Holding Out

I have to share with you the commentary in my bible reading time this morning. There is no way I could say it better than Joel and Victoria Osteen did in this side note. They were sharing their thoughts on the text of scripture found in Psalm 27:13. They write, "In Psalm 27, David wonders what would have happened if he had not believed he would see the goodness of God. No matter what comes your way, let this take root. You have to believe you're going to see God's goodness again. You've got to believe you 're going to see God turn it around. Believe you're going to see God open up new doors. There's something captivating about a person filled with hope. I've learned when you feel like dying, you've got to talk about living. When you feel like giving up, you've got to talk about pressing forward. When you don't see any way out, you've got to talk about how God can make a way. And know this, the enemy always fights you the hardest when he knows God has something great in store. When the bottom falls out and it looks like you've hit an all-time low and it couldn't get any worse, that's not the time to get bitter. That's the time to think better! That's not the time to get negative. That's the time to put your shoulders back and boldly declare, 'My time is coming. I am a victor and not a victim.'" Wow! I don't know about you but this was definitely for me. We have got to hold out, hold on and do whatever it takes to not give in. Don't give satan an inch because he will take a mile. Press on and speak life. Take the authority God has given you and use it. We can overcome and we will overcome. I hope this encourages you as it did me.

Does it Matter?

Last night, my family was leaving Thriftway grocery store. We had just finished getting all the best deals for our big Christmas meal. After I finished buckling Hudson into his car seat, I removed the paper from his orange push up ice cream. He was so excited to get this special treat. I shut his door and headed to the other side of the car to get in my seat. As I was walking I was wadding the trash from the ice cream in my hand. I noticed all of the litter covering the parking lot and I asked myself a question. Will one more piece of paper matter? Before I could even finish my thought I had my answer. Absolutely it will matter. If everyone has the attitude that it doesn't matter, then we would be swimming in a sea of trash. Someone has to care. What does this mean for our life? Well for me I am reminded of the ministry that God has called me to. Sometimes I wonder if what I do can really make a difference in this world. I have to remind myself that with every life I touch, a difference is made. You may be living in an unhappy marriage. No love or kind word is ever displayed. Would one compliment make a difference? You tell me. I think it would. Someone has to be willing to start. Even if it is the smallest effort. There are so many other examples of how the small things in life can be the start of something great. A snowman is built by starting with one snowflake sticking to another. Don't think that the actions you take in this life don't matter. Every word you speak and every step you take can change the course of your life. Think before you litter and think before you speak. You can make a difference even if no one notices.