Money and Friendship
As 2008 rolled in Monday at midnight, friends were made, money was lost. Money was made, friends were lost. At a New Year’s celebration, a young man was heart broken because someone stole his coat, which contained his wallet, which contained his money. The young man who lost his money had a friend with him who happily found a new friend working at the concession stand. The place which hosted the celebration made a lot of money selling two dollar pizza slices and soft drinks. Across town, home alone, heart broken, was another friend who chose not to come to the celebration because she lost her very best friend that day.
Money and friendship have a lot of things in common. Everyone seems to want more money and friends, but both are very hard to hold on to. Samuel Butler said, “Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.” If one desires to keep money, or friends, a little work is required. There has to be discipline not to spend money foolishly. There has to be discipline not to end friendships foolishly.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses much more; He who loses faith, loses all.” Keep your faith, hold tightly to your friends, and oh yeah, your wallet too.
Resolved
Last week many people made New Year’s resolutions. A week into the New Year many are still resolved to keep those resolutions. However, many have already renounced them and gone back to whatever they resolved to leave behind. The words to an old hymn give the best resolution any of us could strive for this year. When we resolve to follow the words of this song, all other resolutions, no matter how worthy, dim in comparison.
I am resolved no longer to linger, charmed by the world's delight, Things that are higher, things that are nobler, These have allured my sight. I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day; Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth, He is the living Way. I am resolved to go to the Savior, leaving my sin and strife; He is the true One, He is the just One, He hath the words of life.
This year pray we each resolve to cease to linger in delights of this world and set our sights on faithfully serving Jesus Christ, our Savior, who truly speaks the words of life
Greatness
The most famous speech ever given by Dr. Martin Luther King is usually referred to as the “I Have a Dream” speech. If his life hadn’t been cut short, he would have indeed seen many of his dreams of a better world come to be reality. Another great speech of Dr. King’s, which was actually a sermon delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, February 4, 1968, was entitled “Drum Major Instinct.”
“If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness. And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.”
As we remember the greatness of Dr. King, let us remember this great man recognized what truly defines greatness. He was a servant. Let us all strive to serve our fellow man and hopefully see more dreams of a better world become reality
Peace Defined
Peace, peace wonderful peace. What is peace? Can you describe it? Can you feel it? Can you see it? How do you define it? Webster defines peace as this: a state of tranquility or quiet: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. When peace is found freedom is found from disquiet and oppression. So you can describe it and feel it and define it, but can you see it? God’s peace is more than just a feeling or a state of mind. When God gives us His wonderful peace, that He defines as passing our understanding, it can’t always be described, but it can be seen. When a person goes from a state of suffering from the bondage of oppression and disquiet immediately to a state of freedom of tranquility and quite, it is very visible. God’s peace is something concrete that can be seen in others and that others can see in us. Pray for God’s peace to fall on this place and fall on each of us today. Pray we each take that peace with us from this place for others to see who are searching for it. We have the power within us to help the world define and find true peace, God’s peace.
One in a Million
How many prayers have been prayed this week? Do you think a million or more? It is amazing to think when a million prayers are prayed, our God hears each one. This eek prayers were prayed for others far away from us. This wekk others far away prayed prayers for us. The prayers reached God. He took millions of prayers and used them to connect us to Him and to each other. Never think that your one small prayer among millions is insignificant. God hears and answers. Prayer changes things.
Job's blessing and restoration of all he lost came when he prayed for his friends. Pray for your friends. Pray for your enemies. Pray for stangers. When you pray for others you will find Go will not only answer those prayers, but will also bring freedom, restoration, and blessing to your life as well.