YES WE CAN!!

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13, NLT)

A teacher in Georgia, USA taught her fourth-grade students an invaluable lesson by conducting a funeral. She enthused her class because the funeral was to be conducted for an enemy—the "I can't" enemy.

"Each child was encouraged to list their 'I Can'ts': 'I can't do math.' 'I can't make any friends.' 'I can't hit a home run in softball.' 'I can't give a book report in front of the class,'" and so on.

When the teacher collected all the "I can't" lists, she put them in a box and took them with the class outside where they took turns in digging a grave. In her eulogy she said, "We have provided 'I Can't' with a final resting place and a headstone that contains his epitaph. He is survived by his brothers and sisters, 'I Can,' 'I Will,' and 'I'm Going to Right Away.'

From Daylighters by Nico Bougas. Available from amazon.com

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

A man who has friends must himself be friendly. (Proverbs 18:24, NKJV)

The story is told of a new family who moved into town and asked the postmaster what kind of people lived there.

He answered, "What kind of people do you think you'll find?"

They replied, "Well, we had problems with the people in the town we just left. I suppose they will be the same here."

The postmaster replied, "You're probably right."

Soon another family moved into the town and asked the postmaster the same question.

Again he responded, "What kind of people do you expect to find here?"

They answered, "The folks in the town we left were great. We hated to leave. We hope we'll find some more just like them here."

The postmaster responded, "I'm sure you will. You'll love it here."

In some ways you are a reflection of your community. The best way get friends is to be a friend. The best way to get people interested in you is to be interested in them.

Have You Changed Yet?

Look, I am making everything new (Revelation 21:5, NLT)

Have you experienced changes since you became a Christian? Has there been a change in your thinking, in your habits, in your overall life?

The new birth brings changes to our outlook on life, our attitudes towards people, and our relationships with people. As Christians we can see things from God’s point of view, and we see history events in the world and life around us from a new perspective.

We begin getting along with people whom we previously disliked or even hated. We can see them through the eyes of Christ. Our relationships with other – husbands, wives, parents, children, employers, employees also begin improving as we begin following biblical principles for getting along with others.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!(2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT)

Excerpt from the book, DAY LIGHTERS by Nico Bougas - 365 Quickfire devotions to ignite your day. Available for download to your computer as an e-book from Amazon -Kindle store.