# 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.

# 38 Joy to the World

This IS the reason for the season! In a time when we seem to have started the Christmas season even before thanksgiving is over, take time this week and remember that Christmas is the birth of our Lord. My prayer for all of you is is a Merry Christmas in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.
May you always walk with him living in your heart.


Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.
Mother Teresa 

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

# 37 Weakness

As we grow older it becomes very apparent that several things that were not a chore a few years ago have become...well more difficult. Many of us have had medical operations that may have altered the original organization of things. Hips, knees, and backs seem to take a little longer to "spring" into action. With this weakness we are reminded to slow down and depend on others at times. Also time to slow down and reflect on our faith and Gods presence in our lives.

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
George Washington Carver 

2 Corinthians 12
I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

# 36 Age

Age is just a number. I have the luxury of  being able see what I can become by watching my older brothers. Sixty looked like the end of the road when you were 20! Now that I am in my 50's seventy doesn't look so bad. A few things I have observed will keep you young:
Stay busy     Take care of your health     Enjoy your family every day     Keep learning

Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age.
Victor Hugo 

Proverbs 20: 16
29 The glory of youths is their strength,
    but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.

# 35 Work

Work provides dignity. We all like to think that we matter in some small way in the world. By working we can measure our contributions to society. I think it is a shame that so many people today are able to work but choose to let someone else take care of them. It is healthy to be productive and complete even a small project. I am pretty sure I will never retire. I may quit working at my present job someday

 but I will continue to work at something...Blogger? Winemaker? Photographer? Speaker?

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas A. Edison 

Proverbs 16: 2-3
2 All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.