Monthly Archives: December 2013

Creative Imagination

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”1

Mary looked through her kitchen window then frowned. “Those workmen,” she fumed, “have dumped a load of trash right outside the back door.”

Then the children came and shouted with delight! They saw, not a load of trash, but a glorious heap of play material.

Watching and listening, mother soon saw the children change the trash dump into a gleaming spaceship complete with excited astronauts—all done through the power of imagination.

Does life for you seem dull and ugly right now? Do you have a “trash dump” staring you in the face? With God’s help and the power of imagination you, too, can create a new image of what your life can be.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in all the challenges of life, please help me see beyond the immediate situation and imagine, with your help, what my life can become; one that is perfect [mature] and complete. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. James 1:2-4 (NIV).

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The Choices We Make Make Us

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“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”1

Recently Joy and I caught up with an old friend we hadn’t seen for about three years and were shocked when we saw her. A few years ago she made a very bad moral choice which ultimately backfired on her. As a result she became very depressed and let herself run down emotionally, physically, and also spiritually. It was very sad to see her condition. I couldn’t help but think how the choices we make make us what we become.

In my youth I recall how I was challenged to serve God with my life and am extremely thankful to God that I made that choice. That one choice totally changed my life—both for this life and the next. I don’t know where I would be today had I not made that major life-changing choice. I can’t say that every choice I have made since then has been a good or a wise one. However, for every choice I have made, I have always reaped the consequences.

As another has wisely said, “It’s choice—not chance—that determines our destiny.” This is true for every individual—unless one is mentally impaired.

The reality is that we all make many choices every day. Most of these are simple choices, but from time to time we are called to make major choices which, in turn, always have major consequences for good or bad depending on the choices we make.

However, there is one choice that is, by far, the most critical of all of life’s choices for it affects not only this life, but also one’s life after death. It is the choice to follow and serve God, and to receive His forgiveness for all our sins, without which there is no entry whatsoever into God’s Heaven. As God said to the ancient Israelites, “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”2 We, too, are called to make this same choice.

To help you make this choice, be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you have made it possible so that I can choose to accept and serve you. Please help me to make that choice, not only for today, but for all eternity. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Galatians 6:7 (NKJV).

2. Joshua 24:15 (KJV).

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