Life is an amazing privilege with many opportunities. But let’s face it: life is also really hard – especially when you are stressed out.
Category: Peace
You Are Invited
You go to the mail box and pull out a crisp white envelope with an official seal. The exquisite handwriting specifies your name and address. Rather than ripping it open – like junk mail – you pull out your letter opener to surgically slide along the top envelope crease. From the open slot, you gingerly slip out a beautiful, heavy-weight card that says, “You Are Invited.” In surprise and wonder, you flip open the card to see – it’s the very event you’ve always wanted to attend! Up till now, you’ve never dreamed you’d have the opportunity.
Dissect Something Meaningful – Scripture Dissection
Have you ever dissected something? High school biology? Perhaps college anatomy? If you’ve been following Alive and Active Life, you know you can dissect Scripture, too. Thankfully, I’m not talking about heavy–duty, theological stuff. Rather, this is a lighter approach to dissect something meaningful – with practical action steps for your life.
Much like you command a kitchen knife, you must learn how to wield your Sword – the Scriptures. So, why not dissect something meaningful with me today?
This Country!
Every nation goes through seasons of change. This election year in the United States brings a responsibility to remember who we are. And I, for one, still believe in this country of opportunity. Additionally, I’m thankful for freedom. As complicated and challenging as democracy can become, it’s still quite a worthy experiment. Matter of fact, Winston Churchill once said: “Democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.” If that is true, then what responsibilities must we faithfully carry forward to preserve this country’s foundation? What is required of us to be worthy citizens, as well as followers of Jesus?
You’re Not Alone
Most people have felt alone at least once in their life. What about you? Perhaps you’ve been forgotten by friends or family, and you feel set aside. It could be your child or spouse dies, and you are left. Sometimes, you stand alone in conviction when others around you do what you know is wrong. Then, there’s a scenario you are seriously ill, so you must fight to survive. Maybe, you’ve taken a critical moral stand everyone is against, and you suffer by yourself. Unfortunately, you may have had to leave your home, and you have no idea if/when you can return. Perhaps you’re in a marriage you thought was a partnership, but you realized over time you are alone. To all these situations – and many more – I strongly encourage you to believe the truth. You’re not alone!
How To Live A Healthy Life – Scripture Dissection
You’ve heard it now for generations: How to live a healthy life. In fact, one of the popular “sign-offs” for emails and letters now is – “Be Well!” So, what does this mean? Truly, all over the world, you hear talk shows, podcasts, seminars, and even friends talk about being healthy:
- Use My Plate – to help eat a balanced diet.
- Drink plenty of water – stay hydrated and promote your internal systems.
- Stay active – keep moving with exercise, biking, jogging, tennis, golf, etc.
- Get outside – enjoy fresh air. See the beauty of creation. Be quiet and calm. And, breathe deeply.
- Spend time with friends – enrich and nourish your inner person.
- Be well-read or well-listened – know what’s going on around the globe to have an accurate perspective.
- And I add – Get into God’s Word – for key points and action steps you need to guide your life.
- Plus – Get God’s Word into you – grow and change by doing what Scripture says. Remember, what you practice is what you become.
In conclusion, all these – and more, help you live a healthy life.
It Got Flipped!
Recently, I looked at a picture and saw the most beautiful landscape. Upon further study, I realized – it was upside-down. A bit stunned, I figured out I was looking at the perfect reflection of a landscape on a calm, serene lake. It got flipped! Interestingly, God flips some things, too.
What Jesus Predicted
Have you given much thought to what Jesus predicted? All my life, I’ve heard about end times. When I googled “the end of all things,” I saw all kinds of entries –
- A book title.
- Definition of “the end of all things.”
- A song.
- Movie.
- Cartoons.
- Videos.
- Even the Lord of the Ring – When Sam helps Frodo on a journey of hardship to destroy a ring of evil power in Mount Doom.
But none of these give any definitive help in exploring what life will look like in end times. So, let’s look at what Jesus predicted.
The Game Of Life And Relationships
Do you like chess? Surely, some of you do, while others of you . . . well, not-so-much. Perhaps you prefer checkers, scrabble, trivial pursuit, monopoly, or nertz. Regardless of your preferred game, life is like playing a board game – in some respects. For example – chess. Interesting pieces are placed in a certain order on an equally interesting board of contrasting squares. Then it starts: the strategies, choices, and patterns. It only takes a few minutes to realize you can’t play chess without being very engaged and thoughtful. Subsequently, you realize there’s an element like this in the game of life and relationships. Let’s look at helpful similarities.
One Size For Everybody
Remember when the pandemic was in full swing? Everybody was buying masks and medical gloves. Well, I found some medical gloves for a great price. So I ordered. When they came, I checked the box front. Sure enough – one size fits all. Not true! Those gloves were big enough to fit a professional basketball player who can “palm” the ball! So, I was stuck with these huge gloves. Incidentally, there was so much room in each glove finger, I could have packed snacks in there. So much for one size for everybody!