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I watched the crowd in New York celebrate the victory of the Knicks. I was glad to see so many people expressing happiness. Sure, on the grand scale of things a basketball game is not of great importance. We live in a world where there are serious challenges on a day to day basis. Yet, it did my heart good to see people have a reason to celebrate. I think sometimes we get bogged down with the cares of this world and it robs us of our joy. The Bible tells us to focus on things that are good, pure, of good report (Philippians 4:8), for a reason. It helps to lift our spirits and give us more peace of mind.
There is no shortage of bad news in the media. From one day to the next things seem to be more and more dire. We must take the time to seek out the good that is happening in the world in order to help keep ourselves from becoming bogged down with all the negativity. If we take time to enjoy the simple things it will be of great benefit. If we strive to maintain an attitude of gratitude for what we have, instead of focusing on what we don’t, we will be in a much better mood and have a better outlook on life.
No matter how bad you may think you have it, there are many who would love to trade places with you. Just the fact that you are able to read this blog shows you have access to more than many people in the world. Once we have the basics covered, food shelter, clothing everything else is just extra blessings. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people. Praise is one way to draw closer to God. When we take the time to praise Him and thank Him for all that He has done it draws us closer. One thing we can praise Him for is that we have escaped the penalty of our sins. Jesus has given us the way to escape the punishment we deserve for all the sins we have committed. That alone is worth a hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
In watching NDE’s (Near Death Experiences) on You Tube, I have heard repeatedly about the torment of hell. It is not a place you want your loved ones to end up. There are now so many warnings stating it is not the place to end up at the end of our lives. The rich man in the Bible asked that Lazarus would warn those he cared about not to end up in hell where he was (Luke 16:27-28). Today, the warning is out there for those who would take heed.
No matter what challenges come our way, we know that we are not alone. We have Jesus on our side. We have the creator and sustainer of the universe fighting for us. He will never leave nor forsake us, and we know the battle is already won.
https://joyfoster.substack.com/