All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Can I get Fresh with you?

Can I Get Fresh with You? New Year, 2018.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Matter of fact, I agree with Helen Keller, and want to wring all there is out of life. Found this article about a fella who went back to his home country because he was dying, only to find life! Check it out: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/magazine/the-island-where-people-forget-to-die.html?_r=0 Shall we plan a trip to Ikaria?

Life is a gift. Making choices about how we spend our hours and days is a luxury. In the last couple weeks, I had a birthday; and as each year passes, I become more and more aware of how precious is the gift of life.

Jesus did not say,

'Friends, I have come to offer you a life of stress...'

'Brothers, I gave up royalty and came to earth to

bring you a mediocre life.'

No, Jesus does not offer us a life of mediocrity, right?

Instead, he came that we may have life, and have it abundantly.1 Paul's words motivate me - "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise."2

Wise living does not just honor God, but it increases our longevity. A little more research on longevity points to communities (blue zones) where people hold several priorities in common: faith in God, steady, years-long relationships in community, maintaining a garden, a mostly-plant based diet to top the list. Moraitis, the man from Ikarias, swears by his daily afternoon nap and a couple glasses of red wine (from his own vineyard).

Let's take the first: our relationship with God-our faith. Jesus' brilliant reply when asked about the greatest commandment: "Love the Lord thy God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."3 As we learn to love God more, our faith in him grows stronger.

>Pray - set time apart to talk to your Father, like you do a friend, and seek his wisdom and direction daily. It is great to shoot little prayers up throughout the day, but why not start your day with a few minutes of prayer? Learn to cultivate a little solitude in your life. The psalmist wrote, "Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in him, and he will do it.4 Ask God to grow your desire for him and for his Word.

>Read and study Scripture. The sacred pages are fascinating and informative, worth what it takes to pull out the meaning and application for yourself.

>Do you worship God? Oh, how he loves that! Sure, I know you do not need to go to church to be a Christian, but why would you want to miss out? By the way, people involved in faith communities (attending/participating at least four times a month), extend their lives between four and 14 years!)

>Serve God by serving others; giving of your time and physically serving is valuable in so many ways.

Would you like to grow in any of these areas this year? How so? _______________________________________________________

How will you make it happen?_________________________________

Without a vision, the people perish . . . so live your life on purpose. Let's do some thinking and praying, and then determine how we want to finish this New Year we have been given. Go ahead--enVISION yourself crossing the finish line, with your chest pressed out, breaking the tape--!

Let's make it a Blessed 2018!

Christine

PastorWoman.com

p.s. - thought the longevity angle was a fresh take on considering growth in the New Year; did you find it interesting? Here's a link for more:

https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_buettner_how_to_live_to_be_100

Personally, it is not necessarily about extending my life, but feeling good, being well and thinking well during my lifetime. What say you? Hit 'reply' and comment.

1 - John 10.10b, NASB

2 - Ephesians 5.15, NIV

3 - Mark 12.30

4 - Psalm 37.5

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Comment by journeyman on January 17, 2018 at 11:06am: Each day I live, God gives me hope. Hope in him. Through his word for me in scripture he is pointing the way to the finish line with a cup of cool water in his hand for the thirsty runner. Some days I'm tired and it is hard to keep up the pace. But, his word lifts me up and strengthens me.

I don't have all the answers and at one time that drove me crazy. God has the answers and I'm trusting in him for the outcome he has for me. Yup, some days I'm really very tired physically and mentally. But I'm so very grateful to God for he never gave up on me. He sought his lost sheep and he is looking for others right here. May God bless each of us greatly as we journey to him.

Can I get Fresh with you?

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