My fervent wish for your New Year is that it might overflow with the oil of kindness, and that you will experiences an avalanche of blessings, which leads to peace and Devine love flowing from your...soul into the lives of those in need.
A New Year without God will only be worse that the last year without Him.
Disappointment is the wounding, the dying, or the death of expectations.
May the mercies of the past, bring strength to the present, and hope to your future.
Success is more progressive rather than permanent.
One of the best resolutions you can have is to bring tenderness into the New Year.
May this New Year, you become more aware of your blessings than your failures, for everyman’s blessings exceed their failures.

Often, to discover the good in others, you must first find some good in yourself.
Your prejudice will keep you from seeing the blessings of others.
Skin color, languages, education, and other cultural ideas, make you different but it is the lack of God makes you dangerous.
When Jesus said to “love you enemies”; that was not an optional statement!
The Ten Commandments were not intended to be multiple choice.
The good of one blesses many.
Hatred brings no blessing and never comes from God.

God is going about this earth seeking the lost, to be saved; while Satan is seeking whom he may devour; you get to choose who wins in your life, and to some degree in the lives of those you influence.
A commitment to mediocrity is worse than failure.
Success without some contentment is not true success.
Contentment with failure is the ultimate failure.
Never tolerate what you do not want your children to become content with!
Godly contentment is the only true rest.
Carol is getting tired of healing and prefers to be healed...but then don’t we all feel that way. Progress is the process of getting thorough what we must to be where we want.

The limits you place on your Faith set the parameters of what you will allow yourself to ask of God.
Walk with integrity, that other should follow your pathway, and leave happiness wherever your go, that other might want to follow your life’s trail.
Experience teaches the hardest lessons in the most difficult way.
Learning from wisdom allows you to avoid experiences that would have only taught you what you already know.
Circumstances take focus off the reason for your journey and cause you to forget the triumph you are sacrificing to gain.
Wisdom avoids the actions that keep it from being wise.

The love of God surrounds a Christian’s anxieties cutting off their fears from any nourishment that comes through doubt or unbelief.
Spiritual fear is the absence of Faith.
The more you love God the less you fear Satan.
Fear like pain narrows your faith.
God is greater than your pain and stronger than your fears.
Doubt means you think that, God might be distracted, disinterested, or dismissing, your deepest needs.
Spiritual doubt, for the mature Christian, must become a thing of the past.

Christmas is the beginning; Easter was the completion, of our Salvation.
Jesus was likely borne in the spring, around our April, December 25th , Christmas is the time that the Wiseman (Magi) arrived and gave gifts to the Christ Child. We celebrate this date, as His birthday, by giving gifts as well.
The Spirit of Christmas was meant to be a lifetime Spirit for the Christian.
God poured HIs extravagant love in this this world to save the lost, the least, the last, and the lonely, so should we.
Love covers a multitude of failures and inspires and deluge of hope.

A friend is someone who stays with you until you get over what you are under.
Christmas is when you were offered adoption papers to become a part of the family of God.
Christmas is not about what I bought for others but it is about who paid for me.
Christmas is the Gift that does keep on giving.
The worst advice I was ever given was not to take God too seriously or at least keep Him to myself.
Have you ever played football without equipment when everyone else had it on? It is like trying to live, without the help of God…pretty painful.

Christmas is a time when we celebrate more hope than we can comprehend.
It was at the first Christmas, God gave the great’s and most sacrificial gift that have ever been given.
When your soul smiles… the world takes notice.
The love of a marriage is where "going the second mile” is just the beginning.
Love is giving what cannot be deserved to those who often fail to notice.
Christmas is the beginning of the greatest “Forgiveness” man has ever known.

The Church should have no enemies who are not enemies of God….that would eliminate “church splits” wouldn’t it?
The enemies of a Christian would be those who resent what God has done in the Christian’s life; or what God is doing with the Christian’s life.
True love has no plan “B”.
If the Christians don’t love one another the world won’t bother hating them.
A well-loved enemy is confused.
Being a Christian is a full time job and a lifetime commitment.

A thief who steals your wealth delivers you to poverty; the thief who steals your soul delivers you to Hell.
When God’s love touches your heart; then your love can touch the hearts of others.
A marriage without God, as its center, will always be poverty-stricken.
Love is never, as reasonable, as it is magical.
Never let the demands of others replace your purpose or your responsibilities to your marriage, your family, or to yourself.
Whenever your giving feels more like a demanding, you are doing what others want instead of what God wants.

Fear paralyzes possibilities.
The pathway to truth is often plagued with the “nearly rights”.
Life will show you that often the impossible is possibly just an arm’s length away.
When “giving up” seems to be the closest destination… perseverance will show you differently.
Faith must endure where blight abounds.
Every sunrise reminds every Christian, that the “Son-will-rise” soon.
When you love your enemies you will treat them accordingly.

The calming power of Grace is incomprehensible. What God cannot love you dare not either. Love puts the scars in your life in their proper places. Only leave for others to do what you need not done. Love is a journey into each other’s heart but never allow the journey to become the meaning. Love is meant to be an unending love; unconditional as humanly possible, for the betterment of the one being loved, while enriching your own life exponentially. Carol continues to heal…sees her surgeon Thursday for her follow up evaluation.

The prayers of many bring comfort to those who have suffered what “Satan driven men” do to God fearing men.
Hope is a choice for those who have accessed the Faith that has been given men.
A moment with God changes every other moment of man…for life.
Grief is…love…in sadness.
Evil awakens us to the need for “good”.
Wickedness has no purpose but to point out how evil…evil can become…God help us!
It is healthy to do good and sinful to do evil.

When you walk through tragedy, the burrs of bitterness, anger, and hatred stick unwelcome to your life; they will be yours to cultivate or starve away.
One must purposely remove the roots of anger, bitterness and the like or they will fester into new tragedies you needed not to have borne.
A moment with a loved one is better that every moment without them.
Love exposes you to greater pain…yes, but it also opens your life to vast possibilities of happiness, joys, and peace you could never know without it.
Tragedy has struck our country let not a greater tragedy afflict or soul because of it.
12/14 Newtown was our 9/11 perpetrated by our own…now we must rebuild as we did from the last time; by living again not being ruled by the fear it brought us.

Without God…”A man’s heart is desperately wicked who shall know it:” Newtown, Ct.
When one child dies two parents feel like they have as well.
The prayers of others and Grace from God are as all we has to navigate any tragedy we encounter.
Freedom without responsibility wreaks havoc on others.
Love heals but often scars remain.
The prayers of others comfort the comfortless.
A better day for Carol but after Newtown, Ct how could anyone complain…Sad stuff anyway you look at it.

The poor have things; the wealthy have God.
Friendship is the fruit of effort and tolerance, and a gift of respect and compassion, encased in love and laughter.
Being a “friend of God” or man, brings you special privileges and burdens you with special responsibilities.
Want what you need more than you want what you want.
You never know how strong your weaknesses are until they are your only defense.
Stubbornness fights without reason; steadfastness defends purpose.
Experiences fortify Faith.

Carol had a good better day; more thankful for getting better, than tired of the pace of healing.

Mightiest is he who prays the mightiest prayers.
Many are they who cherish what will tarnish, as they shun what will shine forever.
Bitterness will soil your future; scar your past, while robbing the present of any joy.
Jesus was an optimist even on the Cross.
Do right even when it doesn’t feel right.

God is always right…you might could be right.
Love strengthens the weakest resolve.
Whatever a Christian cannot be do in love, possibly should not be done at all.

Carol is pulling slightly ahead of the turtles of pain today. PTL

Aspirations without perspiration, usually leads to desperation.
Quitting guarantees failure.
Some of the things God says are probably, improbable, but because God said them the improbable are no longer probable but guaranteed.
Love from the inside out and when the outside is past pretty the inside will become even lovelier.
The impossible is unlikely until God tells you to do it.
True love runs deeper that any pain the loved one may cause.

As for Carol, count one for the "good guys" today!

You cannot put a “spin” your life for God…your life, to Him, is self-explanatory.
You need to pray “large prayers” in order to live life “largely”.
Faith is the ship, and hope the fuel, that brings you through troubles waters.
A thief dishonors himself before everyone.
Never allow anyone to foreclose on your dreams, weigh down you hopes, or detour faith.
Love polishes a tarnished soul.

It has been a rough day for Carol but days like that happens to all of us; it is just that pain and weariness magnify it.

The price of greed is personal poverty.
Love wants to give...greed wants to take.
The grave of the living death is dug by bitterness.
Fret not my Christian brother…God has His Great Big Hand all around your little bitty need.Prayer doesn’t always change circumstances but it changes your mind about God.
The Love of God cleanses deeper than the pain, the shame, or the claims of Satan on your life.

Carol had a good long day watching our grandson play flag football and eating out as well. We will try church today planning to arrive just before the sermon.

Salvation is a condition, there are no half saved, or almost saved you either are or are not.
Salvation cannot be earned or achieved, not through any effort but by repentance and faith only; it is a gift from God though His Son, Jesus, that is it.
You are never worthy of, or deserving of salvation, but it is free for the asking and comes no other way.
The less you do…the more others have to do.
Being busy and being useful; do not always mean the same thing.
Revenge is a self-dug grave.

Carol still on the move towards healing…though the turtles are gaining a bit in this race today.

The “ifs” in life are the roadblocks that we use to derail our inspiration and retard our accomplishments.
What I cannot do, in life, God can help me do, or they are not mine to do.
Just because I cannot finish something does not mean I should not start them.
Start something bigger than you are so others who follow can concentrate on their part of that journey rather than yours.
Love brings thrilling satisfaction.
Love puts a smile on your soul while it wrinkles your forehead.
The more “ífs” you have, the more frustrated you become, because less gets done.

Today, it has been a month since Carol’s surgery and it seems so long and yet it is so short in her journey of healing.

Pray for Harry Miles today he is having major surgery.

Without forgiveness your prayers become as sounding brass.
The more you can forgive the deeper your love becomes.
Understanding the wisdom of God is the foundation for living it.
A self–center person doesn’t know themselves very well.
Avoid what you know is wrong that should keep you busy for a lifetime or two!
God is more interested in your success that you are, but His definition of success is liked different than the world’s.

A sore day for Carol but no old back pain like she had before the surgery.

Life is a blend of the sweet and the sorrow along with the “have to” and the “get to” times of life.
Being kind and useful puts you in the class of being different now-a-days.
Wisdom is the understanding of the purposes, of your knowledge, and actions, and their consequences and ramifications.
Without a good heart a good mind is dangerous and vice versa as well.
You will find the “good things” are found when you get on top of your circumstances …so keep climbing.
Wisdom is often hard to swallow.
Wisdom must be communicated to be useful or it remains encrypted to the mind that hears it.

Carol enjoyed the evening with the Ladies of the church…but was quite tired for it all…that good, contented, kind of tiredness that life, brings your way, from time to time…

Do good before you think you have to!
Strive for more of God but cling to Him while you do.
Pray farther than you can see.
A contract is an obligation but salvation is a gift.
Be the first to do right and the last to do wrong.

Escalate the happiness in others every time you get a chance.
Narrow is the way to Heaven but there is still plenty of room on that path.
If your salvation only gets you to Heaven…you have missed the joy of living for Jesus

Carol still improving step by step most of her pain now is from the muscles being cut in surgery rather than the old back pain she had...PTL

A contract is an obligation but salvation is a gift.
Be the first to do right and the last to do wrong?... No...Never do wrong..and you will be right
Escalate the happiness in others every time you get a chance.
Narrow is the way to Heaven but there is still plenty of room on that path.
If your salvation only gets you to Heaven…you have missed the joy of living for Jesus.

If you are saved, satisfied, and petrified in your pew…you probably need to start over again.
If your salvation did cause you to become compassionate…you have real cause to be concerned.

Carol had another good day yesterday got ses the float for the parade that our daughter-in law organized and saw John and Caroline who was an angel on the float. We did not stay for parade but it was a big day for her.

Your character is made up to a collection of the things you love.
Never allow others to determine what will make you happy.
The takers, in this life, are never satisfied because greed believes, it is owed what it takes, and never considers those who must loose, so they can take.
The gift of giving keeps on giving, receiving the joy of giving.
True love finds a way to keep on growing.
Love as much as you can those you can, before you can’t.
The rewards of loving too much far exceed the rewards of hating even just a tiny little bit.

Carol had a good day but was up quite a bit, yesterday, so she is sore today; time will tell, as the suffering of healing struggles with joy experiencing it.