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Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.                                                                                       Isaiah 26:3
                                                                                                                                                                                              Good Morning Friend,
             This week’s characteristic of a spiritually healthy person is:

                                                 You walk in peace even in times of adversity.

            This week’s scripture is perhaps the most beneficial of all scriptures to me.  I repeat it to myself quite often. It helps me focus when life gets difficult.  A wise friend once told me that if you are having a mountaintop experience, get ready because a slide into the valley is coming.   Not very optimistic, I know, but quite true.  No person is immune to tragedy.  It is an inevitable part of life.  The quite famous book, The Road Less Traveled, begins with three words:  Life is difficult. The premise is that once you understand that life is difficult, you are able to traverse the winding road of life without the unrealistic expectation that life should be joyful at all times.  How does a spiritually healthy person walk in peace?  The answer is to be found in an old hymn entitled, Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  The refrain ends with, and the things of this world will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.  When we put our minds on Jesus, our perspective changes.  We are reminded that this world is not our home, to quote another hymn, and that our true peace will be when we are at home with the Lord where Revelation 21 tells us there will be no more sorrow or tears.  What a future God has planned for us!!                                                             Linda

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.                                                                                                                                                                  II Corinthians 9:7                                                                                                                        
  Good Morning Friend,
 
            I certainly hope that you are enjoying our little series about the qualities of a spiritually healthy person.  This week’s characteristic is:
 
                            You love to share with others!

            In 2 Corinthians 9:6, Paul reminds the church in Corinth that they had promised to collect money for other believers.  He writes, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”  The word cheerful in Greek means the same as in English, but, it also means to act at a moment’s notice, to be prepared to give.  Let me ask, “What are you willing to give right at this very moment?”  A few months ago I had a prompting from the Holy Spirit to give away my very favorite guest towels.  And guess what, last week Jim finally decided to paint our master and I purchased new bedding and bathroom accessories to match the new décor.  Didn’t give the towels to receive a decorating make-over, but, I believe God is faithful to His Word, and I was blessed abundantly.  Look at Luke 6:38 if you need further confirmation that God blesses the cheerful give.  Don’t give to receive.  Give because it is a joy.
                                                                                                                        Linda

​“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:9                                                                                                                                           






​ Good Morning Friend,
 
           This week’s message is the 3rd part of our series entitled, “What it means to be a spiritually healthy person.”          You trust God to lead and guide you.
            Do you?  Don’t be too quick to answer.  I am reminded of the old hymn, “Have thine own way, Lord, Have thine own way.  Thou art the potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting yielded and still.”      
            Have you truly yielded your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?  Are you obeying the commandments when scripture clearly says, “Don’t commit adultery, don’t lie, don’t steal, etc?”   Some obey and live life with a structure of rules and regulations that make them miserable.  Others begrudgingly submit.  Some don’t submit at all.  But let me tell you about a spiritually healthy person.  They invite God into their lives and submit to the leadings of the Holy Spirit because they understand that the path God guides them on leads to fulfillment and joy. You can’t steal from your neighbor and enjoy your bounty.  And Lies?  Well, they have a way of catching up with us and ruining relationships.  Trust goes out the window.  God doesn’t want to mold you to hurt you.  He is trying to refine his already beautiful creation.  To follow God’s prompting is a privilege. To hear His voice is a blessing beyond compare.  God wants to be involved in your life!  Now that is truly amazing.  Amazing Grace.  Receive it today.
                                                                           Linda

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.  Luke 6:30                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Good Morning Friend,
 
           Just wondering how you did last week with the process of “letting go” of your need to know the future.  Please note, that I said, the process.  John Wesley preached that in our lives we come to a moment of decision in which we trust the work of Jesus on the cross for our salvation and, at that moment, we are restored to a right relationship with God which he termed justifying grace.  “Our sins are forgiven and God remembers them no more” (Hebrews 8:12). Thus begins the process of sanctification—meaning being made perfect.  It might make your heart feel better to know that not one of us will complete this life journey without detours and bumps in the road, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t have all these steps to being spiritually healthy under your belt.
            This week’s message is the 2nd part of a series entitled “What is means to be a spiritually healthy person.”
Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.              Luke 6:27b-28
Can you think of a person in your life who has mistreated you?  Of course you can! Now I want you to think of three terrific things about that person.  Take it a step further if you can and write them a note about your insights.  You will be amazed at the healing that will take place in your heart.  Promise!  Linda

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