copyright Millie Plastaras 5/6/08
Good Morning Dear Friends,
This morning I was thinking about how you hear such
catch phrases as "finding your center". Many teach
a philosophy that tells us we are masters of our
own universe. That we are like little gods managing
our own lives by choice.
Anyone that has lived any length of time knows
that many things are not in our control. We cannot
control the weather, we cannot control other people,
or even how they view us, we cannot make people love us,
we cannot control our health in many areas, aging
happens to all of us. We cannot control world turmoil,
that the media makes us so aware of everyday.
What we can have control over is the way we view
life, the way we view ourselves, and the way we view others.
We also have control over our spiritual life. Whether it is
stale, and broken or whether it is passionate and turned towards
God. Life is full of opportunities that many people miss because
they are focused on wrong things most of their lives.
Should Christians be realistic about their lives? Absolutely.
We should want to face our own flaws and shortcomings
and overcome them, one at a time.
We should love ourselves, our life is a gift from God.
Does anyone out there honestly think that God
would want any of us to dislike and discount the precious
life he has given us? We should do all we can to better
ourselves, emotionally, health wise and spiritually.
Christians should also be very wise with their finances.
Everything in our lives should be disciplined, because
we make mental choices to do so.This directly reflects
on our spiritual maturity.
This takes time.. and it takes one step at a time. We are
not overnight successes, but people who work towards
goals once at a time with the thought that we can do
all things through Christ who strengthens us.
This is done by daily taking our burdens to Christ and telling
him what we are facing, and what we need. Sometimes
we have no control, and cannot change things. We must
leave these things in God's hands and God promises
to provide our needs and also to lead us into what
we should do.
Sometimes we must face what we have done, or need
to do, and address what we can do to make it better. Whether
it is our emotions that need to be disciplined and brought
into subjection. Or if it is our finances that we have let
get out of control by emotional and unwise spending.
One step at a time we can change these things! But
we have to start someplace. We cannot just continually
ignore things that must be done.
How sad would it be to get to the end of your life
and realize how many things you should have done and
you were too lazy or too caught up in worry or non productive
activities to make your life count?
Our center is Jesus Christ. But Jesus wants us to take
control of our days in the way we think. We cannot be
worriers. We have to have faith that even when we cannot
see the answers, God is in control. We also need to recognize
the gift of life each morning and find hope and joy in each day.
Not worry about what people are thinking about us, or what
we did wrong, or receive all these negative things that pull us down.
Find the beauty in each day, make goals for each day, even
if only small ones, and spend time in the garden of prayer
with God daily. These things are needful. We need time
to meditate, refresh ourselves, reflect on things we must
change, or do, and take time to better ourselves. Nurture
your body, your mind, and your spirit. Fill it with the word
of God to encourage your heart, fill you with wisdom, strength
and hope.
This kind of centering is what prospers a Christian. Focus
on bettering your spirit with Him. Focus on loving yourself
and others. And focus on what you can do to make your life
count. What worthwhile things these are.
Invest your life wisely dear friends, you only come this
way once. Make it a beautiful journey, even if troubles come
we can make a way through them and come out wiser and stronger on
the other side of them. Jesus is with us through this whole
process, we never face it alone, and we have the greatest
guide and constant source of strength that the world has
ever known. Make your life a example of a child of God
full of light, and constantly growing in grace and wisdom
and knowledge.
Love always
millie
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus.
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you
have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me,
put it into practise. And the God of peace SHALL be
with you.
Philippians 4:4-9
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