Have you ever pursued someone that didn’t pursue you? You just knew that if this person got to know you that they would love you. You kept it up, day after day, trying different methods, to no avail.

I imagine this is how God feels when He’s pursuing us. He tries to get our attention, but we ignore Him. We think we’re just fine on our own. You get in this self-perpetual bubble that puts you into seclusion.

I spent many years running from God - telling myself that I was fine on my own. Things would happen in my life that I didn’t understand. People would come and go like the seasons.

Until one season when God did something miraculous. I didn’t understand it; my family thought I was crazy. God took me from my home, and put me right in the middle of the United States. He got my attention. That’s when my life started turning around, for the better.

I started going to church again. I started seeing my life through a new lens. I was as close to God as I had ever been.

I thank God for never giving up on me; for pursuing me, when I didn’t want to be pursued.

God is my life. I live and breathe with His name on my lips.

I keep pursuing God and yearn to be even closer than I am today.

Zephaniah 3:17 - “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Attitude is everything. If you meet someone who is unkind or rude, you realize quickly they have a bad attitude. You may not know why they’re angry but their attitude speaks volumes.

Attitudes are often changed by circumstances. You get into a fender/bender on the way to work and your whole day is ruined. Your child has a temper tantrum at breakfast and throws orange juice in your face (this actually happened to me…lol).

I was the worst at letting my circumstances dictate my persona and the way I treated others.

God started convicting me of this and I’m glad He corrects His children when they’re out of line.

I look at circumstances in a whole new way now. When something happens that I don’t understand, my first instinct is to get angry and say, “why me?” But, God makes me realize that His plans for me are for every day and nothing happens that He hasn’t already foreseen. This gives me comfort. This tells Him I trust whatever is happening in my life.

I hope others see me as a genuine caring person.

You have a choice with your attitude each day. It’s one of your most valuable assets. Keep a positive attitude!

Philippians 4:8-9 - “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

There are billions of dollars spent on gift cards each year during the holiday season. I have mixed emotions about gift cards. I do like to receive them, because they are usually to a good restaurant I like, or to my favorite ice cream shop.

In a way, gift cards are a way of saying, “I’d like to get you a gift, but will give you the money instead so you can get what you want.

I’m also conflicted this time of year about gifts. I don’t want anyone to feel obligated to buy me a gift just because it’s Christmas. I would rather watch the grandkids opening their gifts; that brings me joy.

No one can top the greatest gift I’ve ever received, the gift of life. When I gave my life to Christ at 16 years old, my life changed forever.

I no longer desire the things of this world; they just don’t satisfy me.

I’m praying this Christmas that my family and friends and many that are reading this, are blessed, and if you don’t know of the greatest gift of all (eternal life), that you’ll receive it this year.

Gifts are free; you don’t have to pay for a gift.

Accept the gift of eternal life - Jesus, He paid it all for each of us; His gift to you.

Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I can remember when my daughter was younger and wanted a guinea pig as a pet. I can’t remember how long we had it, but I can remember her wanting to carry it around. Most kids like to carry their new puppy or kitten around like it was a baby.

Isn’t this the way we treat anger at times? We carry it around like a baby kitten, stewing about how someone wronged us or angry that we didn’t get the job we wanted or the promotion we deserved. Anger can eat at your insides, making you physically sick at times.

When you’re hurt and hang onto resentment or betrayal, you’ll find yourself mad at God. How could God let this happen to me? Why me? Being angry isn’t a sin, but being controlled by it is. God may allow things to alter your course, make you upset, but know this: God is there, amongst all the pain and hurt.

I’ve found out that the best thing to do in these situations is to not carry around this anger all day, but give it to God. Pray for the other person that hurt you. Most times they don’t realize they did hurt you, or even care that it upset you.

It’s okay to be angry about something that hurt you, but don’t dwell on it. It’s circumstances, history that we can’t control now or in the future.

Satan wants us to dwell on the hurt. He wants you to get even with the other person. This only shows them that you’re just like them, and no different than the average person.

Let the anger go. Don’t hold onto it. It will only make you bitter and resentful.

James 1:19-20 - “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

Manure is good for a garden. You can spread it around the garden and the plants will thrive from this nutrient rich dung.

I heard a pastor give the analogy of manure and money. He said that if you leave manure in a pile, it really stinks, but if you spread it around, it helps out the plants and living things in the ground grow. So it is with money. If we hold onto money, it’s of no good to anyone, but if we spread it around, others can prosper from it as well.

I can attest to the fact that in the past, when I have had money and used it for my own benefit, and didn’t give to others, my life stalled. It wasn’t going anywhere, and I didn’t realize that the money that I get as a paycheck is not my money. God loans it to me to use.

As a single mom, I used to lose sleep over money, worrying if I had enough to pay the bills. It wasn’t that I didn’t make much money, because I had a good salary. It’s what I did with the money that was the problem. I kept it to myself. I bought what I wanted. Of course I provided for my kids, but I was very selfish with whatever was left over.

As I grew in my Christian walk, I started realizing that I am very fortunate. Once I started giving to others, my life started changing. I can remember living in Oklahoma, and had the lowest paying salary I had ever had in my career, but the money was always there at the end of the month. I kept my bills paid and family fed. What was different? I was giving to the church; my money, my time.

God knows your heart. If you’re holding onto money for your own pleasures, be very careful. In the book of Mark, Jesus asks the man to go sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. The man went away sad and Jesus goes on to tell that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Are you holding onto your money so tight that it’s starting to stink? Pay it forward; give to others; share your time with those in need.

Don’t be stinky, or stingy.

Mark 10:21-22 - “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

Property manager.

I’ve never been a property manager, but they have their work cut out for them.  I can’t imagine having property, and people are relying on me when they have problems. Sounds like it would be a pain.  It does have benefits though.  If you had several properties to lease, you could make a lot of money.  But, is it worth the complaining tenants?

Did you know that as a Christian, we are property managers?  Our property is our body.  God gave us this one body to use while we’re here on earth.  That means that we are to care for it physically, emotionally and spiritually.  

There are so many things being thrown at us in this area.  You’ll see commercials on tv about cheeseburgers, decadent cakes and cookies, etc.  Smoking and alcohol ads are everywhere, and our youth are being exposed at an early age.  

Keeping your body healthy is a 24/7 job.  The temptations are out there, in our face every day.  God knows this, and if you ask, He will help you overcome these harmful addictions that can cripple our bodies.

How about you? How are you treating your property that God gave you?  

I’m looking forward to a new body some day, a heavenly body that God promises to those who have gave their life to Him.  

I’m not a perfect property manager of my body, but I do try to take care of what he gave me, and the areas where I struggle, I ask for his help.  He’s never let me down.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

In 2018, I went a whole year without buying any clothing of any kind. I didn’t miss the shopping, and never needed any clothing that I didn’t already have. It goes to show you I already had enough clothes in my closet to wear. I admit, in my 20’s and 30’s, I kept buying clothes, even though I already had enough.

Clothes do wear out, but rarely do we keep them that long. We give the used clothing away (which is a good thing), and buy more new things we think we need.

Did you know that this earth is wearing out as we speak? We’re not taking care of what we have. Our natural resources are dwindling, and what we do have, we’re polluting and replacing God’s green earth with cement and other man-made structures.

It says in Isaiah that one day the heavens will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment. All mankind will die like flies.

But, there is good news in all this, and that’s, our salvation will last forever.

Don’t put your trust and money in the things of this world, as one day it will all be but a vapor of smoke.

Trust God, who makes old things new.

Isaiah 51:6 - “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever,
my righteousness will never fail.”

I’ve had my fair share of moving. It’s a pain; packing, loading, unloading, unpacking, etc. One thing that is consistent each time I move is filling out a change of address form. A necessary step in moving. Had I not filled one out, all my mail would be sent to my old address.

Most don’t like to think about it, but one day everyone will move on from this world to a final destination.

If you ask some people where they plan to spend eternity, they will say, “I hope in Heaven,” or “I’m afraid I’m headed to hell.” This is no laughing matter. Whether you believe in God or not, we were all born and we will all die some day.

You have a choice in this matter. If you’re still breathing and haven’t accepted Christ as your savior, you can change that today.

Just think, this one decision could change your eternal address forever.

None of us know what tomorrow may bring. Sleep good tonight knowing that if tomorrow is an eternal moving day for you, that you can rest in the promise that God will take you home to Heaven.

Luke 16:22-23 - “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.”