zone or home plate--it is an eternal home in Heaven, in the presence of our Lord. Until we reach the finish line, and cross over from this world to the next through physical death (assuming the Lord tarries), we must continue in battle against satan & for the souls of men. I feel that time is short & Jesus' appearance in the clouds for His Saints is soon coming. So, while it is not a New Year's resolution--I pray that I will forget the past, continue living for GOD & doing His Will, and straining forward towards the goal of Heaven and taking as many there with me as I can. Lord, help me to live a life that is pleasing to You... As always, I am grateful for the prayers of my Christian brothers & sisters. Blessings! Tony

It's CHRISTmas Time, again...

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:8-14 NKJV I've come to the conclusion that I love everything CHRISTmas represents, yet hate everything it has become. There was a time not long ago, a far more innocent time in the life of our country, when Christ was part of CHRISTmas. Churches, Town Halls, city parks & private residences put up manger scenes to pay tribute to the birth of Jesus. People joyfully wished one another "Merry CHRISTmas!" without any thought to political correctness. No one thought it offensive in any way that the message of Jesus' birth was part of the CHRISTmas story. After all, the United States had been founded as a Christian nation, built on Biblical principles and the Ten Commandments were the basis of our laws. Then one day someone stood & said we shouldn't pray in school and Christians sat back while that became the law of the land. Suddenly, someone said they were offended by the mention of Christ in CHRISTmas & the greeting should be changed to "Happy Holidays" to be more inclusive of other religions & non-believers as well. Again, Christians sat back & let it take place. Then someone said, nativity scenes shouldn't be part of CHRISTmas because they represented a "Christian" holiday & America is now home to many people groups & ethnic groups & many from varying religious backgrounds--besides, America is no longer a Christian nation. Once again, Christians sat back & said nothing. That brings us to where we are today. CHRISTmas is now a holiday (no longer a holy day) full of commercialism & greed. Department stores begin stocking shelves and advertising for CHRISTmas right along with their back-to-school sales. Massive multitudes of people line up to get the best bargains & generally act anything but Christ-like in their endeavors to obtain the toys & trinkets their children want. We no longer read the story of the birth of Christ in our homes as part of CHRISTmas. We've simply put GOD in a box, so we can pull Him out when needed rather than living a life of faith and dependent on Him for every breath as we should be. GOD, help us to see our need for You--to turn back to you--to teach our families of you. Forgive us for taking You out of our lives & draw us once again close to You. Show us the need to remember that CHRISTmas begins with Christ and He should be the center of our lives, not only at CHRISTmas but every moment of every day of every year--as long as there is breath in our bodies. Let there once again be peace on earth and goodwill among men... Blessings! Tony

Not Ashamed...?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16 NKJV You know, this has always been one of my favorite Bible verses. We started a study on the book of Romans at church recently & as this scripture passage was discussed, I was prompted to ask myself, "Do I live for GOD unashamedly?" I've been pondering this for some time & I've decided I do OK in some area & fail miserably in others. I suppose that is normal for us as human beings, but I'm not satisfied with being "OK" or "normal" in my Christian life. I want to do more, be more, love more, serve more--just be Jesus to those I come in contact with. I've lived a good life for the most part. I made some bad choices in my young years that I wish I could have a do over on, but GOD still saw fit to use them in some way. I was blessed to raise 3 children, 2 biological & 1 step, but I've always simply said I had 3 kids. I wasn't always the best role model or a perfect parent for them & I made a lot of mistakes over the years (more things I wish I could do over). They've seen much of my bad side, but I pray what they remember is the good part in years to come. In spite of all my failures, they've grown & matured into fine young people of whom I am proud. I recall my grandmother (Granny to us & all our friends who came to visit) claiming me for ministry when I was 8 years old. In my mind, I see us standing in the kitchen of her old house & tears of praise and happiness streaming down her cheeks as she proclaimed that I would someday be a great man of GOD & that He would use me in some way to minister to others. I received that proclamation with great fear--ministry was never a vocation I considered for myself. Almost immediately, I began running from that calling. In just a few years time, my running took me down a path that involved drugs, alcohol & women. Those things have been the downfall of many & but for the grace of GOD & His plan for my life, I could easily have become a statistic & cut my life short through my own stupidity. Through all of it, GOD had His hand of protection on me. He still planned to use not only me, but the very sins I had committed against Him, in ministry. There is little of this world that hasn't touched my life in some way. But, GOD still calls me His child & in a time of great distress, when I thought all was lost & I had no hope--I called out to Him. He should have turned His back on me as I had Him--but He reached out to me, saved me, cleansed me, and put me back on the path He had planned for me. True, I had taken a detour from the planned route but He still planned to use me. There have been a lot of twists & turns along the path but I try to walk this life one day at a time, trusting Him for my needs. I never imagined I'd find myself single & alone at this point in my life but I'm also accepting that as part of GOD's plan. People tell me I should marry again but I'm not sure about that. I had a horrific first marriage, but a wonderful second marriage. I don't think I'll ever duplicate the good one & I certainly would rather be alone that take a chance of duplicating the bad one. For now, I'll just be me & leave it at that. Slowly, I feel I am finding purpose once again in life. I have some concerns about my ability to continue doing the type of work I do with my back issues--but, once again I'll just have to trust GOD with that and continue moving forward. Regardless as to what the future holds, I pray I'll live unashamedly for GOD & proclaim Him wherever I go. I'd like to please GOD & do Granny proud. I appreciate your prayers! Blessings! Tony