Take control, don’t take what life gives us, instead we dictate what we get from life. There is no point waiting around for something to happen, its time to get out and make things happen. it’s our choice!
Life is not the same as yesterday, it is no longer last week, we are living in the now. We cannot treat life as before, we face it as our reality at this moment. Good or bad it is so, our energy can be wasted on complaints or we can improve on our current situation. We can build now, so that when the opportunity comes we are ready, if not we can watch as others reach their goals.
I would like to share my favorite Christmas memory with you. I was very young and I woke up during the night and went out to the living room to see the Christmas tree. It was dark, but I could see a tricycle with red wood blocks on the pedals. I heard something outside and I looked out the window and I thought I saw Santa Claus take off in his sleigh.
I really enjoyed the holiday season as a kid. We did Christmas shows at school, we told the tale of the three wise men and the star of Bethlehem. Christmas decorations were up all over the city of Los Angeles. It was a very special time spent with family.
As an adult, I went through a phase where I grew less fond of the holidays, but one thing I could never understand was why it was offensive to some people to be told, “Merry Christmas.” It does not hurt anyone and it certainly never hurt me to hear it. While I do not drink alcohol, when someone offers me a drink I just say, “No thank you,” but the kind thought behind them offering one to me is not lost. Yet, some people today find the idea of Christmas offensive and would like to erase the holiday. Just how many people find it offensive? According to some statistics, in the United States, ninety-two percent of Americans celebrate Christmas. That is nine out of ten. Still, society makes an attempt to change the greetings to not offend the few, losing the meaning and some of the history of the holiday for the rest of us.
During the bitter winter of 1777 George Washington and his closest men celebrated Christmas Eve with a dinner of rice and vinegar in their winter encampment in Valley Forge.
During the American Civil War both sides celebrated Christmas with special food and celebration. President Lincoln held a Christmas party in the White House in 1861. He also visited troops and soldiers in the hospital on Christmas Day with his son. Union Soldiers pulled carts through parts of Georgia decorated like a sleigh with horse dressed to look like reindeer and handed out food.
During World War I on Christmas Day the fighting stopped in the trenches and they sang carols and exchanged cigarettes and chocolates. There was even a soccer game between the English and German soldiers.
The founding fathers were Christians, and when they wrote the First Amendment they wrote that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” They did not want a state religion forced on the people, and they did not want the country to be ruled by the church. The term I hear so many people speak about so often is “the wall of separation between church and state.” To set the record straight for all those people who like to throw it out there: it is not and never was in the US Constitution. It was written by Thomas Jefferson to a church that heard a rumor that Congress was going to make a national religion in 1802.
Christmas is a celebration of the gift of God to us: the birth of Jesus. It is a celebration of love, sacrifice, forgiveness and grace. It is the unselfish act of God sending his son into the world so that we may all have everlasting life.
The whole world benefits from Christmas, no matter who you are or what you believe in or don’t believe in, there are no negative effects of a celebration of our savior.
Merry Christmas and God Bless!
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The Creek
We measure our time by seconds, minutes and hours. Each of us only has a limited amount of time on earth, so it’s important we don’t waste our time or others. A plane flight, a party, a dinner date, or a work meeting, it does not matter what the event is: each has a defined time period at which you should be present.
Today many people consider a lack of punctuality “okay.” I sometimes wonder if I am the only person who values punctuality anymore. As a trainer, I have heard every excuse that can be made, and they are all just that: excuses.
Everyone at some point or another has something happen out of their control that makes them late. However, when someone makes a habit of being late, and everyone expects them to be late, they are more than late: they are rude. They consistently show a lack of respect for other people’s time. In a way, they have become a thief: they have stolen time from others that could have been used for another purpose.
The father of our country, George Washington, was a stickler for being on time. He demanded it of everyone he came into contact with during his lifetime. George must have gotten along well with Benjamin Franklin because he was also known for holding punctuality as being of the utmost importance.
All of our time is a valuable commodity, no matter who you are or what you do in life.
Does the Bible say, “Thou shalt not be late?” No. But it does tell us to love one another. It also says that love is not rude, and that we are to treat others as more important than ourselves.
When you are late and cause someone to wait for you, you may be doing more harm than just disrespect. You will likely also aggravate them, maybe causing them to become angry and/or stressed. You have become a stumbling block for them.
When we make an appointment or set up a meeting for a certain time, it is an agreement by us to the other party. Being punctual shows that we value them and their time. It conveys dependability and responsibility.
If you wish to be a leader and gain respect, you should always show up on time, otherwise, how can you ever ask the same from anyone else?
Do you want to be known as someone who is trustworthy and dependable?
If you’ve developed some bad habits for being late – it’s not too late for you to overcome them. The first step is to realize that your actions affect your character and also the lives of those around you. Being more responsible with your time will help you develop good character. You cannot control other people, but you can always control yourself. Being reliable and punctual will give you an edge in life.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Motivation, Inspiration and Change 