Grow – 25 Positive Words, Day 6

December 6, 2017Leave a comment

25 words day 6

A great question to ask ourselves when we experience a challenge of any kind is, “How can I grow from this?” It is good for us to be open to what God wants to teach us in the classroom of life. As we learn and grow and develop new skills, we can use our gifts to be a blessing to others. Most important, we want to grow deeper in our faith and love for Jesus. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Let your roots grow down deep into Christ.” As we allow our roots to grow deep in Him, we are strengthened and nourished to face both life’s blessings and challenges.

Hope – 25 Positive Words for the Holidays

December 5, 2017Leave a comment

25 words day 5

Hope is a powerful word. When we choose to hope, we deny despair of it’s power. God is the God of hope, and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can abound in hope even when the outlook seems dim. Celebrate the hope and victory that Christ brings to our lives.

Forgive

December 4, 2017Leave a comment

25 words 4

The greatest gift we can give another person is the gift of forgiveness. Let it go. Release the right to hold something over another person, and place the issue into God’s just and loving hands. Forgiveness doesn’t mean it’s okay for someone to hurt you. Set wise boundaries if necessary. Forgiveness isn’t always easy, but it eases you of the burden of bitterness, anger and disappointment. As we celebrate the One who came to offer us forgiveness for all our sins, let us honor Him by living with a forgiving heart.

November 29, 2017Leave a comment

As we enter the Christmas season, I am launching a fun new series called 25 Positive Words for the Holidays. It is meant to help us look at the brighter side and the bigger picture each day of December leading up to Christmas. So join me here at Positive Life Principles or on my author Facebook page to get a daily dose of positive starting Friday, Dec 1. Feel free to share the posts with your friends to uplift their hearts during the holidays. I love walking this journey together!

pursuing-god-in-the-quiet-places

If you are looking for a gift for the holidays, Pursuing God in the Quiet Places Devotional makes a great gift and stocking stuffer.

3 Things to Forget, One thing to Remember

November 20, 2017Leave a comment

cala-140220

Thanksgiving is all about remembering. It’s about reflecting on what God his done and His blessings in our lives. When it comes to life, we never want to forget the goodness of God. Our thankful hearts show that we trust His love and believe He can bring good even out of the worst situations.

As important as it is to remember and reflect on God’s goodness and blessings, there are several things we need to forget. The apostle Paul put it this way, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

So what past things should we forget? Here’s three that come to mind:

Past mistakes – Most of us tend to beat ourselves up over mistakes we have made even years ago. We must recognize that we all make mistakes, but we can always learn from them. Don’t let your mistakes define you. Move forward and be who God created you to be.

Past sins – As believers in Christ, our sins are forgiven. Paul wrote, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” That’s not a license to continue to sin, rather with a thankful heart we turn and repent and go a different direction. Christ came to free us from the burden of guilt and allow us to live in the joy of forgiveness.

Past offenses by others – It’s easy replay the hurts people have done to us in the past. Bitterness, anger and unforgiveness can fester in our memories for years. Let’s stop replaying the hurts and wounds. As forgiven people, we too must live a life of forgiving others. This Thanksgiving, may we release the right to hold past offenses over someone else.

I love to see the pictures on Instagram of Thanksgiving tables as people gather with family and friends. Although the food and decorations are lovely, keep in mind that there is nothing more beautiful than a thankful heart, and nothing more ugly than an unforgiving heart (whether it is not forgiving yourself or others). May your table be stunning as it overflows with thankfulness this year, leaving the negatives of the past behind you.

Photo by Cala on Unsplash