# 42 Youth

I sat in church this weekend watching a new alter boy learning his way around the mass from a different perspective, up in front of everyone! I was once there too and it did not seem so long ago. Being a small part of the mass and feeling grown up. I am sure we all can remember a situation when we were young and were allowed to do something  like the grownups! Now that I am kind of grown up I love to watch the growth taking place in the hearts and spirits of young people like this alter boy.

Never be afraid to try something new, it will keep you young at heart!

I am not young enough to know everything.
Oscar Wilde 


Psalm 119
 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.

# 41 Friends

True friends are hard to come by. They are like the growth of a tree. They become true friends over time. Some friends develop quickly, but the only real test of friendship is time. Time to get to know each other and time to enjoy each others company. Many of my friendships were formed over several years, and even though I do may not see these friends every week or maybe not even every month, I know the friendship is strong. Call one of your friends this week!

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.
Elbert Hubbard 

John 15

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants[d] any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.  17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

# 40 Cheers

Be Happy! Happiness is a state of mind, kind of mind over matter..
If you don't mind it don't matter! As we start a new year I would encourage you to be the happiness in someones life. A small thing can be such a big blessing to someone close to you. Find a chore that you can do for someone and just do it! Don't ask just do it! If you are financially able maybe consider paying a bill for a friend or family member. I remember when we were younger the home mortgage company would give you the option to defer the December house payment. For a young family that extra money was huge!
Find a way to be a blessing and pay it forward!

Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
Charles Dickens 

1 Thessalonians 5

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

# 39 New Year

Press Reset!...too bad, it doesn't work! You still get 2014
 Happy New Year!!
Instead of reset most people with work on a list of new resolutions for 2014 and try to "do better".
That is not a bad thing we should learn from our successes and mistakes.
 Some get in way over their head like the guy in this picture.
This year I would give you a new process to try. Pick one thing...a small thing...to change. Then do it every day. I mean EVERY day! Until it is a new habit for you. Start small and just work on completing this "new" thing every day.
 Remember the tortoise did win the race......

Resolutions are popular because everyone feels they could use a little improvement.
Marilu Henner 

Colossians 3

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other,since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.