THE RACE IS ON

Ecc 9:11"I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, and the battle is not to the warriors." Whenever I scope out the scene here where I live, I observe a large number of people who are pursuing the so-called successful life. They would say the way to make it in this world- the way to succeed - is to increase speed, get stronger, be competitive, think more cleverly, plan longer, and have a visionary strategy - hire people with skills that are needed and life will be successful. The race is on. Get up earlier. Go to bed later. Make work a priority. Don't get sentimental about stuff like children, marriage, home, and the family. All that will have to wait...And religion? Leave that for the over-the-hill gang and preachers....The philosophy of our day will attempt to suck us in and convince us that if we're going to make it, we've got to run faster...We've got to be stronger and more competitive and more clever, even more manipulative. Otherwise, we won't be successful ...Don't you believe it!! Hugs Bob

Laughter is Serious Business written by Scot P

Laughter is Serious Business

A great number of people have the perception of God as the sober inhabitant of a beautiful but austere kingdom.  Certainly someone to be in awe of,  and without any doubts to be respectful of.  Yet someone to laugh with – well... not so much.  But when we look into God’s word, we may be surprised to find that God indeed, is deeply invested in the lighter side of life.  Take into consideration  the word rejoice, in various tense forms, appears in the New International Version of the Bible an amazing 181 times. The word joy surpasses that, being recited 218 times.  The word joyful  adds 16 to the total number.  Henceforth leaving the word repent  in the dust at 39 appearances and the word judgment with 132 mentions.  The word sober  (clear minded for those of us in recovery) is mentioned but twice.

 In addition, the word rejoice is quite often used as a command:  “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4).  “Our Lord God Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!” (Revelation 19:6-7).

 Our God is not a gloomy Gus who likes to break up our fun and subdue our laughter.  Rather He is a God who encourages joyous outbursts of all kinds.  Perhaps it’s because He knows even better than we, that we have a great deal to be happy about?

 We all admit we enjoy laughter, and as inconceivable as it may seem, so does God.  So the next time you giggle, chuckle, laugh or guffaw, imagine Him right there along side of you!  Don't take life too seriously, be willing to laugh. Laugh with others, laugh at your own self, and laugh with God.  We were created in His image.

It is the soul that is not yet sure of its God that is afraid to laugh in His presence.  George MacDonald

God bless, Scot

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.            Proverbs 17:22 NIV

The Important

I’ve learned that the great challenge of life is to decide what’s important and to disregard everything else. We are such amazing creatures, we human beings. We get so busy and so involved with the rush of living that all too often we spend our most productive years in the pursuit of things that are not really important to us. When one stands back and gets some perspective on this situation, it seems quite foolish indeed. Yet, when we are in the middle of it, whatever “unimportant” activity we are investing our time and energy into seems quite legitimate. For some of us, it is only as we start to grow older that we realize that the important has been put aside for the expedient. No wonder our lives feel out of balance to us sometimes. We are not investing in our “importants” and we are squandering our valuable days, weeks, and years on things that really don’t matter that much to us. Luckily, we always have the option to stop, to back off, and to reevaluate what is important to us. Devote one day a year to taking stock. See how you are spending your time. List what is important to you and see how the two relate. Always be open to seeing the excuses you are using to justify doing “unimportant’ things. Share this information with someone close to you. Be accountable! Hugs,Bob

From our Scot P.

We have been given a great gift. A gift that enables us to look at ourselves with humility and acceptance. And in doing so, we are able to see that we are prone to failure, pain, sin, and self pity. It also gives us the ability to see that we are capable of successes, joy, love and dignity. With this ability we can choose to look upon our positive attributes;  enjoying each moment as it presents itself, knowing that with the turn of the next corner it may flee as fast as it arrived. Our lives are an ever ending process influenced by circumstances out of our control.  Let us rejoice in the good times. Let's never take ourselves too seriously for we all have good and bad within. Let us abate our feelings of a false sense of security for tomorrow, perhaps the next hour, may bring with it a calamity. Remain humble. Don't let your pride puff you up with your successes, for any number of events can reverse them.  However , revel in the good. Be amused with the smallest of miracles and they will bring a smile to our face, followed by a chuckle. With the momentum gaining from each chuckle, we can laugh.  Laugh at our lives for at that moment they are great gifts from God. We know that we will have challenges ahead, but it is our choice, once again, to see them as temporary and rejoice in the blessings we have now. Trust that you are where God wants you right now.  With that we are going to have fun, and we're going to laugh out loud while doing so!

God bless, Scot P.

Crisis

Out of every crisis comes the chance to be reborn... It is not our smooth passages that reveal new understandings, but the strenuous, uphill battles that benefit us with the knowledge we need to grow. Looking on our challenges as gifts whose resolution promises greater comfort makes them agreeable, perhaps even prized. Without them we stagnate, and life's joys are few. Life is a series of lessons. And our crises are our homework. The patience and the trust we developed while living through last week's crisis has prepared us for greater benefits from those that lie ahead. Knowing that a crisis guarantees us the growth we deserve makes its sting endurable. Every crisis is followed by a time of easy stepping. These restful periods let us adjust to our new stage of development, and they invite us to store up our strength, our energy for the tests that lie ahead. Every stage of an experience has its roots in the past and leans toward the future. I'll trust that whatever I encounter today I'm prepared for and will benefit from.
HugsBob

Scroll IX- I will act now‏

Remember this one:

1 John 3:18 “Dear children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” “ Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.” A few years ago when I got my pacemaker and my activities were curbed dramatically, I was struggling with just getting by! Then I started the Thursday night AA meeting at North Phoenix Baptist and called it “Living vs. Existing”. Practice what you preach!! Ha,ha Tools are of no use to us unless we put them to work in the prescribed manner in which they were created. Faith based action gives me permission to live my life; to interact with others with unbridled motivation, and to selflessly give of myself without personal aspirations. I will act as I believe God would have me act. Helping others , friends and foe, first and foremost. To love others precluding any forethoughts or judgments. I will forego my human selfishness knowing that giving in itself, is the only and just reward I seek. Without these actions, even for a brief moment, my life as I desire it to be, as God intends it to be, will cease. A failure to thrive due to a lack of nutrients essential to my being and the welfare of those whom I have surrounded myself with. So today, immediately, without hesitation or contemplation, but rather instinctively, intuitively,; action will be the quintessential character trait I will command of myself and live. My thoughts grow to become what I speak. My words will become actions and with repetitive habits. With time my habits will be my character and my character will be the destiny God has planned for me. I choose to act in accordance to God’s Plan. 

                                                                                                                              ~Hugs/Blessings, Bob

P.S. “Talk doesn’t cook rice.” Ancient Chinese Proverb

Happy Friday!

CR at FCC ~ The first day of 2011

~ Making the beginning is one third of the work. ~

   Irish Proverb

HAPPY NEW YEAR to my dear friends! Don't look back" Don't let yesterday use up too much of today. " Going into the new year remember God's got a plan for your life and He's given each one of us gifts! Don't hoard them,but spread the wealth! Life savings "If we take of the moments, the years will take care of themselves."  ~ Hugs Bob


The NEW YEAR is always a good time for reflection. I know everyday we should reflect, but the start of a new calendar year naturally sparks questions like, "What was I doing this time last year?" "What have I done this year?"
Personally, I missed some 'goals'. I wanted to accomplish a few things that didn't get done, But looking back I am also amazed at how much progress has been made with His grace and power. I am more active, working a new job with more money, I am one more year sober, and, as if overnight, the CR group at FCC blossomed into a family!
So, I've decided that when I look back at 2010 it will not be to see where I came up short, but it will be to count my blessings and to see where the Saviour transformed, blessed, and forgave me. How about you? Happy New Year to CR at FCC! ~ with love, Kathleen