You Being Comfortable with You

1 Timothy 4:14 says, “Do not neglect the gift which is in you.”

God made you for His specific purposes. You can do something nobody else can. You have very real gifts and talents to offer the world that will make life richer for everyone.

What are you naturally good at? Spend your time on that. Find a way to develop those gifts. Don't waste time working on things you are not good at.

You have a destiny and that destiny is realized through abilities God blessed you with. In our society we tend to idolize the superstars. We respect and admire those who have done well and made great accomplishments – as well we should. People who allow their natural gifts to shine are an inspiration and a blessing to all of us.

You are God's gift unto the human race. How will you shine to inspire and bless the rest of us today?

Expressing Gratitude

So many times in my daily life I start thinking of what is wrong instead of what is right.

I always have the opportunity to express gratitude for all the things that are right, are good.

What I focus on expands. By focusing on gratitude, I get more to be grateful for.

God blesses a grateful heart.

"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand men were present. Mark 8:5-9 NIV

Jesus was able to do this because he started with expressing gratitude. He didn’t complain because he didn’t have enough. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude for what he had.

God blesses a grateful heart.

Today I am grateful for:
1. Waking up in a comfortable bed and in an air conditioned room.
2. For having the privilege of ordering whatever I wanted for breakfast.
3. Being able to see to write these words.
4. Having a closet full of clothes to choose from.
5. Friends to share my life with.

I encourage you to count your blessings, not your curses.

Remember, what you focus your attention on expands.

God blesses a grateful heart.

Spiritual Branding

To me all serious spiritual texts are sacred texts and I am not moved by the Holy Spirit to debate the virtue of one over another.

What am I then, you might ask?

I am a student of life whose master teacher is Jesus of Nazareth. That's enough, isn't it? Most people are very uncomfortable with being “spiritually unbranded.” Why?

I am a citizen of the universe who doesn't feel the need to brand myself as a this or that.

I don't wish to be part of the "we're right and you're wrong crowd." I want to get smarter; to learn more.

The way to accomplish that is through constant exposure to new ideas. I have been privileged to live among Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews and many other spiritual traditions. Every one of them has taught me something about the essence of Christ and helped me immensely in my spiritual path.

Letter from St Paul

Dear Seeker of the Christian Spirit,

I greet you with grace and peace that comes from God our father and our master, Jesus Christ. Every time you cross my mind I break out in exclamations of thanks to God.

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ appears.

Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the message of Christ. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourself long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourself as Jesus thought of Himself. He had equal status with God and He set aside the privileges of deity choosing to live a selfless, obedient life and then die a selfless, obedient death.

By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. I invite you to travel with me - always.

Remember, God promised:

His beauty and Love would chase after you every day of your life.

Love,
Paul

If Paul wrote to us today, this is what I believe he would say.
Portions were quoted from various verses in The Message.