Having a firm foundation of how our lives are all about God and should be centered on His Love and Grace, we now move on to discussing how every part of our lives is meant to bring God Glory. We are to use our sufferings and successes to lift our own hearts towards God, as well as to point others to Him too. Sufferings cause us to seek God who is the only one who can help us get through. Successes are meant to draw out gratitude from us and to deepen our love for God. We can use both of these circumstances to glorify God by enduring as we trust God to work it all together for our good, and by being generous with the blessings God grants us. Everything is an opportunity to recognize we have a most Loving Father who wants us to imitate His Love. A Gracious Savior who desires us to join Him in His mission to save souls. And a Wise and Mighty Counsellor who hopes we will lean on Him in order to have, enjoy and share the Abundant Life.
First, we must realize that life is not about me, and that we have to shift our focus from living for MMI to living for God’s Glory, which requires God’s constant help. Then we begin to make this shift by pondering God, by thinking about how great He is. So great indeed that there is no one like Him. God is Holy, Holy, Holy, and in Christ, we have the privilege of being able to become more and more like Him. This gives us the ability to endure life’s challenges with peace and joy intact, as well as to use all life’s achievements as a way to praise God publicly. So this is the Plan: we ponder God and become more like Him as a result, then we lead others to Him so they may do the same thing. And we do this simply by living out our life in Christ out in the open. Never ashamed, always humbly grateful. This is the only way to truly, and more consistently, enjoy this life…and as we follow The Plan, we reap all the benefits because life gets really sweet, no matter what is going on.
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The First & Best Book Ever: The Bible
February: Love Is In the Air: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
March: Spring Growth: “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson
April: Living the Resurrected Life: “The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life” by Dr Charles Stanley
May: My Spiritual Mom: “Making Good Habits Breaking Bad Habits” by Joyce Meyer
June: Spiritual Dad: “It’s Not About Me- Rescue from the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy” by Max Lucado
<>< Peace, Diane
