Boast on GOD...

Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV We spend most of our lives comparing ourselves to those around us, gauging the norm by what we see on television and in magazines. It isn't GOD's desire that we live up to worldly standards--we are supposed to set our minds on things above, not things of the world. He created each of us as unique individuals to serve a specific purpose in His Kingdom--we aren't all meant to look & act alike. We are all different for a reason & we each have a uniquely personal relationship with GOD that is like no other person's on earth because we are like no other person on earth. We fill our heads with ideas that we must live in a certain neighborhood, work for a certain company, drive a certain car, possess certain material things--in order to live up to the status quo. None of that stuff really matters! There's no reason to be boastful about our status in life--we need to be bragging on GOD & what He has done for us & those we love. We need to show others that because we are people of faith, because we trust Him to provide for us, because we pray and expect Him to answer--He blesses & honors us as a result. When our time on this earth is done, when we've breathed our last breath and our heart has beat its last, when we find ourselves face to face with the GOD of the universe--He won't be concerned with where we lived or what we possessed, the question He will ask us is, "What did you do with My Jesus?" You see, life isn't about us at all--but how we relate to GOD & His people. If we live a life that points others to Christ, if we treat people with the love & respect they deserve, if we possess a servant's heart, if we live not to amass treasures but to share the blessings GOD bestows on us with those we come in contact with--then, we are living a life that honors GOD & fulfills the plan and purpose He placed us here for. We are blessed so we can be a blessing, we are comforted in our trials so we can comfort others when they are struggling, we overcome so we can help others to be overcomers. We are all a work in progress and that work won't be completed here on earth, it will be done when we reach Heaven. Until then, we have to understand there is pain in the process, but there is purpose in the pain. Don't complain about what you lack & don't brag on your accomplishments--boast on the GOD who met your needs and allowed you to be a blessing to others as a result. Our words have greater power than we realize. Something to ponder... Blessings! Tony