New Year's look at decisions short

At the stroke of 12 midnight all of the year past shall be ushered into history. All of it's joy, sorrow, pain, exhilaration, good times and bad times will become nothing more than memories. Looking back on them are you encouraged by what you see? Remember they are but the shadows of our decisions that we made.

Will we repeat them again this upcoming year?

Are we going to "reap" this coming year what we "sowed" yesteryear? Of course we will. There is no avoiding that fact.

So how will that help/direct our decision making starting tomorrow?

This year I think I will start by thinking things out a little better before I commit to "words or deeds" that carry "longevity" to them.

I'm going to "guard my heart" closer because "the issues of life are in the heart."

One of the best decisions I made last year was to realize that I didn't have to say everything that came to mind quickly. A little fore thought has proven prudent in this area. Especially in conversing with, or answering, the Love of my Life, then anyone else that I break conversation with.

Thoughtful communications are the product of restraint and respect, and is the undeclared witness that we need not prevail in every subject noted.

Wisdom teaches that "as much as we claim for ourselves" others have the same right to opinion. In this case silence can be the glue that holds a friendship together tighter than making a point or arguing a point. In the long run Love covers a multitude of disagreements.

I would rather be that "friend" who is haply embraced aside from our differences, then the friend that is tolerated because of our differences.

Well the clock is ticking to set some of the foot work for the start of the year.

Think about that.

Life is good,

Love is better,

Life with Love is best!

Love

J&E in Tn.

A short thought on Christmas

Christmas:

I am glad that we set aside one day a year to celebrate/remind us of this great history changing event, even though it's sorely abused with commercialism.

Being that I mimic the benevolent big fat guy I can bring Love, joy, Truth, good news, gifts (both spiritual and physical), and hope all year around.

This way Jesus can be seen, represented daily, lifted up, worshiped and adored, His reality lived out in us/me, those who profess His Lordship.

Christmas is celebrated daily by us who "believe."

Love

J&E in Tn

Thoughts on life.

Life consists of 3 components.

The past.

The present.

And the future.

The past:

Consists of all the decisions you made both good and bad.

All the efforts both successful and unsuccessful.

And are the base of all your memories.

The one sure thing about the past is that there is no changing it!

It is set in the concrete of time. Past time. Joy or regrets it cannot be changed.

This part of life gets longer with each day that passes.

The present:

This is the shortest part of life, and it gets shorter by the minute as we live it out.

The present (today) starts with, and is full of "decisions".

These decisions can be good or bad, bring blessing or curses, and shapes tomorrows memories for the past and consequences of the future. This is the only part of life that we have "rule" over or holds any variables.

The future:

In reality we are never in the future and for the sake of argument it never arrives as when it comes it's called "today".

We are told/taught to "prepare" for the future, a wise practice.

The future is a compilation of all the sowing and reaping of both the past and the present both good or bad. Successful or unsuccessful.

Even though we never get into the future it is as fluid in existence as our decisions made in the past and present. It can manifest it's self with joy or sadness.

That's life!

It's always in your hands only. There is no one to blame for any of these 3 parts of it but you. It's what you make of it every day. You can build a great past with wonderful memories, live wisely in the present to add to those memories and mold your future.

Any poor part of life can be mended by present decisions, and any poor "sowing" for the future can be mended by good present day dicisions.

Think about it.............

God bless and keep.

Love

J&E in Tn

Health vs Affliction

The days of decisions are upon us!

There are many "things" before us presented as "truth" that beg attention and distract us from our present responsibilities. Because we "live" in this physical dimension called now, (this present carnal state), we are often "taken over" by our emotions of: fear or anger and are blinded to the bigger picture.

Many people "protect" their own actions of hate by blaming others of hate just to feel justified for their hearts of malice.

This brings about a radical increase of afflictions to the God designed body. As history has shown as man has become increasingly sinful, (more wicked toward others by rejection of God's Word), disease and physical calamities increased to the same portion. But following the Word of God is blessing and health as shown below.

The Bible says: " A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones." Proverbs 14:30 AMPB

This is but one of many verses that show both sides of what your "heart condition" will reap when "thoughts, words and actions" are sown.

We can see that in today's application of person to person communications, both face to face and over the world open internet, where no responsibility need be shown, people are free to let fly the Dogs of War with opinions of disdain, blame, and hate unrestrained.

Believe it or not, like it or not, a lot of your health is only a decision away, for health or for affliction. This applies to all mankind believer or unbeliever, one Word for all people. God's Word!

Where insult or "lack of agreement" back in my youth would of brought forth a bloody nose now it results in the most ignorant statements from people who consider themselves intellectuals. Jesus said that what comes out of the mouth defiles a man because it comes from the heart. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."

What kind of heart would you rather have? A merry one? Or one filled with envy, jealousy, and wrath? One of health or one of affliction?

My Dad used to say : "put your brain in high gear before you drop your mouth in low gear." Believe it or not you don't have to "enforce" your opinion with reckless abandon and hate to be sure you are heard. "A kind word turneth away wrath." Will vulgarity really make your point more official?

It won't take much to see (if you look) what side your responses field on.

I will finish with this stern warning from James:

James 3:2-6

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

The Scriptures also say "guard your heart for the issues of life come from the heart."

What sort of issues of life are coming from your heart? We will find out as soon as you open your mouth or put to pen what you are thinking for your next comment.

Love

J&E in Tn

A thought, an expression, Love

Consider this:

Passion can be used to edify or it can be used to tear down.

It's easy to find on fb both sides of this issue.

Rights, politics, freedoms, practices, ect.

Both sides of each issue have good and bad to them.

So lets look at an issue that needs to be addressed on a personal level:

Your wife......................

Being that the man is the leader in the family as designed by God, we will start and stay with him to be the initiator of the rules of engagement.

For this short post we will focus on "the love between" man and woman in a marriage.

Love!

Love is a verb as it takes action to prove it exists. Love must be unconditional to truly be experienced by the object of that love.

Love is shown in our (men) thoughts, words, and actions.

The relationship that started, started with Love, and led to marriage.

That marriage builds on love or dies on the lack thereof.

To the point:

Walk in love, continue in a growing love relationship, express that love in every instance you are together.

How?

Start with a passionate kiss every morning, then throughout the day. What kind of kiss is that? One that stirs the blood. One that lets her know that your love is alive. Several of these a day out to do........5-15?

Hold her in an embrace that lets her know that you are both one and you want to keep it that way. Hug often.

Look into her eyes as this will prove to her that your enamored with her.

Make time to express all the ways a husband and wife can be intimate (not just physical) including a "listening ear", a non condemning or belittling reply, a "gentle look."

The Bible says to "Honor her". I hope I don't need to explain that one.

Do these things and "life will be blessed."

God bless.

Love

J&E in Tn