A New Resolution

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

-John F. Kennedy

 

As the new year approaches resolutions are being made. Whether it be to lose weight, be with the family more, or quit an obnoxious habit; we are all out for a change of life.

 

Recently I began to ponder upon the upcoming year; my resolutions and the exciting events to come. Between wedding planning, traveling, and a surprising new adventure (more on that later), I forgot to ask how to serve the Lord more.

 

If we were to change the words in the J.F.K. quote from country to God, this would be the result.

Ask not what God can do for you, ask what you can do for God.

 

Too many times people get involved with themselves only praying for their own well being.

We all come short of thanking and praising God.  

If one begins to serve the Lord, in extension people are blessed with one's services. Helping out at church working in the nursery is serving, but also aiding poor mothers who just want an hour to themselves to worship. Toiling in the café presenting food brings happiness to a fellow church goer's tummy while at the same time laboring for Jesus.

 

Our resolutions need to begin and end with the Lord.

Let our new year begin first with serving God and blessing others with our work.

Nancy Jane

Tomato Thoughts

Every time I pick tomatoes there is always one out of reach! All my efforts are put towards this tomato. When the long sought after fruit is finally plucked, I look up to find that there were just as many beautiful tomatoes all around me. Alas, my thoughts were only honed in toward that particular item.

How often do we do this in our daily lives? Our focus is toward a singular emotion or entity, never noticing what is around us. It could be distress causing one to only look at the miserable part of life. It could be a job we are after, forgetting all the family we love. Or, it could be someone thinking about what they are missing out on in life rather than seeing what they already have.

As human beings we are quick to forget what we are blessed with. We have this magical capability to only zone in on the bad aspects of life. We put all our focus on what God hasn't given us, while in reality we are given far more than what we deserve.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count Your Blessings, Johnson Oatman, Jr.    

So what is the tomato in your life? How can you look past it?

A way to start is to always remember the Lord is faithful and consistently good to us.

Nancy Jane