Focus on the Good

Well Happy New Year!!! Another year has come and gone! We’ve had good times and not so good times. In life, the not so good times can overshadow the good times. The not so good cut us the deepest and can be louder and longer lasting than the good times. Some of us dwell of the bad much more than we do the good. The Year 2015 has definitely given us plenty of bad stuff to dwell in our country. Racial tensions are the worst I’ve seen in my 39 years of living. Trust has diminished drastically with law enforcement. Unarmed black men being killed/gunned down by those who are serve and protect. Innocent people are being murdered in what should be the safest place on Earth – A Church. The Confederate Flag being removed that represents part of this country’s history – good and bad, but neither side tries to understand the other’s point of view. Terrorism is at an all-time high, and the trust of the Muslim community of our country is being scrutinized on every front, and perhaps they should. A husband and wife abandon their baby so they can murder people at a company Christmas party pledging their allegiance to worst enemy this country has had in years - ISIS. Everywhere we turn we are hearing wars and rumors of wars. Division is more prevalent these days; hatred more evident. And did I mention we have the worst selection of candidates to choose from to lead our country in 2016. Yep, there’s a lot of bad, but if you look closely you can see good.

Though we live in United States of America with all its seemingly bad stuff, we live in a free society. We can make our voices known and heard. Women have rights equal to men. Women aren’t beaten because we dress a certain way or if we stand to close to man. We are not just “toys” to pleasures men. We do not live in fear of having our heads chopped off. We have the right to gather and protest against injustice. We are not gassed and bombed by our government because we disagree with it. These are liberties not afforded in other countries. Yes, we have our issues, but we are better off than a lot of other countries.

In my own life, I try my best to focus on the good. We just purchased a beautiful in Georgia.

We have good, friendly neighbors. All the kids in our cul de sac, whether black or white, young or old, love to play with each other. Sometimes I look at them and wonder why life can’t be that simple. You’re outside and I’m outside, so let’s play together! Why can’t we all get along like that? We are all here on this Planet Earth, and you would think we could find a way to get along where we could all live in peace. I think of 1 Thessalonians 5:3 when I think of peace too. When they say “Peace and safety, then sudden destruction shall come and there will be no escape”. But this shouldn’t matter to those of us who belong to Christ. This is also a good thing, and we should always focus on it – We belong to Christ Jesus! We know and have been forewarned that there shall be trials and tribulation that shall come upon the Earth. Men (mankind) will be lovers of themselves; this is why we are seeing such a great disregard for life; humanity has dimished. Focus on the good that Christ represents for us. He represents love, acceptance, healing, prosperity, power and redemption. These are good things; and if you have Him, Jesus, as Lord of your life, you have something “Good” to focus on. I always tell my mom “I just need something good to happen” because there seemed to be a lot of bad all the time. What I didn’t realize was that something good already happened for me, to me. Jesus died on the crossed for me and arose three (3) days later, and is seated at the right hand of God, and I accepted this and am now saved. Knowing that I will be caught up with all my brothers and sisters in Christ when the Lord says “Come up hither” is the greatest “Good”! This is what we should focus on. For the things we see now are temporal, they are subject to change, but being with Christ Jesus is eternal. Losing a loved one or a job, going through a divorce; these things all hurt and will hurt for some time. But in time, that hurt diminishes you’re your life goes on. It’s not to say that it won’t bother you ever again, but you will go one or find another love, another job. Temporal, they are subject to change. God never changes; He is the same today as He was yesterday or since the beginning of time.

As you reflect on what happened in 2015, focus on the good. Yes there was some bad stuff. Maybe you lost a loved one, did or said something you shouldn’t have, got divorced; no matter what the bad was Jesus is the constant good that will last until the end of time. In 2016, make the choice to focus and appreciate all the good whether big or small. Give God thanks and praise for everything, all the time. If the bad should come, remember that you made the right choice to follow Jesus and have something good to focus on. If there should be another mass shooting or terrorist attack on US soil, remember that God loved us enough to warn us that these things were going to happen. Things have to happen to get into place for the return of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords – Jesus!

Did you put your armor on today???

Be Encouraged Today!!!

Remember there's a sinner's prayer on this site. If you have back-slid or haven't tasted and seen that the Lord is Good, say this prayer. You don't have to be in a church building to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. There is a moment that will happen, and it will happen in a twinkling of an eye (as fast as you can blink), and those who have confessed Jesus as Lord and have walked according to the Word of God will be raptured up to be with Him forever and ever. Yes, it sounds too fantastical to be real, but don't take the chance that it's not and be left behind. So don't put this off. No one knows the hour or the day when this will take place, but it is for us to be ready when it's time to go. The first step is to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you say this prayer, contact me; let me welcome you and personally encouraged you in your new life with Jesus!